The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reporter's Diary

A non-governmental organisation conducted empowerment classes for Corporation schoolchildren at Nochi Nagar for two months. At one session, students were asked with whom they would associate the word `truth.' Some students said Harischandra while others said it was Mahatma Gandhi. One boy from standard VIII said: "I associate it with my mother who always speaks the truth." The teacher told this reporter: "That is a rather unusual answer. We did not expect it."

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People may speak different languages but associations between words and emotions are not very different, say linguists. At the valedictory function of an international conference on Indian lexicography, a speaker used the word `gossip' as an example. How would a teacher explain the term, he wondered. "In Tamil we would say `kannum kadum vaithu' (to add eyes and ears to the story) while in English it would be called icing on the cake. In Kannada, gossip is adding tamarind and salt (uppu, puli hakki)," he said.

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For the journalists and lensmen covering the Eva Miss Chennai-2004-05, filing the reports from the venue, Chennai Convention Centre, at Nandambakkam, was an ordeal. Thanks to an initiative of a private photographer, who arranged a laptop, journalists were able to meet their deadlines on Sunday night. Later, coming out of the venue proved to be yet another ordeal. Finding an autorickshaw or a call taxi was a real tough task. A PR agency representative managed to spot a lone autorickshaw that helped the journalists reach home. Will the MTC come to the rescue of visitors to such mega-events at the Chennai Convention Centre at least the next time?

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For over a week now, the Srinivasapuram Main Road, in Tiruvanmiyur has become choked as a huge load of debris remains uncleared(see picture). Residents using this link to reach the main road wonder how this mess has missed civic workers' attention.

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The decision to lay underground cables in place of overhead power lines, though welcome, is being implemented only in parts, allege residents near Dhandeeswaram. Thanks to the flat builders, the high-tension line between Velachery and Taramani has been converted into underground cable up to the Third Main Road, Dhandeeswaram. But from that point, the line goes over residences and the middle of a road, abutting a playground. Kites flown by children often get entangled in these lines. Residents hope this hazard will be removed soon.

(Contributed by R. Sujatha, andT.S. Shankar)

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