Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Reporter's Diary

Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will soon have an additional structure to boast of. This structural marvel is in the form of a giant-sized Nandi.

The temple authorities have embarked on the process of constructing the Nandi at Vattathotti in the East Aavani Moola Street. It has been so designed to face the shrine of the Lord Sundareswarar. The construction is apace and the officials have planned to complete the project by September7, which falls on Vinayaka Chathurthi day.

Originally, it was planned to erect a memorial for the temple elephant (pattathu yanai), Meenakshi, that died a couple of years ago. But later, it was decided to erect a huge image of Nandi instead.

Despite any number of campaigns to restrain public from throwing wastes on the roadside, people continue to dump garbage on roads, throwing the `clean environment' message into the wind. The authorities are in a piquant situation as to how they can prevent people from littering the streets. At the most the sanitary staff can do the rounds twice a day to clear the litter. Not that the public are unaware of what they do; many pretty well know that they cause a health hazard. The only panacea for this age-old problem is self-discipline. Once every resident exercises self-restrain such ills may come down.

Physically challenged persons, with an iron will, very often turn disability into capability.

They neither lack skill nor will, yet starved of funds, especially to attend sportsmeets. One such person is A. Gopikannan of Madurai.

Despite losing his legs to polio when he was a child, he has won as many as 21 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals at the national- level competitions. The winning spirit of Gopikannan and his penchant for games won him a bronze medal at an international badminton tourney held in Banglore.

He has also brought laurels to the country by winning three gold medals in shot put, discuss throw and javelin throw competitions held at Belgium.

Now he has set his sight on more feats. Wanting to participate in 2005-Internatioanl Open German Athletics Championships scheduled for August 12 to 14 in Berlin, with the letter sent by Paralymic Committee of India, he has set out raising funds to participate in the German Athletics championship.

Those willing to extend a helping hand to this ambitious man can contact him at 4 A Teachers Colony, Subramaniapuram Fourth Street, Madurai 625 011 or dial 93441 11707.

J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar, S.S. Kavitha

and T. Saravanan

Contributions from J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar, S.S. Kavitha and T. Saravanan

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