TAMIL PROVERBS: FORECASTING SCIENCE

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“ Varappuyara Neeruyarum Neeruyara Nelluyarum

                  Nelluyara Kudiuyarum  Kudiuyara Konuyarum”- Avvaiyar

      Water, according to the Americans, is poor man’s fertilizer.  The statement is true in the case of Tamils as well, as rain and water are identical with fertility and productivity of the farms.  Water is so indispensable for growing plants and crops on soil, that it appears, it is more important than manure and fertilizer. The rain water is the best source of this supply and in order to create awareness about the value of rain in Tamil country, they were using Proverbs related with rain and enhance the knowledge  on forecasting agricultural science through the ages.  However, Modern methods of agriculture largely depend on a number of implements and an element of technology and engineering is involved in every agricultural operations.  Ploughing, pulverising, levelling of the soil, cleaning grading of seed, drilling, irrigating, inter-cultivating, weeding, harvesting, threshing and finally hauling of the crop to the markets are all operations to which the skill of the modern technology  may be applied to enhance efficiency along with the traditional method of cultivation.  But onething all should remember that the proverb used by our ancestors  is the concentrated essence of the wisdom and experience of ages, which will go a long way to help us to a knowledge of the agriculture of the country and to draw some useful, scientific deductions from them.

      Hence this paper helps us to know the past experience of our ancestors and lead the present and guideline for the future generation to carriedout agricultural activities in a properway.   Generally, Agricultural activities may be classified into  nine main heads such as Husbandry, Soil, Manure, Ploughing, Transplanting, Sowing, Cultivating seasons, Rains, and Crops. Therefore, this paper reveals only the proverbs used by Tamilians regarding Rain  and how these proverbs helps the farmers  to understand without scientific equipments and forecaste the suitable weather to start cultivation.  Tamil proverbs advise the farmers to take preventive measures to save agriculture  from the natural calamities. Moreover, Tamil proverb helps the cultivators to select the right time to start cultivation and  increase agicultural  production.

PROVERB ABOUT RAIN-forecasting agricultural science :

     This paper refers only couple dozens of proverb for this study, due to restriction of pages.  But this paper helps to understand the contribution of Tamils to agricultural science by pridict the future by Tamil proverbs.  A few references are as follows:

     “Crops without rain and children without mother  will not thrive.”   It forecast the importance of rain for the crops cultivation  in a simple way i.e. if the child has no mother  means do not expect  repayment of a  child to the society.   In such a way , if there is no rain, crops will not thrive or yield.

     “Cessation of rain in Margali is just like a place deprived of its woods.”  If there is no rain in the month of Margali means there is no plant can grow well. So the agriculturist can able to understand that failure of rain in the month of Margali cause for

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the dreary and sunburnt waste.  It can predict the future weather condition, and warned the farmer, not to carriedout any cultivation.

      “Three rains a month are required to keep up proper agriculture.”  This proverb advised the farmer that proper agriculture required three times rain in a month.

      “Summer commences in Thai” which tells that the First part of summer starts in the month of Thai or second part of January. This proverb urge the farmer that if the summer starts, the farmer has to save water, foodgrains for future use.

     “A great number of white butterflies signifies heavy floods.” If we found more number of white butterflies in the atmosphere which forecaste or pridict the heavy rain and flood.  It forecaste the society to take precautionary efforts to prevent flood, by desilting ponds, lake, or warter reservoirs and storage of water and prevent flood and save men and material from heavy loss may occurred due to flood.

     “Nothing will prosper without rain.” This proverb teaches that the failure of rain cause for scarcity of food and water and no sign for prosperity in life, which alert the society and government  to tackle the situation by taking necessary  steps well in advance  to store food grains and other necessay commodities from surples areas to the deficity area or affected areas and made an announce for the recovery  measures well in advance.

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“Excessive wind indicates rain.” If the wind blow excessively cause for the arrival of proper rainfall. If the wind blow excessively, which forecaste the farmers to be prepare their land for cultivation.

     “The greater the thunder, the less the rain.”  This proverb forecaste the less rainfall may occur as soon as the greater thunder sound.   If we heard the greater thunder sounds, which is the warning bell  to the people that we may receive less rain, needn’t worry about the heavy rainfall may occur that time and change the pattern of cultivation with the help of minimum rain.

    “ Lightning forebodes rain.” If we can see the Lightning, after that surely expected to gets rainfall and prepare the land for cultivation.

     “Oh farmer get out of the field with the young shrubbery in hand should you see the first Crescent Moon in Arpasi,”  First crescent Moon in the Arpasi  observed carefully by the farmers helps them to understand that, there is no use of transplanting in the field. It they do it, it may cause for failure of crop in the year, led to heavy loss to the farmers.  If there is a first crescent moon seen in the month of Arpasi, which  insist that  the farmers should not to do  transplantation.

     “No rain after Margali and no army after Bharata War”. After the month of Margali, the cultivators didn’t expect any rain for agricultural activities. The proverb

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compare rain with the availability of soldiers here.  No soldiers available after Bharata war, the basic truth is , if rains in the month of Margali means the farmers have agricultural work.  So if there is no rain, there is no agricultural work to the farmers to continue after Margali.

“ No rain after Karthigai and no donor after King Karnan.” The rain in the month of  Karthigai is the greatest  boon to the cultivators.If it fails, after that the cultivators didn’t expect rain for cultivation.  Here the rain is compared with the greatest donar King Karnan.  There is no rain in the month of Karthigai which is the greatest warning about the experience of famine, to the farmers and the government to take necessary recovery steps to save people from starvation.

“ If the rain-bow appears under the auspices of Swathy star rain will not fail”. This proverb forecast or predict  the future rainfall, which create confidence and hope in the minds of cultivators. On the auspices of Swathy star, if we saw the rain-bow, which ensure the rain fall, which is a symbol of definite rainfall and helps the farmers to ensure regular agricultural activities.

“The Crescent during the month of Thai should never be slanting”. The crescent seen in the month of Thai means which ensure the regular agricultural activities. “Thunder storm on the 5^th Avani indicates plenty of rain during the year”.       “When Venus enters Kumbam ( One of the Zodiac) there will be abundant rain.”

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“ If there be drizzling in Arpasi, there will be very heavy rains in Kartigai.”  “The fall of rain on the 1^st Purattasy and the failure of rain on the Arpasi indicate rain.” “ If there is no rain fall on the 1^st of Karthigai the rains throughout the month will fail.” The above mentioned proverbs clearly mentioned about the time and month of the copious rainfall situations and scarcity of rainfall, If the cultivator observed and understand the proverb means no need to approach the scientific equipments to know about the weather condition and lead him to select  suitable cultivable methods at that time. Rainfall is abundant and well distributed, there is immunity from famine but mere abundance alone will not secure it.  Even abundant rainfall, if unfavourably distributed, may lead to scarcity or famine.  So construction of well, sinking new wells and repairs to old ones, installation of persian wheels, Rahats and other lifting appliances-dams and channels, tube wells, pumping installations and levers form which will help in the reclamation of waste and the utilisation of rain water.Moreover,  In order to avoid, untimely rainfall, we have to save environment and aware about global warming and planting more trees to get proper rainfall in time.  

     “Pen your sheep if there be lightning in one and the same time at the Elam and Kongu points.”20(Elam is Ceylon and represents the Eastern point and Kongu is the Malabar country and represents the western point)  i.e. the proverb meaning if therebe lightning in one and the smaetime at the Eastern and western points in the horizon there will be a heavy rain.

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    “ The rains at the time when the Moon enters the Cancer (one of the Zodiac) will pierce the stones,”    “ Water and theif should be first secured as both have

got a tendency to run off and then let off”. “ There will be 12 showers, before a cow is milked everyday i.e. Constant rain in Arpasi.” “ In Karthigai the rains won’t cease to allow you to clean your vessels i.e. there will be incessant rain.”

 The above proverbs clearly stated that the heavy rain  which cause for heavy damage to men and material. It cautioned to take preventive measures to avoid agricultural loss, by make the tanks really of protective value, they  should first be put into good repair and be provided with proper arrangement for controlling and distributing the water, so that there may be not breaches of tank due to heavy rains or flood.   It might be possible to start depleting the reservoir a few days earlier anticipating floods based on rainfall in the catchment and flood warning.  Moreover, these proverbs alert the farmers about the nature of rainfall and motivated him to take preventive measure at the time of copious rainfall.

        Hence, I conclude  that The material and physical basis of agriculture and the condition of the soil can be improved upon permanently only through the provision of irrigational facilities.  Irrigation supplements the water supplied by rainfall, even in early times the tamil poets who described the importance of irrigation  that “a King who brought land and water together was indeed the Creator of lives, and bodies of

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his subjects.”   So, we should follow the Tamil Proverbs TaTof our experienced forefathers  forecasting agricultural science and increase agricultural production and to be the  creator of nation’s prosperity  and lead other countries to follow our agricultural science.

Endnotes

Christianna P.A. Samuel, Cropping Pattern in Tirunelveli District 1901-1950, Chennai, 1989.

Durgadoss.S.K., TamilNattup palamozhigal,(Tamil) Vannathi Pathippagam Chennai, 1978.

Government of Tamilnadu Public Work Department Water Resources Organization, Institute for Water Studies, Taramani, IWS Report No. 14/96 , Chennai.

G.O. Ms. No. 3749, Public Works (1950) Dept. dt 6/10/1950.

Irrigation in Southern India (ASO-B533)

Jan Harold Brunvand, The Study of American folklore an Introduction, University of Utilit, 1968.Jayaraman.N.V., Palamozhikalil Velalanmai Ariviyal,(Tamil) Tamilnadu Velanmaip Palkalaik Kazhagam, 1980.

Kumarapillai.J., Vellalar Palamozhigal Nanchil Nadu,(Tamil) Unpublished M.Phil., Dissertation, Nagercoil, 1981.

Lall.M.G.-Vide the Indian Review, VolIV, 1954, June, 1954, Hundred Facts about Indian Agriculture.

Lurdhu.D., Tamil palamozhigal  Oor Ayvoo,(Tamil) Unpublished Ph.D., Thesis, M.K. University, Madurai, 1980.

Maclean.C.D., Madras Administrative Manual, 1885. TNA.

Perumal.V. Principles of Classification of Tamil Proverbs, Size and Structure, Vol.I, Indian University  Tamil Teachers Tenth Conference, Annamalainagar, Chidambaram, 1978.

Report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India, 1928.

Ramnad District Mannual,Part-I, TNA.

Sampath.R.K., & Ganesan Jeyalakshmi, Economics of Dry Farming in Tamilnadu,Sangam Publishers, Madras, 1972.

Sastri.K.A.N., The Culture and History of Tamils

Singarajan.S., Compedium on Agriculture- Technological and other Improvements , TNA., Chennai.1985.

The Indian Year Book & Who’s Who, 1942-43.

Zacharias.C.W.B., Madras Agriculture, Madras, 1950.

  Proverbs collected from rural villages of Tamilnadu.

MRS. KRISHNAMMAL AN ORDINARY WOMAN BECOME AN EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTOR OF SOUTH INDIA

ABSTRACT

 Mrs. Krishnammal Jeganathan has done miraculous changes in the society especially among the landless masses, downtrodden women, NGOs, Government Reforms and National Committees and what not.  Mrs. Krishnammal Jagannathan, either independently or together with her husband, has established a total of seven non-governmental institutions for the poor based on three main objectives viz,  Bhoodan Movement i.e. Gifting land voluntarily to needy with Acharya Vinoba Bhave; Land-reform movement to eliminate atrocities of landlords on poor, and Coastal Farm Land protection from Industries.   In addition to this she has also played an active role in wider public life. She has been a Senate member of the Gandhigram Trust and University and of Madurai University. She was also a member of a number of local and state social welfare committees and a member of the National Committee on Education, the Land Reform Committee and the Planning Committee. Her contribution to society recognized by awards and honoured her selfless service. She is born an ordinary woman, who became an has extraordinary contributor of South India, this paper is the testimony for her heroic deed in Indian history.  The unsung history fact should be done research to made her attempt to become familiarize to create social justice to downtrodden women and empowered women in India.    As India celebrates 72 years of independence, women were part of the Indian Independence Struggle. These were ordinary women from all walks of life who managed to make extraordinary contributions to the cause of freedom.  Krishnammal Jagannathan was a prominent voice protesting against social injustice in Tamil Nadu. She worked tirelessly towards uplifting the condition of the landless and poor people in the Southernmost State of the country. Krishnammal Jagannathan is also the founder of the Land for Tillers’ Freedom (LAFTI) movement. Krishnammal Jagannathan was a woman and activist who transformed South India by using the power of the Gandhian principles.

UNSUNG HEROINEOF INA FROM TAMILNADU - SARASWATHY RAJAMANI

  BY DR. J. STELLA, M.A., B.ED., M.PHIL., S.D.T.D., PH.D., D.LITT.

The history of freedom struggle narrated with the heroic deeds of great men with little reference about prominent women fighters born with silver spoon or belongs to ruling community or rich academic background.  Thousands of women freedomsfighter’s contribution to India were ignored or insignificant in the history of Tamil Nadu during the Indian National Movement.  These unsung heroines deed should be included to fill the lapse in writing the history of Tamil Nadu to regain its glory in the past.  Many women participants who were took active participation without any fear to face the bullet with dare while fought for the freedom of India.  One among the unsung heroine was Rajamani the direct contributor of INA and also refer two more indirect participants of INA and Indian Freedom Struggle.

     The entire history of the freedom movement is replete with the saga of bravery, sacrifice, military intelligence wing of the Indian National Army and political sagacity of not only great women of the country.   Many prominent women played a vital leading role in the Indian Freedom Movement. Many thousands of women directly or indirectly support freedom struggle by providing their wealth and demanding justice and led many agitations by raise their fist and take to the streets demanding freedom from British.  When I was searched for women participants from Southern India, the researcher has not found not exceeding ten freedom fighters in the history of Tamil Nadu.  Moreover, When Subhash Chandra Bose made a call for joining INA, many young women sent their spouse for fought for Indian freedom by joining INA.  One among them was Mrs.Shunmugaththai, who was the researcher’s own aunty.  As a young uneducated women with one born child and another elder son not complete the age of 5, at the age of 21she  was ready to respond another call of  her caste leader PasumponMuthuramalingaThevar and prepared her mind and soul to sendher spouse  to join INA. After He joined INA, he took a group photos and sent to family members along with a letter worth mentioning that INA is going to leave the country and marching towards Burma, If I am alive I will back to home and see you all after World War II, otherwise accept that I was no more and I sacrificed my life for India. As per his letter,Unfortunately, he didn’treturn home after World War II. The only evidence that her husband in INA was some black and white photos with my father Mr.  M. Jesudoss, took before leaving India, Laterwhich was the only evidence and main source of her to claim meagre freedom fighter’s family Pension. In the meantime, the whole burden left on   My father M. Jesudoss’s shoulder as an elder boy of the family.  As soon as he has completed III Form, and he joined British Force as a trainee in Madras Boys Regiment, fortunately, by the end of  his training period World War II came to an end.  Fate played vital role, sister’s husband in INA and M.Jesudoss in British during  Indian Freedom Struggle.  When My father Jesudossstood for roll call, one British official came an asked him  that anyone of your relative in INA, as a young innocent boy answered that yes, my sister’s husband Sevaththa Pandian, by hearing the name, that British official give a Great Salute to my father and described his uncle’s heroic deed as a forceful officer in INA.  After a year long hard military training he was deputed  as a drawsman in the Department of Engineering, he earn Rs. 82/- as his salary which is almost equal to British Official said by Mr. Jesudoss.  When the two nation theory announced all religious people fought each other, he was deputed as a wireless operator on the day of implementing two nation theory and declared India’s Independence.He often recollected that I never forgot the day because everyone in Lahore to Rawalpindi, Muslims move from India to Pakistan and Hindus from Pakistan to India, migrants suffered with great grieve and sorrow due to loss of men and material and a man was killed and through him on railway station nakedly with wounds.  I can’t forget that scene in my life he said.  Further, he added that untold miseries happed on the day, all houses kept two kind of water pot with religious mark on it in Punjab.  When he described to me, I don’t think that these were all the source material to write history due to my ignorance.  Even, hedon’t keep his shooting medal, he melted it for anklet making for his sister’s daughter.  We never think the value of the medals who won for his service.  At present, World War Medal and Independence Medal in the same cover that the British officials send to his native address and preserve it as old article.  On the day of declaration of India’s Independence, he and truck driver alone went to Peshawar to brought back Indian Army Official safely to India within a day.At that juncture, when the truck enter into India – Pakistan Border, one young Punjabi flat over Gelatins bombs hide underneath and saved his truck and army official safely.    Often, he remained this incident and said that the martyrdomPunjabi’s wife got only a medal and very meagre family pension, it’s no way equal to his sacrifice.Today I am lived because of his sacrifice, otherwise I was no more on the day itself. Punjabi are well known for patriots and martyrdom.  In such a way many lakhs of Indians lost their life, happiness and think only about nation and ready for sacrifice his soul for Nation building.   Further researcher’s father narrated his experience in army and His sister’s husband never turn back home.  Ultimately, researcher’s aunty Mrs, Shunmugathai Packiasamy Pandian of GurukkalPatti, accepted the reality that her husband was a martyrdom for India and wore white saree as a symbol of widowhood and other auspicious mark of removing tilak and flowers at the age of 16 years old.   Like her thousands of Indian uneducated ladies lost their husband by sendingto INA.  Now – a -days, the women who were lost their husband in INA received meagre pension as recognized their service for the nation.Here, the sacrifice of a woman was not even respected by their own family and  social taboo prevent them to access public areas, which was see them as inauspicious symbols, throughout their life due to widowhood, which is   increasing their mental agony of the affected woman. These pitiable women’s sacrifice their life and children lost their father, sister lost their brother, parents lost their son  and total devastation of their absence in the family.  So many of such women were not inclusive in writing history of Tamil Nadu. Saraswathi Rajamani was a veteran of the Indian National Army (INA). She is well known for her work in the military intelligence wing of the army.

OBJECTIVES

This research helps the historians to understand the role of women in freedom struggle in India.  To high light the contribution of woman hailed from Tamil Nadu in India’s freedom struggle.  To understand the sacrifice of women freedom fighters to attain Independence. The readers enable to appreciate the role of Saraswathi Rajamani who was worked as an efficient spy in INA.  To enable the historians to appreciate women who went through extraordinary struggles to make the dream of Independence a reality. To stir the patriotic fervor among the public by highlighting the role of women in Indian freedom struggle and made them as a courageous woman.Rajamani was born in Rangoon, Burma (present day Myanmar) in 1927. Her forefathers were belong to Thanjavur and settled in Burma.   Her father owned a gold mine and was one of the richest Indians in Rangoon.Her family was a staunch supporter of the Indian Freedom Movement and also financially supported Indian National Movement.

SOURCES

     This research was based on Primary Sources gathered directly  from Mr. J. Jesudoss of Moovirundali Village,  and Mr. ChinnaDurai of Gurukkal Patti, Sankaranynarkoil Taluk, Tirunelveli district and News Papers Special Correspondence Report, You Tube documentary acted by Rajamani and available net sources.

HISTORIC INCIDENT CHANGED RAJAMANI’S LIFE

Rajamani's life changed when she was barely 10 years old. When, Mahatma Gandhi visited their palatial home in Rangoon, the entire family played host to the Mahatma,while Rajamani was practicing rifle shooting in their garden. Family members bought her from Garder,  Gandhiji asked her why she needed a gun. "To shoot down the Britishers of course," replied the young girl. Gandhiji told her that satyagraha was the only way to gain freedom. She said no, I want to shoot them because the Britishers loot us so shot down them to  get freedom of India.

DONAR OF INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY LIVES IN PENURY

At the age of 83, SaraswathyRajamani lives in a one-room portion in a dilapidated house opposite the Royapettah police station, where several photographs of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose adorn the cramped room's walls.  In one corner is an old sewing machine, which she used for stitching cloth she collected from tailoring shop and used waste cloth, she stitched and handed over to the needy or to the orphan homes. On a small narrow table is a radio — her only companion — gifted to her by a friend in the early 1960s. It is obvious, Ms. Rajamani is struggling to meet both ends meet. Not surprising, as she lives off the freedom fighters pension given by the Government.

A veteran of the Indian National Army (INA), Rajamani is too proud to admit that she lives in penury. The tragedy is that she was born in a rich gold miner's family that was a staunch supporter of the Indian freedom movement, in Rangoon in Burma (now Myanmar) and it gave all their wealth for the freedom struggle.C.M. Santhanam, another INA member, who even now calls on Rajamani regularly, says that some of the members had petitioned successive governments to allot a small flat for the old lady, but to no avail.

CONTRIBUTION OF SARASWATHY IN INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY

 Netaji's visit to Rangoon at the height of the World War II to collect funds for the INA and recruit volunteers made a lasting impact on her. As a 16-year-old young girl, inspired by Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s fiery speech at Rangoon, she donated all her gold and diamond jewelry to the INA.Nethaji Realizing that the young girl might have donated the jewelry innocently, Nethaji  enquired about the donor and visited her house to return it. However, Rajamani was adamant and said that all jewels belongs to her and not to my father, so Rajamaniasked Nethaji  to uses it for the army. Nethaji was highly impressed by her determination, he christened her Saraswathi. At this juncture,Sheexpressed her desire to join the INA.  Netaji  said that Lakshmi [wealth] can comes but Saraswatithat need of an hour for INA and  recruited her in the militaryintelligence wing and named her “Saraswathy.”

APPOINTED AS SPY

     In 1942, Rajamani was recruited to the Rani of Jhansi regiment of the INA and was part of the army’s military intelligence wing.  Rajamani says that she and four other girls in the unit masqueraded as men for almost two years to gather intelligence on British agents.While posing as a boy, her name was Mani.As covert agents behind enemy lines, they were responsible for intercepting government orders and military intelligence from the British officers and handing these over to INA.   Once, one of her colleagues was caught by the British troops.

     To rescue her, Rajamani infiltrated the British camp dressed as a dancer. She drugged the British officers who were in-charge and freed her colleague. Ms. Saraswathi, during her four-year stint in the INA from 1942, played an active part in operations in the Indo-Burma theatre of war.  A member of the intelligence wing, she was tasked with getting vital information from behind enemy lines at great personal risk.

 Recalling her experiences in the Eastern sector with pride and patriotic fervor, Ms. SarawathiRajamani said among the unforgettable episodes of those years was the successful rescue of a fellow INA spy abducted by the British troops.  Along with some of her colleagues, they had secured their comrade's release after tranquilising the British unit. However, while fleeing from the enemy camp, she was shot and wounded. While they were escaping, Rajamani was shot on the right leg by a British guard but she still managed to avoid capture.  Her work in the army ended when Netaji disbanded the INA after World War II.For four years from 1942, when she was recruited into the Rani of Jhansi regiment in Burma where she was born and raised, Saraswathi was a member of the INA’s intelligence wing and joined operations in the Indo-Burma theatre of war. 

BULLET WOUND

           She recalls how one of the girls who was caught by the British, she dressed herself as a dancing girl, drugged the officers and rescued her colleague. She even suffered a bullet wound in her right leg.  Still bleeding as she ran, Rajamani and her friend climbed up a tree, where theycamped for 3 days while the British carried out their search operation.  The bullet wound left her with a permanent limp, but Rajamani was proud of it.  She was given a medal by the Japanese Emperor himself, along with the rank of Lieutenant in INA’s Rani of Jhansi Brigade. 

RETURNED TO TAMIL NADU & SETTLED IN CHENNAI

When the INA was disbanded after the British won the war, Saraswathy of Rani of Jhansi Regiment  and the other INA members returned to India on Netaji's instructions. After World War II, Rajamani’s family gave away all their wealth, including the gold mine, and returned to India. In 2005, a newspaper reported that Saraswathi Rajamani was living in Chennai and although sustained by freedom fighters pension, she was struggling to make both ends meet.

PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS OF THE DONOR OF INA

       Eighty-three-year-old Saraswathi proudly carries a bullet wound ? a reminder of her time in the INA.  The wound, a couple of certificates and at least 10 portraits of Netaji that hang from the walls of a dingy tiled-roof room that she calls home are among her most precious possessions.  So are the INA khakis and cap that she donned before limping to Jayalalithaa’s secretariat to receive a dole.

AN APPEAL TO TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT

About 60 years later, ailing, alone and with no money, Saraswathi turned to the Tamil Nadu Government for help. Ms. SarawathiRajamani has appealed to the Chief Minister to allot the flat in Royapettah, an area familiar to her, instead of Anna Nagar. Further she stated that “Four times, I have suffered heart attacks and I do not know how long I can go on.”  In a pre-election year, Jayalalithaa was quick to respond. When Chief Minister Jayalalithaa invited Indian National Army (INA) veteran SaraswathyRajamanito the Secretariat, she wanted to give her financial assistance and a home to call her own. 

MUCH GIVER AS A RECIPIENT

  At the Secretariat, the 83-year-old Ms. Saraswathy had something to present to the Chief Minister: a memento with a portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose inscribed on it.  Clad in INA khaki, Ms. Saraswathi greeted the Chief Minister with a salute and a "Jai Hind!"  Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms. Jayalalithaa  handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund and the Keys of a Tamil Nadu Housing Board flat where she can live free of rent.  The money will be deposited with the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation, out of which Saraswathi can draw a monthly interest of Rs 2,917 all her life.During the devastation tsunami of 2006, she also donated her meagre monthly  pensionas a freedom fighter to  relief fund to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Rajamani answer to press people that “I am not able to speak much these days,” said Saraswathi alias Rajamani, whose parents belonged to Thanjavur. But she recalled with pride the rescue of a “fellow INA spy” abducted by British troops. It was “after tranquillising that British unit, we secured our comrade’s release,” she says. She was shot at and wounded as she fled the enemy camp. 

Overwhelmed with joy, the INA veteran thanked Ms. Jayalalithaa: "I am immensely pleased as the Chief Minister has quickly responded to my appeal for assistance. I wish her a long life so that she will continue to extend a helping hand to the poor and the needy." Saraswathi, who was  one of about 60 INA veterans in the city, only three of whom are women. “The chief minister told me she would also arrange for medical assistance for me, but I politely replied that it may not be necessary.” 

CONTRIBUION TO NATIONAL MUSEUM

She has donated insignia to the INA gallery of the Netaji Subhash Birthplace National Museum in Cuttack, Odisha.Netaji Subhash Birthplace National Museum (NSBNM) in Cuttack would have an exclusive gallery to display the Indian National Army (INA) memorabilia, including photos, portraits and regalia of its soldiers.The gallery is expected to be completed and opened to public on the 112th Birth Anniversary of Netaji on January 23, 2008."We are going to add three new galleries to the existing eight of the double-storied museum  which would be inaugurated on the birth anniversary of the legendary leader. Of these, one gallery would be exclusively dedicated to INA memorabilia," museum Director Chandrabhanu Patel said.Further he stated that, steps have already been taken to collect information and artefacts relating to INA soldiers and persons associated with it- both dead and alive."We hope we would have enough materials of interest to display in the gallery," he added.Meanwhile, a beginning has already been made in this direction when a Delhi-based artist Md Aanwar donated a portrait of Captain Laxmi Panda which would adore the gallery, sources said. IndiaLaxmi was the youngest woman soldier of INA and died at the age of 83.The museum now houses several INA insignia which have been obtained from INA secretary S.Yadav of Delhi.Efforts are on to contact the living INA associates to collect some more artefacts from them to be displayed in the museum, the sources said.Among the main displays is an INA regalia sword which was handed over to Captain D Dasan of Chennai by Netaji himself in 1944.Dasan, now president of Chennai-based Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Memorial National Welfare Foundation, during his visit to the state in 2004 had donated the four-feet long sword to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for display at the museum.Besides, a pair of INA uniforms donated by Lt R Laxmidevi Naidu and other insignia donated by INA associates Capt C. M Santnam of Tokyo regiment and Capt R SaraswatiRajamani of Burma regiment are at the museum.

The researcher conclude that remember unsung heroines of each village should bring in the lime light of writing real history of Tamil Nadu.  India finally got its hard-wonindependence; the courage and contributions of many little-known freedom fighters have faded away from public memory.  Many heroines, who walked shoulder to shoulder with the men during trying times, still remain in the shadows, their faces forgotten and their bravery unsung.  One such unacknowledged heroine is a woman few Indians know about, a woman who live a life of intrigue and danger to help her nation fight colonial rule.   Saraswathi Rajamani was not interested in Gandhiji’s thought of Ahimsa. Whereas she was deeply impressed with Subhash Chandra Bose’s fiery speech and removed all her expensive gold and diamond jewelry and donated it to the Indian National Movement and both inspired each other.  Ultimately INA got a Saraswathi, a bold spy with four of her friends as spies in INA’s intelligence wing.  However, the researcher can’t find the names of her friends joined in INA.  Further, this research concentrate to identify unsung heroines of Tamil Nadu,  woman whose exceptional bravery and intelligence deserves to be recognized and respected by everyone and documented to fill the gap in rewriting history of Tamil Nadu.

History of Chennai 1600-2018 in Tamil

MADARAS – GREATER CHENNAI    CORPORATION DEVELOPMENT

1600 – 2018  -   A STUDY” [in Tamil]

                                               Author Dr.  J. STELLA

     The purpose of this book is to serve as a text for the undergraduate students, readers of history, and Tourist of Chennai City.  This book covers the History of Chennai through the Ages with till date information.  This book made an attempt to describe how do the fisher hamlet become Corporation of Chennai City, the fourth Largest City in India, the Peace City, Secular City with ethnical cultural centre, Gate way of South India, Industrial City, and International Trade Centre and so on. It also covers the legacy of British as an individual person and as a whole left to this city as well as Tamil Nadu State.  Limitation of this attempt is unable to cover the entire history of the city but I have endeavored my best to provide a comprehensive picture of history of Chennai in the right historical perspective in the single book in a simple and lucid style in simple and easy regional language to cater the need of the reader to know about the development of Chennai and capital city of Tamil Nadu.

There are Nine Chapters in this book with 92 subtitles. First chapter entitled as “Government Administrative Departments” deals about the origin and development of some of the Government Administrative Offices like Ft. St. George, Madras High court, Chennai Corporation, Regional Meteorological Centre, Guindy Lodge – Raj Bhavan, Bounquette Hall – Rajaji Hall, and Bank of Madras.

Second chapter explaining about the “Pilgrimage Centres” of Chennai with subtitled of Christian churches, Hindu Temples, Mosque, and Parsee temple.

Third Chapter explain about the “Recreational Centers of Chennai” like Marina Beach, Madras Zoological Park, Cinema Theatres, the Anjelis Hotel, Victoria Memorial Hall, Valluvar Kottam, Chetpet Part and fishing pool, Oomanthurar Government Garden.

Fourth Chapter “Educational Institutions” describes about 17 premier educational institutions in Chennai.  This chapter focused on the incidents cause for the origin and development of various types of educational institutions like general educational institutions, Medical Colleges and Fine Arts College and Institute of Film Technology and so on.

Fifth Chapter “Historical Research Centres Central Libraries and Cultural Centre” focused on Historical Research Centers like Museum and Achieves, Central Libraries, and Cultural Centers in Chennai under 11 subtitles.

Sixth chapter entitled “Transport and Communication”, which describe the origin of road ways – road transport and railways; waterways, airways and telephone & telegraphic services in Chennai City right from its inception to till date.

Seventh chapter titled as “Development of Industries and Trade Centres” “in Chennai City through the ages.  It covers the history of Binny Mil, PRR and sons, Integral coach Factory, MRL, MFL, Tetroid of India, Trade centres like Higginsbhodams, Parry Dare House, Spenzer Plaza, Moore Market, Khaleeli Manson and so on.

Eighth chapter “Palaces and Graveyard” is covered with the history of Arcot Nawab resident viz.  Chepauk palace, Amir Mahal the only palace now in Tamil Nadu as well as it cover the historical evidence or sources of history i.e. Palaverkadu Dutch Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery, St. Roque’s  Cemetery help us to know about the trade conduct with east and western countries.

Ninth chapter “Chennai – Name of the Places and Reason” explain the origin and development of Chennai City with the reason for the areas’ names with historic incidents and its value in writing the history of Chennai in specific and general in Tamil Nadu History.

Appendix helps the readers to know the year and incident in the history of Chennai through the ages.  Finally glossary to know the words used in writing the History of Chennai and some personalities left legacy in the city of Chennai.