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Ten-day SARAS exhibition in Coimbatore showcases women self-help groups products
The exhibition features 172 stalls, including 10 from States such as Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Puducherry, and Kerala
Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 in Coimbatore and the Nilgiris on December 29
Vishnupuram awards presented to five authors in Coimbatore
North Chennai to World Cup: Back-to-back carrom champions rise through struggle and skill
Carrom is a quiet theatre of geometry and nerve, a powdered square where whites and blacks wait their turn, and the red queen holds her breath in the middle. A flick of the finger sends intent gliding across the wooden board, and the collisions of coins echo like measured decisions. It is a game of patience and precision where control and calm take centre stage. The carrom board has always been a staple in Tamil homes and schools, often brought out between homework, during holidays, and in the evenings, teaching the players the importance of focus and precision. But on the silver screen, the game was rarely allowed this innocence. Cinema repeatedly pushed carrom into dimly lit rooms, claiming it was almost exclusively for rowdies and villains from Baashha , where gangsters gather around a board like a council of power, to Kaakha Kaakha , where villains play with casual cruelty. For every such loaded symbol that cinema fixes in place, resistance inevitably follows sometimes loud and confrontational, and other times, quiet and transformative. In the case of carrom, it is the latter: a series of powerful wins that is gently undoing decades of stereotyping. Youngsters today, especially young women from North Chennai, are reclaiming the board not merely at home or in schools, but in tournaments and games, representing the country on the world stage. And in the lineup of these youngsters stands the recent world champion, L Keerthana. After securing three gold medals at the Maldives this month and winning the World Cup, the 22-year-old returned home to a grand welcome from her neighbourhood. The scale of the victory, however, brought with it a flood of media appointments. When she sits down with CE, her answers come out polished and precise almost templated, as though carefully rehearsed so no name on her mental list of gratitude is missed. I want to thank my family, my late father, especially, for teaching me the game when I was just six years old. Then my mentor, Nithiyarajan, who motivated me and helped me get back on my feet when I was at my lowest. Then my coach, Maria Irudayam sir, Amudhan sir from the Chennai District Carrom Association (CDCA), Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Thiruvottiyur MLA KP Shankar. But a few questions in, away from glaring lights and watchful cameras, Keerthana begins to ease into the conversation, her guard softening, her voice opening up to reveal the person behind the victory. The high that follows a grand win is familiar to every champion, but the road that leads there is rarely shared. The path this young woman speaks of was shaped by poverty and grief and sustained by persistence, made possible by the immense support of her mentors. Multiple restarts Keerthana practised the game from a young age. She rose to represent clubs, the district, and the state, but then came the fall. Her fathers death, a failed Class 10, the loss of both studies and sport, and the Covid lockdown that pushed her family into poverty. She took up work in a steel patra unit. But a few months later, she found her way back. Despite long workdays, she either woke up before dawn to practise or would play late into the night, slowly reclaiming the game that had once slipped from her hands. Nithiyarajan says, For her, it was like what they say in Tamil, Thottil palakkam sudugaadu varaikum (Habits formed in the cradle last until the cremation ground or death). When she was young, she used to teach my son to play. I couldnt let her end her carrom career while my son was going for tournaments and games, and so, I decided to support her and take her to tournaments. With his support, Keerthana restarted, returning through a state match in 2022 and rising swiftly to the nationals in Mumbai, where she finished third. That season, Nithiyarajan stepped in to cover her expenses, and soon after, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) recognised her talent, offering a one-year contract, 2023-24, with a steady stipend that allowed her to train and play without worry. But when the contract ended, the support fell away, and poverty once again pushed her back into work. This time around, I joined as a carrom teacher at a private school, Keerthana says, adding that she restarted once again in 2025. In this stretch, she went on to win the nationals for Tamil Nadu after a decade-long gap, and then carried that momentum all the way to a World Cup victory. But Keerthana isnt the only one keeping the momentum alive. Just a year ago, Khazima M Basha became the youngest-ever womens world carrom champion. Interestingly, the two back-to-back World Cup winners have been neighbours since childhood and even played for the same club until very recently. We have known each other since we were children, and we are friends. I am really happy that she won the World Cup this year, Khazima says, adding how they didnt just share the same streets and practice halls, but a journey of friendly rivalry and mutual inspiration. Keerthana was felicitated by the CM Stalin and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin Vada Chennai and carrom These wins from North Chennai immediately raise questions about what that region is doing differently and correctly to produce top players. Nithiyarajan points out that numerous clubs are actively introducing children to the game, and many working-class parents are seeing it as a pathway to scholarships and government job opportunities. But does this mean the talent is coming solely or to an overwhelming extent from North Chennai? Maria Irudayam, the two-time World Carrom Champion and nine-time national champion, who is now the secretary, Tamil Nadu Carrom Association, disagrees. Players are coming from across Chennai, not just from Vada Chennai. We have no numbers to prove that the talent is solely coming from Vada Chennai, either. Many players from here have played till nationals, but undeniably, the wins, especially these last two years World Cup wins, have come from the players here, he says. In fact, Maria believes that the theory of North Chennai harbouring this talent could have held even in his youth, when board rooms were everywhere. Just within two streets of his then-residence in Periamet, he recalls, there were four or five board rooms. But over time, as police began encountering individuals with criminal records frequenting these spaces, authorities started requiring licences for board rooms and with that, the harmless game of carrom gradually became tagged as a rowdys pursuit, he says. Asserting that talents are coming from across the city, he informs that the other regions producing notable carrom talent in the state include Coimbatore, Tiruchy and Madurai. Many promising juniors are coming out of Villupuram district too, he adds. Keerthana and Khazimas wins, however, have brought some state-led infrastructural support to Vada Chennai. After Khazimas win, for instance, Udhayanidhi Stalin improved the board room facility run by her father. It now runs with complete air conditioning and multiple carrom boards with stands and chairs, buzzing with up-and-coming players. Despite better infrastructure to help players, the talents emerging from Vada Chennai often share familial backgrounds similar to Keerthanas. Many children here are coming from the same kind of background as I. They are learning at clubs and trying to win big. I will continue to play my game but also teach those children so they come up in life too, she notes. And when asked how she hopes the sport will change circumstances, she speaks of a simple yet heartfelt dream: a better home, with space to display her medals and trophies. Many of my big trophies are at the club because I have no place to keep them at home. The smaller cups are all stored away in huge vessels that we dont use. I wish that I would soon shift with my family to a better house, and build a few shelves on the wall there to display my victories, she says, glancing at her wrist watch shaped and designed like a carrom board. Every tick marks the end of the time she set aside for this interview, yet with each passing second, it also seems to draw her modest dream nearer, almost as if the game itself were quietly steering her toward it.
Unauthorised advertisement hoardings remain a persistent issue in Coimbatore city
Special roll observer reviews post-enumeration process of electoral rolls under SIR in Coimbatore
IFFCO Nanoventions opens innovation hub in Coimbatore to boost nano farming
The centre develops products such as Nano urea and Nano DAP, which improve nutrient efficiency while reducing fertiliser use
New traffic arrangements introduced at Uppilipalayam flyover underpass in Coimbatore city
Over 25,000 take part in Coimbatore Marathon
Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy want to know whether the development activities had in any way affected nesting by migratory and inhabitant birds
School bus loses rear wheel on G.D. Naidu flyover in Coimbatore
Coimbatore hospital performs rare intra-cardiac repair on infant from Nigeria
Coimbatore Youth Dies After Being Held Hostage By Cyber Scammers
His mother Geetha said her son managed to inform her about his condition over the phone, adding that he was 'forcibly made to engage in cyber crimes and kept under harassment'.
Farmers grievances redress meeting in Coimbatore scheduled for December 24
Own-car rental app platforms dent business of cab travel agencies in Coimbatore city
Over 97 lakh voters deleted from Tamil Nadu draft electoral after SIR
Chennai, Chengalpet, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore were among the constituencies with the highest percentage of deletions at 35.5 per cent, 25.2 per cent, 23.1 per cent, and 20.1 per cent respectively
Pawnbroker surrenders after beating woman to death in Coimbatore
Tamil Nadu Draft SIR Released: 14.25 Lakh Voters Dropped In Chennai, 6.5 Lakh In Coimbatore
The Election Commission said the publication of the draft roll follows the statewide SIR exercise aimed at cleaning up electoral lists.
Vijay Changed His Plane Mid-Campaign, Here's The Per-Day Cost Of His Private Jet To Coimbatore
Vijay, TVK founder, switched private jets for his Tamil Nadu election campaign, using VT-PCR Gulfstream and VT-RFX aircraft, with rental costs reaching several lakhs per trip
Chennai key hub for global capability centres: Study
CHENNAI: Chennai has consolidated its position as one of Indias most dependable hubs for global capability centres (GCCs) and enterprise artificial intelligence delivery, combining a deep talent pool with cost stability and long-term operating confidence, according a study by Bengaluru-based firm ANSR. ANSR, which recently entered into a partnership with the state government to strengthen the high-value technology and engineering services, said the city is home to over six lakh experienced technology professionals, supported by an annual pipeline of more than 85,000 graduates. This has enabled multinational companies to scale large teams without the talent volatility seen in several competing markets. The study noted that global capability centres are increasingly relying on Chennai for large-scale AI and data programmes, core engineering, platform development and long-duration operations where employee retention and institutional knowledge are critical. Similarly, Coimbatore is emerging as the states second pillar in the GCC landscape. Traditionally known for manufacturing, the city reached an inflection point in 2025 as enterprises began viewing it as a credible execution hub for analytics-led and AI-adjacent work, the report said.
Pumpkin flower: A matchmaker and Ayurveda hero that blooms in Margazhi
While Chennai is slowly warming up to the idea of girl-date bouquets and babys breath tied with handwritten notes, Tamil culture has long lived in an intimate and almost obsessive relationship with flowers. Here, flowers are not occasional gestures but daily companions, woven into hair, pinned behind ears, strung into garlands, and carried with love. Their colours announce mood, their fragrances linger long after they wither, and their aesthetics complete an ensemble in ways no ornament can. Yet this obsession runs deeper than the adornment. Flowers in Tamil society have also long carried meanings of class, caste , and sanctity. Some blooms are elevated, deemed worthy only of the gods, while others are considered too ordinary or too impure to be worn at all. Then there exist flowers that are neither garlanded nor used for worship. They linger instead on the margins of use and symbolism. In these margins exists the poosani poo or the pumpkin flower a large, trumpet-shaped yellow flower blossoming barely a foot or two above the ground in Margazhi the month devoted to the gods. Historian, Meenakshi Devaraj, says that the use of the pumpkin flowers in kolams during Margazhi and Thai isnt an ancient practice. It is just a local practice that came up in the pre-modern era. In many parts of Tamil Nadu, especially Coimbatore and Tiruppur, women pluck these flowers and decorate their kolams outside their homes along with cow dung cakes. Ecologically, cow dung cakes were placed atop kolams because they gradually enriched the soil with organic matter and microbes, creating a small but fertile micro-environment. At the same time, they sun-dry through the day and, once fully dried, were used as a low-cost cooking fuel in traditional Indian wood stoves. Though the flowers resting on them serve no functional purpose; their presence instead distills the act into a cultural symbol. But why were poosani flowers chosen specifically as a cultural symbol? Meenakshi says that there were many flowers that were used to decorate kolams but poosani poo seems to have stood the test of time. The reasons could be one or all of the following, she says, explaining, First, is its size. It is big and is therefore eye-catchy. Then comes its colour yellow which is associated with turmeric or gold. Whenever you describe yellow flowers, even kondrai [Cassia fistula] to a certain extent, they are compared to gold and are always seen as a symbol of prosperity. It is believed that they invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Third is, it is both seasonal and is easy to pluck since it grows close to the ground. Women also sang folk songs while going out to pluck poosani flowers and adorning their kolams with it, she notes. In many parts of Tamil Nadu, women even have the practice of collecting the sun-dried poosani flowers from their kolams throughout the month of Margazhi, and offering it to the nearest water body in Thai mainly on Maatu Pongal or Kaanum Pongal days. That is a celebration in itself, Meenakshi says. While this is primarily a ritual practice tied to honouring deities associated with rivers or offering prayers, the biodegradable flowers also helped support aquatic life by gradually releasing nutrients into the water body. A matchmaker In many villages, the poosani flower placed on doorposts or columns often acted as a subtle matchmaker. A bloom outside the home signalled that the family had a daughter of marriageable age, quietly inviting arranged marriage proposals. It is further understood in this context: in the pre-modern era, women had limited access to public spaces and were largely confined to their homes. Glimpses of young women of marriageable age were often caught during Margazhi, when they stepped out to draw kolams or to the nearby fields to pluck flowers for adornment, or when they visited temples, offering rare, fleeting opportunities for observation and matchmaking, Meenakshi illustrates. This custom even finds a playful echo in popular culture, such as the Ilaiyaraaja song Vasalile Poosani Poo sung by SPB and Janaki, where romance subtly unfolds around the act of keeping a pumpkin flower outside on a kolam. The timing of this practice can even be seen as deliberate. In Tamil Hindu culture, marriages are typically held in the auspicious month of Thai, giving prospective families just enough time to observe, inquire, and prepare for the matrimonial season. Beyond culture Beyond its roles in culture, decoration, and symbolism, the flower also finds applications in Ayurveda for its therapeutic properties. Dr Pratap Chauhan, founder of Jiva Ayurveda, says, Pumpkin flowers role in Ayurveda, is interesting to trace, since across south India, the knowledge has been passed down through families rather than texts and documentation. That lived experience usually tells you something valuable. The flower, though looks simple and fragile, carries beta carotene, Vitamin C, natural antioxidants, and a small amount of fibre that supports smooth digestion, he adds. In Ayurveda, we use it for its lightness, mild anti-inflammatory nature, and calming effect on the digestive tract. If you include it in your meals during humid months, you help your pitta (digestion and metabolism) stay steady, and your gut feels more at ease. Many people do not realise how gently it improves metabolism. Additionally, since it is light and low in calories, one can enjoy them without feeling weighed down, the Ayurveda doctor notes, adding that the key is to eat them fresh and keep the cooking method simple. Ultimately, the poosani poo, that blooms gently against the sprawl of the vine, weaves together multiple threads of life. So the next time you spot a pumpkin flower this season, pause to notice more than its colour.
Coimbatore Corporation plans to complete road restoration works by year end
Coimbatore Corporation plans Phase II works at newly built hockey ground under Namakku Naame scheme
EPFO urges employers in Coimbatore and the Nilgiris to make use of the employees enrolment campaign
Three arrested for murder near Coimbatore
Potential high in Europe for Coimbatores manufacturing sector, say industry experts
Police seek drone from Coimbatore Corporation for enhanced night surveillance at Semmozhi Poonga
Delay in release of LPA funds stalls three major projects in Coimbatore
Coimbatore region targets 40,000 households for rooftop solar energy installations
Nearly 9,000 houses in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and the Nilgiris districts have installed rooftop solar energy system under the PM Surya Ghar scheme
Over 25,000 runners to take part in Walkaroo Coimbatore Marathon 2025
Watch: Pink Patrol Coimbatore: Women cops patrolling streets 24/7 for safety
Seven pink patrol vehicles operated by women police officers are now patrolling Coimbatore 24/7 to prevent crimes against women and children. We joined the Pink Patrol team to see how they respond to distress calls, conduct awareness sessions, and rescue women in trouble across the city.
Special train from Coimbatore to Haridwar via Mangaluru
The train will cater to the extra rush of passengers during the Christmas and New Year holidays
Handcrafted wooden Christmas cribs add festive cheer in Coimbatore Churches
Cribs made of MDF wood, available in church stores across the city, offer an opportunity for families to come together to create a Christmas memory
Man held for harassing ex-employee with CoD parcels in Coimbatore
Fog preparedness review meeting held at Coimbatore airport
Coimbatore MP calls for naming city airport after former CM Karunanidhi
TACT seeks protection for micro units in Coimbatore
Seven pink patrol vehicles in Coimbatore to reach out to women in distress
As seven gleaming pink vehicles, piloted by women police in Coimbatore, set out to prevent crimes against women and children, it also turns the spotlight onwomens safety and freedom
Pudukottai native gets life term for murdering woman in Coimbatore in 2021
Patrol vehicles of Coimbatore City Police to livestream visuals through dashboard, rear cameras
Six migrant workers arrested for murdering Bihar native near Coimbatore
Humane Animal Society launches re-vaccination drive in eight regions of Coimbatore
Since launching the campaign, more than 3,000 dogs have already been vaccinated. The campaign is expecting to cross 6,000 dogs by December 18, 2025
Over 1,000 candidates get appointment letters at job fair held in Coimbatore
National Technical Textiles Mission sets up demo farms for agro textiles
If agricultural universities in south India come forward, a demonstration farm can be set up in the south too, Mission Director Ashok Kumar Malhotra said in Coimbatore
Forest Department steps up vigil in Coimbatore as bachelor herd of tuskers move farther
Coimbatore Corporation reinforces Sengulam Lake bund with clay soil to prevent seepage
Surveillance cameras fail to stop open dumping of waste in Coimbatore
History-sheeter wanted by Coimbatore police shot in the leg in Tiruchi
A team led by sub-inspector Bhaskar from Coimbatore city police had reached Tiruchi in search of the accused who was hiding in a house at Srinivasa Nagar with his associate
Highways Department to invite bids soon for Singanallur flyover in Coimbatore
The Central government recently approved a revised estimate for 170 crore to construct the flyover
Student dies as car rams parked lorry
CHENNAI: A late-night joyride turned tragic for a group of medical students when their luxury car rammed into a firewood-laden lorry, which the police said, was parked illegally on the Thiruporur bypass road on Thursday early morning. The collision left a female student dead and four other students critically injured. The deceased has been identified as Misbah Fathima (21), a third-year Allied Health Sciences student at Balaji Medical College, Chromepet, and a native of Vellore. The police said the deceased was among a group of 10 students who had driven to Mahabalipuram in two cars on Wednesday night. Abhinandan (22), a final-year MBBS student from Coimbatore, was driving the ill-fated car. He was accompanied by fellow medical student Vinayagam (23) from Tirunelveli, and Allied Health Sciences students Mohammed Ali (21) and Navya (21), both natives of Kerala. After dinner and spending time at the beach until 3 am, the group was returning to Chromepet. While traversing the Thiruporur bypass, police sources said, the first car had travelled a significant distance ahead, while the other car, driven by Abhinandan, was trailing behind. Soon after, the second car crashed violently into the rear of the lorry parked on the side of the road. Police sources said the lorry was parked in a way that posed a danger to the oncoming traffic. While some media reports suggested the drivers of the two cars were racing with each other, officials said it may not have been the case. However, they are probing whether the cars were overspeeding. The Thiruporur police pulled out the victims from the crushed vehicle. While Fathima died on the spot, the others were initially rushed to Chengalpattu Government Hospital and later to a private hospital in Kelambakkam. The police said the condition of the four injured students remains critical. Investigations revealed the lorry belonged to Prabhakaran from Cuddalore district, and was transporting firewood to Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh. The lorry driver, Subhash (40), was arrested for parking the heavy vehicle dangerously on the highway. Parking on the highway carriageway is prohibited under Section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police said. Further investigations are under way.
NHAI to take over two roads in Coimbatore district
Naxion Energy to invest Rs 200 cr, expand workforce by 50 per cent
HYDERABAD, Dec 11: Naxion Energy, a sodium-ion battery company, plans to invest Rs 200 crore by the end of December 2026 to enhance its manufacturing capabilities, including establishing a new facility here. The company also plans to expand its workforce by 50 per cent as part of this initiative. Headquartered in Hyderabad, Naxion Energy has a manufacturing facility in Coimbatore and develops high-performance sodium-ion battery packs for mobility and energy storage applications. As part of its India-wide expansion, the company [] The post Naxion Energy to invest Rs 200 cr, expand workforce by 50 per cent appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
In a Para-llel World: Delve into Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year 2025 : Parasocial
When news broke about the rumoured relationship of BTS Jungkook with Aespas Winter, Taylor Swift-Travis Kelces engagement, Selena Gomez-Benny Blancos wedding or Samantha Ruth Prabhu tying the knot with Raj Nidimoru, the reactions online were anything but distant. The emotions ranged from joy and protectiveness to disappointment and concern, as if these moments belonged to someone they personally knew. That intense sense of familiarity is exactly what the Cambridge Dictionary zeroed in on when it named parasocial, its Word of the Year for 2025. The term refers to a one-sided emotional bond people form with celebrities, fictional characters, influencers or even AI chatbots. Coined in 1956, parasocial has suddenly re-entered everyday vocabulary, fuelled by social medias constant access to public figures and the growing presence of AI companionship in daily life always available, always listening. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru after their wedding in Coimbatore In simple terms, parasocial relationships are one-sided psychological bonds, explains Shreyaa S Murthy, consultant clinical psychologist at Narayana Health City. Such bonds, she notes, are common and even normative during adolescence. Young people use media figures as role models for identity exploration. Admiring someones personality, not just their looks or talent, can act as a psychological resource. While the word carries a negative notion, animation student Ayush KA feels it otherwise. From my experience, parasocial connections often begin with people who have low self-esteem. Associating with celebrities or characters makes them feel confident. I was shy growing up and found it difficult to talk to people. Watching streamers and YouTubers became a way to cope, he shares, adding that parasocial relationships have always been there people went to concerts, worshipped stars. But now its much worse because streamers and YouTubers create this illusion of closeness. They share their daily lives, respond to comments and create safe spaces where the lines start to blur. Jungkook of popular boy band BTS Another layer complicating the dynamic is AI, says Dr Umashankar S, public health specialist and Honorary Secretary of the Telemedicine Society of India. AI chatbots feel safe for many, because they seem non-judgmental, always available and never withdraw. That unconditional acceptance can be comforting, especially for people who feel lonely or lack social confidence, he explains. Whereas psychology and literature student Maseera Aiman sees how this spills into real life, stating, You might start expecting people around you to understand you the way a chatbot does, or expect your life to feel as entertaining as a reality show. For her, parasocial relationships are not inherently damaging, but they become a problem when you depend on them too much. Selena Gomez with her engagement ring Connection to Concern Parasocial dynamics differ from casual fandom or simple reliance on AI because they are emotional rather than behavioural, according to Dr Umashankar. Yet not all such bonds are harmful. They can provide companionship, comfort and motivation. But they become unhealthy when they replace real-life relationships or cause emotional distress, Murthy notes. Chatbots offer unconditional acceptance. They do not argue, judge or withdraw, which makes people feel safe. The red flag appears when people start spending excessive time tracking a celebrity or chatbot and experience emotional distress when that access is disrupted. Then a sense of entitlement begins to develop, feeling betrayed or dejected when a celebrity or AI does not respond, highlights Umashankar. Meanwhile, communication executive Aayushi Naik, notes that the reason parasocial has become mainstream is visibility. Social media delivers narratives in seconds that kind of access makes people deeply invested in celebrities lives sometimes to the point of obsession, she says. Interviews and behind-the-scenes videos add to this familiarity, even while she remains aware that much of what is seen is carefully curated. This constant exposure, experts agree, explains why younger generations are more susceptible, especially now that fandom has become 24/7, personalised and algorithm-driven.
Tenders called for providing EIA consultancy services for Coimbatore airport development
Afforestation drive held at TSP IV Battalion campus in Coimbatore
Artisans display their skills at Coimbatore Poompuhar
IndiGo improved on-time performance in Coimbatore: AAI official
Coimbatore gang-rape: three accused men given copies of charge-sheet
Coimbatore Corporation to install IoT devices in overhead tanks to regulate water supply
Tamil Karkalam to take language to 1.5K north students
VARANASI: Continuing its efforts to counter the long-standing charge that the BJP promotes Hindi cultural dominance, the BJP-led union government has initiated numerous efforts to teach Tamil through multiple languages of the country, particularly through Hindi. It is evident from the theme of the Kashi Tamil Sangamams fourth edition (KTS 4.0) going on from December 2 to 17 Tamil Karkalam (Let us learn Tamil), the event is aimed at teaching Tamil to Hindi-speaking students. The roads of Varanasi are filled with flex banners showing the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the words Tamil Karkalam along with its Hindi transliteration. Under this programme, 300 college students from Uttar Pradesh will visit Tamil Nadu in 10 batches to learn Tamil. They will attend an orientation at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) Chennai, followed by Tamil language classes and cultural sessions conducted at leading institutions across the state, including IIT Madras; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; Shastra University, Thanjavur; Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore and Ganapathi Tulsis Jain Engineering College, Vellore. The programme ensures that young learners from North India gain direct exposure to Tamil language, heritage and contemporary cultural practices. In Varanasi, 50 Hindi-speaking teachers from Chennai trained by the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prasar Sabha, using the textbooks prepared by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), are teaching Tamil to Hindi-speaking students in 50 schools in Varanasi. In total, 1,500 students will learn introductory Tamil through this initiative. The classes last for a period of 15 days. In just one week, the students of PM Shri Government Queens College were able to learn how to address and greet people in Tamil. Some of them explained how they loved learning Tamil. At Namo Ghat in Varanasi, where KTS 4.0 events are going on, CICT director Dr R Chandrasekaran said that within a month or two, the institute will launch a free online course for learning Tamil through Hindi. The CICT has published a series of books for learning Tamil through Hindi, including a handbook for practising Tamil grammar, a handbook for writing Tamil letters, a glossary of Tamil equivalents for Hindi words used in day-to-day life and a book of simple conversations in Tamil.
Davies Kollannur, a beacon of hope for transplant patients, dies at 57
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Davies Kollannur, who courageously altered the course of his life three times, has now sailed beyond the horizon for the final time. Davies who survived three life threatening ordeals- two kidney transplants and a battle with leukemia disease- stood as asymbol of resilience and hopefor thousands oftransplantpatients in Kerala. The man who lived with extraordinary courage, quietly slipped away on Monday night in Thrissur, following a sudden respiratory distress at 57. He left behind a legacy that still refuses to fade. A decorated transplant sportsman, Davies won a silver medal for India at the 2011 Sweden International Transplant Games in Badminton, followed by a bronze in singles and silver in doubles at the Durban International in South Africa in 2013. He was also a two time (2003, 2006) national championin Badminton in National Transplant Games.For thousands of transplant patients inKerala, Davies was not merely a survivor, he was proof that a broken body could still carry an unbroken will. His death arrived abruptly without warning as if knowing that any hint of danger would awaken his instinct to fight. He was active even on his last day. He spoke to me around 8 pm about how his day went, said his kindred soul Jayasree CG. After that the next thing I heard was that he was gone, she said.Davies was working as a transplant coordinator at Daya General Hospital in Thrissur. Born and raised in Villadom, Kolannur Veedu, Thrissur, Davies gow up with the cultural beat of the city, Pooram procession, decorated Elephants and temple- Church grounds. After graduation, he worked as an Assistant Manager in an Italian hotel in Pune for three years. Like many young Keralites, he later moved to Saudi Arabia, workIng as a Chief Cashier in a fashion retail outlet until the first tragedy struck him at the age 30 years,when his both kidneys failed. He was forced to return home and begin dialysis. Hemet Dr TT Paul, nephrologist at West Fort hospital in Thrissur who changed his course of life later. In the late 1990s dialysis facilities were scarce in Thrissur or Ernakulam, forcing patients to travel to Coimbatore or Chennai. Davies underwent nearly 300 dialysis sessions before receiving his transplant under Dr. TT Paul on August 25, 2001. At that time transplant recipients were advised to avoid physical exertion and lead a quiet life. As Davis began gaining weight, Dr. Paul urged him to resume exercise, rekindling his lost love for badminton. Doctor reassured him that he attached kidney will not fall off, if you play badminton. Davies took up the racket and never looked back. After winning gold medals at the National TransplantGames in 2003 and 2006, he stepped onto the international stage and brought home several medals in 2011 and 2013. Impressed by his spirit, Dr. Paul and the hospital authorities invited Davies to join the West Fort hospital as a transplant coordinator in 2003, using Davies and his positive energy to utilise. Life tested him again in 2014, when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy at CMC Vellore and Amritha Hospital in Ernakulam without taking a single day leave, determined not to abandon the kidney patients who relied on him. Later an infection left him unconscious for 15 days in West Fort Hospital. On those nights Dr. Paul, who considered Davies a son, sat by bedside readingO Henry's 'Last Leaf'. He later told Davies's friends that perhaps words might succeedwhere medicine hadfaltered. In the short story, 'Last Leaf', when a young artist falls ill and thinks that she would die when the last leaf falls from anivy vine outside her window. Then to save her and from losing hope, her neighbour, a failed artist painted a realistic leaf on the wall. Though Davies came back to life, cancer and the treatment had caused him dearly as his body rejected the transplanted kidney. On 12 January, 2016 the second time surgery took place for organ transplantation. After his discharge from hospital he rejoined for work and resumed badminton. Davies and Dr. Paul had then started workingat Daya General Hospital. On December 8, 2025 he was active. still speaking to those who needed him. Hours later, he was gone, after a sudden collapse from respiratorydistress.If he had received even the faintest warning, Davies would have survived it, Jayasree said, her voice steady but heavy. He always fought back. On Tuesday, Dr. Paul sat alone in the St. Mary's Church, Ponganamkad waiting as he had done countless times in his homesforDavies with his gentle smile and humour. But for thousands whose lives he touched, Davies hasn't vanished.
Kerala local body elections: Big promises, bigger dreams
KOCHI: keralas local body elections have traditionally centered on the basics roads, drains, streetlights and waste management. But this time, the three major fronts the CPM-led LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA have released manifestos that read less like routine civic checklists and more like ambitious blueprints for parallel futures. If polls were a contest for imagining the most expansive version of Keralas cities, this election would easily qualify as the masterclass in political imagination. The full-fledged, multi-page poll documents for corporations and districts in particular carry a flood of promises some practical, some aspirational and some that wander into the territory of wishful planning. Growing public expectation Micro-level manifestos in local body elections mark a significant shift in Keralas political culture. While many promises may be aspirational or beyond the immediate powers of local governments, the trend itself signals a growing public expectation for accountability and decentralised decision-making. Detailed ward or city-specific pledges push parties to engage more closely with voters everyday concerns and create a record against which their performance can later be measured. In an increasingly urbanised and globally aware electorate, such granular manifestos encourage healthier debates on governance and, over time, can strengthen the relevance and responsiveness of local bodies even if the feasibility of the promises remains uneven. Im happy, said D Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). Praising the sudden surge in detailed manifestos, he said, This will help prompt more discussion on decentralised government, and the public will demand such things. He also believes that global political trends and high-profile campaigns elsewhere may be influencing Keralas political tone. He sees the trend as healthy: When you promise 100 things and dont implement even 10%, someone will question you. I see it as the next level of development as we move towards greater decentralisation. For him, the very presence of detailed manifestos marks a shift toward increased accountability. Economist Jose Sebastian, however, has a sharply different view. The manifesto is a wrong trend. Its becoming a mockery, he said. According to him, none of the fronts, regardless of ideology, explain how they plan to mobilise funds for these expansive promises. Its all tall promises without any substance. Just to create a narrative, he says. Sebastian also argues that Keralas local governments are not autonomous enough to shoulder these grand visions. They have become implementing agencies of central and state schemes. If they had focused on their own resource mobilisation, we wouldnt be in this situation. With the first phase of polling over on Tuesday and the second set for Thursday, the electorate has already begun casting its verdict on these big-ticket manifestos. Saturdays results will reveal which promises resonated, and which remained on paper. OLYMPICS IN TPURAM & METRO TO COIMBATORE? Leading the pack in audacity is the BJP. Its manifesto for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation promises to prepare the capital to serve as one of the venues for the 2036 Olympics. The host city is still undecided, and Ahmedabad is widely tipped as Indias official bidder, but the NDA is confident Thiruvananthapuram can aim high. If that wasnt bold enough, the party has also promised to extend the Kochi Metro all the way to Coimbatore a proposal that would involve overcoming the trifecta of funding challenges, inter-state coordination and monumental infrastructure planning. Alongside these headline-grabbing pledges, the party has also offered more grounded commitments: a Surat-inspired drainage system, Indore-style waste management, and centrally-monitored street lighting. A FULLY SMART KOCHI The Congress-led UDF has filled its Kochi corporation manifesto with everyday urban concerns: garbage, mosquitoes, traffic jams, stray dogs and public health. Its major pitch is a Zero Waste Kochi project aimed at resolving the long-standing issues surrounding the Brahmapuram waste plant. The manifesto also promises to turn Kochi into South Indias first total smart city, a vision based on efficient mobility, digital governance and better civic services. The list of promises is sweeping: garbage-free streets, mosquito control, smoother traffic and a crackdown on drug lobbies. If executed, it would address many chronic complaints of Kochis residents. However, whether these proposals survive the constraints of local body finances remains unclear. INFRA-HEAVY AGENDAS FOR KOCHI, U.N. GOALS ROADMAP FOR KOZHIKODE The CPM-led LDF has released detailed manifestos for multiple corporations. In Kochi, its focus is on practical improvements: canal rejuvenation, systematic road cleaning, value-added waste products, and EVs for the Haritha Karma Sena. It also proposes an electric bus network with KSRTC, renovation of key bus stands and new mobility solutions like multi-level parking and bike sharing. In Kozhikode, the LDF has gone a step further. Its manifesto states the corporation will work to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2031 if the front returns to power. The document outlines a sweeping development agenda: Transforming Kozhikode into an IT hub; implementing a light metro project; continuing the City Road Improvement Project; building new roads and infrastructure; and constructing a flyover at Eranhipalam. LDF, which has governed Kozhikode for over 45 years, attributes its long run to timely implementation of development projects, an argument it hopes will resonate again.
Restoration of six-km stretch of Kousika river in Coimbatore progressing at steady pace
Over 40,000 women to be added to Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam in Coimbatore
CII launches digital transformation initiative for MSMEs in Coimbatore
Curbing bike taxis a tricky proposition for Transport Department in Coimbatore
A number of college students use their two-wheelers as bike taxis and there is nothing much that the Department can do to curtail the activity. The onus is on the Central government to ban bike taxi Apps, says an official
Isha Foundation Launches Free Cremation Service In Tamil Nadu For Poor Families
Isha Foundation launches free cremation service for BPL families in Tamil Nadu, managing 17 crematoriums including in Chennai, Vellore, Thanjavur, and Coimbatore district.
India ranks first in coconut production and Pollachi in Coimbatore is a major producer with coconut plantations spanning 1.2 lakh hectares, the Minister said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha
Pedestrian deaths account for 37% of road accident fatalities in Coimbatore
Two arrested for stealing 1.15 kg of gold in Coimbatore
Residents urge Coimbatore Corporation to swiftly restore Vilankurichi Road
Smart India Hackathon 2025 finale begins in Coimbatore
Tenders called for interim expansion of Coimbatore airport at10.92 crore
As per the tender document, bids are called for expansion and construction of additional security hold area in the existing terminal building at the airport. The works have to be completed in six months.
In an attempt to ease their mind amid the ongoing IndiGo flight disruption, an IndiGo pilot requested the passengers to cooperate and trust the airline crew as it is working to make the situation normal. Amid the chaos, the airlines has formed a Crisis Management Group to monitor the situation.
Samantha spotted in Gachibowli, 1st appearance after wedding
Hyderabad: Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been in the spotlight ever since her intimate wedding with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru on December 1. The couple chose a traditional Linga Bhairava Vivaha ceremony at the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore. Their serene wedding pictures went viral and set social media talking. Samantha looked radiant in a red and gold Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Former Minister opposes dog shelters proposal at Vellalore dumpyard in Coimbatore
Cyclist rides from Dhanushkodi to Coimbatore to raise awareness on womens safety and cyber threats
Over 100 wheelchair users take part in inclusive Run for Wheels marathon in Coimbatore
SI succumbs to injuries suffered in accident near Coimbatore
5-Year-Old Boy Mauled To Death By Leopard In Tamil Nadu
In yet another shocking case of humanwildlife conflict in the Anamalai hill region, a five-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in Valparai of Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on Saturday, police officials said.
Over 5.02 lakh electors marked for deletion in Coimbatore district
