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The Hindu

Chennai / The Hindu

170 years ago, a debate in Britain parliament on torture in Madras

Forms of torture in Madras Presidency at the time included tying a man by the hair of his head to the tail of an ass, and parading him though the public market

20 Jul 2026 3:52 pm
Chennais iconic annual fair at Island Grounds turns 50

The 70-day-long India Tourism and Industrial Fair that began at the Island Grounds in the city recently turned 50 this year. The Sutrula Porutkatchi was conceived and named by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. It began in the city in 1974 as the Pongal Tourist Trade Fair.

20 Jul 2026 3:52 pm
Ram Setu vs. Sethusamudram project: When Tamil Nadu BJP headquarters was attacked by DMK cadres

In response to DMK president M. Karunanidhis remark on Ram Setu, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti triggered a major controversy in September 2007 by saying that whosoever chopped off the head and tongue of the DMK president would be gifted in gold.

20 Jul 2026 3:51 pm
Tamil Nadus link to a key amendment to the Constitution on freedom of press, expression

On March 1, 1950, the Madras government banned Cross Roads, a Left-leaning journal. A month later, the Supreme Courts full Bench, by five to one, quashed the order. The Constitution had to be amended in the light of the landmark judgment. Parliament adopted the amendment Bill, with 246 members voting in favour and 14 against

20 Jul 2026 3:50 pm
Salem C. Vijiaraghavachariar, the freedom fighter who fought againstKalaPaani

Salem C.Vijiaraghavachariar, one of the doyens of the national movement during the pre-Gandhi eraand the first Tamil to become the All India Congress Committee president, was ordered to be transported toAndamansto serve a 10-year imprisonment. He appealed to the High Court of Madras and got his conviction quashed on January 9, 1883

20 Jul 2026 3:42 pm
S. Chellapandian: a Speaker with sound knowledge of British parliamentary practices

S.Chellapandiantried to follow British parliamentary practices.In the opinion of former President R.Venkataraman, he knew legislative procedures so thoroughly that he would not only enforce them but would also guide new members to learn the art

20 Jul 2026 3:39 pm
J.C. Daniel, a Tamil dentist and martial artist, who became the father of Malayalam cinema

Driven by his passion for cinema, Daniel sold his share of family property inKanniyakumaridistrict and borrowed money from friends and relatives to producethe first Malayalam silent filmVigathakumaran(The Lost Child). The film told the story of a child kidnapped by a plantation worker from Sri Lanka and later reunited with his family

20 Jul 2026 3:38 pm
When explosives were planted at police premises across Tamil Nadu in 1999

A massive search operation after a low intensity explosion in Chennai revealed that bombs were placed in the Police Commissionerate, Prison Headquarters and other police establishments

20 Jul 2026 3:36 pm
Collection of names of animals as portrayed in Tamil classics

The ancient Tamils employed a remarkable richness of vocabulary to refer to animals.H.Chithiraputhiran, a former professor at Tamil University,Thanjavur, has compiled a specialised dictionary of animals in classical literature to recover these words

20 Jul 2026 3:33 pm
MasiMagam: an auspicious day for Irularcommunity to reconnect with their roots on Mamallapuramseashores

For theIrulars, theMasiMagamfestival is deeply tied to their culture and collective identity.They gather in their thousands on the shores ofMamallapuramto perform marriages, naming ceremonies for children, ear piercing, and tonsuring. In fact, they come in search of their patron deityKanniammal, who they believe had left them

20 Jul 2026 3:33 pm
Sivaji Ganesans gift of baby elephant to American children and his U.S. visit as state guest

Sivaji Ganesan was invited to the United States as part of the U.S.India Cultural Exchange Programme. During the trip, Sivaji was treated as a state guest, assigned two officials to assist him, and given a daily allowance of $160, a considerable sum at the time.

20 Jul 2026 3:31 pm
The 1952 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, an illustration of the limits of poll manifestos

In the first elections held in 1951-52 after the country became a Republic with the system of a universal adult suffrage in place, the major contestants were the Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI)

20 Jul 2026 3:31 pm
The fate of Nagapattinams lost vihara

The return of the famed Leiden plates to India revives questions about what became of Nagapattinams great Buddhist vihara and its vast endowments

20 Jul 2026 3:25 pm
Quiz organised for students

A written round was followed by a final round with the top six teams

20 Jul 2026 12:22 am
Loco pilots want action dropped against motorman

They say he averted a potential disaster caused by signal failure and cannot be held blameworthy

20 Jul 2026 12:02 am
CMRL ropes in consultant to procure trains, upgrade stations in phase 1 network

It plans to buy 28 six-coach trainsas commuters demand improved frequencyduring peak hours. AECOM India and Nippon Koei joint venture likely to be project management consultant: officials

20 Jul 2026 12:01 am
PMK organises signature campaign urging State govt. to notify extent of Pallikaranai marshland

Speaking during the campaign, the PMK president criticised former DMK minister P.K. Sekarbabu, who was in-charge of the CMDA, for not playing the crucial role of being the watchdog in the State for real estate development

19 Jul 2026 11:56 pm
Thirumudivakkam police shoot history-sheeter and apprehend him

As the accused Karuppu attempted to flee after attacking head constable Vijayakumar, the inspector took out the service revolver and shot Karuppu on his right ankle

19 Jul 2026 7:23 pm
Key link road behind DMS Metro in Teynampet leading to Gopalapuram hit by blocks

Located behind DMS Metro and near Stella Maris college and a number of offices and commercial establishments on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Muthiah Road in Vellala Teynampet funnels a considerable number of commuters from the station to various destinations in the area. Muthiah Roads job is made harder by blocks

19 Jul 2026 12:08 pm
Quicksand in Chennais Pallikaranai marshland

The first expansion of the city of Chennai in modern times happened along its southern stretch. As the government in its wisdom decided to locate the IT corridor in south Chennai, breathless development happened over a couple of decades, right around a rich natural reserve, the Pallikaranai marshland. Today, two decades later, theres a conflict that pits development against preservation. This report attempts to pull together the several threads that have brought this particular tapestry to the f

19 Jul 2026 1:44 am
Police expand probe in TVK MLA poaching case; conspiracy allegedly targeted 15 legislators

The prime accused had formulated the plan under the code name Meghalaya Project, police say; proprietors of a finance firm arrested for handling money given by the accused in the case

19 Jul 2026 1:10 am
Collective Kindness: when families are committed to saving lives through blood donation

A leitmotif among blood donation organisations is the increasing difficulty in finding people with generous veins; and the solution could strangely be found in the living rooms of households, as illustrated by these two accounts from Chennai of parents inspiring their children to join the cause

19 Jul 2026 12:51 am
Padur residents seek retrieval of temple land from private college

Panchayat president Thara Sudhakar said petitions had been submitted over the years by various panchayat presidents and residents to retrieve the lands measuring around six acres.

16 Jul 2026 4:45 pm
Panchayat president belonging to TVK arrested for taking bribe

He was arrested after a video went viral on social media, where the accused Veerasamy was seen accepting a bribe of 1.3 lakh from a contractor

15 Jul 2026 11:48 pm
Chennai police arrest man for attempting to bribe Usilampatti TVK MLA Vijay

This case has been combined with an earlier case registered by the Triplicane police after N. Elaiyaraja, the Uthangarai MLA lodged a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner on June 29.

15 Jul 2026 1:12 pm
Commuters face hardships due to irregular functioning of escalators at Egmore railway station

They say that the escalators are switched off after rush hours in the morning and evening; overcrowding and poor lighting are among the major concerns, as the station undergoes redevelopment work underthe Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

15 Jul 2026 12:17 am
History-sheeter among two arrested for assaulting pani puri vendor in Vepery

When the vendor demanded money from the accused for the food they had in his stall, the duo attacked him with a bottle and threatened him with a knife, demanding money

14 Jul 2026 6:54 pm
Man held for vandalising private hospital in Broadway

He had also threatened a doctor and hospital staff. The arrested was found to be a history-sheeter

14 Jul 2026 6:32 pm
12 inmates escape from Govt. Place of Safety, one arrested

As a movie was being screened for the inmates, more than 10 of them allegedly escaped

14 Jul 2026 12:59 am
Expedite road project to link Pazhavanthangal subway and Fifth Main Road, say residents

They say that the land acquisition is yet to be completedand the project would ease traffic congestion. Alandur MLA M. Harish says that the project is expected to be completed by October

14 Jul 2026 12:40 am
I am neither running away nor hiding: DMK leader E.V. Velu

Displaying his medical records, Mr. Velu said he had been receiving treatment for heart ailments at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore since 2016. After election campaign, he had planned to undergo medical check-up there, stated the DMK whip in the Assembly.

12 Jul 2026 4:12 pm
Chennai Corporation plans holistic infra upgrade for 3 localities

The civic body will improve 80 km of roadsacross Perambur-Vyasarpadi, Ambattur and Guindy Industrial Estates at around 1.18 crore; this includes transit integration and junction upgrades

12 Jul 2026 1:19 am
State seeks assistance from Union govt. for MRTS revamp

6,600-crore project is aimed at transforming MRTS to Chennai Metro standards by refurbishing stations and upgrading trains; T.N. urges Union govt. to consider plan as Central sector project

12 Jul 2026 1:15 am
Tamil Nadus Total Fertility Rate stands at 1.3, need to study situation, says Health Minister

K.G. Arunraj says the TFR is lower than the replacement level of 2.1, which is required to maintain population stability; situation can change if factors behind the decline are addressed, he adds

11 Jul 2026 11:18 pm
History-sheeter from Andhra Pradesh arrested for matrimonial fraud

The accused Chella Narayanan has multiple criminal cases pending against him in Andhra Pradesh, including cases involving murder, theft, cheating, and offences under the POCSO Act

11 Jul 2026 9:51 pm
A new hangout in Santhome

Greater Chennai Corporations gym for women at 4th Trust Link Street promises to draw many fitness enthusiasts, for sure teachers of a neighbouring school

11 Jul 2026 4:52 pm