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Tracing the Entrepreneurial journey of my Paternal Grandfather

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  Sri. S. Ramasamy Iyengar (Founder of Kalaivani Press, Coimbatore) My father has always been proud of his lineage. He was son of Kalaivani Press Ramasamy Iyengar . The prefix 'Kalavani Press' had become his identity. All through my life, I had known only that; plus probably another fact that my grandpa was a President of India Awardee for excellence in Printing . A specific incident happened recently, when I had to introduce my lineage, (one can probably relate it to the practice of saying ‘Abhivadaye’ where a Brahmin Hindu man introduces himself to others especially the elders stating details of his lineage).   I realized that all that I could say was ‘I am Kalaivani Press Ramasamy Iyengar’s Granddaughter’, but no one ever knew about ‘Ramasamy Iyengar’. That incident lead me to discover more about a man that I have always known only as ‘thatha’ without a prefix (also because my maternal grandpa was always ‘Cheeni thatha’). Even thatha's face is not all that familiar ...
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Jallikattu Issue – Is it something more than what meets the eye?

This Jan 2017, Youngsters of Tamilnadu have gone on a mass protest against Jallikattu ban. Seeing the level of protest made me think is there something more than what meets the eye.   Believe me, it was an Eye Opener. Here is what I discovered. It’s been there for years and even survived the Colonial period!! Ancient Tamil Sangams described the practice as ‘YERU THAZHUVUTHAL’, literally "bull embracing". The modern term Jallikattu is derived from SALLI (coins) and KATTU (package), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve. Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). It was common among the ancient people AAYARS who lived in the ‘MULLAI’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement.   Is Bull Taming (Jallikattu) specific to 2 commu...
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Revisiting my memories of my first year of Motherhood - Part I

First Month When we brought my baby home from the hospital...there were so many emotions floating across me about the child that I held in a small bed within my folded arms closer to my chest. Mom refused to allow me to carry her as I had just come back home after a surgery and she did not want me to carry the child as well. But when we reached the doorstep, she had to perform the Aarthi (traditional welcome) and I had to hold the child. That moment when I held her close to my heart, I had a wave hitting my senses...I was no longer just an individual. I was being welcomed as a Mother. On the 11th day, we finalised her name. From Numerology to astrology to Indology, I had consulted everything. My family was particular of naming her "Lakshmi" (Wealth)..I was particular of naming her "Anannya" (Focussed)...then after all consultations it was finalised as "Anannya Sriram". I wanted her father's name to be registered as her given name. (Even if she was ...
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