RBI Retail Market - A new era of investing India...

Traditional way of India is investing in Gold and Real estate. Savings means keeping the money in the locker or Kitchen boxes. But as the globalization started, Bank Savings awareness increased and 1990s white collor employees invested most of their money in the Bank fixed deposit and saw a exponential growth of their investment.

But the present modern India Economy is not for the traditional savings or Investment. Lateral thinking investment of Mutual Funds, Shares, NCDs are growing and it is the future with decreasing interest rates in the bank.

One who is familiar with mutual funds would have come across the term Govt securities, Bonds, Bills, T-Bills which are considered the safest way of modern investing. These type of long term investments are complicated and were out of reach of common man or they were costlier by way of commission.

Now Reserve Bank of India came up with a portal to bring common retail investors to participate in the Bond market. https://www.rbiretaildirect.org.in/ website gives the public access to the bond market, a way to buy the central govt or state govt issued short and long term bonds. They give a returns more than the general market returns and also backed by safety.

Access to T-Bills gives a way to park the funds for shorter period with some competitive returns. For those people who look for a spectrum of investment mode, RBI Retail portal is one another way. For basic investor, portal's option of Soverign Gold Bond subscription is motivating factor to get registered.

National Pension System

PFRDA:

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is established under the PFRDA Act which was passed on 19.09.2013 in the parliament and notified on 01.02.2014. PFRDA is regulating the National Pension scheme.

NPS:

Contributory Pension Scheme notified by the central government on 22.12.2003 was renamed as National Pension System w.e.f 01.01.2004 for all the central government employees except the employees of the armed forces. Subsequently the same scheme was extended to all the citizens of india w.e.f 01.05.2009. This scheme abolishes the old pension system being managed by the Provident fund under the accountant general of india. After passing of the PFRDA Act, NPS got the legal status with retrospective effect from 01.04.2004.

CPS:

Contibutory Pension scheme is being continued by the state government to have control over the subscription of the state government employees. The money collected under the scheme is supposed to be transferred to the NPS account opened on behalf of the employee as prescribed by the PFRDA norms.

Central Record Keeping Agency:

• NSDL(National Securities Depository Ltd) is supposed to be the Central Record Keeping Agency, which will maintain the accounts of the NPS and give IT back end support.
• M/s Karvy Computershare Private Limited is recently been authorised to act as a Central Record Keeping Agency.

Pension Fund Managers:

Pension Fund Managers were appointed for managing funds collected under the scheme. They are authorized to invest the money in the capital market as per the option selected by the contributors.

At present there are 7 pension fund managers approved by the PFRDA, one of which can be selected by the contributor of his choice.

1.    LIC Pension Plan

2.    SBI Pension Plan

3.      UTI Retirement Solutions

4.    ICICI Prudential Pension

5.    IDFC Pension

6.    Kotak Mahindra Pension

7.      Reliance Capital Pension

The first three fund managers are approved to manage the government employees contribution. The non-government employees or individual citizen can select any of the seven fund managers of his choice.

Investment Options:

The investment can be done on two basis

1.      Auto Choice (Aggressive, Moderate, Conservative)

2.      Active Choice

·      Auto choice option will be as per the age of the subscriber. The percentage of allocation will be between Equity (E), Corporate Debt (C), Government Securities (G) will change as per the age and the option exercised.

·         Active choice can given by the subscriber, but no case the equity allocation can be more than 50%.

At the age of retirement(60years), a certain percentage (40%) will be used to purchase a annuity scheme from which regular monthly pension amount will be given till the specified years as choosen by the individual. The remaining corpus can be withdrawn in bulk.

Tax Status:

The investment can be exempted from the tax as per the Income Tax Act 1961:

80 CCD(1a): Contribution to the NPS Scheme or equivalent scheme or 10% of the Basic Salary+DA whichever is less subject to the limit of Section 80 C

80CCD(1b): Voluntary Contribution to the NPS (Tier I) Account which is over and above section 80 C limit subject to the maximum of Rs.50000.

80CCD (2): The equivalent contribution by the employer into the salaried employees account subject to the 10% of the salary.

eNPS:

Any individual can open a NPS account electronically without any paperwork using Aadhar based authentication. The procedure is very simple which is explained in the picture.

Source: 
http://www.pfrda.org.in
https://npscra.nsdl.co.in
https://enps.nsdl.com/eNPS/NationalPensionSystem.html

How to Apply for a PAN....?

PAN...Permanent Account Number is a number given to the individual, organization, companies, etc., in India by the Department of Income Tax who pay tax, who do financial transactions, or in short who do business in India...

Since it is mandatory to quote this number to avail many of financial work done, it is important to know how to obtain this PAN.

Though many of us already have valid PAN or there are many agents who help to obtain this PAN, nobody bother to know how to apply for PAN.

It is very simple and can be done at comfort of sitting in home through online. Only thing we should be aware of some simple tactics while applying.

There is two agencies through which PAN can be applied UTI and NSDL..through Form 49A. Through the same agencies correction in the PAN data base like correction in the spelling, change of name, change of address, change in signature can be done. Duplicate card can also be obtained.

It is well clear and understandable in the online website itself. But there are few points to note to avaoid rejection of new PAN application or correction application.

1. Make sure to enter the first name, middle name, sur name (IT department expects the supporting document also should have the name in the same format)

2. Father's name should not contain any initials. Meaning you have to expand your father's initial. SO take extra care while entering your grand father's name. (The supporting document also should contain your father's initial expanded)

3. While sending the document make sure to give a good photograph so that it will be clear on the printed card.

4. Sign the application clearly and legibly, so that it appears good on the card. This will prevent confusion while submitting for proof.

5. Enter your address clearly, as most of the banks, mutual fund companies, share trading agencies pull the address from the PAN database automatically even if you different address in those places. (Thanks to KYC process)(Make sure the supporting document also has the same address with spelling)

6. Enter your Aadhar correctly in the Application and it is better to submit the aadhar as address proof. There is high chance that it will be accepted. (If there is any change in address, first make changes in Aadhar and then apply for PAN. Making changes in Aadhar is very easy)

7. There is high probability that those who don't have Aadhar and passport, the other documents like driving licence, voter's id, ration card will not have the initials expanded and the father's name will not have grand father's name. SO it is better to utilise the option of getting a certificate from a Group A or Group B gazetted officer a certificate mentioning the correct name, address as a certificate of identity and address in the form Annexure A . This option will surely prevent the application from rejection.

8. Be sure not to give any false information in the PAN application. It's a double edged sword. Some or the other day it will make us to land in trouble.

9. If nothing is possible, you can always approach the authorised agents of UTI or NSDL (not the people who are sitting in browsing centres)

10. A single spelling mistake in PAN will create problem in getting back your hard earned investment money in future. Be careful...be a responsible citizen...Pay Tax properly.

Transfer of PPF Account From Post Office to Nationalised Bank

A decade ago no one bothered about opening a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account. But now as the Fixed Deposit interest going down and government is withdrawing the old pension systems people are becoming aware of some stable funds so that they beat the inflation during maturity. One such fund is PPF. It gives high interest rates at the cost of tax free returns and tax exemption for deposits. Which is actually a triple benefit investment. When compared other long term investment available in the market no other investment gives such huge advantage. 

Some people already had PPF accounts held in post office but they find it very difficult to manage.

1. Have to stand in que to deposit that too only upto 2.30PM.
2. No online facility available.
3. No proper legible Passbook updation
4. No accurate interest calculation.

To overcome these hurdles one can transfer the PPF account from post office to any nationalised bank which gives the PPF facility or ICICI bank only private bank which offers PPF facility.

But what matters is no one including Post Office officials or bank officials doesnt know exactly what to do on this transfer procedure.

Follow the procedure as explained below to get prompt service.

1. Download Form SB 10(b)
2. Fill up the form in duplicate and submit it along with your original Post Office PPF Pass book, PAN card copy, your bank savings account Passbook along with a written request on a plain paper requesting your transfer of PPF account to the bank to the Post Master.
3. Show the Instructions on PPF account given in the Post Office Passbook in case the post master claims that the transfer is not possible. (Usually at the first instance they will tell like that)
4. Wait for minimum 10 days and enquire with the post office weather they transfered the PPF account to the bank.
5. They will close the account making all the entries in passbook up-to-date. The interest upto 31st March of previous year will be added. They all the original documents available with them pertaining to your account to the bank which includes Passbook, original account opening application card, specimen signature, photo, a statement of all your transaction from the beginning along with a demand draft or cheque for the amount on closing the account.
6. NOTE: The interest from the 1st April upto the date of closing will not be added to the cheque or draft nor be calculated by the post office. It has to be done by the bank and added to your account on 31st March of the current financial year.
7. Usually bank will call you on receiving all the documents. But dont wait for that. Go and enquire personally.
8. In bank you are supposed to fillup a new account opening form, nomination form and give your address proof and PAN copy.
9. Make sure your the balance in your new PPF account is exactly the same as the closing in the Post Office.
10. After transfer link the PPF account with your internet banking account and manage your PPF account online without going to bank.
11. Give standing instruction for deposit into your PPF account so that you enjoy high interest since the interest in PPF is compounded annually.

NOTE:

1. Your original date of opening the PPF account in post office will be the opening date in bank.
2. Bank needs to enter the accrued interest from 1st April of current financial year upto the date of opening the account. This amount has to be entered in the coloumn as interest adjustment. This has to be done manually. (Bank officials are not aware of that)
3. You are not supposed to loose any interest at any cost due to delay in transfer of account.
4. All the transaction records in post office will not be reflected in your new bank passbook. So it is better to take photocopy of post office passbook before surrendering for transfer.
5. In case you have any problem download Post Office Manual and take printout of Rule No. 153 which talks about the procedure involved in Transfer of PPF accounts from post office to bank and vice versa.
6. The User interface of the Banks computer makes some procedure difficult. In such case ask the bank officials to call their superior. If you feel your unduly delayed of the procedure make a complaint in the website of the bank about the delay.

But important of all if you can wait for another one year with the Post Office you may get all the online benefits when India Post starts its banking service. Infosys has been assigned as the the technical solutions partner

ஆதினம் Vs இந்து அறநிலைய துறை

இந்த தலைப்பில் வெகு நாட்களாகவே எழுத வேண்டும் என்று ஒரு ஆர்வம. எதற்கு மத சார்பற்ற ஒரு நாட்டில் ஒரு மத வழிபாட்டு தலங்களை நிர்வகிக்க தனியாக ஒரு துறையே வேண்டும். அப்படி என்றால் நம் அரசு மதங்களை வளர்க்கிறதா? என்று பெரிய ஐயம்!!! ஆனால் சமிப காலங்களாக பல கோவில்களுக்கு சென்று வந்ததில் நிறைய தெரிந்து கொண்டேன். (நன்றி: எனக்கு விழுப்புரத்தில் பணி வழங்கிய அரசுக்கு!!)

எதற்கு இந்த இந்து அறநிலைய துறை...? ஏன் இந்த ஆதினங்கள்...? இவை என்ன செய்து கொண்டு இருக்கின்றன...? இப்படி பல கேள்விகள்...!!

இந்து அறநிலைய துறை என்று தனியாக துறை இந்தியாவில் தென் மாநிலங்களில் மட்டுமே இருக்கிறது. இந்து மதங்கள் வடஇந்தியாவிலும் பரவி இருந்தாலும்கூட தென் மாநிலங்களில் குறிப்பாக சுதந்திரத்திற்கு முந்தைய தமிழகத்தில் வேருன்றி செழிப்பாக இருந்தது. இவற்றையெல்லாம் ஆதினங்களும் மடாதிபதிகளும் இன்னும் பிற பரம்பரை குடும்பங்களும் நிர்வகித்து வந்தன. கணக்கில் கொண்டு வர முடியாத அளவிற்கான சொத்துக்கள்..அளவிட முடியாத எண்ணிக்கையில் தங்க ஆபரணங்கள் இவர்களால் நிர்வகிக்க பட்டது.

இதில் ஆதினங்களால் நிர்வகிக்க பட்ட கோவில்கள் சமுக காரியங்களில் ஈடுபட்டன. அன்னதானங்கள், கல்வி, சமுக வளர்ச்சி போன்ற காரியங்களில் ஈடுபட்டன. ஆனால் சில கோவில்கள் தனிப்பட்ட குடுபங்களின் கையில் இருந்தன. இதை கவனித்த ஆங்கில அரசு கோவில்களை நிர்வகிக்க சில அமைப்புகளை ஏற்படுத்தின. அவை சில பல மாற்றங்கள் பெற்று இன்று இந்து அறநிலைய துறையாக அரசாங்கத்தின் ஒரு அமைப்பாக செயல்படுகின்றன. நன்றாக செயல்படும் ஆதின கோவில்கள் தொடர்ந்து ஆதினங்களின் கட்டுபாட்டில் தொடர்கின்றன.

சரி என்னடா இவன் ஆதினம் Vs இந்து அறநிலைய துறை அப்படினு தலைப்பு வெச்சிட்டு எதை எதையோ பேசிட்டு இருக்கானு நினைத்தால் இதோ விஷயத்துக்கு வருகிறேன்.

1. ஆதினம், அரசு இரண்டுமே கடவுள், பக்தி, நம்பிக்கை என்று ஒரே விஷயத்தில் இணைத்து விடுகின்றன.
2. ஆதினங்கள் மனிதர்களுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்கின்றன, அரசு பணத்திற்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்கின்றன.(ஆதினங்களில் உள்ளே பணம் கொடுத்தால் போதும், அரசு கோவில்களில் உள்ளே செல்லவே பணம் கொடுக்க வேண்டும்)
3. ஆதினங்கள் கருவறைகளை மட்டும் சுத்தமாக வைக்கின்றன, அரசு கோவில் அலுவலகங்களை சுத்தமாக வைக்கின்றன.(அமைச்சர்கள், அதிகாரிகள் வரும்போது மட்டும் கோவில்கள் பளபளக்கும்)
4. ஆதினங்கள் தன் கோவிலின் மகிமையை வெளியே சொல்ல மறுக்கின்றன, அரசு விளம்பரபடுதுகின்றன.(அங்கே பொறுப்பு பறிபோய்விடும் என்று பயம், இங்கு பணம் பறிபோய்விடும் என்று பயம்)
5. ஆதினங்கள் இருப்பதை காக்க நினைக்கின்றன, அரசு இல்லாததை வளர்க்க நினைக்கின்றன.(இருக்கும் நம்பிக்கை, இல்லாத மகிமை)
6. ஊழல் நடந்தால் சம்மந்தப்பட்டவர்கள் ஆதினங்களில் பயனடைவார்கள், அரசில் சம்மந்தமே இல்லாத மூன்றாம் நபர் பயனடைவார்)
7. ஆதினத்தில் விபூதி, குங்குமம் கையில் கிடைக்கும், அரசில் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் கிடைக்கும்.(அங்கே தட்டில் பணம் போட்டால், இங்கே சிறப்பு தரிசனத்தில் சென்றால்)
8. ஆதினத்தில் கற்பூரம் ஏற்றலாம், அரசில் பணம் இருந்தால்தான் விளக்கே ஏற்ற முடியும்.
9. ஆதினத்தில் புகைப்படம் எடுக்கலாம், அரசில் பணம் இருந்தால் எடுக்கலாம்.(செல்போன் விதிவிலக்கு. ஆனால் புகைப்படம் எடுத்தால் தீட்டாகும்)
10. ஆதினத்தில் அத்துமீறி போனால் அபத்தம், அரசில் அத்துமீறி போனால் அபராதம்.

ஆக இரண்டுமே ஒன்றையே செய்கின்றன. வியாபாரம். கடவுளை, நம்பிக்கையை, பக்தியை, முடிவாக தனி மனிதனை...!!!

திருவண்ணாமலை கிரிவலமா...? இல்லை கிலிவலமா...?

திருவண்ணாமலை - தமிழகத்தின் ஆன்மிக வரைபடத்தில் ஒரு முக்கிய இடம் பிடித்த ஒன்று.

வர்த்தகம், தொழில்துறை, விவசாயம், என்று எந்தவொரு முகமுடியும் அணிந்து கொள்ளாத ஊர். ஆன்மிகம் ஒன்றையே கொண்டு வளர்ந்த இந்த இடம் இப்பொழுது கல்வி முகத்தையும் கொண்டு விளங்குகிறது.

பிரிக்கப்பட்ட வடஆற்காடு மாவட்டத்தின் திருவண்ணாமலை மாவட்டத்திற்கு தலைமையிடமாக இருக்கும் இந்த ஊர், மெல்ல திருடர்கள், நயவஞ்சகர்கள், ஏமாற்று பேர்வழிகளின் கூடாரமாக மாறிவருவது நிதர்சனமான உண்மை.

ரமண மகரிஷி ஆசிரமம் முலம் உலக சுற்றுலா வரைபடத்தில் இடம் பெற்று வெளிநாட்டு சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை ஈர்த்து வரும் இந்த ஊர், கூடவே ஏமாற்று பேர்வழிகள் உருவாவதற்கும் அச்சாணியாக மாறிவிட்டது. வெளிநாட்டினரால் பணபுழக்கம் ஏற்பட்ட போது பொருளாதாரத்தில் முன்னேற்றம் அடைந்து அதன் முலம் மக்கள் பயனடைந்து இருக்க வேண்டும். மாறாக, அவர்களை ஏமாற்றி பணம் பறித்து ஒரு சிலர் மட்டும் பயனடைந்து வருகிறார்கள்.

ஒரு காலத்தில் கார்த்திகை மாதத்தில் மட்டுமே வெளி உலகத்தின் பார்வையில் வந்த இந்த ஊர் சமிபகாலமாக, ஒவ்வொரு பௌர்ணமி அன்றும் பரபரப்புக்கு ஆளாகி விட்டது. கடவுளுக்கும் விளம்பரம் தேவை போல...எப்பொழுது நடிகர் ரஜினிகாந்த் கிரிவல பாதையில் விளக்குகள் அமைக்க நிதி கொடுத்தாரோ அப்பொழுது இருந்தே ஒரு நட்சத்திர அந்தஸ்து திருவண்ணாமலைக்கும் வந்து விட்டது. ரமணர் குடிகொண்ட இந்த ஊரில்தான் நித்யானந்தாவும் ஆசிரமம் அமைத்து இருக்கிறார். என்ன செய்ய...திருவண்ணமலையின் விதி அப்படி...!!

எதோ கிரிவலம் மட்டுமே அந்த ஊரின் முக்கிய நடைமுறை என்பது போல, அரசும் நடந்து கொள்கிறது. ஒவ்வொரு மாதமும் இந்த ஊரின் இயல்புதன்மை மாறி விடுகிறது. சாரை சாரையாய் வரும் பக்தர்கள் கூட்டத்தால் களை இழந்து போகும் இந்த ஊர் ஒரு நாள் தன் தனித்தன்மையும் இழக்கும்.

மாதத்தின் இரண்டு நாட்கள் மொத்த ஊரின் வழக்கமும் மாறி விடும். பேருந்துகள் ஊரின் உள் செல்லாது, ஆட்டோகளும் நடைபாதை கடைகளும் கிரிவல பாதையை ஆக்கிரமித்து கொள்ளும். பக்தர்கள் அதனூடே கிரிவலம் செல்வார்கள். இந்த ஊரை பற்றியே தெரியாத காவல்துறை நண்பர் பக்தர் ஒருவருக்கு வழி சொல்லி கொண்டு இருப்பார், செல்ல வேண்டிய ஒரு மைல் தூரத்திற்கு யானை விலை சொல்லி ஒரு வெளி ஊர் நண்பரை ஆட்டோ ஓட்டுனர் நண்பர் ஏமாற்றுவார், அடுத்து எந்த ஊருக்கு போக சொல்வார்களோ என்றே தெரியாமல் பேருந்து நிலையத்திற்குள் நிறுத்த இடம் தேடி பேருந்தை வளைத்து கொண்டு இருப்பார் அரசு பேருந்து ஓட்டுனர், எந்த ஊருக்கு செல்ல பயணிகள் காத்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறார்கள் என்றே தெரியாமல் பேருந்துகளின் தடங்களை தீர்மானித்து கொண்டு இருப்பார் ஒரு சிறப்பு போக்குவரத்து துறை அதிகாரி...

இந்த களேபரத்தில் திருடர்கள் அவர்களின் வேலையை சிறப்பாக செய்து கொண்டிருப்பார்கள், தாகம் தீர்க்க வேண்டிய ஒரு லிட்டர் மினரல் வாட்டர்?? 25 ரூபாய்க்கும் 30 ரூபாய்க்கும் பக்தரின் சட்டை பையை தீர்த்து கொண்டிருக்கும், சுற்றுலா வழிகாட்டி என்ற பெயரில் எதோ ஒரு வெளிநாட்டு பயணி தவறான ஒரு தகவலை பெற்று கொண்டு இருப்பார், இந்த ஊரின் வழியாக வேறு ஊருக்கு செல்ல வேண்டிய பயணி எந்த இடத்தில தான் செல்ல வேண்டிய பேருந்து நிற்கும் என்று தெரியாமல் முழித்து கொண்டிருப்பார், இந்த ஊரின் குடிமகன் அனைவரும் வீட்டினுள் முடங்கி கிடப்பர்...

இவ்வளவையும் பார்த்து கொண்டு முழு நிலவாக அருள் பாவிப்பார் அண்ணாமலையார். ஆனால் எப்போ முடியும் கிரிவலம், அந்த நேரத்தில் நம் ஊருக்கு சிறப்பு பேருந்து கிடைக்குமா...? சிறப்பு பேருந்து கட்டணம் செலுத்த பணம் மிஞ்சுமா..? ஒரு கையில் தன் குழந்தையும் இன்னொரு கையில் செருப்பு பையையும் பிடித்து கொண்டு, கூட வரும் மனைவி தொலைந்து விடக்கூடாது என்று அவளை திட்டி கொண்டும் மனதில் "ஓம் அருணாச்சலா.."என்று சொல்லி கொண்டு நடந்து அல்ல அல்ல...ஓடி கொண்டு இருப்பான் எதோ ஒரு சாமானிய பக்தன்...

இவ்வளவு தெரிந்த அரசு எந்த ஒரு திட்டத்தையும் தொலைநோக்கு பார்வையில் செயல் படுத்துவதாக தெரியவில்லை. கிரிவல பாதுகாப்பிற்காக வரும் காவலர்கள் தங்க விடுதி கட்ட படும் என்று தமிழக அரசு அறிவித்து இருக்கிறது. நல்ல அறிவிப்பு தான்...!!பாராட்ட பட வேண்டும்...ஆனால் முடியவில்லை. மாதம் இரண்டு நாள் சிறப்பு பணி, ஓய்வு எடுக்க அனுமதிக்க போவதில்லை. இயற்கை உபாதைகள் போக்க ஆங்காங்கே முதலில் கழிவறைகளை கட்ட வேண்டும், குடிநீர் வசதி செய்ய வேண்டும். அணைத்து ஊர்களில் இருந்து வரும் பேருந்துகளும் நிற்குமாறு ஒரு நிரந்தர பேருந்து நிலையம் அமைக்க வேண்டும். கிரிவல பாதையில் இருக்கும் ஆக்கிரமிப்புகளை அகற்ற வேண்டும், ஆட்டோகளின் ஏகபோக அடாவடிகளை அடக்க வேண்டும். கோவிலை சுற்றி ஆக்றிமிப்புகளை அகற்ற வேண்டும், தொல்லியல் துறை முலம் கோவிலின் தனித்தன்மை காக்க வேண்டும், சுற்றுலா துறையின் நடவடிக்கைகளை அதிக படுத்த வேண்டும், வெளிநாட்டினரை கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும்....(முடிந்தால் நம் முதல்வர் வருடம் ஒரு முறையேனும் கிரிவலம் வர வேண்டும்..அப்பொழுதுதான் இவை அனைத்தும் நடக்கும்)

இது போன்ற திட்டங்கள் நிறைவேறினால் ஒழிய, திருவண்ணாமலை கிரிவலம், கிலிவலமாக மாறாமல் இருக்கும்.

Viluppuram - Tamil Nadu's Bihar...

Viluppuram, the second largest district in the state of Tamil Nadu is situated in the trunk of Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway is one of the main agricultural based district yet a under developed one. Viluppuram which once a part of the South Arcot district with head quarters in Cuddalore got bifurcated in 1993 as Viluppuram Ramasamy Padayatchi District which latter renamed as Viluppuram District (As part of common policy of the state to name the district with the head quarter's name).

Viluppuram is situated in the center of the main cities of the state, Chennai, Tiruchy, Vellore, Salem and Puducherry with distance to each around 160-170 KM except for Puducherry with a distance of just 40 KM.

Viluppuram official website welcomes us with a quote of VIZHI MAANAGAR, the reason for which is unknown(clarification needed). Viluppuram district is mostly covered with hills, better to say rocks. Its nice to see huge rocks scattered over a vast area looking like a toys of a kid. The places of interest in Viluppuram district are Kalrayan Hills and the Gingee Hills. Viluppuram has a strong historical background with rulers of all kingdom of the south india having their establishment here with a major credit going to Gingee Fort.

Viluppuram is filled with many temple all over the district, notable to mention is the Angalaparameshwari Temple in Melmalayanoor and the Koothandavar Temple in Koovagam (the important temple for transgender people)

When administration is taken, the feather goes to the Viluppuram Division of the State Transport Corporation. This division is the biggest in the state almost serving all the north districts of the state with majority going to Viluppuram, Vellore, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai. Next goes to the National Highway 45 and 45A which made the travel to southern part of the state so easy and convenient. Next the Railways, one of the biggest railway junction almost crossed by more than 30 Express trains daily and 10 trains having their stoppages. Yet it suffers a lot due to its single track and non electrification. Once double track and electrification of Broad gauge is done, this junction will be the next Salem in the Chennai Egmore - Madurai route.

The back bone of the district is agriculture with major share going to Sugarcane, with a minor share going to coconut and groundnut. Its so surprise that the town has got four co-operative sugar mills.(its counterpart biggest Vellore district has got three mills). This district has got a coastal area of 32 KM along Bay of Bengal, so there is scope for fisheries too.

Regarding education, now only the overall litracy rate started to raise to reach the figure of 70%. There is no big educational institutions in the district. Recently some private institutions started in the enggineering sector. The recent addition to the education crown is the Government Medical College functioning over a year with an annual intake of 100 students with a 300 bedded hospital and all speciality care. This is going to make big difference in the district's economy and health.

When coming to the important people presented by the district, the first person coming to the mind is the Acting Legend Sivaji Ganesan and Kanchi Periyavar Sri Chandrasekara Sarawathi Swamigal.

Now people reading this article will wonder abou the title 'Tamil Nadu's Bihar...'. Though the district has this many infrastructure and man power, the district remains a under developed part of the state, like bihar. There is problem with the administration it seems. Some body like Nithish Kumar has to come to change the district.

நானும் விகடனும்...

ஜூனியர் விகடன் ஆரம்பித்த காலத்தில் வாசகர் ஒருவர் எழுதி இருந்த கடிதம்..."முன்பு விகடன் என்று கடையில் கேட்டால் ஆனந்த விகடன் தருவார்கள்,இப்பொழுது ஜூவி என்று கேட்டால் ஜூனியர் விகடன் தருகிறார்கள்...அப்போ ஆவி என்று கேட்டால்தான் ஆனந்த விகடன் தருவார்களா?" என்பது அந்த வாசகரின் கேள்வி...அதற்கு விகடன் ஆசிரியர் "நீங்கள் விகடன் என்றே கேளுங்கள் உங்களுக்கு ஆனந்த விகடன்தான் தருவார்கள்" என்றார். அந்த அளவிற்கு விகடன் என்ற வார்த்தை தமிழக மக்களோடு ஒன்றி விட்டது.

வழக்கமாக விகடனில் வரும் கவிதைகள், கட்டுரைகள் படிக்கும் பொழுது நமக்கும் அதை போல எழுத தோன்றும். அதை போல தோன்றியதுதான் இந்த கட்டுரையும். விகடனின் 85 ஆண்டு நிறைவையொட்டி வரும் "விகடனும் நானும்" பகுதியில் நாம் எழுதி அந்த கட்டுரை வெளிவந்தால் நன்றாக இருக்கும். ஆனால் நாம் அந்த அளவிற்கு பெரிய ஆளும் அல்ல, விகடன் அந்த அளவிற்கு தரம் தாழ்ந்து விடவும் இல்லை. இருந்தாலும் நாம் பதிவு செய்ய ஒரு தளம் இருக்கிறது அல்லவா....

எனக்கு பத்து வயது இருக்கும், எனது பாட்டி வீட்டில் ஒரு ஆண்டு விடுமுறையில் அறிமுகம் ஆனவன் இந்த விகடன். எதச்சையாக பொழுது போகாமல் எடுத்து படிக்க போய், இன்று ஒவ்வொரு வாரமும் விகடனிடம் பேசியே ஆக வேண்டும் என்ற அளவிற்கு ஒன்றி விட்டான். ஆரம்ப காலத்தில் "கிமு கிபி" படக்கதையில் ஆரம்பித்த படிக்கும் பழக்கம், பிறகு "ஹாய் மதன்" "சுஜாதாவின் கற்றதும் பெற்றதும்" சினிமா விமர்சனம் என்று நீண்டு இப்பொழது முதல் பக்கம் கொண்டு கடைசி பக்கம் வரை படித்தே ஆக வேண்டி இருக்கிறது. பள்ளி நாட்களில் விடுமுறையில் மட்டுமே படித்து வந்தேன். கல்லூரி வந்த பிறகு ஒவ்வொரு வாரமும் யார் முதலில் விகடனை வாங்கி வந்து படிப்பது என்று நண்பர்களுடன் போட்டி போடும அளவிற்கு இருந்த நாட்கள் மறக்க முடியாதது. அதில் வரும் வண்ணப் படங்கள் என் அறை சுவற்றை அழங்கரித்த அந்த நாட்கள்...!!!

விகடனிடம் நான் காதல் கொண்டது நான் எழுதி அனுப்பிய கட்டுரையும் தேர்வு செய்து மாணவ பத்திரிக்கையாளர் பயிற்சி திட்ட எழுத்து தேர்விற்கும், நேர்முக தேர்விற்கும் என் எழுத்தை மதித்து என்னை விகடன் அலுவலகத்திற்கு அழைத்த அந்த காலத்தில்தான். நான் சென்னை, அண்ணா சாலை விகடன் அலுவலத்தில் கழித்த அந்த ஒரு நாள் வாழ்கையில் மறக்க முடியாத நாள். வெளி காவலாளி முதல் தலைமை ஆசிரியர் வரை அவர்கள் காட்டிய அக்கறைதான் விகடனின் இந்த இமாலய வெற்றிக்கு சான்று. அப்போதைய ஆசிரியர் 80 வயது பாலசுப்ரமணியன் வந்து பேசிய விதம் விகடன் ஏன் இவ்வளவு இளமையாக இருக்கிறது என்பதை அழகாக காட்டியது. நான் அப்போது கடைசி கட்டத்தில் தேர்வு ஆகவில்லை என்ற போதும் என் விகடனிடம் கொண்ட அன்பு இன்னும் அதிகமாகி போனது.

என் எழுத்திற்கு துணையாக நின்றவன். என் அரசியல் ஆர்வத்தை தூண்டியவன் இந்த விகடன். இதோ இன்று என் புகைப்பட ஆர்வத்திற்கு பிள்ளையார் சுழி போட்டவன் இந்த விகடன்.

2003-04 கால கட்டத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட சில நிர்வாக சிக்கலில், விகடனின் படைப்புகள் மிகவும் தரம் குறைந்து போனது. ஆனால் சிலிர்த்து கொண்டு எழுந்த பினிக்ஸ் பறவை போல பறந்த விகடன் இதோ இப்பொழுது அழகிய வண்ண பேப்பரில் வெளிவந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது.

அவனின் 3D படங்கள், கூடவே ஆரம்பித்த நாணயம் விகடன், மோட்டார் விகடன், போன்ற அவன் சகோதர, சகோதரி படைப்புகள் விகடனின் அதே துடிப்போடு வந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது.

சுஜாதாவின் மறைவு, எப்படி விகடனிற்கு பேரிழப்போ, ஞானி, தபூ சங்கர், அறிவுமதி போன்றோரின் வருகை உத்வேகத்தை அளித்தது. இதோ என் வாசிப்பும் தொடர்ந்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. உலக சினிமாவை என் முன் திரையிட்ட விகடன், என் ஊர் சுற்றுலா தளத்தை உலகிற்கு எடுத்து சொன்னான். உலகமே தயங்கிய போது, கலைஞரின் ஈழ மக்களின் நிலைபாட்டை தைரிமாக எதிர்த்து சொன்னவன் என் விகடன். நடிகர் விஜயின் கீழ்த்தரமான படங்களை நாசுக்காக அவனுக்கே எடுத்து சொன்ன விகடன், நல்ல படங்களுக்கு சிறந்த விமர்சனங்களை அளித்தவன்.

'அனைவரும் இன்புற்றிபதுவே அன்றி வேறொன்றும் அறியேன் பாரபரியேன்' என்பதை சரியாக பின்பற்றும் என் விகடன், நிர்வாக திறமைகளை எனக்கு கற்று தந்தவன். இலவச பொருட்களை மற்ற வார பத்திரிகைகள் கொடுத்த பொழுது, சற்று மயங்கிய விகடன் சுதாரித்து கொண்டு தன்னை மெருகேற்றி கொண்டு பழைய இடத்தை பிடித்தவன். தான் செய்த தவறை திருத்தி கொள்ளும் விகடன் மன்னிப்பு கேட்பதற்கும் தாங்கியவன் அல்ல. 75 ஆண்டு பவள விழாவிற்கு 'ழ'போடுவதா 'ள'போடுவதா என்று வாசகர் எழுப்பிய சந்தேகத்தை, சிறுதும் துச்சமாக கருதாமல் 'நாங்கள் அதை பற்றி யோசிக்கவில்லை, பல தமிழ் ஆசிரியர்களுடன் கேட்டதில் இரண்டுமே பயன் படுத்தலாம் என்றனர்' என்று தன் தவறை ஒப்புகொண்டவன் என் விகடன். அந்த பழக்கத்தை எனக்குள் விதைத்தவன் விகடன் என்று நான் சொல்லி தெரிய வேண்டியதில்லை.

விகடனை பற்றி எழுத நினத்தால் எதை எழுதுவது எதை விடுவது என்ற சிந்தனை போர் வருவது நிச்சயம். அதையும் மீறி என்னால் முடிந்த அளவிற்கு எழுதி விட்டேன். இதை படிக்கும் உங்களுக்குள் கண்டிப்பாக பழைய விகடன் நினைவுகள் வரும் என்பதில் சந்தேகம் இல்லை.

இதோ 85 வருடங்களை கடந்து இளமையாக வலம் வந்து கொண்டு இருக்கும் விகடனில் என்றாவது ஒரு நாள் என் பெயர் வரும் என்று காத்து கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

Body Gaurd Muneeswaran Temple-a stop without putting the brakes...

Bodygaurd Muneeswaran temple is situated in the Pallavan Salai, Chennai near Pallavan House and the Old Central Jail building. Its well known among the chennai city people and most of the Medicos, since this temple is the official landmark given in the address to the Island grounds Kendriya Vidyalaya during All India PG exams.

The history of this temple goes back to 1919, when some workers from then North Arcot district brought a idol of muneeswaran and tried to fix it near the military barrocks. Commender of that camp strongly objected, but he realised the fault very same day when he met with the road accident. By these this muneeswaran become bodygaurds for vehicles. Later a small shelter is given to the temple.

Another story behind this is...the present Pallavan house is the place where the Governor's security (Bodygaurds) camp was functioning. Since this temple is near the camps compound wall, people called it as Bodygaurd Muneeswaran.

Whatever be the story behind the temple, people have a strong beleif with this God in protecting them from road traffic accidents.

Every day we can see hundreds of two wheelers and four wheelers parked waiting for the pooja.

He is a non vegetarian God, so people can go accordingly for pooja...Whatever be the belief, drive safely on road, then all God will be in your side.

Radio-unforgettable days...

Actually the reason for writing this post is when i was reading this week's issue of Ananda Vikatan i read a article by a person who wrote his experience with the radio listening in his young days. I just recapped my experience. If anybody who has habit of listening radio will definitely have a impact.

My habit of listening radio started when i'm to my best of memory from my 7 or 8 years of age. My mom used to do the evening household listening to the cinema dialogue or some weekly serial dialogue in a small transistor radio which almost stopped its service one year back, i used to hear the same with her. After finishing the work she will go to the neighbours house to elaborate the story which she listened. I will be so irritated and i will disturb her by then only she will chase me out of the home. So that i can go out and play and she will discuss about the radio story.

Then my father, who bought a Sony 3 in 1 tape recorder for Rs.3000 when the gold was 700/soverign before my birth(ofcourse this is still working)wont even allow us to touch it. When he come home, he will start tuning to some channels raising the antennae of the radio. If he gets any signal mostly from any Srilankan channel or vivek bharathi, he will be so elated that we also will enjoy the channel without even understanding whats telecasted.

My actual craziness towards listening radio came during the age of 12. In those days radio programmes will be the virtual clock when starting to school in the morning. 7.15AM will be the news time,7.30 will be "Thirukkural" time but for me brushing time, at 7.40 "Indru Oru Thagaval" which will be the time for me to bath. At 7.50 have to tune to lankan channel for the cine song. There will be a commercial break at 8.15AM which will be the time for me to start to school.

During the Karthigai deepam festival there will bbe a live broadcast from Tiruvannamalai about the Deepam on AIR, that will be the time when my mom used to light the deepam in my home.

I still remember the Chennai test match between India and Pakistan 1999. I was listening the match on radio the last day. India was on the way to victory but atlast lost the match by 12 runs. But luckily the second test match at delhi become a history by Kumble's 10 wicket.

Then is the real part when my brother got a new transistor radio which he uses in his hostel. He will make all non sense with that to get the signal. He once bought a antennae suggested by a listener of srilankan shakthi FM on a radio programme and he installed it in my home to get the Lankan programme. Actually that listener used it tin nagapattinam to get the shakthi FM but my brother used it in Tirupattur. But really his efforts will get some tamil channels in the night. Once that antennae got the signal from the nearby police office's walky radio signals also.

In one programme some one told its very easy to start a radio channel. On hearing this, me and my brother started constructing a radio station with two FM microphone(one is original and another is what we made with resisters and diodes by seeing the original's circuit diagram). But finally we didnt get to know how to connect the tape recorder and the mic. So that idea was dropped.

The voices of Saroj Narayanasamy, Thenkatchi Ko Swaminathan, P.H. Abdul Ameed will all be awesome to listen.

In the modern radio, that is FM era, the awesome, lovely voice is from the RJ Suchitra. All will think Suryan FM is the first commercial FM started in chennai but Radio Mirchi started its telecast two days before Suryan with Suchitra's 3hrs programme in evening. Her night programme will be too nice that you will feel sleepy but wont feel to miss her voice by sleeping. Many full days had passed for me just by listening the FM during my college days.Kodai FM and Suryan FM in salem are unforgettable part of my college days.

Radio is such an wonderful media which our media legends wasted it on commercials. Ofcourse thats the reason Kodai FM is getting best prize every year for best AIR radio station. The Lankan radio are the best if we want to listen nice programme. Ofcourse internet live streaming helps a lot to get those channels.

Anna Centenary Library- Book Treasure....

Yes!!! Chennai got one more feather to its crown. Anna Centenary Library, built across 3.75 lakh sq ft of floor space with a total of 8 floors (yet to be completed) is giving its elegant giant look in Kotturpuram, which almost taken 180 crores expenditure.

Another dream project of the CM Karunanithi has come true and the library was opened on September 15 of 2010. A perfect front elevation filled with glasses gives the library a corporate look is guarded by series of security personnel at each check point. After giving our official entry by signing the register , a huge wall carving welcomes us- LETS READ THE WORLD IN BOOKS, LETS READ THE WORLD AS BOOKS. Of the functioning 5 floors, the ground floor holds the Brailey section, first floor holds the kids’ section and dailys, magazines, the second floor holds the tamil literature, the third floor English, Computer Science, Engineering, etc., and the fourth holds the Medicine, Agriculture, Management, etc.,

The kids’ section looks as though we are inside Just Born or Odessey’s kids’ corner. Hats off to the art director Thotta Tharani , who has designed this floor. Almost all available books for kids are arranged in short shelves. This section also has a play area. The computer terminals provided in this floor has interactive flash programmes for Play n Learn activities.

The medicine section housed in the fourth floor has almost 17000 books (Statistics) has almost all books catering all the branches of the medicine. But only one copy is available for each subject. Copies needed to be increased.

The entire library is fully computerized and centrally air-conditioned. The accesses of the books are made easy with the computers available with the assistant librarians available at each floor. The entire floor area inside the reading section is either covered by carpet or plywood. This library is connected with other libraries in the state and the state of art Connemara Library. This library also connected with almost all the international libraries around the world. Thus this library becomes second of its kind in the country having such a network.

This library’s construction is personally supervised by the School education minister Mr. Thangam Thennarasu, who for this work will remain popular in the party till his political life ends.

Once this library becomes fully functional after the pending civil work, this will be the hang out for all the book lovers provided the government irrespective of the political party maintains and there is no scam in the maintenance contract.

Anna Centenary Library, another landmark achievement by Karunanithi’s govt which the history will speak in feature.

Patna - India's history sleeps here...

I went to this historical place on a cool season which changed my entire opinion on India. The first thing i noted in this place is the dietary habit which the rest of the country loosing. The habit of going with nature, every vendor in the train or railway platform is carrying a natural eatables. No chemicals.

But the next thing which i saw made me to frown. Every station in the state is filled with a row human creatures lying asleep in the night. These people dont have a shelter. Still the constitution is not fully established in this state.

At that momemt, kerala based railway employee, gave a information that human lives are not considered a matter. Illegal activities are very common and its very unsafe to go out in night. So not even Gandhi's dream came true.

Transport is one of the horrible one in Patna and the entire Bihar. No public transport system, neither govt nor private operated. Only cycle rickshaw, auto rickshaw...The reason is very funny...No citizen is willing to pay money for the travelling ticket...But the people are dedicated in their work...but no one seems to have a good IQ (Person driving the car only on second gear, a crowd inside the ATM centre, travelling in roof top with the entire van empty)

The only thing which makes us feel is the feel that the Indian history started in Pataliputra. The oldest Nalanda university, Buddha gaya, Jamshedpur steel city, and many more to mention...If we want ot write anything on India's history both ancient and modern, patna will find a first mention.

Patna museum has a plenty of good old sculptures aging from 2A.D. brought from all part of India, afganistan, Burma, China, Srilanka, etc., collections of Rajendra Prasad, Nehru, etc.,

But in recent years, Patna and Bihar as a whole had a reasonable developments. Many villages which has not experienced electricity is glowing now, a few flyovers in the city, wide railway stations, many many government schemes and many to mention.

Recent surprise is out of elected 243 MLA, 19 where Doctorate holders. Another thing to mention is, Bihar is one of the state which gives the nation more number of IAS officers.

The final opinion after the visit to Bihar is, we can't declare India as a developed one without sufficient contribution to and from this part of the country.

Higginbotham's - the place for book worms...

The Third important landmark in Anna Salai of Chennai is Higginbotham's Book Shop in front of the LIC Buildings.

The Higginbotham's is an Indian company of book sellers and publishers based in the city of Chennai. The main bookstore at Mount Road, Chennai has the reputation of being India's oldest bookshop in existence.

The Higginbotham's was established by an English librarian named Abel Joshua Higginbotham.It is alleged that he arrived in India as a British stowaway. In fact he was born 1 February 1819 and baptised 7 March at cannonore, Madras.

In the 1840s, he was employed as a librarian with a bookstore named Weslyan Book Shop run by Protestant missionaries. However, the store suffered heavy losses and the missionaries who ran the business decided to sell their shop for a low price. Higginbotham purchased the business and set up his own store and called it "Higginbotham's" in the year 1844. The Higginbotham's is, therefore, India's oldest bookstore in existence. Soon, it gained a reputation for quality. John Murray, in his Guidebook to the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay in 1859, describes Higginbotham's as the "premier bookshop of Madras".

The Higginbotham's started selling stationery and also publishing and printing their own books from the 1860s onwards. When the British Crown took over the governance of India from the British East India Company by the Queen's Proclamation of 1858, copies of the Proclamation were printed in English and Tamil and distributed all over the Presidency by Higginbotham's. he Higginbotham's were appointed as the "official booksellers to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales" during the latter's visit to India in 1875. Abel Joshua Higginbotham served as the Sheriff of Madras in 1888 and 1889. From 1890 to 1920, the Higginbotham's were the sole suppliers to the Connemara Public Library. James Higgs, who was the Managing Director from 1890 onwards, was a prominent Freemason who had previously served as the Grand Deacon of England and the Deputy District Grand Master of Master.

Abel also involved his son C. H. Higginbotham in his business. On Abel's death in 1891, the firm passed on to the hands of his son C. H. Higginbotham. C. H. expanded the business beyond Madras. Higginbotham bookstalls were established in Southern Railway stations. In 1904, the Higginbotham's moved to a new building that has been specifically built for the firm. In 1929, the Higginbotham's had as many as 400 employees.

In 1921, Higginbotham's was purchased by John Oakshott Robinson who added the store to his group the Associated Publishers. Associated Publishers was bought by S. Anantharamakrishnan of Amalgamations Group in 1945 and has since remained a part of the conglomerate. Some of Higginbotham's famous customers were Clement Attlee, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and S. Radhakrishnan. Rev. Miller, who established the Madras Christian College, was another regular at Higginbotham's.

The Higginbotham's was the largest bookstore in India till the 1990s. In 1989, renovations helped restore the original look upon the building.


The Higginbothams has a chain of 22 outlets spread across the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

You will wonder, Higginbotham's working hours are very narrow. 10.00AM to 8.00 PM Never opens on sundays. You will always find a security at the entrance round the clock(In 2005, ofcourse, Higginbotham's was stealed by its own security personnel).

LIC Buildings - Makes you Lift your Head...

When you enter the Anna Salai (then Mount Road)in Chennai, u will never miss the sight of the LIC buildings which has become the popular landmarks in this Metro.

LIC buildings was built on 55 ground of plot, this 177 feet tall building till date remains the popular symbol of modern architecture in Chennai. This 14 storied building has 1,26,000 sq.ft of floor area and stands on 521 pneumatic caisson piles that run to a depth of 35 feet. Built at the cost of 87 lakhs in 1959. The building consumed about 26,000 sq.ft of special glass that was treated with infra-red rays, stove enameled and made water resistant with synthetic enamel paint.

M Ct.M.Chidambaram Chettair conceived this building in 1952 as the head office of United India Life Assurance and New Guardian Life Insurance. H.J.Brown and L.C.Moulin, the London based architects, drew the designs.

The construction commenced in 1953. The London architects withdrew in 1957 and the rest of the construction was overseen by Chennai based architect L.M.Chitale. The completed office building was to become the office of LIC and not that of the United India Life Insurance because the insurance service was nationalised by 1956 and all the assets were made over to LIC.

Like Spencer Plaza, this building was also a victim of Fire Accident in beginning of 1970's latter restructured to the present state. During the Bangladesh war, this building is used by the army as a control room and as a surveillance tower to identify from which building in the city the light glows (its supposed to put off the lights after sunset during war periods. Some sources say that missiles are also installed during that war period on this building)

In Mid-July 2012 some noticed a crack in the 11th floor of the building which the building engineers attributed to the work of the Chennai Metro Rail Project right outside the building. But it was denied by the CMRL and IIT-M experts. Later the defect was corrected jointly by LIC and CMRL.

This important landmark of Chennai that consumed 1000-ton steel and 3000-ton cement was inaugurated on August 23 1959. Standing bravely even after 50 years.

National Highways - Some facts...

The wealth of any country will grow only with the network of effective transport facility. India one of the biggest developing countries in the world has an huge network of transport system. Most of which were laid by the English people, which were well developed to meet the growing needs.

National Highways in India is managed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)which is constituted as per the NHAI Act passed in Indian Parliment in 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways entrusted to it and for matters connected or incidental thereto. The Authority was operationalised in Feb, 1995.

NHAI's active contribution started with its Golden Quadrilateral Project implemented by the A. B. Vajpayee's Union Government in the goal of connecting the two ends of the country Kanyakumari and Kashmir with Road network with a web connecting all the major Sea ports.

NH no 7 which is considered as the India's longest National Highway is included in the Golden quadrilateral project. Indian road network is the world's second largest one with about covering 33 lakhs KM of roads of which 200 KM is considered to be Express Highway were the minimum speed is around 100 KM/Hr and about 70,548 KM in NH with maximum speed of 70 KM/Hr.

In Tamil Nadu the major NH are 7, 46,and 47. Salem, Krishnagiri are starting points for one NH each. Madurai, Trichy and salem forms the junction point for about 5 NH each.

The first public - private project for four lane road on build-operate-hand over basis in Tamil Nadu is implemented in coimbatore byepass road connecting Coimbatore and Pallakad. This project is carried over by L&T company with arrangement of operating for 25 years.

The infrastructure development in the Road sector in India had made enormous changes in the recent years offering millions of job oppurtunities contributing to the development of the whole country.

NHAI has released security bonds on the face value of Rs. 10000 which in the 2011 in the aim of fund raising. This will be a safe investment option but with a nominal interest rate of 6%. Recently Union Government has decided to form a new organisation for raising the finance towards the projects of NHAI. So in feature investment in NHAI will turn into a profitable one.

Spencer Plaza - Chennai Shops Here...

Spencer Plaza is one of the must visit place in Chennai. To hang out, to see the modernization, to shop, etc., But most of the people who visit this place don't know the other side of this huge historical place.

Spencer Plaza(then Spencer) was started as the south Asia's first departmental store in 1863 by Charles Durant and J. W. Spencer.

After few years the store was shifted to a new building which is example of Indo - Sarconic architecture. This departmental store continued to be the one of the biggest mall for more than 100 years when in 1985 a fire accident destroyed the entire buliding.

Followed which the present building was constructed in early 1990's by the Mangal Tirth Estate limited, a property development company owned by a group of NRI's. Recently the third phase of the plaza is opened. This third phase is built resembling the old destroyed building with huge pillars.

Now the mall has more than 600 shops of varying brandnames and number of non brabded local shops. The mall is located in the Mount Road, officially called the Anna Salai. The mall is built on the floor space of 10lakh sq ft which is the costliest real estate property in the city. (one sq ft costs around Rs. 2lakh in mount road).

This mall also provides accomodation for the offices for many MNC's and BPO's. The second phase of the mall opens its shutter at around 8.30AM for giving its way for the Landmark which has the policy of opening by 8.45AM. the other shutters remains closed for another one hour expecting a day long movement of the traffic.

Though many malls opened in the city, the glamour of this mall has not went down giving place for around 40000 people on weekdays and 60000 people on weekends to spend their time.

Spencer Plaza remains the second place for the chennai people next to the Marina to hang out.

Jolarpettai Railway Junction - History Reviewed....

Jolarpettai Railway Junction (JTJ) - a landmark for all the people in and around Jolarpettai when they go out of the district. This junction has to be mentioned if we start to talk about the history of Southern Railways and the history of Vellore District (then North Arcot Ambedkar District).

It is situated in the foothills of Yelagiri Hills. 7 Km from Tirupattur Town, 60 Km from Vellore City, 212 km from Chennai Central. Jolarpettai Junction is situated in the selection grade panchayat Union, to rightly say this panchayat is in jolarpettai junction.

The history of Jolarpettai Junction goes back to 1860's. When Madras Railways is started the rail started running from Royapuram to Wallajah Road, which latter extended to Arakkonam. In the mean time rail line work was started in 1864 in the Jolarpettai - Bangalore Contonement route in which Bangalore mail started its journey in 1868.

I have heard old railway people in jolarpettai saying(i spent my early childhood days in Jolarpettai) this town is named after a british person " JOLAR" who was assigned the job of creating a place for Railway basement for their employees. Its obvious that the entire town is only with railway quarters. (Now many private residentials came out).

The Brindavan Express when introduced in the late 1960's was considered one of the fastest train at that time which crosses the Jolarpettai - Bangalore contonment section in 1hour 3o min.(now it takes around 3hours i think). This shows how people worked in this part of railways those days.

Jolarpettai Junction is one of the biggest junction in the Indian Railways and is the only station in Asia having sixteen tracks. This Junction handles about 60 passenger trains daily of which few trains originate from this Junction notable one is the popularly called JP express(Yelagiri Exp) which is now for name sake originating from Tirupattur. This Junction doesn't satisfies the norms for the status of junction which actually has to connect all the four direction but connecting only three direction Salem, Bangalore and Chennai. This will be soon compensated by the proposed Tiruvannamalai Route.

After upgrading the next station Tirupattur as Junction, the traffic in JTJ has reduced to a certain extent. But after that many trains made up their correct time due to the releif congestion occurred in this point. This Junction station is unique in one sense, this will be lazy during day times and will be in full swing in the night. I have seen one day that all the five platforms are with express trains, two heading bangalore, two towards Chennai and one towards Salem. It surprising with in five minutes all the trains were cleared. Thats the track arrangemnt. This wont happen in any of the junctions in Southern Railway.

Jolarpettai Junction is one of the Class A Junction in the Southern Railways which comes under Salem Division. This Junction has all the facilities of workshop, shelter for the goods trains. This Junction is unique in one thing of having the ticket counter in the first floor on the bridge. This Junction has two bridges one with steps and another with the ramp which connects two villages of the town, Kodiyur and Eadayampatti.

Interesting Facts about JTJ:

1. This junction gets its water source from River Paalar, the pump house for which is situated about 20 km from the Junction near Ramanaiyakenpettai.

2. The adjacent station Kethandapatti serves for the storage of the water received from the river.

3. The curd rice and Medhu Vada sold in the Junction is once considered best in the Chennai - Coimbatore section. (even now I think...?)

4. A typical announcement can be heard often " The Blue Mountain Express will stop and go in the Platform No...in few minutes" instead of "The Blue Mountain Express will arrive at Platform No ...in few minutes"

5. During early 1990's this junction served the entire town with water when it went dry.

It is proposed to elevate the standards of the Junction in the near future and the works are on progress.

I hope when you people get down in this station defenitely you feel that you are on an historical place

Angaadi Theru...Tamil Movie Review

Starring: Magesh, Anjali, Sneha(Guest Performance)

Director: Vasantha Balan

Music: G V Prakash

This film is from the minds of the block buster movie 'Veyil' director Vasantha balan. He proved again his talent in this movie, which is based on the life in Chennai's shopping hub T.Nagar.

Director made all his efforts to make the audience to feel the reality in the movie. To boost his efforts, each character in the film played their best part. Story starts by narrating a real incidence that happened in the platforms of chennai.

Hero Magesh is a sales boy in a textile firm who was forced to do this job due to his family situation and heroine Anjali is a sales girl who was also forced here because of her family. (Almost every one in this field have some or the other family issues....in reality also). The torture they face in the work area will definitely make the audience to behave in friendly manner when they go to shopping next time.

The boy can easily tolerate the tortures but the girl....its worth thinking when a sales girl smiles at you in the shop. Though the movie is full of sentiments, after each such scene there is some comedy scene to keep you on flow with the movie.

When that girl commit suicide we automatically get the feel of killing that guy, but when he justify his part,it really explains the situation.

Sneha who starred as a ad model also is there to prove something behind all the ad films.(her appearance says something about which shop the film is about).

Director in one of his interview told he stayed in a mansion in the T.Nagar to write the script for the film and this is something he witnessed. (in the movie, all the shops name was there except one shop....???)

Officials who see this movie should take actions to ensure the welfare of huge working population. I think these people doesnt have any advantage of the ESI,PF, etc.,

Hope this movie opens the door for the smiley customers....

Manithanukkulle Oru Mirugam - A Book Review

Title: Manithanukkulle Oru Mirugam

Language: Tamil

Author: Cartoonist Madhan

Publisher: Vikatan Media Services

Price: Rs. 110/=

I have read this book a year ago. But it will be apt to have a review on this at this time. This book is a compilation of the serial articles published in Junior Vikatan during the days Madhan Started writing stories like Late Sujatha, who use to write in Ananda Vikatan. This book focussed only the dark aspects of the human beings. Analysed in a very different manner even a psychologist will hesitate to talk. Even the author himself has given a disclaimer that the reader should not consider him as psycho.

Author has described mostly the incidents that happened in the western countries. Similiar things also happened in our part of the world also. Most of the incidents were about the one man worship and its consequences. Author so intelligent to convince the reader that this are all due to the innocence of the people and not the community leader.

The incident which made me to frown is the one happened in late 50's that the US army itself failed to attack a prayer community organised by a single man who declared himself as the Prophet.

Altogether a must read book by every one. (Particularly at this time)

Union Budget 2010 - In the layman Language

Union Budget 2010 was one of the most expected from Pranab's office as this will become the boost for the country after a world's big economic dip. When the dollor and euro struggled to make it up, Rupee managed to come out of the grave yard like a Phoenix. So this year's finance report is expected to turn as a health drink to the country's economy.

PM(Gold medalist from Harward University in Finance) and home minister(MBA in Finance & prof of finance) being a big dawns of the economic affairs joined hands with Aluwalia and Pranab to present a nice budget this year.

In the outline if we see this budget it will look as of the budget is against the middle class people.

Ofcourse it is!!! The hike in the petroleum price - which will affect the price of all materials.

The hike in the import tax for the gold and platinium - which will make the middle class to remember it only in the chemistry table.

But if we see these hike which affect the common people from the ruler's point of view will fetch lot of capital income. For example from Reliance refineries itself Govt will gain 5500 crores as tax. We should keep in mind that Reliance is the second biggest refinery after the govt owned one's. There are few more small petroleum refineries in the country.

In another point of view, people will start walking or use public transport for going to market.

The import tax for the gold will indirectly increase the government share of buying gold rather than the gold council. Last year Reserve Bank of India brought about 108 tons of gold which remains the highest comparing any of the world's reserve bank.

I think no one will comment on the hike in tobacco products.

When viewing these hikes in long term aspect, it will help in a while.

Coming to the benefits of the Budget, first is the change in the IT norms. As per the FM's statement it will benefit 60% of the tax payers and this will also motivate non tax payers also to file the returns which in turn increase the govt's income.

The increase in the savings limit from 1 lak to 1.2 lak of which the 20000 as a investment in the infrastructure bonds will help the infrastructure development and also this will pave way for the govt bonds to become popular. people will develop the habit of investing.

The concession given for housing loans, early payment of agri loans, fund sanction for the rural development, tax exception for the contribution for CGHS, etc are the main highlights of the budget.

Fund allocation to the health sector still didnt satisfy WHO norms. Military's contribution remains high this time also showing the threat to the country.

At this point of time, people should know where to invest their money. My point of view is, invest in some

tax saver mutual fund plans,

Dont forget the life insurance(go for term insurance rather than ULIP)

Take a separate medical insurance rather than clumping it with other plans(Life is important, don't expect offers)

If you cannot offer a big amount as premium every year go for Govt bond(preferably central govt infrastructure bonds)

If that also seems to big go for postal certificates like NSC, NSS...

Unless you are not a pensioner don't opt for term deposit in banks, which is no way useful for youngsters.

When market looks to come under Bull's hand try investing in good company's share.

thats all about this year's overview on Union Budget and recommendation on investment. There may be some change in the budget before it passes in both the houses which may alter the overall view.