Tamil Nadu Geography Profile picture
Jun 18, 2023 8 tweets 4 min read Read on X
The forgotten story of #Tamil's perished in the construction of 415km Siam(Thailand)–Burma Railway. During World War-II, Japan captured Thailand, to go forward into Burma, they built a railway using POW & indentured labor incl Malaysian plantation Tamil. Overall >1 Lakh died 1/4 Image
On 14th Dec 1941 Japan took control of Siam(Thailand), wanting to capture Burma and parts of India. To help move their Army, they started a 415km railway. Construction began in 15 Sep 1942 in Burma, involving >2.5lakh poor labor from Burma, Thailand and Malaysian Tamil's 2/4 Image
Japanese used somewhere between 40000 to 90000 poor plantation Tamils, luring them with the false promise of high wages. But the disease and tough work environment killed 16000 to 40000 Tamil's. The story and the blood of Coolie Tamils between 1850 to 1950 is forgotten 3/4 Image
This project is an engineering marvel built in the deep jungles of Thailand and Burma. It was completed in 25 Oct 1943. This 415km long railway line with >600 bridges, some are built across large rivers. The complex railway line built within the record time of 15 months 4/4 Image
Recently, I had an informal conversation in a podcast about the story of Tamil Coolies who migrated out of Tamil nadu from 1828 to 1950. Part-3 is out, listen in 0.8X speed, i did not realized, I was talking faster. open.spotify.com/episode/37Jd0I…
Interview of Arumugam Kandasamy who survived the Railway project. I hope more record these interesting stories/historical record before they disappear
This video shows relatives of perished Tamils making a trip to the site after 70+yrs to remember loved ones
In the railway project, ~60000 White prisoners of war were involved by the Japanese in that ~12000 perished. Also ~2.5+ lakh indentured labor incl the >50000 Tamil labor also involved. In that ~90000 died. Railway museum in Thailand is dedicated to White POW but labour ignored ImageImage

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More from @TNGeography

Oct 10
If I were to be Samsung, if the option is between shifting the factory or accepting CITU. I will choose shifting the factory. People have no idea, what is the actual consequences of allowing CITU inside the production line. It is better to save the Brand name than factory 🧵 1/n
If a company allow CITU, they will loose the control over their production line, for high tech electronics company, it is like committing suicide. You can't control quality, u cant change the low quality employee. Political party (CITU is full of poltics) will dictate it 2/n
High tech electronics appliances has many components, even single assembly issues will create bad quality product, unhappy customer. Within a year, a company will loose the market. Most importantly its brand name. Samsung brand name more important than a manufacturing plant 3/n
Read 11 tweets
Sep 17
The pillars of Madurai Madana Gopala Swamy Temple displayed at the Philadelphia museum of Art. In 1912, during her trip to Madurai, Adeline Pepper Gibson bought the pillars, transported to USA, it was gifted to Philadelphia museum on 1919, displayed there as temple hall 1/3
Many heritage structures of Madurai incl the fort walls, orchids..etc were demolished by British. Many temples were in ruins. The pillars of the front mandapam was sold to Adeline Gibson, now displayed in the world famous Philadelphia museums. Adeline died at young age 2/3 Image
British were impressed by the ruins of Thirumalai naikar mahal, they renovated the palace, but didnot maintain the temples. In last 80yrs, many temples were renovated. Though not popular, Even today, Madana gopalsamy temple is worshipped by devotees of Madurai 3/3
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Read 6 tweets
Sep 14
Extending BMRCL upto Hosur is now a hot topic, hearing lot of angry voices. In 1973, TN govt setup Hosur SIPCOT due to proximity to Blre. Post 1991, Hosur saw decline. From 1998, KA started building, its largest Bommasandra industrial cluster using existing Hosur ecosystem 1/6
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Hosur never competed with Bengaluru, it complimented it. Tamil Nadu/Hosur went through severe electricity crisis during 2009-13, political crisis btw 2014-17. During this time KA overtook TN in industrial investment. Built it's largest industrial ecosystem around Bangalore 2/6 Image
Having, intra state industrial ecosystem is beneficial to both states. It will ensure bad policy of one state doesn't affect whole ecosystem. Hosur and Bengaluru benefited from each other. From 2017, TN govt been proactive, so Hosur industrial system is reviving 3/6 Image
Read 10 tweets
Sep 8
TN is No.1 in destroying beaches with waste. With illegal shop, irresponsible people, & failed govt.
Marina beach is gone, then we lost Besant Nagar beach, Ariyamaan beach is also down with waste. It is sad to see once clean Mahabalipuram beach is also occupied by illegal shop. Image
Most of these shops are controlled by local goons, these shop owners pay their rent to them. Regulating these shops by local bodies will fetch more revenue to them will help to keep it clean, but deprive mafia's their money. Shops went till beach water, getting worse in last 5yrs
I know, whatever I post in Twitter will have zero impact on the ground. It is a system run by the mafia, for the mafia. I request people to boycott beach shops, we can only do them.
Read 5 tweets
Sep 3
My post on Vijayawada flood is misinterpreted by many. This post elaborate it.
Let us start with Vijayawada drainage basin. It is part of Krishna & Budameru basin part of Kolleru lake. Budameru basin has ~900sqkm of catchment basin till Vijayawada city with hills and lakes. 1/n


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Vijayawada is not new to flood, In last 100 yrs, city went through 17+ floods driven by both Krishna & Budameru rivers. In 2005, Budameru created heavy flood in the northern part of the city, since it flows through the heart of the city. AP govt decided to divert the water 2/n Image
After 2005 flood, AP govt decided to prevent Budameru river from entering the core part of the city. So, it planned to divert the river into Polavaram canal (connects Polavaram to Prakasam). Budameru wonot enter city. Polavaram canal has ~37000cusec carrying capacity 3/n Image
Read 21 tweets
Sep 2
All these floods are not due to Krishna river but because of small Budameru vagu, it has ~900 sqkm catchment till Vijayawada. After 2005 flood, AP govt diverted part of the river into Krishna by connecting it with 37500 cusec Polavaram canal, still it overflowed the canal 1/2
Due to heavy rainfall Budameru saw >60000 cusec, overflowing both the diversion canal & it's natural river course. It's natural path is illegally occupied, it can't even carry 10000 cusec flood. So water overflowed from the canal and the river, flooding the Vijayawada 2/2


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Though it flows close to Krishna river, Budameru is not part of Krishna basin. It is part of Kolleru lake basin. Budameru meet the largest freshwater lake by area in India. Kolleru is an another ecological disaster. AP rivers are seeing man-made impact

Read 4 tweets

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