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
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
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
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
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
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Nagarathar migrated to Pandya Nadu, initially they settled in 9 villages, where they were granted 9 shiva temples. This 9 temples used as a primary classification of the community. Members within the each temple group are called Pangali's, they cannot marry within that group 1/10
Illayathangudi (இளையாத்தங்குடி) is the first Nagarathar settled village in Pandya nadu. It has the Kailasanathar Nithyakalyani Amman Temple and Kalanivasal Nagarathar Perumal Koil with two temple tanks 2/10
Illuppaikudi, Sri Thaanthondri Eswarar Temple (Illuppaikudi Vairavar) 3/10
Many pilgrims visit Madurai on the way to Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari trip but most just visit Meenakshi Amman temple, donot stay overnight in the city. Madurai has many temples to offer with less restriction than Meenakshi temple. We can divide them into 7 circuits. This 🧵 1/20
Let us start with City Temple Circuit
Shri Koodal Azhagar Temple 2/20
Arulmigu Sri Madana Gopala Swamy Temple, a beautiful ancient temple (City temple circuit) 3/20
As per the latest Water body database (it need correction), Telangana has the most number of large water bodies. They classify their Cheruvu as Tank, we say it as lake. TS spent more in their water resources in last 10yrs than TN spent in last 50+yrs. TS renovated many tank/lakes
WRIS report put Tamil Nadu as a State with most number of large water body. Just Water body database put Telangana as the state with most number of large water bodies. The later is bit more accurate than the former
This is the list as per latest waterbodies database, As per this list, AP has the most larger waterbody by area followed by TS and TN
Madras plaid is a thin cotton fabric with checkered color pattern. City grew around the export biz of Madras fabric in the 17th century. Madras plaid were highly popular in 1960's as American elite & ivy league preppy cloth. Also, popular among African & Caribbean nations 1/4
Madras plaid cotton were handmade with natural vegetable coloring. This fabric known as elite summer cloth in western countries due to its naturally breathing cotton, thrived during British period. It is also called Madras handkerchief or bleeding madras due to fading color 2/4
Portuguese popularized Madras cotton fabric into Western Africa. Due to the fame of the fabric many duplicate flooded the market. It is traded for the exchange for slaves. Even now, Madras is the most worn traditional fabric in Caribbean during festive seasons/celebrations 3/4
Vaigai dam is 85% full, it is opening ~4000 cusec into the river for the irrigation of Sivaganga/Ramnad dt. This water will flow through 26 checkdams and ends at Ramnad periya Kanmai. Vaigai basin has ~49TMC surface water (Incl Mullaperiyar), <4% of surface water reach sea 1/6
Vaigai river originates in Varushanadu valley in the Gandamanayakanur zamin. It flows for 295.1km to reach sea at Attangarai. Vaigai basin has 1049 system tanks(fed by river), 329 nonsystem tank (fed by its own catchment). Water also diverted to Gundar and Pambar basin lakes 2/6
Vaigai basin spans an area of 7009sqkm, it is divided into 10 subbasin. It has ~2100sqkm of hill catchment. Vaigai basin has an avg rainfall of <800mm, it is a deficit basin. Vaigai river has a canal ayacut of ~5.3 lakh acre. It forms Vaigai delta and wetland at Ramnad dt 3/6
There is lot of misinformation spread in media abt TN Cauvery water use 1. As of now, KA is opening ~5000cusec to it's irrigation canal just from Kabini and KRS, saying KA will use the present
storage only for drinking is incorrect. 2. TN is opening ~5000cusec to Delta 1/n
3. Using TN NEM monsoon as excuse is misleading because Mettur local catchment receive less NEM monsoon than Delta. TN need water in Mettur for drinking water. 4. Many cities in TN depends on Cauvery for drinking water(i.e. Erode, Salem, Karur, Trichy, Tiruppur..etc) 2/n
5. Most of the delta only grow two crops, many use pump set. Though delta is fertile for multiple crop. It is ideally suited for paddy cultivation 6. NEM is a unpredictable monsoon with heavy rain in few days, Samba crop need some growth to withstand NEM onset 3/n