Official Google Blog: New search-by-style options for Google Image Search

Today Google adds clip art and line drawings to their image search criteria, in addition to photos and faces.To restrict your search to either line drawings, clip art, photos, or faces, choose the style criteria from the drop-down on an image results page.

Official Google Blog: New search-by-style options for Google Image Search

Chennai on High Alert

Security has been beefed up in three 5-star hotels in the suburbs following a security alert that they could either be targeted by terrorists or used by them to stay there.


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According to police sources, an alert was received from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) that airports in Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi may come under attack and also that terrorists were likely to target the three hotels in suburban Chennai - Le Royal Meridian, The Trident and Radisson -all located within one to five km from the airport.

Police said security has also been stepped up across Tamil Nadu, especially in view of the Mumbai terror attacks as well as the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6.

Wish Our Real Hero's

For 58 hours, as a bunch of determined, and lethally armed, terrorists held Mumbai to ransom, out to destroy everything the city, and India, stands for, our men in uniform have taken them on, bravely and against all odds.

Image: Thanks to Dinamalar

At this emotional moment, we pays tribute to our Heroes in Uniform. Come, join us, in celebrating our Real Life Heroes. Wish them Here...!

Heavy Rain Disturbs Chennai's Normal Life

Tropical Cyclone Nisha crossed the Tamil Nadu coast close to north of Karaikal early on Thursday morning, an update from the Regional Met Centre, Chennai, said.

The streets in Chennai were literally submerged and traffic moved at a snail''s pace on the waterlogged streets. Chennai Koyampedu 100 feet road closed due to heavy water crossing near MMDA colony. All the buses from CMBT routed via Poonamalle high road and Maduravoil byepass.

“For the past two-three days, there have been heavy rains. You cannot go out on a bike, office goers are struggling to make it to their offices. Many areas are literally submerged,” said SeethaLakshmi, another resident.Chennai recorded 53 centimetre of rainfall in the last 48 hours accompanied by strong wind with speeds of 45 to 55 kilometers per hour.

Chennai - Law Students Clash Video

The Tamil Nadu government Thursday suspended nine policemen and the principal of the government law college here for failing to control a violent clash between students, and announced a probe into the incident by a retired Madras High Court judge.Law Minister Durai Murugan told the assembly that P. Shanmugham, a retired judge of the Madras High Court would investigate Wednesday’s clash between two student groups. The police couldn’t act as the principal didn’t give them the permission, Sekar said.

The students had allegedly fought over the contents of an invitation for a political event. They attacked each other with sticks and iron rods. (See Video)


Eyewitnesses said police officials remained mute spectators and failed to control the violence in which three students were injured.

The college and its hostel would remain closed till further notice.

Vaaranam Aayiram Released on Nov 14th

Gautham Vasudev Menon's dreams film going to be fulfilled. Making of complete two years in the Vaaranum Aayiram with his favourite hero Surya is now ready for release.

VA's Trailer for you...

India Beat Australia (2 - 0) & Bengal Tiger Retired

India beat Australia by 172 runs in 4th Test, win series 2-0. MS Dhoni gave Sourav Ganguly a gift to remember by making him "captain" during the last stages of the match as Australia slumped to a 172-run defeat.

Australia lost their wickets at regular intervals after a fighting partnership between Hayden and Hussey was broken by young Mishra who had the latter caught at slip by Rahul Dravid who had a forgettable match with the bat and as a slip fielder too.

The former India skipper, who missed the chance to score a century in his farewell appearance after having started his Test career with a bang a debut ton at Lord's in 1996 faded from the limelight with the happiness that he was part of a victorious team at the end.

He was chaired off the ground after being hugged by all his teammates and the Australian players and was also greeted by retired captain Anil Kumble who has returned from Bangalore to see the finale.

Ceremony is about to begin. Man of the Match :Jason Krejza Man of the Series: Ishant Sharma.

Chennai to Kanniyakumari ECR finished by 2009

The East Coast Road (ECR) from Chennai to Kanniyakumari project would be completed by 2009,state high way minister Vellakoil Swaminathan said today. Taking to reporters here he said out of the total stretch of 742km of ECR, 552Km had been completed.

The work on the stretches between Ramanathapuram -Tuticorin and Kumbakonam-Thiruvathavur were progressing. Eleven big towns would be provided by-pass road at a cost of Rs.236cr. A by-pass road and a railway over bridge would be constructed at a cost of Rs.35 cr here. The district roads were being repaired at a cost of Rs.250 cr with the assitance from the NABARD.

The work on four-way road from Madurai to Ramanathapuram and Tiruchi-Ramanathapuram would begin shortly, he said.

IPL - Chennai Super King's New Coach

The former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, is likely to take over as the coach of IPL-Chennai Super Kings from Kepler Wessels(SA) for the Champions Twenty20 League. He, however, will not be playing for the team in then tournament next month. Wessels, who led the team to the finals in the inaugural IPL season and helped them qualify for the Champions Twenty20 League next month, confirmed that his one-year tenure was over. "My contract was just for one year," he told.

He recently committed to Wellington for the domestic Twenty20 campaign in New Zealand beginning February 2009, a move which could also see him turning out for the team in the next edition of the Champions League

His appointment is the latest in the series of management changes by the IPL teams ahead of the second season. Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, who finished at the bottom of the league, brought in Adam Gilchrist as their new captain, replacing VVS Laxman and Bangalore's Royal Challengers, who finished just ahead of Hyderabad in the points table, replaced Martin Crowe, their coach last year, with Ray Jennings. The Hyderabad, Jaipur and Delhi franchises have already changed their chief executives.

Michael Hussey had already announced that he would represent Chennai and not Western Australia for the Champions Twenty20 League which kicks off on December 3 with the finals in Mumbai on December 10. Chennai Super Kings will face Victoria in their opening Group A encounter on December 4 in Mumbai. Middlesex and Titans are the other teams in the group.

Thanks: cricinfo.

Chandrayaan - Closer to the Moon

Chandrayaan-1 within 500 km of the moon - India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft, moved closer to the moon today, when it broke free from it elliptical orbit around the earth, speeding into deep space towards the moon. This was disclosed by a top space agency official.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) director S. Satish told IANS yesterday, "The liquid apogee motor (LAM) on board will be fired around 5.00 a.m. Tuesday for about five minutes to make the transition and position the spacecraft at about 500 km from the moon's surface and over 3,84,000 km away from the earth."

It was launched on 22 October on board the 316-tonne PSLV-C11 from Satish Dhawan space center at Sriharikota spaceport off the Andhra Pradesh coast, 80 km north of Chennai. We will keep you posted for more news about the Chandrayaan, so keep watching this space.

Anil Kumble - JUMBO Retired from Test Cricket

Anil Kumble annouced his retirement today at Feroz Shah Kotla. Third highest test wicket taker with 619 wickets says good bye to cricket after playing 132 test matches on the eve of third test match between Autralia and India - November 2' 2008. He played 20 matches took "111" wickets against Australia with 10 wickets in an innings twice. When playing in India he is the king he took overall 350 wickets and away his stats are 269 wickets.

Watch his last moment as an Indian Test Cricketer.

Anil Kumble retired from tests - Video

Call for peace in SL - Tamil Actors Fasting

From superstars to junior artists, the entire fraternity of Tamil actors came together on Saturday to observe a day-long fast in Chennai to voice their concern for Tamils caught in the Sri Lankan civil war and demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Lanka.

But the artists carefully avoided provocative remarks against the government or in support of the LTTE. Leading actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan, joined the fast, along with those active in politics from the film world like Vijayakanth and Sarath Kumar.

Several leading actors and technicians voiced their concern over the sufferings that Tamils were undergoing in Sri Lanka. Sarathkumar, president of SIAA and Radha Ravi, General Secretary, led the fast.

"Thala" Deepavali

Ultimate star Ajith who made waves with Billa is all set to capture hearts again with his Aegan. The movie will be hitting the theatres on October 25th. Aegan has been given a ‘U’ certificate by the censor board, with some cuts. The film is directed by Raju Sundaram and Nayantara again pairs with Ajit.

Renovate 100 Theaters in TamilNadu - Pyramid Saimira Plans

Pyramid Saimira Group, India`s leading entertainment conglomerate, has announced its plans to renovate 250 theatres in the 4 states of South India, with an investment of Rs 2 billion over the next 18 months.

The first theatre that will be renovated under this initiative is Jyothi Theatre, a single- screen theatre on the outskirts of Chennai.

Speaking about the renovation of Jyothi theatre, P. S Saminathan, chairman, Pyramid Saimira Group, said, ``The company will be renovating theatres in 100 centers in Tamil Nadu, with an investment of close to Rs 750 million. It will be extending its renovation initiative to the other states also, with Kerala in November, Andhra Pradesh in December and Karnataka in January,`` Saminathan said.

``The company is looking to invest close to Rs 2 billion in infrastructure improvement program, which will offer all cine-viewers in South India, the best movie- viewing experience,`` Saminathan added.

All the theatres will have computerized ticketing facilities and seat selection kiosks, Along with the latest digital projection and DTS sound technology, the theatres will be equipped with an in-built mobile zone enabled with blue-tooth, video booth for live TV, radio and overhead projection facilities.

The theatres will also have modernized security facilities, with fire retardants, safety lighting and metal detectors, Facility for news gathering mechanism with Broad band and video conferencing will also be available.

Strong Public Support for Smoking Ban in India

Most Indians support plans to tighten existing laws for a complete ban on smoking in public places, according to results of a survey published Thursday.Some 92 percent of the 1,030 people who answered the survey in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, strongly favoured curbs on lighting up at work or in hotels, bars, restaurants, cinemas, schools and hospitals, it said.

Eighty-four percent also agreed that breathing second-hand smoke was a serious health hazard, mirroring the findings of similar surveys conducted in other countries that have now gone smoke-free.

India has some 120 million smokers -- about one-fifth of the population. The country has already outlawed spitting and urinating in public to little noticeable effect, but health experts say urgent action is needed as a newly prosperous middle class succumbs to "western-style" ailments such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Office Space Scarcity in Chennai

Yes, Office space scarcity in Chennai also, The demand was primarily driven by IT, telecom and financial sectors in Chennai. Rentals in A Grade office space in center locations such as the Chennai Metropolitan and MRC Nagar were in the range of Rs 80 to Rs 85 per sft a month. In other areas such as Guindy, Adyar and Egmore, this was around Rs 60 an sft while in Ambattur and Taramani the average rental stood at around Rs 38 an sft.

A study titled ‘Property Market Overview’ by Colliers International, a Canada-based real estate research and consulting firm, said in Chennai, Sholinganallur emerged as the new hub for IT parks and was a major supply generator during the second quarter.

Leyland-Nissan LCV Plant near Chennai

The Ashok Leyland and Nissan will be combined to construct a new LCV plant very soon at Chennai. The project started the first step after signing the MoU with the TN government. A land of 380 acres would be acquired to set up the facility.

It will be set up at Pillaipakkam which is located 40 KM away from Chennai. The MoU was signed between the state's industries secretary MF Farooqui, R Seshasayee and Andy Palmer.The chief minister of Tamil Nadu was also present on the occasion.

The project is expected to give employment to around 4500 people directly and while another 13,500 indirectly.The first vehicle from the plant is expected to come in the market by 2010-11.

Infosys - 3000 Employees shifted from Pune to Chennai

3000 Employees of Infosys Technologies, Pune will be shifted shortly to Chennai due to space scarcity and also scarcity of accomodation.

The IT giant, which is currently engaged in expanding its Pune establishment at Hinjawadi through phase II, has taken the step following delay in completion of the new centre owing to an exodus of North Indian construction workers fleeing the city in the wake of the agitation by Raj Thackeray-led MNS in February, company's Director HR Mohandas Pai said.

The company plans to have a seating capacity of 38,700 professionals on the Pune campus with an investment of Rs 5 billion the campus will be larger than that at Bangalore. The pune campus will have 150 advocates for its LPO business in Pune. The exports from Pune facility have increased to Rs 33.40 billion from Rs 25 billion in March 2007.

Fire at Saravana Stores, 2 Reported Dead

Chennai - September 1, 2008: A major fire broke out in Chennai's shopping paradise - Ranganathan Street. The fire broke out at Saravana Stores in Ranganathan Street, T Nagar - Chennai. The fire broke out on Monday (September 1, 2008) early morning between 5:00 and 5:30. There were 10-15 employees in the shop at that time.


Several lakh worth of goods were destroyed in a major fire that broke out at the fourth floor and two men loss of life was reported, police said. This accident is an eye-opener to authorities who ignored the safety norms followed in shopping complexes in the area. Most of the shopping complexes in Chennai don't have sufficient fire fighting equipments or fire exits used to evacuate people in case of a disaster. One hopes that the authorities wake-up atleast now and raze structures which are built in violation of the rules to prevent mishaps.

Internet Telephony in India - TRAI and Govt. Allowed

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) has allowed internet telephony in the country. The move will enable one to make calls from personal computers to fixed line and mobile phones. Earlier, voice call made from one computer could travel to another computer but not from a mobile or a fixed line phone.

As per the TRAI recommendations, the STD service providers would be connected to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through public internet for the purpose and the two service providers would have mutual agreement for the same.

“It is envisaged that customers will ultimately benefit from cost effective and innovative internet telephony service. These recommendations will put Indian telecom sector in tune with global trends. The grey market tendencies shall be curtailed,” TRAI has said.

Raj Tv's New Tamil News Channel for 24x7

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi launching the new Raj TV news channel in Chennai on Monday. The Chief Minister’s son, M.K. Azhagiri (left), Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami and Raj TV Managing Director M. Raajendhran are in the picture.

Chennai City Tour Organised By TTDC

The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will launch its Chennai city sightseeing Tour on Wednesday.

The tour, an initiative of the TTDC and Southern Railway, will be in addition to the coach tour operated by the TTDC, Commissioner of Tourism and TTDC Managing Director M. Rajaram said.

“This tourist-friendly initiative will benefit those transiting through Chennai, mostly by long-haul express trains,” The TTDC seeks to give them a glimpse of the city’s tourist attractions,” such as the Snake Park, the Kapaleeswarar temple, the Marina Beach, Valluvar Kottam, the museum, and Fort St. George,” he said.

Since the MRTS network touches the Beach area and goes right up to Velachery, tourists will get a bird’s eye view of the best parts of the city, he said.

Tourists will be picked up at the Tourism Complex on Wallajah Road and taken by a TTDC coach to the Chepauk station.

Then they will travel up to the MRTS station at Thiruvanmiyur, where they will again be shifted to the coach to complete the tour.

Trip tariff

The tariff will be Rs.130 a person irrespective of his age.

Anna University Video Lecturing on YouTube

With an IIT education now available on an Internet through YouTube, Anna University is getting set to join the ranks of those offering video lectures by its professors on the Web. This will help to maintain quality education at a time when quality faculty are in short supply, according to Vice-Chancellor P. Mannar Jawahar.

On Wednesday morning, Electronics and Communication Engineering professor N. Kumaravel delivered his weekly one-and-a-half hour lecture on digital signal processing from a studio on Anna University’s Guindy campus. Thanks to the educational satellite EDUSAT, he was heard by over 500 students in ten classrooms scattered across the State.

It did not matter that students of Vel Tech Engineering College in Avadi were sitting in a well-equipped acoustic hall set aside for the purpose, while those at the Sree Sowdambika College of Engineering in Virudhunagar were crowded into plastic chairs in a badly-lit room with ceiling fans disrupting the sound quality.

Kuselan - Rajinikanth Spits on Tamil Movie Fans

For the sake of a few silver coins, our modern-day avatar of Judas - Rajinikanth - having decided to sell his soul, gathered up all his spittle and in one swift motion spat on the faces of millions of his Tamil fans worldwide.

For a highly-paid star like Rajinikanth to associate with and actively collaborate in the making and delivery of a piece of trash like Kuselan is a Judas-like betrayal - a dirty and shameless repudiation of the decades-long affection and loyalty of his legions of fans.

Directed by a lobotomized bozo called P.Vasu based on a story by Srinivasan, Big Kuselan is a piece of junk not worthy of even YouTube.

This buffoon Vasu also claims credit for the cretinous screenplay and sophomoric dialogs, both of which set a new nadir in Tamil movies.

Unless you’ve just come in from Mars, you know by now that Kuselan is a remake of the 2007 Malayalam film Kadha Parayumbol.

(For Transformers Hollywood movie latest information Click Here.Beijing Olympic related latest news Click Here.)

Rajinikanth - Hogennakkal issue speech clarifies

A press meet was held in the morning of 2nd August and superstar Rajinikanth clarified his stand on the recent 'apology' he had made to the Kannada media. 'I am happy where I stand today. My speech during the protest meeting over the Hogennakkal issue was directed only to the people who indulged in violence and not to Kannadigas in general' said Rajinikanth.

Speaking at a function organized to distribute financial aid to the technicians who worked for his latest film 'Kuselan', Rajinikanth said, 'Now I say that I have learnt my lesson'. It may be recalled that Rajini's reported apology to Kannadigas evoked protests from a section of Tamil film personalities.

Earlier, speaking at the function, director Balachander said, 'I discovered Rajinikanth and know him very well as a man of principles and integrity. He had only expressed his regret and did not apologize. Put an end to this once and for all and let us not be party to a fight within Tamil cinema'. He also appealed to everyone to stay united.

Etihad Airways takes off for Chennai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s national airline Etihad Airways has launched its inaugural flights to Chennai and Kozhikode in India. "India is an enormously important market for Etihad and one we are very keen to expand further," a news agency quoted James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, as saying. "The appetite for air travel between Abu Dhabi and India shows no sign of relenting and we hope to grow our Indian flying programme even further in the future." There are around 1.5 million expatriate Indians in the UAE and a large number of them hail from south India, especially Kerala. The two separate launches Friday of Etihad's new services increase the number of Indian destinations served by Etihad to six.

பங்குச் சந்தையிலும் எதிரொலித்தது அரசுக்கு கிடைத்த வெற்றி

வெற்றிகரமான ஐந்தாவது நாள் என்று போஸ்டர் அடிக்கும் அளவிற்கு தொடர்ந்து மேலேயே சென்று கொண்டிருக்கிறது பங்குச் சந்தை.

கடந்த வியாழன் முதல் நேற்று வரை 2,300 புள்ளிகளுக்கு மேல் கூடி முதலீட்டாளர்களை மறுபடியும் சந்தை பக்கம் திரும்பி பார்க்க வைத்துள்ளது. பங்குச் சந்தை, அரசியலில் ஜெயித்து பார்ட்டி கொண்டாடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் வேளையில், நாம் மட்டும் ஒதுங்கி இருக்கிறோமே, நாமும் கலந்து கொள்ளலாமே என்று கச்சா எண்ணெயும் விலை குறைந்து பங்குச் சந்தை பார்ட்டியில் கலந்து கொண்டது. கச்சா எண்ணெய் விலை பேரலுக்கு 126 டாலர் வரை குறைந்தது. சமீபத்திய அதிகபட்ச விலையான பேரலுக்கு 147 டாலரிலிருந்து, 126 டாலர் வரை வந்துள்ளது. இது, 14 சதவீதம் குறைவு.

திங்கள், செவ்வாய், புதன் என்று மூன்று தினங்களுமே அரசியலால் பங்குகளின் விலை ஏறியது என்று தான் கூறவேண்டும். அரசியலில் எம்.பி.,க்களின் விலை ஏறியது போல, பங்குச் சந்தையிலும் ஒரு ஏற்றம் இருந்தது ஒரு ஆறுதல் தான். சமீபகாலமாக ஏற்பட்ட பங்குச் சந்தை புண்களுக்கு இந்த ஏற்றம் ஒரு மருந்தானது. சிறிய, நடுத்தர, பெரிய கம்பெனி ஆகிய அனைத்து பங்குகளும் மேலே சென்றன. நேற்று பல பங்குகள் 10 சதவீதத்திற்கு மேலே கூடிச் சென்றது.

குறிப்பாக ஆர்.என்.ஆர்.எல். (அனில் அம்பானியின் கம்பெனி) 24 சதவீதம் மேலே சென்றது. கச்சா எண்ணெய் விலை குறைந்ததால் ஆயில் மார்க்கெட்டிங் கம்பெனிகளின் பங்கு விலைகள் கூடின. அதே சமயம் ஆயில் தயாரிக்கும் கம்பெனியான கெய்ர்ன் இந்தியாவின் விலை குறைந்தது. கடந்த 15 தினங்களாக இந்தக் கம்பெனியின் பங்கு விலை குறைந்து வருவது குறிப்பிடத் தக்கது. அணு உலைகள் அமைப்பதிலும், அதற்கான இயந்திரங்களை வடிவமைப்பதிலும், செய்வதிலும் முன்பே அனுபவம் வாய்ந்த கம்பெனிகளின் பங்குகள் மேலே சென்றது.

குறிப்பாக லார்சன் அண்டு டர்போ, என்.டி.பி.சி., பி.எச். இ.எல்., அல்ஸ்டம் புராஜெக்ட்ஸ், டாடா பவர், வால்சந்த் நகர் இண்டஸ்ட்ரீஸ், அரிவா, ஏ.பி.பி., ரோல்டா இந்தியா ஆகியவை. வங்கித்துறை, கட்டுமானத்துறை, மின்சாரத்துறை பங்குகள் மேலே சென்றன. நேற்று இறுதியாக மும்பை பங்குச் சந்தை 838 புள்ளிகள் கூடி 14,942 புள்ளிகளுடனும், தேசிய பங்குச் சந்தை 236 புள்ளிகள் கூடி 4,476 புள்ளிகளுடனும் முடிவடைந்தது.

என்ன நடக்கலாம்? இன்சூரன்ஸ் சீர்திருத்தம், வங்கி சீர்திருத்தம் மசோதாக்கள் நிறைவேற்றப்படலாம். இது, இன்சூரன்ஸ், வங்கி ஆகிய துறைகளில் இன்னும் போட்டிகளையும், வெளிநாட்டு நிறுவனங்களையும் கொண்டு வரும். வெளிநாட்டு வங்கிகள், இந்திய வங்கிகளை வாங்குவதில் ஆர்வம் காட்டலாம். உலகளவில் இந்திய வங்கிகளின் மதிப்பை உயர்த்த, தேசியமயமாக்கப்பட்ட வங்கிகள் இணைப்பு பற்றி மறுபடி பேசப்படலாம். பொறுமை காத்தவர்களுக்கும், சரிவில் வாங்கியவர்களுக்கும் பங்குச் சந்தை சிறிது லாபத்தை கடந்த ஐந்து நாட்களில் கொடுத்திருக்கும். வரும் நாட்களிலும் சந்தையில் சிறிது முன்னேற்றம் இருக்கலாம்.

அதே சமயம் சந்தையில் கையை பெரிதாகச் சுட்டுக் கொண்டு அதிலிருந்து வெளிவரத் துடித்து கொண்டு இருப்பவர்கள் பலர். அவர்கள் எல்லா ஏற்றத்திலும் விற்று வெளியே வரவேண்டும் என்று நினைப்பதால் சந்தை அதையும் தாங்கி மேலே செல்ல வேண்டும். சந்தைக்கு சிறிய முதலீட்டாளர்கள் வந்தால் தான் சந்தை பரிணமிக்கும். அதே சமயம் வெளிநாட்டு முதலீட்டாளர்களும் இனி சிறிது திரும்பிப் பார்ப்பர். அந்தப் பணம் உள்ளே வந்தால் பங்குச் சந்தை ஏறும். அதே சமயம் டாலருக்கு எதிரான இந்திய ரூபாயின் மதிப்பு கூடும் வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழமை வாய்ந்த சிவன் கோவில் கண்டுபிடிப்பு

செஞ்சி: ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் பழமையான சிவன் கோவிலை, இந்தியத் தொல்லியல் துறையினர் கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளனர். விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம் திண்டிவனம் தாலுகா அன்னம்புத்தூர் கிராமத்தின் வடக்கில் ஏரியையொட்டி மண்மேட்டின் மீது சிவலிங்கம் ஒன்று நீண்ட நாட்களாக இருந்தது. கிராம மக்கள் இந்தியத் தொல்லியல் துறையின் கல்வெட்டுப் பிரிவிற்குத் தகவல் தெரிவித்தனர். கல்வெட்டு ஆய்வாளர் டாக்டர் ராஜவேலு தலைமையில் ரகு, அழகேசன் ஆகியோர் கொண்ட குழுவினர் அன்னம்புத்தூர் கிராமத்தில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.

சிவலிங்கம் இருந்த மண்மேடு, பழமையான கோவிலின் சிதைந்தப் பகுதி என்பது தெரிய வந்தது. சிதைந்திருந்தக் கோவிலின் அதிட்டானத்தின் குமுத வரியில், தஞ்சாவூரைத் தலைநகராகக் கொண்டு ஆட்சி செய்த முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழனின் கல்வெட்டு இருந்ததைக் கண்டுபிடித்தனர். இந்த கல்வெட்டைப் படி எடுத்து ஆய்வு செய்ததில், முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழனின் 23வது ஆட்சி ஆண்டில் கல்வெட்டு செதுக்கியிருப்பதும், இதன் காலம் கி.பி., 1008 என்றும் தெரிய வந்தது.

முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழனின் மெய்கீர்த்தியுடன் துவங்கும் இந்தக் கல்வெட்டிலிருந்து, இங்குள்ள கோவில் மூலவரின் பெயர் திருநீதிஸ்வரர் என்பது தெரிய வந்துள்ளது. ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழ மண்டலத்தில் கிடங்கில் நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த அன்னம்புத்தூரில் உள்ள திருநீதிஸ்வரர் கோவிலுக்கு ஒரு நந்தா விளக்கு எரிப்பதற்காக முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழன் ஊருக்கு வடக்கே நிலம் கொடையாக வழங்கியதும் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தக் கோவிலை முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழன் காலத்திற்கு முன்பே பல்லவர்கள் காலத்தில் கட்டியிருப்பது, இதன் அடித்தளத்தில் உள்ள பெரிய அளவிலான செங்கற்களால் தெரிய வருகிறது. கோவிலின் அதிட்டானத்தில் குமுதவரி மற்றும் தலைப்பகுதியை மட்டும் கருங்கல்லால் கட்டியுள்ளனர். இதன் மேல் செங்கற்களைக் கொண்டு கோவிலின் சுவரை அமைத்துள்ளனர். ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் ஆனதால் செங்கல் சுவர் இடிந்து மண்மேடாகி உள்ளது. இந்த மண் மேட்டின் மீதே திருநீதிஸ்வரர் திறந்த வெளியில் காட்சி தருகிறார். கோவிலின் அருகில் புடைப்புச் சிற்பமாக உள்ள வினாயகர் சிலை இந்தக் கோவில் பல்லவர் காலத்தைச் சேர்ந்தது என்பதற்கு, மேலும் ஆதாரமாக விளங்குகிறது.

இக்கோவிலின் மேற்கில் உள்ள செல்லியம்மன் கோவிலில் பல்லவர் காலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஏழு கன்னியர்களின் சிலைகள் காணப்படுகின்றன. கோவிலின் பழமை மற்றும் வரலாற்றை அறிந்து கொண்ட கிராம மக்கள் சிதைந்த நிலையிலுள்ள திருநீதிஸ்வரர் கோவிலை புனரமைக்க தெய்வநாயகம் என்பவர் தலைமையில் திருப்பணிக்குழுவை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

நன்றி: தினமலர்

Yahoo pulls editorial operation out of Chennai

CHENNAI: In a sudden move, Yahoo India has moved its editorial operations out of Chennai. Besides that, it is also learnt that it has terminated a technical support agreement with a software services firm.

The reason for the decision is not known, but sources said that the ten-member team, which contributed editorial content to Yahoo India have been given option to join company’s Bangalore office or exit.

The ten people were employed with a Bangalore-based private news syndicate, which had an office in Chennai.
An employee of Yahoo’s Chennai office confirmed the development. "Yahoo has offered to absorb them into the organisation if they are willing to relocate,” he told The Times of India, on the condition of anonymity.

A spokesperson for Yahoo India said, "Yahoo routinely consolidates its operations for better scale and growth. We currently have three employees at our Chennai office and are relocating them into our other facilities.

The Chennai office was inherited through an acquisition made some time ago and this relocation is part of our integration plan for better scale. "We are aggressively hiring and continue to grow in India,” he further added. The move comes close on heels of Keane India axing 400 jobs across its centres in India.

Chennai gets India's first heart implant training centre

CHENNAI: India has got its first training centre for doctors to learn how to place implants in the heart.


Medtronic, a US-based medical technology service provider, opened its first therapy and procedure training centre (TPTC) in South Asia, in Chennai on Saturday.

A recent report in the premier medical journal The Lancet has said that by 2010, 60 percent of the world's heart patients will be in India. The majority of these patients will suffer from cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and coronary artery diseases.

Implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers, de-fibrillators, cardiac therapy devices and coronary stents play a major role in the treatment of these life-threatening conditions.

The process of implanting these cardiac devices is complex and requires highly specialised and technically skilled practitioners.

Launched in 2004, Medtronic has a TPTC mobile unit that travels all over the US, training doctors. It has, so far, trained over 8,500 physicians, nurses and other health professionals via its mobile training unit.

It also has 18 virtual training labs throughout the world, including in the US, central America, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, half a dozen European countries, China, Japan and Australia.

The Chennai centre, the first in India, is aimed at increasing the number of heart specialists who will know how implant life saving devices in heart patients.

The centre's state-of-the-art classroom and programmer lab will provide training to cardiologists on the programming and follow-up management of these devices. Besides hands-on training, there will also be simulator-equipped class rooms at the centre.

"The therapy and procedure training centre in Chennai is an example of effective training and education used by the company worldwide," Joon Hurh, Medtronic's regional vice president, said on the occasion.

"As more people around the world are in need of implanted medical devices like pacemakers, ICD's and other cardiac devices, so too is the growing need for well-trained clinicians to care for these patients," said Milind Shah, managing director, Medtronic India.

"India has a small number of electro-physiologists (just about 50) who implant high-end devices like CRTs and ICDs to manage heart failures and reduce mortality due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)."

"Medtronic is committed to increasing this number in India so that physicians are able to deliver these therapies effectively to more and more patients who need them," Shah said.

The use of simulators is quickly becoming a standard approach to Medtronic training programmes.

Introduced in 2003, Medtronic's virtual labs with state-of-the-art simulator technology provide a safe way for physicians to develop the skills and confidence to implant devices, and for other health professionals to better understand the implantation process, "with life-like implant scenario", the company said.

The simulators are designed to provide a safe environment in which to learn new techniques while avoiding complications and minimising costs.