Marriages made in maami’s house

At least 15 pairs of footwear line the entrance to Jaya Natarajan’s house in Velachery.

Published: 11th March 2019 09:23 PM 

At least 50-60 people visit Jaya's house daily  Ashwin Prasath

By Rochana Mohan

Express News Service

CHENNAI : At least 15 pairs of footwear line the entrance to Jaya Natarajan’s house in Velachery. Three people sit outside on a flight of stairs leading to the second floor, pouring over pamphlets. In the living room, a dozen people sit scattered on chairs and the floor, copying details from notebooks.

“Ah, come in. Sorry for the mess — the place is always this busy,” says Jaya. Around nine years ago, Jaya started Sri Datta Matrimony to help people from the Brahmin community find their match free of cost. “In a temple nearby, I used to help people, who weren’t cyber-savvy, find matches on matrimonial sites. Eventually, with the blessings of the pundit, I started this business,” says the 63-year-old.

The world in her diary

A woman’s voice calls for her politely, and Jaya excuses herself. She settles into her armchair, adjusts her glasses, and shuffles through the notebooks on her coffee table. She hands a notebook to the woman, and then shuffles through the pile of books kept behind her curtain on the window ledge. Jaya has around 30 notebooks filled with details of thousands of people looking for a bride or a groom.


“Oh, he’s situated in Bombay? If you’re looking for Iyer Bombay girls, this is all I have. Number 50 onwards are graduates, just note down their details and contact them,” she says, handing a book to an elderly gentleman sitting on the floor. “Also, if they’re already married, inform me of their serial number next to their details — I’ll remove it from the list,” she says. Jaya has the details of Brahmins across communities from all over the world, including Japan, Netherlands and Ireland. Based on age, caste, educational qualifications and country of residence, Jaya keeps people’s details in orderly and accessible fashion.

Before she can gather herself, a rather frazzled-looking gentleman worriedly mumbles about finding a suitable match for his daughter to Jaya. Behind her spectacles, her eyes crinkle gently as she smiles. “You take down at least 25-30 names, maama. You’ll definitely find someone. Here, try List number 5 — those are all graduates,” she says, handing him another book.

For a purpose

In 2012, Jaya’s son passed away in a car accident. Her husband, L Natarajan, explains that they had been looking for an alliance for their son shortly before his death. “It left a hole in my heart. But helping people from the community in such an important way has really filled the hole in my heart. It has made me very happy,” she says.

Jaya’s phone rings incessantly through the day. She answers every call with a business-like ‘Namaskaram, yes this is Jaya, are you looking for a girl or a boy?” After listening to the person on the other line for a while, she says into the phone, “Trump has said, no...none of them can work there. Don’t worry, we’ll find a US girl for him, and they’ll contact you directly. If you want to come here, come with a copy of his jadagam (horoscope), a pen, and a book to note details.” She asks everyone who approaches her to send the age, gender, caste, educational qualifications of the individual, and for men, their salary.

Of hope and horoscopes

At least 50-60 people visit Jaya’s house daily. “I retired in January, and have been spending time at home. I knew that she does this service, but I only realised the full extent of it now,” says her husband, a proud smile on his lips.As soon as Jaya puts down the phone, two ladies tell her that they will be leaving. Jaya reaches for a kumkum box kept on a stand beside her chair and offers it to them. “Travel safely, maami. Don’t say that you’ll just see me again, tell me that you’ll see me again with an invite,” she says.

Madras University to relocate Statistics and Maths departments to Guindy

The University of Madras will soon relocate its Mathematics and Statistics departments from Chepauk to its Guindy campus, said varsity officials.

Published: 13th March 2019 06:41 AM | Last Updated: 

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The University of Madras will soon relocate its Mathematics and Statistics departments from Chepauk to its Guindy campus, said varsity officials. The decision has been taken to ensure that all the departments related to Science, are housed in one place. Vice-chancellor of the university, P Duraisamy said they need some time to execute the shifting work.“The old building of Chemical Sciences department at Guindy is vacant. We need to renovate it properly to accommodate the Statistics and Mathematics department in it. The renovation work will take some time,” said P Duraisamy.

He further added that after completion of the renovation work, the two departments will be shifted from Chepauk to Guindy campus. “The relocation of the two departments will help in better co-ordination between the Science departments and will also boost the collaborative research work between the departments,” added the vice-chancellor.

Varsity officials said they don’t have any space left for any expansion work in Chepauk campus so Guindy campus is the option available to carry out extension of the departments. “Bringing all the Science departments in one place will help in streamlining things and will also benefit the students,” said a faculty member. Officials said over 1000 students are pursuing postgraduate, M Phil and PhD courses in different Science subjects in Guindy campus.


Different schools related to Science are functioning from Guindy campus. School of Earth and Atmospheric Science, School of Life Sciences, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Physical Sciences and Nano Science departments are located in Guindy campus.

Filter coffee has a new address

Whether it is an impromptu catch up with an old friend, a leisure tea session with colleagues or a quick snack, Chennai’s cafés provide the perfect refuge.

Published: 14th March 2019 06:58 AM 

The first outlet of Coffee House opened in 2016. (Photo | P Jawahar, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Whether it is an impromptu catch up with an old friend, a leisure tea session with colleagues or a quick snack, Chennai’s cafés provide the perfect refuge. To add to your caffeine-fuelling options, Coffee House opened its third branch near the busy Teynampet signal. Opened in 2016, Coffee House is known for its fresh brewed filter coffee at a price of `10, eggless black forest cake at `400 per kg and a wide range of bakes and savouries available at pocket-friendly prices. With a seating capacity of 30, the new outlet offers a pure vegetarian menu.


“We have a wide variety of sweets and a year-long offer on one kilo sweets free on purchase of one kilo of sweets. We also have pizzas, burgers, faloodas, pastas and sandwiches on the menu,” said SR Venkatesh, franchise owner, Teynampet branch. Coffee House also specialises in step cakes — two- and three-tier cakes — and accepts birthday party orders. Their team is now set for home delivery as well.

“The paneer grilled sandwich, chocolate donut and mini pizza taste amazing. I am a regular to their Triplicane branch. The service is quick and the quantity too is great for the price,” said Sienta Saravanan, a customer. The management of Coffee House plans to open 100 branches in Chennai in the next three years. Their next outlet is expected to open opposite the T Nagar bus terminus in the next 10 days and a branch near Saidapet bridge by next month.

HC directive to government on overstaying foreign students

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

BENGALURU, MARCH 14, 2019 00:00 IST

It wants submission of details about such students and cases registered against them

Observing that instances of involvement of students from foreign countries in narcotics and other crimes may pose threat to security in the State, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to submit details about overstaying students and cases registered against them.

Justice Aravind Kumar issued the direction during the hearing of a petition filed by Hossie Bikandou Sidney, a Congolese national, who came to the city for pursuing education.

The court asked the Advocate-General to instruct the State authorities concerned to get necessary details from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Bengaluru, and also inform the court about the actions taken for deporting the overstaying foreign nationals as per the procedure.

Also, the court observed that it had noticed that students hailing from Tanzania, Congo, Cambodia and other countries had been found associated with narcotics and other crimes while observing that quick action was required to initiate action in cases of overstaying beyond the visa period.

In his petition, Mr. Sidney contended that the trial against him could not commence before a trial court as the other accused persons were absconding. The petitioner, along with three others, were arrested by the Bengaluru city police in February 2017 on charges of violating the conditions of the visa under the Foreigners Act.

It was contended on behalf of the petitioner that he was unable to go back to his country despite having emergent situations at his native place as his passport had been impounded owing to pendency of the trial. Further hearing was adjourned.

Earlier order

The court in its February 18, 2016 judgement on a petition filed by Christian Chidieere Chukwu of Nigeria, had noticed from the data that there were around 1,165 foreign nationals overstaying in the State, and as many as 330 criminal cases were registered against foreign nationals for various crimes like violation of Foreigners Act and involvement in drug peddling.

The court also directed that there should be periodic meetings between officials of the FRRO and the State agencies to share the information like places where foreign nationals were employed, places where they were staying and studying, etc.

Besides, the court had directed that the courts expedite the trial of cases in which foreign nationals were involved.

Impossible to conduct polling during festival: MLA

STAFF REPORTER

MARCH 14, 2019 00:00 IST

MLA P.T.R.P. Thiagarajan addressing a press meet in Madurai n Wednesday.S. Krishnamoorthy

To implead himself in the case filed in Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

Madurai Central MLA P.T.R.P. Thiagarajan on Wednesday said that conducting parliamentary elections in the temple city during Chithirai festival was virtually impossible.

Addressing media here, Thiagarajan, under whose constituency the Meenakshi temple falls, said he would approach the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court to implead himself in a PIL case already being heard on the issue.

The polling date of April 18, announced by the Election Commission, falls on the day of car festival of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Lord Kallazhagar’sEthir Sevai, which attracts lakhs of people from many districts to Madurai city. The date is also preceded by the celestial wedding at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on April 17 and followed by Lord Kallazhagar’s entry into the Vaigai on April 19.

Mr. Thiagarajan said no amount of mitigation measures taken by the district administration would ensure smooth conduct of polling without any impact on the voter turnout.

“If for the sake of argument, we agree that extending the polling time till late in the evening can help voters in Madurai, what about those coming from other places for the festival? How do officials expect them to vote,” he asked.

Stating problems were aplenty, he said: “For instance, how will voters access polling booths on Veli Streets, which will be a sea of people during the car festival. The district administration cannot shift the polling booths as per its wish since the locations are already decided following due process and a variety of factors.”

There was the even risk of anti-social elements making use of the crowd and loopholes in security arrangement to commit unlawful activities that could affect the people and the polling.

Pollachi case

Mr. Thiagarajan also came down heavily on the State government and the police, mainly Superintendent of Police of Coimbatore R. Pandiarajan, for what he termed as incompetent, insensitive and partisan manner in which the Pollachi sexual abuse case was being handled.

HC stays order of simple imprisonment for IAS officer

STAFF REPORTER

MARCH 14, 2019 00:00 IST

A single bench had sentenced former Madurai Corporation Commissioner

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday stayed a single bench order that sentenced IAS officer S. Aneesh Sekhar, former Madurai Corporation Commissioner, to undergo simple imprisonment for one week for disobeying the court’s orders.

A Division Bench of Justices P. N. Prakash and B. Pugalendhi, which heard the appeal preferred by Mr. Aneesh Sekhar, granted a stay against the single judge order that sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000.

In his appeal, Mr. Aneesh Sekhar, now working as Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, said that his intention was not to disobey the court.

He said that a Division Bench had modified the single bench order and the Corporation ought to have followed this order.

He said that a government order was issued in 2010 to promote Tax Collectors eligible for promotion to the post of Assistant by relaxing the condition that insisted on experience as Junior Assistant for two years.

The government also clarified that a seniority list be prepared to the cadre of Assistant by taking into account those who joined service prior to 1996.

When this clarification was challenged by one Ahamed Ibrahim, the single bench dismissed the petition and ordered the promotion of private respondents, including J. Vijayakumar, who had filed the contempt petition.

However, a Division Bench, hearing the appeal of Ahamed Ibrahim, gave specific orders that though a special benefit was extended to Tax Collectors to be integrated to the post of Assistant, this would not mean that they were entitled to supersede those already appointed to the post.

Taking into account that he was promoted to Junior Assistant in 2009 and Assistant in 2013, the court, in 2018, directed that the seniority list be redrawn and allowed him to be placed above J. Vijayakumar. Following the orders of the court, Ahamed Ibrahim was placed above J. Vijayakumar in the list and a seniority list was prepared.

Moreover, the contempt petitioner J. Vijayakumar had already retired from service, he said.

Thiruvalluvar varsity gets new V-C

STAFF REPORTER

VELLORE, MARCH 14, 2019 00:00 IST

Senior professor from Anna University S. Thamarai Selvi has taken charge as Vice-Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar University, Serkadu near Vellore on Wednesday.

After garlanding the statue of poet Thiruvalluvar, she officially took charge. Ms. Thamarai Selvi was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar Universityby Governor Banwarilal Purohit last Tuesday.

She will will hold the post for three years. Until her appointment by the Governor, she was working as Professor with the Department of Computer Technology, MIT Campus, Anna University.

She assured the students and teaching fraternity to uphold the tradition of the university in the uplift of downtrodden students from rural pockets.