Latest news with #Lakshman
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Delving into multiple layers of Tamil identity
The rich repository of Tamil heritage and culture has largely remained invisible to the wider world, said Nirmala Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, speaking at a discussion on her book The Tamils, at the Bangalore International Centre here. Ms. Lakshman described how it took her four years of multiple journeys across Tamil Nadu, studying, researching and listening to stories of people, to come up with the book. 'I spoke to epigraphists, historians, experts as well as ordinary people who generously shared their experiences, their sense of culture and tradition, and I discovered that multiple narratives coexisted,' she noted. It was during this journey, Ms. Lakshman said, that she realised how a large part of it still remained unknown to the larger world. 'Many expert voices had not been heard outside of Tamil Nadu and Tamil world which led me to realise that the wealth of knowledge of the rich repository of Tamil heritage and culture has not been visible to larger world, and the nuanced and better-informed reading of Tamil history and society as seen through their eyes could be highlighted in my book.' 'Through The Tamils, I hope to convey my personal insights to what I have learned about Tamil culture, history and literature to an audience of not just Tamil people, but also to non-Tamil speaking people everywhere,' she further added. Connection to roots The discussion, moderated by Ranvir Shah, founder of Prakriti Foundation, and introduced by Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, delved into multiple aspects that have shaped the Tamil identity. 'The Tamil diaspora is as strong in Tamil as people in Tamil Nadu are. In places like Malaysia, there is a thirst to know more about one's roots,' said Ms. Lakshman, who further added that the research for the book was a journey of discovery for her too. According to her, Tamils, as with many other communities, are a complex demographic and carry with them a weight of history that goes back several millennia. Pointing out that there are about 90 million people across the world who identify themselves as Tamil, she recollected how, when she visited places like Malaysia, the diaspora there expressed a strong desire to know more about their roots, despite having migrated at least three generations ago. The essence 'In this book, I tried to find that Tamil essence as I weave through history and story, talking to a wide spectrum of people. So that in that sense it's an anecdotal and personal journey,' Ms. Lakshman remarked while further adding that today, a Tamil in Tamil Nadu is no more a Tamil than a Tamil in Malaysia or Sri Lanka or Canada.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nirmala Lakshman to discuss ‘The Tamils' at BIC on June 17 )
Around 90 million-strong today, the community of Tamils is not only spread across India but is a growing global diaspora which hold on to their distinct cultural identity even as they fan out. Nirmala Lakshman, in her book The Tamils, chronicles the journey of this civilisation from the Stone Age and the Sangam era to the Bhakti movement and colonial history. On June 17, Ms. Lakshman, Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications, will engage in a discussion on her book with Ranvir Shah, cultural activist, philanthropist and businessman, at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). Ramachandra Guha, writer and historian, will do the introduction. The discussion will not only explore the themes of the book but also examine the Tamil identity in the 21st century, its evolution through intersections of caste, religion and gender, and how modernity and migration have given the culture newer meanings as the community across the globe continues to adapt and thrive. Ms. Lakshman, who founded and edited The Hindu Literary Review, conceptualised and created Young World, India's only children's newspaper supplement, and launched Lit for Life, The Hindu's annual literature festival. She is also the author of Degree Coffee by the Yard. Mr. Shah founded the Prakriti Foundation in 1998 with the idea of enlivening Chennai's cultural arena through scholarly discourses, multi-media events, experimental and protest cinema, music festivals and contemporary dance performances. Dr. Guha is a public intellectual whose research interests range from political and environmental history to cricket history. The programme begins at 6.30 p.m. and entry is free.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP leaders led by R Ashoka to visit Bhoomik's residence, who died in Bengaluru stampede
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 10 (ANI): BJP leaders led by the Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka are scheduled to visit the residence of Bhoomik from Dasarahalli, who died in the stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) celebration. Bhoomi's father, Lakshman, said that BJP MLA Hullali K Suresh has helped him. He added that if the government had taken precautionary measures, the tragedy would have been avoided. Speaking to ANI, Lakshman said, 'Today, the BJP delegation is coming. I have already mentioned that Suresh (Belur MLA) has helped me. No father or mother should have to face such a situation. No one should go through this kind of pain. If the government had taken precautionary measures, this tragedy could have been avoided...' He added that the family has received no compensation as announced by the Karnataka government. 'Till now, I haven't received any compensation... I got a call from the Revenue Department asking who should receive the money,' Lakshman told ANI. Lakshman and his family are originally from Belur taluk in Hassan district but have lived in Bengaluru city for the past 25 years. The stampede occurred when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team was celebrating their victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. 11 people died in the tragedy. The Bengaluru police registered an FIR against the RCB franchise, DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., an event management company, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for culpable homicide, illegal assembly, and other serious charges. The Karnataka High Court will hear the petition filed by the Marketing and Revenue Head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Nikhil Sosale, on Tuesday. The petition was filed to challenge the legality of his arrest in connection with the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives during RCB's IPL victory celebrations on June 4. During the hearing, the bench reserved its decision and scheduled the matter for further hearing on Tuesday. Earlier on Friday, the Karnataka HC granted interim relief to the office bearers of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), who had approached the court seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against them in connection with the stampede case. In an interim order, the court directed the state police not to take coercive action against them until further orders. The High Court adjourned the case to June 9. (ANI)
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
HC directs Kaushik Reddy to face trial in criminal case
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court single bench of Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Monday directed Huzurabad BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy to face trial in the criminal case registered against him in Kamalapur PS. However, the court quashed offences registered against him U/s. 188 IPC. Justice Lakshman heard the criminal petition filed by Reddy seeking 'stay' on all further proceedings in CC No 268/2024 pending before the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate for Excise Court at Nampally, including his appearance before the court. The case was registered during the 2023 Assembly elections which he contested as BRS candidate. The petitioner had released a video on November 28 delivering a short message to the voters asking them to 'vote' for him so that he wins. He was also seen threatening them to vote for him, failing which, he will die. His words were 'if you don't vote for me, then, you will have to attend my funeral procession'. Justice Lakshman, though quashed the offences against Reddy, directed the investigation officer to probe contents of the video. After the video went viral on social media platforms, in utter disregard to the model code of conduct. Gunde Babu, MCC nodal officer, Kamalapur (Hanumakonda) gave a police complaint. A case was registered against Reddy U/s. 171-C, 171-F r/w. 188 IPC, 506 IPC and Sec. 123(2) of Representation of Peoples Act 1951 in the FIR no. 247/2023.
Mint
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
‘Photo opportunity cost': Father of Bengaluru stampede victim refuses to leave son's grave
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden IPL victory in 18 years – which was anticipated to be a grand celebration – turned ghastly, leaving at least 11 people dead and 47 injured after a stampede broke out at the gates of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Still, beyond the statistics lie heartbreaking stories, such as that of a father seen in a viral video clinging to his son's grave in anguish. The video doing the rounds on social media shows BT Lakshman – father of 21-year-old Bhumik Lakshman, who died in the stampede – crying inconsolably at his son's grave, refusing to leave him, in their native village in Hassan district. 'What happened to my son should not happen to anyone,' he says, lying on the ground with his head pressed against the grave. 'The land I had bought for him is where his memorial has been built.' Refusing to let go, Lakshman adds, 'I don't want to go anywhere else now. I want to stay here too,' as two men approach and help him to his feet. 'No father should have to face what I am facing,' he says. Bhumik, a final-year engineering student, was among the thousands who had gathered outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday to celebrate and catch a glimpse of the RCB players after their historic IPL title win – the team's first in 18 years. Tragically, he was one of the 11 people, including a 14-year-old girl, who lost their lives in the resulting stampede. The video of Mr Lakshman at his son's grave was also shared by the Karnataka unit of the BJP, which has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of being 'murderous.' 'Murderous CM @siddaramaiah sir, murderous DCM @DKShivakumar sir, if you had made up your mind, you could have taken a photo with your children and grandchildren in a luxurious hotel with a cup. But your insistence on taking a photo on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha has made 11 families wash their hands in tears every day. Can you give this father his son back?' the BJP Karnataka handle posted in Kannada on X. The video also evoked a plethora of responses from social media users, who slammed Bengaluru Police's security arrangements, while several believed that 'a photo opportunity cost so many lives.'
