Latest news with #Rajkumar
Independent Singapore
3 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Founder of Little India's iconic Jothi Store & Flower Shop passes away at age 93
- Advertisement - SINGAPORE: Murugaiah Ramachandran, the founder of the iconic Jothi Store & Flower Shop in Singapore's Little India, has passed away at the age of 93. Born in Tamil Nadu, India, Mr Murugaiah arrived in Singapore in 1948 as a teenager, working first as a compositor at The Straits Times and later as chief librarian at the Singapore Tiger Standard. In the early 1960s, he took a leap into entrepreneurship, opening a humble ottukadai—named 'Jothi Store' in honour of his daughter—to supply flower garlands, betel leaves, and essentials for the devout worshippers in Little India or Tekka as it is known among locals. Under his stewardship, Jothi Store expanded from a small stall to occupy a five-storey building at 1 Campbell Lane. It soon became a cultural mainstay and its reach now extends beyond Singapore, with exports to Malaysia, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. - Advertisement - In 1986, his son, Rajkumar took the reins and steered the business to new heights—modernising operations while retaining the family's commitment to serving the Singaporean Indian community . For more than six decades, Jothi Store became synonymous with Little India, providing goods for daily worship, Indian festivals, weddings, and community celebrations. It was honoured by the National Heritage Board as part of the 'Street‑Corner Heritage Galleries,' cementing its place in the nation's cultural tapestry . Despite semi-retirement, Mr Murugaiah remained a regular presence behind the counter well into his 90s. Tributes poured in as the Indian Heritage Centre confirmed his passing in a Facebook post on Friday (20 June). Members of the public, long-time customers, and community leaders shared heartfelt messages remembering the entrepreneur's kindness, humility, and lasting impact on Singapore's Indian community. - Advertisement - Many recalled personal interactions with Mr Murugaiah from his early days as a shopkeeper at Campbell Lane. Sowaran Singh, a former customer, recounted, 'I will remember him when he had a semi push cart cum shop in Campbell Lane. He was very kind and soft spoken. I did loads of events using his shop later. I last met him about nine months ago—he still came to the shop for a few hours. God bless his soul.' Fellow netizen, Vickna Anandarajah, described Jothi Store as an essential part of community life: 'Jothi Store became the go-to place to get traditional Indian, especially South Indian and Jaffna cookery and worship items. It became an icon of Tekka. My mum used to reserve Indian calendars from them, making it a yearly trip for her and then me.' Another Facebook user, Mathilda Dsilva, wrote: 'These are the pillars of the Singaporean Indian community, whose support and strong business commitment drive all of us forward. Singaporeans of all races have lost a prominent business role model and icon.' - Advertisement - Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry board director Shobha Tsering Bhalla added: 'We used to buy flowers and other puja essentials directly from him in the early days, 39 years ago, when we made Singapore our home. We have had the privilege of seeing his shop grow into a Singapore landmark.' She added, 'He was an institution. May his noble soul attain Sadgati. Om Shanti.' Mr Murugaiah's family has been moved by the tributes. His son Rajkumar said in a Facebook comment, 'On behalf of Jothi Store & Flower Shop ,we thank each and every one for your condolence on passing of my father, founder of JSFS Mr M Ramachandra. 'Truly appreciate your kind words about my father, a legend, truly a humble person who had built a 65 years old traditional business for the needs of the Indian Community for all religious festivals and Celebrations.'
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu school education department revokes compulsory retirement of art teacher
COIMBATORE: The School Education Department has revoked the Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer's (CEO) order for the compulsory retirement of an art teacher at Government Higher Secondary School in Alandurai, on the city's outskirts. SA Rajkumar, the art teacher who exposed the sexual harassment of a girl student at the same school, was suspended by CEO R Balamurali in 2023 over allegations of dereliction of duty. Later, the CEO issued his compulsory retirement in 2024. When Rajkumar appealed against the CEO's compulsory retirement to the Joint Director (JD) Personnel of the School Education Department, the latter stated in an order on June 6, 2025, that the CEO, against whom the petitioner had made charges, had acted as the inquiry officer for Rajkumar. The compulsory retirement of the art teacher given by the CEO is considered an improper action based on his inquiry report. The art teacher's compulsory retirement has been revoked, but his suspension will continue, the JD's letter said. The CEO has been directed to appoint a new inquiry officer to investigate the allegations against the art teacher. According to sources, in 2023, a girl student from the school told the art teacher that a Physical Education (PE) teacher had harassed her sexually.
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
To father, with love
The 16-year-old boy was crestfallen when his father firmly told him that he couldn't pursue education beyond the intermediate level. That was in the mid-1920s. Dejected, he left his paternal home in Chamarajanagara for Calcutta (now Kolkata). Despite the setback, his spirit and dreams remained intact. In Kolkata, he worked as a kitchen supervisor in a hotel, often manually grinding dosa and idli batter himself. A year later, he returned home with his hard-earned savings and started 'Narasimha Coffee Stores', selling high-quality filter coffee powder. .Many neighbours near his father's house ridiculed him, saying, 'Ashwatha thinks he can be a businessman? Has anyone in Nagara (Chamarajanagara) ever heard of a Brahmin venturing into business?' However, the young man, then in his early twenties, proved them all wrong. People flocked to his coffee store for the fresh aroma of his coffee powder, which he roasted and prepared himself using hand-rotated grinding his late twenties, Ashwatha had to shoulder the responsibility of his wife and two his late twenties, Ashwatha had taken on the responsibility of supporting his wife and two daughters. As Chamarajanagara was just 12 miles from Gajanur, Dr Rajkumar's native place, Rajkumar and his father would often stage Kannada dramas in Chamarajanagara for Gubbi Veeranna's company. 'Muthuraj (Rajkumar's original name), bari hotteli stage mele hogabedi! (Don't go on the stage on an empty stomach),'Ashwatha would ensure they had a meal before the performance, often getting them set dosas from Pacchappa's Hotel. This was much before the actor became a phenomenon in the world of Kannada cinema. .By the time he turned 40, with the financial backing of a friend from Mamballi near Kollegal, Ashwatha started a movie theatre in was my father, Ashwathanarayan, who passed away 48 years ago at the age of 59 due to a third fatal heart attack. The people of Chamarajanagara had affectionately called him 'Ajaata Shatru' (without enemies) and 'Karna' (for the only dharma he knew was charity)..Even after settling in Mysuru for his children's education, my father remained deeply connected to his roots. He would become upset if the fodder for the cows and buffaloes was delayed and would cycle to Nanjumalige, a km away from our Laxmipuram house, in dhoti-friendly ladies' cycle, to buy grass and hinndi to feed the younger sister and I were in our early and mid-teens when he passed away in 1977. I remember him joking with our doddamma (his elder brother's wife): 'Though I did not get any property from my wife's side, she has been my Laxmi and the finance minister of our house ........' Those were my father's last words when he was on an oxygen cylinder in a nursing home in Mysuru..A regular reader of the Deccan Herald, he would often remark that his obituary would be published in the newspaper when he passed away. Appa, here's a tribute to you around Father's Day!
United News of India
5 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Seven people including pilot die in Uttarakhand chopper crash
Rudraprayag/Dehradun, June 15 (UNI) Seven people, including the pilot, died when a helicopter carrying pilgrims returning from the Kedarnath Temple crashed in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district today, official sources said. The helicopter was bringing back five devotees and an employee of the temple committee after the darshan of Baba Kedarnath when it crashed around 5-30 am due to bad weather. All seven people, including the pilot, were killed. A 23-month-old girl is also among the dead. The pilgrim family had come from Maharashtra. Heli service nodal officer Rahul Chaubey said Aryan Aviation Company's helicopter VTBKA/BELL 407 crashed due to bad weather in the Gaurikund area, falling in the forest above Gauri Mai Khark He said the helicopter was going from Kedarnath Temple to Guptkashi. Women cutting grass above Gaurikund reported about the crash, as well as the dust it raised. District Disaster Management Officer of Rudraprayag, Nandan Singh Rajwar, said the crashed helicopter had left Kedarnath for Guptkashi at 5:21 am and at 5:24 am it was seen near Valley Poin amidst heavy fog which had turned visibility to zero in the area. At 6:13 am, the helicopter company informed that the chopper had not reach Guptkashi. A search and rescue operation was immediately started and the emergency response teams were activated. Eight National Disaster Response Force teams, six of the State Disaster Response Force and 22 policemen, along with the team of District Disaster Relief Force, rushed to a place called Khadak, located about five kilometres above the incident spot Gaurikund, and began a massive search operation. He said that the bodies of the victims of the accident have been badly burnt. Rajwar informed that there were six adults and a child in the ill-fated chopper. The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, pilot, resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat, employee, Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, resident of Rasi Ukhimath, (45), Vinod Devi, resident of Uttar Pradesh, (66), Trishti Singh Uttar Pradesh, (19), Rajkumar son Suresh Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (41), Shraddha wife Rajkumar Jaiswal, resident of Maharashtra, (35), Kashi daughter Rajkumar, resident of Maharashtra, girl (02). He informed that the entire area has been cordoned off. Forensic and DNA sampling teams have also reached the informed that helpline numbers have been issued for the families of the affected. For this, State Emergency Operation Center 0135-2710334, 9058441404 1070 (toll fee) and Rudraprayag helpline number - 8958757335, 01364-233727 have been issued. UNI XC SSP BM
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
16 get life term for BJP man's murderin 2022
Varanasi: Fast Track Court-I Judge Kuldeep Singh on Friday sentenced 16 accused to life imprisonment for killing BJP leader Pashupatinath Singh in Jaiprakash Nagar area of the city in 2022. The FTC-I also imposed fine of Rs 29,500 on each of the 16 accused, including Vikas Bhardwaj, Mantu Saroj, Rahul Saroj, Manish Pandey, Ganesh Saroj, Abhishek Saroj, Anoop Saroj, Suraj Yadav, Anuj alias Babu Saroj, Shyam Babu Rajbhar, Vishal Rajbhar, Suresh Saroj, and Arya alias Akash Saroj from Chandua Chittupur. Additionally, Dinesh Pal and his brother Ramesh Pal from Indrapuri Colony Shivpurwa, and Sandeep Kumar Gupta from Kumharpura Phulwaria, were also fined, said ADGC (criminal) Manoj Gupta. On Oct 12 evening in 2022, Mantu Saroj and Rahul Saroj from Chandua Chittupur, along with two others, were creating nuisance after consuming liquor at the residence of Rajkumar Singh. When Rajkumar asked them to calm down, they threatened him and left. Later, the four returned with rods and sticks, accompanied by about 16 accomplices. Mantu and Rahul incited their friends to attack Rajkumar. Hearing the commotion, Rajkumar's father, BJP leader Pashupatinath Singh rushed to the scene, the assailants struck his head, causing him to fall unconscious. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Both father and son were taken to the hospital, where doctors declared Pashupatinath Singh dead. Pashupati's elder son, Rudresh, lodged FIR with Sigra police station on Oct 13, 2022. Police filed a charge sheet against 18 accused before the court. Two were declared minors and their cases were transferred to juvenile court. The trial proceeded for the remaining 16 accused, said ADGC, adding that prosecution presented eight witnesses and after the trial, the court on Thursday found all 16 accused guilty. The convicted criminals had formed a '307 gang' and its menace was affecting Chandua Chittupur, Shivpurwa and Jaiprakash Nagar areas. Many members of the gang even had '307' tattooed on their hands. Though Rudresh expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, he said the liquor shop around which the nuisance was created, still existed at the same place, while locals were compelled to face the disturbance. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
