This is my World

Once upon a time, in a tiny village by a river, lived a rich man. He made money by all means that was there to make and was keen on exploring other opportunities to make more of it. One such opportunity came knocking at his door. T he recent spate of floods in the country had driven all the fish from the dam down the river to the village and the rich man learnt about it. And he wanted to make the most of that fishy situation. He knew he could not do it alone. So, he went to the baron for help. The baron was one of the most respected people in the village. He was a businessman with a heart. He owned vast tracts of land and made good money with it by overworking the villagers who sought employment at his farms. Yet at the same time, he was willing to spend money, even if it was only a small percent of his earnings, on the welfare of his community. And that earned him some respect.  "This is our chance," the rich man told the baron. " Together, we can change the fate of ...

You have to know me as a person before you read this article. This is not history, but a perspective and it is absolutely necessary to know the relevant details about the writer before reading their perspectives.  I'm not a Brahmin. I was born into the Nadar caste, which was suppressed by the then upper castes in the colonial era and liberated later. However, I do not consider myself a part of that caste anymore. Under the cover of building an identity and a sense of community, organised castes have developed only hatred towards other castes and I do not belong there. Though I'm an atheist and though I do not practice/preach religious rituals, my spiritual(not religious) beliefs are rooted in the philosophy of Tamils, most of which modern-day Hinduism has encapsulated. So, I'm part atheist, part Hindu (rather a strange combination). I love Tamil immensely. I will do anything to promote her, but I will not impose her on a non-Tamil speaker. I believe in freedom, equality a...

நிலம் சுமக்கும் நிலையற்ற மாந்தர் நிலைப்பெற நிகரிலா உனை நிகமெனக் கருதி நினைந்து நைந்து நிதம் நிணறொடு நின் புகழ் பாடி நிகருவம் கொண்டு நிகல மயிர் தரித்து நிடலம் நீராடி நின்மலியின் கீழ் நிற்காதமர்ந்து நிட்டை கூடி நிலை மறந்து நிகிலமுணர்ந்து நிசிந்தன் நாமம் நிரதியொடுரைத்து நிறைவுக் காண நிறைகுடமாயவரை நிறைத்து நிவிர்த்தி நிலைக்க வைப்பதும் நின்னாமன் கூற்றே !

Among the many freedom fighters of South India who were written out of history by the historians of India, Theeran Chinnamalai is one of the most important. His dispute with the British began when he tried to help the farmers on whom heavy taxes were imposed by the British. The dispute grew over the years and it ended when he was put to death by the British. This article is a small biography of his life. Chapter 1: Early years Theeran Chinnamalai was born as Theerthagiri on April 17, 1756. He was the second of the six children of Rathina Sarkkarai and Periyaatha. He had an elder brother-Kulandhaisamy, three younger brothers-Thambi, Kilothar and Kuttisamy, and a younger sister-Parvatham. His grandfather, Kottravel  Sarkkarai  Mandraadiaar  ( மன்றாடியார்),  belonged to the Palayakottai pattakkaarar family that controlled large tracts of land around Paalayankottai.  Kottravel  Sarkkarai was still childless after two marriages and adopted two sons to take ...