Kerala CPI legislator Vazhoor Soman, 72, passes away following heart attack
Soman was elected as the MLA from Peerumedu in the 2021 elections, defeating Congress candidate Syriac Thomas by a margin of 1,835 votes. He had been active in public life since 1974, dedicating his work to the welfare of plantation workers in Idukki. He served as the state vice-president of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and as general secretary of the Peerumade Plantation Workers' Union, which is regarded as the largest plantation workers' organisation in Asia. He had also chaired the standing committee of the Idukki district panchayat.A native of Vazhoor in Kottayam district, Soman made Peerumade his political base after an incidental visit to his mother's ancestral home there during his student years. He later joined the All India Students' Federation (AISF) and began his public life, focusing much of his efforts on the plantation sector. In order to engage directly with workers, he learned Tamil and earned significant influence within the community. The CPI later sent him to the erstwhile Soviet Union to complete his education.Though his name was considered on several occasions for candidacy in Peerumedu, he stepped aside in favour of ES Biji Mol. He also served as chairman of the Warehousing Corporation during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.Soman is survived by his two children, Shobith and Saubith, who are both practising advocates.- EndsIN THIS STORY#Kerala
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Hindustan Times
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The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Preah Vihear, the temple caught between war and worship
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A masterpiece of Khmer architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is perched atop a cliff in the forested Dângrêk mountain range, which forms a natural border between Cambodia and Thailand. The temple is built across multiple levels, and features five gopurams (entrance towers) that rise from the lowest elevation to the highest, connected by causeways and stairways. The sanctum sanctorum is located at an elevation of 525 metres. Each level unfolds in a seamless architectural sequence, with the gopurams adorned with ornate pediments and lintels. The Tamil connection The temple's deep historical and cultural ties to the Tamil region are not well-known. It was built over a period of 300 years, with several kings contributing to its construction, but the present structure is largely attributed to Suryavarman I. It was completed under the reign of Suryavarman II, who built Angkor Wat. Inscriptions dating to around 1020 CE reveal that Suryavarman I gifted Rajendra Chola I a chariot, seeking his support and protection against threats from the Tambralinga kingdom and the Srivijaya king Sangrama Vijayatunggavarman. In 1025 CE, Rajendra Chola I launched his famed naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom, which included Kedah (Kadaram) earning him the title 'Kadaram Kondan' (conqueror of Kadaram). Even iconographically, the temple features elements that reflect a Tamil connection. The image of the dancing Shiva, Nataraja, central to Tamil Saiva traditions, is a common motif in Chola art. In temple reliefs, Nataraja is depicted alongside musicians, with the skeletal figure of Karaikkal Ammaiyar at his feet. Ammaiyar lived in the 6th century and is considered to be the earliest of the Nayanmars (poet-saints) devoted to Shiva. Her hymns on Shiva preceded those of others such as Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar. 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Vaishnava motifs and Pallava influence The Khmer kings were known for their religious syncretism. Their temples often integrate elements of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and even Buddhism. Preah Vihear, though dedicated to Shiva, has themes of Vaishnavism on its lintels and pediments. For instance, the Paarkadal scene (churning of the ocean of milk) depicts the tug-of-war between the devas and asuras churning the paarkdal to extract amritham (nectar). Seen in Cambodian temples, including Angkor Wat, the motif is rarely seen in Indian temple art. The scene is, however, depicted in the Kailasanathar temple and Vaikunda Perumal temple in Kanchipuram, highlighting its significance as a cherished Pallava theme. At Preah Vihear, this scene is intricately carved on the southern doorway pediment of Gopuram IV. The lintel below has Vishnu reclining on Ananta, the serpent, a feature seen in Cambodian temples since the 7th century. 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The writer is an IRS officer based in Chennai.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
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