Latest news with #DhanFoundation
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Dhan celebrates 11 years of ‘Namathu Mannvasam' magazine
Dhan Foundation in Madurai celebrated the 11th anniversary of their monthly Tamil magazine – 'Namathu Mannvasam' – here on Monday. The magazine, retaining its unique identity, has kept up with its promise of promoting mostly new women writers and readers, said M.P. Vasimalai, Executive Director of Dhan Foundation. As reading habit among students has gradually diminished, the magazine should produce engaging contents based on Tamil literature found only in bits and pieces in school syllabuses, he added. When some of the important and essential Tamil literatures were present just as stand-alone poems in subject books, the students would barely think of reaching out to the whole work of literature, Mr. Vasimalai stated. 'By producing content in the form of story reading, the students, who are the target readers, could be largely engaged,' he added. Further, speaking about the magazine's novel effort, he said that the writers who contributed to the magazine were mostly ground-level workers. Through this, the magazine has proved that it could sustain the content that comes organically from working class people, he added. Appreciating the tremendous hard work behind every published magazine, he said that publishing houses should also consider coming up with at least five translated works of writers which have hardly reached the public. Madhan Kumar, of Padiparivu Pathipagam, said the magazine which was being published in Tamil, Kannada and Marathi, is to be expanded to other languages like Odia and Telugu. 'As a uniqueness of the magazine, of the 500 writers, 200 of them were women. Also, every year's March month edition would be a by-women and for-women edition,' he noted. Adhering to the famous philosopher Antonio Gramsci's perspective about organic intellectual, he said, 'The magazine runs solely on the organic intellectuals - women writers also the field workers.' Magazine's editor B. Thirumalai recalling the efforts of the magazine to continue its work during Covid-19 pandemic, said that even the mainstream magazines could not sustain during the critical few months of the pandemic. 'It was possible because of the readers who pushed us to expand our horizons out of our comfort zones,' he added. Now, the aim of the magazine would be reaching 50,000 copies from the current 25,000 copies and their work in the following days would be towards that, he said. During the event, a compilation of the 12 magazines was released.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Veteran epigraphist and archaeologist honoured with Tamil Wikki Suran Award
V. Vedachalam, well-known epigraphist and archaeologist, has been honoured with many awards during his long and eventful career, but bagging the Tamil Wikki Suran Award as he steps into his 51st year in the field, has filled him with immense pleasure. 'It is a recognition of my services, and I am grateful for this honour,' he said. At 75 years of age, his ardour to dig into the past has not diminished. His eyes light up as he reminisces about his first dig at Karur, the capital of the Chera Kingdom. There, he and his team were instrumental in unearthing a portion of the fort wall. 'I had just completed my MA in Tamil literature, and after finishing my PG diploma in archaeology and epigraphy, I was recruited into the Archaeology Department. It was while working in Karur that I realised this was going to be my life-long passion. Tamil literature unveiled the history of Sangam Age, and there at the site, I was seeing the historical sources in person,' he remarked. His background in Tamil literature also helped him to become a consummate epigraphist. He remembers climbing up a hillock on a hot summer's day in Vikramangalam to study various inscriptions found there. After a while, he stepped onto a deep ledge and lay down. And there on the ceiling was an inscription that had been hidden for over 2,000 years. 'At that moment, I was euphoric. The feeling that I have discovered something new filled me with happiness,' Mr. Vedhachalam said. He was the first one to talk about the potential of the Keeladi site. Even after retirement, many remember him visiting Keeladi in the morning and leaving the site only after sunset. This fervour has not diminished. An author of 25 books, Mr. Vedachalam has travelled to various historical sites, not just in India but also abroad. 'As an archaeologist, it is important that we travel and compare various sites. For only in comparison, can we understand the uniqueness and ancientness of the artefacts that are being unearthed in Tamil Nadu. For me, ancient history is much beyond caste and religion. This shared history binds us, and it is paramount that we preserve them for future generations,' he said. He visits colleges and meets students in order to disseminate what he has learnt on this journey. Since 2009, along with Dhan Foundation on every second Sunday of the month, Mr. Vedachalam and his team have visited almost 300 villages to create awareness among the villagers about the historicity of the places and the need to preserve various monuments nearby. For him, there are more things to be unearthed and even more that need to be preserved, for our ancient history now lives on in fragile fragments.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Distribution of cloth bags, planting of saplings mark World Environment Day
The district administration along with Dhan Foundation on Thursday distributed 5,000 saplings to the public and students to mark World Environment Day. Collector M.S. Sangeetha also distributed cloth bags (manjappai) to the public. In order to encourage usage of cloth bags and to reiterate the importance of achieving a plastic-free world, cloth bags were given as an alternative to polythene covers and plastic bags, the organisers said. Further, the participants were encouraged to utilise the cloth bags while buying groceries at shops or food at eateries. 'People should be aware of of proper disposal of plastic materials and e-waste generated in every household,' they added. As usage of plastic and electronic products had become an indispensable need, the importance of healthy disposal practice should be learnt for safeguarding future generations. Similarly, under the Climate Change Mission, a district-level workshop on climate was organised at Al-Ameen Higher Secondary School at Activities such as planting trees and distribution of pamphlets and books, among others, were carried out as part of the workshop. Uchapatti Panchayat Union Middle School, which has undertaken planting saplings as a mission of their school for many years, celebrated the day by writing, painting and sketching about the importance of protecting nature. N. Shanthi, headmistress, said the mission to plant trees in the school was continuing for more than five years. While the school had won several awards for maintaining a green ecosystem, students on a daily basis were taught about the ill-effects of plastic usage and carry bags. 'Our school campus is free of plastic waste and e-waste, and we strive to better this by avoiding usage of plastic materials,' she added. Reuse of plastics as a practical exercise was taught to students. A School Education Department official said the schools in the district had been instructed to upload the activities conducted on World Environment Day from June 5 to June 12 on the eco club portal. The geotagged photos of the activities and green environment of the school should be uploaded on the portal for consideration for the green award.
