Latest news with #MahatmaGandhiMemorial
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Coimbatore and the Freedom Movement
The leader who pulled an oil press Prisoner no. 1541 arrived at the Coimbatore Central Prison on July 9, 1908. He spent two years, four months, and 22 days in the prison, a difficult period in his life. VO Chidambaram Pillai, the lawyer-businessman who took the British head on by starting the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, was arrested on charges of sedition and given two life sentences. Known as Kappalottiya Tamizhan, VOC grew to be a veritable leader in Thoothukudi, purchasing ships as a challenge to the monopoly of the British India Steam Navigation Company. After his arrest though, the company had to be shut down, and VOC himself suffered while in incarceration. We arrive at the prison he was lodged in, one overcast evening. Upon his arrival, VOC's hair was cut, and he was offered an aluminium plate to eat in; thick, white clothes to wear; his feet were chained, and he was lodged in a dark room and offered ragi koozh to eat. In a small memorial near the main prison building, is housed the wooden oil press that was operated by VOC himself. A board outside describes how the freedom fighter was tortured by the prison authorities. 'He was forced to pull the wooden oil press weighing 250 kilos in the hot Agni Natchathiram sun,' it reads, adding how even as he did so, VOC kept repeating 'Vande Mataram'. The leader was hence known with the epithet Sekkizhutha Semmal, that can be loosely translated to, 'the respected one who pulled an oil press.' Unable to see him suffer, his fellow prisoners staged a protest, resulting in the transfer of VOC to Kannur Central Prison in Kerala in 1910. Today, the memorial that houses the infamous press attracts political leaders who visit it on important occasions to remember VOC's contribution to the Freedom Movement. Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, Podanur Until a few years ago, the tile-roofed house that belongs to the family of inventor and entrepreneur GD Naidu in Podanur, was just another building by the roadside. GD House, however, is no ordinary place. It played host to Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Coimbatore on February 6, 1934. Gandhi was travelling to collect funds for his Harijan Welfare organisation, and happened to halt there for the night. After going through his accounts late into the night and a two-hour sleep, he laid the foundation stone for Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya the next morning in front of the house. Back then, the Vidyalaya occupied the bungalow. GD House was renovated with its original architecture intact and was opened for the public as Mahatma Gandhi Memorial on October 2, 2022, the Mahatma's 153rd birth anniversary. It features an exhibition space that displays replicas of artifacts used by Gandhi, such as his charkha, footwear, spectacles, Ingersoll watch, among others. There are neatly-labelled photographs that detail his life story in a photo gallery in the premises. Photos from his childhood, his South Africa years, and his hand-written letters can be found as part of the display. A library houses books on Gandhi and there are also screenings of documentaries on his life. The Memorial also has a semi-open conference space, and a statue of Gandhi erected in remembrance of his visit 91 years ago. It is located at 11/10 A, Chettipalayam Road, Podanur. Visiting hours are from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Entry is free. Call 9087355068 for details. NG Ramasamy statue Most of us in the city might have passed by the statue of trade union leader and freedom fighter NG Ramasamy at the Singanallur signal. He can be seen in a dhoti and kurta, a thundu over his shoulders. A Gandhian, he is an important leader from Coimbatore who participated in the Freedom Movement. A mill master himself, NG Ramasamy worked tirelessly for the welfare of his fellow mill workers. He formed a trade union that also fought against the British. Ondipudur was then a hub for trade union activity, and Ramasamy held many secret meetings at night in the the outskirts of the neighbourhood to scheme against the British. Among the many plans he came up with, was disrupting flights at the Sulur Aerodrome and setting fire to liquor shops in the city. Despite his arrest the next morning, the trade union members acted as planned on August 13, 1942, torching a goods train passing through Singanallur on the way to Madras. Notably, after the aerodrome was set on fire, a thimir vari was imposed on people in the locality. NG Ramasamy participated in the Quit India Movement and was a staunch follower of Gandhi's principles. He was imprisoned in Vellore, dying very young following ill-health, and sadly, was not alive to taste freedom from British rule.
News18
15-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Don't Carry Kanwar': UP School Teacher's Poem Draws Ire Of Hindu Outfits, FIR Filed
Last Updated: Following the complaints, Bareilly police filed an FIR against the teacher under sections related to promoting enmity and disturbing communal harmony. A school teacher in Uttar Pradesh has been booked after reciting a poem on 'Kanwar Yatra" during a school assembly that some Hindu groups said hurt religious sentiments. The teacher, Rajneesh Gangwar, who works at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Inter College in Bareilly, faced massive backlash from the Hindu outfits. A video of him reciting his own poem, titled 'Tum Kanwar lene mat jana, gyaan ka deep jalana" (Don't go to fetch the Kanwar, instead light the lamp of knowledge), went viral. The poem includes lines such as, 'Kanwar le jaakar koi SP ya DM nahi bana hai" (No one has become an SP or District Magistrate by carrying Kanwar), and talks about prioritising education over rituals. Once the video gained attention online, several Hindu groups raised objections, saying the poem was disrespectful to Kanwar pilgrims, especially during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. They argued that singing such lines in a school setting at this time was inappropriate, particularly when the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has publicly shown support for the yatra. The Kanwar Yatra, which began on July 11 this year during the holy month of Sawan, involves thousands of devotees walking long distances to bring holy water from the Ganga River to offer at Shiva temples. The event is closely watched and managed by state authorities due to the large gatherings. Baheri Circle Officer Arun Kumar confirmed the incident and said, 'At MGM Inter College, teacher Rajneesh Gangwar gathered students in the courtyard of the college and made some objectionable comments about the Kanwar Yatra through poetry recitation. A case has been registered and necessary legal proceedings are being taken." view comments First Published: July 15, 2025, 14:04 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
300 MGM contract workers removed
Indore: Health services at the hospitals affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College came to a grinding halt on Monday after approximately 300 outsourced employees were abruptly removed from their positions. The sudden move severely disrupted critical operations at Super Specialty Hospital and MTH Hospital. Both of these hospitals heavily depend on contractual staff for essential services like power backup, air-conditioning, oxygen plants, water supply, and ambulance transport. The sudden staff shortage led to the postponement of several surgeries at both Super Specialty Hospital and MTH Hospital, leaving many critical and impoverished patients waiting. In a particularly alarming incident, no surgeries could be performed at Super Specialty Hospital on Monday morning due to a lack of water, as the pump operator was removed. Similarly, MTH Hospital faced a critical shortage of ambulance drivers, impeding patient transport. The official sources said that the mass removal of employees was triggered by an order issued by HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (HITES), a govt of India enterprise, dated June 12, 2025. This directive led to the withdrawal of outsourced manpower deployed across MGM-linked hospitals, reportedly without any transition plan or prior notice to the medical facilities. Despite the evident chaos and disruption on the ground, MGM Medical College dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoriya asserted that the workers were not terminated but merely 're-designated'. "No such problems were reported in our hospitals. The issue is limited to one unit and will be resolved. Skilled staff haven't been removed; their roles have been changed to multipurpose workers," he claimed, attributing the action to internal decisions by the outsourcing company.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Three killed as dilapidated hospital balcony collapses in Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur: Three patients died and one was critically injured after a balcony in the Medicine Department corridor of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur collapsed, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday around 4 p.m. The balcony, located on the third floor of the hospital, suddenly gave way, causing debris to fall onto patients resting in the corridor below. The collapse triggered panic, with people rushing to safety amid the chaos. Five people were trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts by police and fire personnel began around 4.30 p.m. and continued with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) until 1 a.m. Two bodies were recovered by 9 p.m., while the third was pulled out around 1 a.m. The deceased have been identified as 73-year-old David Johnson of Sakchi, 61-year-old Lucas Simon Tirkey, and 65-year-old Srichand Tanti of Saraikela. The survivors -- Renuka Devi and Sunil Kumar -- were rescued, though Renuka Devi remains in critical condition. The Jharkhand government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. A three-member committee has been formed to probe the incident. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari visited the hospital at around 11.30 p.m. on Saturday and assured strict action against those found responsible. Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He also promised a long-term action plan to prevent similar accidents. The incident has raised serious questions about the maintenance of hospital infrastructure. Locals and opposition leaders have accused the administration of negligence, alleging that warnings about the deteriorating condition of the building were ignored. Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, 'Innocent lives have been lost due to government negligence. It's time for the administration to wake up and ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.' Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi has demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against those responsible. He also offered prayers for the deceased and the injured.
