Latest news with #QueenMary'sCollege
The Hindu
11-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Endangered South American tree ‘staying' on a college campus in Chennai
The surest way to lose something valuable is to persist in ignorance about its value. Viewed from an ecological viewpoint, Roughbark lignum-vitae (Guaiacum officinale) might not belong to these parts. But if one accorded natural history the place it deserves but is often denied, sometimes wilfully, this Roughbark lignum-vitae needs to be made welcome, felt at home in the handful of earth in Chennai it has claimed as its own. Exotic trees have become naturalised in their adopted landscapes and are readily identified. The Roughbark lignum-vitae has not achieved that level of familiarity in Chennai; there is just a scattering of them in the city. And this clutch needs to be zealously guarded as this tree is faced with dwindling numbers everywhere. It is rare not just in Chennai, but even in lands where it is considered native. According to IUCN, the tree is endangered, exploitation of the tree for its wood (said to have been the densest in the world) having reached the tipping point. 'A small evergreen tree native to South America, it is reported to have been introduced to our parts in the 16th century. It 'adoption' could have been the result of the ornamental value it brought to a landscape: it puts out striking bluish purple flowers that attract butterflies and has bright yellow-orange fruits. In Tamil, it is called seemai vairamaram,' says T.D. Babu, a member of the Chennai District Green Committee and a key member of tree conservation organisation Nizhal. Babu underlines its special features — 'considered densest and water-proof, this tree's has been used in ship building. Its resin and bark are said to have medicinal properties. These factors led to its commercial exploitation and dwindling numbers.' In light of the threat of extinction faced by this tree, one would expect more care to be given to the clutch of Roughbark lignum-vitae trees found in Chennai. One of them has the Queen Mary's College Campus for an address. Babu notes that the base of the tree has suffered damage, not natural but human-inflicted in the past. It also displays 'wounds' further up its gnarled frame — an amputated branch. Babu wants the state of the tree's precincts to reflect its preciousness. Currently, the earth it stands in is overrun with weeds. This is the status report about this tree at Queen Mary's College campus as on August 8, 2025. Besides, on that day, this Roughbark lignum-vitae was wearing a nameboard not meant for it; one erroneously identifying it as a Ficus benghalensis moraceae (banyan tree). Babu explains why this tree at Queen Mary's College should be placed within an impregnable hedge of protection. 'In Chennai we lost a huge Roughbark lignum-vitae tree in a private property, a perfume factory in Adyar. Another massive tree on Swamy Sivananda Salai . We are now left with this one near the canteen at Queen Marys College campus; another inside Rostrevor Gardens, a railways quarters Anna salai; one more large tree inside Kalaingnar Poonga on Radhakrishnan Salai. There is a young Roughbark lignum-vitae each at Kalakshethra campus in Thiruvanmiyur and Lady Willington Institute of Advanced Study in Education at Kamarajar Sala. Outside Chennai, twin Roughbark lignum-vitae trees are found on the campus of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University in Coimbatore.'
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Stalin unveils infrastructure projects worth 1,320 crore in city
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Monday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for infrastructure projects across higher education, housing, and urban development sectors, together valued at more than 1,320 crore. Among the highlights is a 42 crore hostel for 455 girl students at Queen Mary's College, featuring modern amenities such as CCTV cameras, lifts, and a medical room. After the inauguration, Stalin inspected the hostel in which each room had three cots and three study tables. There was also a drinking dispenser on each floor. He said a similar facility will be set up for Madras University research students at a cost of 28 crore. During his interaction with the students, he reminded them that during the covocation function in 2022, he had promised that he would bring these facilities to the campus. He also laid the foundation for a 5 crore auditorium at the same college, to be funded through Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson's MPLADS. Later, Stalin inaugurated higher education projects worth 120 crore and laid the foundation for new buildings estimated at 207.82 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo These include classrooms, hostels, academic and lab blocks in govt colleges and universities across 15 districts. The chief minister also laid a foundation stone to build new hostels at the Central Polytechnic College in Taramani at a cost of 25 crore. Here, the buildings are in a ramshackle state on the verge of collapse. The chief minister also inaugurated 4,978 new tenements across 14 districts, built at 527.84 crore by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. The units are part of the 'Housing for All' scheme and include essential infrastructure. The largest cluster is in Sammanthapuram, Virudhunagar, where 864 units were built at 80.74 crore. Stalin also inaugurated four open-air fitness parks in Minjur, Vellanur, Varadharajapuram, and Thirunageswaram. The city got more upgrades with renovated bus stands in Thiruvanmiyur, Avadi, and Ayyappanthangal. A green park, water-absorption park, pond rejuvenation projects, and a cold storage unit at Koyambedu were also launched.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Social activist Mano Bakthavatsalam passes away at 95
Long-time Chennaiite, Carnatic music connoisseur, and a person who was actively working for social causes, Mano Bakthavatsalam passed away at a city hospital on Friday. She was 95. Born in 1929, she studied at St. Rafael's School in Santhome and did her B.A. Honours at Queen Mary's College in Chennai. Upon the advice of her father, Seshachalam, a prominent citizen of Madras, as it was known then, and a businessman, she took up voluntary work. She is survived by her two sons and their families. Vijay, her son, said she missed attending concerts as she grew older. She liked sewing and had a machine from the pre-Independence era. She was a committee member of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, was honorary secretary of the Women's Voluntary Service of Tamil Nadu, and was correspondent and secretary at the NKT National Girls Higher Secondary School, he added. She was also vice-president of the Srinivasa Gandhi Nilayam and the University Women's Association of Madras. She was presented The Margarette Golding Award by the International Inner Wheel for highly commendable personal service. Historian V. Sriram, who knew Ms. Bakthavatsalam for many years, recalled how she used to be involved in several service organisations. 'She used to work very enthusiastically but without any fanfare. You could see her driving car even till when she was in her 80s. She served as a committee member at The Music Academy,' he said.
