Latest news with #Sundaram
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mr & Mrs Sundaram: Mavericks of the sky
A pilot losing a paper map to a gust of wind wouldn't seem like a big deal today. But this was 1947, when there was no GPS, and the aircraft, a Dakota (a military transport plane widely used in World War II). Among the passengers was Rajendra Prasad , President of the Constituent Assembly. The plane, piloted by Captain V Sundaram and Captain Usha Sundaram, was en route from Trichy to Trivandrum when the map flew out of her hands through a crack in the sliding window. "Here we are, in the middle of bad weather, over unfamiliar terrain, with no map to guide us. Trivandrum has no radio facilities," writes Captain Sundaram in his autobiography 'An Airman's Saga'. Luckily, they soon spotted Cape Comorin in the distance and followed the coastline, descending safely while dodging dark clouds and lightning strikes. At a time of piston engines and manual controls, when India relied on foreign pilots for official flights, the Indian couple flew a cross-country route from the UK to Madras, spread over 27 flying hours. Best known for setting a flight record, the couple — parents of Blue Cross India co-founder Chinny Krishna — also undertook many iconic but lesser-known journeys in pre- and post-Independence India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubre cómo Amazon CFD puede ayudarte a invertir como un pro Empezar ahora Subscríbete Undo Chosen by Jawaharlal Nehru and later Sardar Patel, the duo flew across the subcontinent and modern-day Pakistan during the country's formation, becoming perhaps the only Indian couple to pilot national leaders, chief ministers, and prime ministers. "Patel wanted to visit all 300 princely states and meet nawabs, nizams, and local rulers to urge them to join the Indian Union. And he insisted on Indian pilots, nationalism was in the air," says their son, Suresh Sundaram, now in his 80s. "Much of the terrain was unmapped. They flew to places where no planes had landed, guessing routes and weather conditions." Equally iconic was their UK to India journey to deliver a new De Havilland Dove aircraft for the Madras govt. "The moment we saw the Dove on the apron at Hatfield airport, we painted 'Government of Madras' on the fuselage and the Indian tricolour on the fins. We named her 'Hanuman' and marked it on the nose," writes Sundaram. "The British owner was about to give my father flying instructions," adds Suresh. "But after watching his test flight, he said, 'There's nothing more I can teach you'. " On June 7, 1948, a "cold, crisp morning", the couple began their 6,000-mile journey from the English Channel. After smooth stopovers in Toulouse, Geneva, Rome, Athens, and Nicosia, they encountered a dust haze en route to Baghdad, so thick they couldn't see 100 yards ahead. "Flying under these conditions would be nothing short of foolhardiness, so we decided to turn back and head for Habania, where a civilian aeroplane wouldn't be accepted ordinarily. But this was an emergency," writes Sundaram. RAF officials marked the runway with oil barrels for visibility, allowing the couple to land at an airfield in central Iraq, says Suresh. After an overnight halt, they flew to Sharjah, only to face an even worse dust storm. With near-zero visibility, they descended to 500ft, unsure if they were over water or desert. After nearly two weeks, they reached Madras and were welcomed as heroes. "My mother could fly solo, turn co-pilot, and also take on the role of flight attendant, serving tea or coffee to high-profile passengers, all in a sari," says daughter Viji, a US-based journalist. Usha earned her pilot's licence at 22, inspired by her husband. She began as his co-pilot but soon flew solo. "The day of her maiden solo flight, my father meant to telegram her parents 'Usha did solo', but wrote 'Usha died solo' by mistake, causing chaos for a while," says Viji. Within a few years of marriage, the couple had three children, so Usha wasn't able to accompany her husband on all of his adventures. Sundaram writes of a solo trip with Patel from Calcutta to Guwahati, which required flying over East Pakistan, then considered enemy territory. When Sundaram expressed concern, Patel said matter-of-factly, "What's wrong with Pakistan? Let's fly over and see their country." But as they flew over East Pakistan, a wireless message crackled in from Dacca: "Greetings from the govt and people of Pakistan to Sardar Patel. Welcome to fly over Pakistan." In August 1947, amid Partition, Captain Sundaram was part of a little-known refugee rescue mission. With people fleeing both ways, by train, steamer, and plane, seats were in such demand that some offered to pay in "gold and diamonds". But there was a problem. There were enough aeroplanes – Dakotas – lying idle, but not enough pilots. Sundaram offered his services to Bombay-based Mistry Airways, which was flying to Multan in Pakistan's Punjab province. He travelled to Juhu in Bombay, where a Dakota VT-AZY was ready for them. Sundaram's assignment was clear, to fly as many trips as possible with no more than 30 refugees per flight, no luggage. Though the plane seated 28, desperate refugees begged for space. Captain Sundaram took the risk, boarding 40 extra passengers. Sundaram writes that passengers were crammed on the floor, seats, even the lavatory. Despite being 10,000 pounds overweight, the Dakota made it safely to Jodhpur. Among the refugees was an old man, his wife, and six children, who refused to part with his luggage. On landing, the old man told Sundaram the cloth bundle he'd thrown out held cash and jewels worth more than a lakh of rupees. They arrived penniless. "That old man was Kishinchand Chellaram, who later built a textile empire in Chennai," says Suresh. Post-retirement, the couple turned to animal welfare and co-founded the Blue Cross India in 1969, but continued to fly recreationally until 1996. Email your feedback with name and address to
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
CFRA upgrades Dollar General (DG) to a Hold
In a report released today, Arun Sundaram from CFRA upgraded Dollar General (DG – Research Report) to a Hold, with a price target of $118.00. The company's shares closed today at $112.57. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Sundaram is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 8.0% and a 63.16% success rate. Dollar General has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $97.20, representing a -13.65% downside. In a report released today, Telsey Advisory also initiated coverage with a Hold rating on the stock with a $100.00 price target. Based on Dollar General's latest earnings release for the quarter ending January 31, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $10.3 billion and a net profit of $191.22 million. In comparison, last year the company earned a revenue of $9.86 billion and had a net profit of $401.81 million Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 38 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is negative on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders selling their shares of DG in relation to earlier this year. Most recently, in April 2025, EMILY C TAYLOR, the EVP & Chief Merchandising Ofc of DG sold 809.00 shares for a total of $76,620.39.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
How shoppers are exploiting return policies — and costing retailers billions
Shoppers are increasingly exploiting return policies with various scams to defraud companies, and it is costing retailers billions. While retailers have tried to mitigate returns, they amounted to $743 billion in 2023. Of that, about $101 billion was fraudulent, according to the National Retail Federation. This problem is getting more sophisticated as shoppers grow increasingly duplicitous, such as returning empty boxes, using fake or altered receipts, or ripping key components from electronics before returning the item. The challenge for retailers is how to crack down and limit return polices without alienating customers. Blue Yonder's 2024 Consumer Retail Returns Survey found that more than 90% of respondents admitted that a lenient return policy influences their buying decisions. Additionally, stricter policies are deterring many shoppers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, from making purchases at all. Arun Sundaram, vice president and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, told FOX Business that return fraud remains an issue for retailers, particularly because of the 'growth of e-commerce and the flexible return policies that often come with it.' 4 Shoppers are increasingly exploiting return policies with various scams to defraud companies, and it is costing retailers billions. Getty Images This type of fraud not only puts pressure on margins but disrupts inventory planning and drives up operating costs, according to Sundaram. 'In recent years, we've seen many retailers ramp up investments in data and analytics to detect patterns and flag suspicious return activity. Still, striking the right balance between preventing fraud and keeping a positive customer experience is an ongoing challenge,' Sundaram added. Gaurav Saran, CEO of told FOX Business that companies started offering competitive return policies such as free returns and 30- or 60-day return policies as shoppers became more reliant on online shopping. In turn, it encouraged more shoppers to buy from the brand, but it also paved the way for a select few to take advantage of the situation. 4 This problem is getting more sophisticated as shoppers grow increasingly duplicitous, such as returning empty boxes, using fake or altered receipts, or ripping key components from electronics before returning the item. Christopher Sadowski 4 In some cases, customers will return an empty box, claiming the item was missing when they received it. This is known as the 'empty box' scam. AFP via Getty Images One of the most common scams, according to Saran, is 'wardrobing.' Consumers purchase clothing with the intent of returning it after they use it. The issue with this type of fraud is it can be difficult to detect, though it is one of the most common problems that clothing retailers have, according to website. In some cases, customers will return an empty box, claiming the item was missing when they received it. This is known as the 'empty box' scam. Retailers that don't weigh packages before processing returns may not notice the fraud until after the customer has already been refunded, according to Saran. Another tactic his company has noticed is called 'bricking.' This is when someone removes key components from electronics before returning the item. While the product looks intact on the outside, it is useless. Retailers that don't check returned items carefully can end up selling worthless goods. 4 If there appears to be fraudulent activity, the company will be notified and can adjust its return policy specific to a customer. Getty Images Saran's developed an end-to-end return management system to mitigate these crimes by helping companies configure return processing and even handle repairs. It helps companies ensure that what a customer said they were going to return and the condition they are returning it in are in line with the return policy. If there appears to be fraudulent activity, the company will be notified and can adjust its return policy specific to a customer. He works with various companies, including Brooks, Wilson, and Samsonite.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
How the multifaceted S.D. Sundaram changed the course of Tamil theatre
Tamil theatre's history is delightful with many stalwarts having created works that have stood the test of time and inspired generations of actors and directors. Today when established and amateur troupes are experimenting with new subjects on stage, it would be a good idea to recall how some yesteryear theatre personalities thought ahead of time. One such was S.D. Sundaram (1921-1979). One of Tamil stage's prominent playwrights in the mid-20th century, Sundaram was born in Athur near Salem. He entered theatre at an early age, joining Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai's drama troupe Madurai Devi Bala Vinodha Sangeetha Sabha around 1933. Seeing his interest and proficiency in Tamil literature's great works such as Athichuvadi, Kondrai Vendhan and the Tiruvarutpa, Rajamanickam Pillai encouraged him to pursue his Vidwan course, which Sundaram passed with flying colours. In 1942, Sundaram was imprisoned in Tanjore for nine months for his participation in the freedom movement. Once out of jail, he rejoined Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai's troupe, only to branch out on his own a little while later. In 1944, with the blessings of his guru, Sundaram and another youngster from the troupe, T.K. Thangavelu (better known in the world of theatre and cinema as T.K. Krishnaswamy), left Madurai Devi Bala Vinodha Sangeetha Sabha to launch Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Their first production was Kaviyin Kanavu, written by Sundaram himself. A star studded-cast which included the likes of M.N. Nambiar (who also traced his dramatic lineage to Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai's drama troupe) as the Rajaguru and S.V. Subbaiah as the poet enhanced the play's appeal with their performances. The play was premiered in 1944, a review that appeared in 1945 shows that it was ahead of its time in terms of adopting new techniques and technology in the presentation of the play. For starters, it had just one song, unheard of in an era when songs were still an integral part of stage plays. Secondly, it made use of electric lights to good effect. Another aspect was the design of the stage itself. Two pillars were set in the middle of the stage and were moved to either the left or the right, depending on the requirement of a particular scene. It also used slide projections to introduce the cast and crew of the play. The Rajaguru was introduced using the shadow technique. The play was infused with strong political views of the poet, seeking to free his motherland from the clutches of the villain (from a foreign power). A play called 'Kanavu' set within this play instilled a sense of patriotism in the poet's countrymen. It spoke of his dream of a poverty-free, equal society. Coming as it did on the throes of our country's independence, the play was a stupendous success. Noted playwright-poet Bharatidasan who presided over a performance at Dindigul spoke in glowing terms about the actors' performances. The play proved a turning point in the Nambiar's and Subbaiah's careers. Somasundaram of Jupiter Pictures, who was impressed by their performances hired them on contract for his production house. When Nambiar could not continue performing the play on account of his increasing movie commitments, the mantle fell on a youngster who would go on to become one of Tamil cinema's prominent lyricists, albeit briefly, Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram. Sundaram went on to author plays such as En Kadhai, Aravindar and Nam Thai. He was also a dialogue writer for several successful films such as Ondre Kulam, Mohini MGR was paired with V.N. Janaki for the first time) and Kappalottiya Tamizhan. In 1973, he wrote a play titled Veera Sudhandhiram, to mark the silver jubilee of Indian Independence. It was inaugurated at the centenary celebrations of theatre legend Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar that year, starring several film stars such as R. Muthuraman, T.K. Bhagavathi, T.R. Ramachandran, V.S. Raghavan and others. Sundaram also served as a member of the Upper House of the TN Legislature between 1964 and 1968 and as the secretary of the Iyal Isai Nataka Manram from 1968 to 1976. He passed away in 1979.
Business Upturn
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
IOVA FRAUD: Suffer Losses on Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.? You may have been Affected by Fraud and are Urged to Contact BFA Law (NASDAQ:IOVA)
NEW YORK, May 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Iovance you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting Investors have until July 14, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Iovance securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Sundaram v. Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc., et al. , No. 25-cv-04177. Why was Iovance Sued for Securities Fraud? Iovance is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of treatments for melanoma and other solid tumor cancers. The Company commercially launched its key melanoma treatment Amtagvi in February 2024. Iovance administers Amtagvi at the Company's authorized treatment centers ('ATCs'). As alleged, Iovance repeatedly touted its ATCs as a driver of demand for Amtagvi. In truth, Iovance's ATCs were experiencing long timelines to begin treating patients with Amtagvi, and ineffective patient identification and patient selection for treatment was causing high patient drop-offs at the ATCs. The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed On May 8, 2025, Iovance reported disappointing financial results for 1Q25 and announced it was 'revising full-year 2025 revenue guidance.' The Company blamed 'recent launch dynamics,' including slow 'treatment timelines for new ATCs' and 'the variable pace at which ATCs began treating patients,' which 'differs from center to center.' Iovance also blamed the poor results on high 'patient drop-off' due to inadequate 'patient selection' for treatment. On this news, the price of Iovance stock declined more than 44%, from $3.17 per share on May 8, 2025, to $1.75 per share on May 9, 2025. Click here if you suffered losses: What Can You Do? If you invested in Iovance you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: Or contact:Ross Shikowitz [email protected] 212-789-3619
