Celebrate poet’s birthday, Tamil community urged

THE Tamil community should celebrate the birthday of famed poet Subramanya Bharathi with equal importance to other festivals, Makkal Osai quoted activists as saying.

The Beruas Sri Maha Karumariamman in Perak recently hosted a festival to celebrate the poet’s birthday.

Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham’s special officer for Indian affairs, T.Thinakaran, who officiated at the festival, said the poet was known for his work supporting the struggle for independence, women’s emancipation and abolishing the caste system.

“His poetry and other work were catalysts for change in Indian society and can still be relevant today, so it is important to celebrate him and his work so the younger generation is exposed to it,” he said.

The festival organised by the Naam Narpani Iyakkam NGO saw students joining in several competitions such as poetry recitation and public speaking on topics related to the poet.

> Railway authorities in Tamil Nadu, India, have warned passengers of hefty fines and three years’ jail after a group started a ceremonial fire onboard a moving train, Tamil Nesan reported.

The group was apparently travelling on a special express train for a religious pilgrimage when they decided to perform a ceremony and started a small fire with camphor.

The fire was quickly put out by the railway authorities.

Railways in India prohibit carrying flammable material such as matches, gas cylinders, petrol, kerosene and camphor.

The authorities also requested passengers to report such dangerous items or activities.