Stamp collecting is one of the few hobbies that is suitable for all ages. Stamp collecting integrates history, geography, science, arts, culture, and language. By exhibiting their collection, the hobbyists can develop their written communication, learn the aesthetics of display, and become better at storytelling. Here’s an opportunity to visit a stamp exhibition right here at Chennai.
Continue readingStamps
Stamp Connect: Tamil Bible and Tranquebar
What’s New: Added a new picture postcard at the end.
Original Post – 2022:
‘The Hindu’ newspaper published on 02-Jul-2022 carried an article about a missing Tamil Bible from the Saraswathi Mahal Library at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. What’s interesting is that book happens or is considered to be the first Tamil translation of the Bible!
Continue readingMalta’s Vanished Fashion
What’s new – 2023 December: Add a new stamp at the end.
“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.”
– Mason Cooley, American aphorist
Continue readingWatchtowers in the Fortress Island
“A fortress doesn’t fall unless its towers are weakened.”
– S. R. Crawford, Bloodstained Betrayal (Source: goodreads dot com)
The Man behind the City
“Here lies La Valette.
Worthy of eternal honour,
He who was once the scourge of Africa and Asia,
And the shield of Europe,
Whence he expelled the barbarians by his Holy Arms,
Is the first to be buried in this beloved city,
Whose founder he was.”
My Malta Story
It was at my favourite book store in Chennai during my high school days that I first saw a stamp from Malta. Till then I never knew that such a country exists. I bought the stamp on impulse immediately. That was the only Malta stamp in my collection for several years.
Stamp Connect: Azure Window
StandardAzure Window was a 92 feet natural limestone arch, located in Gozo island of Malta at the Dwejra Bay. It is also called as Dwejra Window. It was one of the most popular tourist spot on the Gozo island in Malta.
Stamp Connect – Caravaggio
What can photographers learn from Renaissance-era paintings?
– A lot!
A recent article in THE HINDU with a photo of Rajiv Menon (cinematographer) and Monalisa painting in the background aroused my interest.
Interesting facts from Maestro Ilaiyaraaja
StandardWhat’s New: According to WordPress statistics, this post has garnered the most number of views (2200+) in my blog till Dec 2023. I have added some more related postal materials.
Original Post – 2016
I recently read two books of Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Having grown-up listening to his film music, I was all the more interested in his writings when I saw these books at the recent Chennai Book Fair.
The first book, “Ilaiyaraajavai Kelungal” (“Ask Ilaiyaraaja”), is a compilation of questions that were asked to him by readers of the Tamil weekly magazine, Kumudam. The second book, “Paal Nila Paathai” (“Milk Moon Path”), is another compilation of articles by him that were originally published in Kumudam. These articles are about his childhood, family, music career, and numerous interactions with various personalities in the world music and Indian film industry.
Continue readingGet lost in the jungle
As a kid who grew up watching Doordarshan TV during my school days, I have fond memories of my favorite shows. Though my Hindi is bad, I can still recite the song, “Jungle Jungle baat chali hai….”, the popular title track of Jungle Book cartoon series.
So, when the new movie adaptation by Disney, The Jungle Book, got released last week, I was all the more excited to watch it.
The movie is awesome. The CGI makes the jungle come alive. With great voiceovers for the animals, it is a delight to watch the characters of Sher Khan, Bagheera, and Baloo. Neel Sethi as Mowgli is cute, but looks more rehearsed.
Rudyard Kipling’s wonderful story of a kid lost in the Indian jungles has come out well in this movie. Go watch it and get lost in the jungle visually.
Stamp of Zoological Survey of India
Ravi Writes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.