Reg Shenbagaraman pillai, and he being Emden - firstly most of the people think the Emden to be a German U boat - it was not. it was a battle cruiser ship. She was actually in China */ *left Tsingtao on 31 July 1914. War was declared in august ! She prowled the Bay of bengal n Indian ocean before bombing chennai on the night of 22nd sept. on 28th Oct she bombed Penang Harbour. on 9th nov she sent a raiding party to disrupt the communication lines in direction island.On the same morning she engaged in combat with Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney and finally sank. Many of the crew were dead but the main officers survived incl Capt Von Muller. We checked the detailed list of passengers , dead and injured - there was no listing for an indian doctor or the name even vaguely Indian.
When Narasiah sir wrote about Emden, he too said that he thought the legend of the Indian doctor to be true, but as far as any records go, there is no reference to the same
Very nice experiance of seeing books of allour friends there. Hopefully will complete them in Pongal holidays.
Scanned Venkat sirs Kanchi Tharagai very fast. Very interesting to see - Telling story line to Vj and Mrs Vj in Singapore, Sambandar's Madurai, Vatapi ganapati, Cat of Arjuna's Tapas were all interesting.
Thank God- 4 days leave for Pongal. Friday will be sivaratri for me..
I missed picking up Kanchi Tharagai at the book fair. But I'm going again, so I definitely will. Our members are pretty much dominating the historical novel scene in Tamil. :)
I did, however, pick up Vikatan's PS. Really liked the illustrations and the presentation. I also picked up a collection of Romila Thapar's essays, and a volume on Devadasi history. Also, Kaaval Kottam (which is so huge I'm not sure how I'm gonna hold it!). And a random selection of other writers.
Yes. Many times this question comes. Many times I answered (in various forums, ofcourse). Senbaga Raman Pillai has absolutely no connection with SMS Emden (1) cruiser-cum war vessel 'during' the time of world war one and during the time of attacking Madras. This was acknowledged by eminent writer Thiru Narasiah in his foreward in my book SMS EMDEN 22-09-1914. Earlier Thiru Narasiah in his 'Madarasa Pattinam' mentioned that Pillai was a Doctor in that vessel. But when he got my book for writing a foreward, he enquired various sources through Germal Counsel and got information that Pillai was not in Emden during bombing of Madras. He has mentioned as it is in foreword.
Senbaga Raman Pillai, no doubt, was a great Indian freedom fighter and a friend of German.But Capt.Mukke, the vice-captain of SMS Emden (1) in his biography has clearly said about the medical team of warship during bombardment, and to till the end of her fateful day.
However he mentioned about a 'Hindoo' Passenger who boarded on the way near colombo and gave them some important news about How Emden was spoken high at British India. That Hindoo passenger also got down (sent along with prisoners of captured vessel) after few days in between. There was one lady got 'lift' in the vessel, and the Captain admitted being an 'European'. She presented chockalates, etc., to the inwards. She too got down at Sumithra while Emden on its way to bombing Penang.
> > > > Likewise picked Kadarkollayargal & Annamavin sothu by Muruganandam. > > He dedicated this book to Legend GK Moopanar and thanked several friends > > including Venkat, Swetha, Dhivakar, Vijay, Parvarthini and Shoba > > Ramakrishnan among others !! > > > at this speed i think parvadha will give a tough competition to SPS for being mentioned in forewords
Been to the BF today.... Last fewyears, there were seasonal books - books on Prabakaran & Sujatha were almostthe attraction at every stall. This year seems to be the year of several new entrants & compilations of short stories. I could see a different trend as well.. Most Tamil books are now printed in good quality paper & hard bound with a nice wrapper. They also shrinkwrap it in plastic so it looks just out of press.The smell of the glue used in binding those books is still fresh on mynose and eyes are still irritating with that.Most books are pricedhigher than Rs. 300/- andcost doesn't matter it seems. So is their size. PS seem to be a hot sellers still as many stalls have a pile up of this book in various editions, several years in a row. Books like "Kaval Kottam" are selling like hot cakes. While I picked up two copies ( 1 for me and another for a relative ) the seller had hard time to rush the bills for everyone in the queue. As I walked down each block, my purse got thinner and thinner andthe weight of the books became unbearable. God bless the shop that sold "Kaval Kottam" to me, the seller gave me a shoulder bag for free and relieved my pain. I guess next year they would put up "Shopping Karts". Should I bring atruck to carry my bookshome? Back home, pressure mounting on me to move to a 4 bed room or bigger apartment asap, as at this rate soon there will be no room to set the feet on the floor!
great vk...if u find a solution for the problem let me know ( same blood)....eager to hear ur review of kaval kottam, am hearing so much praise about the work
Me and Sankaranarayanan stood in que to get Venkatesh's Kanchi Tharagai at Vanathi !! SN went and picked some more picked in the meanwhile and was spending.. so much !!
He also carried his laptop and so could not carry more books.. Yet along with me he also picked Sadasivapandarathar books etc at Shenbagaraman Publication...
With Two Sets of Anandavikatan PS volumes and several other books - we commuted to car-park twice !!
We need some trally arrangement (on payment of course) atleast to move books to vehicle park..
And at home, I kept half the books in the car only and later shifted inside !! already I am yet to set the collection i hold.. and this too added !!
In the reader - writer function, Asokamitran participated.
Vanathi and Vikatan Stalls are full of purchasers.
There is a great demand of our Anusha's Kanchi Taragai. My Manimakudam is also moving with good speed.
On almost each shop, Ponniyin selvan is available. Though the story is same, the rate, design, cover, binding, are of different and cater the needs of the readers.
I could not get the book history of pandyas written by contemporary authors. Actually, I could not locate it.
If any body suggest a good book on history of pandyas apart from Nilakanda sastri, KV raman and Sadasiva Pandarathar, I shall be thankful to you and it is highly required for my work.
But Jayamohan has done a detaild review in 6 parts appreaciating the novel with critisism of certain politically right points of the novel usually written in TN.
Any idea on PSVP sir - One blogger has commented that whether there is rule that for getting publisher licence - one has to publish PS?. Also was that part of rules for getting a stall that they should keep PS.