Solar Eclipse in Chennai

A partial solar eclipse occurred on March 19 and was visible in Chennai.
A day before the eclipse, the newspapers said that it would occur between 6.45 am and 7.23 am.
Also a caution was thrown not to view the Sun or the eclipse with naked eye or through binoculars.The newspapers also carried info that arrangements were made at the Birla Planetarium to project the images on a plain surface for public.On the day of eclipse, as nothing could be done at home, owing to the age-old 'beliefs' I biked to the planetarium.
Surprisingly, at 6.30 in the morning, there were about 100 people at the planetarium. More surprisingly, light refreshments were provided to enlighten the public that there is no harm in consuming food during the eclipse!
But we stayed away from the refreshments. Not for the superstitions, but we were in a hurry to stand in the queue to view the projection through the telescope!

Many kids landed at the early hours with their parents. A few press persons!After Mr. Iyam Perumal took charge as executive director of Birla Planetarium, we see many such activities happening inside the campus.
Two information notice boards on triangular boxes provided information about the eclipse.

The volunteers and staff of the planetarium were willingly assisting all those who landed at the centre on that day.
We watched the celestial event through the welder's glass and also the telescopically projected image. But I was watching the curious kids posing questions to the scientists and the staff of the centre.
One kid kept 'bothering' more people. I asked him what more information he could gather at the event.
He wrote about the experience and it is on the website for kids - YOCee!

Where were the kids?

It was the release of the book Aditi and her friends take on the Vesuvian Giant by Siniti Namjoshi. The book for kids in the Aditi series.
And the place was Landmark bookstore.
The author explained how she could write for kids, though she is a feminist writer. (Her first book Feminist Fables was published in 1981). She said when she wrote for adults she could be quite savage. But while writing for kids she had to be sober and stay mild.
Though she shared the dais with young Nayantara, who was introduced as an avid reader, one could count the number of kids attended the book release function. A few visitors to the store stayed back for the event. Many were from the media - newspapers and TVs. Some from the publishing house - Tulika Books
But where were the kids?

Perhaps busy preparing for the annual exams!

If extra curricular reading is encouraged in schools, such events should be announced in schools. Such events are to be on the notice board as events for kids.
At least such books should find a place in the school libraries. Reading is fun, if intrioduced the fun way.
Writing is much more fun. Wish a kid could write a review of this book!

Vintage car show at Anna University

The City Express - supplement to the New Indian Express, had something interesting for me - a vintage car rally from the Anna University to MIT Chromepet on Feb. 27

I had also read about the Auto Meet 2007 in the papers. So early in the morning, I biked to the Anna university.
It was nice to see the mechanical engineering students in uniforms. The student organisers were ooking at the few cars parked at the university campus.

The student co-ordinators were seen in a hurry. I thought, perhaps it was already time to ferry the cars to Guindy. But there were only four vintage cars. I was watching the university faculty advising the co-ordinators to call up someone for the cars to arrive at the plac early.

I asked one of the faculty members whether they were waiting for more vintage cars. He said they were on way to Anna University.

I was waiting patiently. After 15 minutes, all the students boarded the college bus. Two students took the bikes that were parked along with the vintage cars. The bikes appeared to have been remodelled ones. In a few minutes all of them left the place. And the four vintage cars followed them.

There were a few newspaper reporters covering the event. But not many public were seen around. I was disappointed. I could only capture these cars at the 'rally'!

This is what our colleges and universities fail to teach the students. The students of the university who organise the techfest Kurukshetra and claimed it to be bigger than IIT - Madras' Shaastra, could have very well organised a simple rally.
The amount of work that goes into publicity and media releases should reflect in a well-organised show. Instead it was taken very casually. There are always people like me who snatch the newspaper in the morning from the paper boy and rush to interesting events.

But, who cares?