เฎšเฎฐเฎฟเฎคเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎฐเฎคเฏ เฎคเฏ‡เฎฐเฏเฎšเฏเฎšเฎฟ เฎ•เฏŠเฎณเฏ. Author. Passionate about History, Heritage and Temple architecture. Views are personal : https://xitter.cf/t.co/aMNuIu1lq0

Joined November 2009
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Pandit Ramachandra Kak is a legend we should all know. Unfortunately, pop history doesnโ€™t talk much about him. We should all read his first hand account of the tumultuous days of J&K. Smt Radha Rajanโ€™s Jammu & Kashmir Dilemma of Accession is a #MostRecommended #MustRead 2/2
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Today is J&K accession day. Hereโ€™s my attempt to profile three main actors about who we donโ€™t know much or have a lot of misconceptions. Please read and comment. thecommunemag.com/kashmirs-aโ€ฆ 1/2
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Honoured to have participated in the platinum jubilee celebrations of my alma mater, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Memories are fresh and I drew inspiration from the enthusiastic students and teachers. Wishing the college several more jubilee celebrations.
Smt @nsitharaman participated in the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. During the event, she inaugurated the Platinum Jubilee Exhibition, paid floral tributes to the founders and released the Platinum Jubilee Souvenir.
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As we wrapped up the 5th edition of the @GhatsLitFest, my heart filled with joy and pride. This year we had minister @sarbanandsonwal addressing us online and HE Thiru @rajendraarlekar, Governor of TN presiding over the valedictory session. We also had very interesting sessions by @sanjeevsanyal @ARanganathan72 @LtGenDPPandey @drrbalu @6amiji @abhijitmajumder @subbubooks @Sai_swaroopa M R Venkatesh, @tskrishnan, the princess of Travancore, Padmashri Gowri Lakshmi Bayee, @Ashwinsampathk @nandinisgTOI @anandasjayant and many others. Had a full house on both days. Look forward to the 6th Edition to be held on 6th and 7th of November, 2027 in Coimbatore. Watch this space! @jaggu916
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No Swayamsevak convicted in 1993 Chennai RSS HQ bomb blast case, where 9 killed. No Swayamsevak has been convicted or charged in 1997 Chennai train bombings, 9 killed, 70 injured. No Swayamsevak has been charged or convicted in 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case, 58 killed, 900+ injured. No Swayamsevak was charged in Kaliyakkavilai SSI Y. Wilson murder case in 2020. The suicide bomber who exploded near Sangameswarar Temple, Coimbatore, was not a Swayamsevak. None of the 5 life convicts who came recently out on a 60 days parole, is a Swayamsevak.
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Had a temple run and breakfast with @tskrishnan Anna . ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป
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It was a divine experience to be at Sri Kapalishwara Temple premises in Mylapore. Amidst the SEA of astikas, I was given the opportunity to render a discourse in Tamizh on Sri Rudram. I spoke about the kshetra mahatmya, and then delineated a few mantras (from Anuvakas 1, 3, 11) substantiating how Saivas and Vaishnavas interpret the same. My appeal was to understand the differences (for academic reasons) but work towards appreciating the common aspects between these two ancient paths, thereby serving under the larger umbrella of sanatana dharma for unity, peace and prosperity.
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#westernghatlitfest #WGLF2026 An amazingly informative talk by @tskrishnan at the 5th edition of @GhatsLitFest about โ€œInscriptions, History & Return of our heritageโ€ @ShefVaidya @jaggu916 Personally stunned by the โ€œIncome & Expenditure stmtโ€ in the Chola period
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Replying to @tskrishnan
@tskrishnan sir at Western ghats lit festival
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This data from Mythic Society is a great tool to combat the nonsense that is often posted on X, saying Karnataka was all "Jaina faith" and other faiths usurped it due to some "conspiracy". Since I can post only 4 images in one post, let's look at the data in the 4 images - corresponding to 4th, 6th, 8th & 10th centuries - Pre-Hoysala times. Here are the cumulative numbers, by what is indicated in the invocatory verses: 4th C - > 3 Shaiva, 1 Vaishnava, 1 Jaina 6th C -> 8 Shaiva , 7 Vaishnava, 2 Jaina 8th C -> 38 Shaiva, 24 Vaishnava, 39 Jaina 10th C -> 160 Shaiva, 57 Vaishnava, 140 Jaina So where is the "all Jaina" period in the history of Karnataka? Don't get me wrong. Jainas were part of the Karnataka population for a long time, but the area was NEVER EXCLUSIVELY Jaina, as it is made out to be by some handles here. How does it follow in later centuries? See the reply.
Karnataka's gods and faiths, on its stones, century by century. Nearly 8,000 dated inscriptions from every district of Karnataka, 4th to 19th century, and over 3,000 more not yet dated. Shiva is named most, then Vishnu, the Jinas and the Goddess. Watch them spread across the state in the video, and see the numbers in the flyer. Explore every stone: nakshe.mythicsociety.org #Karnataka #Inscriptions #History #Epigraphy #Nakshe #MythicSociety
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What does it take to build an empire that history continues to talk about more than a thousand years later? Raja Raja Chola I, born Arulmozhi Varman, was no ordinary conqueror. He transformed the Chola kingdom into one of the great powers of medieval India, extending its influence across southern India and into Sri Lanka. His campaigns helped establish a formidable imperial presence, while the Cholasโ€™ maritime ambitions connected their world to the wider Indian Ocean. But conquest was only one part of his story. Raja Raja strengthened administration, supported institutions and patronised art and culture. Inscriptions from his reign preserve extraordinary details of land grants, royal gifts, temple personnel and resources. These were more than declarations of royal glory; they offer a rare window into how an empire functioned and the people who sustained it. And then there is Thanjavurโ€™s magnificent Brihadisvara Temple. Consecrated around 1010 CE, this architectural marvel remains a testament to the ambition, engineering and artistic imagination of the Chola age. Its soaring vimana dominates the landscape, while its inscriptions preserve details of the people, gifts and institutions associated with the temple. Think about it: a thousand years later, we can still explore the workings of this world through records carved into stone. Raja Raja Chola I was a warrior, administrator, patron and empire-builder. His reign helped lay the foundations for the even wider overseas campaigns of his son, Rajendra Chola I, and left a legacy that continues to shape our understanding of South Indian history. On his birth anniversary, we pay tribute to this remarkable ruler whose achievements reached far beyond the battlefield. And if you wish to discover the empire, its rulers and the civilisation they shaped, we recommend The Cholas: Empire of the South by S. Krishnan (@tskrishnan), a fascinating, well-researched journey into one of India's most remarkable dynasties. ๐Ÿ“š Get your copy now: padhegaindia.in/product/the-โ€ฆ #BuyOriginal ๐Ÿ’ฎ #BuyFromPI
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On Rajaraja's birthday today, if you are interested in reading an accurate history of the great Chola Empire, do check this book by @tskrishnan sir. He is a Tamil scholar too, so, he doesn't have to rely on translation of primary sources - unlike other books on the market iykyk
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From BJPโ€™s Singham To CJPโ€™s Cheerleader: Annamalaiโ€™s Spectacular Fall @dharmic_indians writes on why @annamalai_k 's BJP baiting politics will take him nowhere thecommunemag.com/from-bjps-โ€ฆ
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Mr Annamalai, you have asked the Central Government several questions. Let us also examine the facts your post leaves out. The Modi government has a responsibility to maintain public order. It cannot suspend that responsibility whenever those facing action happen to oppose BJP Peaceful protest deserves protection. Alleged violations deserve examination. Neither political affiliation nor social-media popularity provides exemption from the law You served in the IPS. You know the distinction 1. On invoking Narendra Modiโ€™s statement from 2011 Modi criticised the crackdown at Ramlila Maidan in 2011. That statement is on record. But a quotation from 2011 cannot determine the legality of every police action in 2026 The present case involves allegations of entering a barricaded site and breaching previously furnished peace bonds. Address those allegations instead of presenting the entire episode as punishment merely for asking questions. Our position is consistent: citizens can oppose the government; authorities can enforce lawful restrictions. Disagreement with the first does not establish abuse of the second. 2. On Jantar Mantar: the dates matter Here is the reported chronology: โ€ข October 9: The Supreme Court discussed identifying suitable alternative protest sites with facilities. โ€ข October 11: The revised Delhi Police standing order was issued. โ€ข October 12: The change was announced; CJP says its representatives approached the police for permission that day. Three alternative venues were designated: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground. You suggest that the authorities changed the arrangement in response to CJPโ€™s application. How do you establish that when the reported order predates the application? The governmentโ€™s stated approach included providing alternative venues. That is a material fact when discussing whether the object was to regulate protests or extinguish them. You can challenge the location decision. But your preferred interpretation of its motive is not an established fact. 3. On Special Executive Magistrates Your post expresses alarm about a mechanism that existed long before the Modi government. Section 21 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, already provided for Special Executive Magistrates. This was not an institution invented overnight to handle CJP. If you seek reform, specify the reform. If you question an appointment, identify the legal defect. If you challenge an order, explain which provision was violated. But portraying an established legal mechanism as evidence of a uniquely sinister government conspiracy is no substitute for making that case. Your experience in uniform should bring precision to this discussion 4. On questioning and rejecting sureties You ask why proposed sureties were questioned, as though scrutiny itself establishes harassment Section 140 of the BNSS expressly permits rejection of an unfit surety, subject to procedural safeguards, including an inquiry and recorded reasons. Reporting on the October 19 order identifies concerns including an alleged mismatch with an identity-document photograph and another proposed suretyโ€™s inability to provide basic details about the person concerned Those reasons can be challenged. But the number of sureties offered does not establish that each was legally acceptable or that every rejection was arbitrary. Publish the orders. Address the reasons. Identify the procedural violation. โ€œEight suretiesโ€ is a headline. It is not, by itself, a legal argument. 5. On the magistrateโ€™s recusal You refer to a threat and a recusal, then ask whether this is a joke. Where is the recorded order? What precisely was stated? What evidence establishes your suggestion that the process was deliberately manipulated? A former police officer should understand the seriousness of a reported threat. If you believe it was used as a pretext, substantiate that accusation. The public deserves the record, not an invitation to assume the worst
In 2011, then Gujarat Chief Minister Thiru @narendramodi avl said that if his hands were not tied, he would have gone to Delhi and waged war against the central government. Thiru Narendra Modi avl made this statement in response to the police crackdown on the peaceful anti-corruption campaign led at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi. In my opinion, what the Hon PM said then was absolutely right, and there is nothing wrong about it. Today, you could be jailed indefinitely; your surety bonds could be rejected; and, surprisingly, a Special Executive Magistrate will play circles around you when he/ she is empowered to deal with preventive bond cases. If you question the violation of due process of law in a democracy, you would be called names, and a barrage of attacks would follow, including being labelled a Foreign Agent. Ever since I asked the Central Government to speak with the protestors during the NEET exam protests, I have faced constant attacks, but I let them pass because I felt it was important to focus on the issues on the ground in Tamil Nadu. I also, in a way, enjoyed this as it would quickly remove the tag of me being a BJP B Team and sent to TN as a Dhurandhar ๐Ÿ˜ Yesterday during a press meeting, I questioned the Delhi Policeโ€™s methods of detaining protestors of CJP. Since yesterday, the attacks have resumed, as expected. For some in the BJP, let me make this categorically clear, in case you have selective amnesia: I left the BJP on June 5, 2026. As I mentioned yesterday, I might not agree with the tactics of the CJP, and I think many of theirs are misguided. But if you ask me whether they have a right to oppose/argue/protest on an issue that they think is important? I would categorically say - YES. So, I would like people to ask the questions again, even if it makes some of them uncomfortable, and I wish the Central Government would answer them instead of resorting to whataboutism. 1.How was Jantar Mantar denotified as a protest site as per a standing order of the Ministry of Home Affairs after a letter was handed over by CJP seeking permission to conduct a protest? 2.How long can we have a system that gives powers to an Asst Commissioner of Police as a Special Executive Magistrate who rules over whether to keep someone in preventive detention? The ACP of Delhi Police stands over the trial where Delhi Police is the complainant against the accused CJP. Now you know which way the wind will blow. 3.On October 19th, why did the Special Executive Magistrate, aka ACP of Delhi Police, deliberately arrive late for the bail hearing of those who were arrested from Jantar Mantar on October 13th and recuse himself, saying there is a threat to his life? Is this some kind of a joke? 4.Why were 8 sureties rejected, and why was the person who came for surety subjected to cross-examination by the Special Executive Magistrate? 5. Any action taken on pellet gun usage by the Delhi police or other actions on Delhi police who have violated the standard operating procedures against the protesters during the NEET fiasco stir? Has no BJP karyakarta in Delhi violated any bond conditions during the previous Congress and AAP governments. I trust the same Delhi police were then also when barricades were jumped and orders disobeyed? How were they dealt with then? Like this? Definitely - NO. Now I hear that the detained functionaries of CJP were released by SEM after the case reached the High Court. I also recently saw a cockroach effigy burned as part of the Dusshera celebrations. Out of curiosity, I tried to find out who is giving this free publicity at a National level. No surprises here. It was led by a BJP MLA, Ashok Goel. My question again is: is the BJP opposing the CJP or giving it free publicity? Does it want the opposition votes to split by making CJP a bigger player? At this rate, the CJP couldnโ€™t have asked for a better PR team, even if it had paid for one! (1/2)
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Everyone thought he is a Hero! Turns out he is anโ€ฆโ€ฆ.. Good BJP threw him out
#BREAKING CJP gets unexpected support from former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, who has criticised Delhi Police over the arrests of its leaders Speaking in Coimbatore, Annamalai said he disagrees with some of CJP's protest methods but supports the questions they are raising, adding that the government must answer them He also made two other key points- On delimitation, he urged the Centre to ensure fairness for southern states and hold transparent consultations On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks, he welcomed the message that India belongs to all communities, including Muslims
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The GenZ that Dipke and Congress combine miscalculated!
A devoted son from Bihar is redefining faith in Kalyug Pure devotion When his mother fell ill he promised Lord Shiva heโ€™d run to all 12 Jyotirlingas if she recovered. Now that she is completely well he is running across India to fulfill his vow
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India, much against all the odds, is able to keep up the growth. In fact, we've been the fastest-growing in the last four or five years since COVID. So, it's a performance which is consistent with the kind of efforts that we're taking. Particular reasons for it I would think is being inclusive and making sure everyone has access to resources and access to skilling for the young and making sure that fiscal prudence is not lost in this. We are conscious that we have a responsibility with public money and therefore, have a very clear understanding that we can't be splurging money, even as we have to take care of those who are vulnerable in the economy. - Smt @nsitharaman in Bangkok, Thailand (1/n)
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Replying to @yadavakhilesh
Shri @yadavakhilesh ji, the UPA received support from your party starting from 2004. The UPA left banks in a pathetic condition. It is strange that you are talking about banks now and didnโ€™t question your allies, then! Your allies now in the INDI Alliance ruined public sector banks through 'phone banking' and 'crony capitalism.' During the tenure of the UPA governmentโ€”backed by your partyโ€”IDBI Bank itself extended loans to individuals from whom recovering both the principal and the interest is the effort we are undertaking. It is our NDA government under PM @narendramodi that revitalized the entire banking system, including IDBI Bank, through transparent policies and the infusion of capital. Now that the banks are in a strong position, you are feigning sympathy?
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Posting short videos of bird activities on this channel, do follow if you like the videos. youtube.com/@ethirajansrinivโ€ฆ
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India is one cultural continuum and thanks to Thiru. @tskrishnan avl for pointing it out!
The Tirupati Brahmotsavam, which is happening now, is a remarkable example of an unbroken cultural and religious tradition spanning more than a millennium! An inscription on the northern wall of the first prakara of the Tirumala temple provides fascinating evidence of the antiquity of this grand festival. Dating to the reign of the Chola emperor Sundara Chola in the 10th century CE, the inscription records that Sฤmavai, the queen of the Pallava chieftain, commissioned a silver Vigraha of Perumal, consecrated the Murthy and made endowments for the processions and sacred offerings during the Purattasi Thirunal, the Brahmotsavam of Perumal. What makes this inscription particularly significant is that it records not merely the worship of the deity, but the celebration of an organised temple festival, complete with processions, offerings and dedicated endowments, more than 1,000 years ago. The Brahmotsavam that draws lakhs of devotees to Tirumala today thus belongs to a living tradition whose antiquity is firmly attested by inscriptions of the 10th century.
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