Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 38 ℃ | Low: 28 ℃ | Mostly sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The abandoned airstrip at Sholavaram, on the outskirts of Madras, was turned into a racing track that supported the sport from the 1960s to the 1980s.
📚 Historic publisher
Tara Books completes 30 years as a historic city-based publisher.
What’s it about? In a quiet residential area, Tara Books’ office has been pushing the boundaries of children’s literature for decades. The ground floor has a wide range of books. The idea grew out of conversations and a search for interesting stories, which became Tara Books in 1994.
- Tara Books’ editorial director, Gita Wolf and author and co-founder V Geetha were part of a feminist women’s group in Chennai that would meet and discuss books and ideas.
- The publishing house was among the first to publish tales from India, like Speaking to an Elephant. It endeavours to publish folktales and help children learn languages. In the early 2000s, Tara Books brought in indigenous artists for their work.
Assembling books: At the company’s unit in Perungudi, 12 workers use screen printers, handmade paper, and dyes to produce several unique children’s books.
📷 Fisherwomen turn photographers
A new exhibition chronicles the lives of fishing communities captured by women who live it.
What’s it about? The “Chronicle of the Tides” exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi captures the stories of migration, fishing, and the climate. It includes photographs taken by women in the fishing communities of Odisha and Nagapattinam with help from the NGO Sneha, the Pari Network, and the Dakshin Foundation.
- Palanikumar, who trains people interested in photography at his Palani Studio, wanted to create a space for the fisherwomen to tell their stories.
- The photos also tell a story of migration. In Nagapattinam, people from the community migrate to Kerala. From Odisha, they move to Gujarat.
Breaking stereotypes and barriers: In many of these communities, women aren’t allowed to take up photography as a profession or hobby. They’re often mocked and are subject to the male gaze. The project is a way for these women to showcase their community, lives, and livelihood to the world.
🏃♀️ Diagnosing sports injuries
Researchers at IIT Madras have developed a portable Point-of-Care-Ultrasound (POCUS) Scanner for sports injuries.
What’s it about? Researchers from the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) at IIT Madras have developed this POCUS scanner to help diagnose sports injuries. They’ve already been granted several patents and are working towards its production. It could help immediately detect injuries on the field and help coaches decide whether the person can continue playing.
- The scanner is AI-powered and has several sports medicine applications. It’s also considered safe since there’s no radiation.
- There’s already a working prototype for Musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging developed at the Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging Lab (BUSi).
Necessity: For elite athletes, there was a technological gap and a necessity for a point-of-care device for injury detection and management. The inputs from the scanner will be fed into an AI platform for holistic athlete management.
🏎️ A new karting track
The Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA) will soon be inaugurated by Formula 1 legend Mika Hakkinen.
What’s it about? The track is located adjoining the start-finish straight at the Madras International Circuit (MIC). The inauguration on September 19 will also be attended by India’s former F1 drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
- The 1.2km long track has been in development for almost a year. It’s designed by UK-based Driven International with Karun Chandok as an advisor.
- The track has fast straights, flowing and challenging corners and is certified to host World Championship events. The facility has spacious garages, a control room, and a lounge.
Racing ambitions: Once the MIKA becomes operational, it will boost MIC’s status, which already enjoys the FIA’s Grade 2 certification. The karting track is an extension of the Madras Motor Sports Club’s ambitions to convert MIC into a multi-discipline motorsport facility.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you use your smartphone camera often?
- I use my smartphone camera often.
- I don’t use my smartphone camera often.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which food item or dish best represents Chennai?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Vivanta IT Expressway has launched the Muse Pad as an open mic platform for budding talent.
- The Bidari Ettiyamman temple allowed Dalits to enter after 12 years following intervention by the collector.
- The Chennai Metro Rail undertook and completed the restoration of five vents of Okkiyam Maduvu.
- The Bhava Bhavanam event from September 21 to 25 will showcase expressions of Kathakali.
- Details and timeline of the proposed second greenfield at Parandur.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have bought a painting: 41.7%
- I haven’t bought a painting: 58.3% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which local spots would you recommend to someone new in town?
Suchi: “Marina beach”
Shiva: “Beach”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!