Railway Claims Tribunal gets new member
According to officials, he belongs to the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) of 1988 batch. The RCT bench is a quasi-judicial institution established in 1989. Prior to the assignment, Reddy was additional member (traffic transportation), Railway Board. During his tenure as AM, he was instrumental in running of several special trains to Prayagraj from different parts of the country during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Earlier, he had worked in various capacities, including Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Chief Commercial Manager (passenger services) and Chief Freight Transportation Manager.
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Scroll.in
5 hours ago
- Scroll.in
‘Tiger Lessons': A compelling novel about the shared existence of humans and animals in the forests
'When a hundred lives are lying hungry in the backyard, how can I eat food here?' Gurappa questions his family when they ask him to eat his meal in peace without bothering about the sheep in the pen. Just like other shepherds in his village, Gurappa measures his own happiness by the merry bleatings of his sheep. The fact that he was unable to enjoy his meal while the animals starved was far-fetched for his family. It often earned him a look of disapproval from them. But it reveals Gurappa's character immediately, and along with it, the worldview of this unusual and striking novel. Konda Polam by Sannapureddy Venkatarami Reddy has been translated into English as Tiger Lessons by Narasimha Kumar from the Telugu. It explores the lives of shepherds, locally known as gollas while their village, situated at the foothills of the Nallamala forests in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, experiences the devastating consequences of famine. The novel captures the ordeals of the gollas during Konda Polam, a practice where shepherds take their flocks to graze deep inside the forests during famine. This period was particularly difficult for shepherds as food and water were scarce. They had to survive on rationed food of hard millet rotis, jaggery, pickles, onions, and rice. As if surviving on rationed food for weeks on end was not enough, the constant anxiety of not having enough water for themselves and their flock increased their hardship. The rustic idiom For someone like me who has lived their entire childhood immersed in nature, over time, I have developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. The dense and detailed description of pastoral life in Tiger Lessons can only be explained by Reddy's true understanding of the Nallamala region. He evocatively portrays the truth of such a life, the communities' resilience, and their ability to withstand environmental shocks while adapting to their new circumstances. Reddy's words have a magical way of climbing into the readers' hearts. I would like to especially mention the exquisite description of the fortitude of shepherds during Konda Polam. Tiger Lessons offers an honest perspective of everyday experiences and emotions of the golla, as well as yaanadi, and sugaali tribes who live in the Nallamala region. In fact, the translation of local Telugu idioms and proverbs adds a layer of richness to the story. It is these unique elements that make this novel a captivating read. The tribesmen's banter and witticisms signify how individuals and groups blend into social structures, systems, or networks, often with long-standing historical or cultural roots. Though a few aspects of the translation might appear unrefined to a sensitive reader, I believe that for a translator who wants to capture realities as they are, he chooses this route to convey unpleasant truths. In this novel, Kumar appears to have rejected an idealised translation style. 'Springs of the Eternal Soul', 'Mead of the Bald Oxen', 'Guy with Crooked Ears', 'Frolic Springs', and 'Pile of Bean Creepers' – the names of places awakened wistfulness in me for a time that is long bygone, and to a land into which I have never stepped into. However, when a novel narrates a life across several pages, its novelty wears off after a while. In Tiger Lessons, while this may be the case, the author introduces surprise elements to keep the story interesting. A disruptive moment comes when the gollas encounter tigers from whom they must defend themselves and their flock. There is another unusual scene featuring the courtship behaviours of a male and a female python. The male follows a trail of scent and mating calls left by the female, eventually copulating in the wilderness. It is impossible for a reader not to be struck by the skill and artistry woven into these descriptions, especially those of the animal kingdom. A hard, merciless world Tiger Lessons also draws attention to social injustices faced by the yaanadi tribe through the lens of true events, where, driven by greed, vested interests commit environmental crimes by exploiting natural resources. The tribe who ekes out living by fishing, hunting, and foraging – wild turmeric, hill pepper, jungle millets, medicinal herbs, and various edible roots get sucked into a world of crime. Reddy writes piercingly about the organised red sandalwood smugglers who thrive in the Nallamala forests. These smugglers cater to a lucrative black market by turning the poor yaanadis into scapegoats. A tribe that possesses only forest survival skills, therefore, becomes easy prey to law enforcement agencies. The realism is deepened by the fact that Reddy grew up only a few miles from the foothills of the Nallamala ranges. Tiger Lessons also reminded me of Man-Eaters of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger, and The Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag by Jim Corbett, not in the way that Corbett, a hunter, naturalist, and writer, tracked man-eating tigers and leopards, but more in terms of the writing style. Tiger Lessons encourages patience, persistence, and a deeper appreciation for natural rhythms. Readers will also be inspired to step away from a purely urban or technologically driven existence and reconnect with the natural world, fostering a greater understanding of ecological balance and sustainability. The characters in this book are multifaceted and sometimes they contradict their original personalities. Reddy has captured not just the misgivings of the human heart but also of the animal and plant kingdoms. A profound love for the natural world turns out to be a powerful catalyst for Ravi, the software engineer turned shepherd. After experiencing Konda Polam for the first time, Ravi is inspired to make life-altering decisions towards environmental activism and conservation work. As the translator, Kumar has strived to maintain Reddy's original intent and voice. He displays a strong linguistic and etymological knowledge of the lives he's written about. Tiger Lessons is a rare novel. It gives the reader lessons in various disciplines – geography, anthropology, biology, botany, economics, and agriculture. Not only does it create a richer and more personal experience but it also gives us a unique sensory experience that will be hard to forget long.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Farmers seek realignment of circular railway project to protect fertile lands
He said the alignment should be diverted from fertile farmland to nearby dry land, 2-3 km way. 'If there's a practical way to avoid damage to agricultural land, why not consider it? We request officials to make field visits. They may not be fully aware of the ground reality because decisions are often made using satellite maps,' he said. He pointed to the intersection of the circular railway project and Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project at Vaddarahalli. 'It will affect residential life with trains running in all directions causing noise pollution and other disruptions,' he said. Reddy noted that only 5-10% of the locality consists of fertile farmland. 'The remaining includes dry areas, Nilgiri plantations and others, which can be used for the project,' he said. Prashanth Kumar, another local farmer, said, 'There are already very few farmers and farmlands, and in that little land, why construct a railway track? I request that the alignment be made at least 100 metres away from my farmland where there is dry land and government-owned land. With the compensation money, we can't get another farmland anywhere,' he said
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Indian Express
Kolkata Metro Purple Line: Tunnelling work from Kidderpore to Park Street begins
Tunnelling work on Kolkata Metro's Purple Line from Kidderpore to Victoria began Thursday, with the launch of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named 'Divya'. Metro Railway officials said the machine will tunnel up to Victoria in the first phase, covering 1.7 km, and is expected to break through by May 2026. The entire underground stretch to Park Street is targeted for completion by the end of 2026. The launch shaft—measuring 37 metre in length, 22 metre in width, and 17 metre in depth—has been constructed within the premises of St Thomas' School, Khidderpore. Two TBMs, 'Durga' and 'Divya', are being deployed to construct the twin tunnels between Khidderpore and Park Street. Beyond Park Street, the final stretch up to Esplanade will be built using the cut-and-cover method. Durga's tunnelling was formally flagged off by Metro Railway General Manager Uday Kumar Reddy at the school premises, in the presence of the Consul General of Nepal and senior officials from Metro Railway, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the Defence Authority, CMRI Hospital, WBTC and St Thomas' School. 'It is a historic day for the people of Kolkata as the Tunnel Boring Machine has started off. It is a very important and joyous occasion for the city,' Reddy said. The Purple Line, also known as Line 3 of Kolkata Metro, is a 15.08-km corridor that will connect Joka in South Kolkata to Esplanade in the city centre, with a proposed extension to Diamond Park. A portion of the corridor, from Joka to Taratala, is already operational, while the extension to Majerhat has been completed. The line will intersect the Blue Line at Park Street and Esplanade, and the Green Line at Esplanade. It will include a mix of elevated and underground stations, serving locations such as Joka, Taratala, Majerhat, Mominpur, Khidderpore, Victoria, Park Street and Esplanade. Of the total stretch, eight stations are elevated and four are underground. The TBMs, each 95 metre long and weighing around 600 tonne, were assembled in Chennai and brought to Kolkata in March this year for final assembly and lowering. They are Earth Pressure Balancing (EPB) type machines, designed to tackle Kolkata's high groundwater table and soft soil conditions. Metro officials said the machines are equipped with inflatable seals, pressure transducers, Tail Skin Grease (TSG) lines and backup pumps to manage soil pressures. Precast concrete segments of M50 grade and 275 mm thickness are being used to create tunnels with a finished internal diameter of 5.8 metres. Construction firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is executing the 2.65-km underground section from Kidderpore to Park Street. The first TBM drive—from St Thomas' School to Victoria—is 1.7 km long. The second leg, from Victoria to Park Street, will cover 950 metre. The final underground station of the corridor is likely to be located near Eden Gardens' Gate No 1, adjacent to the Mohun Bagan football ground. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
