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Time of India
14 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Pennington Library: A 150-Year-Old Treasure for Rural Readers in Tamil Nadu Faces Uncertain Future
The 150year-old Pennington Library in Srivilliputtur — home to more than 80,000 books, haven to over 3,500 rural readers — is now on shaky ground amid govt plans to relocate the market that sustains it. Photo by K Antony Xavier Beyond the famed gopuram of Srivilliputtur's Andal temple in Virudhunagar (a symbol featured in the state govt emblem) and its iconic GI-tagged palkova lies a library, little known to the rest of Tamil Nadu , but one that has long nurtured local readers. Established in 1875, the Pennington Public Library marks its 150th anniversary this year. Tucked away in a narrow bylane of Library Street, its facade is covered by trees, under which readers, mostly women, eat their lunch. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai 'This library gives me the calm and resources I can't find at home,' says Akshaya, who travels from Kallupatti, an hour away, to prepare for the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission exams. Many like her flock to the library from rural pockets of Sivakasi, Rajapalayam and beyond. India has a long history of public libraries, the earliest ones established by the British in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. Among them are the Madras Literary Society, established in 1818, and the Connemara Library, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2020. Founded in 1890, it was opened to the public in 1896. Pennington Public Library is the state's oldest 'private' public library. The 1860 Societies Registration Act gave people the right to form associations and participate in local governance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo In 1875, public-spirited citizens — A Ramachandra Rao, T Ramasamy Iyer, T Krishna Rao, Muthu Iyengar, T Saravana Muthu Pillai and P Muthusami Pillai — used this provision to set up a library with the support of Tirunelveli collector J B Pennington (1880-1883). Over time, the founding group became known as the Pennington Committee. 'Pennington helped identify land and do the construction. That's why the founders named the library after him,' says V Muthu Battar, the committee's vice-president. To honour Pennington's legacy, the Virudhunagar collector continues to serve as an ex-officio committee member. Today, the committee has 12 members. To ensure financial independence, Pennington also acquired land near the library and developed it into a market complex. Today, the Pennington Market, which houses 150 shops on both sides of Rajaji Road, supports the library. With more than 80,000 books and 190 periodicals, it is accessed by about 400 people every day. It has more than 3,500 members. It also has a separate section for children. All nine employees here are women. About ₹2 lakh is allocated annually to buy books (usually from the Chennai Book Fair). 'It is one of the few libraries in the state that has state gazettes published from 1953,' says librarian R Jeya Kiruba. To preserve its books, the library makes its own herbal powder, a mix of pepper and clove, to keep insects away. Personalities who visited the library include former President A P J Abdul Kalam . The library played a vital role in the formative years of Kariamanikkam Srinivasa Krishnan, co-discoverer of the Raman Effect (which won his mentor C V Raman the Nobel Prize in 1930). However, recent developments around the market have cast a shadow on the library's future. The market complex, near Srivilliputtur bus stand, has been earmarked for relocation by the municipality to ease traffic congestion. The district administration plans a rent hike, eviction of defaulters and demolition of 'dilapidated' structures in the market. Committee members say they have got a stay order from the Madras high court. This is not the library's first legal hurdle. Over the years, many tenants have defaulted on their rent, resulting in several civil suits, some of which are still pending. In 2009, the municipal department demanded 15% of the market's gross rental income. The committee sought a waiver, stating that the funds were used in the public interest. In 2017, the Madurai bench of Madras HC ruled in the library's favour. Besides maintaining the library, the Pennington committee also runs Pennington Public School for classes I to V, says Muthu Battar. 'We have plans to open an IAS academy and to digitize the collection of books.' Even after 150 years, the committee has yet to find a photograph of Pennington, the man whose name the library bears. 'Pennington appears to have shunned publicity. We tried to trace his descendants in England but found nothing,' says Battar. 'Even if a library is privately owned, if it is open to all, it is a public library. The govt should not interfere with a self-sustaining institution that is serving the people,' says writer and library activist Ariaravelan. 'A library, after all, is defined by its access, not ownership.' Email your feedback with name and address to Pennington, the people's collector J B Pennington served as Tirunelveli collector for three terms: first, between Oct 6, 1868, and Oct 20, 1868; second, between May 25, 1877, and March 17, 1880; and third, between June 18, 1880, and June 28, 1883. Besides the library, Pennington also showed a great interest in launching St John's Orphanage in 1878, which is now in Tuticorin. During his period, the British proposed building reservoirs at Srivaikuntam and the Papanasam lower hills to control floods in the Tamirabharani River. 'Penningon proposed increasing the capacity of the existing tanks and constructing new tanks for protecting the valley from drought,' writes Arivalagan Murugeshapandian, assistant professor, department of folklore, St Xavier's College, Tirunelveli, in his book 'Signs of Water'. In the 1881 Proceedings of the Madras govt, Pennington said, 'The district had the extraordinary enterprise of the people: only provide water and the people will do all the rest. There is no fear of them declining it or failing to utilise every drop.' In 1904, he called for an end to the salt tax imposed by the British, after demonstrating a possible link between salt deficiency and plague. He said the monopoly deprived people of a valuable industry, led to the destruction of naturally abundant resources, and resulted in excessive taxation on a vital necessity. Tamil Nadu's oldest public libraries Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur – (established 16th century) Built by Thanjavur Nayak kings, it has more than 60,000 palm leaf manuscripts Govt Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Centre, Chennai (1869) – it has more than 50,000 palm leaf manuscripts and 20,000 paper manuscripts Goschen Library, Chennai (1926) – Once a public hall set up by Sri Vijayaraghavulu Chetty, it is one of the earliest private public libraries in Chennai
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Apartment Ownership Act: The Future of Urban Living
Bhubaneswar: Earlier this year on May 18, residents of a real estate project in Bhubaneswar organised a silent protest, demanding handing over of the common areas to the association of allottees, a must under the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023. "The common areas have been specified in our project, which, according to the Act, belong to us and should be utilised by us. The builder, instead of handing over the areas, is using the space to construct roads to its other adjacent projects," Ajit Kumar Choudhary, president of the association of allottees, had said. Having been deprived of the common areas for a long time, the association later approached the court against the builder and got a stay order, which means that the builder cannot undertake any kind of construction in the common area. This was made possible all thanks to the Apartment Ownership Act which has significantly shifted the power dynamics between developers and homebuyers. "Without the regulations in place, we couldn't have challenged the developer. The Act gave us the upper hand and we secured a favourable decree from Orissa high court later in our case," Choudhary added. Introduced two years ago with the objective of clearly defining ownership rights of homebuyers in apartment buildings and establishing guidelines for the use of common areas and facilities, the Act's implementation took time owing to complications in apartment sale deed registrations and other factors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo But ever since its implementation, the Act has brought unprecedented changes in how apartments are managed, owned and regulated. "The Act has several provisions which empower the homebuyers, who are now challenging the developers for their rights," real estate expert Bimalendu Pradhan, who, along with other activists, played a key role in raising awareness about the legislation, said. One of the most significant achievements of the Act was breaking the two-and-a-half-year-long deadlock in apartment sale deed registrations. The breakthrough came last April with the registration of the first association of allottees, leading to partial resumption of sale deed registrations in June 2024. This development was particularly crucial as the high court had previously mandated that registrations could only proceed when the apartments possessed all necessary legal documentation, including occupancy certificates, environmental clearances and fire safety certificates. The new registration process for the association of allottees under the Apartment Ownership Act, rather than the Societies Registration Act, 1860, ensures comprehensive compliance with all legal requirements. The Act's success is reflected in the numbers. Data from BDA, which is the competent authority in the capital city under the Act to issue certificates for registration of apartment owners' associations, revealed that out of 519 applications received for registration of allottees' associations in the past two years, 419 have been approved. As many as 70 of these approved applications have received declarations from the developers, establishing them as registered associations under the Act. BDA has further strengthened the Act's implementation through landmark orders recently. One significant directive empowers the allottee associations to discontinue essential services of occupants defaulting on maintenance fees. "We now have clear rules to deal with residents who enjoy facilities but refuse to pay maintenance fees," Santosh Acharya, president of a prominent housing society in Bomikhal, said. The state govt also continues to support the Act's implementation. Revenue minister Suresh Pujari has confirmed ongoing efforts to streamline apartment and part plot registration processes, while housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra highlighted a Feb 2025 notification for the Act that further clarified resale procedures. Issues, however, remain for registering the older apartments under the Act since many of them do not have documents like occupancy certificate, fire safety certificate and others. "The govt with the Feb (2025) notification (which notified the rules of the Act) should have brought a method of regularising these apartments," Pradhan said. As the Act continues to evolve and shape Odisha's real estate sector, it stands as a testament to effective policy-making that balances the interests of all stakeholders while ensuring efficient property management.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘People who killed 13 in 1993 cannot block rally'
Kolkata: Trinamool counsel Biswaroop Bhattacharyya on Friday questioned the All India Lawyers' Union's stand against holding the July 21 Martyrs' Day rally in front of Victoria House at Calcutta High Court. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He asked what right they had to seek the stalling of 'Shahid Diwas' when it was under 'their' govt that the 13 martyrs breathed their last. While questioning the 'locus' of the union, which moved the petition on traffic congestion before the court, the Trinamool counsel submitted photographs from the organisation's social media page to show that it was jointly working with CITU, AIKS, and AIAWU. Attention was also drawn to Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, a senior advocate and MP, being the union president, and photographs showed one of the speakers of the programme at Thiruvananthapuram being Brinda Karat, an ex-MP from the particular political party. "The documents and their page reveal that they have some affiliation or alliance to a political front, and that political front is accused. They were in the govt when these certain martyrs breathed their last. The govt in power at that time, their police and administration, played some role in the killings of these people," Bhattacharyya submitted. However, the organisation's counsel, Shamim Ahmed, refuted the claims made by Bhattacharyya and told TOI, "He is absolutely wrong. It is formed by progressive lawyers and is a registered body under the Societies Registration Act. It (Biswaroop's argument) has nothing to do with reality." The Advocate General, Kishore Datta, representing the state, also questioned the stand of the organisation in filing a writ petition.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi cabinet clears proposal to set up State AYUSH Society
The Delhi cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to establish the Delhi State AYUSH Society (DSAS) under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) — a move aimed at strengthening the presence of traditional systems of medicine in the capital's public healthcare network. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chairs a cabinet meeting, in New Delhi. (PTI) Officials said the proposal has been sent to lieutenant governor VK Saxena for final approval. Once cleared, the society will be formally registered and operationalised as a nodal agency to manage all AYUSH-related activities in the city. The society will be created under the Societies Registration Act and will be tasked with coordinating, implementing, and monitoring projects across Delhi in line with NAM's objectives — which include the integration of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homeopathy into mainstream healthcare. 'By forming this society, we will be able to streamline AYUSH services in the capital and access more support under the central scheme,' a senior official said. The National AYUSH Mission, launched by the Centre in 2014, is designed to promote traditional systems of medicine through dedicated wellness centres, awareness campaigns, and integration with existing government health facilities. One of its key goals is to give people more treatment choices by offering AYUSH services alongside conventional medicine at primary health centres, community health centres, and district hospitals. NAM is funded through a centrally sponsored scheme, with the Centre covering 60% of the cost and the state contributing the rest. The funds can be used for infrastructure upgrades, medicine procurement, training, and outreach activities. Several states — including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh — have already set up their own AYUSH societies to implement the mission on the ground. Delhi currently has four AYUSH hospitals: the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College & Hospital in Karol Bagh, Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital in Defence Colony, Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan in Dabur Khera, and BR Sur Homoeopathic Hospital in Nanakpura. Officials said the new society will allow for better coordination among these institutions and more efficient use of resources, while also helping the capital tap into funding and infrastructure offered under the national mission.
The Print
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
Umakant Dash named new VC of Pune's Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
The position of Vice-Chancellor of GIPE had been lying vacant since economist Ajit Ranade's resignation from the post in November 2024. Dr Shankar Das is currently holding the interim post of VC at the institute. Dash will assume office for a term of five years effective from July 29, 2025, the institute said in a release. Pune, Jul 4 (PTI) Academician Dr Umakant Dash has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), the institute said on Friday. The GIP was established in 1930 by the Servants of India Society, a body founded by freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905. The 95-year-old institute has been in the eye of the storm for the last few months. It saw dramatic developments over the chancellor's post as well as the arrest of a functionary for alleged misappropriation of funds. According to GIPE website, it is the oldest research and training institute in economics in the country. The institute is dedicated to research into the socio-economic dimensions of Indian society and carries forward the legacy of Gokhale. Over the decades, the institute has established strong credentials in empirical and analytical research, said the website. The institute, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, was awarded the status of deemed to be a university in 1993. PTI SPK RSY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
