TN CM seeks ‘air transport bubble’ agreements with Singapore, Malaysia
The Hindu
In a letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Stalin said Tamils were facing difficulties due to the non-availability of direct flights to these countries
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to the Union Civil Aviation Minister on Thursday, to enter into an agreement with Singapore and Malaysia to provide ‘air transport bubbles’ to resolve the difficulties faced by the Tamil diaspora in these countries.
In his letter, Mr. Stalin said that Tamils, who are permanent residents of Singapore and Malaysia, who made their trip to India during the pandemic were facing hardships for their return journey due to non-availability of direct flight services. Also, people from Tamil Nadu were also finding it tough to travel these countries.
Hampi, the UNESCO-recognised historical site, was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire from 1336 to 1565. Foreign travellers from Persia, Europe and other parts of the world have chronicled the wealth of the place and the unique cultural mores of this kingdom built on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. There are fine descriptions to be found of its temples, farms, markets and trading links, remnants of which one can see in the ruins now. The Literature, architecture of this era continue inspire awe.
Unfurling the zine handed to us at the start of the walk, we use brightly-coloured markers to draw squiggly cables across the page, starting from a sepia-toned vintage photograph of the telegraph office. Iz, who goes by the pronouns they/them, explains, “This building is still standing, though it shut down in 2013,” they say, pointing out that telegraphy, which started in Bengaluru in 1854, was an instrument of colonial power and control. “The British colonised lands via telegraph cables, something known as the All Red Line.”
The festival in Bengaluru is happening at various locations, including ATREE in Jakkur, Bangalore Creative Circus in Yeshwantpur, Courtyard Koota in Kengeri, and Medai the Stage in Koramangala. The festival will also take place in various cities across Karnataka including Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru.