From merchant to Tirukkural scholar

“Chettiar had deep knowledge in various fields and his usage of words connected with various trades leaves one awe-struck. He was also well-versed in Sanskrit literature and quoted appropriately from the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Manusmrit

Going, going, dong: why bell tolls for traditional Angelus

In medieval times they rang out to ward off the attacks of evil spirits, storms, and especially, hail, which could devastate crops in the fields in a grim period when the loss of a crop could condemn a population to harrowing famine and death.

Ties that bind brotherly nations

Though formal diplomatic relations between the two nations began in 1961, trade links could be traced back to the Malacca sultanate of the 15th century, when the spread of Islam in the region flourished in tandem with the reach of Arab merchant