Read

The timeless living craft of India- Pottery

 

Nestled inside the suburbs of Tambaram, Thiruneermalai is a sleepy town prominently known for the famous Ranganathar Temple, located on top of a listed Mesolithic site recognized by the government of Tamil Nadu. Little known is the fact that the town is reviving one of the oldest art forms, pottery, considered the first invention of humanity. The hillock is about 10 minutes away from Tambaram even though buses seldom ply. Thriving communities surrounding the temple are a common sight in any part of the world since places of worship acted as a harbinger of economic change throughout human history. Walking towards the famous temple led me to the place of the much-admired art.

The fragrance that emanates when a pound of clay is mixed with water filled the air and heaps of burnt pots were found near the entrance. A pan-generational family of 8 people welcomed me with an innocent smile. “Vanga, Vanga” (Welcome), in chorus/ in a single voice.

The eldest of the family introduced himself as Muthu, an octogenarian who is involved in pottery for more than four decades. “My day starts even before the sun is up, that is, around 4.00 a.m., and I make pots till 9.00 a.m. The work gets started after collecting the sand that lies on the roadside. The sand is sieved until soft and the powdery dust is mixed well with the clay. The two ingredients are measured depending on the article we make. For instance, to make a small pot, finely powdered sand is added more. I see people toiling day in and day out to lose weight and maintain their bodies but our work gives us good health,” said Vinoth, son of the octogenarian.

After meticulously shaping the clay, the pot has to be dried completely. The dried pot is then fired with heaps of dry straw. If the composition of the firing materials goes wrong or the quality is below par, the object cracks and sometimes crushes completely with a touch. “Once the pots are fired, we give red soil coating and paint it with bright colors which are usually done by the women folks in our family,” said Mani, a third-generational potter.

“I was invited by the Government Fine Arts College, Chennai, for a demo and a lecture. I denied it because I feel that the actual purpose of the art has transformed totally to a different dimension. It cannot be learned through formal education. Everything has become a business now. Though we are into the art for four generations, I don’t expect my grandchildren to be on the same line, given its present state,” said Muthu.

“The future of the art lies in the availability of the clay and soil. We almost spent Rs 15,000 to get the clay before Ganesh Chathurthi. The cost is almost five times the usual spend. The biggest threat to the art is changing weather patterns. We usually will not work in the month of December and January owing to the rains, but now we are not able to predict the weather change,” added he.

Climate change is making the lives of these people unpredictable. The advancement of science has given us refrigerators to drink cold water instantly, and chemicals to create beautiful artificial dolls that have replaced the traditionally created toy models made of clay and soil. This has created a big impact on the traditional industry which is thriving to identify itself in the fast-moving world.

A modern touch to a traditional art form is expected to be a silver lining for this community, such an impetus to this art form is social media. The pictures and videos have a great visual appeal to it and the traditional art form has gained fame through such activities. Amateurs are increasingly getting involved in handicrafts all over the world, leading to the boom of such activities from one-off sessions at IT parks to lifelong learning by conducting workshops. The sessions help them to slow down their pace and make time for themselves.

Handling the wet damp clay is proving to be effective to calm the mind. There is a set of procedures that must be followed, it is a slow process and unlike in the digital world, there is no undo button here. There are always unpredictable organic effects that discourage total control over the process. It is perhaps no surprise that the art form is booming. The challenging times due to Covid19 have taught humanity the importance of mindfulness, mental health, and patience and pottery has become more of a hobby and an antidote to the digital world.

Read | Stories

TAFE’s Diwali

 

Diwali is all about buying new things, cleaning the house and exchanging gifts with loved ones, the best of times for people all over the world. TAFE made this Diwali, a memorable occasion for all the employees with many initiatives and energetic team celebrations.

The Diwali celebration kicked off with our teams in ethnic dress codes, street stalls, and delicacies from different regions of India. The HR team added a festive look to the office with floral decorations and colourful diyas. Several fun activities were organized which included Diya decoration, dart games, and other interesting events to capture and exhibit creativity.

A sense of joy and team spirit lit up the occasion but the best part about this little celebration is that it made all of us a part of a bigger family. Cheers to the HR team for making this Diwali so special.

How did you celebrate this Diwali?

Send your story to news@tafecafe.com and stand a chance to win amazing gifts from TAFE TRIBE.

Read

Tractor Ki Pathshala

 

Industrial training provides exposure to the real working environment and TAFE’s three-day PTC training helped me to understand the tractor industry better. The session was an interactive learning experience with a combination of field and classroom training.

Before the session, I thought that the tractors were made for a single purpose, applicable only to farming. Little did I know of its significance in agriculture and commercial activities like loading and haulage. The training program helped me to understand more about tractors and implements, their application in commercial and agricultural fields, and how the tractor and its variants (HP-wise) are chosen as per the soil conditions.

On day two, the instructor displayed a cut section of the tractor and demonstrated how every part of the tractor works seamlessly to power the engine. This session taught me the functions of the engine, PTO, RPM, tractor torque, and other important features.

The final day of my training was the most memorable. I took the tractor for a spin with the help of a trained operator, guiding me through every step of the way. After three days of learning, I understood that tractors are truly a powerhouse on wheels and I take pride to work in an industry that is changing the way of farming in our country.

Read | Perspective

Celebrate this Festive Season with Massey Ferguson

Over 1000 Massey Ferguson dealerships and touchpoints across the country are celebrating the festive season with unmatched offers, schemes and benefits for the customers, alongside the promise of best-in-class service support through the Massey Service Utsav, even in the remotest of locations nationwide.

The best time to buy a Massey Ferguson tractor is now! India’s most loved and premium tractor brand from TAFE – Massey Ferguson, has consistently been the preferred choice of lakhs of farmers and tractor users across India. With its superior technology, unbeatable performance and unmatched versatility, the MF range is renowned for its high build quality, great fuel efficiency, easy maintenance, high resale value, modern styling, and above all – its extremely high durability!

15
From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, thousands of customers are choosing Massey Ferguson tractors as their partner in progress. The sowing of Rabi crops and the harvest of Kharif crops peak in the months of October and November across India, creating a high demand for agricultural tractors and equipment. Seamless deliveries by our dealerships are helping farmers gear up for the cropping season and reap the reward of their hard work with bumper harvests.
Wait no more! Visit your nearest TAFE – Massey Ferguson dealerships or call the Massey Helpline: 1800 4200 200, to get expert advice on choosing the perfect MF tractors for your farming, haulage and commercial needs. Check out the Massey Ferguson India website to know more Now! MasseyFergusonIndia.com

Read | Perspective

Journey into the world of tractors – PTC training experience

Our three-day journey into the world of TAFE started in a vast area filled with mango trees, fields and muddy footpaths. There was so much greenery that it would probably hurt your eyes if you live in a concrete jungle. With gigantic wheels and an elephantine look, tractors are vehicles that none can miss while driving on roads or crossing through fields. I always wondered what it did, except the general idea that it is used in agricultural fields and could haul heavy weights. We were a group of six people, filled with curiosity and excitement, trying our best to figure out what learnings the training held for us. At the Kelambakam property, I witnessed one of the finest state-of-the-art training centres. There were different implements and tractor models on display, taking us to the bygone times of the 1960s. One may wonder how a rugged tractor training can happen in such a beautiful place.

Day one started with the introduction to what a tractor is, the types and different models of tractors, and various tractor applications across various fields. Little did I know that it can pull boats, power a village as a generator, haul extreme weights, act as a dozer, and much more. We also learned about the tractor starting procedures and tractor testing procedures. Our key takeaway was that every tractor is a powerhouse on wheels.

Day two was filled with technical aspects of an engine and how the power is distributed to the wheels and implements. Although mechanics is not our forte, the practical explanation by our trainers with working models made us understand the mechanics behind tractors. Each one of us felt like an engineer at the end of the session.

The final day of the training was the most memorable for us. Every single trainee was taught to drive a tractor. Our trainer, Mr.Ponpandian guided us throughout the session with all safety measures and precautions. The technical knowledge that we gained during the initial days of training helped us drive the tractor around. We were also taken around the JFarm, an adaptive research facility where we witnessed various soil and water conservation techniques and the latest farming technologies. The pride that every single trainee felt was mutual when we successfully completed day three.

The training at TAFE’s centre taught me much about the multiple functions of a tractor and the working of farm implements. The main purpose of any industrial training is to understand the working of a product and its usage. The on-hand practical experience helped us connect with the product regardless of our area of expertise.

Each one of us realized that industrial training acts as a link between theory and the real working environment. I realized how farm mechanization helps in the growth of a society, its people, and the economy. I take pride to work in an industry that directly connects with the backbone of the country, the farmers, who make life on land possible through agriculture.

Journey of Shakthi Priya

Legal Department

Read | Perspective

Beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency and 5 things to know before investing in them

The first act of “purchasing” between humans dates back hundreds of years to what historians refer to as the barter system. One person exchanges a good to obtain something of significant value from a second person; this was how transactions happened in the early days. There was no concept of currency and the barter system reigned supreme. The history of bartering dates back to 6000 BC. Introduced by Mesopotamian tribes, bartering was adopted by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians bartered goods to those located in various other cities across oceans.

Years passed and humanity grew more complex with each passing day. And with the emergence of complexity and majorly diversified needs, the concept of currency was born. And the rest, as they say, is history.

From coins made of gold and silver, all the way to crisp green banknotes, humanity has come a long way since the curtains closed on the barter system. So much so that there is a new type of currency now, a kind which you cannot even hold!

Unless you were living under a moss-covered boulder, cryptocurrency is a term that would have made its way to you, even if you didn’t go looking for it. What is it exactly? It may sound complicated but isn’t when broken down. Cryptocurrencies are digital assets— that can be used as investments and for online purchases. It is secured by cryptography and with the help of the blockchain infrastructure, it’s nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Furthermore, each coin of cryptocurrency consists of a unique line of program or code. This means that it can’t be copied, which makes them easy to track and identify as they’re traded.

As mentioned before, cryptocurrency doesn’t exist and is not something you can keep in your wallet and hope to spend. Well, not in your physical wallet at least. Yes, there are e-wallets now too. And soon, we will all be in the Metaverse, but that’s a topic for another day! Coming back to the intangible currency, certain aspects of the currency are extremely important to know and comprehend. Firstly, they are not backed by a central authority such as a government. Instead, they run across a chain of computers. It is exchanged from peer-to-peer on the web without a middleman. Furthermore, cryptocurrency is a decentralized form of currency, meaning no government or bank manages how they’re made, what their value is, or how they will be exchanged. All crypto transactions are secured by cryptography which only allows the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its contents and take further actions. These cryptocurrencies can be stored in a digital wallet, which would enable its user to access them anywhere and at any time. The wallet can be accessed by a private key found with the user, which is essentially the crypto equivalent of a super-secure password— without which the crypto owner cannot access the currency. Also, cryptos are stored on the blockchain,  and the private key is required to authorize transfers of those coins to another person’s wallet.

There is a myriad of cryptocurrencies on the planet such as the more popular Bitcoin,  Litecoin, Polkadot, Chainlink, Mooncoin, Shiba Inu, Dogecoin, etc.  Currently, more than 6,000 coins exist, as per CoinMarket.

When it comes to purchasing crypto coins, it is similar to the stock market with the existence of exchanges and brokers who act as facilitators. These exchanges often charge a fee or commission for each transaction. There is a multitude of exchanges out there, with each different from the other, and offer their discounts, awards, and even signing on bonuses to attract more and more crypto coin buyers. Some of the top crypto exchanges in India are — WazirX, CoinDCX, Coinswitch Kuber, and Unocoin—users have to sign up with their KYC credentials, download the app, and buy cryptocurrency. These exchanges also help you to monitor the value of cryptocurrency and buy or sell it.

With all the basic information out of the way, let us focus on the main factors to be considered before actually investing in cryptocurrencies:

  1. Do THOROUGH research before buying cryptos

Just as is with any kind of investment, buying cryptos comes with its caveat. And with the upsides, some pitfalls accompany them. One must be fully aware of what they are getting into, before investing.  Don’t go off what the social media “experts” say.  This is true for pretty much everything on the internet but is especially important when it comes to cryptocurrency since it lives solely in the digital space and millions share their opinions on the same daily. Consider all this as just noise and focus on what exactly you want to do with cryptocurrencies.

  1. Cryptos are risky

The thought of getting rich quickly with cryptos is enticing, to say the least, but this market is extremely, EXTREMELY volatile and there is the ever-present danger of losing all your money overnight. Non-professional investors should only invest an amount they’re willing to lose.

  1. Cryptos may fail

Just as in any market out there, cryptos are also susceptible to unforeseen failure. Given the dynamic nature of it, the chance of failure is almost skewed towards failure. With thousands of entrants in the market, and new offerings emerging, not all will last. It is always wise to invest in the more popular form of cryptos such as Bitcoin since they are relatively more stable and profitable compared to overnight sensations. A good example of crypto crashing overnight is when Elon Musk Tweeted that he does not own any amount of the SHIB cryptocurrency. The same, which had overtaken DOGE coin previously, crashed seemingly minutes after his Tweet went live and witnessed a 20% retracement in just two hours after Tesla chief Elon Musk’s announcement. A simple Tweet is all it took for the crash to happen.

  1. Cryptos may vanish altogether

Now the entire ecosystem of cryptocurrency is largely supported by the blockchain. Now, this is not a physical institution like a bank, holding the resources but is rather an open-sourced software that helps thousands of users forgo the middleman. The blockchain also keeps track of every single crypto transaction that occurs daily. Since cryptocurrencies are virtual and lack a central storehouse, an account balance can be wiped out. For example, a computer crash without a backup could destroy a stash of cryptocurrency. If a user loses the private key to their wallet, the cryptocurrency they own is unrecoverable. Scammers can also hijack someone’s mobile account by impersonating an account holder. Thieves contact the carrier and request that the user’s SIM card be transferred to a new device. This gives scammers access to cryptocurrency accounts. It’s incumbent upon investors to keep track of their private key and use a wallet from a well-established firm. Professionals also suggest backing up your cryptocurrency private keys and using strong passwords.

  1. Cryptocurrencies are slowly but surely gaining traction

Unlike the Indian Rupee in your wallet, cryptocurrencies aren’t backed by a central bank or a government. And this was the case, for the longest time and not just in India. Cryptocurrencies have no tangible fundamental factors with which to help derive an appropriate valuation. Whereas you can look at the earnings history of a publicly trading stock to estimate its worth, or the economic performance of a country about GDP growth to value a currency like a dollar, digital currencies have no direct fundamental ties. This makes valuing cryptocurrencies in a traditional sense especially difficult, proving near impossible at times.

That being said, Governments around the world are slowly beginning to grasp just how important cryptocurrencies could be for the future and are aware of an impending change in the way the world views and uses cryptocurrency. It is no longer a niche digital asset used by those who know it but is now widespread enough to warrant Governments passing bills and setting up laws in its wake. Case in point, India’s Budget 2022 witnessed the official acknowledgment of cryptocurrencies by the Indian Government.  The Government has proposed that a transaction involving any of the cryptocurrencies will be taxed at 30%. The new law further states that no deduction except the cost of acquisition will be allowed and no loss in the transaction will be allowed to be carried forward. One important caveat here is the fact that this amendment will come into effect only from 1st April 2023 and will accordingly apply to the assessment year 2023-2024 and following subsequent years.

In conclusion, although cryptocurrencies are still largely unregulated (and their use as actual currency can be limited), there is a growing sense that a door has been opened to a vast number of new opportunities and technologies. We may be on the verge of a paradigm shift that would seemingly change how humanity transacts in the future.

Read | At Home

COVID-19 | Social Distancing and Isolation – The New Normal

 

Yes, we are in the midst of a Pandemic, one of the most difficult times we have ever witnessed! The world is struggling, and India is reeling under the impact of a lockdown. Our lives seems to be revolving around battling Corona, Work From Home. Virtual Teams, Con Calls, Zoom, Webex, Facebook, Instagram, TV News, Movies and the list is endless.

Internet is the most precious thing in the world, but only next to groceries, food and vegetables. Your mood and happiness index depends on the speed of the internet, everything else has faded in the background.

‘Work from Home’ has resulted in most of us managing work and home-work and guess no one has been spared from cleaning, doing dishes, laundry. For that matter, we finally seem to have the time to take care of elders and spend time with our spouses and children like never before. Time to be guilt-free! Many of us may feel ‘Work from Home’ was a myth, and do look forward to getting back to the real office, retrieving long-lost files from your documents folder, attending face to face meetings and noisy discussions; but I guess what we miss the most is the people connect and the camaraderie we shared.

Welcome to the club!  Empathy rules the world and finally, we are all on the same page.

TAFE as a people’s organization during this crisis has stood by its values and demonstrated through its actions how much it values its employees and its stakeholders. Employee safety was the topmost priority on the list and you can tell by the methodical manner the plants were shut down and the way our salaries were paid ahead of time that ‘People Matter’ to TAFE. Every action was laced with care and concern and this stood out like a shining beacon of hope.

Our Management and Leadership are going beyond the call of duty to help the TAFE team tide over this crisis. It’s important now than ever before to stay connected as a team and walk together.

Stay Home. Stay Safe.

Sunitha Subramaniyan
Head – Corporate Communications
TAFE

Read

Engineer of the Year Award for RA Armstrong

 

The SAE India Foundation has chosen RA Armstrong from TAFE – R&D Team, for the Engineer of the Year Award 2019-20. The award was presented to him by Dr. Richard Greaves, Past President, SAE International, on February 10, 2020 at New Delhi, in recognition of his outstanding achievement as Automotive Engineering Professional and his contributions towards organizing various competitions and other activities for students that have helped in the overall development of engineering academia, for SAE India and SAE SIS for over a decade.

 All of us at TAFE congratulate Mr. Armstrong on receiving the award and take pride in his remarkable achievement!

Read

TAFE’s Sembiam Plant Wins Industrial Safety Awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu

 

The Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, Government of Tamil Nadu, awards companies excelling in Industrial Safety under Textiles, Metals, Engineering, Transport and Miscellaneous categories. In an event organized recently, TAFE’s Sembiam Plant received four Safety Awards in the Engineering category, for the assessment years 2014 and 2015. Dr. Nilofer Kafeel, Minister for Labour, Government of Tamil Nadu, presented the awards to the winners.

For the year 2014, in Group ‘B’ that included Factories which have worked between 5 to 10 lakh manhours per year, TAFE’s Sembiam Plant stood at the 1st Place for the Lowest Weighted Accident Frequency Rate, and at the 2nd Place for Longest Accident-free Period in Manhours.

For the year 2015, in Group ‘B’, TAFE’s Sembiam factory stood 2nd in the category for Lowest Weighted Accident Frequency Rate, and in the Longest Accident-free Period in terms of Manhours category.

Read

J.R.D Tata – Industrialist, Aviator & Philanthropist, a pioneer ahead of his time

As we remember the legacy of Mr. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata on his 115th birth anniversary, we recall the first Anantharamakrishnan Memorial Lecture, he delivered in 1969 after receiving the first Business Leadership Award of the Madras Management Association (MMA).

The MMA-Amalgamations Business Leadership Award was instituted by our Former Chairman, Mr. A. Sivasailam in memory of his father the late S. Anantharamakrishnan, Founder of the Amalgamations Group. The award is presented once in two years to an Indian business leader, adjudged as outstanding by a panel of eminent jurors forming the selection committee. The awardee also delivers the Anantharamakrishnan Memorial Lecture at the award function.

Mr. J.R.D Tata, fondly known to his friends as ‘Jeh’ was an aviator, entrepreneur and chairman of the TATA Group. He founded India’s first commercial airline and later came to be known as the ‘Father of Indian Civil Aviation’.

The lecture was a testament to Mr. Tata’s foresight and vision. He said that public and private sector industries had obligations to the community far wider than the mere discharge of their primary functions and the formidable challenge of the seventies demanded an involvement and identification of organized industry with the life and problems of the community to which it belonged. He called upon businessmen and industrialists to set up high ethical standards through better trade practices and by seeking in new ideas and new concepts consistent with the changing values of a fast paced world.

He described the late Mr. S. Anantharamakrishnan as an individual endowed with rare qualities and said that no man did more to promote the industrial development of South India. Comparing
him with Mr. Jamsetji Tata, he said “Although he and Jamsetji Tata lived nearly a century apart, there was much in common in their approach to business and to their philosophy.”

Interestingly, the last recipient of the MMA-Amalgamations Business Leadership Award was
Mr.Ratan Tata, Executive Chairman-Emeritus, Tata Sons Ltd.