Cost Effective Solution to save Coconut trees during forth coming water scarcity months due to El Niño : Olla Irrigation - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Droughts. 🏺 Echoes of Ancient Clay pot Irrigation Long before the term olla entered agricultural vocabulary, ancient Tamil farmers practiced remarkably similar methods. In Sangam‑era Tamilakam, clay vessels called “ māṇ paṇai ” or “kulam paṇai” were used to store and seep water near tree roots - especially for coconut, banana, and areca palms. These pots were often placed in earthen basins (thottam) lined with coir, husk, and leaf mulch, creating a natural moisture‑retention system. Inscriptions and temple garden records from regions like Pollachi, Thanjavur, and Madurai mention such paṇai neer vaḻi (pot‑water channels) as part of sustainable irrigation networks. This continuity of wisdom - from ancient Tamil pot irrigation to modern olla systems - shows how indigenous knowledge can guide regenerative farming in the...
Despite the wrong reasons and news (Pollachi is most talked town in the media right now), Still I am proud that I am from Pollachi.
So many wonderful people are from Pollachi. Nature, simplicity and people with true love is the composition of this wonderful town, Pollachi, as I know off. I went to elementary (AMS), middle (VHS), high school (MHS), undergraduate college (NGM) at Pollachi. My parents, the town, wonderful schools, temples and my friends molded me. Parents guided me to work hard, never give up, be truthful and help others.
Teachers guided us in the school showing us what is fundamentally right. We were coed and was well taught how to behave with girls. The girls were nice to us, One example I can remember as an elementary kid was, I had a habit of biting the pencil and my classmate girl told me not to chew pencils, it is not nice and she sharpened it and made it look nice. Immediately I gave up that habit and still remember that incidence and feel happy about it.
Pollachi -AMS Days
Viswadeepthi school was very tight knit family and it gave us the world class fundamentals second to none and took us to next level to face the real world.
Pollachi - VHS Days - First set
We were 18 of us in the First set of the school and we all blossomed into Agriculturists, Business People, Doctors, Engineers, Scientists and Teachers. Even though we all scattered all over the World, still connected by Technology and communicate regularly. We did not stop there - one of the doctor friend requested to improve the poor children ward in a hospital and immediately the request was fulfilled by our group. I feel proud that we are in such position and our town molded us in a such a good way.
Next went to high school where we learned how to be street smart. With couple of years there at that school we got a clear picture how real world life is going to be. At that time we explored, roamed Pollachi. Our focus was on cricket and movies. We were boys only school and had the opportunity to meet the girls only in the tution center, We knew our limits and treated them fairly too. They are also in various fields now and are successful.
During Pollachi days we were playing for Mahalingapuram Cricket Club (MLCC). We had total fun playing for MLCC. We had players from all religions but we were all brothers. Wonderful MLCC cricket family life.
Then entered undergraduate college at NGM and the girls came again into our classrooms. Again we knew our limits. Our focus was again in movies , cricket and story books. These were the golden days of my life in Pollachi. all friends became one family.
Pollachi NGM Days
When the girls thought we were going to cross the limits they tied Rakhis and became sisters. Still now they are treated how a sister would be treated. we are all in the whatsapp group. Again we wanted to create a model village and immediately NGMians chipped in and started the project. That's how we grew up in Pollachi. And again I feel proud that I am from Pollachi.
After Pollachi education went on to Coimbatore to complete Masters at PSG and MPhil at Bharathiar University. From there came to USA to do PhD in Environmental field and completed another Masters in Computer Science. Now I live in United States. Simultaneously my beloved Pollachi friends achieved their heights and went all over the World. Some of them ended in USA too. Whenever we meet we show our pride that we are from Pollachi. My brother went to Singapore and we were losing connection to the roots. We wanted to do something for our roots. That's when my brother went back to Pollachi to do Agriculture. Yes, we do Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture at EA Farms.
At Pollachi - EA Farms
I have successfully became an Environmental Scientist and an Information Technologist and still share my knowledge to others and bring them up in life. And I am successful on that fronts. All these happened because of the environment that Pollachi gave me.
Not sure why the Golden land is now spoiled by some bad weeds. Not sure what went wrong. we can blame on so many things - Alcohol, technology used in bad ways, bad movies, no respect for other gender, no proper guidance to youngsters, no tight families, no true friends ( A true friend needs to stop a friend when he makes a wrong move).
Our Pollachi - Agriculture Lands, Nature, Wonderful people, Schools, Colleges, Friends and Family are still there. Helping tendency is still there. But now our beloved town is tainted with bad elements. But always we will overcome the evil. Me and my friends with our education, experience and goodwill, will do our part and bring back the pride of Pollachi.
Praying for that.
Update: October 2019:
Prayers seems to be answered. Lots of good Pollachi people are working towards cleaning the city water lake - Theppakulam. They all have joined together working for good cause, You can see the progress here at https://www.facebook.com/PollachiWaterBodiesReconstructionOrg/ . Wherever you are and if you want to contribute to the good cause, please do, it will bring back the pride to Pollachi. We all will be working together to make Pollachi, an environmentally friendly city for sure with these many supportive people.
To a Beautiful Clean Pond:
Before and After Pollachi Theppakulam Cleanup
Water Quality Lab Result:
Kudos to the great volunteers who have done this great job of cleaning the pond.
Updates on Temple Theppakulam (Pond):
From Garbage Dumping Area:
Kudos to team work by the great Pollachi Volunteers who made this possible and final touch by the Pollachi Municipality Government. Let us team and work towards more
Green and Clean Pollachi.
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