Indian Columbus

The Whittle Arch is a striking modern monument located at the heart of Coventry, right in front of the Coventry Transport Museum. This impressive structure consists of two steel arches, each with spans of approximately 60 meters, leaning towards each other and converging at a point 15 meters above the ground. The arch is made of steel tubes and is covered with a mesh that has small holes in it. This mesh is shaped like an aerofoil—a design that mirrors the aerodynamic principles behind aircraft wings. The design mimics the way airplane wings are built to cut through the air smoothly, using the same idea that helps planes fly easily.This feature also allows an internal lighting system to illuminate the arch at night, giving it a distinctive and futuristic glow. The arch is named in honor of Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), a Coventry-born engineer who is widely credited with inventing the turbojet engine, revolutionizing aviation. Beneath the arch stands a bronze statue of Whittle, depict...

Sir Frank Whittle , often referred to as the Father of the Jet Engine , was born in Earlsdon, Coventry , in 1907. He began his career working at his father’s small engineering firm before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an aircraft apprentice, eventually becoming a pilot. His fascination with flight led him to study engineering at Cambridge University, where he registered a patent for a revolutionary new aircraft engine in 1930. In 1936, he founded Power Jets Ltd, and his team, working at Brownsover Hall and utilizing the British Thomson-Houston factory in Rugby, successfully conducted the first engine test on April 12, 1937. In Coventry , a bronze statue of Sir Frank Whittle, created by sculptor Faith Winter , stands proudly beneath the Whittle Arches near the Transport Museum. The statue depicts Whittle in a military uniform, with one hand raised to his forehead as if shielding his eyes while gazing into the distance, symbolizing his visionary role in aviation. Behind him, the W...

I have been extensively documenting the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli, focusing on its intricate architecture, layout, iconography, deities, and other notable aspects. In this episode, I will provide a consolidated summary of the inscriptions found within this temple. While this is not a complete list, I have covered over 90% of the inscriptions from this inscription-rich site. The earliest inscription dates back to 962 CE during the reign of Cholan Thalai Konda Veera Pandya, and the latest is from the 1914 CE. The temple contains more than 140 inscriptions, and I have included 123 of them in this article. Some inscriptions from the later periods, which only mention the names of devotees, have been omitted. Most of the inscriptions are from the Pandya era, with a significant number from the 13th century. There are only a few inscriptions from the Chola kings. Here are a few highlights from some of the more interesting inscriptions: A 1190 CE inscription from the r...