It's a relative term.

-"ellam en Machaan paathupaan",
-"Naanum en orepadi'yum dhaan samayal velai ellam gavanichhukarom"
-"Vunga aathu maatupon maadhiri enakkum oruthi kidaichaa nalla irukkum"

We come across many terms for relations (like Machaan, Maatupon, orepadi) in our everyday life. Some of those terms have meanings too, while there are many other terms without any special meaning. In tamil grammar the former terms were called 'Kaaranap peyar' - those which are named with some reason, while the latter are called 'Idukuri peyar' - those terms which were given the name just for identification purposes. Thinking of it, "Isn't 'Idukuri peyar' a 'Kaaranap Peyar' too?".

Here is an attempt to dig deep into what some of those terms mean:

Machaan aka Machinar, Mei thunar - Husband's brother or wife's brother. We all know what 'vuyir' is. It is life, then there is 'mei' which is our body, and the combination of 'vuyir' and 'mei' is a human being. (Maybe, it is from this concept they named the letters of Tamil Language, the 'Vuyir ezhuthukkal', 'Mei Ezhuthukkal' and the marriage of the two- 'vuyirmei ezhuthukkal'). The one whose job specification includes, guarding the body, the 'mei' is called the body guard or 'Mei Thunar' -> Machinar -> Machaan. Your Machaans are supposed to act as your body guard in times of need.

Orepadi aka Oragathi - If A and B are brothers. A's wife is an oragathi or orpadi to B's wife. Long long ago, so long ago, that nobody knows how long ago, there existed a concept called 'joint family'. During those times, all the As and Bs lived under one roof. Since A's wife and B's wife set foot on the same steps ('padi'), they are called 'ore padi's. 'Agam' is another term for house. Since they both live in the same 'agam', they are also called 'ore agathi's.

Naatupon aka Maatupon aka Maatru pen - Daughter-in-law. This is straight forward. 'Maatru pen' means, the alternate daughter. This in due course became 'maatupon' and some also use the term 'naatupon'.

Thambi - Younger brother. Ambi means 'younger boy'. 'Thannudaya Ambi' became 'Thambi'. There are also other archaic terms like 'Vumbi' - 'Vunnudaya Ambi'- your younger brother, 'Nambhi' - 'Nammudaya Ambi' - our younger brother', 'yembi' - 'Ennudaya Ambi' - My younger brother.

Girls, you weren't left out. Thangai - Younger sister. 'Angai' - means 'younger girl'. Similar to the Thambis, etc, we have 'Thannudaya Angai' - 'Thangai', 'Nangai', 'Vungai', 'Engai'.

Ammaan aka Maaman, Maama- Mother's brother. Ammaan comes from 'Ammavin Sagodharan' which later became Maaman, Maama. There was (is ?) also a term called 'Ammaanjee'. 'Sei' means son, 'Ammaan sei' became 'Ammaanjee' i.e Maama's son.

OK, don't ask the etymology of 'Naathanar' - sister-in-law, with all the 'stinking' fight some of them have, I can come up with a story, but it is better to classify 'Naathanar' a 'idukuri peyar'

In those days, when one is not sure of who the father of the kid is, they regarded those kids as God's kid. They called such people "Thevar Adiyavar", today that word took many a twist and turn that we can't use it anymore in a public forum. 'Boss'!, if you are not that 'tardy' you will understand what i am talking about ;)

"Should there be no restrictions then?"

- "Pasanga, padippula concentrate panna maatengranga sir."
- "Ponnunga tight jeans pottu vandhuraanga, adha paathukitte, padippa kottai vitturaanga."
- "Seri, 'No Jeans'NNu general rule pottuduvom, Ponnu, PayyanNNU piricha, periya prachanai panniduvaanga."

Anna University 'think tank' committee concludes..

Check out the link. yeah, its the college from which I completed my Bachelors. It takes a Anna University-decision on dress code for MNM Jain Engineering College to make The Hindu front page.

After so much analysis from such a high level committee (like the six member committee that discussed Chappel-Ganguly case) they decide that a Salwar/ Pant-Shirt is the best for TN students.

MNM Jail engineering college in keeping with its oneupmanship, improvised on that to add 'Shoes', 'clean shaven', 'short hair', 'light colored full sleeve shirt' to that list.

"ellam Alaipayudhey Madhavan'aala vandha prachanai, stubbles'oda vandhu ella ponnugalayum cover pannitan, adhu naala college decides that 'clean shaven' guys will help improve girl's concentration"

What is a possible motive behind a dress code enforcement?
- The students will not concentrate on studies.
- Less pass percentage will affect the ranking and in turn their "name"

Some of us had the opportunity to study in US grad schools and our outlook towards studies, attendance, dress, etc changed completely. Tell me frankly, isn't shorts (or something shorter) the best outfit for Chennai's climate? This claim is an 'outrage' in today's grad schools in Tamil Nadu (or India, for that matter)

The attitude towards education must change. Students should not attend school (engineering college) for the "Appa told me to" reason. The 'self financing' schools should concentrate towards improving the quality of lecturers and lectures. Student's attendance should ONLY have an impact on the knowledge gained. When such things happen, when the ideal students are ready, on that day, the dress code must be revised and 'T-Shirts', 'Shorts' must be added to the list.

I feel that Anna University has no right to take the dress code on its hand. The other schools have no option but to enforce a dress code to safe guard their investments (until they are confident on their quality of education, they have to rely on these peripheral things).

But seriously, It beats me as to how a 'dark colored shirt', 'not-so-clean shaven guy', 'lengthy hair' affect the concentration of a student?