Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/15-17 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI INSIDE

• Short ‘N’ Snappy • A fascinating will • Growth overrun cemetery • Displaying Tamil culture • Flights of fancy

Vol. XXVII No. 1 MUSINGS April 16-30, 2017 How many more cracks, CMRL? hennai Metro Rail Limited C(CMRL), which had thus far restricted its depredations to heritage structures, extended its scope recently to include a part of Mount Road. Even as a bus with 35 passengers in it and a car were driving side by side, the road beneath them caved in. It was a good thing that the sub- sidence happened on a Sunday afternoon when traffic was light. More importantly, the passengers in the bus and the car driver had time to clamber out to safety. But the episode has once again brought to light the question that refuses to go How we treat heritage! away – how much does CMRL G Our two pictures focus on two historical structures and reflect how we treat such relics of history. On the left is the Dr. James Anderson tomb in the St. Mary’s Cemetery on the Island. This tomb today sports trees growing for it. Some may G by A Special say that’s appropriate for Anderson was the first of those Madras medico-botanists who pioneered the study of flora in India and established what could well be Correspondent considered the first botanical gardens in the country (see page 4). The second picture is of the Salt Bungalow in Ennore Creek, where rowing and sailing as a sport were born in Madras. This house, occupied by the Excise care about safety when it goes Inspector as home and office (it also commemorates the salt pans in the area), about its work? was often used by spectators during regattas to watch the action. As in all the cases of cracks The Madras Boat Club plans to shortly row down memory lane at Ennore in heritage structures, the sink- Creek where the Club had its beginnings many years before its official function- ing 150 years ago, in 1867. The Salt Bungalow may well again host spectators ing of Mount Road too was dis- watching the action. missed as a minor matter by those who are laying our under- ground transport facility. All the safety precautions are in place, they say, and the problem has occurred owing to a sudden Fair fares? Not for filling trains change in soil characteristics, which can escape attention de- spite the best possible assess- he likely fare structure for (By Our Business Correspondent) yet to acquire respectability and ment. At least that is the offi- Tthe 45 km Phase I of the acceptability. It should be pro- cial view. However, it is quite metro project has been indi- fixed expenses as feasible – it is salutary effect on health and moted. Wasteful use of private reliably learnt that initial stud- cated. The base fare is said to possible, and even probable, absenteeism, savings in road transport – just one person trav- ies had predicted that many ar- be Rs. 10-70 for the 45 km that low fares and large rev- upkeep costs, conservation of elling to work by personal car – eas of our city would be prone stretch compared to Rs. 10-30 enues would meet investment forex on reduced fuel usage, needs to change. In Jakarta, for to subsidence and this included for 213 km in Delhi. Size of in- considerations. timeliness, punctuality at work, instance, during peak hours, us- locations in the proximity of vestment is quoted as justifica- The Metro in Mexico City and so on. Many of these ben- age of main arterial roads is al- some of our heritage structures. tion for the proposed high fares. was, at one time, priced so low efits are reflected in financial lowed in select sections only if Work went ahead nevertheless, High fares could confront that what was paid was useful savings to the public authority the car has a minimum of three chiefly because it was felt that user resistance and consequent more to count usage – it en- in the medium- and long-term passengers. The Metro is one such occurrences (including the low utilisation of the rolling couraged mass usage. Going be- and cannot be ignored in any component of the transporta- possibility of a collapse) are stock asset, defeating the very yond considerations of financial viability assessment. Limited fi- tion system. Attractive pricing small sacrifices to be made in purpose of fixing rates high. In viability, public utility projects nancial analysis is for individu- and integration of Metro sta- the larger interest of affordable fact, the trick lies in going for of this kind elsewhere in the als and firms, but looking at in- tions with feeder services with public transportation. Afford- high volume usage and full or world are assessed for direct and longer term, but nev- common ticketing are necessary able, did someone say? (see near-full utilisation of the asset economic, social and environ- ertheless tangible, benefits, is for the Metro to make a visible alongside.) to generate large aggregate rev- mental benefits they yield in the for public authorities. impact on Chennai’s traffic en- enue that could cover variable form of relieving traffic conges- In our society, the culture of vironment and citizens’ daily (Continued on page 6) expenses and as much of the tions, reducing pollution and its travelling by public transport is lives. CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS April 16-30, 2017 A fascinating R(upee) K(eep) Nagar document where joy abounded G One of Madras’s first department stores, Oakes & Co., The Man from Madras Musings group. Let’s fight the honest founded in 1843 had its main shop, Exchange Hall, on out. Imagine being in a social has never visited RK Nagar, fight, they said. There was, gathering and the Popham’s Broadway, now Prakasam Salai. Oakes also the locality that is forever in however, a strong rumour that conversation turns to places owned, in neighbouring premises, Beehive Foundry, a the throes of an election. He a cashless man from Delhi was where people stay. The major- name that survives to this day as part of India did toy with the idea of visiting not too happy with the quan- ity give out names such as Commerce & Industries Co. P. Ltd., a business started this hotspot some days ago, but tity of cash floating around in Mylapore, Triplicane, Purasa- then along came the news that RK Nagar. This way, he feared, by Kowtha Suryanarayana Rao in 1907. Suryanarayana’s walkam, etc, then pipes up a the election had been RK Nagar could become a tax lone voice that says Baby will is a fascinating document about the devolution of cancelled and, so, MMM haven of sorts rather like those Nagar. There is a dead silence the Oakes & Co. property where Beehive Foundry still decided to do the same to his shady islands and tiny Euro- followed by hurried and loud remains in business. planned visit. pean nations. And that led to conversation even as the One of the chief reasons the RK Nagar elections being person who said Baby Nagar 1. Kowtha Suryanarayana Rao, son of Subbaryudu garu residing that MMM wanted to go to RK cancelled. slinks out into the grim at 95, Broadway, Madras declares this to be my last will and TES- Nagar was that he had come to The people of RK Nagar are outside world and from there know that the place rained happy. They get to keep their moves on to Baby Nagar. TAMENT which I make this Eleventh day of August 1960 in my cash. Apparently, the Gross rupees and, as and when the There is also the other ques- 84th year in good health and of free will. Domestic Product of this par- elections happen again, there tion, do residents of Baby 2. Nothing in this will is intended to revoke or in any wise affect ticular constituency of India will be more money. Not so Nagar refer to themselves as the Will I had previously made providing life-time maintenance has risen so sharply in one happy is the rest of the city for Infants? And is their munici- week or so that there were it never saw the colour of the pal councillor Peter Pan? and residence (1) to my eldest daughter Nagaraja Lakshmamma rumours of it soon declaring it- money and, what’s more, lost These and other questions which shall therefore continue in force. self an independent nation the one opportunity of a public of similar pith and moment 3. I most humbly make this will treading the Vedic path in si- and, if that was not feasible, holiday. jostled MMM’s brain as he lent reverie of thought of Bhagawan Sri Krishna, the ultimate Re- looking at the possibility of The hat party is, so MMM drove to Baby Nagar one electing a representative to the understands, hopping mad. evening. For those who do not ality, the Lord of the Universe, who is all Love and Beauty and US Senate. Families of, say, The electrical pole group is know, it is close to Velachery, Truth, Goodness and Joy forever, who has been in all activities of four, suddenly found them- looking for a warehouse to another locality that lots of my life my Sole Guide, Friend, Philosopher and Preceptor, whose selves earning in five figures, store the effigy and coffin. The people in the older parts of Identity I have realised in my spiritual quest of Truth and whose each member being showered boat has at present weighed Chennai know about but have teachings in the following lines in the Blessed Gita have influenced with cash. Whoever disbursed anchor. As for rising sun, it is never visited. MMM has, and and permeated my daily life in this material plane the moolah was most demo- temporarily in eclipse, but let him tell you that there is cratic, for the money was given hopes for better times. nothing to be afraid of. The “Janma Karma cha me divya mevam yo vetti tatwataha Thyaktwa deham punarjanma Naiti nameti sorjuna” Chapter 4 – Sloka 9 SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY

Idam Gnana mupasritya mama sadharmya magathah Chapter 14 – Sloka 2 to all, irrespective of caste, natives are friendly and you creed, gender and age. With Baby Nagar beckons can spend the night there in “gunebhyascha param vetti the money coming in, daugh- an you believe that an area case you so feel like it. MMM madbhavam sodhigachhati” Chapter 14 – Sloka 19 ters could be married off, chil- Cwith such a name really had, however, no such inten- dren educated and men could exists in this, our city? The Man tion; his visit to Baby Nagar “Gunanetha nathitya thrin open accounts at the local li- from Madras Musings would was mainly to attend a concert Dehi dehasamudbhavan quor outlet. In short, happi- have also been incredulous had in which his favourite singer ness abounded. Talks had he not had the opportunity to was performing. The event Janma mrityujara dukhai commenced on the possibility visit the place a couple of times was scheduled for 6.30 pm and rvimukto mrita masnuti Chapter 14 – Sloka 20 of RK Nagar buying up land in previously. But then, Madras MMM set off a couple of hours other and better laid out parts has no dearth of funny names. earlier, but at the time when I have a life reading of mine from 3000 years old Dhruvanadi of of Chennai where a new RK How else can you account for a the curtains would no doubt Satyacharya which gives a glimpse of the realisation by me of the Nagar could be built. That place called the Belly Area? It have been rising, he was still a Truth in this birth. There are too the letters to me from late Sri idea was, however, rendered has a housing colony in it that good two kilometres away. In Valiveti Bhaskara Lakshminarasimha Sastri Garu, Advocate unnecessary when one of the rejoices in the name of Belly short, MMM would arrive late, Philosopher my father-in-law and my terrestrial garu giving me electoral hopefuls declared Court. Or for that matter have rather like a full-term baby daily lessons from the Gita, letters which in the course of my inter- that, if elected, he would so you heard of BRA Road and that decides to stay on some SOB Street? We also have view with Mahatma Gandhi in the Yarravada Jail I read out and institutionalise the Tamil extra time in its mother’s Nadu sport of land grab that ROB Street that leads to a womb. were greatly appreciated by him. I have maintained diaries from RK Nagar denizens need not bank! Reaching Baby Nagar, 1889 to this day which give an account of my spiritual and occult think of spending their hard- MMM has puzzled for long MMM’s mind came up with experiences. earned cash on such frivolous as to how Baby Nagar acquired another possible reason for the pursuits as buying land. They its name. Having no success in area’s name. Its entire layout 4. My beginnings were humble. I started life as a school teacher merely needed to indicate the his researches, he finally de- reflected the infantile capabili- and within a few months left it to enter business as my life occupa- property of their choice and it cided that it must be because ties of our city planners. This tion with a capital of Rs. 40 saved by me from my earnings as would be theirs. reaching it from any part of the is a new area and you would teacher. Through the grace of Bhagawan Sri Krishna the business Nobody is quite sure as to city, unless you are already in expect it to have broad roads, flourished and all the Wealth I earned and accumulated from my where the cash was coming Baby Nagar, in which case you sidewalks, proper street light- business of half a century I have held and possessed only as belong- from. Some said a mysterious don’t count, takes so long that ing, underground ducting and ing to Bhagawan Sri Krishna to be disposed of as guided by Him. hat was being passed around it feels like nine months. It street signs. Not one of these and, rather like the ones used could also be because pregnant was in existence. For good 5. The business concern I started and nourished with care and by magicians, people needed women, if driven at great speed measure, you also had huge caution with the loyal and brotherly co-operation of my friend and to merely dip their hand in it across its rutted and pitted gaps in what must have once partner Sri C. Audikesavalu Chettiar for nearly 50 years, is the to take out the money. Those roads, could be induced into been a pavement, giving you industrial organisation called The Indian Commerce and Indus- that opposed the hat smelt a labour. But be that as it may, direct access to the drains tries Co., (Private) Ltd., Madras which has attained countrywide rat. Chief among these was a some developer of land decided below. Now these are all sup- reputation. group that when it was not that the colony that he was lay- posed to be problems associ- dancing around an electric ing out would be known as ated with old localities, plan- 6. Parallel to the above industrial concern, I founded in 1930 a pole was busy carting around Baby Nagar and that was it. ned at a time when the horse religious and charitable association incorporated in the name and a rather ghastly effigy of its late MMM is sure that if this per- carriage abounded. What pre- style of the Swadharma Swaarajya Sangh (Orthodox National leader lying in a coffin. A son was asked ‘why Baby vented the planners from lay- League) Ltd., under the Indian Companies Act of 1913 for the smaller group that rowed a Nagar’, he would most likely ing out localities such as Baby revival of the declining spiritual and cultural values of Bharateeya boat in search of the vote was reply with a ‘Why not’. Perhaps Nagar in a better way? There not happy either. Those that he was also fond of infants. is, however, no doubt that the life, dharma and religion. The Sangha is a non-dividend declaring swore by the rising sun opined Whatever the reason, place lends itself to adventure that dark deeds were done in MMM is certain that it is a very sports. the dark alone and not by their embarrassing address to give (Continued on page 4) –MMM April 16-30, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

When the bomb-proof barrack building housing the church started developing “a crack all the way down the centre”, plans H1N1 anyone? for a new church surfaced in he ostrich-like behaviour of the Corpora- 24 hours later, the lab phoned in the result Greater care needed 1933,– with SRIRAM a lot of contributions V Ttion of Chennai is once more in evidence. urgently. “You’ve tested positive. See your from various sources, including The city is rampant with Swine Flu (more doctor at once,” they said. It had already been adha Padmanabhan’s letter those of the initiatives of the respectably known as H1N1 influenza) and the six days since I contracted the virus. The thing R(MM, March 16th) was four Anglo-Indian ladies men- Corporation hasn’t bothered to directly warn about H1N1 is that the earlier you treat it, the interesting, informative, direc- tioned by reader Peppin. The residents about protecting themselves either better the chance of a cure. If many days have tional and deeply touching. The new church on the present site with flu shots or taking the herbal Nilavembu passed before treatment is started, it could easily world-famous Marina is more was consecrated in 1935. Many Kashayam as a preventive. turn into pneumonia and turn fatal. Perhaps if I mis-used than used. A month ago I came down with Swine Flu. had known the disease was in epidemic gifts to the newly built church The symptoms were fever (102 degrees or proportions, I would have got tested earlier. The Marina is Madras’s included pews from St. Mary jewel and needs to be treated more), extreme nausea and a very sore throat. I Things moved pretty fast after that. I was at Magdalene’s Church in went to my GP who prescribed antibiotics and with love and care by both the once started on Tamiflu, the proven drug for Poonamalle and the pulpit from paracetamol. Three days later, my fever was a treating Swine Flu. On the same day, a health Corporation and public. St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty. little better but I developed a wracking cough The many parks in Chennai, officer from the local Corporation division and obvious phlegm in my lungs. When I went visited me (he had been tipped off by the lab) too, are not being adequately Rev. Philip K. Mulley back to my GP, he listened to my lungs and Anaihatti Road and handed me a sufficient stock of Tamiflu. cared for and maintained by the looked a mite worried. “All right, I am sending He also instructed me to confine myself to my Corporation and users. The Kotagiri 643 217 you to a chest specialist,” he said. The Nilgiris home, take lots of fluids and rub down every parks are unclean, plants are It took another day to get the appointment surface in my home with disinfectant. Then he drying and dying, with no care with the chest specialist. His clinic was crowded smiled pleasantly and said, “You’ll be fine and no water, and lighting is PS. Frank Penny in his au- and the doctor was a patient and thorough man. soon!” poor, making it difficult for thoritative work on The Church So after a tortuous hour when all I wanted to do in Madras (1912) furnishes the was crawl into a hole and die (God knows how At that point I interrupted him to ask, “Why evening walkers, particularly didn’t the Corporation warn us, through TV or photograph below, probably of many people I ignorantly infected that day), the senior citizens who need the radio, that Swine Flu is so rampant in Chennai? the second sanctuary (Barrack specialist saw me. After the usual examination parks most. I would have avoided travelling by train or going House Church) of the Palla- he asked, “Have you been in a crowded place or It is hoped that the Corpora- to a movie theatre, taken a flu shot or some- varam establishment. travelled recently?” tion and the public will get the “I went to Bengaluru by train for a day and, thing.” right message from Radha yes, I did see a movie before that.” The Corporation official looked a little Padmanabhan’s thought- “Get tested for Swine Flu without delay,” was sheepish. “The Government didn’t want to provoking letter. the doctor’s advice. panic the public, Madam. That’s why we This surprised me, as I didn’t expect to catch haven’t made big announcements in the media Dr. H.K. Lakshman Rao Swine Flu (other people get it, right?). about Swine Flu.” Krishnapuri, Chennai The testing was interesting. The lab techni- Now, is that stick-your-head-in-the-sand cian who came home, proceeded to outfit behaviour or not? Pallavaram church himself in what looked like a space suit before – Janaki Venkataraman he nostalgic account of he took a throat and nose swab and told me, [email protected] TVeteran Lines (MM, “You’ll get the result after 24 hours.” March 16) mentions the St. Andrew’s church, Pallavaram. The Watch Man its kind in the world and of a meeting with him in our of- nal, when it was voluntarily A well-known hub of Anglo-In- Mohapatra insisted that we fice!) He quickly asked me to edited by the late N.S. Gnana- dian settlement, its history goes n reading the tribute to would have to visit Basel, drink have it checked at a particular pragasam, a brilliant chemist back to 1823. Since that time it Othat great retailer, man- in the atmosphere and build up workshop since, according to who taught at Loyola College, has been a part of the St. Tho- agement expert and man of sev- our contacts as a long-term him, the second hand was run- Madras, in the 1970s and mas’ Mount Chaplaincy. The eral parts, the redoubtable measure. This was a Herculean ning slightly slower than nor- 1980s. Chaplain from the Mount was Pradipta Mohapatra, I was re- task considering the problems mal. My colleagues and I were Education Review is one pro- granted a palanquin allowance minded of the many years that I that we would be encountering stunned by this remark and his fessional journal of India, which of Rs. 70/- per month to visit was associated with him during in persuading the Management perspicacity! (The servicing, silently and discreetly served Pallavaram regularly. The origi- my tenure at The Hindu. The to let us make a ‘business trip’ done later proved him right.) the cause of Indian education in nal church was on the site of the first phase was devoted to to Switzerland. (It did material- Such flamboyant personali- absolute total earnestnes and Main Guard of the Presidency Advertising and Marketing. ize a couple of years later – the ties are a rarity these days! sincerity. I would be glad to Cantonment of Pallavaram, results speak for themselves). know this journal survives and where the troops of the Horse The reference to Mohaptra’s V. Kalidas performs today. I am not sure, Artillery were quartered. interest in scripophily came as a Thanks to Mohapatra our [email protected] though. Pity that Madras has In 1847, at the initiative of pleasant surprise to me for I had project became a success and Still around? failed to recognise this journal Rev. Walter Powell (now rest- always assumed that apart from the features that continue to and the efforts made by its pub- ing in St. Mary’s churchyard, his expertise in the world of re- come out now on much supe- he Educational Review (ER) lishers. Fort St. George, 1853), “the tail management, Mohapatra’s rior paper (to introduce which was a landmark journal passion was for watches – an- T question of providing the pen- we had to run into yet another published from Sunkuwar Dr. A. Raman cient, rare, luxury and contem- sioners, veterans and troops at marathon struggle with the Chetty Street, Triplicane, for Charles Sturt University Pallavaram” permanent facili- porary. I resumed my contact Management to switch from or- more than 100 years. I was indi- Orange, NSW 2800 ties for worship came to the with him when we were plan- dinary newsprint to paper befit- rectly associated with this jour- Australia front. A two storeyed building ning to have regular features ting a premium product!) have in the vicinity was made ready. and supplements in The Hindu their origins in the inspiration The large room above was fur- and Business Line to bring the and encouragement that we nished as a church and the heady world of Swiss Horology drew from him. CHENNAI HERITAGE rooms below as a school. In sub- to the southern part of the Whenever, in the midst of No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 sequent years Mrs. Margaret country. (The Times of India our discussions, Mohapatra me- had already done some pioneer- I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I Parker, the Army school mis- andered into the world of Patek have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. tress who was also the organist ing work in Bombay and it was Philippe, Chopard, Breitling, G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for and Sunday School teacher, a challenge for us to expose the Breguet, Hublot, Rolex, Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI was the main mover and cloistered Swiss players to the Omega, Longines, Tag Heuer – potential that lay in this part of HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings organiser of all social and reli- to name a few – his body lan- for the year 2015-16. gious activities in the Canton- the world.) guage exuded the enthusiasm of ment. Col. Henry Smalley, Mohapatra’s ready compli- a youngster and he virtually G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, along with a later Chaplain, ance to cast his lot with us was drew us into the world of Basel. environment and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, Rev. W. Leeming, was instru- a blessing. Despite his heavy During one of those discussions I send Chennai Heritage an additional Rs...... mental in undertaking exten- schedule he visited our office he happened to glance at my (Rupees ...... ) Please sive alterations and improve- several times and gave us a wrist and exclaimed: ‘Hey, that keep/put me on your mailing list. ments to this little sanctuary. whole roster of duties to work is a very old Seiko watch.’ I nod- In 1901, “the Main Guard on. He also agreed to write for ded and added that it was a Name : ...... building was demolished be- us and shared some of his rare favourite of mine, a memento cause a certain garrison engi- interviews with top Swiss given to me at an Asian Adver- Address: ...... neer declared the building to be pioneers during his annual vis- tising Congress in Tokyo in the ...... All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by unsafe.” The church then its to the Basel Watch Fair in early 1990s! (I had deliberately Speed Post only. moved into Barracks No.4. Switzerland. It is the largest of worn it that day in anticipation 4 MADRAS MUSINGS April 16-30, 2017 April 16-30, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 LOST LANDMARKS OF CHENNAI Rambling in our museums (3) ... with N.S. Parthasarathy – SRIRAM V Exhibiting ancient The growth Tamil culture ifferent from other muse- times and which form the basis overrun cemetery Dums, in respect of display of even today’s practices. content and style, is the ‘Exhibi- Through documentaries and clay echnically speaking, this The monu- tion of Ancient Tamil’ at the In- models, the operation of dams, Tvast patch of land on The ments here vary ternational Institute of Tamil aqueducts, watersheds and envi- Island now more or less under when it comes to Studies in Taramani. Re-created ronment protection practices are the great bridge to Central Sta- shape and size. depictions of ancient Tamil cul- vividly demonstrated. Worship tion that replaced the Stanley Some, such as that The entrance to the cemetery – partly walled-in ture, customs and practices, in a of trees was meant to educate Viaduct, belongs to the Church of Dr. James variety of forms, constitute a people on the importance of tree cemetery an ideal open-air toilet place and making available all colourful and impressive collec- movies to impart realism, quota- planting for a better environ- of St. Mary’s in the Fort. In real- Anderson, the for the slums that abut the the above features. The onus is ity it appears to belong to no one, great botanist, are tion. As to why the term exhibi- tions from literature – Pura- ment. Cauvery. The area originally irri- Manuneedhi Chozhan laying his station. The number of shards now on the church to respond. tion is used to refer to this display nanooru, Thirukkural, Silappadhi- The model of the Kallanai gated was 69,000 acres which in son under the wheels of the such being its state of neglect. buildings by them- from liquor bottles tells you of In sharp contrast to the gen- Formerly known as the selves, made of complex, as distinct from karam – voice-over commentary (meaning, stone dam), an engi- due course led to expansion of chariot to punish him for de- other uses that place is put to. A eral squalor of the cemetery is museum, is explained later in this in picturesque Tamil and soft neering marvel, is of special ap- the capacity of the original struc- priving a cow of its calf, Porkkai English Burial Ground on The Being overrun with growth. brick and clad in gaping hole in the wall on the the manner in which one corner Island, the St. Mary’s Cemetery article. That, by itself, was a new music, all combined to create a peal. The dam was built two ture to about a million acres. The Pandian cutting off his own here – that of William Rogers – stone. Others, like northern side provides easy entry – the Commonwealth War Cem- is now accessed from Pallavan insight on museum display powerful impact on the audi- thousand years ago across the Lower Anicut, built by Sir hand to comply with the judge- is dated May 14, 1763. Nine that of the lawyer turned specu- and exit to people who want to etery – is maintained. Here the Salai (old Band Practice Road). options and policies the writer ence. The commentary explain- Cauvery in Tiruchirappalli Dis- Arthur Cotton in the 19th Cen- ment of a scholar, and King Sibi years later, when Governor lator Stephen Popham, are great use the cemetery for clandestine stones are neatly aligned, the You need to make a sharp left could pick up in the course of his ing different defence strategies, trict. Known also as the Grand tury across Kollidam, the major giving a piece of flesh from his Nicholas Morse was laid to rest slabs of granite. Some like that of purposes. A single caretaker can- lawn mowed and the floral bor- just after the Bodyguard visits to Chennai museums. supported by diagrams, was edu- Anicut, it is said to be one of the tributary of Cauvery, is said to be thigh to the hawk from which a here, the place was still being re- James May, the first superinten- not manage this vast expanse of ders tended to. Close to this Muneeswarar Temple, taking The exhibition consists of cative. Code of conduct in war oldest water-regulating struc- a replica of Kallanai. dove sought refuge with him. ferred to as the new cemetery of dent of the Madras Harbour land, and at night he may pocket is the grave of Brigadier care not to get onto the seven spacious, brightly lit, air- and diplomacy, explained tures in the world to be still in The model of the temple The exhibition is an impres- St. Mary’s. The ground allotted Works, stand out because of perhaps not want to stir out of Nicholson and his wife Adela overbridge that takes you to conditioned galleries. There is a through quotes from Sangam lit- use. It diverts the river to the town of Srirangam demonstrates sive demonstration of ancient was enlarged in 1782 and a thin some unique aspect. This one the not so comfortable home he Florence, who under the pseud- Central. The cemetery proper is well-equipped auditorium where erature, are indicative of a high delta districts, facilitating irriga- the high standard of town plan- customs and practices in the brick wall was put up all around has four granite columns rising has on the premises. Certainly, onym Laurence Hope wrote sev- accessed through a Gothic Re- visitors can watch documenta- degree of civilisation in ancient tion for agriculture and control- ning in those times. Stories are form of paintings, figurines, pro- it, replacing the earlier Palmyra up to hold a hipped roof on he is unaware of the history of eral poems, the most famous per- vival gateway that has three ries before going round the gal- times. ling floods. The dam has a strong depicted through clay models of totypes of tools, weapons and fence that proved no defence which is the funerary inscription. what he is supposed to protect, haps being Pale Hands I Loved pointed arches supported by thin leries. The documentaries are an The most impressive of the foundation and a solid structure the extent to which wise kings other articles in wood, metal and against marauding jackals and Wandering around, the ap- or its importance. The police are Beside The Shalimar. pinnacles. Of the two flanking imaginative blend of photo- documentaries is that on water which holds good even today. It went to demonstrate that rule of terracotta, and reproduction of dogs. It is quite likely that the palling mortality is what strikes regular visitors here but their Next door to St. Mary’s Cem- arches, the one on the right is graphs of forts, sculptures, ani- management. It depicts scientific is made of unhewn stone and is law and justice, for wrongs suf- historical scenes and life styles in Gothic gateway too dates to this you first. Most of the dead did control is rather limited. etery is that of the Roman bricked up, while that on the left not cross fifty. Whole families lie mations re-enacting past battles methods of water management 1,080 feet long and 60 feet wide, fered, was the right of every three-dimensional colourfully period. Occasionally, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of St. Patrick’s. and events, battle scenes from and conservation in use in early across the main stream of the living being. Seen are painted “doll” forms. To the lay is now the principal access. The here, with children far outnum- Cemetery springs to life. That is It is as shabby as the former and central arch, through which the From then on till 1817, when bering the adults and women be- when the premises are allowed has to its dubious credit some re- coffins and the mourners must St. George’s Cathedral became ing more than men. Next comes for film shoots, one of the earli- cent hideous structures such as a have once passed, has grille gates the principal church for the city, the realisation that this cemetery est perhaps being the square archway and a pillar of that are permanently locked. the Island cemetery was where needs some urgent restoration. Rajinikanth starrer, Billa. It is in- many blocks topped with an illu- The two flanking arches are fol- the powerful, the important, the Several of the monuments have deed a pity that the Church and minated statue of Jesus. There is lowed immediately by the wait- rich, and quite a few commoners trees growing out of the crevices. whoever else is supposed to be in in addition a platform for prayer ing rooms where mourners must among the English came for their Many of the granite slabs have charge of the upkeep, should al- that is now put to less spiritual have once gathered prior to the eternal sleep. Burials continued vanished or have been low the cemetery to languish. It use. In the near vicinity is said to burial. Mangalore tiled sloping happening intermittently here vandalised. Dr. Anderson’s cries out for basic maintenance – be a lost Presbyterian Cemetery roofs, supported on timber till the 1880s, by when the cem- tombstone has shattered into cleaning up of the shrubbery, and another one belonging to the frames, top these. The sexton’s etery was officially declared several pieces for instance. Cy- proper walkways, signposts to in- Armenians. residence is to the left of the closed. However, a casual glance clone Vardah has added to the dicate the important tombstones St. Mary’s Burial Ground on main gate and this is where the will show you that occasional ruin by uprooting several trees. A and if possible, a guidebook. It is the Island and its immediate caretaker and his family now burials continue to happen, giant peepul is still where it fell, understood that a University in environs are classic instances of live. especially if the dear departed is on four giant tombstones. The the UK has recently come for- official (in this case ecclesiasti- The oldest English burial a parishioner of St. Mary’s. tall grass that abounds makes this ward to assist in restoring the cal) apathy towards our heritage. ground in Madras was at the Guava Garden, on which site visitor, young or old, unschooled (Continued from page 2) now stands the Law College. in the appreciation of artefacts That Golgotha proved to be a private company and has been recently registered under Section 25 A FASCINATING DOCUMENT and art pieces, understanding security risk when the Comte de of the Companies Act 1956. and visualising the past is made Lally and his French forces laid 9. From my other acquisitions I have already placed at the feet of One gold All about easy. 7. I own bulk of the shares in both the Indian Commerce and siege to Madras in 1758. Once Bhagawan Sri Krishna movable and immovable assets of the value of rudrakshamala 20 sovereigns This museum visit led the Industries Co., Private Ltd., and the Swadharma Swaarajya Sangha the attackers had been repulsed, Rs. 20 Lacs donating the same from time to time to the Swadharma One navaratnamala in weight writer into a mini-research to work began on securing the city (Orthodox National League) Ltd., Being my own creations I am justly Swaarajya Sangha (Orthodox National League) Ltd., for the promo- understand the distinctions and All silver ware of plates, vessels and tumblers used for Devi Puja. from future invasions and among proud of them and in turn they have served as the testing ground of tion and propagation of the objects and ideals of the Sangha as nar- objectives of diverse display poli- One iron box in which all the above are kept for safety secured in the many measures taken up was the great principles of right conduct I set before myself. I cherish rated in its Memorandum of Association. cies and techniques. The term the house Lalitha Nivas at Vijayavada and all my cooking brass ves- the flattening of the monuments these institutions as part of my being. 10. As a further humble act of my life in this world I now bequeath museum is derived from the sels and other belongings in 95, Broadway, Madras. that stood in the Guava Garden. 8. From my acquisitions I had already settled some properties on by this instrument, as an additional donation, to my beloved Greek muses. There were nine All the above being used for the religious functions of Swadharma The surviving tombstones were my son Mohanarma Sastri and son’s son Lalitha Manohar and Swadharma Swaarajya Sangha (Orthodox National League) Ltd., the Muses, protecting different arts. Swaarajya Sangha (Orthodox National League) Ltd. taken to the yard surrounding St. daughter’s son Bulusy Venkata Surya Subramanya by deeds of gift following properties all of the value of about Eight Lacs, the balance “A museum is an institution that Mary’s in the Fort leaving behind and settlement and discharged my obligations to them as my depen- of the bounty to me from Bhagawan Sri Krishna namely iii. My Bank balances. conserves a collection of two monuments – the Hynmer dents. I desire to make it known that in making such settlements of i. House properties: (1) Beehive Buildings bearing Door No. 95, iv. Government Loan Security bonds. artefacts and other objects of Obelisk that still survives and the property on them, I was influenced by the confidence that my said Broadway, Madras together with all the furniture, vessels, iron safe, v. All shares held by me in the Indian Commerce and Industries Co., artistic, cultural, historical, or Powney Vault that vanished son and grandsons will respect my sentiments and remain loyal to the almirahs and whatsoever contained therein and (2) 40, Broadway, Private Ltd., Madras and Kowtha Business Syndicate (K.B.S.) Private scientific importance.” These once Metro Rail began its work two great institutions The Indian Commerce and Industries Co., Pri- Madras known as Luck Buildings. Limited, Vijayavada and all dividends due and remaining unpaid. original specimens are symbols in the area. vate Ltd., and the Swadharma Swaarajya Sangha (Orthodox Na- ii. One gold plate or tray vi. My life insurances annuity moneys. of the past and have to be The new burial ground came tional League) Ltd., and serve them best in all ways conducive to One gold cup and saucer vii. and all other moneys due to me from any source or sources connected and visualised for the up on the Island in the early their continuity and usefulness to the mother country the great One gold spoon whatsoever. Beehive today – still going strong. 1760s. The earliest interment Bharatvarsha. One gold Doppa 11. This instrument shall come into effect after my life-time… (Continued on page 6) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS April 16-30, 2017

April 20-21: A two-day workshop in meditative colours and forms. on glass sculpting for adults (at Saravanan is a young sculp- DakshinaChitra). tor who has been experimenting April 22: Textures Textiles Weaves, with various kinds of metal Yarns & Dyes by Jagda Rajappa. pieces, mostly junk, and creates Quizmaster V.V. Ramanan’s The exhibition will explore the realistic three-dimensional questions are from March 16th to textures and effects of natural sculptures by welding them. His 31st. Questions 11 to 20 relate to dyes with different kinds of peacocks, hens and temple cars Chennai and Tamil Nadu. weaves (Apparao Galleries). have won him many admirers (at April 22: Workshop on terracotta DakshinaChitra 10 am-6 pm). 1. Which small Central American Solvyns (6 July 1760–10 October Till May 10: Exhibition of paint- mask-making for children (at Till June 30: Under the Radar – Ab- nation has become the first country 1824). A Flemish marine ings and metal sculptures by DakshinaChitra). stractions in two Dimensional in the world to ban metal mining? painter, his collection of etchings Juergen Puetz & Saravanan, two Forms by R.B. Hole. Hukum Lal 2. Which famous tiger reserve has April 23: Ceramic Wall Mural provide a portrait of Calcutta's artists from Auroville. Juergen is Verma, Jyoti Kolte, Rajesh Patil, become the first in India to officially Workshop for adults (at 18th Century history, and the a German artist influenced by Sabbir Hasan Qazi, Apparao introduce a mascot – Bhoorsingh DakshinaChitra). people and customs of Bengal the teachings of Ramana Galleries@sandy’s (Cenetoph the Barasingha? Till April 30: An exhibition of an- (Apparao Galleries). Maharishi and Sri Aurobindo. Road) and Sandy's (Nungam- 3. The first fully Indian-made train cient Lithographs by Balthazar His paintings are abstract works bakkam). was flagged off at Dadar station re- cently. Name it and where was it made. 4. Name the legendary American guitarist, singer and writer of such Exhibiting Tamil culture classics as ‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ who passed away recently. mean much to general visitors. “museum”, gets the desired ex- 5. On March 20th, the Uttara- The latter need more of educa- perience besides receiving an khand High Court in a momentous tional, self-explanatory – even incidental, but useful, educa- decision declared which two water interactive – type of exhibits tional value. bodies as “living persons” and gave and a minimal display of This is what the new Exhibi- them the same legal rights as artefacts sufficient to authenti- tion of Ancient Tamil Culture human beings? cate the re-constructed models. offers. The writer was practi- 6. Asperitas Undulatus, Flammagen- The selective display of cally the first visitor to the new itus and Fluctus are among the 11 artefacts also ensures security building, which unexpected dis- new varieties of which natural for these objects of tinction earned him the privi- formation that we see on a regular unimaginably high antique lege of being personally con- basis? value. Exhibitions ensure that a ducted through the galleries by 7. India’s biggest river festival, ‘Namami ...... ’ was held recently. Fill family looking for entertain- the senior Officer in-Charge in the blank with the name of a river. ment, through a trip to a local himself. 8. The diamond jubilee of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (TEEC) was observed on March 25th. What is this treaty commonly called? 9. Which team won the Santosh Trophy, the symbol of supremacy in (Continued from page 5) National football, for a record 32nd time recently? reality behind them, in order to 10. The recently announced understand life in those times. blockbuster merger between which For this we often need a quali- two telecom companies will create fied guide who can interpret the world’s second largest and and put them together to make India’s largest telecom company? a coherent, authentic and * * * meaningful account of the past. 11. Why was Justice Indira An exhibition, on the other Banerjee in the news recently? hand, re-constructs the past 12. Which facility in the State is through multi-media tech- said to have the longest military niques to make the objects self- runway in Asia? How many more cracks? explanatory. Considerable re- 13. By winning which tournament did Tamil Nadu become the first search into the literature and (Continued from page 1) subsidence had been taken eleven people have died and State to win all BCCI senior level history of those times precedes more seriously. sixteen injured in the work. If trophies? their transformation into visual How else can we explain the Problems regarding heritage incidents such as those on that 14. Where in the State is the form. The exhibits are devel- fact that drilling work has con- structures have, of course, recent Sunday were to repeat, Cosmic Ray Laboratory? oped from a concept through to tinued within five feet of places never figured in the agenda of we may see those figures going 15. The Sahitya Akademi award a physical, three-dimensional, such as the Law College, Ripon the powers that rule over our up. CMRL would also do well to winner for Appavin Snegidhar, who multi-media exhibition. They Building, VP Hall, Siddique Serai, State. Such edifices are largely remember that many of the was born Thyagarajan, passed away enable the audience to under- Bharat Insurance (Kardyl) Build- viewed as impediments to threatened buildings house of- recently. What is his famous nom stand the messages and stories ing and several other heritage progress. But what price human fices and so cracks can endan- de plume? without the help of a guide. properties? In the process, some life? If an entire bus can fall into ger lives there as well. 16. Name the chess player from “Exhibit designers work closely have proved lucky while others a chasm that suddenly opens CMRL has, of late, been Chennai who recently became with graphic designers, content have not. Structural experts up, how can we be confident more interested in stating that India’s latest and 46th Grand- specialists, architects, fabrica- have informed Madras Musings that all passengers will escape to the Metro project has incorpo- master. tors, technical specialists and that VP Hall and Siddique Serai safety every time? There are rated all safety standards to en- 17. The 114-km-long Mana- audio visual experts.” While have sunk in uniformly all also the accident statistics. sure trouble-free operation. But madurai-Rameswaram stretch of the railways is India’s first ‘Green there is, thus, a distinction be- around. This explains the ab- Among the four important what price trouble and casualty- Corridor’. What does that mean? tween a museum and an exhibi- sence of any cracks in these Metro projects in the country, free construction? If that latter 18. During the Kapaleeswarar tion, the former term is often structures but they have gone Chennai ranks second, till was assured, potential passen- Temple utsavam, on the night used loosely to refer to both. down in level by as much as five 2016, on casualties, immedi- gers would have greater confi- Kapali rides the Naga vahanam, Choice of display options are inches or so. Not so fortunate ately after Delhi. Thus far dence in the former too. what does the Amman travel on? influenced, in the last decade or have been Ripon Building and 19. Apart from Kanniyakumari and so, by the visitor profile and the the Law College, both of which Kancheepuram, which two other experience they seek. Some have seen sections go out of districts of the State start with a K? museums in the world are re- plumb, thereby causing cracks. MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB 20. Chinnaiah, Ponniah, Siva- ported to be shifting to exhibits These fissures are now being To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen nandam and Vadivelu, who lived that tell stories rather than dis- monitored closely so that they interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests from during the early 19th Century and play artefacts. Museologists are do not get out of hand. The many well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad contributed to the development of questioning the need for dis- point to be noted, however, is who receive their postal copies very late – for an online edition. Bharata Natyam and Carnatic mu- playing artefacts, the interest in that these could have been pre- Madras Musings is now on the web at www. madrasmusings.com sic, are collectively called…? which is confined to research- vented in the first place if only – THE EDITOR (Answers on page 8) ers and which do not often the observation on possibility of April 16-30, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 JP and Dr. Mani (Continued from learnt enough to set up his own opened and had plenty of time last fortnight) renal unit back home, and de- to settle in. As a result the renal cided to leave, explaining his unit was the first to function in lthough his stay in Austra- decision. “...India had given me the hospital. Alia was a brief two years, a medical education and I felt I Dr. Mani was quick to ob- Dr. Mani learnt a good deal in owed it to India to give her serve that the best and worst of his field of specialisation while some service in return. Also, Indian medicine could be found thoroughly enjoyed working in there was no dearth of trained in Bombay. ”With an admission Sydney Hospital. Known popu- nephrologists in Australia, and system based on merit, and with larly as the Rum Hospital (the there were very few such in In- a larger exchequer... the Gov- local governor had given the dia, so there was a greater need ernment and Corporation ran JP and Dr. Mani. builder the monopoly for alco- for me at home.” medical colleges of a higher hol imports – hence the name). standard than others in the Sydney Hospital had been built Back in Madras in 1970, Dr. Mani found that he was not be- country. There is money in “People with kidney disease are ence from the mystery sur- in 1788 and was almost as run Bombay and large, private hos- often not aware of its presence rounding the illnesses and down as Madras’s Stanley. But ing posted in the newly-started nephrology unit in the GH but pitals thrived and had funds to till it has advanced too far for deaths of present-day politi- it did have a very good renal buy the best of equipment. cure,” Dr. Mani says. This is ap- cians! unit. As Dr. Mani observes, would be sent to Stanley as As- sistant to Physician. He reported Bombay’s doctors always looked parently what happened to JP In 1977, Mrs. Gandhi “The clinical load in any West- to the West... and the public too. “When I first saw JP, he was announced General Elections, ern hospital is far less than that there as assistant to Dr. K. Natarajan, who, although not a were willing to espouse the new, a sick man indeed. He could not thereby energising a somewhat in India.” So he could at last whereas conservative Madras keep awake for more than a depressed JP. He wrote to Dr. savour the pleasures of a 9 am nephrologist himself, helped im- mensely in setting up a renal unit moment or two and would lapse Mani asking him whether he to 6 pm job after getting over into stupor as he was talking. could travel to campaign for the in Stanley. The facilities were G the initial confusions resulting Yamaraja’s He needed dialysis before he Janata Party. Would the doc- from the Australian accent. obviously basic and the unit did brother – II by not get an artificial kidney for could be restored to normal tor permit this? But the hospital tried to per- Janaki Venkataraman mental function”, recalls Dr. “Of course I would permit suade him to stay on, with dialysis. But Dr. Mani and his hard working team managed to Mani. It took a month of dialy- it,” writes Dr. Mani. “In fact I promise of excellent pay and fa- sis before he could be dis- encouraged him to put every- cilities. However, once Dr. work around that, by resorting to peritoneal dialysis. tended to remain a step behind. charged from hospital but he thing into it. Dialysis is a facility Mani felt confident of having So much for the good.... On the needed to be on dialysis at home to enable a man to live. Life is Dr. Mani observes, “One of- other hand, there is only one too. He could have had a kid- of no value if one does not do ten hears complaints by doctors yardstick by which people are ney transplant except that his what one wants to do... we about lack of facilities in India... Wordless measured in Bombay, and that blood-related donors were all would dialyse him in Patna or This is an obvious fact but many is money.” This meant that too old or frail. Given JP’s poor Bombay and he could be Gopulu (doctors) have demonstrated even doctors were not above health, the doctor decided it dialysed in Calcutta and he that good work can be done in adopting practices that were was not worth exposing him to could travel... if he restricted his the worst of conditions, if one G The late Gopulu during his strictly not ethical but good for the risk of this major operation absence from these dialysis cen- has the will. I know of Ananda Vikatan days had a business, like getting commis- when only the second-best op- tres to not more than three days series of wordless jokes that nephrologists who do not sions on referrals. The trend of tion of a kidney from an unre- at a stretch, he would be able to brought about loud laughter. dialyse because they do not pampering wealthy patients lated donor was available. work. JP embarked on an Odys- These were brought out as a have a sterile dialysis room with while ignoring the poor had also Too much the cost of an ar- sey unparalleled in the history book, in 2005, and a copy was suitably gowned and masked started. tificial kidney so that the JP of haemodialysis. He had a di- recently sent to me by nurses, for fear of infection. We Among all the people Dr. could be dialysed at home, a alysis, then flew hundreds of Charukesi. We are pleased to did dialysis in the crowded open publish these cartoons for a Mani treated in Jaslok, and get-well post card was printed miles to address mammoth wards of the Stanley Hospital, many of them were VIPs, Dr. and sold at a rupee a piece to meetings in Delhi, Ahmedabad, new generation of Madrasis. with no higher infection rate – THE EDITOR Mani chooses to remember the public, to be posted to JP. Hyderabad, Bombay. He moved than that occurs in the most so- Jayaprakash Narayan, the Lakhs of people bought the constantly, this 74 year old in- phisticated centres.” Sarvodaya leader. JP’s kidney postcards and mailed them. It valid, snatching his life-giving Despite his good work, Dr. disease and its treatment was easy to buy the artificial dialysis on the run. Most people Mani did not get governmental proved to be a challenge for Dr. kidney from the money thus his age would have called it a recognition as a nephrologist Mani, given the hectic schedule collected. day.” and continued to remain an As- of the leader. JP’s secretary, Abraham, and The Janata Party won that sistant. He got plenty of advice JP had been a diabetic for Janki Pandey, a Sarvodaya election by a landslide. As for on how to get his promotion and twenty years. He was constantly worker (whom JP later adopted) JP, he was readmitted to Jaslok much of it was not to his liking. on the move, ate a variety of dialysed him at home after be- and due to the strenuous efforts A friend advised him to ingrati- foods at odd hours and never ing trained by Dr. Mani. of doctors there managed to ate his way into the home of one had one constant medical at- How much information survive for another two years. of his politician patients, be- tendant, because he never should the doctor treating a In 1984, following his come his family doctor and once stayed long enough at any one VIP patient divulge to the out- mother’s recent death, and that happened, it would be easy place. He also had high blood side world? No more than what other family commitments, Dr. to get his own nephrology unit pressure, his heart was begin- he would release about any of Mani returned to Madras (he with the help of the politician! ning to buckle under the strain, his other patients – that is, none never ever calls it Chennai!) “How we had fallen!” comments but no one suspected kidney at all. “The case of a public fig- and joined Apollo Hospitals at Dr. Mani.” What a far cry from disease when he was incarcer- ure is obviously different. The the request of Dr. Pratap Reddy. the days of Dr. Sanjivi, who re- ated in 1975. He came out five public has a right to know He continues to work there. fused to see me, the Health months later, almost dead from whether their Prime Minister is Known to be a stickler for dis- Secretary’s son, because he had kidney failure. Rumours spi- well enough to discharge his cipline and punctuality, the to go to his GH out-patient ralled, of course, that he had duties, or they may just want to good doctor almost sighs as he clinic.” Frustrated by the in- been poisoned during his con- know about an adored figure says, “Patients are no more creasing amount of bureaucratic finement, or that his kidneys like JP... I left it to Jaslok’s punctual at Apollo... so a few hurdles in his way, he decided to had been deliberately damaged. medical director, Dr. Shantilal letters get done in the time I accept the offer of being chief of “I must state categorically that Mehta... to issue a daily bulle- have to wait.” the renal unit in Jaslok Hospital JP had kidney failure due to dia- tin,” recalls Dr. Mani. He him- “The patients pour in, the in Bombay in 1973. betic nephropathy and not due self never spoke about his pa- work goes on. We win many Jaslok was India’s first multi- to negligence or foul play. tient to anyone. battles and lose some. We save disciplinary hospital, with There was no medical means by As for speaking about him in most of our patients but we are enough facilities so that no pa- which his kidneys could have this book, Dr. Mani writes that losing the battle against dis- tient had to go abroad for treat- been saved between June and this was on JP’s express direc- ease.... I would love to play a ment. It had the best medical November 1975, for the disease tions. “He had asked me to role in preventing disease, in talent in India. The hospital process must have started long make public the details of his ill- keeping normal people healthy was inaugurated in 1973 and before 1975,” Dr. Mani states. ness, to settle the controversy rather than struggling to make Dr. Mani joined the hospital Why had JP’s kidney disease which arose about the manner ill people well.” some months before it formally not been detected earlier? of its causation.” What a differ- (Concluded) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS April 16-30, 2017

igeon fancier Walton P Peppin takes his pigeon rac- ing very seriously. In fact, Walton and his wife Janet relo- Flights of fancy cated home to accommodate their pigeons. racing pigeons in 1989; his first 1976, the Madras Homing Pi- more foreign breeds. Prasad, Walton says, “I love my pigeon was bought for Rs. 50 geon Association was formed. president, Central Madras birds, the birds come first. only. He is a long-time member The very next year, the North Homer Club, imports eggs of When it comes to racing, I re- of the All Madras Homer Club Madras Homing Pigeon Asso- long-distance racing birds and ally like to win and do every- that has 55 members; this club ciation was founded. Unfortu- has them incubated here. Dr. thing to ensure a win.” holds regular racing events. nately, these two organisations Noel Kannan of Kottivakkam, And win he does. His lounge There are 13 clubs in Madras did not survive long. Then, who has returned after a stint as is filled with over a hundred tro- and competition is fierce. For there was a long lull. a dental surgeon in Dammam, phies proudly displayed. some races the birds are caged In 1981, A. Baldrey, a pigeon Saudi Arabia, boasts of 250 Walton also has a pile of certifi- and transported up to 1,350 fancier, imported two breeds of birds in his lofts. The cream of Walton Peppin. cates. kilometre from Madras before racing pigeons from the United this crop is the world-renowned I asked Walton if he had a ‘lost’ birds return after three or being released to race home. States – Paulsion and Stassert Belgium Silvere Toye pigeons. particular favourite cup. He four months. Some are known Walton says, “I have had be- (named after the men who bred He bought five pairs of them in said, “I have 2 cups of which I to have returned after three or these racers). In 1983, J. Dias 1992. “Belgium is the Mecca of am very proud. If you win an four years. shipped in seven pairs of the pigeon racing. It has over three event three consecutive times, Then there is a problem of Sodenberg racing pigeons from lakh pigeon fanciers,” says you get to keep the cup.” G by medicine. “A pigeon’s illness is the U.S. Some time later, Kannan. Walton takes great pride in often infectious. When such an Nigel Foote Baldrey left Madras to settle in A South Indian Pigeon So- all his birds; however, he does illness hits a loft, they (pigeons) Coimbatore and Dias left the ciety was started in Chennai in have some favourites. Walton drop like flies. The disease city to put down roots in 2009, mainly to unite all the pi- told me a story about one par- called Ronycot is a case in Pondicherry. However, they left geon fanciers under a single ticular pigeon: tween 70 and 150 birds; they point. We do not have vaccines behind an invaluable treasure banner and to further improve “One of my prized birds are kept in three lofts on the against many such killer dis- for pigeon fanciers (as they de- the sport of pigeon racing in failed to return home after a terrace of my house.” eases. We have to import scribe themselves) in the city. India. race. We waited for days but It takes great effort, care and them,” says Ravi, president, By introducing these birds in “In Chennai, the racing sea- still it did not return, so I gave attention to keep the birds in Chennai Homing Pigeon Fanci- the city, the two men gave pi- son starts in January and usually up hope of seeing it again. tip-top condition. Walton says, ers’ Club. geon racing a new lease of life. ends in April or May. During Then, one day, four and a half “We feed them the best grain “To most veterinarians here, In 1984, the New Madras these races, the birds are re- months later, it flew home, mi- we can buy, the lofts are cleaned a pigeon is an unknown quan- Racing Pigeon Association was leased from places such as nus one leg. We were very twice a day and washed out tity. They do not seem to be born. Slowly, more and more pi- Kavali, Kasipet, Sirpur and happy. Who knows what this with caustic soda every Satur- equipped with the knowledge to geon fanciers got into the act, Nagpur. During January and bird went through to make back day. The birds are also given ex- treat pigeons. They just tell us, and four more clubs saw the February, the wind is to us!” ercise and training.” No wonder ‘Nip the problem in the bud by light of day. Unlike the ones in favourable. But in March, they His interest in pigeons Walton and Janet’s pigeons are killing the diseased bird.’ We the 1970s, these clubs have are confronted with side wind. started when he was five years winners! – Courtesy: Anglos in expect more from them than stood the test of time. Today, They contend with the worst old and he attributes this early the Wind. such an advice,” says Balaji, a Chennai has about 200 pigeon during April, when they fly start to his father William A special correspondent adds: pigeon fancier. fanciers, each of whom has no against the wind. More often Peppin who was a pigeon en- Pigeon racing in Madras/ Another problem is the cost less than 75 homing pigeons in than not, it is in April that they thusiast himself. Walton started Chennai has a long history. In of maintaining a loft with, say, a his loft. compete in the longest race – hundred pigeons. The feeding Homing pigeons (or racing 925 km from Nagpur to expenses alone take quite a bite pigeons) are equipped by breed- Chennai. Such a wind can dis- out of a fancier’s resources. Answers to Quiz ing and training to fly home, of- orient them and they lose direc- Building a good loft can often ten from great distances. They tion. Due to disturbances from break the bank. Many fanciers 1. El Salvador; 2. Kanha; 3. Medha was made at ICF; 4. Chuck Berry; 5. have an irrepressible and un- birds of prey, these pigeons have spent a fortune on their Ganga and Yamuna; 6. Clouds; 7. Brahmaputra; 8. Treaty of Rome; 9. Ben- canny instinct to come back to sometimes shoot off in a wrong lofts, drawing protests from gal; 10. Idea Cellular and Vodafone. their lofts. direction. Some such pigeons family members. * * * Pigeon fanciers in Chennai return after many days. Some Despite these problems, they 11. She is the new Chief Justice of the Madras High Court; 12. INS Rajali; are not content with the birds others never.” continue to pursue the hobby 13. Deodhar Trophy; 14. Ooty; 15. Ashokamitran; 16. Srinath Narayanan; they have. Some are bringing in Sometimes, out of the 500 because they have an obsessive 17. There would be zero discharge of human waste on tracks in the section; 18. Kamadhenu; 19. Karur and Krishnagiri; 20. ‘Thanjavur Quartet’. more breeds. Rajasekharan of birds released during races, only attachment to their pigeons and Royapuram has imported a few 50 return on time. Some of the a desire to see them win.

Madras Musings is supported as a public service by the following organisations

Amalgamations Group Bata India Limited

The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

Rane Group

Since 1856, Sundram Fasteners Hotels Resorts patently leaders UCAL AUTO — A WELLWISHER Limited and Palaces TVS MOTOR COMPANY PRIVATE LIMITED

PublishedPublished by S. byMuthiah, S. Muthiah Lokavani for SouthernëChennai Printers Heritageí, Pvt. 260-A,Ltd., 122, TTK Greams Road, Road,Chennai Chennai 600 018600 and006. printedPrinted by AnuT J GeorgeVarghese at at Lokavani-Hallmark Lokavani Southern PressPrinters Pvt. Pvt. Ltd., Ltd., 122, 122, Greams Greams Road,Road, Chennai 600600 006,006. and Edited edited by byS. S.MUTHIAH. Muthiah.