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•Short ‘N’ Snappy

•Will roads affect rivers? MADRAS •The ‘Dadha’of Mylapore-Triplicane •AVM shows the way •75 - & still going strong

Vol. XVII No. 24 MUSINGS April 1-15, 2008 CorporationIs VPH to allocates get a new more for capital A green landmark projects Calendar confusion (By A Special Correspondent) The month that just went by? It was March, right? he Chennai Corporation’s Rs.1000 each. Free bus passes Looks-like-cool-days-are-done- TBudget for 2008-09 has al- for disabled children and their it’s-getting-nice-and-warm- located Rs.374.5 crore for capi- escorts are planned to give a fil- March? tal works (roads, bridges, storm- lip to school attendance. In ad- Then, can someone explain the rain? water drains). This is Rs.86.5 dition, street children will be ac- That’s right – rain, clouds, light- crore more than the previous commodated in night shelters ning – everything you expect year’s allocation. Civic ameni- and trained at bridge schools year-end or thereabouts. ties such as the Mint flyover, the before joining the mainstream Plants and crops looked up at Ganesapuram subway and the institutions. Rewards would the sky, wondering what’s flyover-cum-underpass on Lat- also be given to the headmaster/ going on. tice Bridge Road figure in the headmistress of Corporation Fauna scratched its collective new budget. A new auditorium schools securing the first three head, equally puzzled. for North Chennai, similar to places in the Tenth and Plus And someone, somewhere, in the Pitti Thyagaraya Chetty Hall Two board exams (three prizes charge of such things, looked in T. Nagar, is to be constructed. - Rs. 5,000, Rs. 3,000 and up ancient tomes, flipping Multi-level car parks are to come Rs. 2,000), Rs. 500 to teachers timeless pages, muttering, up on Wallace Garden Road in of subjects in which the stu- “Let’s see now, that part of the world March no, no in- Nungambakkam and Broadway. dents scored centum, Rs. 1,000 structions here about organi- For the first time, neighbour- to headmaster/headmistress of sing rain.” hoods will be recognised for seg- Corporation schools which se- This wasn’t just the odd, playful regating wastes and a cash prize cured 90 per cent pass percent- shower. of Rs. 5,000 is promised for the age, and Rs. 500 to teachers of No, this was the real thing. two neighbourhood associa- subjects in which students se- People planned events happily, tions with the best record in this cured above 95 per cent. A telling one another that bar- aspect. The two best conser- huge host of computer equip- ring sudden political upheav- vancy inspectors will receive ment is expected to be distrib- als or celebrity brouhaha – Rs.10,000 each. The Corpora- uted to several Corporation which always have the worst tion hopes that these motiva- schools. possible effect on daily life The Corporation promises to and traffic – this should go tional schemes will inspire the through smoothly. people to manage waste better. take steps to minimise paper And then, it happened. The mosquito menace by work in house construction. It One fat wet drop that landed which the city is plagued is has recommended to the square on the ground before planned to be handled by the Chennai Metropolitan Deve- them. procurement of hand-held fog- lopment Authority to approve They gazed at it, and then ging equipment, vehicle- plans for house construction in looked up at the sky. mounted larvicide sprayers and plots as small as 500 sq ft in “You’ve got to be kidding,” they catamarans for spraying larvi- (Continued on page 4) intoned gloomily. cides on waterways. The citizens are stressed out. Buoyed by increasing rev- l Nature enthusiasts can now How do you prepare for the see a rare spectacle in the gar- unexpected or rather, the- enues, the Corporation has looked at education, health and dens of the YWCA on shouldn’t-be-happening-at- Poonammallee High Road. A alls? welfare schemes in particular in grand talipot palm is in its Trying out that new gossamer-y its plans for the coming year. fruiting stage! Blooming is a outfit thinking summer’s A budget of Rs. 10 crore is rare phenomenon, a once-in- here? proposed for education. School- a-lifetime event for this palm. Fine, but don’t assume the toppers from the city’s Corpora- This particular tree at the weather will be. tion schools will be given com- YWCA is of the species Nature seems to be flexing puters as prizes. Corporation Corypha macropoda, one of muscles more and more these school students who score 1000 about eight species of the ge- days. nus Corypha, and bears fruit marks and above in the Higher only once during its lifespan. ‘Inconvenient truths’ piling up? Secondary and 400 and above (Also see page 6) Ranjitha Ashok in the SSLC will be given

CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2008 Will proposed Weddings roads – Vadapalani style he Man from Madras lope in the hands of the bride, then we discovered the reason affect City’s T Musings had, if regular even while shaking hands with for the driver’s refusal to coop- readers of his will recollect, the groom. And then someone erate. There was no ambu- foresworn from going to any shoved MMM aside as a senior lance, it was a vehicle bearing a wedding conducted in Vada- relative had arrived and so the party flag and from the registra- palani. But last week, circum- bridal pair had to prostrate be- tion number it appeared to be rivers? stances were different. For one, fore their elder in the narrow from the mofussil. This vehicle this wedding was on a Sunday space that MMM occupied. had been fitted with an ambu- (By A Special Correspondent) and in the morning. Secondly, Even as MMM fell on several lance siren and from the grins it was held at the Vadapalani assorted relatives and earned of those inside, it appeared that wo recent announcements spell doom to the Cooum, or Temple, a shrine MMM had their curses, the bride and they were most amused at the Tby the Government have whatever is left of it. It is also long desired to visit. So off groom fell at the feet of an aged way they had fooled all of us. put question marks on the fu- vital that drainage for the areas went MMM, his heart ready to uncle and received his bless- The bus driver, being at an el- ture of the city’s waterways and abutting the Cooum is planned, face the fate. ings. Such is life for you. evation, had seen that this was whatever little natural life that as otherwise most of the sewers Nearing the shrine, the His duty done, his toe no ambulance and had conse- is left on their banks. The first is and stormwater drains empty populace increased quite a bit stubbed and his body feeling a quently refused to cooperate. the 15 km elevated roadway into it. The proposed road may and the proceedings were being good deal battered, MMM stag- But up came a policeman who directed by a disembodied gered away. It was only at the ensured that sufficient space that is proposed from the Port simply cut off all access or, even voice, which was, alas, not that entrance that MMM remem- was created for the politico-am- to Maduravoyal. This was ini- worse, alter alignments as was of God, but of a stentorian po- bered that he had forgotten to bulance to race ahead, wailing tially planned along the banks the case with the MRTS which licewoman safely ensconced in pray at the sanctum. Anyway, siren and all. The traffic closed of the River Cooum, but now has resulted in the frequent a booth issuing her benedic- it was too crowded and the in once again and the gridlock has been shifted so that it comes flooding of parts of Mylapore. It tions through a public address Maker probably had not had continued. The policeman up on the central portion of is significant that the Chennai system. Before long, MMM was time to receive MMM. At the went back to giving his imita- Poonamallee High Road be- Metropolitan Water Supply and identified for blessings, in the gopuram, MMM stood for a few tion of a statue put up in his tween Maduravoyal and Sewerage Board is not part of shape of a tersely worded an- minutes to catch his breath, honour by his admirers. Koyambedu. What is significant the proposed venture. nouncement that if the balding and bespectacled “saar” in MM on email is that the government press re- In a related matter, the white shirt did not move, there SHORT lease still states that the road Finance Budget of the State, were bright chances of his be- ’N’ hief: I don’t know if it was will be along the left bank of the presented on March 21, ing hauled up before the awful Csuch a good idea getting on River Cooum. announced that Rs. 2300 crore majesty of the law. So MMM SNAPPY the email after all. The Man The project has been pro- has been allotted to building a moved and soon found himself from Madras Musings knows posed to ease the access to the 120 km circular, high-speed being sucked into the mael- you are all for technology, but Port and is jointly planned by transportation corridor all along strom at the entrance of the only to be informed by the voice in the absence of an email ID, the Chennai Port Trust and the the river banks of the city. The shrine. of the policewoman that the MMM could write any odd National Highways Authority four- and six-lane roads will Inside, it was like Kothwal “saar” appeared to be slow on thing and get away with it. But now he becomes accountable of India (NHAI), with support pass along the Cooum, the Chavdi in its heyday. Crowds the uptake and did he think the milled all around and, at first and not only does the postman from the Central and State Buckingham Canal, the Adyar entrance was his? It also added sight, to a dazed MMM, it ap- that in case slowcoaches knock, he also comes in the e- Governments. The total cost is and the Mambalam Canals. peared as though everyone in wanted to visit the temple at lei- way. This time with an email estimated to be Rs. 1468 crore The NHAI will construct 60 km Madras was getting married to sure, then any time after 8.30 from an irate reader, which, at of which the land acquisition of this road which will provide someone else. There were at night was the best bet and not first read, appeared to be in a and resettlement and rehabili- major relief to those travelling bridegrooms and brides in all on weekdays and wedding days. foreign language. This was its tation costs are expected to from central Chennai to shapes and sizes. MMM’s invi- MMM got the message. content: amount to Rs. 345 crore. The Tambaram, the IT Corridor and tation had safely omitted to MADRAS MUSINGS DT State Government has agreed other places. mention that there would be so FEB 16/29 SHORT AND Wailing sirens SNAPPY to reimburse the Port Trust 50% Where does all this leave the many weddings taking place at the same time. On showing the Sir, of the land acquisition and re- waterways themselves? Will he other day, The Man from invitation to a temple official, TMadras Musings, whose In the above mentioned ar- settlement costs. The other half they be improved to keep pace MMM was asked to check near search for a permanent home of ticle it is seen that MMM has would come from the with the hi-tech roads that are the temple tank, and thither he his own appears to be taking an impulsion to critisize only Jawaharlal Nehru National Ur- going to come up along their muscled his way through. Near him further and further away government buildings. His ban Renewal Mission. The banks? Or will high walls shut the tank, there were many sub- from the city, was on his way to putrid remarks about Chennai and Tiruvallur District them off from the view of those shrines and each was playing see a plot of land in distant Nammakal Building in the Collectors, in coordination with on the roads? Also, what of the host to a relay race in weddings. Tirumazhisai. It was raining secretariat is immaterial, ir- the Slum Clearance Board and Adyar Estuary and the Creek Pair after pair waited patiently and visibility was poor and as relevant and uncalled for and the PWD, have begun enu- which are ecologically sensitive surrounded by a host of rela- for the road, a dirt track would out of context. If the building is sticking out meration and assessment of parts of the city? Has the pro- tives and when their names have scored better. The bro- were announced by a profusely chure of the real estate devel- like a sore thumb what about families that will be affected by posed Adyar Ecological Park sweating and cursing priest, the oper claimed that this was a the IOB building in Anna this. The Slum Clearance Board been taken into account while betrothed would step up and be National Highway and MMM Salai, and the entire stretch of will be the nodal agency for re- planning these roads? It is a pronounced man and wife. thinks that whoever wrote the OMR FILLED WITH con- settlement and rehabilitation. cause for concern that the Gov- This would be accompanied by copy must have done so after a crete and glazed monsters. All this has raised a question ernment does not think that a scuffle among the relatives of late night. Anyway, even as The letter written by a over what is to happen to all the matters affecting city life are the outgoing bridal party and MMM was bumping along, rea- former government official has high-sounding plans that had subjects for debates among its those coming in. While all this sonably at peace with himself, had MMM quake in his shoes. earlier been drawn up for clean- residents. It is to be hoped that was in progress, video camera- he found the traffic coming to a But then, he would also like to clarify. The only reason why ing up the Cooum. If the fate of the Government will come out men, separate teams for each halt. There was complete wedding, would add to the Namakkal Building is cited is the Buckingham Canal after the soon with a plan for the roads, gridlock ahead and, to add to chaos. MMM was quite amazed the tension in the situation, that it happens to be a mon- MRTS came up is anything to which will be put up for discus- that at the end of the day, the came the wails of an ambulance strosity built in a heritage pre- go by, the proposed move will sion. bridal couples managed to sort right at the back. A heart pa- cinct. How can any govern- themselves out and the right tient perhaps? A woman in the ment allow such a thing to hap- man got married to the right throes of labour? An accident pen is the question. As for Our Addresses wife. victim? These were the other monstrosities, MMM has MMM had nearly given up thoughts of MMM and several been no admirer of theirs, but For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts and finding the wedding which he others who all made way for the they are at least not in a zone copies, change of address, and all other circulation matters: CHENNAI HERITAGE, had come to attend, when a vehicle. All except a bus driver, that should be on the world 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. kindly acquaintance led him to who refused to move his ve- heritage list. And MMM would E-mail: [email protected] the right spot, which was inside hicle. also like to add, the mainte- On editorial matters: THE EDITOR, MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani the main shrine. Here, too, the MMM and others were nance of the Namakkal Build- Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. same chaos was in progress (if puzzled and most irritated with ing being what it is, it anyway No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Queries sent by e-mail or regular that is the right word). MMM the driver and wondered at his stands apart. Trust this clari- mail will be answered as soon as possible. managed to work up a quick insensitivity. By then the wail- fies. smile and thrust the gift enve- ing vehicle was up front and – MMM – THE EDITOR April 1-15, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

My grandmother, ‘Machi’ homemaker. Her culinary skills were renowned. Every evening was touched to read what my grandfather used to host Ireader Radha Gopala- several visitors from all walks A rare oneness krishnan had to say about my of life – one of them was ay I share with your readers the following written by Dr. mother Sarada Devi, daughter Traffic rules on TV Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan – MPrema Padmanabhan, Medical Director of the Sankara of Dr. K.N. Kesari (MM, March and grandmother saw to it that Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation, in the January 2008 16th). issue of the Prabuddha Bharata, a monthly journal of the tatistics have shown that not a single person left the My mother was the embodi- Ramakrishna Order, started by Swami Vivekananda. In an in- STamil Nadu has the most house without enjoying her ment of patience, love and gen- spiring article, ‘Mortal eyes in search of Immortal vision’, she road accidents in India and snacks and coffee. erosity. It is only natural that wrote in respect of that courageous couple Mano and Mahema most of them are fatal. It all I was only eight when she possessed these qualities as Devadoss: boils down to the fact that we ‘Machi’ passed away in 1955 at How rare it is to come across someone who bears his cross she had extraordinary parents, lack ‘road-sense’ and do not the age of 64. But I will always with‘ joy. Sometimes fate strikes a hammerblow with malignant Dr. K.N. Kesari and Madhavi- follow the rules of the road. remember the picture of a thin, force, as it did on a lovely couple whom I have had the good amma. More often than not, a careless lithe figure ever walking briskly fortune of knowing. Accomplished and talented artists both, Madhaviamma – ‘Machi’ as mistake results in a family losing inside the huge mansion that they had reached the zenith of their professional lives when trag- she was affectionately called by edy struck a double blow – a traffic accident that left her paraly- its bread-winner. was Kesari Kuteeram. Some years also, when I was all who knew her – was the solid sed and an incurable eye disease that reduced his vision to a in Saudi Arabia working for a support behind all the Madhavi Ramachandran tubular field. With no hope of cure for either, their lives seemed bank, the two Saudi channels endeavours and achievements 203, Peters Road, Gopalapuram to have come to a standstill. But, in a sense they complemented used to start their programme of my grandfather. She was a Chennai 600 086 each other even more thereafter, their interdependence becom- ing their strength, not their weakness. “She has my eyes” he by 7.00 p.m. with a focus on multifaceted and extraordinary Palm Grove days would say. “He has my limbs” would be her rejoinder, capturing better driving sense. From 7.00 person far ahead of her times. the ardhanari (half male-half female) concept in their total one- to 7.15 p.m. was the ‘Traffic Madhaviamma married Dr. he reference to Palm Grove ness. I was conscious of my dual responsibility when I operated Programme’ in which an actual K.N. Kesari cutting across all Tin the reminiscences of Dr. on her eyes. “Remember, doctor,” she said just before I com- accident scene was shown and, caste and language barriers. She Kesari (MM, March 1st) menced my surgery, “your surgery will have to restore vision for through graphics, how the acci- came from Kerala to Madras, to brought back fond memories of both of us!” dent occurred was depicted. totally different surroundings, my childhood days spent in that Their house is a home for many – young boys and girls whose Finally, the message was how people and situations. She “palatial residence”. education they support, budding artists whose progress they su- the accident could have been adapted herself remarkably well S. Doraiswami Iyer was my pervise, people from all walks of life besieged by personal prob- lems who seek their counsel, and many others who have just averted, if only the rules (all and at the same time retained maternal grand-uncle (i.e. Mamathatha). Though we lived grown addicted to their warmth. He does not see the face he is mentioned) had been followed. her own identity. She was well talking to, but recognises the Lord everywhere. She cannot lift TV is a powerful medium. versed in Ayurveda and, to- in George Town, we, the grand- so much as a finger, but embraces all humanity. No longer able We have a number of private gether, my grandfather and she children, used to spend our to draw and paint, they have made of their lives a work of art- channels which should take built up Kesari Kuteeram as the summer vacation in Palm Grove filling the canvas of each day with rich colours of love, laughter, upon themselves the duty of premier Ayurvedic centre of – delightful and memorable and joy. telecasting such useful that time. days indeed! Sadly,’ Mahema Devadoss passed away in March. I have programmes. Children who The Kesari Kuteeram busi- He had a roaring practice on quoted the above as a token of my deepest sympathies to the watch TV will be benefited by ness shifted to Westcott Road, the original side in the Madras surviving angel on his saddest bereavement. this. When we were children Royapettah, in 1937. This be- High Court. His office premises K. Vedamurthy our parents taught us how to came a large establishment with at his residence would be teem- Indiranagar, Adyar, Chennai 600 020 cross the road carefully. Nowa- a handsome bungalow in the ing with many of his juniors at days mothers are as ignorant as middle, surrounded by the fa- work (RV, our former Presi- mier of Madras, called on S.D. nial), should be sensitive to the the children, and we find moth- cilities where the medicines dent, was one among them!). to prevail upon him to accept plight of the thousands of ers holding their children on were prepared. Doraiswami Iyer held open his elevation to a High Court people living in the State who their right while walking – My grandmother was a very house and the juniors used to judgeship after he had an- do not have shelter. How would which can always be a risk. capable administrator, having have their lunch and dinner nounced his retirement from these people view a governor M. Fazal considerable financial and per- with him on many an occasion. the legal profession to seek a getting Government to spend 11, Mosque Street sonnel management skills. I still remember the day when spiritual life in Pondicherry lakhs of rupees for the construc- Hasthinapuram, Chennai 600 064 ‘Machi’ was an equally good C. Rajagopalachari, then Pre- Ashram. tion of a bungalow on the beach It was the talk of the town in for which he has no legitimate An example, 1937 when he sold his bunga- need. He has spacious Raj of why we keep low and all his possessions and Bhavan; is not that space offered the proceeds to the enough for him? Does he really repeating the Ashram and settled there to need a bungalow that would re- request below: serve Sri Aurobindo and mind the citizens about colonial Mother. rule when the heads of govern- His daughter, Kousiki, who ments lived in posh conditions Readability married V. Viswanathan, I.C.S., unmindful of the conditions of please former Governor of Kerala, is a the majority? nonagenarian and lives in At this time, I can only think Dear Readers, Delhi. of Gandhiji who travelled in a As letters from readers third class compartment to Cdr. R. Ganapathi (Retd) share the miseries of the lower increase, we are receiving more 116, Defence Officers’ Colony and more handwritten letters, Chennai 600 032 income group. The Governor’s many of them in a hand so small Bungalow in Elliot’s Beach is and illegible or large and Beach bungalow bound to become a symbol of scrawled as to be unreadable. s a resident of Besant insensitivity of those in power. Often this leads to our A Nagar and a regular Meanwhile, the Corporation discarding a letter, particularly if evening walker on the Besant is going ahead with the beautifi- some part of it is unreadable. Nagar beach, I feel unhappy cation of Elliot’s Beach, spend- If you wish us to consider your about the construction of a ing crores of rupees, unmindful letter for publication, please Governor’s Bungalow on of the views of the public and type it with enough space Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar. without providing credible ex- between lines or write it using a On the one hand, Chennai planation for several aspects of its beautification scheme. medium hand, clearly dotting Corporation talks about beauti- the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. fying Elliot’s Beach but, at the All that we need is that Many readers also try to fill same time, it keeps its eyes Elliot’s Beach be left undis- turbed and in its natural state. every square centimetre of a closed to the construction of a concrete building in the name All that is required from the postcard space (as in the case Chennai Corporation is ensur- on left), making reading or edit- of a Governor’s bungalow on the beach. It raises several ques- ing that it is kept clean; Nature ing impossible. tions which the Tamil Nadu will take care of its beauty. Please help us to consider your Governor and Chennai Corpo- N.S. Venkataraman letters more favourably by mak- ration should answer. ing them more legible for us. M 60/1, 4th Cross Street The Governor, as the Head Besant Nagar – THE EDITOR of the State (though ceremo- Chennai 600 090 4 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2008 April 1-15, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

A look around l Out of the Past Old Madras The ‘Dadha’ of (Continued from last and prostitutes came to stay All the high buildings in Ma- fortnight) there. As the English people used dras were built during my time. Mylapore-Triplicane to pass this place, the residents The High Court building was Law & order would call out to them and they erected when I was studying in hefts were common. For in- in reply asked, ‘Why do you call?’ the Govindappa Naicker High ASI VILAS, on Brodie’s Math in Madras, to which he Tstance, a fellow would shout Gradually that got converted to School at the Pachaiappa’s Col- SRoad, is a house no one pays gave one of his houses in that some person had drowned in Odakkalu Street. Anyway, de- lege Building. It was built with any attention to. But in the early Keshavaperumal Street to start the Cooum River. When people cent people never used to pass black stones. Lifts were used to 20th Century, it was an address the Ramakrishna Mission Stu- collected, another fellow would that way for obvious reasons. take the stones up. Schoolchil- known to many in Madras. It was dents Home in 1905. Later, the steal money and fountain pens In Vaikunta Vadyar Street dren would watch the lift with the home of Dr. M.C. Nanjunda Home moved to one of his A view of Sasi Vilas on Brodie’s Road (now RK Mutt Road). from their pockets and disappear there stayed Vaishnavas who amusement. If I felt lazy to attend Rao who was a well-known fig- houses in Kutcheri Road, from the scene. The fellow who were expert cooks and con- school or if I had not studied my A 1927 advertisement in Swadesamitran for Lodhra, a product of Kesari ure in the city for many reasons. Chamundi Vihar. Along with was removed and passage made pended upon the inflow of pil- Kuteeram. shouted would announce that he ducted marriage functions. In lessons, I also was in the habit of Born in 1862 near Mysore, he Alasinga Perumal, Dr. Nanjunda possible again. grims, in a peaceful protest. The would catch the thief and make those days, if anyone died his bed spending time near the building Bank was in Broadway and both Mandapati Ramakrishnayya moved to Madras with his par- Rao was instrumental in publish- A deeply religious person, Dr. Commissioner of Gharwal had to his escape. was given to Brahmins as gift and and you could say it was built later shifted to new buildings. was a lucky man. He owned a lot ents in the mid-1880s to study ing Prabudhha Bharata (Awak- Nanjunda Rao found his spiritual hastily withdraw the ban in the In Central Station as well as this was called ‘Sayya Danam’. under my ‘supervision’! The Old The Port Office and the new of buildings in Madras. In medicine. When he passed out, ened India) from Madras from guru in a simple Brahmin face of this protest. Dr. Rao in temples, during festival times, The Brahmin receiving it had to High Court was situated in the Harbour were built when I was Aminjikkarai, he had a beautiful he was appointed an Assistant 1896 till 1898. It is the oldest woman, Sakkarai Ammal. He walked the distance to the it was common for thieves to sit with his wife and after doing Collector’s office. young. We used to go for walks house with a nice garden. He of- Professor in the Madras Medical English journal of its kind in In- built a temple for her at shrines, not heeding the advice snatch chains from children by ‘pada puja’ had to take the gift. If The Esplanade Y.M.C.A. was on Saturday and Sunday along ten came to this house with his College. He was also the first to dia and is currently being pub- Thiruvanmiyur and endowed of a few doctor friends in Madras cutting with scissors. Years ago, a person came without his wife, also built at that time. Earlier it the old harbour. In Mount Road, friends. He was a friend of the be appointed to the post of lished from Mayawati in the much land for her benefit. The who had warned him against it as in the houses of Komatti people he had to arrange for someone to was in a flat in front of the High T.R. Tawker & Sons buildings, late Maharaja of Vizianagaram, Chemical Examiner to the Gov- Himalaya. In a letter from En- temple was recently renovated. it would further damage his di- in Govindappa Naicken Streetin Spencer and Company, new Ananda Gajapathy. ernment of Madras. His courage gland to Dr. Nanjunda Rao, He studied Tamil at an advanced lated heart. This left him very act as his wife. There were Court. There were classes for George Town, thefts were com- women ready to perform this job. book-keeping, shorthand and S.I.R. Station, Beach Station, Dr. Varadappa Nayudu be- and lofty principles that he be- Swami Vivekananda promised to age to better appreciate the glory weak and he returned to Madras mon. Houses were very close to Another custom was that if a typewriting. I also joined to study Moore Market – all these build- longed to Brahmo Samaj. He was came famous for were high- Dr. M.C. Nanjunda Rao help the journal by getting sub- of Thevaram and Thirupugazh. an emaciated figure. After his re- each other and one could easily ings came up (during my time). 6 feet tall and stout. He had a lighted when he was not allowed scribers for it from there. He also contributed considerably turn, he went about organising a person who died had no relatives, these. When it was shifted to the apologising for causing him in- jump from one house to the Before the construction of the long beard. He was a general to read a paper on Ayurveda at a Dr. Nanjunda Rao was greatly towards the renovation of the trip to Rameswaram, said to be people were arranged to weep for new building, I joined there and convenience at that hour, told other. So thieves could enter Law College, B.L. classes were practitioner who also attended seminar; the then Director of loved by the public. He opened Saint Thiruvalluvar temple in necessary to reap full benefits of the loss and they were paid for it. learned exercises and other in- him that they thought that many houses easily and they stole held in the High Court premises. delivery cases. He was like Dr. Medical Sciences, the European the M.C.N. Eclectic Dispensary Mylapore, in whose compound a trip to Badrinath. His doctor In Madras, there were many door games. I am still in contact Subramania Bharati was hiding the jewellery of women. Classes went on till 10.a.m. Emi- Rangachari by nature. He at- who refused him permission, had for the poor in Triplicane, sell- he built a temple for Vasuki friends were against this too. agraharams, such as Kollavari with Y.M.C.A. The Royapettah there. Dr. Nanjunda Rao sent After these thefts, iron bars nent professors were Rama- tended to poor people free of termed Ayurveda a barbaric sci- ing medicines there at very Ammal, wife of Saint Thiru- However, he insisted on making them away, telling them that were fitted in all houses in that chandra Rao and T.V. Seshagiri charge. Instead, he asked them ence! Dr. Nanjunda Rao dis- norminal prices. An example of valluvar. the journey. Soon after his return l Reminiscences of Bharati was not there. The police locality. But then, robbers began Iyer, Venkatarama Chetty and to utilise the amount to buy milk agreed and quit his post. That he his liberal attitude was when he On arrival in Rishikesh, on his from Rameswaram, he passed had to leave as they could not entering houses bending the iron Dr. K. N. Kesari - III Subramanya Iyer. and other things for the patient. had a large family to maintain went to the Harijan quarters near way to the sacred shrines of away. The high esteem that he but respect his word, particularly bars or by climbing up along the He helped students. He was a and was not above want did not Badrinath and Kedarnath, he was held in by the public was Prominent people as he was treating many of their pipeline or by breaking open the great and pious man. He founded sit heavily on him. He believed found that the Government of demonstrated by the thousands Agraharam, Krishnappa Naic- Y.M.C.A. is next to my house henna Kesavulu Chetty families. As soon as they went, locks. the orphan house on Tiruvot- in standing up for what he Gharwal had suddenly banned who attended his funeral in ken Agraharam, Ekamreswara and I am a member there. I used Cgaru was my classmate in Dr. Nanjunda Rao planned l by Police advise us to engage a tiyur Road. His medical shop thought was right. entry of pilgrims to the shrines. 1921. Agraharam, Ravichittu Agra- to go for dance and music perfor- Sivasankara Pandya School. His Bharati’s escape to Pondicherry. KARTHIK A. BHATT watchman or to entrust the haram and others for Brahmins. mances. Allbut & Company was at first in It was after resigning that he He petitioned the Commissioner father, Venkatavarada Reddy, The Buckingham Canal, which Acknowledgements: Glori- house to neighbours while going Nowadays, these are populated The Railway Audit Office, Broadway. Now it is in Mount took to private practice. Soon, he of Gharwal to remove the ban, was a rich man. He was well was just a stone’s throw from ous Years – A brief life-sketch by out. by people other than Brahmins. where the Madras and Southern Road. became popular with many for which no reasons had been known to all. He had a pair of Dr. Hallar was well known zamindars and rajahs. Among their house, had boats carrying disclosed. When there was no re- Damodar Rao, grandson of Cycle thefts are common in Long ago there was a place in Mahratta Railway Audit office white horses and they attracted amongst the Komatti people. He them were the Maharajah of merchandise upto Pondicherry. his place to treat his sick coach- sponse, he enlisted the support of Dr. Nanjunda Rao; Ashok, great front of offices and coffee hotels. Thiruvottiyur High Road noted building is situated now, was the attention of each and every- was an Anglo-Indian, slim and Mysore, his old benefactor, the Dr. Nanjunda Rao bargained man Kandan for typhoid and the pilgrims and the Gharwali grandson of Dr. Nanjunda Rao, Police advise us to keep the for dhobis, and it got the name once a park and hence the place one in the city. He owned the short. With his short stories (an- Rajah of Venkatagiri and the with a boatman to take Subra- brought him home to recuperate porters, whose livelihood de- who lives in Sasi Vilas. cycles locked. Besides they say ‘Chaklipeta’. Soon, people be- came to be known as Park Town. first house in Varada Muthi- ecdotes), he used to make his Zamindar of Kattuputhur. He mania Bharati, who was dressed in one of the cottages in his gar- they have strengthened the num- longing to all religions settled Next to this is the Post Office. appan Street, the side shops and patients laugh. He had a was affectionately known as the as a fakir, to Pondicherry. He also den. Needless to say, the Brah- bers on guard duty. there and it became an aristo- I was a member of the Suguna many other houses and gardens. Brougham cart with two horses. ‘Dadha’ of Triplicane and sent his trusted servant, one min community was much cha- Places & place names cratic locality with fashionable Vilasa Sabha when the Ripon He preserved the nine precious It could not travel at great speed. Mylapore. He took up residence Raman Nair, along with Bharati grined. Another incident high- quarters. Sir Pitti Theyagaraya Building was constructed. The n olden days, white paper, stones, ‘Navaratnas’, in his He was always busy sitting in the in Sasi Vilas on Brodie’s Road to make sure that he reached lighted the confidence people Chetty, who was the first Indian old municipal office was in Iwhich came from China, was house. His green stone was pur- cart and writing. He was the first (the present RK Mutt Road). He Pondicherry safely. Nair re- had in him. The clergy of the San President of the Corporation of George Town. Where the new called China paper and the place chased by Tawker & Sons for Rs. man to manufacture and sell also became very friendly with turned the next evening to re- Thome Church wanted to close Madras and was called the un- National Bank building is located where it was sold was called 15, 000/-. After the death of my soda. Hallar soda was as famous Madame Blavatsky, Col. Olcott, port on the successful escape. the narrow public passage be- crowned King of Madras, Kolla now in Beach was a music school. April 4-6: Human Rights: 60 Years meaning and importance of visual China Bazaar. At present the friend’s father, his business as Spencer’s soda. He had a shop Leadbeater and Goodwin of the Dr. Nanjunda Rao became tween the Church and the Venkata Kannayya Chetty, The old National Bank was in and Way to Go – Conference un- images for their ends. Ever since, place is called Netaji Subhas turned to be a loss and my friend in Broadway. He died long ago. Theosophical Society. He was friends with Dr. Bipin Chandra Bishop’s house as, according to Vavilla Ramaswami Sastri who Armenian Street and the Madras conference films. A three-part film has been an important instru- Chandra Bose Road. Esplanade is was actually in difficulties. (To be continued) also a good friend of Annie Pal when he visited Madras. them, the movement of people in event: In the conference it will fo- ment in human rights education. started the printing press and li- a part of this road. Andhras from Besant with whom he soon fell Dr. Pal gave a series of lectures this passage disturbed the peace cus on people and organisations (At Max Mueller Bhavan, brary, lawyer Krishnaswamy Bander Nellore, Kandu and out over the famous case of cus- on the Gita at Dr. Nanjunda of the Church and the Bishop’s which have successfully advanced Chennai.) Chetty, Mutnuri Adinaraya- IInamavamallur sold sarees in a CORPORATION BUDGET tody of J. Krishnamurthy and his Rao’s house. It was this friend- house. They enlisted the help of human rights in different areas. nayya who worked in the Rev- Till April 19: Sapling Exhibition, locality which came to be known brother. But he treated Madame ship that got him in the bad the police and barricaded the The un-conference will offer a composing 30 messages — photo- enue Department, all resided digital platform for young people as Bander Street. The street (Continued from page 1) The civic body has turned its poration has projected an in- Blavatsky during her last days books of the Government, who passage. The people took up the graphs of tree saplings with cap- where coins were manufactured there. attention to birth and death crease in property tax revenues, considered Pal a revolutionary. matter with Dr. Nanjunda Rao. who express their concerns and tions that hope to inspire people and she presented him with a opinions on human rights in a (minted) was called Thankasala There were buildings of areas where row houses are per- certificates and made them free which grew by 23% in 2007/08 Syrian painting on a gold plate of The Sasi Vilas and a nearby After consulting his good friends across the world to plant trees and Street. In 1632, the Mogul zamindars also. Tanjore Rama bungalow Grace Lodge (now no globalised world. The third part heal the earth. All tree saplings mitted. It also aims to introduce of charge. Cremations have been from the previous year, with net Jesus Christ. Kasturiranga Iyengar of The will be a series of short human Badshah gave the right to the Nayudu Garu and his son stayed a green channel for plan approv- declared free of charge. Special collection figures estimated to be Dr. Nanjunda Rao was an ar- longer standing) had seen many Hindu, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer used in the campaign are native rights films from Germany and to India and an indicator of the Europeans to mint coins with the here. They built an agraharam as als for ordinary buildings in the crematoria for pet animals have Rs. 280 crore, of which Rs. 240 dent nationalist and he helped luminaries in the past. Swami and C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, he India. figure of the Badshah. That went Telugu Vaishnava pundits were Corporation area. To ease the been planned in Mylapore and crore has been collected. The Vivekananda, before his tour to decided to organise a peaceful trees that can be planted (at Alli- Subramania Bharati as he A Goethe-Institut contest in 2007 ance Francaise). on for a long time but nowadays also there. Other great men like property tax payment procedure, Moolakothalam. The number of figure for 2008/09 is pegged at planned to get away to America in 1893, visited Sasi protest. The residents of developed from the question: the minting of coins is not done Sir Mohammed Usman and his the Chennai Corporation plans mortuary vehicles has been Rs. 300 crore. It is to be noted, Pondichery when he was wanted Vilas and met the Doctor there. Mylapore collected in large num- What is a “human rights film”? Till April 20: Indian Princes and Parisian Jewellers, a photography on that street. family resided here. Also, C.P. to introduce online payment of increased as have freezer boxes however, that an increase by the Government. Bharati, Another important event that bers for the march led by Dr. Films about oppression and bond- Nellore Brahmins were well Ramaswamy Iyer’s father property tax during the year, for storage of dead bodies. A in property tax rates is on the took place in this house was the Nanjunda Rao, Kasturiranga age or, on the contrary, about exhibition that depicts jewellery who used to move about only at people fighting for their rights, designed by renowned houses in known for their pearl business. Pattabhirama Iyer, C.V. Ranga- accept payment using smart specific number of them has been cards. night in various disguises, was marriage of Dr. Sarojini Naidu to Iyengar, A. Rangaswami Iyengar They were sent to Madras natha Sastri and his son Kumara- Dr. Muthyala Govindarajulu emancipation and solidarity, have France for members of Indian phones, set up computerised allotted for use free of charge as It is a year of populist budgets given asylum by Dr. Nanjunda (then editor of the Swadesami- Royalty belonging to the various Harbour from Bander Srika- swamy Sastri lived here. After- Naidu. This marriage caused existed since almost the beginning counters in all the wards in the well. overall for obvious reasons and Rao in one of the cottages in his tran and later of The Hindu) and of film-making. However, the “hu- princely states. There are also kulam and Kakinada. Near wards, with the introduction of Corporation to enable the public The projected revenue for the the city’s financial plan is no spacious garden. One night, quite a furore in those days. several other prominent persons. man rights film” genre did not films that accompany the exhibi- Beach, a street specialised in this trams and buses, top officials and to pay the property tax, and year stood at Rs.1,278.48 crore different. It is to be hoped that about a week after Bharati’s ar- Dr. Nanjunda Rao was a great The police and the clergy had to emerge until the 1990s. At that tion that will be screened in business. lawyers settled in Mylapore and introduce automated cheque and the planned expenditure will all these proposed positive steps rival, the police woke up Dr. philanthropist. He was closely yield in the face of such strong time, globally interlinked human conjunction with the exhibition Slowly this business stopped it became a rich locality. collection facilities. be Rs.1,279.39 crore. The Cor- will translate soon into action. Nanjunda Rao and, after associated with the Ramakrishna moral pressure and the barricade rights movements recognised the (at Government Museum). CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2008 AVM shows

(Current Affairs questions are from the period March 1st to the way 15th. Questions 11 to 20 pertain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. Who was the Player of the sec- – to shooting ond Commonwealth Bank series Final which helped India tri- umph? 2. How is the second Monday in on location March observed in Common- wealth countries? The first Madras Club (on Mount Road) 3. Name Saturn’s second largest VM, who had been in low cheating folks, using a man moon around which rings have Akey after Nandakumar, sur- painted black posing as an Afri- sexy, she blossomed into a suc- Admiralty House. A lovely been identified, making it possi- faced on the film horizon in can prince who said ‘yes yes’ in cessful heroine. She also turned building with an impressive bly the first moon with rings. 1940 with a packaged comedy, reply to anything he was asked! a producer, which only brought flight of steps, tall pillars and 4. Name the disgraced multiple a three-in-one, Vayaadi Poli These two shorts were written her misery and misfortune. Un- high ceilings, it had been the Olympic champion who began Panchaali Yes Yes! The suc- and directed by ATK, while the fortunately, she developed a palace of the Vizianagaram her prison sentence after being cess of the five-in-one comedy third one Vayaadi, about a reputation for being a difficult zamindari family. AVM got it convicted for steroid use and in- Sirikkadhey (an odd name for a shrew and her henpecked hus- artiste and slowly faded, then on a low rent and his Pragathi volvement in drug fraud. comedy!) was very much in his band, was done by a famed became deeply religious attend- Pictures functioned in it until 5. The European Space Agency’s mind and he felt he should fol- Bombay director, Nandlal ing Mass every day. She lived the threat of a Japanese inva- first ever Automated Transfer low suit. So he sent for his cre- for some years in anonymity in sion in 1942 forced him to shift Vehicle launched recently as a re- ative man, A. T. Krishnaswamy, San Thomé, shunning contact to his hometown, Karaikudi. supply ship to the ISS is named who was hibernating in his vil- Round the City’s with the world around her and Nandlal Jaswantlal did not after which famous French lage, Ammur. passed away a few years ago. want his name credited as direc- writer? old studios with ATK had a natural flair for 6. Name the four Indians in the RANDOR GUY In an innovative move, tor of his contribution and the Forbes Top 10 list of Billionaires. humour and comedy. ATK was AVM got permission to shoot in name ‘Kannan’ (a synonym of 7. If it is Mohammad Hamid rather weak in ‘story formation’, sprawling Club House, off Nandlal – Lord Krishna) ap- Ansari for the world’s second but brilliant in adaptation and Mount Road (it was the pre- peared in the credits. He was an most populous nation, who is it dialogue writing. He was de- Jaswantlal, who had come to mises of the Madras Club, then able technician and his style of who was elected recently for the lighted when AVM told him of Madras to direct Kamadhenu for exclusively for ‘Whites Only’, taking short takes – his close- most populous nation? his plan and at once narrated a K. Subramanyam’s brother, and later the home of The In- ups were hardly more than 8 8. Hyderabad’s futuristic airport ribald tale he had heard in his Viswanathan, Baby Saroja’s fa- dian Express), and when he shot feet – was something of a nov- was inaugurated on March 14 village about a saucy woman ther. on actual locations in buildings elty then in Tamil cinema with amidst protests. It was built in a who took five lovers and played In Vayaadi, the shrew’s role in the complex without erecting its lengthy takes, stagy compo- public-private partnership. What one against the other. AVM was played by a girl from sets, he was anticipating loca- sitions and static camera. is its name? liked it and that risqué yarn be- Royapuram called Clara. Re- tion-shooting by almost thirty- At Pragathi, he produced 9. Name the Indian who admit- came Poli Panchaali (Panchaali christened ‘Chandra’ for the odd years. films like Sabapathy (1941) and ted he had gone into Pakistan “on was Draupadi, the wife of all five movie, this teenager showed Next, AVM moved his unit Sri Valli (1945), both huge duty” to spy for the Indian Mili- Pandavas). Yes, Yes was all promise. In later years, as bag and baggage to Adyar to an- money-spinners. Sabapathy, a tary Intelligence. He returned re- about a fraud who went round ‘Madhuri Devi’, shapely and other sprawling building called farcical comedy, was based on a cently after spending 35 years in series of farces by one of the Pakistan jails. founding fathers of modern 10. Which Chennai-based Tamil drama, Pammal Samban- newspaper’s correspondent is to dam Mudaliar. A. T. Krishna- head the newly constituted Me- A rare palm ... and a dia Advisory Committee of the swamy, a noted writer-director Rajya Sabha? then working for AVM, * * * rarer spectacle! scripted and directed it. It 11. Name the lone AIADMK proved highly popular and sky- candidate for the Rajya Sabha in rocketed hero T. R. Ramachan- the latest list of nominations. orypha macropoda is more the seeds fruits ripened, one of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, used to dran, a saucer-eyed Eddie Can- 12. Where is the headquarters of Ccommon along the east these fell in a severe cyclonic be featured in postcards of Sri tor look-alike comedian, to the PMK? coast of India. It is the tallest of storm, prematurely ending a life Lanka before 1947. A news re- fame and stardom. Sri Valli, a 13. Which film actors are the the talipot palms. It might have that for decades had prepared port many years later spoke of familiar folkmyth tale of brand ambassadors for the originated in the Andamans, itself for this grand reproductive the awesome spectacle of all the Muruga, son of Lord Shiva, was Chennai Super Kings? a bigger success. The singer-ac- 14. Which varsity recently be- feels well known botanist Dr. event!” palms coming into bloom at the Dayanandan, who describes the “On the way to Wallajabad, same time! tor T. R. Mahalingam and slim came the first to declare its cam- and charming Kumari Rukmini pus tobacco-free ? inflorescence of this tree as ‘the about three months ago, a group The tree species has been largest in the world’. In 1967, he of students and I saw a couple said to be in existence since the in lead roles became stars. The 15. Name the temple in the film established AVM firmly on George Town area of Chennai and Dr. Lockwood wrote in The of talipot palms that were in time of the Buddha. In Kandyan Hindu about a fruiting tree near fruit, with the seeds already ger- times, the enormous leaves the ladder as a successful film- that was visited by Chatrapati maker. Shivaji on October 3, 1677. Kanchipuram. Remembers Dr. minating below. Maybe in an- reaching a height of 10m were Dayanandan, “We collected other 50-60 years we can see a used to make tents by sewing a T.R. Ramachandran was one 16. This person from Tamil of the artistes Pragathi had on Nadu, who had been awarded the three seeds from this tree. Two couple of leaves together. “One its monthly rolls. Others in- Bharat Ratna, passed away on plants raised from these are now l by single leaf being so broad and Gandhiji’s birthday in 1975. growing in the Madras Chris- large, that it will cover some fif- cluded T. V. Sethuraman, a co- Who? tian College campus. One of SHOBHA MENON teen or twenty men, and keep median quite popular for a 17. ‘Tamilarasu’, ‘Tupleks’, them near the Women’s Hostel them dry when it rains,” wrote while, Poorani, saucy and se- ‘Kirukkan’ and ‘Kindalkaran’ is really tall, and when it flowers Robert Knox. ductive, and Kali N. Ratnam. similar spectacle there. We’ve Of them, Ramachandran alone were amongst the various pseud- we will know the precise age of noticed that the local commu- Talipot leaves were used to onyms used by which poet-writer? in later years played hero and flowering of C. macropoda!” nities revere these palms and produce fine, ultralong-lasting 18. The composition of 20 hymns proved quite a draw. But at the The number of years it takes treat them with awe. Maybe be- solid parchments called Ola in by Manickavasagar at the Tiru- before the tree flowers is not Sri Lanka and India as early as time, he was drawing the vannamalai Arunachaleswarar cause they are so rare!” he feels. princely salary of Rs. 35 a month well documented, but is esti- Another and more cel- 500 BC. Young talipot leaves temple is called mated to range from 40-70 were boiled, dried in the sun, from Pragathi! 19. Name the two New Zea- ebrated species is the Corypha exposed to dew, smoothed and Ramachandran was from a landers in the Chennai Super years. umbraculifera, more common in He also recollects two such stretched. The treated leaves Madhwa Brahmin family in Kings squad. Southeast Asia. It has seven Trichy district. Right from boy- 20. Which is the smallest (in trees in bloom near a pond next horticultural varieties and is of- were then engraved with writ- to the Pallavaram Railway Sta- ing using a steel stylus to cut in hood he had no interest in stud- terms of number of seats) ten cultivated in gardens. A ies and was delighted in playing amongst the six screens in the tion sometime in 1984. “One 1910 photo of the Talipot Palm the characters. The engraved was just sending out a flowering leaf was smeared with ink made truant from school. He gave up Sathyam Cinema complex in Avenue (umbraculifera here, school after the fifth standard. Chennai? stalk and the other was full of and planted by the British) in of a resin blended with finely (Answers on page 8) bloom. Months later, just before the Royal Botanical Gardens, (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 8) April 1-15, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 75 – and still going strong The Madras University’s Music Department he Department of Indian lauded the University’s efforts. ways of the University. Let us TMusic, University of Ma- But S. Sathyamurthy, then a see, for instance, who sit in its dras, completed its 75th year Vice-President of the Academy, Expert Board of Indian Music Vidwan Tiger Varadachariar P. Sambamoorthy recently. It was established in was not impressed. Proposing a Studies — self-appointed mem- Teachers’ College of Music, re- The first Ph.D. was awarded 1932. vote of thanks at the end of the bers of the Syndicate, who prob- cently started, we have ap- in 1962 to M.R. Alamelu for her Eight years earlier, music was inauguration, he said, “The Ma- ably only nod to sweet music pointed Vidwan Tiger Varada- thesis on musical instruments introduced in the University’s dras University has done what a like children, in preference to chariar. We have started even depicted in the sculptures of curriculum after a meeting of conservative and slow-moving people like our worthy Editor before the University could South Indian temples. musicians, presided over by body can be expected to do in (of the Academy’s Music Jour- think of such an idea.” When Sambamoorthy re- Harikesanallur L. Muthiah these days and has made music nal) Mr. T.V. Subba Rao, B.A., But when in August the Uni- tired in 1961, Isaac became the Bhagavatar, was held in the an optional subject for study for B.L., whose musical knowledge versity announced its faculty for Head of the Department. S. Nagappa Chetty Pillayar Vasan- the Intermediate course.” He is of the highest order com- the department, it had its re- Seetha, today known for her ta Mandapam on Triplicane’s also noted that music had been manding the admiration of our venge on the Music Academy monumental work Tanjore as a Big Street. A resolution was introduced in the Travancore savants, or it contains shams — and C.S. Ayyar, for who should Seat of Music during the 17th, passed urging the University to Maharaja’s Girls’ College, then like myself — with no depth of be appointed as Chief Lecturer 18th and 19th Centuries, for include music among the op- affiliated to the Madras Univer- knowledge of the art, but only a but Tiger Varadachariar him- which she was awarded her doc- tional subjects for the Interme- sity. He hoped that the Univer- smattering of it, picked up when self! The Music Academy gave torate in 1968, joined the De- diate examination. sity of Madras would soon intro- music was taught to their sisters in with good grace and ap- partment in 1963. She became Sir R. Venkataratnam, the duce a degree course in music. or children at their homes for pointed Harikesanallur Professor in 1976 and was Head then Vice-Chancellor, deeply Perhaps acceding to this, the the marriage market.” Muthiah Bhagavatar as Princi- of the Department till her re- interested in music, set up a University introduced the B.A. The University that year had pal of the Teachers’ College of tirement in 1991. committee to draft a syllabus degree course in music the same funded P. Sambamoorthy’s visit Music. Dr. S.A.K. Durga, a well- and its recommendations were year with Queen Mary’s College to Germany to study advanced Classes started on August 26, known expert on ethnomusico- revised by a second committee. receiving affiliation for the two- music there. This too came in 1932 at 5 pm in the Syndicate logy, served in the Department Both had P. Sambamoorthy as a for attack by C.S. Ayyar. He Room of Senate House. After a from 1976. She was later ap- member. The professional mu- l by said, “The Mylapore Vidwat few days, the Department pointed and continues to be sicians of Madras protested Sangeeta Sabha protested shifted to Limbdi Gardens, SRIRAM V. Professor Emeritus in the De- against the move to impart mu- against the resources of the Royapettah (a place not identi- partment of Music. She is also sic training through the Univer- year course. Those who had sat University being spent, not to fiable today), where it was to the Director of the Centre for sity as they feared a threat to for the Intermediate examina- say wasted, at the present junc- function for a few years before re- Ethnomusicology, Chennai. their own income from tuitions. tion in July 1930 and passed ture, in sending an Indian stu- turning to the Chepauk campus. Nevertheless, music was intro- were allowed to join the degree dent abroad for the study of Under the benign and en- Yet another well-known per- duced as an optional subject in course. Western Music. But the Uni- lightening guidance of Tiger, sonality in the field of music the Intermediate Course. The steps taken by the Uni- versity did not pay heed to it.” the Department flourished. academics, Dr. M.B. Vedavalli, Taking “steps to open a sepa- versity did not meet with uni- C.S. Ayyar went on to say, Scholars such as M.S. Rama- whose thesis, and later book, rate faculty of music in Univer- versal approbation. The Music “The University will shortly ap- swami Iyer and P. Sambmoor- Mysore as a Seat of Music, is a sities” was one of the many ob- Academy was not in agreement point a Professor of Vocal Mu- thy were often invited to give scholarly work, served the De- jectives of the All India Music with the composition of the sic on about Rs.300 per mensem talks on the history and theory partment from 1976. She was Conference of 1927 in Madras. committees that drafted and re- and I sincerely hope that it will of music. Head of the Department from The Music Academy, which vised the syllabus. In 1931 the not, in its unwisdom, choose a In 1937, Tiger stepped down 1991 to 1995. was born out of this event, natu- President said, “If Vidwans’ ser- graduate in Physics or one in to head the Music College at She was succeeded by Dr. N. rally carried forward the same vices are requisitioned for the Law, with not even a working the Annamalai University in Ramanathan, today one of the ideal. Thanks to its efforts, preparation of syllabuses (sic) knowledge of the art, but will Chidambaram. P. Samba- most respected figures in the Queen Mary’s College became, and for teaching the same, it is choose a savant who has moorthy succeeded him as Lec- field of musicology. He joined in 1928, the first institution to certain that Music has a great laboured a whole life-time un- turer and Head of the Depart- the Department in 1978, be- begin a course in music with P. future before it.” der the Guruparamparya system ment. He was to continue, be- came Professor in 1990 and was Sambamoorthy as lecturer. In his vote of thanks, C.S. for the sake of music.” coming Reader, till his retire- Head of the Department till his Thirteen students were admit- Ayyar was even more direct and The Music Academy had ment in 1961. retirement in 2003. ted to the course. The first In- hard hitting. “I refer to the sug- stolen a march over the Univer- The research activities of the In 1998, when the depart- termediate examination was gestion, viz. the association of sity that year by setting up its Department saw the first M. ments in the University were held in 1930. Vidwans, the real present-day Teachers’ College of Music. Litt. being awarded to Ms. L. classified under Schools, the Dr. U. Rama Rau, President keepers of the traditional art, C.S. Ayyar commented, “I am Isaac on the subject of Ancient Department was placed under of the Music Academy, Madras, with the University in the mat- sure the Music Academy can Tamil Music in 1940. She the School of Fine and Perform- during his welcome address at ter of teaching music. If I read show to the Government Col- would, later in 1957, join the ing Arts of which Dr. N. Rama- the inauguration of the Annual that suggestion aright, it is but a leges and to the University how Department as Lecturer-cum- nathan became the first Chair- Conference in December 1930, mild protest against the recent things ought to be done. For the Research Assistant. person. He was succeeded by Dr. Prameela Gurumurthy who, three months. Once the talipot after her path-breaking Ph.D. A RARE PALM... palm has flowered, it takes a thesis, Kalakshepa, A Study, year for the fruit to develop; it joined the Department in 1984 and now occupies the post of (Continued from page 6) War I, the seeds of the species time, as high as 82 feet eventually produces thousands of round yellow-green fruit, 3-4 President, Chairperson, School Corypha umbraculifera were (25 metres); it becomes even of Fine and Performing Arts. powdered charcoal. The Maha- used to make buttons. taller when in bloom. It grows a cm diameter, each of which vamsa, a historical chronicle of contains a single seed. After the As the Music Department Talipot palms produce about large stalk at its top, between 20 Sri Lanka, and all other ancient fruit appears, the talipot palm looks towards its centenary it is 12 million creamy yellowish and 26 feet (6-8 metres) long, books were written on these dies. best to remember what vidwan flowers, which yield more than which produces smaller treated, cut and loosely bound Talipot palms are found in Balamuralikrishna said when he 500 kg of seeds. The flowering branches carrying millions of palm-leaf parchments. In Lal large numbers in Ramanatha- inaugurated the 75th anniver- is also considered by many as a flowers. The stalk, branches, Bagh Botanical Gardens, puram District of Tamil Nadu sary celebration. While com- symbol of good luck. The slow- and flowers of the talipot palm, Bengaluru, a few trees are re- and in Sri Lanka. Common mending the great work it had growing tree is also planted in known jointly as an inflores- ported to have been in bloom name: Talipot Palm, Bajarbattu done in disseminating musical botanical gardens and other cence, are the largest of any last year. (Hindi), Sritalam (Telugu), knowledge and encouraging re- landmarks to record the age of plant in the world. Some talipot trees (Corypha Tali (Bengali), Talipot (Mara- search, he felt that it was high the place. elata) have been used as a The plant needs around 50 thi), Kudappana (Malayalam), time stellar performing artistes source of toddy, sugar, starch, The talipot palm can grow to to 60 years for its flowers to Kudaippanai (Tamil). Family: also came out of the University. vinegar etc. During World enormous heights during its life- bloom. Flowering lasts about Arecaceae (palm family). – (Courtesy: Sruti) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2008 AVM shows A new life for The Museum story • The Government Museum(or the Central Museum as it should the way be called) began in the first floor of the College of Fort St. George, which was in the campus of what is now the Director of Public OUR museum? (Continued from page 6) Instruction’s offices, on College Road. It opened in 1851 with (by Shobha Menon) 1100 geological specimens presented to it by the Madras Literary He had a good singing voice, Society. The previous year, Dr. Edward Green Balfour, the first he Government Museum, monographs and bulletins for Superintendent of the Museum and Chairman of the Committee but avoided his music teacher TEgmore, is one of the old- the museum exhibits were in- of the Madras Literary Society, had stated that “the basis on which too. At last, his exasperated fa- est museums in India. Notable troduced”. Fortunately, a reap- the Museum was established was so broad that whatever in ther, a struggling contractor, is its Bronze Gallery, one of the praisal of the function of the creation was sent, a use and place would be found for it.” asked his son what he wished to best in the world. In its 46 gal- Museum and its curators has By August 1853, the Museum had 19,830 specimens, and do in life and the boy replied leries there are relics from the been done and a major relook though only twenty months old could “bear a comparison with that he wanted to go on stage. 2nd century AD Buddhist site at ongoing activities and the long-established Museum of the Bengal Asiatic Society in The poor parent was shocked by Calcutta.” With the building in a decaying condition, it was his son’s choice of profession at Amaravathi, prehistoric ex- programmes within the Mu- shifted in December 1854 to the Pantheon. Before the end of the hibits from the Stone and Iron seum is happening to woo citi- but, left with no option, he took century, the Museum’s scope covered other fields such as him to Trichy and had him ad- Ages, exquisite carvings, a large zens of Chennai. Says Dr. Shan- Archaeology, Ethnology, Pre-history and Natural History. collection of South Indian mu- thini Kapoor, currently Special The Museum building, designed by Henry Irwin, was formally mitted in a ‘Boys Company’, sical instruments and jewellery, Commissioner, Museums, “Our inaugurated on December 5, 1896 by Sir Arthur Elibank Have- Madurai Bala Mohana Ranjitha and several other specimens of goal is to entice people across lock, the then Governor. Sabha. At first, the 14-year-old anthropological interest. It has generations to become involved was given only female ‘walk-on’ provide a Guide Service for visi- tions. Walkers too are encour- had the privilege of initiating with activities at the Museum roles. After six months of tors every day at prescribed aged on the campus (between 6 the first Philatelic Gallery in In- and, in the process, fall in love ‘walking on’ for free, he was paid times. But one reason cited for am and 7.30 am), by making dia. But other than the occa- with their own Museum!” the grand sum of one rupee a the Museum’s waning in popu- entry free. A few months ago, a sional student groups and visi- Says Uma Maheswari, Edu- month! Slowly the roles got bet- larity in the decades that fol- ‘Tree Walk’ was held in the tors from home and abroad, it is cation Officer, “ Know your ter, particularly in comedies, lowed has been the shortage of Museum campus by ‘Nizhal’ little visited. Museum Workshops’ are being and so too his salary. But as the trained guides. It is now and more such ‘Walks’ are Over the years, a general periodically organised for teach- quantum increased actual pay- planned to recruit new guides planned shortly. passivity seemed to have set in, ers, around themes relevant to ments dwindled and, while the and train the existing guards too Shortly to be introduced is though the educational activi- current trends in education and troupe was camping in the gold- in effective guiding. Visitors too the concept of Friends of the ties of the Museum started “as interest. The most recent one mining town of Kolar, the have increased in the last few Museum (above 18 years old), early as 1870 AD through popu- on ‘Corals’ had good response. owner vanished in the night years, with museum revenue up who will be trained as volunteer lar lecture programmes under Mobile galleries that can be bor- leaving the boys in the lurch, ten-fold. During the Pongal guides. A bookshop, curio cor- which scholars were periodi- rowed by the schools/colleges penniless in a strange town. break this year, a lakh of visitors ner, canteen, etc. will soon be cally invited to deliver lectures for a week or so for the benefit Some of the seniors in the visited the Museum! started (though a vision of teen- on topics of public interest for of students are also being ar- group, like M. R. Radha, also agers hanging out at the Mu- the benefit of town people and ranged.” Each of the 11 sections Popular lectures are now left looking for greener pastures, seum campus does seem rather students,” and “other educa- in the Museum now vies with regularly held at the Museum as and Ramachandran and the far-fetched!). “There’s certainly tional programmes such as spe- the other to plan interesting are photo exhibitions, puppet others left behind had to sing no harm in livening up the pro- cial training courses on taxi- workshops and lectures. shows and painting competi- and dance in the streets of a ceedings!” smiles Kapoor. dermy and museology for teach- In the 1960s, the creation of tions. This summer, the Cura- strange town for their food. ers, gallery lectures for students additional guide posts for the tors are planning a month-long Answers to Quiz: Then, a stranger turned up workshop with different sec- and teachers, and publication of Museum had made it possible to 1. Praveen Kumar; 2. Common- and agreed to manage them. wealth Day; 3. Rhea; 4. Marion But he had no funds. So Rama- Jones; 5. Jules Verne; 6. L.N. chandran and his hungry fel- Mittal, the Ambani siblings and lows played all roles in their own K.P. Singh; 7. Xi Jinping; 8. Rajiv torn clothes and the audience Gandhi International Airport at had the interesting but tough Shamshabad; 9. Kashmir Singh; 10. exercise of identifying the char- The Hindu. acters (and their sex) only from * * * their dialogue! Both Rama and 11. N. Balaganga; 12. Thailapuram, Seetha, Murugan and Valli had Tindivanam; 13. ‘Ilaya Thalapathi’ shirts and dhotis on and similar Vijay and Nayantara; 14. Anna University; 15. Kalikambal temple; hair-dos! Indeed, a book waits 16. K. Kamaraj; 17. Bharatidasan; to be written about these ‘Boys’ 18. Tiruvempaavai; 19. Jacob Oram Companies’ and their impact on and Stephen Fleming; 20. Studio 5. Tamil culture and cinema.

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