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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 INSIDE

• Short ‘N’ Snappy

• Sangam age finds?

• Remembering a Raja

• Tamilvanan brothers • Madras Week contests

Vol. XXVI No. 7 MUSINGS July 16-31, 2016 Why ignore our 200 km Canal?

t would appear that our con- heightened pace of activity con- various aspects of its function- Itribution towards the Buck- nected with the new Andhra ing. The IWAI has consistently ingham Canal has largely been capital at Amaravati, that the been unsure of its mandate to let it go to seed. We have also IWAI has decided to shift its within Tamil Nadu. In the done the utmost damage that regional office from Chennai to aftermath of the floods of we could – by building the Vijayawada. The office was set November/December 2015, it MRTS on the bed of the water- was believed that there would way, thereby rendering ineffec- be closer coordination between tive all efforts to revive it as a the State Government and the navigable canal. Now it appears G by The Editor IWAI, especially as the Canal is that Andhra, our newly formed considered to hold the key for neighbour, has some really con- any future deluges. But this has structive plans as far as the Ca- not happened and now the up in Chennai in 2014, princi- nal is concerned. And has in the IWAI is itself moving. pally to oversee the develop- process ensured that the Inland While the shift will augur ment of the stretch of Bucking- Waterways Authority of India well for the Canal in Andhra, it ham Canal between Sholin- (IWAI), which had its office in can spell disaster for what is ganallur and Marakkanam. Chennai till recently, moved to there of it in Tamil Nadu. Much However the experience thus Vijayawada. of it within Chennai is already a far has not been a happy one, Early in April this year, the lost cause. But the rest of it, what with the State Govern- Andhra Government inked a which was clean and flowing till ment being fairly non-respon- Rs 3,000 crore agreement with recently has become stagnant sive to the requirements of the the IWAI by which the entire and polluted. This is chiefly be- IWAI and the latter also receiv- canal ecosystem that falls cause of the rapid developments ing considerable flak from the The repainted statue of the Rajah of Panagal in the Park named after him in within the State will be redevel- National Green Tribunal for (Continued on page 2) T’Nagar. (See page 4) oped as National Waterway No 4. With around 888 km of the 1,095 km of the canal being within Andhra, the State views it as a crucial component of its High Court rescues heritage, AGAIN infrastructure. A study has shown that it has the potential he Law has spoken once again, and it is yet another judge recommended that the Government set up a Heritage Conservat- to transport around 11 million Tment in favour of heritage conservation. The latest instance is ion Committee (HCC) that would go into the merits of protecting tonnes of cargo each year. Five the public interest litigation concerning the railway 468 heritage buildings. It was thanks to that judgement that the districts, East and West Goda- station at present the oldest surviving station in the entire Indian Metro Rail had to give assurances that it would protect heritage vari, Krishna, Nellore and subcontinent. Their Lordships not only refused to countenance its structures affected by its drilling activities. It was also because of Prakasam – are expected to demolition to make way for development of a new station but also the same judgement that the Government had to take up the benefit immensely. Moreover, suggested that the railways take up modernisation keeping the restoration of Palace after parts of it were gutted. In the Andhra has other plans – it heritage structure intact. absence of such a verdict, the Government and organisations such aims to link the Godavari and When this matter was referred to the High Court, we at Madras as Rail would have razed buildings with impunity – Krishna rivers and the Eluru Musings had wondered if litigation was the only way to save all in the name of development and progress, of course. Given such Canal with the Buckingham heritage structures. We had stated that repeated recourse to the an impact of that single judgement it is rather ironic that the two Canal, thereby making for a parties against whom it was given – the LIC for Bharat Insurance and the Young Men’s Indian Association for , have comprehensive waterway net- G by The Editor work within the State. This is chosen to appeal against it. not a new idea, for the Buckin- Law puts conservationists on a confrontation path with respect to In the Royapuram instance too, it is that judgement that has gham Canal was declared a those in administration. But we are happy to have been proven played an important role. The HCC, despite its somnambulant national waterway in 2008 wrong. Clearly, if there is at all a saviour of heritage, it is the judicial working style, has actually succeeded in evaluating the historic when a Rs 1,500 crore scheme process. Those who are in the executive, on the other hand, have value of 66 buildings in the city. The Royapuram station happens for its revival was announced. largely wreaked havoc on our historic structures. And appealing to to be one of them. This has come in handy for the High Court to Since then nothing much has them does not result in any positive action. prevent its demolition. The petitioner had argued that permitting happened and the cost has Consider the facts. The DGP Building was saved by the Courts the bringing down of the station would sound the death knell for doubled but it is felt that the with express instructions given to restore the building and make all other heritage structures and this plea has had its effect. Andhra Government is in right use of it. True, the Express Estates case went against the conserva- In retrospect, the Railways’ desire to demolish Royapuram is earnest this time around. It also tionists, but even there the Judge observed that this was because rather puzzling. This is an organisation that has preserved most of has plans to develop tourism there was no law that mandated the protection of built heritage its station buildings, though purists would cavil at the manner in alongside the canal. not covered under the Ancient Monuments Act. When it came to which this is being done. Still, its track record is far better than It is in the light of the above the Bharat Insurance Building and the Gokhale Hall, the judgement many other Government ministries, departments and under- developments, and also the was most emphatic. Not only did it forbid demolition but it also (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 July 16-31, 2016 How old are Footwear in the House of God he Man from Madras forms several, until there are as the shoes are missing when the finds T Musings is a regular at the many lines as there are people they return. To this the inevi- temple dedicated to the God of outside the windows. To any- table response of the intruders Skulls, located in Peacock one not familiar with what is is that in case the shoes are near Madurai? Land. You can see him there happening it would appear that missing, they, the erstwhile almost every Sunday. The besiegers were trying to break owners of the shoes, would (Excerpted by A Staff Reporter) place has been witnessing in and one man was defending ‘attend to’ the man in charge record crowds of late, but the the room. Thus, with the divi- on their return. More curses eezhadi is a village 12 km from Madurai. The staff of the administration ensures that sion between in and out queues are then exchanged. In short, KArchaeological Survey of India (ASI), scouting for infor- everything is ship-shape and getting blurred, the man at the the atmosphere is charged and mation on potential ‘dig’ sites in the districts of Theni, Dindigul, functioning at the height of counter gets all confused. He you could expect the God of Madurai, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram and along the Vaigai efficiency. The temple, in never knows for certain as to Skulls to strike with thunder- river from 2013, heard of Keezhadi as a village where potsherds short, has not had it so good in whether he is collecting foot- bolts at any time. were regularly found while tilling the soil. Amarnath Ramakrishna, quite a while. But there is wear or returning them. If that The process of collecting an ASI superintending archaeologist, followed this up, dug 53 always the thorn among the were not enough, the man per- footwear is no joke either. roses and in this case it hap- petually runs out of numbered Having navigated the crowds trenches and has nearly 60 people digging carefully, collecting pens to be the place where you tokens. That means people at the window and furnished shards, antiquities and other clues to life from an ancient era. leave your footwear. who have come to give in their your token, you shall have to The site promises to become one of South India’s greatest There was a time when a shoes have to wait till someone catch the eye of the man who archaeological discoveries, it is said. People are comparing it to signboard would exhort every- who is inside the shrine will dispense your footwear. Indus Valley sites. However, even if what is found is at least of the one to leave his or her ‘chapel’ returns, hands over his/her The only signal that he Sangam age, that dates the site to 500 BCE, a significant discovery at the counter. This was pretty token, collects his/her footwear recognises is the glitter of a even if it is a millennium after the last stage of the Indus Valley much superfluous and served and leaves. This only adds to coin. Not that MMM minds, civilisation (2600-1600 BCE). the sole purpose of amusing the numbers at the window. It but it is the lack of a system in In the late 1970s, a school headmaster in Keezhadi had found MMM who could have written also means that the tokens be- an otherwise well-run shrine a whole tract on the philo- come at times more valuable that is particularly galling. terracotta artefacts in the village. A Madurai epigraphist visited sophical underpinnings of than coins minted by the Re- Those like MMM, who have the site after a tip-off from the teacher. When he revisited the site such a Freudian slip. But the serve Bank of India. Those at long given up any hopes of in 2014 along with the ASI team, they found an exposed brick Chief always being against any the counter decide on who is to their footwear being in safe structure. writing that could start a riot, get the token next and MMM custody while they go in to With enough evidence pointing to a major discovery, the ASI MMM desisted. Anyway, that will not be surprised if a black- pray, make informal arrange- team began the first round of digging in March 2015. Almost every placard has gone and the faith- market of sorts soon begins to ments with shopkeepers one of the digs opened out large-sized bricks, including a wall, ful, knowing what is expected operate outside the temple. nearby. There again, there is quartz beads with engravings, pearl micro-beads and terracotta of them, throng at the counter no guarantee for the safety of figurines. The second round began early this year. to leave their chapels, sorry, ‘Sole’ful matters the footwear. MMM for one The finds included metal objects, spearheads, black-ware pot- footwear behind. invariably ends up praying that This is where their travails hese are days when he should find his shoes on re- tery, bangles, rings, an antimony rod, a dice, terracotta figurines begin. The counter is actually T theaverage size of a family turn. The Gods have smiled that may have been chess pieces, nails, roof tiles and even a few gold beads, besides thousands of potsherds, including some with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. The most spectacular finds are the brick structures. Some SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY appear to be canals, others part of a large habitation site and there is MADRASone that seems to be a furnace. WEEK Whatever foundAGAIN is being carbon- dated. It’s too early to come to a conclusion, but the magnitude of a boxed-in concrete structure is four and when all of them on his entreaties till now. It is 1 the(Continued architecture from pagesuggests) that this could have been a major settle- with grilles all around. It call on the God of the Skulls, it no wonder that the area near ment along the Vaigai river. would not be out of place in a is not one member who collects the entrance of the temple is a AtThose the whoPallichandai are planning Thidal events coconut are requested grove, excavations to send in detailsare on zoo, for it has a marked resem- the footwear of all others and sea of footwear. There is also blance to a lion’s cage. You delivers them at the window. no space where people can sit atby fullemail steam to the and following the villagers IDs – are [email protected] becoming more involved. Most and [email protected]. Details so received will be put up on will always see an excited Each individual holds out his/ and put on their shoes. Not of the workers at the site are locals, who now have a steady source group of people peering into it her slippers and this includes everyone is agile enough to ofthe income. web site Landowners, www.themadrasday.in too, are readily and alsoleasing the outmobile plots app for Ma- the and there will always emanate grandmother who has osteoar- manage this standing and excavations.dras Week. SaysIn addition, Ramakrishna, a multi-page “As great booklet as Tamil with civilisation programmes is, from within a series of bad- thritis, father who has a some of the poses struck in the therewill also is a be woeful published lack andof archaeological distributed closer evidence to the of date its ofpast the glory. event I tempered growls, as emitted by paunch that could crush six, process could teach The Lord hopeby Madras Keezhadi Musings is the, whose beginning website of isa magnificentwww.madrasmusings.com discovery of the the lion in the zoo if its daily and the young stripling whose of Dance a thing or two. past.” rations are somewhat delayed. weight already needs measure- A closer look will reveal to you ment in tonnes. All of them God is in the detail a leonine individual prowling crowd the window holding out hither and thither. He is the their footwear. In the process, nd yet the solution is A Canal ignored much-feared man in charge of grandmother of Family 1 has A quite simple too, as has the counter. her toes trod upon by child of been demonstrated in places (Continued from page 1) Now, this is a fairly simple Family 2 who in turn has such as Madurai and Than- scant attention being paid to operation. You turn up at the elbowed mother of Family 3 in javur. We need more people along the Old Mahabalipuram the havoc they are causing. If at window with your footwear in the process of making it to the manning the counter and a Road. Many housing complexes all there was any hope, it was your hand. The man gives you window. This means pater woman or two will only help, for they bring in certain and office blocks have been with the IWAI. Now even that a numbered token, writes familias of Family 1, whose down the same number on the honour has been besmirched, patience to the task they dumping garbage and debris in- is fast receding. Even at this upturned soles of your foot- has to challenge his counter- handle. The pilgrims will also discriminately into the Canal stage, if the State Government wear and then places them in part in Family 2 to a duel even behave better, and will be less thereby ruining it. The admin- chooses to intervene, it can get a slot. When you return, you as the head of Family 3 gener- prone to some of their cheap istration has turned a blind eye the Centre to retain an IWAI present your token, get your ally vents his ire at the man behaviour. The entire practice during the construction stage of office in Chennai even while shoes or slippers or sandals or inside the counter. That func- of handing over footwear, often most of these projects and now, opening one in Andhra. But whatever, place a coin or two tionary, who is forever on the soiled as well, can be avoided if after their completion, there is will it do the needful? as a token of appreciation in a boil, rarely suffers from a short- there is a system of people be- box and walk away. No rocket age of insults and soon there is ing asked to place them in car- science here. But it all gets so a free for all. tons or plastic bags, to be made complicated in reality that you In the meanwhile, as is usu- available at the counter. There HIGH COURT RESCUES would be better off leaving ally the practice in our nation, could even be gunny bags for your footwear at home. some enterprising individuals large groups of ten and more HERITAGE, AGAIN As always, there are faults have found a short cut to the people. That way, only one on both sides. The throng system. They, having discov- member out of the group needs (Continued from page 1) being what it is, you need four ered the door through which to stand in the queue to hand times the number of people those at the counter enter and over and collect the footwear. takings. Moreover, in the case of Royapuram, the area owned by who are usually there to man exit, simply walk in and leave And of course, we need more the Railways spans a whopping 72 acres of which the station the counter and that number their footwear on the floor and tokens to be produced and occupies just a fraction. Why then does the Railways want to de- is inevitably One. There are walk out. The counter manager made available. Let us not molish the structure? The High Court has rightly suggested that no separate in and out queues shouts out that he is not make a virtue out of an artifi- any development in the place can happen with the station building and even if there were, our responsible for what is left that cially created shortage. remaining intact. Hopefully this should see better counsels populace, which believes way and the people should not prevailing at the Railways and better days for the Royapuram firmly in lateral thinking, hold him responsible in case – MMM terminus. July 16-31, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

On top of it all, we (shame- lessly?) exhibit a huge board at MAA airport proudly display- ing ISO approval!! (Wonder Reuben David whether the ISO approval still holds good?) and his N P Andavan [email protected] friends It’s Purasu Heeded the districts too During his tenure good coaches hobha Menon, while were also sent to the districts to he quiz item no.19 (MM, knew S. Sriraman (MM, July writing about the Van- train the schoolboys and se- TJuly 1) states that Butea S 1st) ever since 1963. I, as dalur Zoo referred to Reuben I niors. monosperma is known as the convener of the North Purasai. Actually it is Purasu. (Ruben) David Committee Arcot District Cricket Associa- P.S. Subrahmanian which chose the The first Tamil-English Lexicon site. Reuben David was a leg- tion (now the Vellore District [email protected] (1779 and subsequently revised endary zoo-keeper in Cricket Association) re- Long live ISO 9002 !! in 1809) published by early Ahmedabad and a self- quested him to guide us in the Lutheran missionaries identifies taught veterinarian. He was formation of the Association he travails of MMM at the Purasu correctly with Palasu. born in a Bene Israel Jewish and also to participate in the TMadras domestic airport Purasai, as usually used, family in Ahmedabad. inaugural meeting. He came prompted me to write this. means a cord round the neck of He created a zoo and to Vellore along with Rama- Rain inside the airport is the elephant and has nothing to Balavatika on the banks of nujam of Nethaji Cricket do with the Flame of the Forest the Kankaria lake in common for both domestic and Ahmedabad, which was a Club, Chennai on July 2, 1964 tree. In Sanskrit it is simply international passengers. great attraction. We were apprehensive but I told the and spoke on the ways to im- While MMM experienced a Agnishika, denoting the colour taken there as a part of our chimp to jump on me which prove the standard of the game long queue for check-in at the of the flowers of the tree. In IAS training in 1963. it did with great relish (pic- tured). He was awarded in the district. Later, as the domestic, similar is the story for Kannada, it isMuttaga. The Reuben took us and showed founder Honorary Secretary of doyen of Kannada linguistics, the animals, birds and rep- Padmashri by the Govern- international travellers - but ment of India. The the Association from 1964 to with a difference! Rev.Kittel (1894) brilliantly de- tiles with which he was very 1971 and 1986, I attended the rives it to mean “an environing friendly. He could even pat Ahmedabad Municipal Cor- International travellers after poration, which he had Annual General Body meetings tree”. the tigers! He was conduct- flying 15/20 hours land at MAA served as the Superintendent of the TNCA and met him. The linguistic experts should ing many experiments in airport. All they would like is of the Zoological Garden, try and find out whether there co-existence of animals and As pointed out in the article, humans, birds and animals, a had created a bronze bust to reach their places as early as is anything common between Sriraman was shrewd without possible. But alas! They have dog with a lion, etc. One of there so that the animals and the cognates Purasu and Palasu. birds did not miss him. being manipulative and permit- to wait for 30/45 minutes for them was a chimp which was ted the members, whether from clearance at the immigration Rev.Philip K.Mulley sharing its room with a Dr. C. Sundaram, IAS (RTD.) the city or the districts to counters. It is a pitiable sight to Anaihatti Road broom, smoked a cigarette, A 601, Dugar Apartments express their views and lis- Kotagiri 643217 and shook hands with us. Keshav Perumal Puram, see travellers standing with Reuben also suggested tened carefully even criticisms young restless kids. While pas- and always tried to solve them Boys still later that he could sit on us like a Chennai 600 028. sengers with children get prior- child. My batchmates were with the follow up action after ity in boarding, the same cour- n the item on Old Rosarians the conclusion of the meetings. tesy is not extended at the im- I(MM, July1st) issue, it was He did not distinguish action to migration counters. stated that 1955-56 was the in the school up to Class V from ceased to be a co-ed institution. be taken on the activities of the For departing passengers, year which had the last batch of 1963-64 to 1967-68. I also re- The Principal in my time was game between Madras city and boys in Rosary Matriculation member that it took a couple of the tall Irish nun, Mother all districts. the immigration wait is 30 min- utes! School. This is wrong. I studied more years before the school Teresa Xavier and though she looked imposing she was very kind to all of us.I am not aware of the reason for the school ask- ing boys to leave in the middle of the academic year in 1955- 56. The problems with the Dadaps Incidentally, when my mother sought my admission in he Flame of the Forest, Butia monosperma as it is known to were removed, as they were attracting mosquitoes, and other Vidya Mandir in Class VI, the Tbotanists (MM, June 16th). It is popularly known in South species of well grown nursery trees were planted in the 1990s. An then Principal of the school India by its synonymous name, Erythrina species. There are over Erythrina was planted near the gate, very close to the well of the 130 species, in the tropics and sub-tropics, worldwide. Its flowers apartment block and a little beyond was the drinking water sump. who was her schoolmate in range from red to even yellow in some of the species. In about seven years, this Erythrina has grown to 4 feet girth and R.K.M. Sarada Vidyalaya, In South India, there are two species which are economically started flowering quite profusely. When the drinking water was T’Nagar, told her that as a used. One is the thorny Dadap, as it is called. It is known as getting choked and water from the Corporation was blocked, the school-mate she could offer her Mullumurenga in Tamil and Malayalam. These are used as live Secretary of the Association opened the tank to clean it and saw a glass of lemon juice, but was standards for growing pepper vines on them. Within a few years that a lot of roots of this Erythrina tree had invaded the tank by unable to admit me. This was in of planting, both of them would have got fully established till they lifting the concrete cover. The concrete cover was – replaced. spite of my excellent academic grow to 15 to 20 feet, trained as a single strait tree. These Dadaps However, after another 4 or 5 years, the girth of the tree was record at Rosary Matric. Obvi- are annually lopped before the S W Monsoon, so no flowering of more than 8 feet and its roots had again invaded the drinking ously, the sending-off in 1955- these Dadaps take place. These standards live for more than 20 water tank. When the new concrete slab too was totally damaged to 30 years. In the last 10 to 15 years, wasps have invaded the with some 100kg of roots in the concrete tank, the entire tree was 56, still rankled! plantations and they damaged their livelihood. New cuttings of uprooted. Erythrina roots can also damage sewage pipe lines and G. Srinivasan Dadaps fail and older ones do not thrive as before. India produces water pipe lines as they are greedy for water, unlike most other LHS 14-B, Spring Haven 55-60,000 tons of Pepper, each kilo selling at Rs 600 to 700.The garden trees. Trust Indian Spice Research Station, Kozhikode, has found an alter- One reason I have given these particulars in depth is that these Chennai 600 001 nate variety known as Erythrina sumbrans as a standard for Pep- trees could be established by lake and pond sides in Chennai as per and is distributing it to the farmers. There is, however, no they can quench their thirst, grow very well and give excellent It was Mu.Ka. guarantee that a new breed of wasps may not invade them too. flowers. However, the trees are very slow in growing in nature. In tea plantations, thornless varieties of Dadaps were used as Seeds need to be avoided and 6 to 7 feet long poles need to be n Zoo Story Part III (MM July low shade for the tea. It is convenient to regulate them by lopping secured for them to flourish. I1st, it is stated MGR inaugu- the trees, just as monsoon sets in. However, since the 1960s, they As mentioned earlier, there are some 130 species of Flame of rated the Zoo in 1989. But he have been totally eradicated as they depressed tea production. the Forest. Seeds of a third of them are potent Erythrina alkaloids had died on December 24, Most of the roots of Dadaps are on the surface up to 6 to 12 and some are poisonous. For example E.lysistemon of South Af- 1987. inches, competing with tea. rica has a toxic alkaloid, but it also has an anti-blood clotting Shobha Menon replies: Unusually, these trees grow very rapidly in the cardamom substance which may be of value for treatment of thrombosis. All Sorry. My source had said “then growing tracts, due to higher level of moisture in the soil. If these seeds are non-edible, they contain toxins for squirrels, rats, mam- Chief Minister” and I had not trees are not removed, when overgrown, no cardamom bushes mals, birds etc. The flowers alone are edible and used for dyes looked further. The “then Chief will grow near them as they are gross feeders on nutrients and during festivals like Holi. moisture. Minister” (in 1989) was Mu. There was one of these trees at the gate of my apartment in K V S Krishna Karunanidhi. T’Nagar. About the time I moved into the flat, old cherry trees [email protected] T. Viswanath [email protected] 4 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2016 July 16-31, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

seats for Indians in the Provin- cial Legislative Councils, these Is this India? Yes, Mumbai. being contested for the first time Remembering on the basis of a limited fran- Why can’t we do this in Chennai? chise. In Madras, the Justice Party won most of the seats in the Legislative Council when the elections were held in 1920, the a Raja Congress having decided to ab- anagal Park is perhaps one of the best-known landmarks of our city, one that even new stain. In accordance with the Pcomers are familiar with. Though it is a vital lung for the T’Nagar area, it makes it to the Morley-Minto reforms, the ma- news chiefly for the wrong reasons – the traffic congestion around it, the buildings that have jority party in the legislature was come up on its periphery in flagrant violation of rules, and the multi-tiered parking complex invited to form the Government, that is forever on the verge of being built. The man who gave the park its name is commemo- this being a sum of three minis- rated with a statue that gazes serenely at the chaos and cacophony that surrounds it. Certainly, ters who held some key but non- T’ Nagar has not developed the way the Raja of Panagal would have wanted it to. But its critical portfolios. It was a begin- commercial importance cannot be denied. In a way, it is a mixed legacy, as many other contri- ning, nevertheless, for Indians to butions of Panagal have been, though all of them were brought forward by him with the best have some say in governance. of intentions and the highest of ideals. July 9th this year marked the 150th anniversary of his The leader of the Justice Party birth. was Sir Pitty Theagaroya Chetty Though he is always referred to as the Raja of Panagal (Paanagal would be its correct but he opted to continue playing pronunciation), that was an honorific that the British bestowed on him. Born Panaganti a key role in the Corporation of Madras and the invitation to be- Ramarayaningar, he was of aris- Raja of Panagal. The flyover that became a garden tocratic stock, his family being tive expert ought to go through vision and in 1912 stood for come First Minister for Madras Theagaroya Chetty and Dr. T.M. landowners at Kalahasti. In the book and decide the case on election to the Imperial Legisla- went to A. Subbarayulu Reddiar. teven A Pinto writes: ward (Municipal Nair for this purpose and he too keeping with the practice among merits. V. Krishnaswamy Aiyer, tive Council, Delhi, as the repre- He was given the portfolios of Mumbai’s first garden- Corporation of River. Engineers and architects gravitated to this party. Thanks S upper-class families of the time, then Member of the Governor’s sentative of the Madras Land- Education, Excise and Public under-flyover was recently in- Greater Mumbai), studied the flow of the river and to his presence, the Justice Party tried to replicate it on the gar- he was privately educated at first. Executive Council, was of the owners’ Association. He served Works. Ramarayaningar became augurated and named the requesting them to began attracting a number of Nanalal D. Mehta Garden. It is barricade the entire den pathway. The 600-metre He soon became proficient in view that Ramarayaningar was for three years as a member of the Minister in charge of Local Self zamindars and landowners from located under the Tulpule stretch,” Nikhil pathway is blue in colour with a Telugu and Sanskrit and then, best suited for this task. But the Imperial Legislature where his Government and Kurma Andhra, a membership that in Flyover on Dr. Babasaheb Desai, recalls a replication of rock formations on discovering that several of his former’s death in 1911 put paid debating style came in for great Venkata Reddy Rao Naidu was the initial days was beneficial but Ambedkar Road. Matunga-based ac- as found on the banks of River playmates, also from titled gen- to that idea. Another person appreciation from the Viceroy, given the portfolio of Develop- Narmada. A granite block in would eventually prove to be its The garden is the initiative tivist. try, were learning English, he who swore by Ramarayaningar’s Lord Hardinge of Penshurst. In ment. The newly elected council of the ‘One Matunga’ group, Once the area was the garden carries information undoing. The party represented acquired mastery over that linguistic ability was 1918, the Government conferred was declared in session by the which consists of residents in barricaded, about 40 about the landmarks on the way to the Government on the neces- language as well. In 1882, at the Sambanda Mudaliar. The two the title of Dewan Bahadur on Duke of Connaught on January the area. They came together to people crowd- to the river, such as temples, sity for non-Brahmins to be given age of 16, he enrolled at the him. 13, 1921. However, the First protect this stretch from en- sourced funds and and the region halfway through admission in colleges and also Anglo-Vernacular G by Ramarayaningar did not Minister resigned within six croachment and misuse. hired 24×7 private the stretch has been designed to have assured Government jobs. look like the Narmada ghat. High (now Higher neglect matters at the provincial months, on grounds of ill-health. Soon after the flyover open- security to look after Sriram V In 1918, Ramarayaningar was ed to the public about four it for two years. They The garden has 300 lights and Secondary) School. Having com- level either. In 1915 he was He passed away in November. sent to England as a representa- years ago, it started turning into also get 10-12 BMC 11 rotatable CCTV cameras to pleted his schooling there, he elected President of the third Meanwhile, the post of First had studied together in college. tive of the Madras Landowners a hangout zone for hawkers, sweepers to clean the ensure safety. joined Presidency College, Andhra conference. It was also Minister, or Premier, of Madras, In1891, Mudaliar and his friends to depose before a parliamentary gamblers, drug addicts, etc. It stretch and ensure “To get space in such a Madras, and graduated in 1893 at this time that he began involv- was offered to Ramarayaningar crowded area is a boon. It’s also set up the Suguna Vilasa Sabha committee on the condition of was then that the residents of that it does not be- with a BA degree in Telugu. He ing himself in the emancipation and he accepted. His portfolios Matunga took over the respon- come a dumping fun as I meet my building and were hardpressed for a script non-Brahmins in South India. acquired his MA in Chemistry of non-Brahmins in Madras now included Health, Sanitation sibility of preventing this from ground. friends here and we finish our that they could act for their de- The Morley-Minto reforms from the in Presidency. The Justice Party and Hindu Religious Establish- happening. In 2011, they started ap- space and got approval in 2014. this is the only encroachment- walk together,” Kritida Patel, a but. They had watched had resulted in the Indian Coun- 1899. In the interim he obtained had then been formed in Madras ments. He was to leave his im- “A few residents informed proaching various government After successful petitioning, free flyover in Mumbai. resident of the role says. The Chirakari, a Telugu play staged cils Act of 1909. Under it, the garden is open from 8 am to 1 a BL degree at Law College. His by such leading lights as Dr. C. press on all these departments. me about the encroachers and authorities with the idea of de- the BMC began to redevelop The garden has been de- by the Bellary Sarasa Vinodini provinces of British India were to we took it up with the F/North veloping a small garden in the pm and 4 pm to 9.30 pm. achievements in scholastics sur- Natesa Mudaliar, Sir Pitty the area in June 2015. Today, signed to look like the Narmada Sabha, but lacked the profi- see an increase in the number of (To be continued) prised many and it led to the ciency to translate it into Tamil. then Governor of Madras Ramarayaningar obliged them by according to him a special translating the play into English. to respond to my calls. These are cies. Then came the concept of seat, Rs 10 for children. Cycles honour – that of meeting him This in turn was translated into still getting used to me!” At the Prey-Predator to simulate natu- are provided for Rs 15 an hour. without prior appointment. Tamil by Sambanda Mudaliar. The Zoo Story... Part IV non-venomous snake enclosure ral environment and ecological At the exit end is the Forest His scholarship in languages His family background, his with termite mounds amidst niches. The newest is the con- Wildlife Museum with a her- received encomiums from some proficiency in languages and his natural vegetation and canals, cept of Immersion Enclosures. barium, zoo rocks and forest other quarters as well. In 1910, oratorical skills made Rama- there’s a sign that reads: ‘Do not The only zoo in country to seeds exhibits. The Zoo Interpre- Madras was rocked by the rayaningar select public service get disappointed. Snakes gener- have entirely stainless steel bar- tation Centre’s self-explanatory Radhika Santwanamu case, the as his chosen vocation. By way of ally take feed in night.’ ricades to help prevent rusting panels are strategically placed. first instance of a book being pro- a beginning, he successfully con- Visitor friendly Over a 1000 sambar and spot- injury to animals, AAZP is also The museum ‘with dismantled scribed in India on grounds of tested the elections for the North ted deer roam in the Deer Safari. the one with the largest number material from the old Corpora- obscenity. It was felt by many Arcot District Board. Within a ‘Beware of free ranging Deer and of vehicles for visitors, 30 in all! tion zoo’ that was established in that the British had relied on short while he decided that this Snakes’, cautions a sign. All the Battery-operated cars at Rs 330 1990 is not open now. biased counsel and that an objec- was too small a canvas for his 2000 kg fodder requirements for an hour, ferry visitors that seat facilities upto five persons. Also available herbivores is raised on campus is a 15 seater at Rs 30 for each (To be concluded) ome summer, popular at Ass arrived three years ago from dung heaps, ponds, termite and is wholly organic. CHENNAI HERITAGE Ctraction is the Elephant Junagadh, and a herd of swamp mounds, ash pits and palm trees. In 2014, the Butterfly Park No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014 Shower Bank. By 3 pm every deer from Lucknow! And from A biologist confirms, “The idea was created over 2.5 hectare, evening, crowds gather to enjoy Mysore Zoo, the wallaby and the is to attract birds from all around with the help of experts from the I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I the frolicking of the elephants – black swan last year. From through enriching nest boxes, Peechi-based Kerala Forest Re- have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. Giri, Oriyan and Ashok under Lucknow Zoo came the Golden feed and fruiting trees. There can search Institute (KFRI). Sur- G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for the artificially created shower Pheasant and Yellow and Blue be as many as 200 barbets on the rounded by host plants and nec- Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, amidst the trees in their area! Or Macaw who are also well settled ficus tree inside !” tar gardens and interconnected Elephant Shower Bank. MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year to watch the gentle giants being by streams, fascinating butterfly 2014-15. and breeding comfortably. This A venerable old adjutant fed with sugarcane, banana and Pushpa for the 140 noisily chirp- a water canal, a resting pot, leaf behaviour like ‘gully bottoming’ G year, the Underwater Weaving stork spreads out his broad wings, As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment ragi balls. Gharial has been a popular at- as excited schoolkids squeal, ing inmates of the Walkthrough litter (being the only snake spe- can be observed at close quar- and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Rahman and Aysha, the gi- Aviary. The AAZP boasts of the cies that builds a nest!), tempera- ters. Says Dr. Kamraj, wildlife Heritage an additional Rs...... (Rupees traction! Except in the case of “veyil kayudhu paar”! At the her- raffes who came from the the herds, all other animals are onries, replicas of Vedanthangal only naturally breeding ostrich ture regulatory system, dripping biologist,“There are many bril- ...... ) Please keep/ liant exotic species along with put me on your mailing list. Calcutta Zoo, peer benevolently given special names by their and Kodikarai, daily nesting ma- (theekuyil) population in Indian water, tree perch, bushes all into the neighbouring enclosure keepers and the Chief Minister! terial is supplied during the sea- zoos. around and crevices for moult- our own native species!” Name : ...... with a pair of zebras from the At the Open Bird Park over 1 son October to March. Colourful Inside the King Cobra House, ing. Menaka, their caretaker, re- It is interesting to note that Address: ...... Alipore Zoo. Soundarya, a 16- hectare, 29 species are welcomed groundnuts, sunflower seeds, its two 13-ft long inmates are in members her earlier snake wards the earliest animal enclosures All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by year-old hippopotamus, nuzzles in by providing natural enrich- small millets, fruits vegetables are an almost evergreen forest set- Diana, Charles and Elizabeth were arranged according to geo- Speed Post only. her little one gently. The Wild ment factors like nest boxes, laid out by staff Manivannan and ting – riverine environment with wistfully, they “actually seemed graphical distribution of the spe- The Open Bird Park. 6 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2016 ‘Banding’ for (Current Affairs questions are from the period June 16 to 30. Questions 11 to 20 pertain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. Which team avenged its last Carnatic Music year finals loss to win the 2016 NBA Championship recently? eading The Madras Corpo- cians. In addition, however, 2. What major decision impacted ration band: a story of social since the tradition of these brass Europe on June 23-24? R change and indigenisation (Asian bands is close to that of the 3. India, in a boost to its non-pro- Music 1996-1997, 28: 61-86) by nagaswaram bands, they in- liferation credentials, formally joined the MTCR on June 27th. Gregory Booth (University of cluded some special ragas not Expand MTCR. Auckland, New Zealand) often heard in mainstream 4. In a major game-changing brought back pleasant memo- South Indian music. The breakthrough, scientists have ries of my childhood in Madras. nagaswaram ensemble is used discovered at least 54 billion With Gregory’s permission, I primarily but not exclusively as cubic foot of which gas that is provide some details from his an outdoor ensemble. The used in MRI scanners, spacecraft, article from a Madras-history nagaswaram itself is a powerful telescopes etc in the Tanzanian perspective. sounding, long double reed in- East African Rift Valley? P.R. Nathamuni (1900- strument, more than twice the 5. The Union HRD Ministry’s 1960) and his brother Lakshmi- length of its North Indian coun- The Madras Corporation Band rehearses outside of Nehru Stadium, 1989. new initiative to cultivate reading pathi (1902-1990) established terpart, the shenai. Starting They stand in their usual circular formation. Clockwise from left: habits among children and create the Nathamuni Band (NB) in sometime in the late 19th Cen- M. Rajaratanam: talam, J. Venugopal: baritone (euphonium), a reading culture at school and Madras in 1930. One ‘Govinda- tury, or perhaps early 20th P.A. Kodundaraman: alto saxophone, Bandmaster V. Krishnamurthi: clarinet, community level is called.? P. Gajapati: euphonium, V. Babu: bagpipes, G. Kanayan: bass drum. Century, some nagaswaram 6. Which 400 sq km island in the swami-Das Band is supposed to Brahmaputra River has become have preceded NB in Madras, players began to switch to the India’s first island district? but details are untraceable. The Western Albert system clarinet, ment of the Corporation in My hand. I understand that the 7. The CSIR recently launched Nathamuni brothers’ father and paralleling the same transition Ladye’s Garden. The Band per- Corporation Band survives and ‘BGR-34’, an ayurvedic drug grandfather played nagaswaram that was happening in Turkey formed like a royal band, per- continues to perform in a low designed to combat which and clarinet. Nathamuni played and in Eastern Europe. forming only before Mayoralty. key. Talking of the Corporation ailment that is globally prevalent clarinet, which he learnt from Sérfoji II maintained (1777– However, over time, the Band’s Band, a reference to Madras and rampant in India? his father, while Lakshmipathi 1832) a wind band in Tanjore duties included public perfor- Police Band (MPB) of the 8. What first did Bhawana Kanth, played alto-saxophone and palace. Therefore familiarity mances and official functions of Tamil Nadu Special Police is Avani Chatuvedi and Mohana clarinet. Up to the 1960s, NB with western musical instru- the Corporation. It was also inevitable. Unlike the Corpora- Singh achieve in the Indian Air was popular in Madras, playing ments among Tanjore residents available – for hire – to play at tion Band, the Police in eye- Force recently? in popular public spaces. NB’s is not surprising. Tanjore nagas- private functions. A notifica- catching uniform play only 9. Which eminent businessman repertoire was mostly Carnatic waram players learnt to play so- tion by the Commissioner of the Western tunes, and, sometimes from the Bharti group has been music kriti-s, thus differing from prano versions with a Müller Corporation, December 1988 film music. elected the Chairman of the indicates that the Band per- Madras brass bands have a International Chambers of an army-band performance. NB clarinet (13, 14 keys). One of Commerce, the largest, most rep- consisted of ten members clad them (identity unknown) formed at different Madras city fascinating legacy of playing resentative business organisation in trousers and ‘bush’ shirts, taught clarinet to his sons parks. Carnatic music using mostly in the world? who played the clarinet, Balakrishnan (1865-1925), Western musical instruments. 10. ‘A New World’ is the slogan/ soprano clarinet, alto-saxo- Melodious film music scored by motto for which global event phone, cornet, trombone, S.M. Subbiah and K.V. Maha- starting in Brazil in early August? possibly baritone horn, eupho- devan overwhelmingly included * * * nium, bagpipes, tavil, and tãlam. G by Dr. A. Raman Western tunes. Contemporary 11. Panaganti Ramarayaningar, To accommodate South-Indian Carnatic music masters A.K.C. whose birth sesquicentennial was classical musical notes, NB Natarajãn, K. Gopalnãth, and observed on July 9th, is better included a tavil and a tãlam. The U. Srinivãs play Western instru- known as…? band also included a bass Guruswami (1870-1950), and Anyone interested in the ments. The unknown nagas- 12. What is the name of Shiva at instrument – a low brass horn Venkataraman (1875-1945). musical nuances and details of waram player of 19th Century Tiruvaiyaru? (tuba) – which gave the band a This group grew into a family instruments used by BTB, Tanjore, who mastered the 13. Of which iconic institution in distinctive sound. Nathamuni band and became popular as the MCB, and NB, should read clarinet, his three sons, and the the metropolis was Jawaharlal played several pieces solo. Nathamuni brothers in Madras Nehru talking when he said “…al- Balakrishnan Tanjore Band Booth. I remember seeing the ways reminds me of an old maiden Seeing merit in having a (BTB). BTB mastered the art of Corporation Band performing in mid-20th Century were the lady, very prim and proper, who is wind band of its own, the Cor- playing kirtanam-s and on the Marina (where Debi trailblazers in using Western shocked if a naughty word is used poration of Madras invited NB varnams. This trend set by Prasad Roy Chowdhury’s instruments to play Carnatic in her presence…” to join its service. The brothers BTB was followed by NB in Triumph of Labour statue now music. Do we not want to re- 14. In the ‘Black Town’ of Madras, rejected the Corporation’s early 20th Century Madras. stands), holding my father’s member them? if Mint Street was Washers’ invitation, probably because Some of the renderings by BTB Street, then which bustling thor- they made more money working were recorded by the Gramo- OUR ADDRESSES oughfare was called ‘Weavers’ independently. Columbia re- phone Company on 78 rpm Street’? For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: leased seven 78 rpm recordings discs, listed as ‘Telugu and CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 15. Who was the son-in-law of of NB: six Tyagaraja kriti-s and Tamizh tunes’, in 1911. Besides 14. Lord Dalhouise who is remem- one English tune (English Note many European musical instru- bered in Madras where two Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor can be sent via as per the Columbia Catalogue) ments, BTB used tãlam and a email to [email protected]. Those who wish to intimate change of ad- famous edifices bear his name? in 1941. The English Note, native drum (not a tavil). dress can also do so provided the subscription number is quoted. For non-receipt 16. Which celebrated author of copies, change of address, and all other circulation matters: Madras Musings, popularised by Madurai Mani, reviewed art programmes for In response to Nathamuni’s C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. Ananda Vikatan under the pen became more popular in Madras refusal, the Corporation adver- On editorial matters: The Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, name ‘Karnatakam’? after A.P. Nagarajan’s Tillãnã tised for a wind band that would Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. 17. Kathirikkai and Manikkam Mohanãmbal (1968) filming became the Madras Corpora- No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent from were the assistants of which Kothamangalam Subbu’s serial tion Band (MCB) in 1946. Ac- these addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and you will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as it may seem, if popular Tamil literary detective? in Ananda Vikatan in the 1950s. cepting the Corporation’s offer, you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you faster and disappoint 18. In what is probably the first Musicologist Robert Garfias has BTB moved from Tanjore and you less. ‘coup’ in Madras in 1865, which the following to say on NB in became the Corporation Band governor was deposed by Edward 1974: “In South India, while in 1947. Guruswami, the last – THE EDITOR Winter ? some of these bands play film living brother of Balakrishnan, 19. The 1935 film Menaka was songs, others like the Natha- was the notional band master, MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB the first to feature the songs of muni band play a kind of reper- whereas Balakrishnan’s son, which celebrated poet? toire that is on the edge of the Kodantapãni led the band. To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen inter- 20. Madhorubhagan, the contro- South Indian classical tradition. Kodandapãni’s son Ramdas as- est in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests from many versial book by Perumal Muru- Some kriti-s and such are the sumed leadership of the band in well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad who receive gan, is titled after a form of Shiva same as those performed by 1958. The Corporation Band their postal copies very late – for an online edition. Madras Musings is joined in temple where? now on the web at www. madrasmusings.com classical South Indian musi- reported to the Parks Depart- (Answers on page 7) – THE EDITOR July 16-31, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

The Tamilvanans of Chennai – Part II Brothers

(Continued from last fortnight) in arms here is an old adage in shoes of his father, but seeing get the mood to write?‘ he re- Lena Tamilvanan. Ravi Tamilvanan. Tamil, Thaai ettadi paanja, the confidence that Mr plied, “There is no question of T with. He had so much confi- ness. They are both highly fo- kutty padinaru adi payum. Freely Annamalai had in him, he ac- mood. When I put the pen on dence in Ravi’s ability to man- cused and work hard to achieve translated it means if the cepted the challenge. Though paper to write, the ideas simply age a business that he asked him whatever they set out to mother jumps 8 feet, the child initially the circulation dropped flow.” to supervise the running of a achieve. On a visit to their will jump 16 feet. Brothers in from 1,80,00 to 1,40,000, it Lena has been as popular asa family restaurant, located in home, I was amazed to see a arms, Lena & Ravi, the multi- picked up when the readers speaker as he is a writer. His their own complex in Anna joint, well-knit family, living in faceted sons of the legendary found that Lena was ‘a chip of speaking assignments have Nagar, when the original owner complete harmony. In Tamil writer Tamilvanan have the old block‘ and could dish taken him to all the countries handed over the restaurant to thesedays when nuclear families proved the adage right by tak- out informative and inspira- where Tamils reside, winning his father as settlement for some are the norm, where even chil- ing the legacy of their father to tional issues of Kalkandu week him a legion of friends and ad- money owed. Ravi was still in dren don’t want to stay with greater heights, Lena as a writer after week, just like his father mirers worldwide. He is also as- college then and remembers their parents, it is heartening to and Ravi as a publisher. had done for 30 years. Within sociated with the family‘s pub- managing the affairs of the res- see two brothers’ families living When Tamilvanan had a four years the circulation lishing business as the Chair- taurant, after returning from together under the same roof heart attack and died at the age reached 2,20,000. Lena never man of the editorial board of college every evening. Business even after their marriages forty of only 51, Lena and Ravi had looked back and was to con- Manimekalai Prasuram. Apart was obviously in Ravi‘s blood. years ago.The contribution of to discontinue their studies tinue as the editor of Kalkandu from helping in editing the No wonder Manimekalai Prasu- their respective spouses cannot temporarily to take over the magazine for the next 37 years, books published by Manimeka- ram has published over 10,000 be under-estimated in this reins of the business their father until he retired in 2014. lai Prasuram, he also helps Ravi titles over the years for 6000 successful joint family experi- had so assiduously built over 30 authors. 3600 titles are still ac- ment. years. While Lena, with a G tive on the sales list. Master’s degree in Tamil litera- by R.V. Rajan The brothers take the pro- While both brothers travel ture, followed the footsteps of jection of unity in thought one abroad regularly, Ravi’s trips are his father as a writer, Ravi, a step further. Every day, through strictly business trips to launch qualified Chartered Accoun- Lena ensured the continuity in choosing the books to be a prior understanding, they new books, organise exhibitions tant with a sharp business acu- of Brand Tamilvanan, not only published. dress in the same colour outfits, and sale of books. Among the men, took over the family‘s pub- by wearing dark glasses like his * * * when they go out. Unlike their hundred countries that he has lishing business, Manimekalai father, but continued with the Ravi Tamilvanan, younger father who never looked after visited, Sri Lanka is one of Prasuram. features made popular in than Lena by just 15 months, is his health and died young, right Ravi‘s favourite destinations. * * * Kalkandu by his father. He also responsible for making the 60- from their younger days the He is proud of the fact that he Lena remembers that he was introduced new ideas in the years-old Manimekalai Prasu- brothers have been health has helped Sri Lankan Tamil only 23, studying Law and al- magazine. His one page essays ram one of the top Tamil pub- freaks. In their early sixties now, writers to publish over 450 ready married when his father on self improvement were lishing houses in Tamil Nadu. both brothers have serious books. passed away. While his father lapped up by a whole new While his father started the work-outs every morning; Manimekalai Almanac cover- was still alive he had written a generation of youth. publishing business only to pub- Lenaplays badminton and Ravi ing 95 years (1926-2020), is few essays in Tamil which were His travelogues, based on his lish his own books, better busi- plays tennis. When someone very popular among astrologers. published in Kalkandu, the visits to all continents (except ness sense has made Ravi ex- asked Lena, “While you look Equally well known is the Di- magazine targeting youth, Antartica) not only were read tend the reach to other authors. very fit for your age, how is it rectory of ‘Who’s Who’ ‘of which his father edited. His fa- with great interest by his read- Ravi recalls an incident in that, your father who preached Tamil Nadu, providing contact ther not only appreciated his ers but also earned him a pres- his life when he was just 10. the world how to live longer details of well-known people writing but also rewarded him tigious Award from Tanjore When his father one day died young?” Lena replied, from different walks of life pub- with a small honorarium. He Tamil University as the Best brought home a big bottle of “What my father achieved in 51 lished by the group. Among the never imagined that one day Travelogue writer in Tamil. Quink ink (Don’t say ink, say years of his life was much more many awards Ravi has won from this small brush with writing The Q&A feature covering all Quink’), Ravi remarked, ‘appa, than what many people achieve the industry, he values the hon- would land him an editor’s job; subjects began to appear under by the time you finish writing in 100 years.” orary doctorate that he got from when S.A.P. Annamalai, the a new title ‘Junior Answers’. He with this ink, you would have I am sure the brothers will the Washington Tamil Univer- founder editor of Kumudam also wrote short stories and earned a lakh of rupees, no?’. achieve far more than what sity the most. andowner of Kalkandu maga- novels. ‘Meendum Sankarlal’ a His father was impressed with their father did. zine, would invite him to take series featuring the fictitious his son‘s business acumen and * * * over the editorship of Kalkandu, detective Sankarlal made popu- hugged him. In later years, his Both Lena and Ravi have in- on his father’s death. Lena was lar by his father, was well re- father would encourage him to herited their father‘s qualities of Feedback welcome on very apprehensive about step- ceived. When one of his well- give his views on some of the fi- charming people with their sim- 9840392082 or rvrajan42 ping into the larger than life wishers asked, ‘When do you nancial issues he was concerned plicity, sincerity and friendli- @gmail.com Answers to Quiz A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ 1. Cleveland Cavaliers (beating Golden State Warriors); 2. The We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16-04-16 to 15-07-16, added to the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, United Kingdom voting to leave Madras Musings, have already received. We thank all of them for their support for the causes Chennai Heritage espouses. the European Union, 3. Missile Technology Control Regime, 4. Rs. 100: E.J.J. Isaacs; G. Rs. 151: R. Ravindranath Mahalakshmi; G. Dhasarathy; G. – CHENNAI HERITAGE Helium, 5. Vidyanjali, 6. Majuli in Chidambar; G. Sundaram ; Gita Krishnan; Geetha Doctor; Assam, 7. The drug is designed for Rs. 180: M. Singaraja Gopalakrishnan; K. Ashok Kumar George K. John; H.D. Rs. 495: G.B. Vipradas type 2 Diabetes mellitus, 8. They are the first-ever women fighter pi- Reddy; K. Santhanam; K. V. Rs. 200: A.D. Nityaanand; A.V. Dhunjeebhoy; J.R. Arunachalam; Rs. 500: V. Muthukrishnan Rajasekar; K.R. Chidambara M.S. Padmanabhan ; P.K. lots in the IAF, 9. Sunil Mittal, 10. Ramana Rao ; G. Srinivasan; The Rio Olympics. Rs. 900: K.S. Ganapathy; M. Kumarasamy; K.V. Lakshmi P.S. Narasimhan; S. Rajagopalan; Prema Seetharam ; Desikan; N. Ramanujan; N. Narayanan ; Rajakumari Ranganathan; T. Appaswami R. Sridharan; R.V. Ramani; * * * Sundaram; S. Krishnan; S. Raghavan; Rangashree Srinivas; Subramanian; P.Ramakrishna 11. Raja of Pa(a)nagal, 12. Ramaswamy; Sindhu B. Rao; Rs. 300: D. Srinivasan S. Mohan; S. Padmanabhan ; S. Rs. 1000: R. Radhakrishnan Pranatharthiharan, 13. The Hindu, Sosamma Philip; V. Srinivasan; Rajalakshmi; S. Satyabhama; Rs. 400: Ashok Aiyar; C.V. 14. Nainiappa Naicken Street, V.E. Arunachalam Sanjay Chandrasekhar; Snigdha; Rs. 1100: Aravindan Selvaraj Nagarathinam; Chackomani ; 15. Lord Connemara, 16. ‘Kalki’ Sundari Sidhartha; T. Rs. 101: Gita Gopalakrishnan Daniel Baskar James; G Rs. 4900: Nagseh Somadev Krishnamurthy, 17. Sankarlal, 18. Srinivasachari; T.V. Sivakumaran; Governor Foxcroft, 19. Subra- Rs. 150: K. Ganapathy Vijalakshmi Bhasker mania Bharati, 20. Tiruchengode. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2016 Photo contest to get Madras Week

Till July 21: Exhibition of Water- off to a flying start colours by artist V. Babu at Stu- dio Palazzo, . any organisations have started drawing up plans for Madras chrome images are allowed. Entry is open to all photographers – Till July 22: Triptych, an exhibition of the work of Asma Menon, MWeek (August 21st-28th) which seems to begin from the first amateur and professionals. Each entry should be accompanied by Gita and Thejo Menon (at week of August and goes on through the first week of September. the data sheet given below duly filled in. Artworld, Sarala’s Art Centre). Alliance Française of Madras has announced that it will hold a The entries, taken using a photographic process, have to be July 27-31: Adiperukku and photography contest during Madras Week 2016 on the theme original works of the entrant, who owns them. Ayyanaar festival with cultural ‘Madras Yesterday... Chennai Today’. The contest is open to all The entrant should permit the organisers to reproduce all or dances by troupe from Murasu residents of the city. part of the entered material free of charge for AFM publicity in Cultural Community, Kanniya- The entries should depict what the city of Chennai means to print or online internet site and/or in other media. Results will be kumari (at DakshinaChitra). participants. Photographs may include typical views of life in the sent by email. Entrants should ensure that they provide an active July 31-August 4: Adult work- city, cityscapes, culture, tradition, day-to-day life, festivals, nature, email address and that spam filters are set to accept emails from shops on Kerala Murals on wildlife and capturing the magnificence of the city’s architecture AFM. Canvas, Bamboo and terracotta (at DakshinaChitra). from the oldest arch to the most modern structures. Till July 31: Primitive Parallelism, Entries to be sent to [email protected] and must Data Sheet paintings by Hemanth Surya- reach us before 12 noon on August 5th. Name of the participant : wanshi. Tribal arts and crafts 20 entries will be picked by a select jury and an exhibition of the Category (AFM Student / General Public) : have been the main source of in- winning entries will be held at the AFM Gallery from August spiration for Hemanth Surya- 22-28. Age : wanshi (at DakshinaChitra). A participant can send a maximum of two pictures. Till July 30: Drama in Colour an Contact Number : Each participant shall submit his or her photos in TIFF file for- exhibition by Madhukar Mai- mat (preferred) or JPEG format (as an alternative) with a resolu- Email : thani and John Tun Sein (at Apparao Galleries). tion of 300 dpi. Entries will not be accepted on CD or as prints. Name of College / School / Employer : Till July 30: The Moon City & The Any manipulation or modification to the original image is lim- Sun Dream by Bhavna Sonawane ited to minor retouching of blemishes and cropping and must not and N. Ramachandran (at alter the content of the original scene. Highly manipulated images For more information, email: [email protected] Apparao Galleries at The Leela and composite images, including HDRs, are not permitted. Mono- web: www.af-madras.org Palace). Heritage of Chennai – multimedia contest for schools his contest is being held in The contest is open to organisers. E-mail to – The team should retain a gifts and certificates. All partici- Tconnection with Madras school children studying in [email protected] – copy of its project on a pen- pants will be given certificates. Day 2016. The contest encour- classes 8 to 12. A school can and get the OK to start work on drive or copy it on an electronic The prizes will be presented at ages city school students to ex- send only one team. Each team the project. device and bring it to the venue about 3 pm. Prizes will be plore Chennai’s heritage and MUST have 3 members and all The presentation in of the contest. The organisers awarded based on quality of re- present the topic given to them 3 members must take turns to Powerpoint on the approved will provide a PC and a projec- search / presentation of visuals in multi-media form make one presentation. theme will have to be done by tor at the venue to help teams and points / presentation format (Powerpoint Presentation). Choose a street in an old sec- all the three participants. It can make their presentations. and answers to the questions Theme: Streetscape of any tor of our city which has old be done in English or in Tamil The contest is open to the posed by the judges. old part of city houses and buildings (at least or a mix! The duration of the first 25 teams to register on first- This event is supported by complete presentation – come-first-serve basis. Times, the neigh- The Powerpoint presenta- 10 of them on either side dating to the 1930s-60s or before). PowerPoint and Oral – should The contest will take place bourhood newspaper, and tion should be submitted not exceed 10 minutes. Partici- on August 23 from 9.30 am to South India National Associa- to the organisers on or Study the streetscape, the local architecture, the nature of pants should be prepared to an- 3.30 pm with a 30-minute lunch tion (SINA), Luz. before August 12, 5 pm. swer on-the-spot questions break (you need to bring your There are over 100 events E-mail it to: themadrasday@ houses and residents and the striking features of this street. from the judges. lunch!). Venue: Srinivasa Sastri held for / Madras gmail.com. (Subject line – Ma- On each slide, you must Hall, Luz, Mylapore. (Report at Week in August. All informa- dras Day – PP Contest) Take classy photos, make notes, talk to people in the know. have a maximum of just 3 lines, 9 am to download your PP onto tion is at www.themadrasday.in (Please do not courier the each line 5 words only. Dump- our PC). project. Organisers do not en- Ask your school teacher-ad- ing content on a slide earns you The best THREE presenta- –Vincent D’Souza tertain hand delivered entries!) viser to seek the approval of the minus marks!. tions will be awarded trophies, Co-ordinator

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