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• Detecting spurious drugs

• A giant of his times MADRAS • The Arbuthnot Crash • The Bullet way MUSINGS • Supper-time in the wild Rs. 5 per copy Vol. XV No. 22 March 1-15, 2006 (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) Monorail or Metrorail

PROPOSED CORRIDORS: Monorail for for Chennai? Chennai with (Zig Zag) Mass Transit Corridors (By D.V. Subramanian) he Tamil Nadu Govern- way) at a height of 20-30 feet Tment recently announced above the ground. The vehicles a proposal to implement at the are either suspended from, or earliest a Monorail Mass Rapid straddle, the narrow guide-way Transport System (MMRTS) to and are wider than the guide- ease traffic congestion and way that supports them. Tamil reduce travel time for commut- Nadu has opted for the “strad- Yes, I’ll have a full facial too! ers. The proposal needs an open dling” type. You too? debate among informed citi- Visitors to Singapore would Admit it – you did not see this zens outside policy-making have used a monorail vehicle in one coming. circles. Sentosa Island. In fact, mono- Although over the past few The invitation for global bids rail systems were initially used years there has been a distinct for the monorail system for for travel inside large tourism increase in male interest in Chennai is available on the complexes, such as Disney personal grooming and looks 1 – their own, that is. Internet . The Monorail Soci- World in Florida and Disney- The term ‘Beauty Parlour’ can ety (TMS), an organisation in land in California, or for mov- no longer be assumed to refer the U.S. dedicated to promot- ing air passengers between air exclusively to feminine do- ing monorail transportation all terminals over short distances in mains. In the old days, guys over the world, comments in a the U.S., the U.K., Germany had their ‘saloons’, which recent news brief: “The system and Japan. Its usefulness as pub- (presumably) were strictly no- proposed to be made up of over lic transport was recognised in fuss zones, where the strong 300 km of track would dwarf Las Vegas (US), Moscow, and the silent went about their the length of any other existing Sydney, Japan and Kuala business in a brisk, business- monorail system on the planet. Lumpur (Malaysia). Japan de- like fashion. With unisex parlours getting India has had many monorail rives maximum benefit from a proposals for various cities over more popular, representatives (Continued on Page 2) of both sexes find themselves the past ten yeas, yet not one sitting side-by-side, with has moved forward to construc- sweet-smelling concoctions – tion The proposal has made of self-consciously sparked criticism as well as Is it necessary to insist exclusive berries from the skepticism over its validity.” Amazon rain forest and herbs * * * grown specially in a secret val- Monorail vehicles are pas- on helmet use? ley right here on native soil – senger vehicles running on a dripping off their respective faces, even as soft-spoken single rail track (or a guide- (by Shobha Menon) acolytes work on their nails, 1 http://www.monorail.org – At the ou want to become a guished neurosurgeon berating where I was volunteering. or ‘do’ their hair. end of the news item “Chennai Certainly helps bring the sexes touts questionable plan”, under “Y‘vegetable’? Come with a brash 20-year-old two- While a recent National High- much closer, but sort of the news menu you can download me on my rounds in the wards wheeler driver, many years ago, way Traffic Safety Administra- messes with that subtle ele- Invitation for Bids Document. In- and I’ll show you what can hap- in the OP clinic at the Depart- tion (NHTSA) report declares ment of mystery, don’t you cludes routes and details. (Warn- pen if you have not protected ment of Neurosurgery, Volun- that motorcyclists are about 18 think? ing: Large file 23.7 MB). your head!”, this was an an- tary Health Services, Adyar, times as likely as car occupants (If there’s any left in these free- to die in a traffic crash and three thinking times, of course.) times as likely to be injured, a I mean, it is a little difficult to get Strengthening Chennai Heritage study conducted by the all breathless and flustered hennai Heritage is pleased to welcome and word. With his computer skills he will also National Institute of Mental over someone you’ve seen get- Health and Neurosciences, ting his face exfoliated. Caboard Sriram Venkatakrishnan (Sriram make reach further by putting it And now, advertisements for V. to readers of Madras Musings) who joins us as on the Web. Bangalore, has also confirmed male face creams, promising Associate Editor of Madras Musings from March With Chennai Heritage deciding to extend its that the severity of head injury, silky, glowing skin! 1, 2006. activities beyond Madras Musings and its part in death due to head injury, inci- While you abhor chauvinism in Sriram, a Contributing Editor to Sruti and a heritage and environmental awareness creation, dence of skull fracture and oc- any form from either sex, do regular contributor to the leading newspapers in Sriram will also play a lead role in identifying currence of post-traumatic epi- specific projects for it and help to organise you think this ‘anything-you- the city on Chennai’s musical heritage, has for lepsy were higher among those can-do-I-can-do’ back and some time now been keen to take a wider look at Chennai Heritage-led workshops, seminars and exhibitions. who were not using helmets as forthing is taking some unex- the city’s heritage. By volunteering to assist compared to those who did. Chennai Heritage and its flagship publication, A better Madras Musings and a proactive pected twists and turns? “Protective headgear cer- But, hey, if that’s progress – so Madras Musings, Sriram will strengthen your Chennai Heritage are what we at Chennai be it. fortnightly by making it even more topical as well Heritage hope Sriram will help to achieve. tainly reduces the severity of as help its voice to be heard louder in both print — The Editor the impact on the brain. Unfor- Ranjitha Ashok (Continued on Page 8)

CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2006 Monorail or Metrorail? Minilab to detect (Continued from Page 1) concrete structures in a casting in congested localities), reloca- monorail rapid transit system yard far from the site. Typical tion of utilities on the median spurious drugs (in six cities, including Tokyo vertical columns have a 1.2m x (power, telephone lines, TV and Osaka). Okinawa in Japan 1.6m cross section and are 6 to cables etc), the number of sta- minilab to detect spurious drugs has been set up by CON- ACERT – Centre for Consumer Education, Research, Teach- has the most modern monorail 8m tall (a small footprint, no tions and the number of cars in doubt). Average guideways a train, special structures (to ing, Training and Testing – at its office in Tiruvanmiyur, Chen- system (2003). nai. The lab is the first of its kind to be set up by an NGO and could be 28m (92’) long and cross the flyovers and rail over- * * * was inaugurated by K. Rajaraman, I.A.S., Additional Commis- The plus and minus points weigh 100 metric tonnes. Spe- bridges or existing MRTS sioner, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Government of of a monorail system are: cial guideways on curves could routes). Some actual costs Tamil Nadu.

l It requires minimal space be 44m (144’) long and weigh would be illustrative. The lab has been donated to CONCERT by Terra Tech, a at ground level (just for support 190 metric tonnes. Heavy-duty Considering the factors German NGO, through its parent organisation, ADH. pillars). The space required at hydraulic multi-axle transport- mentioned above, it is not sur- The spurious drug market in India accounts for a staggering the rail level, however, is deter- ers will be needed to transport prising to find that the Hitachi Rs.4,500 crore, 20 per cent of the spurious drug business in the mined by the width of the ve- the beams from the casting yard monorail systems in three dif- world. “The purpose of setting up this lab is to ensure consider- able reduction in the sale of spurious drugs”, says R. Desikan, a hicle. to their final location in the city ferent locations in Japan cost and two telescopic cranes, each $15, $27 and $62 million/km. trustee of CONCERT. l It is quieter, as modern Dr. Karl Weihgold, Senior Quality Manager, Ratiopharm, monorails use rubber wheels on rated at 300 metric tonnes, will The Kuala Lumpur monorail Germany, was present at the inauguration of this minilab. He a concrete track. have to lift them into place, the cost $36 million/km. A pro- would train the analytical chemists recruited for the lab. Dr.

l It is capable of climbing, cranes themselves occupying posed 6.7 km monorail system Weihgold said that 140 such mini labs have been set up in 34 descending and turning faster quite a significant road space. in Dubailand is estimated to countries, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia. than most conventional rail sys- During the construction, cost $200 million and will take CONCERT hopes to spread awareness about spurious drugs tems. some of the business and resi- four years for completion. among consumers. Any consumer organisation or a consumer can send a medicine suspected to be spurious for testing following l It is safer than other forms dential areas in the congested In India, Phase I of the Delhi parts of the city may have to be Metro Rail – 65 km comprising the procedure laid down by CONCERT. If found spurious, the of surface rail transportation, drug would be sent to the State Drug Analytical Laboratory to since the monorail wraps totally closed to traffic of any three routes with 59 stations – is 2 confirm the result which would then be sent to the State Health around its track and so cannot kind for months, to enable the estimated to have cost Rs. Department, Director General of Health Services in New Delhi, derail. There is also no risk of transporting vehicles moving 10,570 crore (extrapolated 2003 and the manufacturer of the drug. Desikan states that there colliding with road traffic or pe- the pre-cast structures de- prices), i.e. $35 million/km would be a nominal charge for testing the spurious drugs. destrians. scribed above designated sites approximately. The following drugs can be tested at CONCERT’s Mini Lab. Accidents are rare but have and then to install them in The cost of the project will List of drugs accepted for analysis happened in some countries. In place. This perhaps is the “mini- tell on cost to the user. The an emergency, passengers can- mal disruption” mentioned by minimum monorail fare in the Sl. Chemical/Generic MTC in its bid document. countries mentioned is not less No. name of the Brand Name not immediately exit, because active ingredient the monorail system does not Let us consider the infra- than $ 2. The MTC says if the provide for a ledge or railing to structure requirements of a typi- fares charged by MMRTS are 1. Acetyl Salicylic Acid Aspin, Loprin, Ecosprin, Asprin stand on. They must wait until cal corridor specified by MTC: affordable, passengers would be 2. Aminophylline Alergin, Bronchilet, Tedral, Theoasthalin a fire engine comes to the res- Parrys to Guduvancheri (39 km willing to shift to this mode. But 3. Amodiaquin cue. If there is a fire inside the long) along the median above considering that commuters in Hydrochloride Comaprima, Basoquin, Camoquin Mount Road with 36 stations – Chennai still prefer to go strap- 4. Amoxicillin Allmox, Mox, Novamox, Damoxy cabin, the passengers face the 5. Ampicillin Roscillin, Nepocil, Biocilin, Campicilin unpleasant choice a jumping to a relatively easier stretch, if you hanging in over-crowded buses 6. Artemether Larither the ground 6 to 8 metres below, ignore existing flyovers and rather than have a much 7. Artesunate Arnate, Falligo or staying in the vehicle and multilevel junctions coming up. quicker and comfortable jour- 8. Cephalexin Cefamax, Sporidex, Cephaxin, Nix risking suffocation. A monorail vehicle with 4 cars ney by the MRTS just to save 2 9. Chloramphenicol Kemicetine, Biophenicol, Paraxin, Mycin The TMS says, “Monorails is 39 m long and needs a 50- or 3 rupees, will they pay a 10. Chloroquine metre long covered platform, at much higher fare to go by Phosphate Emquin, Cloquin occupy a square metre when 11. Ciprofloxacin Cifran Eye, Zoxan, Alcipro, Biocip columns are located on the cen- intervals of 1.0 km on an aver- monorail? The fare for the long- 12. Cloxacillin Bludrox – P, Bio Clox, Amciclox tral median, are easy to con- age between stations, along the est route by Delhi metro rail is 13. Co – Trimoxazole Ciplin, Cosulf P, Tabrol, Otrim struct, quick to execute, cause route. Passenger capacities Rs. 22. Only if the monorail fare 14. Didanosine minimal disruption during con- range from 316 (normal) to 536 is comparable, will it be able to 15. Ethambutol struction”. It also says that the (crowd) in a 4-car train with attract commuters. Hydrochloride Mycoxol, Albutol, Concox walk-through facility between * * * 16. Erythromycin Citamycin, Etomin, Stearate, Erybest guide-ways can be installed 17. Furosemide faster than in other transport the cars. Will this capacity be It is reasonable to conclude 18. Glibenclamide D-con, Glucored, Iscept systems. It adds that the entire adequate for Chennai? that citizens have to suffer the 19. Griseofulvin Grieseopic, Idiflvin, Fluvin – 500 system at Las Vegas took only Access to the platform from same ordeals during the con- 20. Indinavir Indivir seven months to construct. ground level will have to be by struction phase, whether it is 21. Isonazid 22. Lamivudine Duovir, Heptavir, Zidolam This timeframe might hold escalators, as otherwise nobody monorail or metrorail. So why would patronise the service. In not choose the tried and tested, 23. Mebendazole Mebex, Elmin, Wormin good in cities with wide roads 24. Mefloquine Mefax, Confal, Carimef, Mqf and / or low population density the absence of a subway, com- homegrown and much larger 25. Metamizol (e.g. Kuala Lumpur – popula- muters would necessarily have capacity (15 lakh passenger- 26. Metronidazole Unimezol, Equagyl, Compeba tion density 5320/sq.km), or to cross the perpetually busy trips per day) metrorail which 27. Nevirapine Nevimune, Nevivir cities in the Western world, road from both sides to reach has been acclaimed to be a suc- 28. Paracetamol Fepanil, Pacimol, Picamol, Ifimol Japan, or even West Asia, where the stations on the median. Has cess in its timely completion and 29. Prednisolone Predone, Unidrol MTC factored in this require- operation with state-of-art fa- 30. Phenoxy Methyl surface vehicular traffic is Penicillin Pentic, Benzyl Penicillin self-disciplined, or in new towns ment of numerous subways on cilities, including parking lots 31. Primaquine Malirid, Primaline, just coming up (Putrajaya in this and other monorail corri- and feeder buses (vide DMRC Primaquinephosphate Malaysia). Chennai, with a dors? website: www.delhimetrorail. 32. Pyrazinamide Pyzina, Civizide, Koxymide population density of 24,230/ In addition, wherever corri- com). 33. Quinine Sulphate Cinkona, Uniquinec, Quininga sq.km (2001), could be a differ- dor alignments require private While we wait for the out- 34. Rifampicin Rifacept, R – Cin, Gocox, Cavidin property to be acquired, the come of this debate, commut- 35. Salbutamol Salbu, Muco Asthalin, Synabron Exp ent story. 36. Stavudine Stag, Stavir * * * process might become a pro- ers would appreciate it if South- 37. Sulfadoxine The Metropolitan Transport longed one. Metro rail also had ern Railway extends the present 38. Tetra Cycline Dicicyclin, Idilin, Tetret Corporation (MTC) has speci- similar problems in Delhi dur- MRTS facility at least upto 39. Zidovudine Zidovir, Zido – H, Retrovir fied for the project ten main ing its construction and opera- at the earliest, com- (Courtesy: Consumer’s Digest of CAI.) corridors extending into the tion; they were solved by suit- plete the half-finished station metropolitan area and twenty able legislation and the latest buildings and parking facilities service doing round trips from should acquire and run its own feeder sections linking these, tunnelling technology. therein for cars and two-wheel- each MRTS station, catering to buses for this purpose, if MTC some of them crisscrossing the * * * ers, and provide safe/proper ac- an area, say, within 2-3 km so pleads inability. most populated part of the city. The cost of the system will cess to the stations. While this that commuters don’t have to Acknowledgement: Most of And the first 50 km is required depend, among other things, on will increase traffic on MRTS, trek long distances to and from the technical data on monorail to be operational within three access of the construction it will definitely run to full ca- their homes. Infrastructure for is from the website of The years. equipment to the locations (for pacity if it provides a feeder bus bus termini already provided at Monorail Society, a compre- The successful bidder will instance, on roads with high 2 http://www.delhimetrorail.com/ a few MRTS stations is getting hensive source of information have to fabricate the required traffic density or narrow roads corporates/projectupdates/ wasted. Southern Railway on monorails around the world. March 1-15, 2006 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 How do we make undergraduates Why monorail? employable? adras that is Chennai was have recently read in Indian newspapers concerns expressed ing session, the student should be able to stop further study and Mwell-served by trams for Iabout the lack of employability of Indian undergraduates. This pursue a job. Field placement enables the student to learn practical decades until its closure in the is a subject that has long been close to my heart. May I share the day-to-day problems in the chosen work experience and also to early 1950s. Then, G.D. Naidu following concerns. learn about working as part of a team, human resource manage- came forward offering to take It is necessary for academic planners in Indian higher education ment, and similar work-related skills. Incidentally, the student up the services and streamline to perceive undergraduate programmes as terminal-level program- would have also established contact with a prospective industry them in such a way as to enable mes and not threshold level programmes leading every undergradu- which can employ him/her; or, at least, the field placement super- the commuters to have hassle- ate to postgraduate degree programmes. The difficulty is that we visor could be a referee for the student when he applies for a job. are continuing to harp on an undergraduate education philosophy free travel, and without The academic who teaches theory should also see that class- that was framed in the early 20th Century in Britain. Whereas room teaching includes a reasonable component of understanding hindrance to other vehicles and Britain has changed enormously, we, in India, remain buried deep of personality development, human resource development, mana- pedestrians. He was an ac- in that archaic philosophy that undergraduates are to be trained gerial skills such as financial management, day-to-day tactical knowledged genius who would for postgraduate education management, and long-term strategic management. Let us look at have fulfilled his promises, but I have no official statistics to quote, but my 20-odd years of the example of an academic teaching Biology in college in India, his offer was declined. teaching experience in an arts and science college in Madras tells who offers a work-oriented subject, ‘mushroom farming’. In a The closure of the train ser- me that no more than 10% of the students completing under- majority of instances, the academic feels happy teaching just the vices was prompted by the Gov- graduate degrees pursue postgraduate ones. I think this guessti- biological aspects, such as the varieties of edible mushrooms and ernment in view of the growing mate is valid even today in spite of the numerous self-financing some cultivation practices. The academic will hardly ever teach/ population of people and ve- colleges which have sprung up. Assuming this guesstimate is cor- talk about aspects of packaging and marketing of the produce (e.g. rect, what is the point of talking about undergraduate degree mushrooms), setting up a farm, raising investment finance (e.g. a hicles and the resultant traffic programmes being solely tailored for students to pursue postgradu- bank loan), book-keeping, occupational health and safety proce- hazards. The population of city ate degree programmes dures, government regulations, and several other related issues was then nearly a million and In this context, how should we go about ensuring employability which go hand-in-hand with any effort to start a new enterprise. now it is nearly five times that. of undergraduates? This is applicable if a student plans to start his/her own busi- Except a few main roads, most My suggestions (= alternative pathways) assume that every ness enterprise. What is the situation if the student seeks a job, others in the city are narrow and undergraduate degree programme is for 3 years (= 6 semesters) of say, in industry? In such contexts, the student needs to learn how zig-zag. As such, they do not full-time study. to work in a team of people, how to present himself as the most lend themselves easily to other Such programmes will need to combine rigorous training in the skilled and equipped person, and similar HR-related issues. To traffic modes, such as the theory (e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, what extent are Indian colleges offering training or exposure in Economics, History, Languages) with practice. Academics need to monorail, to run smoothly. Gov- such areas? Does the curriculum envisage such matters at all? I think of teaching programmes that are matched with day-to-day am afraid, the answer is likely to be ‘no’. Training offered in India ernment will do well to drop this practical issues in terms of practice. An intelligent blend of theory is far from desirable level in terms of all-round personality develop- project. and practice should be carefully and thoughtfully designed by the ment. M.R. Pillai academics involved in the teaching-learning practice, taking into For those enthusiastic about pursuing postgraduate consideration the opportunities that exist in the local society. H-64/5, Central Avenue programmes, Indian colleges need to have a fourth year compo- Interested persons can look into our article in Current Science due nent included in their curriculum, which can be equated to the to be published in April 2006. Chennai 600 080 erstwhile Honours degrees (offered in the 1950s in the University Final semester study (whatever be the major subject) should of Madras and given up by the University for unknown reasons!). Rajaji and Hindi include a set of work-oriented electives from which the student can Such a programme should be independent of the 3-year degree make a choice for study. Most importantly, there is no use in recall the colourful function programme. simply lecturing to students on such subjects without any field We have been talking about this issue of generating employable Ito mark the Golden Jubilee of experience. Therefore, academics involved in teaching such graduates from the 1950s. We are still talking about it. Work- the Sanskrit College programmes will need to liaise with appropriate industries and oriented education is a must for modern India. Given that high- (MM, February 16th) in Janu- people who can impart the key skills necessary to students as part school curricula are incomprehensive (for diverse reasons), only ary 1957 when I was a student of practical learning. Of course, this practice should happen in colleges can serve that purpose. Academic planners and academics of the nearby Vivekananda close coordination between the academic who teaches the work- should think afresh, keeping in mind only the skilled labour College. Rajaji recalled in that oriented subject in the college and the supervisor who supervises at requirements of India tomorrow. meeting how the redoubtable the field placement (e.g. final assessment of the performance of the Dr. Anatanarayanan Raman Hon’ble V. Krishnaswami Iyer, student in subject should be made jointly by both the college aca- The University of Sydney, PO Box 883 founder of the College, super- demic and the field placement supervisor). At the end of the train- Orange NSW 2800, Australia vised the arrangements in the pandal for the All-India Con- him for boldly ‘changing’ his and at public meetings that only for two decades in the State. It gress Session scheduled in Ma- 1937-39 views when, as Prime ‘attendance’ of Hindi classes was a tragic coincidence that it READABILITY PLEASE dras in 1908 or so, by going Minister, he ‘imposed’ the lan- and Hindi exams by students was in the same Rajaji Hall that round it majestically on the guage in Madras schools. Rajaji was made compulsory by his Anna lay in state on 2.2.1969. Dear Readers, back of a galloping horse early appeared not having taken no- Government, and how marks More than 15 million people every morning for a few days, tice of these observations, but scored by the students in that thronged the venue to get a last As letters from readers before the session began! before getting into his car at the language were not at all taken glimpse of their beloved leader, increase, we are receiving Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar end of the meeting, Rajaji, ad- into account for ‘promotion’ to a record attendance for a fu- more and more handwrit- made a reference at that meet- dressing him as ‘Muthiah’, told the next higher class if they neral according to the Guinness ten letters, many of them ing to Rajaji’s the then fierce him how he had made it clear qualified otherwise. He won- Book of Records. in a hand so small and anti-Hindi campaign, praising many times in the Legislature dered aloud why he continued illegible or large and S. Masilamani to be misunderstood on the is- scrawled as to be unread- Room No.19, III Floor sue, even after so many years! able. Often this leads to our Andhra Insurance Building discarding a letter, particu- ‘Raja Sir’ was all respectful at- OUR ADDRESSES New No. 323, (Old No.156) larly if some part of it is tention till Rajaji’s car left the Thambu Chetty Street unreadable. premises. Chennai 600 001 For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, If you wish us to consider non-receipt of receipts etc.: Chennai Heritage, 260-A, K. Vedamuthy your letter for publication, TTK Road, Chennai 600 018. “Sri Krishna” A number corrected please type it with enough For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other 62/44, 28th Cross Street space between lines or his is with reference to my circulation matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Indiranagar write it using a medium Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai Chennai 600 020 Tarticle titled “Adoption: pa- hand, clearly dotting the 600 006. tience needed” (MM, February ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. Anna at Rajaji Hall 16th).The sentence “Karna Many readers also try to On editorial matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, C/ Prayag has, over the years, o Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, fill every square centimetre ajaji Hall (MM, February placed more than 900 children Chennai 600 006. R1st) is associated with two of a postcard space, inter-country...” is erroneous. making reading or editing No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters historic events. It was where the It ought to read: “About 90 impossible. received will be sent from these addresses every couple of late C.N. Annadurai (‘Anna’) babies have been placed days to the persons concerned and you will get an answer took his oath of office on Please help us to con- abroad, constituting 10% of the sider your letters more from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as it 6.3.1967, and became the first total number of babies received may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be favourably by making them Chief Minister of Madras to rep- since the start of Karna Prayag.” able to help you faster and disappoint you less. more legible for us. resent a regional party replac- The error is regretted. THE EDITOR ing the leadership of an all-In- dia party that had been in power Ranjitha Ashok THE EDITOR 4 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2006 March 1-15, 2006 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

ter of 19 points on which he felt that the A giant of his Once upon a bank crash learned judge had erred in law and to n this era of stock scandals demand a full bench Iand scams, this would have When on October 22, 1906, The Madras Mail announced: to consider them. The been an ‘also ran’. But in its time, jury, which had by the crash of Arbuthnot and Failure of Messrs. Arbuthnot & Co. then retired to con- times sider a verdict, how- Company was one that shook OFFICES BESIEGED BY DEPOSITORS Madras. It is said that many legal ever, returned a ver- careers were made in the sensa- London firm form Arbuthnot & Sir George was not thought of. Arbuthnot and Co. and to Sir dict of guilty on one e was one of the giants of his l Last fortnight we celebrated the Somewhat surprisingly, tional trial that followed it. This Co., Madras, resulting in the fi- While newspapers with a strong George by the Madras Equitable count out of the Hday. Within a short span of Centenary of the Madras Sanskrit Krishnaswami Iyer did not make nal collapse of both. On the British bias did not see anything Assurance Society, and misap- three, based on which a mere 49 years he packed an in- College on this page. Today, on much progress as a vakil and had being the centenary year of the event, it is perhaps apt that a morning of October 21st, unusual in this, The Hindu ex- propriation of monies that be- the judge sentenced credible record of achievements the facing page, we recall the to depend on the kindness of his book that came out on it as the Macfadyen, having asked his of- pressed its disapproval and longed to the Arbuthnot Indus- Sir George to 18 in more than one arena. Arbuthnot crash which stunned elder brother V. Swaminatha year dawned, is presented in this fice to suspend payments, walked hoped that the Madras Govern- trials Ltd. for his own benefit.” months’ RI. The full He was one of the legal lumi- Madras 100 years ago. Creating Iyer to help him make ends meet into the electric train tunnel near ment, “who have shown a The accused was represented by bench appeal was naries during the Golden Age of in Madras. Swaminatha Iyer was paper that chronicles happenings the College and an even bigger in Madras, both past and present. Old Street, London, throwing somewhat serene indifference his counsel Sir Henry King of the thereupon not the . He sat institution out of the Arbuthnot also a judicial officer and his himself before a speeding train. will take steps to see that Sir firm of King & Josselyn. Sir pressed. The insol- on the Bench as a judge. He was grand-son-in-law was that film On October 22, 1906, the ruins was the giant profiled here. gates of Arbuthnot and Com- His body was discovered on the George Arbuthnot and others George was arrested, refused bail vency case too wound a member of the Governor’s Ex- pioneer, K. Subrahmanyam. 22nd and at the inquest held on responsible are arraigned be- and hearing commenced on May up to a close by 1912. ecutive Council at a time when With hardly any worthwhile pany, First Line Beach, carried the announcement that the com- the 24th, the jury returned a ver- fore a criminal tribunal.” 31st. Sir George, released not many Indians could aspire to 1863, in Thiruvidaimarudur, a income in Madras, Krishna- dict of “suicide due to temporary On January 10, 1907, the The prosecution, led by from imprisonment in such high office. He was also a picturesque small town near swami Iyer made up his mind to pany had suspended payment till further notice. It was an insanity”. liabilities of the company were fi- Powell, was strengthened by the December 1908, re- member of the Madras Legisla- Kumbakonam in Thanjavur dis- shift his practice to Cuddalore guage used and the sparring ignominous end to an institution In Madras, in the meanwhile, nally estimated to be of the order addition of T. Narasimha tired to England and passed away tive Council and the Senate of trict. His father was a District where he thought the pastures between the two advocates, with that had been one of the most the offices of Arbuthnot & Co. of Rs. 3 crore and its assets Iyengar, High Court Vakil, an there in 1929. the Madras University. Munsif and the family traced its would be greener. When he had V. Krishnaswami Iyer. the Chief Justice intervening, are successful in Madras for over a were besieged by investors who Rs. 2.4 crore, of which only a part expert in commercial law. He The book reveals that the But that was not all. Even origin to Mayavaram Gopu Iyer, almost packed his bags, a good additional attractions. It is cred- Vivekananda whom he had met hundred years. Begun by Francis were all turned away. Following was recognised as being ‘good’. was the only Indian to appear in need to firm up Indian mercan- though he served the British In- who was a minister under the Samaritan in the shape of a itable that the author in no place during the Swamiji’s historic visit Latour in the 18th Century as a petition from the company on The bankruptcy proceedings the entire High Court proceed- tile law, or at least several aspects dian government of the day as a Mahratta Kings of Thanjavur. Mylapore lawyer, S. Ramaswami expresses his own views and con- to Madras in February 1897. Francis Latour & Co., an October 22nd that it be declared opened before Justice Sir S. ings before Chief Justice, Sir of it, was pointed out for the first judge and legislator, he was a When the Nawab of Arcot con- Iyengar, knocked on his doors. tents himself with factually re- Subsequently, he played a signifi- Arbuthnot, the first of many il- insolvent, the High Court of Ma- Subramania Iyer on March 11, Arnold White. The counsel for time in this case. The concept of staunch patriot at heart. He was cording all that happened a hun- cant role in the establishment of lustrious members of a family as- dras admitted the petition and 1907, with C.F. Napier appear- defence was the redoubtable trial by jury will appear unusual actively involved in the political dred years ago in this city. Over- the Ramakrishna Mutt in sociated with Madras, joined it in gave a date six weeks later for ing for Sir George. Of the six ad- Eardley J. Norton. Almost a hun- to several of the present genera- world of his day and was ac- l by RANDOR GUY all, a must read for anyone inter- Mylapore. 1803. In 1810, on the retirement taking it up. In the meantime, a vocates who appeared on behalf dred years after the trial was con- tion, for it has long been done knowledged as one of the heavy- ested in the history of Madras Krishnaswami Iyer had seen of Latour, the firm became public meeting was held at the of investor groups, it was V. ducted, Narasimha Iyengar’s away with. The observances of weights of the Indian National that is Chennai. quered the Mahratta kingdom of Iyengar had a fairly good practice and watched Bharatiar in Madras Arbuthnot, DeMonte and Com- instance of the Governor of Ma- Krishnaswami Iyer who stood out grandson Dr. Rangaswami Srini- court decorum, the polished lan- Congress Party at a time when Thanjavur the king fled and was and he had been appointed a and more closely during the pany and later became dras, Sir Arthur Lawley, on No- with his merciless cross-examina- vasan, a well-known research sci- the Party was divided into two given asylum by Gopu Iyer for District Munsif. In a kind ges- Surat Congress of 1907, where Arbuthnot & Co. Its heydays vember 8th at the Banqueting tion. One of the side effects of entist in the U.S., picked up the groups, the extremists led by Bal Statement about Ownership and other particulars about newspaper which he was later tortured by his ture, he passed on his pending the rebel poet was in the camp of were during the times of R.W. Hall, Government Estate, at the crash was the founding of the trail of the court proceedings af- Gangadhar Tilak, and the mod- (As required to be published under Section 19-D Sub-section (b) of the Press and Registration enemies. Young Krishnaswami cases and files to Krishnaswami the extremists. Bharatiar created Arbuthnot who retired in 1876, which it was unanimously de- on March 5, 1907 ter an extensive search in the of Books Act with Rule 8 of the Registration of Newspaper (Central Rules), 1956.). erates of which he was one. He went to school in Thanjavur, Iyer. This was the turning point rather a negative impression on leaving behind a prosperous firm cided that a public fund would be with Krishnaswami Iyer gather- British Library and the Oriental played a leading role in the Form IV and, later, Kumbakonam where in his career and life. Soon help the Mylapore lawyer who that was involved in accepting opened to ameliorate the distress and India Office Collection, stormy session of the Indian Na- l Madras Musings (Fortnightly) one of his classmates became an came in large measure from a thought that the moustachioed money from depositors and using of the small investor. The fund by London. Basing the account al- tional Congress held in Surat in intimate friend for life. He was prominent attorney of the city, posturing poet was a mere vaga- it in its varied interests, such as finally totalled Rs. 1,50,000 and SRIRAM V. most entirely on the reports that 1. Place of Publication : Chennai (Madras) 1907. Indeed, he was one of the another intellectual giant of In- Pennathur Subramania Iyer, who bond. One evening, another manufacturing, trading, and largely compensated those who appeared of the trial in the En- earliest members of the Congress 2. Periodicity of its publication : Fortnightly dia, Sir P.S. Sivaswami Iyer. For also fed him with a steady stream famed citizen of Madras, G.A. owning and managing coffee and had deposits of Rs. 100 and less glish newspapers of the time from Party, long before Mahatma 3. Printer’s name : Mr. T.J. George his collegiate studies he went to of cases. Natesan, brought Bharatiar to indigo estates. It had the reputa- with Arbuthnot’s. But that was ing together other notable citi- Madras, Dr. Srinivasan gives a Gandhi appeared on the Indian Nationality : Indian Madras and took his B.A. degree (Pennathur Subramania Iyer meet Krishnaswami Iyer. Their tion of paying a steady and un- to be in the future. zens of Madras to create a local fascinating day-by-day picture of political scene. He was a close Address : Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd. from Presidency College, secur- was a prosperous attorney and interaction was explosive. But it wavering interest of 5% on de- On November 15th, the small institution that would be more the proceedings that went on till friend of one of the greatest In- No. 62/63 Greames Road ing the fourth rank in the Presi- was deeply involved in social and revealed to Krishnaswami Iyer posits, and enjoyed a clientele investors who were greatly af- accountable to the public. September 25th in his book, The dian minds of our times, Gopal Chennai 600 006 dency. cultural causes. His lasting con- that Bharatiar was a genius, a that comprised several of the In- fected by the crash, banding to- Proceedings went on till the Fall of Arbuthnot and Co., pub- Krishna Gokhale and was mainly 4. Publisher’s Name : Mr. S. Muthiah for Chennai Heritage In keeping with the tradition tribution was to education: the great poet and a staunch patriot. dian nobility, prominent Indian gether under the name of the end of April. The chief concern lished by East West Books (Ma- instrumental in bringing another of the plaintiffs was that Sir Nationality : Indian and customs of the time, Krish- establishment of the high school At once he offered financial as- lawyers and other professionals, Mahajana Sabha, met at a school dras) Pvt. Ltd., to mark the cen- Address : 260-A, T.T.K. Road, Chennai 600 018 great giant, the Rt. Hon. V.S. naswami was married while at in Mylapore that is popularly sistance to Bharatiar and, thus, and a vast number of the middle in and resolved to re- George was still at large and his tenary of the great crash. Srinivasa Sasri, to join the Ser- counsel was pleading that his cli- 5. Editor’s Name : Mr. S. Muthiah college. His wife, a frail dark girl, known as the P.S. High School.) the first collection of the class in South India. By the time quest the court to appoint two The author focusses on the Nationality : Indian vants of India Society with which was no match to the handsome, Krishnaswami Iyer also at- Bharatiar poems came to the at- of the crash, 16 different official assignees to speed up the ent be allowed to travel to En- role played by his grandfather Address : 260-A, T.T.K. Road, Chennai 600 018 his name thereafter became syn- gland to appear for the insol- strong husband! The couple tracted the attention of another tention of the public. Arbuthnots had run it and the assessment. The resolution was Narasimha Iyengar, who appears 6. Names and addresses of : 1. Mr. N. Sankar Director onymous. lived in Palathope, Mylapore. legal giant of Madras, Sir S. Krishnaswami Iyer was a far- managing partner in 1906 was Sir also dispatched by cable to the vency petition filed there in con- in only about a third of the book. individuals who own the S/o Mr. K.S. Narayanan He also helped to found the Krishnaswami, it is related, had Subramania Iyer, popularly sighted man. As early as 1903 he George Arbuthnot who had Secretary of State in England and nection with the affairs of the If there is a hero or central char- publication 292, T.T.K. Road Indian Bank, one of the major to shift his residence frequently, known as Mani Iyer. He too en- suggested that the entire country joined the firm in 1877. He was a the subject was discussed in the London branch. The plaintiffs acter in the book, it is Eardley , Chennai 600 018. Banking institutions in the coun- mainly because of the unwanted couraged Krishnaswami Iyer pro- should have a common language pillar of Madras society, having House of Commons on Decem- were of the view that given Sir Norton whose arguments and 2. Mr. M.V. Subbiah Director try today, and the Mylapore San- amorous advances of fellow ten- fessionally and soon Krishna- other than English. He suggested served as Member of the Legisla- ber 11th when a question was George’s clout, once allowed to cross-examinations make fasci- S/o (Late) A.M.M.Vellayan Chettiar skrit College and the Venka- ants! swami Iyer became one of the Hindi and called it the “Ek Lipi tive Council besides having been tabled by a backbencher. travel, he would never return. nating reading. The book is as 10, Boat Club Road taramana Dispensary, which are He studied law during the leading members of the Madras Theory” (One language). He On November 22nd, Archi- The judge allowed Sir George much a tribute to him as it is to Chennai 600 028 President of the Madras Cham- 3. Mr. S. Muthiah Director honoured institutions in Madras. evenings, which was then taught Bar. built a palatial mansion on Luz ber of Commerce several times bald Read, official assignee of the leave to travel based on what was Narasimha Iyengar. Norton is all Many are not aware that it was even then felt to be a ridiculously S/o (Late) V.Vr.N.M. at Presidency College. After tak- When the Arbuthnot Bank Church Road and called it and also President of the Board Madras High Court, appointed over the trial, now raising points Subbiah Chettiar Krishnaswami Iyer who brought ing his B.L. degree, he joined as went under due to over-trading, Ashrama. It was a hive of legal, of Directors of the Bank of Ma- to look into the affairs of small surety and the case was ad- of law to confuse the prosecu- 2-F, Vijay Gardens, I Cross Street forth the genius of the Indian apprentice in the chambers of resulting in thousands of deposi- social, cultural, and political ac- dras (later the Imperial Bank of Arbuthnot & Co., convened a journed to August 15th. tion, now intimidating the jury Vijayaraghava Road rebel poet Mahakavi Subramania one of the leaders of the Madras tors losing their hard-earned tivity. The building does not ex- India and still later the State public meeting at the Victoria However, on April 29th, the for which they once even rise up T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017. Bharatiar by getting his poems Bar, another famous citizen, R. money, Krishnaswami fought a ist today. Krishnaswami Iyer Bank of India). Public Hall to present the full Government stepped in, with in protest, and now and then 4. Mrs. Tara Murali Director published for the first time and Balaji Rao, who then enjoyed a historic legal battle. It was the served as a member of the Arbuthnot & Co. had a Lon- details of the state of the com- E.B. Powell, Public Prosecutor, scoring points off the judge as W/o Mr. N. Murali having them distributed freely at fabulous practice and income. failure of the bank which Governor’s Executive Council in don branch where it was repre- pany as reported by Lovelock and instructed by M/s. Short & well. There is palpable tension 260-A, T.T.K. Road a time when that blazing light (R. Balaji Rao, a native of prompted Krishnaswami Iyer to 1911. In the capacity he was in- sented by its partner, Patrick Lewes, the noted firm of auditors Bewes, Solicitors, filing informa- between the races as evidenced Chennai 600 018 was virtually hidden behind ano- Kumbakonam, came to Madras promote a bank for Indians, by vited to attend the Durbar in Macfadyen. Macfadyen had from Culcutta. Assuring the au- tion and complaints in three by Norton’s objection to an In- 5. Mr. Suresh Rao Director nymity. seeking a living and rose to be- Indians. Thus, the Indian Bank Delhi. Sadly he, a chronic dia- dience that he would exert him- cases against Sir George in the dian vakil (Narasimha Iyengar) S/o Mr. V.R. Rao served with Arbuthnot’s for 277, T.T.K. Road, Chennai 600 018 He laid the foundation for that come one of the leaders of the was born on November 3, 1906. betic, fell ill and developed an many years before moving to self to the fullest to salvage some- Police Court, before the Chief being asked to cross-examine popular institution of South Ma- Bar. A member of the Corpora- Krishnaswami Iyer, Sir C.P. ulcer which prevented him from thing out of the crash for the in- Magistrate W.E. Clarke. The witnesses. It would have been no I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my London. It was believed that it knowledge and belief. dras, the Mylapore Club. Indeed, tion of Madras Council, he estab- Ramaswami Iyer, and RM. M. participating in the historic was Macfadyen who was respon- vestors, he claimed that Sir charges concerned “false state- surprise if Norton succeeded in ments made to avoid returning Sd. S. MUTHIAH V. Krishnaswami Iyer was one of lished that famed institution, the Ramaswami Chettiar (the Durbar. He passed away on De- sible for the crash, for he held an George had wanted to be present getting his client let off, but a (Publisher) the founders of modern Mylapore Mylapore Hindu Permanent brother of Raja Sir Annamalai cember 28, 1911. unenviable record of being an in- himself and spell out a plan for the proceeds of the fixed deposit fairly negative summing up by and what has come to be known as Fund. The area Balaji Nagar in Chettiar) were the first directors The Governor of Madras or- veterate speculator and his financial reconstruction of the of Rs. 3,50,000 to Rajah V. the judge in his charge to the jury the Mylapore culture. is named after him. of the bank. dered a State funeral. But Iyer’s gambles on the stock exchange firm, but had to be dissuaded Kishun Bahadur when it ma- went against the feisty lawyer. Venkatarama Iyer Krishna- Years ago it was a grove owned Krishnaswami Iyer was also family politely refused on required larger and larger sums of from doing so. Apparently, given tured, misappropriation of Not cowed down, Norton then swami Iyer was born on June 14, by him.) acquainted with Swami grounds of religious orthodoxy. money being transferred to the his status in the city, an arrest of money that was entrusted to had the nerve to submit a char- CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2006 Make way for the Bullet (Current Affairs questions are from the period February he board on the East Coast 2005 marked the 50th year of 1st to 15th. Questions 11 to TRoad read: ‘Rider Mania the production of Royal Enfield 20 pertain to Tamil Nadu 2006’. motorbikes in India. and Chennai.) And for three days not so Royal Enfield’s Indian odys- long ago, the roar of chrome sey began in 1942, when two 1. Why was the m.v. al-Salam Boccaccio 98 in the news at the machines whizzing their way to Madras entrepreneurs, T.K.R. beginning of the month? a picturesque resort off the East Sundaram Iyer and his nephew Coast Road startled placid K.Eswaran, set up the Royal 2. Why was Stephen Harper in the news? weekend motorists. For two Cycle Company and the En- acquired 2½ acres of land at His first hand experience has days after that, 253 gleaming glish Cycle Company. These Tiruvottriyur to set up a factory driven many of the changes in 3. Which two African countries Royal Enfields from different companies gave birth to Royal signed the ‘Tripoli Agreement’ on and administrative office. the Royal Enfield. Since then, February 8th to end a conflict that parts of India lined up for the Enfield in India. But before Royal Enfield’s manufacturing the Royal Enfield bikes have began in December 2005? fourth annual celebration of the that, they had begun to import facilities here, much improved, taken on newer, market- 4. Where did the 20th Winter Royal Enfield experience: Rider the classic British motorcycles continue production to this friendly avatars. The Ma- Olympic Games, the second hosted Mania 2006. of the day: the Norton, Match- day. In England, however, chismo, Electra and Thunder- by an Italian city, begin on Febru- The story of Royal Enfield is less and Royal Enfield. Later, Royal Enfield had to wind up bird models opened up biking ary 10th? today a celebrated page in the two companies would operations in the mid-1970s, for a new generation of Indians, 5. What is KV63, which is of in- world automotive history. The merge to form Madras Motors. when it was unable to with- re-creating a cult-like phenom- terest to historians? reason? Royal Enfield is the In a newly independent India, stand the onslaught of cheaper, enon across the country. Other 6. Who recently set a world record world’s oldest running produc- business for the Mount Road more fuel-efficient Japanese technical changes followed. for the longest, non-stop, non-re- tion two-wheeler. Exactly a showroom of Madras Motors bikes that began to capture the The shift of gears from the right fuelled flight with the ‘Virgin At- year older than the cult-like was brisk. world market. to the left, CDI Ignition and lantic Global Flyer’? Harley Davidson. In other Royal Enfield in India was to Disc Brakes created a new fol- l by 7. Which British tabloid released a words, Royal Enfield has been face that same onslaught in the lowing for the Royal Enfield video of prisoners abused by a in continuous production since JOSEPH FERNANDEZ 1980s. For decades after inde- Experience. After years in the British soldier in Iraq, leading to 1903. A fact that fascinates pendence, Royal Enfield, Jawa red, Royal Enfield has finally worldwide shock and condemna- bike aficinados around the The major breakthrough and Rajdoots held sway. The began to register profits as well. tion? world. came in 1953. The Indian inflow of Japanese bikes in the Ironically, Britain has seen the 8. Name the European Premier Royal Enfield’s journey Army placed an order for 800 1980s led to all three facing a unlikely return of its own Na- who created a political storm re- began with the Eadie Manu- 350cc Enfield Bullets. The crisis. This was to resolve itself tive. Royal Enfield has recently cently by comparing himself to facturing Company Limited, power, ruggedness and reliabil- in 1990 when Royal Enfield was set up office in Birmingham to Jesus Christ. founded by Albert Eadie and ity of the motorbikes in harsh partly taken over by the Eicher cope with the growing demand 9. Name the computer worm, Bob Walker Smith, in England border terrain during wartime Group of Delhi in 1990. This for Bullets in the UK. The named after an ancient Indian trea- in 1892. The company won a made them an instant favourite acquisition breathed new life heady spirit of Royal Enfield is tise, which, it was claimed, contract to manufacture preci- with the Indian Army, the Ma- into Royal Enfield in India. In best summed up in its advertis- wreaked maximum havoc on Feb- sion rifle parts for the Royal dras Police and a diehard legion March 1994, the Eicher Group ing campaign: Everyone makes ruary 3rd. Small Arms factory at Enfield of bikers. The demand placed a bought the remaining shares way for the Bullet. 10. What once-in-12-years reli- in Middlesex. This association new opportunity for Madras from the original promoters and Rider Mania 2006 marked gious event commenced at Shra- led to the formation of Enfield Motors: the viable manufacture in June renamed the company the latest chapter in the ongo- vanabelagola on February 8th? Manufacturing Company that of the motorcycle in India. And Royal Enfield Motors Ltd. ing saga of Royal Enfield. One * * * diversified into the manufac- so, on November 3, 1955, K.R. (REML). of its most dynamic participants 11. Which important town is ture of motorised bicycles in Sundaram established a new Despite the turbulent was Anand Sarangan. An air- situated on the banks of river 1898. This early corporate heri- company called Enfield India changes, Royal Enfield and its craft maintenance professional Vegavati? tage led to three interesting de- Ltd. to manufacture Royal iconic mascot retained their es- by day, Anand Sarangan repre- 12. What popular magazine velopments: an artillery field Enfields under licence from the sence – fact that has endeared sents the new era Bullet enthu- was started in 1947 by S.A.P. gun logo, the slogan ‘Made like Redditch Enfield Cycle Com- them to bike aficionados the siast. Once a speed enthusiast Annamalai and P.V. Partha- a Gun’, and, much later, the pany. Redditch Enfield were worldover. “Three indisputable with a flair for Japanese bikes, sarathy? brand name, Royal Enfield stakeholders in the new enter- factors become immediately Anand became hooked to the 13. Which famous Chennai in- Bullet’! prise and S. Sankaran, K.R. apparent to anyone who rides comforting thump of the Royal stitution had its genesis in hun- Royal Enfield launched its Sundaram’s eldest son, was its Royal Enfield for the first time,” Enfield ride six years ago. He dreds of surplus books from the first motorised bicycle in 1901 first Managing Director. Ma- says R. Rajagopal, Proprietor, now owns three gleaming, lov- libraries of Haileybury College, with a 1.5 HP Minerva engine. dras Motors was appointed the Southern Motors (the City’s ingly restored Royal Enfield England? It later developed a 6HP 129- countrywide dealer for the Ma- best known Royal Enfield deal- Bullets. His quest for the per- degree V-twin engine. In 1903, 14. Who were the last women dras-made Royal Enfield motor- ers), “They offer safety, com- fect Enfield ride has made him Royal Enfield launched its true to get the ‘Sangeeta Kalanidhi’ bikes. fort and reliability like no other a regular on India’s 12,000 km first motor cycle. November titles? In 1956, Royal Enfield two wheeler in India.” National Highway network 15. When did the French R.K. Dastur, who moved to taking on the extremes of General capture Fort St George Madras in the early 1950s, was India’s diverse terrain. “It’s all and occupy it for three years? one of the city’s first motorcycle in the ride”, Anand says, “The 16. What is the relevance to racers – a veteran of many im- Bullet offers you a ride experi- Madras of the last piston engine promptu ‘drag’ races at the Ma- ence that cannot be replicated warship commissioned into the rina Beach. A pioneer of Ma- anywhere else in the world!” The last word on the Bullet German Navy? trip to Germany to pursue a Ger- dras’ first racing circuit, Dastur Short Film Competition: In 2007, has ridden 67 different bikes. phenomenon belongs to the 17. Name the Chennai-born, the Goethe-Institute is going to man language course at the time former IAS officer and now a of the congress. The second prize And yet the Royal Enfield Bul- online home of Royal Enfield – present a congress on The Power www.royalenfield.com: “Royal social activist who received the of Language in Berlin. The topic of is Rs.10,000, the third prize is let remains his firm favourite. Enfield is the motorcycling icon Ramon Magsaysay Award in “language” has gained new mean- Rs.5,000. Seven more winners will “The sheer reliability of the bike 2000. ing in the era of globalisation and get a cash prize of Rs.2,000 each. lies in the strength and rugged- of India. It delivers a unique the digital communication, cross- To enter a film in the contest the ness”, points out Dastur, “I motorcycling experience 18. Of the 30 districts in Tamil maker must consent to having through its power, riding com- Nadu, which are the only dis- ing borders in many forms. owned three Bullets that The Max Mueller Bhavan asks film- his/her film shown during the fort and distinctive beat.” And tricts whose name begins with served me in good stead during makers and artistes to create congress in Berlin. Deadline for my years as a tea planter in the so, the next time that you are the letter E and M? short films of 60 seconds length all entries is April 28, 2006. For out there in the city traffic and entry form, call 044 2833 1314, Nilgiris.” 19. Which art-form’s name and take part in a contest on The hear that unique thump next to roughly translates to ‘bamboo Power of Language. Films can be in 2343. By 2001, Royal Enfield had Upto March11: Paintings, sculp- a new lease of life when you, remember that you are lis- from the hills’? any genre, short features, narra- tening to an icon of world auto- tives, documentaries, animation, tures and mixed media works by Siddhartha Lal took over as its 20. In which district is Point Progressive Painters Association CEO. He is arguably India’s motive history that belongs Calimere aka Kodikkarai?? or else. The winner receives a cash prize of from Cholamandal Artists Vil- only biker-CEO riding every uniquely to Madras that is (Answers on page 8) Rs.10,000 and a scholarship for a lage. (At Lakshana Art Gallery.) day to work on a Royal Enfield. Chennai. March 1-15, 2006 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

A Subscriptions and contributions l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been Chennai priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and send it, together with the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 260-A, ‘Young TTK ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI-HALL MARK PRESS PVT. LTD., 122, GREAMES ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. Achiever’ An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue to be ndia Today’s recent ‘Youth essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play a greater ISurvey’ looked at ‘Generation Me’ role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and its environ- and featured 50 ‘Young Achievers of ment. We therefore look forward to your sending us your contribu- 2006’ (a few were pairs) it described as tions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. ‘Brand New Dreamers’. Amongst them If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated support was one featured in these pages on a from those of you who have already made contributions, and if many couple of earlier occasions. more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only be able to keep We are happy to feature her again as Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue awareness-build- India Today saw her. Others with Chen- ing exercises on on-going projects as well as undertake one or two nai/Tamil Nadu connections the fort- more such exercises. nightly featured were: Formula-1 driver Narain Karthikeyan, Carnatic flautist Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION Shashank, contemporary dancer TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, Madhu Nataraj Heri, Vandana we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for Gopikumar and Vaishnavi Jaikumar of 2005-06 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the causes The Banyan, Mercy Jesudoss, a Vellore Chennai Heritage espouses. nurse who coordinates the Christian We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those Medical College’s World Diabetes newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their subscrip- Foundation programme, and Leander tions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a free mailer. Paes, the tennis player. — The Editor CHENNAI HERITAGE Supper-time in the wild 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, ALWARPET, CHENNAI 600 018. I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it and watching the hereafter. scene with deep in- l terest. I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as “I had no camera subscription to Madras Musings for the year 2005-06. with me and it was l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment much too shady for and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai photography in any eritage an additional Rs...... (Rupees case, so finally I ...... ) brought the episode to an end by shoot- Please keep/put me on your mailing list. ing the python, Name : ...... which proved to be 16 feet long. I have Address: ...... since bitterly regret- ...... ted that shot, al- though it probably ...... saved the kakur’s life, it would have Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas post- he picture above of a py my time following up cries, been very interesting to have age alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd.. All other Tthon swallowing a barking which I had found many a time seen what would have hap- cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. deer was taken by V. Manoj of to my bitter experience led to pened in the end. The kadur Naikatty (near Sultan Bat- nothing, I took no notice of this seemed to be more or less fasci- tery). Manoj was driving inside calling, but continued for some nated, in the way that a rabbit is Senate House Conservation Fund the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary time unsuccessfully searching said to be fascinated by a stoat, l The Senate House Restoration and Management Trust appeals to in a Maruti Gypsy around 6.30 for bears. I could find no trace and appeared to be unable to all alumni of the and heritage lovers every- p.m. when he noticed the py- of them, so finally I decided to leave the spot, although far from unable to use his voice. He where to contribute to the Senate House Conservation Fund which thon and deer in a culvert. go and see what was the matter the Trust is managing for the purpose of restoring Senate House to never once looked in our direc- Since the python was busy, with the kakur, which had been its old glory and maintaining it thereafter in the same condition. Manoj was able to go close and calling continuously for at least tion, although a kakur will nor- Cheques should be made out to the Senate House Conservation take pictures with a normal lens half-an-hour. mally not let an elephant ap- Account and sent to the Registrar, University of Madras, Chennai 600 and flash. proach very close. The python 005. Contributions are eligible for benefits under Section 80-G of the “I had to pass through some was so near to him that, even Income Tax Act. The following is an excerpt very thick cover to reach the though half coiled, it could eas- on the interaction between a place and quite another half ily have seized him with one Dear Registrar, python and a barking deer from hour must have elapsed before sudden lunge. This is what I I am pleased to enclose a cheque for Rs...... F.W. Champion’s classic work I arrived on Balmati to find a presume would have happened as my contribution to the restoration and maintenance of With a Camera in Tigerland kakur standing some six yards in the end, had not my foolish Senate House. Kindly acknowledge receipt. (Chatto & Windus Publishers, away from a large python and shot prematurely dropped the Name: ...... 1927, I Edition). yelling at it for all he was worth. curtain on the scene.” Neither the kakur nor the py- Address: ...... “I once had a most interest- thon took the slightest notice of I would suggest to all keen ...... ing experience with a kakur our arrival, so we stood quietly naturalists that they should (barking deer) and a snake. I watching the scene from a few leave their firearms at home and ...... was wandering about on yards’ distance. We must have thus prevent their primitive ...... Balmati (this riding elephant) made a curious picture stand- hunting instincts from overcom- looking for adventures when I ing there: the kakur and the ing their better judgement in the I am an alumnus/alumna/heritage lover and wish the project all heard a kakur calling violently python facing each other at a case of such interesting and un- success. My college was ...... about half a mile away. As I was few yards’ range, with the tame usual incidents as this. (Cour- Date: ...... Signature: ...... looking for a sloth bear at the elephant carrying two men tesy: Blackbuck, journal of the time and did not want to waste standing equidistant from them Madras Naturalists’ Society.) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2006

ing cited that there was non- vertible scientific evidence that Helmet use: yes or no? availability of good quality hel- protection to the head would mets and poor quality helmets make an irreversible brain in- (Continued from Page 1) death by 29 per cent and are 67 pert emphasises. When the caused more damage than jury reversible, do authorities safety, headaches etc. Though feel wary of enforcing an exist- tunately, the majority still pre- per cent effective in preventing head of a rider who is thrown the Motor Vehicles Act under ing law, wonder the medical fer a severely injured brain to a brain injuries to motorcycle up in the air hits the ground, Section 129 stipulates that all experts. fractured helmet. They don’t riders. the brain experiences tremors two-wheeler users shall wear a realise that head injuries occur- Indian statistics show that and hits against the skull, caus- Fortunately, fashion trends protective headgear, the State ring in those wearing helmets the two-wheeler population is ing concussion, contusion, have begun to dictate the wear- Government issued an order at are almost never critical,” says growing 20 times more than the haemorrhages, and other dam- ing of helmets. Convenience is the time to defer the compul- Dr. K. Ganapathy, Neurosur- human population (over 10,000 age. A good crash helmet ab- assured with lightweight hel- sory nature. But now, with even geon, President, Neurological new vehicles are registered ev- sorbs the impact and acts as mets, perforators that allow air the World Health Organisation Society of India (NSI) and ery day)! And ironically, the mechanical barrier in prevent- circulation, and helmet locks or (which carried out a massive Member, Executive Commit- reluctance to wear helmets is ing sharp objects from piercing in-built boxes to keep helmets. campaign in 2004 on ‘Road tee, World Federation of Neu- not because there is any serious the skull, especially in the Neck pain can also be avoided Safety is No Accident’) em- rosurgical Societies. In 1999, opposition to its use. It is because temple region. And a full-faced by using helmets of the right phasising that road accidents while he was the Secretary, the of the “this cannot happen to helmet protects the jaw, while size. Inputs gathered from will be the biggest killer in the NSI impleaded itself as a co- me” syndrome! A young the strap, if firmly in place, pre- manufacturers and sellers of years to come, we are taking up respondent in a Public Interest healthy individual will never vents it coming off the head helmets too confirm positive at- the issue of helmets with a mas- Litigation filed in the High voluntarily accept the fact that when the rider is thrown or titudes that are even being re- sive awareness campaign. With Court of Madras (Special Origi- he/she is a risk for a serious head falls. inforced by responsible corpo- 17 lakh two-wheelers in the nal Jurisdiction) in W. P. injury. In one study, 92% of rate employers. An anguished Dr. Gana- city, it is necessary to enforce No.19587. The matter is still to non-users said that they did not pathy calls head injuries “a pub- helmet use at the right time and Suffice it to say that 38,000 come up for hearing. use helmets “because it is not lic health hazard”. And im- in the right atmosphere. How- neurosurgeons worldwide – rep- How many know that the compulsory”. 95% of the entire plores, “Is it unreasonable for ever, I don’t understand the resented by the NSI, the Asian fatality rate among those who group was of the opinion that society to expect laws already necessity to make helmet use Australasian Society of Neuro- don’t wear helmets is twice that making the use of helmets com- enacted in the public interest to ‘compulsory.’ Don’t people care logical Surgery and the World of those who wear them, and pulsory was the simplest and be implemented and enforced? for their own lives?” Federation of Neurosurgical the incidence of skull fracture best way to ensure constant 80% of the 9000 head injuries And says K.C. Mahali, Joint Societies – have fully endorsed is 1.2 times more among those compliance. which I have personally treated Commissioner, Traffic, “In the stand that the use of protec- without helmets as compared to “Riders and pillion riders are in Chennai during the last 30 2004, of a total of 605 fatalities, tive headgear is the simplest, those with them? Also, that the unstable while the vehicle is years have been suffered by 234 had no helmets, which quickest and most effective treatment for brain injury is pro- moving. With the rider having two-wheeler drivers or pillion meant 39%. In 2005, of 493 fa- method of reducing the num- longed, traumatic, and expen- to balance and manoeuvre the riders. I can count on one hand talities, 162 were without hel- ber of severe head injuries. Be- sive, involving extensive surger- bike constantly, they are ex- the number of deaths due to mets – 33%. The 6% reduction sides, studies clearly reveal that ies, physiotherapy, and post-ac- posed and vulnerable. Even brain injuries, among the group is due to a sustained campaign when helmet use is voluntary, it cident rehabilitation? Reversing when the bike is at a low speed of two-wheeler riders wearing throughout 2005. Our several is only used by 40-50% of two- a severe primary brain injury is of 20 kmph, the force can be as helmets. This is in stark contra- safety programmes targeting all wheeler drivers, and when com- not possible medically or surgi- high as 50,000 newtons with st to the large number of the sections of people are to reduce pulsory, by almost 100%. The cally, but helmets have been peak deceleration in the range deaths encountered amongst road fatalities and also impress question that now remains is found to reduce the risk of of six to seven newtons,” an ex- two-wheeler drivers with un- on people the need for every whether the State should be protected skulls. What a proper twowheeler rider to wear a hel- concerned whether a two- A reminder to our readers helmet does effectively is to met.” But why, when a fatal wheeler driver uses a helmet or bear the brunt of the impact not, or wait to let public opinion l It’s that time of the year again. With the Madras Musings year coming to an head injury occurs every four and, thus, reduce the actual minutes and we have incontro- decide the issue? end, it is time to remind subscribers to renew their subscriptions (Rs. 100 a mechanical shearing forces year) and readers who have not yet sent in their subscriptions to do so. The annual subscription for Madras Musings is Rs. 100/-. reaching the brain. The sever- Answers to Quiz All subscriptions acknowledged by us from January 1, 2006 and subscrip- ity of brain damage is reduced. 1. It was an Egyptian ferry, which, while carrying 1272 passengers and tions that we receive between now and April 16th will be considered as annual Irreversible brain damage be- 105 crew, sank in the Red Sea on February 3-4; 2. He is the latest and 22nd subscriptions for the year April 16, 2006 to April 15, 2007, Volume XVI. As for comes potentially reversible.” Prime Minister of Canada; 3. Chad and Sudan; 4. Turin; 5. It is the first those who have sent in their subscriptions between April 16, 2005 and December According to R. Natraj, Pharaonic-era tomb discovered in the Valley of Kings since 1922; 6. Steve 15, 2005, please renew your subscriptions as and when they fall due. Madras Commissioner of Police, Fossett; 7. News of the World; 8. Silvio Berlusconi of Italy; 9. Kama Sutra; 10. Musings, unfortunately, does not have any staff, but only a couple of part-time Greater Chennai, “In 1989-90, The Mahamastakabhisheka of Gomateshwara or Bahubali. volunteers to help and, hence, is in no position to send you reminders. * * * When sending in your subscription, please send it to Chennai Heritage there was a controversy regard- 11. Kancheepuram; 12. Kumudam; 13. ; 14. together with the coupon that appears on page 7, duly filled in, in full. We look ing helmet wearing, with it be- Vidushi Neela and Kunjumani, known as the ‘Sikkil Sisters’; 15. 1746; 16. forward to an enthusiastic response from readers, old and new. The vessel was the Emden and it shelled Madras in September 1914; 17. — THE EDITOR Sport on pages 6 & 7 Aruna Roy; 18. Erode and Madurai; 19. Silambam; 20. Nagapattinam.

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Published by S. Muthiah for ‘Chennai Heritage’, 260-A, TTK Road, Chennai 600 018 and printed byby TT JJ GeorgeGeorge atat Lokavani-HallLokavani-Hallmark Mark PressPress Pvt.Pvt. Ltd.,Ltd., 122,122, GreamsGreams Road,Road, ChennaiChennai 600600 006.006. EditedEdited byby S.S. MUTHIAH.