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Vol. XXIII No. 12 MUSINGS October 1-15, 2013 The tragedy that is

(By The Editor) The auto driver said, it’s easier for me to run to my destination than for him to run the meter!

ill survive? That is the question foremost in the minds of all conservationists. those of the PWD’s. This indi- learnt that there was no WIn January 2012, one wing of the precinct – Khalsa Mahal – was gutted in a fire. Now, a portion cated that the Government was response to the invitation of of the other wing, Humayun Mahal, has collapsed. Sadly, those in charge appear clueless on what willing to consider that heritage interest, as the terms were needs to be done. Given the state of the buildings, can we afford such lethargy and ignorance? conservation cannot be on the difficult to comply with. What The Khalsa Mahal fire could have taken everyone by surprise though, given the volume of stacked same lines as new construction. then is to happen to Chepauk files, broken furniture and exposed wiring, it was a sure-fire recipe for such an occurrence. But surely But what has happened since Palace? The mystery continues. the Humayun Mahal collapse was something that everyone knew was coming sooner than later. A then is a mystery, for there is Watch this space for more part of the building had already had a roof collapse and yet, as we reported in this publication then, complete silence. It is reliably news. Government departments were responded stating that there is carrying on with their routine considerable uncertainty on the work regardless, all around the procedures that are to be crater left behind by the fallen followed for restoration. roof! It speaks volumes of the The truth is, there is none. to become indifference with which our bu- The PWD’s tendering systems reaucracy functions – it extends are all very clearly focussed to- the same insensitivity to its wards new construction, with pedestrian-friendly working environment as well. its rates being well defined for The Public Works Depart- items such as vitrified tiles, plas- ment (PWD) was quick to tic sheets and plate glass. here is a glimmer of hope. planning an eight-metre wide facilities inside the MRTS sta- cover its tracks following the Which is why the PWD is more TAfter years of allowing the promenade running along the tion for around 300 cars. second and more recent roof comfortable demolishing old entire area to go to seed, thanks centre. There will be six-metre The entire idea, while com- collapse. It said that it had al- buildings and putting up mod- to rampant encroachments, un- carriageways on either side of mendable, has certain potential ready issued warnings to the ern structures in their place. Re- planned construction and lack the walkway and beyond these, pitfalls that need to be focussed Government departments in constructing an edifice like of traffic regulation of any kind, at the periphery, there will be on. Firstly, the median on Luz occupation that the building Chepauk Palace is a new experi- the administration has woken three-metre footpaths. Church Road is planned to be was in an enfeebled condition ence for the PWD and it has no up. A public consultation was The Mada Streets are to be- extended all the way through and could fall any time. It im- experts on board to take up the recently held to consider con- come one-ways, with access Kutchery Road up to San plied by this that it had done all task. And there is the bureau- verting parts of Mylapore into from RK Mutt Road into North Thomé Basilica. But what is that was in its capacity and if cratic reluctance to consult pedestrian zones and the Mada Street from where the overlooked is that Kutchery the departments did not vacate with experts outside the pur- scheme met with overwhelming traffic will have to move around Road is a much narrower thor- it was their fault. But is the issu- view of Government. It is no support. The idea will, hope- the tank and exit from South oughfare as compared to Luz ance of a quit notice the only wonder then that Khalsa Mahal fully, soon be implemented, Mada Street on to RK Mutt Church Road. Moreover, it has action that the PWD ought to continues to languish. Huma- thereby providing a new lease of Road. The two Mada Streets, two-way traffic plying on it and have taken when faced with a yun Mahal will now be provid- life to one of the oldest parts of so will not be able to accommo- heritage structure that is facing ing it company. Chennai. Much will, however, G by A Special date such a wide median. collapse? It was last heard in June depend on the way it is Clearly, an alternative will have And yet apparently that is 2012 that the Government was executed. Correspondent to be thought of. quite true, for the PWD has wanting to make the restoration On paper at least, the plan Secondly, on the Mada more or less admitted that it has of Chepauk Palace an example looks worthwhile. It aims at North and South, will have a Streets, an important annual no idea as to how to save a heri- of how heritage conservation providing greater pedestrian six-metre carriageway with four- feature is the temple festival tage building. This confession was to be done. It invited ‘ex- comfort around the four Mada metre footpaths and two-metre which will witness the chariots came to light when sections of pressions of interest’ from con- Streets and Luz Church Road. parking spaces on either side. being brought out in procession. the press raised a question as to servation architects wishing to The latter, now that it is a one- The plans will mean that The proposed road structure why nothing had been done on work on Khalsa Mahal. It was way stretch, is a broad thor- parking space, currently cater- should not in any way impede Khalsa Mahal almost two years also understood that the Gov- oughfare, at least between Na- ing to around 700 four-wheel- this. While taking the temple after it was burned, with even ernment would be happy to get geswara Rao Park and Kutchery ers in the entire area, will come cars down a six-metre carriage- the debris continuing to remain the restoration done on rates Road junction. It is in this down by 15%. This is to be way may not be a problem, on site. To this the PWD has and methods that were not stretch that the Corporation is made up by providing parking (Continued on page 3) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2013 Electrifying The rule of the law Tamil he awful majesty of the small electronic gadget with a could MMM take her around? Tlaw straddled Beach Road tiny attached printer was then What did she take MMM for? and The Man from Madras brought out and the constable Jack the Ripper? Yet another Musings quailed before it. The or whatever he was then pro- wanted to know if MMM journalism custodian of pax Madrasiana ceeded to write on the screen could fill her in on historic col- waved MMM’s car to one side with a stylus. He then pressed leges that had statues and heri- (Continued from last fortnight) and tapped on the windscreen, a button and said that the re- tage buildings in their cam- hen Dinamani made its appearance in 1934, it electrified the indicating that he would like ceipt would be soon on its way. puses. And when MMM asked Watmosphere of Tamil journalism. It was a low-priced news- MMM to roll it down. MMM Only it did not and showed no her if she knew about WCC paper (six pice) but it was different from its rivals in presentation duly did and was asked to signs of emerging after a good- she replied that MMM need of news and views. Within a month of its publication its circula- please get out and step this ish bit of waiting. not be rude just because she tion shot up and it was more than the combined circulation of all way. MMM suggested that some- was new to the topic. other Tamil papers. Dinamani had originally been started by MMM bets that all of you one looks inside to see if there Having grown wiser over are imagining that what hap- was a paper roll. This was the years, MMM asked the S. Sadanand who purchased the Indian Express from Varadarajulu pened next was that the gen- stoutly resisted to begin with young ’un who had called re- Naidu. Both the papers later came into the possession of Ramnath darme flourished a balloon and amidst much scoffing and garding place names as to what Goenka. The first editor of Dinamani was T.S. Chockalingam, an asked MMM to blow into it. pooh-poohing together with homework she had done on ardent Congressman and a powerful writer. With him as joint edi- Nothing of that sort occurred claims that hundreds had been the subject. Well, she said, she tor was A.N. Sivaraman who was later to set new records in Tamil and even if it did, MMM would fined since morning and had had not done any. Whereupon journalism. Both Chockalingam and Sivaraman were close associ- have emerged unscathed for he been given receipts. When the MMM said rather coldly that ates even before they came to Dinamani. They had jointly produced is abstemious to a degree. But receipt did not come after he was not so jobless as to be a quarter anna tri-weekly with news and views on the Satyagraha what actually did take place much coaxing and cajoling, the doing her work for her and movement and very critical of the government. Along with was that in paying complete paper compartment was could she please call him after Swatantra Sanghu, another quarter-anna weekly edited by Sangu and total attention to his good opened to reveal that it did not she had done some original re- Ganesan, it became a rage at the height of the Satyagraha move- ment and sold like hot cakes. Chockalingasm left the Dinamani in 1943 and started a daily of his own, Dinasari, in 1944. And the burden of running Dinamani fell on Sivaraman. Sivaraman, the most distinguished Tamil journalist, often re- SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY ferred to as the Bhisma of Tamil journalism, did not have much of an education in the conventional sense. He passed the secondary school course and joined a college in Tirunelveli but left it after six months. He was attracted by the Congress movement, especially by the ideals of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and he took it upon himself to lady (also known as She Who have any print roll, and, what’s search? This did not go down carry on the movement started by the Congress. Although he had Must Be Obeyed) while she more, going by the air of empti- very well, but there was noth- discontinued college education, he began educating himself held forth on something, ness in it, appeared to have ing to be done against MMM’s MMM had driven along jump- never ever had one in it. Its obdurate stance and so the through wide and purposive reading. Reading at all hours and far ing a traffic light whereupon bed, clearly, had never been conversation ended. A parting into the night became his habit. He was a prominent Congress the cops had bestirred them- slept in. request was whether MMM volunteer in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and went to prison. He selves and asked MMM to It was the cop’s turn to be- could please explain what strayed into journalism when he joined Chockalingam in produc- stop and then step their way. come meek. He then asked Thiru Alli Keni meant. MMM ing the tri-weekly Gandhi. After joining Dinamani, he switched to Firmly (for once) asking his MMM petulantly as to why he, said that it denoted a sacred its sister paper, Indian Express, for some years. He covered the San good lady to remain in the car, MMM, had not argued with lily tank. This did not sound Fransisco Conference for his paper and remained in the US for for she was all for getting down him, the policeman. Everyone very convincing to the party of some years as its correspondent. He wrote articles on science and and engaging in single-handed else, said the cop, usually de- the other part and so perhaps technology, agriculture and industry, political and economics in a combat, MMM stepped forth. nied having done any wrong; she asked for a second opin- way which the common man could easily understand. He was a The policeman looked up and they usually then asked the po- ion. Sure enough the story ap- teacher and guide for his readers and felt that his mission was to down as if assessing MMM. licemen rather truculently if peared the next day and there educate his readers to be good citizens and educated patriots. He then proceeded to inform they stopped Government ve- was , now metamor- In 1942, S.B. Adityan, a barrister and a staunch Congressman, him, MMM, that he, MMM, hicles and police cars that phosed to Thiru Valli Keni. It started a daily, Dina Thanthi, in Madurai, deliberately aimed at the had jumped the signal. MMM jumped signals. To which also had an explanation in working classes and the semi-literate population. The paper in- said that was true. He, the po- MMM replied that he, MMM, parenthesis – (Murugan’s dulged in sensationalism and its four pages were filled with stories liceman, then asked MMM as had erred and would not like to CONCERT Tank). Quite a of crime, violence and cinema, all written in an easy style and lan- to what would happen to the enter into an argument. musical god, our quick gun guage. He provided readers what they liked to be fed on and they city and its law and order if The cop held out his hand. Murugan. lapped it up. educated people like MMM MMM assumed it was an indi- disregarded signals with impu- cation that ‘something’ ought The Chief’s wife The paper’s circulation increased manifold and Adityan brought nity. To which MMM meekly to be placed in it. But it was out editions from Madras and other centres. As the Dravidian par- replied that he, MMM, knew MMM who had erred this time t is not often that The Man ties, the Dravida Kazhagam (under E.V. Ramaswami Naicker) and that he, MMM, was guilty and too. “Just shake my hand, Sir,” Ifrom Madras Musings writes the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagagam (under C.N. Annadurai) be- could only attribute it to a said the constable. “You can in sombre vein, but the pass- gan to dominate the political scene in post-independence Madras temporary diversion of atten- go. Fine waived on account of ing of the Chief’s beloved lady State (before it was renamed ), Adityan resigned from tion. The law looked dis- good behaviour!” has saddened MMM. In her the Congress and joined the Dravidian movement. His contributon pleased at this meek accep- sudden departure, MMM has to Tamil journalism was that he took the newspaper to the door- tance. The fine for such A Triplicane trip lost a true friend who had a step of the poor and the downtrodden. Over the years, Dina misdemeanours, it growled, whacky sense of humour. Thanthi and its sister publications have not changed much in the was high, namely Rs. 500 and ncle,” cried the young Some of the ideas for this col- type of journalism it began with. Neither has its popularity waned. demanded to see MMM’s “U one in distress. “Only umn came from her observa- – (Courtesy: Vidura, published by the Press Institute of India.) licence. It also indicated that you can help.” It was another tions on daily life and MMM in case MMM was without of those damsels who are har- is going to miss her. The wel- – Mrinal Chatterjee licence, penalties would be ried by heartless editors to turn coming smile, the warm offer (To be concluded) severe. At this, MMM fished out 600 words within twenty of coffee or buttermilk or out his valid driving licence. minutes on subjects they know rasam or… the list was practi- The scowl of displeasure nothing about. This lass was cally endless. More impor- CHENNAI HERITAGE asked to send in a story on tantly, it was she who made No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014 deepened. It grew even more when MMM took out his wal- place names in Chennai that out the list of payments to be I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / had been corrupted from their made each month to contribu- I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. let and having counted English originals. And she had tors to Madras Musings and, G Rs. 500 held it in his hand I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One and said that he did not mind decided to apply to her new- therefore, ensured that they hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to found uncle-at-large, namely got their cheques. The Chief, Madras Musings for the year 2013-14. paying but could he please have a receipt. There was con- the Maama, sorry, The Man on the other hand, mostly G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a from Madras Musings. assumed that people got by on better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an siderable humming and haw- additional Rs...... (Rupees...... ) ing at this and MMM was It is always the same every the strength of their love for Please keep / put me on your mailing list. asked if madam was not get- Madras Week. MMM is be- the city. sieged by such calls. One lady Adieu to you, dear lady, Name : ...... ting impatient waiting in the car, to which MMM replied said she had a day to cover lo- and may flights of angels sing Address: ...... that madam could take a few cations where murders had thee to thy rest...... roughs with the smooth. A taken place in Madras and – MMM All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by Speed Post only. October 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Cataloguing the heritage Curly Wee lovers am one of those persons I brought up in Madras that is of now Chennai when The Madras Mail was being published. The Mail used to carry a cartoon strip (it will be heresy to call it a comic) called Curly Wee on all days except Sundays. I have a fairly good collection of the strips which I have cut and pasted in a scrap book. I have digitised most of my collection and filled in the missing ones from the Google newspaper archives of The Melbourne Age. This letter is to make an appeal to other Curly Wee lovers to help find the episodes missing in my collection. I am also willing to share my Santhanam Chetty, a descendant of Beri Thimmappa, addressing the participants during the Kilpauk Walk. digitised collection with other Curly Wee fans in Chennai. am not a history buff,” confesses Deepa Sekar, who has what was served, and what were the occupants’ personal Please contact me at “I been organising a heritage walk around Kilpauk during Ma- favourites. Maharishi Vidya Mandir, part of erstwhile Kalki [email protected] dras Week for the past three years – and one that this year proved Gardens, is another stop on this heritage tour. “When I first went, a great success. The highlight of this walk is that she has been I spotted the thulasi madam where M.S. Subbulakshmi P.B. Krishnamurthy able to take the participants inside eight premises of historic im- worshipped, which is now gone and the building is in a bad 6/11, Balakrishna Road portance and get some of the residents of those buildings to ex- shape,” she adds. A table used by the singer survives, but that too Valmikinagar, Tiruvanmiyur plain their significance. Revathi Ram, YOCee founder and a keen cries for attention. Chennai 600 041 participant in Madras Week celebrations, inspired Deepa “to do Pachaiyappa’s College and St. George’s School also figured in something in this part of the town during Madras Week” when Founding contributors the walk and permission was invariably sought from principals of both collaborated for a Street Festival for Children in Kilpauk. these institutions to let the participants enter the premises during his is with reference to the When Deepa started looking around Kilpauk, she found places of the walk. The Citadel Studio, now a college, has the statue of TQuiz column in the August historic significance and also found people open to talking about Mother Mary as seen in the movie Gnanasoundari. Neighbouring 1st issue of Madras Musings. Re- their residences. The walk included eight premises: Votive Shrine Chetput was included for its connection to mathematical genius garding question 16 on the Church, St. George’s School, Pachaiyappa’s College, Kushal Das Srinivasa Ramanujan who spent his final days at a Namberumal Gardens, Seetha Kingston School, Kalki Gardens, Devar Solai founders of the cultural institu- Chetty (the man who owned 99 houses in Madras) house, (residence of Timeri N. Murari, journalist and author), and Gometra. Initially Ramanujan was asked to stay at Crynant, tion on the ECR, I would like to Bashyam Naidu Park. Chennai Photowalkers joined the walk this add that, along with Debbie Namberumal’s own residence, but he refused stating it had “cry” year and captured every single location vividly on the camera. in it. Thiagarajan, who is undoubt- “I felt Kilpauk is as much more about its people and stories as edly the ‘face’ of Dakshina- about its monuments,” she says of her experience after meeting A touching incident this year was at the Votive Shrine Church Chitra, and Gita Ram, Mrs. Timeri N. Murari whose once vast estate Devar Solai has only 10 where the pastor, during the morning mass, saw the crowd taking per cent left of its original space. When the enthusiasts enter pictures during the heritage walk and invited them to look around Indira Kothari was also among the place after learning about Madras Week. After seeing pictures the three initial contributors Devar Solai, they are treated to its history by the family members. Deepa’s grandparents were among the first residents of Kilpauk. of the walk, descendants of people who owned spacious garden who pooled in Rs. 10,000 each houses in Kilpauk, now residing abroad, wrote to Deepa. She to begin with, to initiate the Sculptor Nagappa’s family also lives in the same locality, but Deepa has not been able to get to talk to them as yet. received an e-mail in which one English resident wanted to know founding of this institution. Deepa learnt that her neighbour Urmila Sathyanarayana, the the fate of a coffee estate in Kilpauk (!) which his family owned, about which nothing much is known. Maya D. Kothari accomplished Bharata Natyam exponent, belongs to the Beri [email protected] Thimmappa lineage. When Deepa sought Urmila’s help in un- “I look at Kilpauk differently now,” she points out, adding that derstanding more about the family, she was pointed to Urmila’s she was very sceptical about undertaking this endeavour when ‘God’s garden’ uncle Santhanam Chetty, a resident of Appah Gardens, who has a she was first asked to. But she feels every citizen owes something to the city. Deepa’s initiative to explore her locality and conduct n the first Sunday of Ma- collection of photographs. Santhanam Chetty was more than glad to help Deepa in her endeavour and speak to participants during a heritage walk involving historic residences and its occupants is Odras Week, Deepa Sekar the heritage tour at Appah Gardens. an inspiration for those willing to undertake similar programmes. conducted an interesting Heri- She approached Seetha Ravi, former editor of the Tamil maga- Apparently inspired, Ramaswamy, part of Chennai Photowalkers’ tage walk in Kilpauk. zine Kalki, to get to know about Kalki Gardens. “I wanted some- Group, feels a similar endeavour should happen at . I would like to point out that thing more than what is documented,” says Deepa and Seetha my ancestral house is called helped with a lot of personal information such as about the cook, – K. Venkatesh ‘Devar Solai’ and not Deva Kottai. Solai’ means God’s garden and It was called ‘Devar Solai’ it indeed was. due to the beautiful garden cre- ated by my grandfather T. Vasu. Nalini Ramakrishnan MYLAPORE TO BECOME As a matter of fact, he even de- 92, Landon Road, Kilpauk signed the name slabs with his Chennai 600 010 PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY own signature in marble. ‘Devar Madras baashai he Madras Week was, as (Continued from page 1) guarantee that hoardings and Lastly, the plan is entirely READABILITY PLEASE Talways, a huge success. getting them to negotiate cor- cut-outs will not overrun these focussed on the itinerant popu- Dear Readers, Among the many write-ups and ners will be a tricky proposition medians and footpaths when- lation. What of the local resi- As letters from readers increase, we are recei- ving more and more hand written letters, many speeches, many Madras expres- if there are any permanent ever there is a public meeting at dents? Where are they to park of them in a hand so small and illegible or large sions and stock in trade words structures put up by way of pe- Mangollai? In the name of pro- their vehicles in case the front- and scrawled as to be unreadable. Often this were celebrated. The founding destrian facilities. viding space for pedestrians, age is to be taken over by Cor- leads to our discarding a letter, particularly if some part of it is unreadable. father of what is called Madras Thirdly, the new plan is what if we are really handing poration parking lots? With baashai was the late king of opening up a lot of space that over precious land for misuse? most buildings in the Mada If you wish us to consider your letter for comedy, veteran actor J.P. has immense potential for mis- Time and again the Corpora- Streets still being of the ground publication, please type it with enough space between lines or write it using a medium hand, Chandrababu. All the writeups use. There can be encroach- tion has shown us that it has no floor commercial, first floor resi- clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. and speeches on the Madras ment by vendors, political par- mechanism to nip these prob- dential variety, will these resi- Many readers also try to fill every square baashai are deemed tributes to ties, vehicle owners and, above lems in the bud. It usually al- dents not oppose the plan? The centimetre of a postcard space, making read- him while commemorating Ma- all, our utilities, which put up lows them to grow and then scheme will need local support ing or editing impossible. dras. junction boxes and transform- comes up with palliative if it is to become a success and Please help us to consider your letters more C.G. Prasad ers in any area that is found schemes that please none of the it may, therefore, be best if these favourably by making them more legible for us. 9, C.S. Mudali Street available. How are these to be stakeholders. Will the experi- stakeholders are taken into – THE EDITOR Kondithope, Chennai 600 079 regulated? And what is the ence be any different this time? confidence. 4 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2013 October 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

are few and far between among cricketers, but the few I know of There was so much about the City at Cricket, Carnatic music are diehard rasikas. S.J. Kedar- nath, an accomplished opening batsman of yesteryear, was a the ‘Murugappa Madras Quotient Quiz’ trained mridanga vidwan, who forsook music for cricket. He is a and Coffee wonderful mimic who can imi- tate some of Carnatic music’s efore I go on to speak of mu- tion whereby cricketers and Jayaraman and his sishya Vijay season, I arranged a concert by greats. Bsicians interested in, even fa- other sportspersons are offered Siva were on a concert visit – to Unni at my residence on a Sun- Fast bowler Kalyanasun- natical about, cricket, let me de- employment and facilities to pur- Trivandrum, if I remember right. day evening, only to discover daram, who once took a hat trick clare with pride that the founders sue their sport, assured of finan- The duo reached there on the that we were playing a match against Bombay, is a dedicated of Sruti, the magazine I edit, were cial security. They represent morning of the concert, with the that day. On top of that, Unni rasika whose knowledge of music all cricketers of some quality. teams run by their employers in performance slated for the also had a concert the previous is good enough for him to discuss The founding editor, N. Pattabhi local and national tournaments. evening. There was no television evening at Nagercoil. Refusing to its technical aspects with musi- Raman, was the youngest of Among the business houses sup- where they were staying, and cancel the concert, Unni trav- cians and even advise them three brothers. Despite being a porting sport in a big way are my there was an ODI featuring In- elled by bus all night and, getting sometimes. Kalli’s good friend polio victim, he was an active employers, The Sanmar Group, dia going on that day. DKJ was off at , came straight K. Balaji, an elegant left hand cricketer at the local level, while who have been promoting cric- very keen to watch the match, to the English Electric ground batsman and a director of Kasturi his brothers P.N. Sundaresan, my ket for a record five decades. Its and a reluctant Vijay Siva was where we were playing. We & Sons, the publishers of The periappa, and P.N. Venkatraman, chairman, N. Sankar, is also the asked to locate a TV set. He fielded in the hot sun in , is a regular concertgoer. my father, both on the Sruti chairman of the Sruti Founda- found a TV retail shop nearby morning, and I gave Unni the His cousin and fellow director, board, were stalwarts of Myla- tion, which runs Sruti magazine. and, as often is the practice, the option of opening the innings N. Murali, a leftarm medium pore Recreation Club, famously An interesting intersection of shop was showing the live tele- (he was our usual no.3) and go- pacer for MRC ‘B’, a team run by engaged in Madras’s own ‘War of cricket and music. cast of the match. Vijay hastened ing home after his knock. Unfor- The Hindu family, is now the the Roses’ it fought annually Many Carnatic musicians are back to bring DKJ to the shop to tunately, Unni was out for zero, President of the Music Academy. against Triplicane Cricket Club. cricket fans. In the past, great watch from the roadside his but insisted on staying till the Former India wicketkeeper While many of the Buchi Babu masters like Madurai Mani Iyer favourite Tendulkar open the in- end of the match, which we won. M.O. Srinivasan was well known clan and distinguished sons of were enthusiastic followers of the nings for India. He then went to his Royapettah in music circles as the founder of Madras, like the diplomat G P, game. So is Mani Iyer’s nephew I have had the pleasure of home, showered and changed The participants seen with the quizmaster Dr. Navin Jayakumar during the third edition of the ‘Murugappa Madras Quotient Quiz’. Dasanjali, a one-man crusade to represented MRC (run by C.R. teach a large number of school Pattabhiraman, son of C.P. G (By A Special Correspondent) One of the programmes organised by the Associa- children music, especially of the Ramaswami Iyer), TCC had tion of British Scholars to celebrate Madras Week bhajan or light classical variety. id you know that Madras was threatened with evacuation in more than its share of stars – like His son M.O. Parthasarathi was D1975? This claim by WikiLeaks cannot be confirmed, but it double international M.J. Gopa- 2013 featured V. RAMNARAYAN speaking on three of a Ranji and Duleep Trophy is true that when the city was then fighting severe drought, silver lan and fast bowler C.R. Ranga- Madras’s favourite pastimes. player, who bowled fastish leg iodide used for cloud seeding by Atmospherics Incorporated, a Madras Week’s ‘Murugappa Madras Quotient Quiz’ began with a 25-question chari. My cousin P.S. Naraya- Fresno, California firm, to induce rains, saved the day for Madras. breaks with a Paul Adams-like elimination round. The questions which were posed to the 242 schools participating in nan, the publisher of Sruti, was a action, except he was a right arm Not many know that the first village donated by the Nawab of the the quiz were the following: brilliant opening batsman of the Carnatic, Zulfikar Khan, to the East India Company was Tripli- T.V. Sankaranarayanan, a San- playing cricket with the ce- and came to my bowler. He was also a hard-hit- 1960s and 1970s. He started with cane in 1672. These questions and others – some long and some 1. On what date was Madras founded? 10. What building is seen gita Kalanidhi like his uncle, who lebrated singer Unnikrishnan home on the ECR for the con- ting batsman, somewhat unor- in audio and video format – related to the city’s Past, Present, and here in this 1913 photo- MRC and then went on to play played cricket while at Viveka- (MM, September 16th) as well as cert, just half an hour later than thodox, but extremely success- on the theme Madras for Ever, were posed by ace quizmaster Dr. 2. The fortified warehouse that Francis Day built was graph? for Jolly Rovers, the team spon- nanda College and follows the his father Dr. Radhakrishnan of the scheduled start. It turned out ful. A student of Hindustani vo- Navin Jayakumar during the third edition of Murugappa Madras completed on April 23, 1640. In the Christian calen- sored by the Sanmar Group. game closely. Mannargudi Eswa- Bunts Cricket Club. Unni- to be a perfect concert. cal music, he has performed on Quotient Quiz, in which 59 city schools fielded 242 teams, each dar, this day is dedicated to which religious figure? Another MRC star, my ran, the mridanga vidwan has krishnan, a very good club crick- Sivakumar and Burma Shan- the concert stage. consisting of three students. A prelimnary written round featuring 11. Which building inside Fort St George has a roof father’s uncle, P.S. Ramachan- Violinist S.D. Sridhar is the 25 questions brought the competing teams down to six finalists. 3. Who lives in a palatial mansion once called played cricket, too. On the dis- eter, chose to concentrate on de- kar were both my teammates in that is 5 feet thick? The army stocked its artillery here dran who once took 10 for 18 in taff side, the younger of the Priya veloping his considerable musi- the TNCA cricket league in the proud father of left-arm all The finals had three main themes – Madras Past, Present and Lodge? and it was considered the only bomb-proof building a single innings in the ‘War of Sisters, Shanmukhapriya and cal talent. 1960s. Sivakumar is D.K. Pat- rounder S. Sriram who played Forever. Madras Past focussed on different aspects of the city’s inside the Fort. the Roses’, was a member of the history – Where was Armagon factory located? (); Who gave 4. Identify this person who was Haripriya, represented her State Back in the 1990s, well into tammal’s son and a mridanga ODIs for India. Sriram too briefly in Chennai in August executive committee of The Mu- in the national cricket competi- my forties, I was captaining vidwan in his own right, besides learned the violin for a few years the small strip of sand to the British (which eventually became the 12. (a) Which branch of the Indian Army has its HQ sic Academy. I am sure some of city of Madras)? (Damarla Brothers); How were the people south of and will be seen in action in a in this building in (b) which southern hill station. tion. Parry’s Recreation Club in the being the father of star vocalist before the pull of cricket proved the Vindhyas referred to and why? (Madrasis because they came world championship later this his colleagues in the committee There is this fabulous story third division league. Unni, an Nityashree Mahadevan. Burma’s too powerful. under the Madras Presidency). Madras Present looked at the cur- year. were also club cricketers. about Sangita Kalanidhi D.K. officer of the company, was our son, the hugely talented Sanjay Former Ranji trophy cricketer rent scenarios and the Madras Forever round was about every- Tamil Nadu has developed a Jayaraman’s interest in the game. star player. Midway through the Subrahmanyan, is crazy about S.V.S. Mani, an elegant batsman thing associated with the city. 5. Which Viceroy of India between 1880-1884 intro- unique model of sports promo- who played for Tamil Nadu and duced local government in India during his tenure? cricket too. “Whenever people talk about a quiz on Madras, they always South Zone with considerable Hint: He is remembered by a prominent building and The annual cricket match think it has to be about its history. But there’s so much about 17. The Metropolitan Area of Chennai extends into 23. A song (audio) featured in a statue in Chennai. among leading Carnatic musi- success in the 1960s, and once today’s Madras too. So, Madras Forever featured customs and tra- which two neighbouring districts? a film scene (shown here) is cians is now a regular feature of fielded as a reserve against En- ditions that make the city what it is. Madras is seen as a city rooted 6. Two cricket stadiums in Chennai have hosted Test considered one of the best ex- gland, is the son of Kotha- in tradition but amenable to change,” said Navin. 18. Which famous political figure of Madras was de- their calendar. I happened to of- matches. One is the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium at amples of Madras baashai. (a) mangalam Cheenu, that tal- scribed by Gandhiji as “my conscience keeper”? ficiate as umpire in one of those The final six were P.S. Senior Secondary School, Vidya Mandir Chepauk. Which is the other ground? Name the film; (b) Name the ented singer, who faded away af- (both from Mylapore), AMM School (), National actor (who co-starred with games some years ago. The in- 19. There are nine bridges and two causeways across tensity of the competition had to ter a stint in films. Public School (Gopalapuram), Maharishi Vidya Mandir () 7. Who did American Heritage 13. T.K.S. Elangovan (North) and C. Manorama). Rajendran (South) are two of the three Lok Sabha the Cooum River in the city. What are the two names be seen to be believed. At least S. Radhakrishnan played for and DAV Boys School (). The questions thrown by Dr. magazine dub, in 1999, as the 24. A piece of music (au- MPs from Chennai constituencies. Name the third (proper name and popular name) of the last bridge several seasons for Parry’s Recre- Navin were answered confidently most of the time. Even their wild Most Overrated Philanthropist, dio) called Raaga’s dance one musician cricketer gave me who represents Central Madras. under which the Cooum flows before it ends in the ation Club in the league and guesses at times were indicative of their knowledge of the city’s arguing that the institution that was composed for a a withering look when I gave him Bay of Bengal? Hindu Trophy. Once, a century past. They were undaunted by some seemingly long questions, bears his name was actually due 14. Founded to promote the teachings of the saint popular woman violinist out lbw. I have never again been which provided lesser known facts for a well-known answer. But to the benevolence of one Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, this sect has a temple on a 20. Lt. Col. Dr. Gurdial Singh _____ was the jailor (seen here), who is asked to umpire in this gala af- by him in the league led to a at times, the teams slipped on what seemed to be an easy answer Jeremiah Dummer, but he got road in Royapettah named after the temple. Name the when Rajaji was incarcerated in Vellore prison. On world famous. fair, but I do hope I will get an- newspaper report which said (for example, relating Chinnaswami Rajam and Abdul Kalam to the credit only because they did not want to use the road/temple. Hint: Hotel Ponnuswamy is located on Rajaji’s advice, he settled in Madras and his family other chance in the future. Who Radhakrishnan, the son of come up with the answer MIT). On the other hand the video a) Who is the composer? name Dummer which could be confused for ‘dumber’ this road! over a couple of generations has built a number of in- knows, I may have the pleasure Semmangudi Srinivasier, had round, which had film scenes featuring prominent landmarks of b) Name the violinist; which, for that kind of institution, would be a disas- stitutions. There is even a locality in the family’s name. of giving a Sangita Kalanidhi out, scored a century, thus revealing the city, had the AMM School identify seven of the ten landmarks. 15. In the Middle Ages this word referred to any per- ter? Fill in the blank with the surname of this family? 25. These two words refer to the Tamil Nadu coast. provided the Music Academy re- to the world at large his musical P.S. Senior Secondary School surged ahead in the second round son (Arabs, Turks, etc.) who was of Islamic faith. 21. (a) ______, an educationist, is considered the fa- a) The Tamil form is found in the name of the famous laxes the age criterion a bit in ancestry only friends had till then and consistently maintained the lead to win the quiz with 107 8. A well-known Chennai organisation was started by Through the Crusaders, the name spread into Europe, ther of the (b) ______system of education prevail- artists’ village started by K.C.S. Paniker in 1966 that known about. points. Its members were Sankrith, Nishanth, and Arjun Aravind. this person in 1989 to find excellent, novel and radi- where it was long in general use and has survived until honouring its vidwans. ing in Chennai, as it did in the early part of the 19th brought modernism to art in Tamil Nadu. Defending champions Vidya Mandir, which was within striking cal ideas to solve problems by involving those who modern times. The word, also used in architecture, is Music lovers and musicians (To be concluded) Century when education was imparted by senior pu- distance of the title, couldn’t close the lead in the buzzer round cause the problem in the first place. (a) Name him familiar to Chennai residents as well. b) The British pronounced/spelled this word differ- pils who educated juniors. and had to be content with being the runner-up (91 points). and (b) the organisation. What word? ently. The Anglicised form is found in the name of a MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB National Public School, which scored solidly in the buzzer round, 22. What is the first two-word search result obtained well-known Chennai hotel. was the second runner-up (85 points). 9. This is the logo of which ‘Pride of Chennai’? 16. (a) Whose statue? (b) Which emi- To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen nent filmmaker of yesteryear is said to if you enter the following words in Google Search (a) Both words may be found in names of Murugappa The astonishing energy levels of the students had to be seen to interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests from have been the main force behind the Madras; (b) Chennai. Group companies. be believed and they didn’t lag behind in their creativity by coming many well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad raising of the statue? (Answers on page 7) up with wacky names for their teams. Some teams found Tamil to who receive their postal copies very late – for an online edition. be ideal for expressing themselves. If Idli Vada Sambar was Madras Musings is now on the web at www.madrasmusings.com THE EDITOR (Continued on page 6) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2013 When the bugles blow (Current Affairs questions are he very name Gemini Stu- book is a mere 47 pages! But from the period September 1st Tdios conjures up a magical within that it gives you a wealth to 15th. Questions 11 to 20 world. Its sylvan location off of information and insights – pertain to Chennai and Tamil Mount Road has since trans- the arrivals and departures of Nadu.) formed into a concrete jungle, VIPs who wanted to see films 1. In the world of takeovers, what but each time you cross the area being made, the peaks and came out of Project Gold Medal you can still imagine the glam- troughs in a studio’s business at the beginning of September? orous stars, the huge workforce, cycle, the frustrations of those 2. Which city is to host the 2020 the improbable storyline of who came aspiring to be stars Summer Olympics after a vote at most of its films and, above all, but ended up as office boys, the the IOC’s 125th session held in the enigmatic personality of its mountains of paper work that Buenos Aires? boss – S.S. Vasan. kept the studio moving and well 3. Sunset at Montmajour has now Today’s generation came in accounted for, the stars who The entrance of Gemini Studios. been confirmed as a large paint- at the tail-end of Gemini’s life. twinkled briefly … all of these lors, musicians and, above all, All three books write of the ing by which celebrated European ‘The Boss’ died in 1969 and come and go. artist? took with him most of the verve The second, more lavishly make-up men. Of this last cat- way Vasan publicised his films egory Asokamitran in his book and roped in the VIP world-at- 4. Rochus Misch, who died and enthusiasm for running a produced, is the S.S. Vasan Cen- has a full feature on one man large to do its bit to ensure his recently aged 96, was the last studio. It lingered on for a few tenary Volume brought out in surviving witness to which years and then shut shop, 2003 by Vasan’s other and more who doubled up as office boy films became a success. With- leader’s suicide in the 1940s? plunging the cinema world into long-lived creation – Ananda and make-up man. In the latter out knowing it, even the film- role he had a simple job – mix hating Rajaji (according to 5. Why was Germany’s Thomas disbelief. Imagine life without Vikatan. While by its nature it is Bach in the news recently? Gemini. Vasan’s palatial bunga- hagiographic, it has excellent something called pancake in a Asokamitran, Vasan and Rajaji bucket of water and daub it on most cordially hated each 6. Who was Leander Paes’s lows on Edward Elliot’s (Radha- black and white photographs the faces of all the extras! other) had a hand in the suc- partner in his U.S. Open doubles from the Gemini archives. More The last book, Gemini Can- cess of Avvaiyar. triumph? G importantly, it is structured as a A look at teen, was published in 2003 by The Gemini motto was 7. Which spacecraft, it is stated, series of articles by several Shanti Padhippagam. It was “When the bugles blow, there recently exited the solar system three books people, all of whose lives and became the first man-made by Sriram V. Gemini and its proprietor had film historian Theodore Bha- will be a show.” Vasan was all object to reach interstellar space? touched. There are Chief Min- skaran who alerted me about it this and more when it came to recently, and another budding family events as well. Navaratri 8. How did Mukesh Singh, Vinay isters, political leaders and Sharma, Pawan Gupta and krishnan) Road remained as thinkers, rival studio-owners, film historian, the actor Mohan at Gemini House involved full- Akshay Thakur make news on ghostly relics for much longer. film stars, writers (Asokamitran Raman, sourced it for me. Writ- scale sets erected by the studio September 13th? The one opposite the Music and Randor Guy included) and ten by N.S.S. Manian who for technicians. All three authors 9. What is the value of the fund Academy made way for a multi- several former employees. years managed the Gemini can- write with awe of the manner in that leaders of the BRICS nations storeyed office complex while R. Venkataraman, former teen, first as an employee and which Vasan celebrated his – Brazil, Russia, India, China and the other, opposite Dr. later, following the unioni- children’s weddings. As Asoka- South Africa – have said they will Radhakrishnan’s residence, is sation, as a contractor, it looks mitran puts it, “For a whole set up to guard against financial now a vacant site, the collaps- at Gemini from down under. week in 1950, citizens of Ma- shocks? ing gateposts alone feebly de- But alas! what should have dras saw the moon at noon, the 10. The Tatapani power project, claring to the world that this been a delightful book on the sun at midnight, men walked touted as India’s first geo-thermal was where the great film-maker view from below is a meander- sideways on a hand and leg, power project, is coming up in and studio boss once lived. But ing and badly structured work birds stood as lampposts, the which State? that the flyover on Mount Road of 112 pages. Ploughing through choicest music crystallised into * * * is still referred to as Gemini in- it, you still manage to get the diamonds, the smell of the most 11. Which crossing near Raj dicates the hold the studio had, odd nugget or two, but it is a extravagant south Indian veg- Bhavan was named after a cen- or still has, on collective painful process. There are sec- etarian food hung heavily on tury-old Swedish company that memory. tions, however, that make you the air people breathed, the made watches and typewriters? For those of us who missed feel hungry – especially the cows and buffaloes of Madras 12. Name the hero, only the sec- the glorious days of Gemini, the menu for Gemini’s location forgot to graze, the jutka car- ond after Dilip Kumar, to have writings of Randor Guy have shoots – sambar rice with plenty riages danced the polka and the won three consecutive Filmfare been our chief source of infor- of ghee, potato chips, a curry, a waves of the Bay of Bengal awards for ‘Best Actor’ – there is mation. In the last decade or so, deep-fried vada, curd rice made stood still at their highest point a statue of him on busy Nelson three publications have come S.S. Vasan. with milk, butter and a dash of to watch the fun.” Manickam Road near Mehta curd, pickle. Tambrahm food at That was true of Gemini as out, each dedicated in its own President of India, has written Nagar. its best. well, wasn’t it? way to Gemini. The first, in of how he was made to write by 13. What is the Tamil screen leg- 2002, was My Years with Boss at end Joseph Panimayadasan Vasan and of the latter’s life- Gemini Studios, published by long support for the Congress in Rodriguez better known as? Orient Longman. It is a compi- 14. In which institution’s Coat of Madras/Tamil Nadu and which lation of veteran writer Asoka- party made him a Rajya Sabha Arms will you see the words mitran’s reminiscences of his At the ‘Murugappa Doctrina Vim Promovet Insitam? MP as well. The best feature in years at Gemini. These origi- the book, however, is a gallery 15. Which theatre originally nally appeared in The Illustrated stood at the place where the AGS of prominent employees of Madras Quiz’ Weekly of India (another legend Gemini. It features an Ameri- multiplex is now located? of yesteryears) in the 1980s, 16. If you were at the crossing can, several Tamilians, (Continued from page 4) when, acceding to editor Pritish Andhras, Kannadigas and which has the Gajendra Circle, Nandy’s request, Asokamitran ordinary, By The Time You Read The Name Murugan Idli, They where in the city are you? Malayalis, a few Bengalis, a Sold An Idli was at its witty best. Arnab Goswami, the target of jotted down his recollections. larger contingent of Hindi- 17. Which child of a National Though he served at Gemini many mimics including a TV ad, wasn’t spared either by a team speaking people and an Anglo- that called itself India Needs An Answer So Do We. Machi, which Award-winning film couple re- between 1952 and 1966, the leased a work titled Contours of Indian or two. What a has entered the lingo of Tamil youth irrespective of their socio- articles focussed on just five confluence of cultures the place economic status, was part of the name of the runner-up Vidya Leninism at the CPI(M) summit years – 1953 to 1958. But de- five years ago? must have been! Mandir team which told itself It’s OK Machi, Finals-la spite that, this is by far the best Pathukalam. Why This Kolaveri Di, the irreverent 18. From which constituency was In its heyday, Gemini em- work on Gemini. In true Asoka- ployed over 600 people, a huge number that went viral on YouTube to garner more than a mil- MGR elected as an MLA when mitran style it is bitter-sweet, lion views, morphed into Why This Vetri Veri Da for the win- he contested on a DMK ticket? number even by today’s stan- but it is a critical study of a time ning P.S. Senior Secondary team. A Brahminical slant was pro- 19. Which distilled beverage is dards. And it was the studio’s vided by a team that proudly proclaimed itself to be Madras when the studio system was boast that it had never once de- mixed with cranberry and orange slowly giving way to star cul- Maamigalin Chennai Pasanga. The soaring onion prices found a juice to make a cocktail called faulted on salaries! But it was ture. Vasan was an astute new expression in The Batman Rises So Do the Onion Prices. ‘Madras’? this workforce that formed a Chetan Bhagat, author of Three Mistakes of My Life, inspired a reader of trends and portents 20. Which future President of In- union and eventually brought team that called itself Three Mistakes Our School Made. The and was getting his behemoth dia was the Labour Minister from the studio system to its knees. organisers decided to give three prizes, instead of the usual one, the first (1937) Madras Legisla- to make the transition as well. A section devoted to ‘studio for the best team name. India Needs An Answer So Do We; Ma- tive Assembly cabinet? Asokamitran got a ringside services’ is even more revealing. dras Maamigalin Chennai Pasanga; and By The Time You Read (Answers on page 8) view and captured it all. The Vast armies of carpenters, tai- the Name Murugan Idli, They Sold An Idli were the winners. October 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

remember my uncertainties payment on his behalf; so, it is a Iin the darkness after many gift, according to Sankaran, a cramped hours in flight on the legacy free and accessible to all plane to Madras in September In search of who wish to claim it. The music 1980. I had been to India for of Tyagaraja, he said, “has sim- several months in 1970. and plicity as a shining point. Every- again briefly in 1977, but this one sings it for its aesthetic ap- time I had a specific academic Tyagaraja peal and for its moral values.” task and a long-range goal – to Noting that Tyagaraja is very were very helpful in learning fish tickling our ankles and who transcended many bound- conduct research for my Har- popular as a composer in our about South Indian culture. He calves as they nibbled at out aries and stereotypes. His views vard University Ph.D. thesis. era, Sankaran pointed out the opened doors to the worlds of skin. There in the dusk with were grounded in historical and The topic was to be the life and extent to which the saint’s mu- Carnatic music giving me the spindly, cheerful Sankaran, it is sociological events and evi- works of Tyagaraja, the great sic has “even invaded the dance easy to imagine Tyagaraja wad- dence, and on his own wide ex- singer-saint who composed ideas and providing personal repertoire. Tyagaraja is a ing into the river at dawn and perience. hundreds of memorable songs, guidance without ever asking money-spinner to the music in- dusk, repeating the Sankaran pointed out that raising Carnatic music to new for anything in return. Gayatri dustry of the modern world, be- . We visited the old during the period of history in heights of artistic achievement After a concert Sankaran mantra cause of his sterling reputation temple in the village, dedicated which World War II took place, and devotional power. showed me a book which was and his great popularity and the to Panchanadeeswara. It is said and Indian Independence and Would I meet the right the text of Oriental Music in demand this creates; in every that in one hall of the temple the linguistic division of India guides? Would they look kindly Staff Notation, by Chinnaswami linguistic area, including north Tyagaraja used to spend after- occurred, there were many upon me and agree to give me Mudaliar. He told me: “Jon Indian ones, promoters attempt noons reciting his changes and readjustments that the help I would require to en- Higgins was going to try to take Rama mantra. to make capital out of Tyaga- We visited the house where had to be made by the people of ter the culture? Did I have the great book published so long raja’s appeal. The law of supply Tyagaraja lived, kept as a me- India. He noted, for example, enough language training to be ago, with all the music to many and demand holds sway, and ar- morial to him. I was struck by that one of the chief original accepted and get started in this of Tyagaraja’s songs, back to ticles, books, films, and other its narrowness – shaped like planks of the annual Tyagaraja very traditional-conscious re- America to have them copied, media programmes are pro- some linked boxcars. “See, the Aradhana festival was mass gion of the earth? I felt at the but in the end they were a mas- duced by both the learned cul- division of the household really feeding of Brahmins. But war- mercy of a different social world sive pile and were disinter- ture makers and the business- happened – Tyagaraja’s brother time rationing caused a cutback and had no idea how my first grating too much and he had to minded entrepreneurs.” Sanka- got the other half!” At the back of this practice, and with the large-scale research project abandon the idea. At least you ran noted that the “wireless ser- of the house was a typical court- attainment of national inde- would turn out to be. So far can take a copy of the introduc- vice,” for example All India Ra- yard with a well and a grinding pendence and the consequent from home with only new ac- tion.” I thanked him and later dio, serves as a great patron of stone. I made a sketch and pic- democratisation of society and quaintances to call on, I tried to found that Harvard had a copy music, and Tyagaraja’s songs tured Thyagaraja and his dis- values, the feeding became stop worrying and to hope for of the rare book. enjoy a wide patronage through ciples playing their music there. “cosmopolitan” on multi-caste the best. Sankaran told us he was radio programmes. In this for- As I took in the mood of the basis. With the raising of lin- I need not have worried that going to be travelling to mat and others, Tyagaraja is the rooms I had the idea that some- guistic consciousness, the domi- night. The new names and ad- Chidambaram for a conference, favoured composer of classical day I would like to write a his- nance of Telugu lyrics in song dresses I had received from and invited us to travel with South Indian music in the mod- torical novel based loosely on and dance performances in knowledgeable Madrasis I had him, and then visit Tyagaraja’s ern age. the life of Tyagaraja and his Tamil Nadu was resented, and met in America would start and home village, Tiruvaiyaru. contemporaries in the region the Dravidian movement in- The social restrictions which propel my 18-month-long re- We got down at Chidamba- later known as Dis- creased affection for and pride used to prohibit women (other search project. One of those ram and had breakfast, and in the . Yet than those of the traditional names was T. Sankaran, given Sankaran took us for darshan at G Sankaran also noted that “gov- professional musician class) to to me by Jon Higgins when I vis- the great Siva temple of Tillai by ernment may come and go, but make music and to dance are no ited Wesleyan University. Nataraja to see the lingam of William J. Jackson Tyagaraja goes on forever.” He longer valid. The dance profes- “Your view of Tyagaraja will be ether. We were two skinny pointed out that Tyagaraja’s sion and the nagaswara-playing very different from mine,” Jon men, one short and one tall, trict. Later, on return trips “empire” of songs had spread to profession are presently in the Higgins had said. “Because you humbly worshipping in the an- when I attended the annual other countries, where his hands of performers who would study religion and I am a musi- cient temple where the invisible Tyagaraja festival, the place works are performed and his life not defy or neglect Tyagaraja, cologist. But Sankaran will help form of Siva is revealed. would be familiar to me; at is celebrated. Thus, Tyagaraja, but honour him. Sankaran you. Higgins, who was already those times, parts of it would be After the conference, San- unlike many other regional noted that in the late 1950s a well known in Madras, where decked out for festivities and karan took us by bus to Tiru- composers, has become a state- Brahmin playing the nagas- he was sometimes called Hig- crowds of people would throng vaiyaru, where we went right and nation-transcending figure. waram would have been un- gins Bhagavatar for being able the narrow streets and lanes, of through the village to the Tya- Sankaran said he believed thinkable. Today “even sensi- to sing Tyagaraja songs in the course. garaja Samadhi, a white marble that much gratitude was owed tive young girls” play that in- traditional manner, took me to While we were in Tiruvai- building in a pleasant clearing. to Tyagaraja for propagating strument, and dancers may Prof. T. Viswanathan, also at yaru, Sankaran told the moving Sankaran spoke with the priest, and promoting the greatness of come from the highest castes. Wesleyan, and he gave me help- story of Bangalore Nagaratna- a Smartha Brahmin who lived Tamil music, and that the With all the changes occurring ful information about Tyaga- mmal. He remembered her in a hut on the site there with Tamil people affectionately felt in the 20th Century, Sankaran raja, and told me to contact his fondly from his youth days how his family. The priest unlocked indebted to him. Tyagaraja asserted, the fortunes of cousin, T. Sankaran, in Madras. she faced her family sorrows, the samadhi and Sankaran joy- never received any “royalty” for Tyagaraja have only risen, and In Madras, after finding a became a great artiste and fully sang Tyagaraja songs, in- the public performance of his his religious vitality increased. place to stay, my wife Marcia devotee, how she travelled in cluding Paramatmudu. “This songs, and no one can claim (Courtesy: Sruti) and I went to look up for Sanka- was Tyagaraja’s swansong,” he trains with her portable veena ran. We went into an impres- explained afterwards. The to the places where she per- sive antique building into an of- priest offered Tyagaraja San- formed. She was spiritually in- Answers to Madras Quotient Quiz fice with high ceilings and lazily skrit prayers and flowers and spired, dreaming of Tyagaraja, turning ceiling fans, and found other offerings in the samadhi, accepting the mission of making 1. August 22, 1639. 16 (a) Avvaiyar; (b) S.S. Vasan. the office of T. Sankaran, who while Sankaran’s Tyagaraja his rundown gravesite worthy of 2. St. George. 17. Kanchipuram and was the director of the Tamil songs in Telugu echoed in the the saint’s memory. She was the 3. The Governor of Tamil Nadu. Thiruvallur. Isai Sangam. one who bought the land sur- cool marble hall. 4. Magnus Carlsen. 18. Rajaji. He was a small man, less rounding the Tyagaraja Sama- When we left, Sankaran 5. Lord Ripon. 19. Napier Bridge/Iron Bridge. than five feet tall, and he had said: “It is my opinion that if you dhi and helped the factionalised grey hair, but he was very followers of Thyagaraja’s music 6. Corporation (or Nehru) 20. Gill. (Gill Nagar. Gill Adarsh heard Tyagaraja sing it would Stadium. School.) friendly, with a large heart and surprise you, the kind of voice join together to honour him at a youthful spirit. He was dressed an annual festival. 7. Elihu Yale. 21. (a) Andrew Bell (Bell’s he had was probably not like the 8. (a) M.B. Nirmal; (b) Exnora. Road); (b) Madras System of in crisp white clothes with a voices of the most popular sing- Back in the United States, scarf flung over his shoulder, working on my thesis at Har- 9. Namma Auto. Education using class ers today.” He also said that ac- monitors. which gave him an artistic flair. vard in 1983, I wrote to Sanka- 10. Station. cording to an oral tradition he 22. (a) Madras University; Sankaran was the grandson of ran to ask him to write some- 11. St. Mary’s Church. had heard, just before dying, (b) Chennai Express. Veena Dhanammal. thing I might include in a spec- 12. (a) Madras Regiment; (b) Tyagaraja requested a large 23. (a) Bommalattam; (b) Cho S. He took me directly to T.S. trum of voices of Madrasis on Wellington. amount of salt be put in the Ramaswamy. Parthasarathy when I told him I grave in which his body was to Tyagaraja. Sankaran responded 13. Dayanidhi Maran. wanted to work on translating by writing a letter conveying his 24. (a) A.R. Rahman; be buried. In the morning, 14. Gaudiya Math Road. (b) Vanessa Mae. Tyagaraja’s lyrics. That was the Sankaran took me to the Kaveri appreciation of Tyagaraja’s con- 15. Saracen (Indo-Saracenic beginning of a series of intro- tributions. He stressed the ways 25. (a) Cholamandalam; river, and we walked down architecture). (b) Coromandel. ductions he gave me which stone stairs to bathe, with little Tyagaraja was a composer-saint 8 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2013

G The twelfth in a series of profiles by V. RAMNARAYAN of cricketers who may have made an all-time Madras* squad.

Many left-handed batsmen all the matches, as he did in the Tests and ODIs. In Test have served Tamil Nadu cricket first division league as well. He matches, his 96 against New splendidly. Among post-War A most gifted received the Tamil Nadu Sports Zealand at home was his best players, A.G. Milkha Singh, Journalists’ Collegiate Cricketer performance. Abdul Jabbar, W.V. Raman, R. of the Year award. For Tamil Nadu, Raman had Madhavan, S. Sharath, and S. The following season began an excellent record, with a Sriram have been some of the left-hander triple century and double hun- on a disappointing note for State’s successful southpaws in His was a striking presence at Raman the spinner as he failed dreds in the national champion- the middle order, while P. the crease and I, for one, ad- to take a wicket on a raging ship. An imposing batsman, his Ramesh and S. Ramesh were mired his erect batsmanship, turner at Salem against cover driving was exquisite, and extremely talented openers. though disappointed that he did Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. a crisis or a bad wicket tended Though each of these batsmen not quite fulfil his potential. His selection as a member of the to bring out the best in him. He served the team well in his time, Still, he is my choice in this list South Zone squad to oppose was one of the better batsmen Sridharan Sharath has been the of all-time great contributors to England at Hyderabad was produced by Indian cricket, but highest rungetter for Tamil Tamil Nadu cricket. roundly criticised. A selector – perhaps lacked the steel of less Nadu to date. Another left- Like a few other successful who developed cold feet over gifted batsmen who worked on hander to amass runs for Tamil batsmen in India, Woorkheri what he believed had been a their craft harder. He was also a Nadu was Robin Singh, who fits Venkata Raman (born in 1965) poor choice – even allegedly good close-in fielder, who, at however, into the all-rounder started out as a spin bowler who advised Raman to skip the the international level, pa- category. could bat attractively, but in match citing health reasons. trolled the outfield most of the While trying to pick a single time became a specialist bats- W.V. Raman. Luckily, wiser counsel by friends time. Had he continued to bowl middle order batsman from this man while his left-arm spin fell and well-wishers prevailed and well at the highest level, he Nagarajan was an umpire offici- list, I zoomed in first on Sharath away. This recurring theme of the young left arm spinner took would have probably played ating in Madras cricket in the and Raman (reluctantly leaving bowlers-turned-batsmen is of- 5 for 59 and 2 for 39 in the much more international 1960s and 70s, a familiar figure out the others, though every ten the subject of speculation in match. He also played two cricket. with his solar topee and khaki one of them was an excellent cricket conversations, with no stroke-filled cameos to establish After his first class career, trousers, a mild-mannered, batsman), based not only on the light of wisdom dawning at the his batting credentials. Raman has remained involved non-controversial figure. And, runs they scored but also on the end of the mysterious tunnel to By the time the 1987-1988 in the game as a much sought- impact they had on their team’s solve one of Indian cricket’s en- like everyone born within a ten- after coach. He is now back as mile radius of the Parthasarathy season unfolded, Raman’s fortunes. Unfortunately, during riddles. Strangely, claims for a place in the Indian coach of the Tamil Nadu team Sharath’s progress was impeded Raman was already showing Temple in the teeming residen- after a hiatus during which he tial neighbourhood of team were being taken seriously by a major injury sustained in a signs of diminishing bowling by the national selectors. He coached Bengal, among other road accident, and though he prowess at the first class level Triplicane within hailing dis- roles. tance of the , acquitted himself with much soldiered on bravely, scoring even as he was collecting a bag- credit in the one-day inter- * Madras Province/State/Tamil Nadu. prolifically for Tamil Nadu, he ful of wickets against two tour- Raman grew up throwing or hit- ting a tennis ball with his mates nationals against the touring never managed to convince the ing sides – England and West West Indies and made a most Answers to Quiz national selectors, perhaps be- on Big Street or on the beach. Indies. Yet, when he entered impressive Test debut at 1. Microsoft agreeing to buy cause there was a question mark international cricket, he made In 1982, Raman was nomi- nated School Cricketer of the Chepauk, when he made 83, Nokia’s handset business for $7.2 against his fitness. Raman, on an impression as a batsman batting at No. 3. India had a billion; 2. Tokyo; 3. Vincent van the other hand, grabbed his op- rather than a spinner. Year, playing for Hindu Higher Secondary School. He was jun- young captain in Ravi Shastri, a Gogh; 4. Adolf Hitler; 5. He is the portunities at vital periods in his Genes and environment shrewd leader, who believed in new President of the International career to win their nod and, in probably had a hand in the de- ior to schoolboy prodigy L Olympic Committee; 6. Radek Sivaramakrishnan of Vidya his young team and backed fact, made an impressive Test velopment of this brilliant them to the hilt. It was the Test Stepanek; 7. Voyager 1; 8. They debut against the West Indies. cricketer. Raman’s father Mandir, and they both played a were given death sentences for the stellar role in the rising fortunes in which Nari Hirwani made a brutal gang rape and murder of a of Grand Prix Cricket Club, a startling world record Test de- medical student in December 2012; A big ‘Thank You’ to 7 of you talented young league side. but, taking 16 West Indies 9. $100bn (£65bn); 10. Chhattis- We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.8.13 and 15.9.13, The next season saw Raman’s wickets. garh. added to the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, Madras Musings, have evolution into a first class crick- Raman’s other outstanding * * * already received. We thank all of them for their support for the causes Chennai eter knocking on the doors of batting feat in international 11. Halda Junction; 12. Heritage espouses. cricket was his hundred against Shobhan Babu; 13. J.P. Chandra- Test cricket, when he took 5 babu; 14. ; 15. – Chennai Heritage South Africa when India toured wickets against the touring West Royal; 16. Inside IIT; 17. Nandan, Rs. 100: Sarasa David, H.Ramani, K.P. Pradeep that country for the first time. Rs. 200: R.Vaidyanathan Indies team, playing for India son of Mani Ratnam and Suha- Rs. 400: TK.Srinivas Chari, S. Dwarahanathan Under-22. He made his debut in He was a reserve player or shini; 18. St. Thomas Mount; 19. Rs. 1000: Electro Charitable Trust Ranji Trophy and bowled well in twelfth man for many, many Vodka; 20. V.V. Giri.

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