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Vol. XXI No. 11 MUSINGS September 16-30, 2011 Marina’s elevated road plans now abandoned

You design whatever you want and however you want, but you know that – But is beach permanently safe? anyway I’m going to change it a hundred times...! he Govern- other places, some nowhere Tment has informed the near the coast. Secondly, it in- Building blocks High Court of Madras that it volved work being done at en- Buildings are a slightly worried lot has dropped the idea of build- vironmental hotspots such as these days. ing an elevated road along the the Theosophical Society, the Understandable. . The project and the beach- Picture this. had faced strong protests from front, the last also being the You were created, even launched, as a symbol, a monument, to environmental activists and the nesting spot of the Olive Ridley the majesty and gravitas of au- fisherfolk right from inception. turtles. Thirdly, there was the thority. The decision to drop it has, question of whether the whole Then, suddenly, your role gets re- therefore, been widely wel- project would finally play into written. comed. But all this does not in the hands of the real estate You are now a supermarket. any way ensure that our coast- lobby, which would begin look- Bizarre? line, certainly among the most ing at development along the And rather upsetting? beautiful parts of our city, is in seafront, a long cherished idea “Can you blame us?” demands a anyway secure from develop- of its members. And, finally, gorgeous, yellowing, days-of- ments of a similar nature that there was the question of the the-Raj structure. “I was once a dangerously-close-to-Royalty may be thought of in future. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) habitat – and now I’m a large, The project, if it had been laws which severely restrict any ungainly, apartment block. I’m implemented, would have been (Continued on page 6) One of the two trees that was saved in by two tree-loving women. confused. Who am I?” another of those schemes that “Stop whining,” says a Road. “I are frequently thought of by went from ‘Lady Lord Avenue’ Government agencies in com- to ‘Appalam Depot Street’ plete conflict with Nature. overnight. Do you know what Chipko at Nandanam Envisaged as a four-lane high- that did to my psyche?” “Well, things change,” you offer, way, it was to begin with a ramp t dawned just like any other cut two 50-year-old trees on our went to support the two feeling it’s time you stood up from near the Lighthouse, pro- Iday. The koyals nesting in the street – to make way for a women. In fact, one of our for your species. “Time ceed along San Thomé, Fore- tree next door cooed endlessly, stormwater drain, the men neighbours asked the two marches on, and...” shore Estate, cut across the urging the world to wake up and stated. The two women argued women to move away and let “We understand change, as in Adyar Estuary (where a steel get on with life. Squirrels let out that the path of the drain could the men get on with their work! ‘Change’ with a capital ‘C’.” bridge named the Signature startled little squeaks and be curved around the tree. Why When I came back from The building sighs, “It’s the Bridge would provide the nec- leaped restlessly from one cut two lovely, full-grown trees? work that day I saw the mother overnight-quick-change that essary connection), cross the branch to another with their The men insisted that they had and daughter sitting by the gate throws us. And you guys do Theosophical Society, run par- that. Very restless, you are tails in the air. Dogs, tired after orders to cut the trees and they of our building. When I asked ....as a species. Always search- allel to Elliot’s Beach and, a busy night, curled up for a would do so. Even as they ar- them why, they told me the en- ing, seeking....” finally, connect with the East snooze under the shade of the tire story. I promised to support “Chopping, changing,” the Road Coast Road at . 50-year-old tree, oblivious of them in case the men came gloomily adds his bit. The entire distance would have the call of the koyals. back again. “With the operative word being been 9.7 km and it would have Everyone went on with his G by Deepa Ravi And they did. ‘Chop’,” the building been a part of the circular trans- routine. Sleepy kids left for This time, fortunately, on a mumbles, bitterly. portation corridors that have school. Office-goers grumbled Saturday morning – when we “What next?” these much-tried been planned to ease traffic their way to work. gued, one large branch of the were all at home. Once again, souls ask, sarcastically. “An old congestion in the city. forced into mall- And then it happened. tree collapsed under the tyr- the two – mother and daughter hood?” While ostensibly meant to A brood of lungi-clad men anny of the saw. The two – were the first to get down and When one person’s ‘Change Fest’ provide for smooth vehicular came with saws and started women persisted, argued, protest. The men were prepared means another person’s ideas flow (read, cars only), the hacking branches of the tree. screamed, raved and ranted. Fi- for them. They quickly tied being turned inside out, things project raised several questions. My neighbour upstairs saw this nally, the men gave up and ropes around the tree and were suffer. Firstly, it cut off the fishing happening – as did all the went away threatening to come all set to totally uproot the trees And, inevitably, someone pays.... community’s access to the sea neighbours around. She, along with greater force some other forcibly. The mother went and sometimes heavily. and there were rumours that with her daughter, went and day. Surprisingly, not a single Ranjitha Ashok they would be relocated to protested. They were there to person from the neighbourhood (Continued on page 3) CMYK 2 September 16-30, 2011 Growing An obstacle course faced by awareness of the remover of obstacles

is the season of festi- towards the sea. Those who after several cups of tea and a City’s past ’T vals and among the first are conveying him to the wa- desultory holding up of ban- to be worshipped is the el- ters shout, dance and some- ners, everyone suddenly

nd ephant-headed deity who re- times also indulge in rather in- galvanised into action. The as /Week that lasted from August 2 to moves obstacles. Like any el- appropriate and unacceptable media, particularly the TV th WSeptember 10 a success? With about 150 events, a few ement of life that wishes to gestures especially when they cameras, were on their way. thousand participating, and plenty of Press coverage getting many remain au courant, worship- espy a woman driver in the As the cameras rolled, fierce more to talk about the occasion, it certainly could be considered a ping this god has changed traffic. For some reason, some expressions were used, slo- success. Particularly noteworthy, and reflecting wider recognition, with the times. And The Man of the spirited worshippers gans shouted and chests was that some of the city’s newspapers and magazines had special from Madras Musings is left have chosen to interpret or beaten. The police, rather features or supplements and these – and some other publications wondering if all change is for misinterpret this festival as a like the time when the el- as well – hosted full page ads wishing Madras that is Chennai a the good, especially with re- variant of another one, usually ephant-headed god was very happy birthday. , in fact, devoted a spect to this divine being and celebrated in the North with wending His way to sea, kept the mass-based adulation He colours. So they throw colour a watchful eye on the pro- page every day during the Week to reports of events. All this was enjoys. powders as well, much to their ceedings. another sign of success. MMM lamented a year own amusement and the dis- Someone somewhere ap- As was another welcome feature, the Coordinators of Madras ago on how public worship of comfiture of passers-by. And peared to have broken some Week had for some time been wondering whether there was this Lord tends to happen at at times, rival organisers in- little known law and then all enough spontaneity of what was essentially meant to be a volun- the most inconvenient loca- dulge in a race to the sea, with mayhem broke loose. Police tary celebration, or whether many of the events took place only in tions – busy traffic intersec- vehicles attempting to over- vans appeared and everyone response to appeals from the Coordinators. This year the happy tions, narrow street corners, take each other in a reckless courted arrest. The traffic feature was that several events were organised without the Coordi- and near hospitals and dash to the finish (all puns which had slowed down con- nators even being aware of them. The Yacht Club, College of schools. And before anyone fully intended). siderably practically ground Engineering alumni, the School of Architecture (Anna Univer- pounces on MMM and says Almost all the deities to a halt. As the faithfuls to that he is elitist as he is pre- MMM noticed sported a uni- the cause boarded the police sity), the Government Museum, the , pared to sacrifice tradition formly serene expression. vans, MMM noticed all of Women and Children’s Hospital and the Regional Eye Institute, for the sake of traffic move- MMM imagined that they were them laughing and joking. IIT Madras, the , the Everwin School in ment, let him assure one and Some even waved to the TV Kolathur and the SOS Village in were among those all that public worship of this crew who were busy filming who, on their own, organised popular exhibitions, walks and talks. deity is not all that much of a SHORT ’N’ the event. And so, that was If this spontaneous participation is a sign of things to come, we tradition and is just about that. Something ventured, would think that Madras Week is a period that is getting embed- 100 years old, a little younger SNAPPY something done. Tomorrow ded in the minds of people and will in future generate its own in fact than the automobile. is another day – and yet an- steam. But that is really not the fo- other protest perhaps. cus of what MMM has to say. A couple of days later Walks too were many more in number this year and were, after looking forward to disturbance- (“Get on with it then,” mut- free peace at the bottom of the MMM was driving by and no- quizzes, the most popular programmes. If only more volunteers ters the Chief impatiently.) sea. ticed a few posters, all of them Once the pooja is over thanking the top leadership in and the loudspeakers have the State for having “re- G The Editor looks back been silenced, the task that Off with their heads scinded the capital punish- remains is the disposal of the he beach is where every- ment” awarded by the Court. on Madras Day/Week image, which is traditionally Tthing appears to be hap- Heaven knows where such done in a waterbody. Now pening these days and certainly optimism came from, for the that most lakes in the city you will notice from these writ- State Assembly had only from different parts of the city came forward to be trained on lead- have become housing colo- ings that The Man from Madras adopted a resolution appeal- ing walking groups and keeping them interested in history, Madras nies that flood during the Musings has been quite fre- ing reconsideration of rejec- Week can develop into a month of walks; there is so much of rains, and the rivers are all quenting the Marina. Never a tion of clemency petition.. If Madras that’s unexplored by all those interested in history. We gutters in which no religious- dull moment on the seafront is only life was as simple as all are sure that those already leading walks will be only too glad to minded person would think what MMM finds. One day you that these protesters and train newcomers. There has been some comment that charging a of immersing a much-loved find a group of protesters, er ... poster designers imagine it to idol, the only place left is the protesting against the capital be. fee was “restricting” participation in some walks. Participation is sea. And that automatically punishment awarded to a trio in no way restricted, but longer walks need vans and with these implies that every image has who are convicts in the assassi- Street for intellectuals walks throwing in breakfast, the fee charged just about covers these to be brought to the Marina nation of a popular national expenses. That the charge has not proved restrictive could be seen on an appointed day and at leader several years ago. And he Chief has often stated from the fact that more people took part in a couple of these long an appointed hour. Or, as is then a few days later there was Tthat most institutions of ‘walks’ than in any ‘free’ walk. The venue needs to be interesting conveniently interpreted, the this protest against the protest modern India have emerged and the storyteller needs to be able to build on that interest for immersion can happen any that protested against the from this city of ours, thereby walks to be successful, whether there is a fee or not. One other time on the appointed day. awarding of capital punish- giving it a kind of intellectual aura that other cities can only aspect of the walks this year was the need for police permissions. And so, the weary police ment. Go hang yourself ap- assembles on the Marina to peared to be the motto of the aim for in vain. The Man from With many more such walks likely in the future, it would be nice if keep a watchful eye on the latter group. Madras Musings vaguely con- the police could make permission-granting for heritage walks an immersion proceedings. While the motives behind curred with this. But this across-the-table exercise rather than one that involves due process From somewhere around the two protests appeared to be rather tepid acceptance was of red tape. The police officers and men who accompanied some of noon, the idols are brought diametrically opposed to each greatly reinforced when these walks were among the most interested participants and to the beach. As each other, the modus operandi was MMM saw this signboard on couldn’t believe how much this city had to offer; we’re sure, they’d organiser thinks that he/she/ identical, MMM noticed. Both a historic thoroughfare that gladly support the case for such walks and encourage instant it has to put up the biggest involved the congregation of once housed the Mint. Now permissions. image possible, all of them the followers of the respective where else can you expect have to be brought in trucks views, complete with placards such feast of reason and flow There has also been some concern expressed by a few that there of soul? are too many programmes and that clashes of times have depleted for immersion. The carbon bearing slogans in support of footprint of this process their respective stances. Then, audiences. We would think more the merrier, particularly if they apart, there are several other – MMM are distributed all over town instead of in a central locality. obstacles. Firstly, the Programmes in different parts of a large city would enable people flyovers offer considerable in each of these parts to participate in locally arranged events resistance. Most of the instead of having to travel long distances to a core area. For trucks have a difficult time instance, the day-long programmes at Hotel Green Park, negotiating the space under , had large audiences – mainly comprising residents of the flyover and at times there the area and its surroundings. The secret of success of programmes is no option but to partially outside the centre of the city lies in the organisers encouraging damage the deity to allow for passage. local audience participation, like Namma and Then there are the other Times do. In fact, more programmes locally supported are what road-users who, unfortu- Madras Day/Week should be generating in the years to come. nately, have to wait while the Lord moves in stately fashion (Continued on page 8) September 16-30, 2011 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

tion should actually be called skills are viewed by the majority the testimony of “spite.” of local students as necessary only for job-oriented purposes. Philip Mulley Though they know that English [email protected] Prakriti Foundation presents The is a world language, they prefer Park’s New Festival 2011: Adyar Poonga to think in the vernacular September 21: Maya Krishna Rao Tamil. Hence, endeavouring to refer to your article on the is one of the very few woman teach students to ‘think in Adyar Poonga (MM, August stand-up comedians in India (at I English’ is almost impossible. the Museum Theatre). 1st). School students along with There exist in Chennai in- September 22: Choreographer teachers are regularly visiting Delhi example The proposal was received with numerable small or big ‘Spoken Parijat Desai integrates Indian the Poonga and guided by our dance (at the Museum Theatre). much incredulity and, hence, English’ institutes. They impart do not know why Chennai, officials. Tidal influx from estu- September 23: 15 rappers get to- was not followed up. However, only ‘functional’ language skills, instead of following the bad ary has facilitated and influx gether as DNOAX (Desi Num- I he is said to have built an ex- with emphasis on grammar and example of Bengaluru, does not being recorded (sic). Day to day ber One Artistes X) making Hip perimental arch in his garden at writing – with absolutely no ap- follow New Delhi where the maintenance work is carried Hop a universal phenomenon (at Srirangapatna. de Havilland preciation of the vast literature the Park). Metro stations do not hide the out. Progress of restoration is played a significant role in the in English – and on learning for September 24: Sandra has a very numerous heritage buildings being monitored. Your report British defeat of Tipu Sultan in learning’s sake. This is due to personal dialogue with (MM, September 1st) and are was biased. 1799. the reason that, daily, the stu- Rabindranath Thakur’s work, in also done beautifully in the Dr. V. Kalaiarasan dents think and talk in their part in the form of dance, in part same sandstone blending with de Havilland got married in as text and in part as video (at 1808. His wife Elizabeth died in Project Officer mother tongues, often with the surroundings – in fact, it is Adyar Poonga the Museum Theatre). 1816 at the early age of 35 and crudity. Teaching them to think difficult to identify them as Chennai 600 028 in English is an utter waste of September 25: Best of Short and is buried in the St. George’s Ca- Sweet – A collection of six Metro Stations in Delhi. Per- Editor’s Note: Our story time. haps, the indefatigable Delhi thedral Cemetery, Madras, stated what you confirm, 10-minute plays (at the Museum K. Karunanidhi Theatre). Metro Chief, Sridharan, the which was actually developed namely that only groups of by Havilland himself. Her me- ‘Cuddalore Illam’ Till September 21: Exhibition of New Delhi Municipal Corpora- school children are allowed. Bibliophila Inc paintings by Apet Pramod tion, the Urban Arts Commis- morial eptipah poignantly Our question, ‘Why not the Old No.8, New No.3 states: “... the afflicted husband Mahadev of Maharashtra (at sion and others are responsible public?’ remains unanswered. Link Street Ayya Art Galleries). for this. Even the flyovers are who was forming it for public We talked of stories circulat- Chennai 600 085 Till September 23: Celebrations, an use submitted with pious rever- better done in Delhi than in ing about suppliers’ bills being Missing building exhibition of paintings by Selva Chennai. The roadside eateries ence to the inscrutable ways of unpaid. Have these all been Senthil Kumar, who is deeply too can be pushed into pre-fab- Providence which thus made paid? There is no mention of any are the buildings of drawn to the folk arts and rural ricated kiosk’s as in Delhi. him her protector in death as in this in your letter. MChennai that have found culture of Southern India. In Chennai Heritage should life” (italics mine). We are glad to have your as- mention in Madras Musings as ‘Celebration’ he has captured the sensitise the Administration on Maj. T. Fiott de Havilland warranting conservation. But I joy that he personally experi- surance that “day-to-day main- ences every time he sees the such matters during ‘Madras is said to have lived in the build- tenance work” is being carried find it surprising that the Poikaal Kudirai dance, in which Week/Month’. ing which existed on the site of out, but we have seen little of building that houses P.S. the dancer, made up like a horse what became the Madras that. We hope the eagle has got Higher Secondary School, at and standing on stilts trots, sways Dr. G. Sundaram, IAS (RTD) Record Office. He called his 215, R.K. Mutt Road, and moves regally (at Art & A-601, Dugar Apartments its wings back. And we are not Soul, ECR). Keshav Perumalpuram house Retreat. ‘Retreat’ told by you what is happening Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004, Till September 25: Dusshera Fes- indeed it was, because the Rail- to the Rs.60 crore unspent. which is nearly 90 years old and tival. Folk performers from Chennai 600 028 ways had not till then come into exuding old-world charm, has existence in this neigh- Waste of time not found a place in the list. I Bellary will perform Nagari ‘Most original man’ bourhood. After his wife’s would request you to bestow Vadhya and Nandi Kollu. totally agree with the Nandikollu Kunita, a religious death, he advertised offering its consideration on this. landmark called Havill- Iopinion expressed by Reader dance, is practised usually by the and Arch once existed at sale in the Madras Courier in A. Raman (MM, August 1st). followers of the Veerashaiva A 1819. G.S. Subramanian Srirangapatna (). Recently, I was employed as an 68/2, Alamelu Aparts community. It is a part of a vic- This was the spot from where de He has been described as the English language trainer and T.S.V. Koil Street tory march, performed while Havilland wanted to build a “most original man of his time.” resource person at an NGO in Mylapore holding the ‘nandi kolu’ aloft. bridge across River Cauvery. Only Rev. Westcott’s observa- . English language Chennai 600 004 Nagari vadhya is an old percus- sion instrument. Lambani women in tradi- tional costumes will be at work and will sell their crafts. And the CHIPKO AT NANDANAM heritage houses will showcase Golu (at DakshinaChitra). Till September 30: The Faces of (Continued from page 1) sight! The mother had the rope men called the police who came started to dig around our trees! Chennai, an exhibition by French held on to the ropes and refused around her waist and was liter- and admonished us for ob- There was no more talk of cut- photographer and co-founder of to allow the men to cut the ally being manhandled. At this structing their work. We stood ting the trees. The work is now Trikaya Photos, Yannick trees. This was when the rest of point we all rushed to the spot our ground and said that we almost over and our trees stand Cormier. The exhibition is the us heard the commotion and and the men had to back off. A wanted a chance to appeal and proud and tall. The koyals, the result of a three-week-long work- shop with a group of French rushed down. It was a ghastly heated argument ensued. The save the lives of our trees. squirrels, the crows, the chame- When the police and the men leons and the entire ecosystem people residing in Chennai and saw that we had all joined force built around the two trees con- highlights their perceptions of and they did not have much to tinue to thrive. the city and its people. defend themselves with, they I salute the courage of the Till September 30: Nature and Be- CHENNAI HERITAGE yond, art exhibition by K. backed off! mother and daughter who had No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014 Kalaiselvan featuring his recent The men went away grum- the gumption to stand their abstract works done in oil and I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / bling that it was just a handful ground against those men and acrylic on canvas. There will be I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it of us protesting and not letting the neighbours who later sup- about 30 works on display (at hereafter. them do their work. To prove ported them in this initiative. It DakshinaChitra). Till September 30: Painting exhi- G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One them wrong we printed an ap- certainly goes to prove that bition by Yogesh Kasera (at hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to when we work together as a peal and collected signatures Apparao Galleries). Madras Musings for the year 2011-12. community, a lot of good can from all the houses in the vicin- Till September 30: Indulgence – An ity. Around 50 of our come out of it. G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a better city Deepa Ravi Installation (at Apparao Galler- that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional neighbours gladly signed the pe- ies). Rs...... tition. This was then filed in (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me on your court and we got a legal stay or- MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB mailing list. der on the cutting of the trees. To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen Name : ...... Meanwhile, we also contacted Shobha Menon of Nizhal who interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests Address: ...... advised us on what to do next from many well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and ...... and gave us the right contacts. abroad who receive their postal copies very late – for an online It really helped. edition. Madras Musings is now on the web at www.madras musings.com Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas postage alone payable A few days later, the men re- THE EDITOR to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. sumed work, this time they 4 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2011 September 16-30, 2011 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

G FROM THE MADRAS WEEK BLOGS Walks can teach Through the eyes us a lot of children alking with a camera on the road is fun. Particularly if those an we have a Walk of the haunted houses of Adyar? asks Binita with cameras are children. Sashi. Haunted houses of Adyar? I hadn’t heard of them until a W Walking through history C When I thought of a photowalk exclusively for children last year daily newspaper published a feature on some of them. Deep inside the sprawling, hidden estates of Adyar are dilapidated bungalows which through YOCee, I wasn’t sure if the children would walk at least half hennai Heritage’s first heritage walk this year had S. Anwar from Mohan asking if the tour was on. Well, after the downpours appear to be surviving in a different time, but are some of them really a kilometre. But what we saw and experienced was completely differ- Cleading 35 of us down on the Wallajah Trail. It was during the ‘Justice Party Walk’ (2008?) and ‘George Town by Night’ haunted? ent. They walked two kilometres just enjoying and shooting the fascinating and we covered the Palace, the gates posts of tour (2010), this was a mere drizzle and so I said, of course, we were Stories are key to a successful Walk and we may have to do some scenes. They forgot to break for their snacks and even water! the Palace which are at the TNCA entrance, the Mohammedan going ahead. spadework before an enterprising person launches this Walk. This encouraged us to continue the photowalks this year too. Uma Vangal teaches film students at the L.V. Prasad Academy in Pictures show some children waiting expectantly as a little girl gets her fingers N. Ramaswamy, who is a regular with Chennai Photowalks, was Library, the Triplicane Police Station (which was the old Langar At 6.30, was at its galeej and galabai worst, but . She has lived in . Now, she says she would like thoroughly soiled on the potter’s wheel (left) and a resource person from game to accompany the children last year for Madras Day and ex- Khana), the Big Mosque, the Anwari mosque, the Shadi Mahal, the those who had registered were all there. Mohan’s walk was a riot. We to launch a Walk which can showcase the Anglo-Indians, their lives, Azeempet Arch, and the Dastagir Sahib Dargah. We tramped through mud and slush to hear him hold forth on the rise DakshinaChitra showing a boy how he can be creative with palm leaves. tended his support this year too. hangouts and all. All she needs is some encouragement. The children who walked along north Madras roads, from wound up at North Mada Street to see the Mylapore Tank, which and fall of the great dream factories. There is a handful of them still These are positive responses following Madras Day 2011. was donated by the Nawabs of Arcot. Breakfast was at Saravana hanging on. To me, though, the growing interest and keenness shown by school Railway Station to the Srinivasa Ramanujan Museum on Bhavan, North Mada Street. It rained cats and dogs, but that did not bother the heritage lovers students this year are food for thought. Springing & ZoomingSomu Chetty 4th Lane had real fun. The fire temple and the cycle The next day it was Mohan Raman’s Kollywood Tour. It had who assembled at the Gymkhana Club at 6.15 am for Chennai The initiatives must come from the people who educate the young rickshaws and a goshala, a home for cows ... they saw a “different rained and rained the previous night and almost the first call was Heritage’s third walk. The tour began at 6.30 am and I was still at minds. in Vadapalani city”, in their words. Curzon’s at 7.20 am. The rest of it had to be rather quick paced. At least three schools in Adyar are said to have Heritage Clubs. For the larger group on Sunday’s walks, there were two big attrac- Serves me right for going overboard on telling the story of Lady With the help of resource people – dance gurus, officers, businessmen tions on Greenway’s Road: Brodie’s Castle and Vasant Vihar of the and the rest – who are long-time residents of the Adyar Willingdon. The walk had its difficult bits. The traffic grew in volume adras Week celebrations at Hotel Green Park, Vadapalani, Krishnamurti Foundation of India (KFI). Dr. Aravind, the outreach neighbourhood, we could create at least half a dozen Walks which this year received quite an overwhelming response. There were programme coordinator at the KFI, guided the group inside the cam- (number and sound) and drowned whatever I was narrating through could last 45 minutes. M the megaphone. Parking the vans in the service lanes was tough. quite a few who had travelled long distances to reach the venue and pus. He spoke about the flora and fauna of the campus, helped them A Walk down Gandhi Nagar’s 4th main road would be fascinating it was only after the clock struck eight that some began to slowly There were piles of shit everywhere… Who says Chennai is tourism if it touched on three aspects – the creation and growth of this ‘Co-op’ identify the trees and the insects, bugs and butterflies! wend their way back home. friendly? colony, the great people who lived here, and the changing face of the The children looked at the street name ‘P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja area. As usual it was the programme for children that set the tone for Salai’ and ‘Greenways Road’ on the nameboards of shops. They were The Mount Road Walk began at the Thomas Munro statue and * * * the evening. Binita and Shrimati of ‘Spring into Reading’ and Gargi puzzled. took in nearly 80 landmark sites, existent and non-existent! ow do you manage 62 people who turn up for a Heritage Walk at of ‘Zoom Kids’, under the ‘Spring and Zoom’ (an activity centre for Posted by Revathi R children) banner made the most of an afternoon, welcoming chil- It was overall more than a mouthful and I was jolly well glad when Hthe Fort, part of which is a high security zone? That was my challenge at the first of two Walks that I contributed dren to experiment and create products using the potter’s wheel and we tumbled into Saravana Bhavan, Mount Road, for a hearty break- to this year’s Madras Day celebrations. palm leaves. They were supported by resource persons from fast. Ideally, Mount Road needs to be cut into five segments and Online registration was turning out to be a ‘running’ online DakshinaChitra. Later, there was a peppy demonstration by the each needs a heritage tour by itself. exchange. When the tally crossed 30, I decided to send formal students on ‘Madras: Then and now’, complete with song, dance and Will Mint Street, the fourth walk, prove as exhausting? applications for permission to the police at the Fort and to the zonal theatre, touching upon aspects such as traditional games and how ACP. They were friendly. children spend their time today compared to those in the past. “Sunday shouldn’t be a problem, you come!” Footnote: The accounts staff in office had a tough time warding In the evening, Chithra Madhavan made a presentation on ‘Lesser Anwar and his ‘walkers’. off those who still wanted to register for the Walks despite our having On Sundays, the car park turns into a mini Chepauk. Over a dozen matches are played on the tar, criss-cross, by young men from George known temples of Chennai – some more’. It’s indeed a shame that announced that the tours were overbooked. Some shouted in anger many of our old temples remain neglected, with inscriptions scraped over the phone, others landed in person to argue it all out and several Town and . The walkers created a new community. As the audio speakers at the Amman temple outside the main Fort or gaudy paint plastered over them. Chithra points this out time and sent me emails. But what was to be done? There was no way that we gate crackled into a song and policewomen in salwars designed huge again, but nothing seems to improve. More spontaneity could accommodate more numbers, both in view of logistics (getting rangolis on the tar, I hoped the spirit of the celebration would seize the Thereafter, Pradeep Chakravarthy made a presentation on how on and off vans takes time) and police permission. security services and help us cross the dry moat. ‘Kodambakkam (Puliyur) was the centre of Madras’. He took a look Posted by Sriram V. It didn’t work that way. Men in safaris will be men who have the at how Madras was organised geographically in the 9th-12th Centu- wanted last word. “You haven’t applied to us so...” ries, what some troublesome local governance issues were and how “But it is Madras Day, these are guests and they have come from...” they were resolved. There is very little about Puliyur in the public fter seven years of playing the catalyst role in putting events “But this is a security zone and you have not applied...” Madras – yesterday “No, we will not go close to the Assembly complex. We will go domain and, based on what Pradeep explained, there is a whole world Atogether in some places for Madras Week, I get the feeling that a out there that needs to be researched. It only shows how little we lot of it is not as spontaneous as it should be. straight to. St. Mary’s...” We’ve had two press conferences – one in June to announce the It took 20 minutes to negotiate quietly. In the end, the Man in know about our own local history. celebration dates and call for events, and the second a week ahead of and today Safari said OK and he sent his Constable in Safari and the Fort Station Posted by Sashi Nair Some of the children at Vasant Vihar. Madras Week to announce the specifics. What if we, the catalysts or anditha Krishna of the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation SI in Khaki to be with us, lest we strayed. coordinators, did not convene the press meets – would we then have We didn’t. Norganised not one but two exhibitions for Madras Week this Posted by Vincent D’Souza had as many ‘celebrations’ of the city or events that are there now? I year. One was a display of paintings on Madras by A. Ananda Kumar, Talking through Madras Week feel ‘no’. a young artist, and the other a display of some splendid photographs People, whether they are individuals, heading schools, colleges or did not make it to the Madras Week talk by R. Mohan at the of Madras and its environs in the early 1900s taken by the late M.K. I, however, enjoyed the journey, for the lady had with her a fund of institutions, have to be pushed a bit to get events off the starting block. Residency Towers. I was told that the talk was fantastic and the Rangaswamy Aiyangar. One was an exhibition of the past seen in the does best – paint. As he wielded his brush, his eyes were focussed on I stories that kept us entertained while we searched for the house. Now There’s only one school, Asan, that seems to have earmarked Madras spread put out by the hotel lavish in the extreme. But the turnout, it past, the other an exhibition of the past seen in the present. an old building on the campus, what was once the residence of Sir we know where Mohan gets his talent. A raconteuse as mother and a Day and Madras Week in its calendar. So, why is the spontaneity seems, was rather disappointing. I wonder why. Is horse-racing, once M.K. Rangaswamy Aiyangar was a prolific writer and photogra- C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar. One exhibition was behind him; he was look- top ranking lawyer as father make for a deadly combination. missing? Does love of your city not amount to too much, or doesn’t the King of Sports, of no interest to heritage buffs? heritage rank high? pher. Born in 1886 in , he was a scholar of art, culture, ing to the next. * * * * * * So, how do we get more people to celebrate the founding of a city? religion and music, and wrote many articles on these subjects which Posted by Sashi Nair At the Alumni Club, Chithra Madhavan and I judged presenta- When the Madras University’s Music Department celebrated To the best of my knowledge, Chennai is perhaps the only city in India were published in leading dailies like , Indian Express and tions made by school teams in a contest organised by Chennai Heri- Madras Day, their largest room proved an oven-like space into which to have such a week-long celebration bracketing its birthday. There various periodicals of his time. tage and steered by Sushi Nataraj. These children who had been on were packed in students, faculty and visitors. At one stage I thought are no clear-cut answers, but I would say the best way is to instil the Aiyangar was an eminent photographer and, as asserted by heritage tours were guided by the famous five of Chennai Heritage, idea in the minds of schoolchildren in schools so that when they grow both Muthiah and Sarada were going to faint. But all was well. The Nanditha, he will be remembered in particular for his photographs of around the beach and Park Town. And Chithra had taken them to up they realise the value of heritage and protecting it. former, it appears, had merely shut his eyes to catch 40 winks and temples. ‘Tirumala to Tillai’, an exhibition of his pictures, was held DakshinaChitra. The presentations were of varying quality and I was The other point is that over the years we’ve been having the same Sarada was trying to locate a pen she had dropped. The Chief spoke in Madras, and Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh in his hey- rather disappointed that Park Town, my favourite route, was given people speaking at various forums. We need many others who can on the history of the University, I spoke on the life of C. Saraswathi day. short shrift by almost all the teams. This was noticed by Muthiah as speak or make presentations on a variety of other subjects connected Bai and Swarnamalya spoke on Javalis associated with Madras, an with the city. Where are the Tamil speakers like Gnani Sankaran, Aiyangar’s son, the well, for he said as much in his prize distribution speech. The best excellent presentation. Somewhere in his speech Muthiah hoped that Badri Seshadri or Ashokamitran? I think some of the older speakers late R. Madhavan, team was Bhaktavatsalam Vidyashram, both simplicity in presenta- the University would get new speakers for next year (he and I have must make way for new and younger ones. One new speaker, however, who retired from The tion and a spirited dance performance getting them big marks. Sec- done our bit for 5 years running). I second that, especially if the ven- failed to live up to expectations. Rather than showing hundreds of Hindu, gifted his ond was Children’s Garden School for managing to put together a tilation is going to be like the Black Hole of Calcutta. pictures in his collection, he decided to get teachers of the school father’s collection of dance on Chennai AND presenting it despite a complete breakdown where he spoke and to demonstrate how they took history classes. His * * * negatives and prints to of the audio system. Third was Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School. larger message was to get schoolchildren out of the classrooms, a mes- Mohan Raman’s talk on ‘Three Women Directors of Chennai’ – the C.P. Ramaswami * * * sage that we have often heard, and the point was not lost. But if he had T.P. Rajalakshmi, Bhanumathi and Savithri – had a huge turnout at Aiyar Foundation In the evening, we had Geeta Doctor in conversation with artist enough pictures to show or stories to tell it might have been much the Savera, none of whom felt he had gone on way beyond the time. Library. Viswanathan and Ashwin Rajagopal of Ashwitha Art Gallery at the better. (EDITOR’S NOTE: We know of a couple of new speakers and Mohan has the knack of exceeding time, yet managing to keep his At the paintings ex- Park Sheraton. The food was great as was the discussion. Cakes and refreshingly new programmes that, unfortunately, had very small audience. audiences.) hibition, I was pleased canapes vanished in seconds as the hotel staff looked on in stunned After the talk, I was asked by Mohan to drop his mother home. A Posted by Sashi Nair to see Ananda Kumar disbelief. But I did not then realise that retribution was just around few turns around Mandaveli and we realised that we were hopelessly immersed in what he the corner. A famous MKR photograph. Young Ananda Kumar paints even as he exhibits. lost, with her sense of direction being very close to mine. Sarada and (Continued on page 8) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2011 Publicising films,

(Current Affairs questions are from the period August 16th to then and now 31st. Questions 11 to 20 pertain y first exposure to village lekha. It was also one of the through which new movies to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) Mlife was at the age of seven mostly highly publicised movies have been promoted. While 1. Name the Brazilian football when I went to stay with an till then, various media being paid advertisements are com- legend who is to coach the Iraqi uncle, who was an Assistant used. Vasan is considered the mon, plenty of stories about a Kamal Hasan. national team. Station Master at a small sta- father of the giant film hoard- movie and its stars began ap- 2. Name the petroleum giant that tion near Gooty on the ings on Mount Road, with pearing in the media with the fighting the unauthorised DVD has signed an agreement with menace. Russia to explore for oil in the Bombay-Madras route. It was which Madras was associated muhurat of a movie, generating also my first exposure to a ‘tour- for a long time. free editorial publicity. Gossip Local cable TV channels, Arctic Ocean in a deal that could featuring local news and events, grow to $500 billion over time. ing talkie’ where, under a Apart from experimenting about the leading pair and tid- are very popular in the districts/ 3. Name the hurricane that thatched shed, the villagers saw with vertical posters for his bits about happenings on and devastated parts of the Carib- old movies sitting on rickety movie Gumasthavin Penn, off the shooting floor were used mofussil areas across the coun- bean, the US East Coast and chairs or simply lying on the Vasan also used direct mailing for this purpose. Sometimes try. The actor entered into a Atlantic Canada a few weeks ago. ground in front of the screen. campaign for his movie Sansar. even a controversy between the deal with several cable opera- 4. Which iconic organisation’s There were two shows every For the film Avvaiyar he printed producer and director or a tors in Tamil Nadu, providing new CEO is Tim Cook, who took evening and every Friday the special invitation cards with director and the stars was them a 30-minute capsule of a over after its founder-CEO film was changed. highlights of the film and dis- passed on to newspapers and special programme. The capsule stepped down? The publicity for the new tributed them door to door; ac- magazines to keep the movie in featured the highlights, selected 5. How did the Strelley Pool rock film started a few days before companied by a band. It was the news. sequences, songs etc. at the end formation in Western Australia release. A bullock cart or a jutka like an invitation to a wedding More recently, with the ad- of which he would appear on make paleontological news pasted over with posters of the and he ensured that the novel vent of music cassettes, an au- the screen, appealing to the au- recently? film would move slowly around idea was written about in all dio launch of the film (tape/ dience to see Virumandi in regu- 6. Which famous century-old the streets of all the villages print media, which, of course, CDs containing the songs of the lar theatres and not on a DVD, waterway, as part of a $5.25 bil- if they really wanted to enjoy lion project, is to be expanded in nearby. The driver of the cart film) held a couple of weeks/ would make announcements months before the actual re- the visual experience of the order to double the movement of G goods through it? through a portable public ad- by lease of the film at a glittering movie. He supplied such free capsules to the cable operators 7. Google’s largest acquisition, dress system and an assistant R.V. Rajan* function has become the valued at $12.5 billion, happened would distribute leaflets on the launching pad and a regular every week for a fixed period. recently. What did it take over? new film to passers-by and publicity effort for the movie to The cable operators were de- 8. Tony Tan Keng Yam and houses along the way. If the generated a lot of interest in the follow. Between the audio lighted to get a free programme Yoshihiko Noda are the new touring talkie could afford it, a movie. launch and actual release, sto- and would telecast it several President and Prime Minister of band would also accompany the Playing the songs of a film ries about the making of the times during the week, creating which Asian countries? cart, playing music to attract outside or in the foyer of the film, and interviews with the a huge awareness for the film in 9. According to a recent Tamil crowds. In addition, posters of cinema hall and distribution of stars and the director appear in B and C markets. Even paid Nadu Government directive, the new movies, giving show de- song books containing the lyr- all the media in an effort to cre- publicity would not have got what is to become of the new tails, would be pasted at all van- ate curiosity about the film. It the kind of curiosity and inter- Assembly-Secretariat complex ics of the film’s songs were other tage points. Cinema slides fea- methods used to publicise a film helps to keep the title of the est that this novel method got that now lies abandoned? for this movie! 10. Following a recent discovery, turing the forthcoming movies in the pre-Independence days. movie at the top of the mind of the planet surrounding a pulsar would also be shown in the The concept of showing potential cinema-goers! Another idea which has PSR J1719-1438 is most likely to ‘touring talkies’ during breaks. ‘trailers’ was introduced in the While most producers use caught on in recent times is the be made of…? Resourceful producers sub- mid-1950s to promote new time-tested methods to concept of promotional tours * * * sequently started using imagi- English films. The idea was publicise their movies, Kamal featuring the director, stars and 11. Where on the Chennai-Ban- native ways to promote their quickly adopted by Indian Hasan tried an interesting ex- other important technicians go- galore National Highway is the films. S.S. Vasan of Gemini Stu- movies. Projecting trailers of a periment to promote Virumandi ing around big cities, promoting State Government planning a dios was a giant among them. new movie in a Group’s cinema in ‘B’ and ‘C’ markets (semi-ur- the film through road shows to Rs. 2,160 crore satellite town- He was the first to introduce the theatres and in multiplexes is ban and rural areas). It was a audiences at theatres screening ship? concept of big banners and done even today. two-in-one concept aimed at the film, big malls and even col- 12. Name the sculptor-architect hoardings to promote his multi- Over the years, the Press has publicising the highlights of the leges. This helps generate a lot of marvels like the Thiruvalluvar lingual extravaganza Chandra- been the primary medium movie and, at the same time, of free editorial publicity in the statue in Kanniyakumari and print media. The impact is in Chennai, who passed away recently. greater when the shows are co- 13. In a new scheme recently sponsored by popular TV chan- announced, how much will a nels. Many reality shows are State sportsperson get for Elevated road plan abandoned used for this purpose. winning a gold at the (a) Olym- In these days of multiple pics and (b) Asian Games? (Continued from page 1) ating a ‘Shanghai-like’ seafront, the earlier regime had worked shows in multiplexes, instant 14. What will be the area of the complete with glass-fronted out and if and when there is a communication through Twit- construction activity along the expanded Chennai Corporation buildings and luxury villas, all to change of party in power, we ter, Facebook and social media sea-coast and which gain im- territory and how many wards be built on land acquired by dis- may yet have the elevated road has helped create a new form of and zones would it have? portance particularly along the placing the fishermen. This too proposal revived. word-of-mouth publicity, which 15. Name the Tamil poet who East Coast, given its record of was given up later. We have Which brings us to the can make or mar a film’s suc- has been selected for the 2011 rough seas, cyclones and the also had minor intrusions such thought: Why not have a legis- cess! There are ‘sms kings’ who Kendria Sahitya Akademi Award tsunami of 2004. The Broken as the sudden renovation and lation that will permanently keep ‘tweeting’ their views to for Children’s Literature. Bridge, originally meant to con- additional construction at the protect our beaches from any friends even while they are 16. Which link in the proposed nect San Thomé with Besant Governor’s Bungalow on the such ideas in future? We will do watching a movie! Small budget monorail corridor in Chennai will Nagar and which later was de- beach, which went on despite well to look back at what Rajaji become the world’s longest, films with good storylines but stroyed by nature’s fury, is protests. And we have had sev- had to say on this subject in the running 54 km when completed? limited budgets for publicity enough testimony to this. eral schemes for the ostensible 1950s – “It is very dangerous to 17. Name the two Ramon have found the social media The elevated road is, of Magsaysay Award winners who at beautification of our beaches. allow congestion in cities… generating instant and course, not the first among present live in Chennai. The temptation to build on the People must devise some widespread word-of-mouth ideas that those in power have 18. ‘Kunjamma’, as she was beachfront is always strong. scheme to insure against open publicity, helping them hit the hatched to ‘utilise’ the fondly called, was awarded the In the same context, it is spaces being built on and bull’s-eye in the Box Office! Bharat Ratna. Who was this beachfront. As early as the worthwhile pondering over an- payments should be made to Madras ikon? 1900s, there was a proposal to other aspect. While there is ju- municipalities in order to pre- These seems to be no end to 19. What is the name of Shiva in build a railway line along the bilation at the Government’s serve open spaces. It is not im- the ways to ‘sell’ a movie to the the Thayumanavar shrine in the beach. This was given up decision to withdraw the pro- possible to work out such a public. Rock Fort Temple in Tiruchi? thanks to protests led by that posal, a sobering thought may scheme if it is thought over 20. Name the Deputy Speaker of public spirited legal stalwart V. not be out of place – that the carefully.” Can we hope that *The author can be contacted the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Krishnaswami Aiyar. More re- withdrawal is part of the ongo- such sage counsel will be on: [email protected] (Answers on page 8) cently, we had a scheme for cre- ing process of rescinding all that heeded? or mob: 9840392082. September 16-30, 2011 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

G TWO MEN OF LETTERS A writer ahead The Tibetan of his time scholar mong the avant garde Ku Pa Sethu Ammal kept all Awriters of Tamil in the the 9 pies (3/4 anna) postcards mid-1930s, one of the foremost addressed to and received by Ku was K.P. Rajagopalan of Pa Raa tied like the Leiden cop- at the Adyar . Known as per plates! And with some other Ku Pa Raa, he wrote for letters they were handed over to Manikkodi, a Madras magazine Chitti before his death; these elebrating together its 29th of the Adyar Library from 1910 started by Stalin Srinivasan were kept in a cardboard box Canniversary and the birth- to 1916, van Manen “witnessed (about which subject I had writ- and later came into my posses- day of Sri Ramanujacharya, the the discovery and the initial ten earlier in these columns). sion. In the bunch, I came Ku Pa Raa got cataract of across some rare letters written Srinivasa Mandiram & Chari- education of the young Jiddu Johan van Manen ties (Bangalore) organised a lec- Krishnamurti (JK).” While at the eye at an early age and lost by leading persons of the age! ture entitled ‘Comparative Adyar, he studied ‘Indian wis- Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal his Government job (he was a Known as literary twins, Study of Sacred Books’ at dom’ from JK’s father, Jiddu (RASB) during van Manen’s revenue inspector) because of Pichamurthy and Ku Pa Raa Janopakari Doddanna Hall in Naraianiah, a graduate of the term of office. this shortcoming! Chitti says, came to Madras for a livelihood. Bangalore on April 23, 1912. and a Current Science (November “During those days of near Both were Telugus but were Johan van Manen (1877– scholar, who held a responsible 1938) under Science Notes blindness, he produced some of very good in Tamil; joining 1943), Assistant Director of the position with the government. briefly refers to van Manen’s his best stories.” Once, during Chitti, who was the only one Adyar Library (Madras), deliv- Writing the concluding note paper titled Recent Exploration in those hard days, Chitti visited having a job then, they tried to ered the lecture. to My Occult Experiences (The Tibet, which was read at a meet- him and found that Ku Pa Raa, eke out a living. When Chitti In his talk, he emphasised Theosophist, July 1913 issue), an ing of the RASB. In this, van who had almost lost his sight, was posted as a teacher in the need to rise above material- 80-page account of van Manen said, “In the last decade could still imagine the scenes , Ku Pa Raa was prom- ism. He remarked, “Give noble Manen’s psychic experiences, exploration has been very ac- that he had earlier seen from his ised Rs. 50 a month by Sangu thoughts to a nation and the Charles Leadbeater speaks tive. Geographically the work window, and recited in his me- Ganesan who was trying to run nation will become noble; on highly of van Manen’s experi- done may be roughly grouped lodious voice the lines from a journal, Swatantra Sangu. Ku the other hand, feed it only with ences: “. . . they clearly show a into exploration (1) in the Keats: Pa Raa’s gotram was material thoughts and aspira- degree and type of sensitive- West, mainly around Kashmir, Magic casements opening in the Bharadwaja, which in Tamil tions and it will be neither spiri- ness, which is very well worth (2) in the South, the great Hi- foam, was karichchan (Decrurus tually strong nor will it rise be- cultivating, with a view to prac- malayan peaks, (3) in the East, Of perilous seas in the fairey lands macrocercus) and he wrote un- yond the level of materialism.” tical results.” In the same note, the countries West of , forlorn. . . der that name as well. He criticised the superficial and (4) in Central Tibet, the As N. Pichamurthy used to While editing Manikkodi, Ku study of scriptures as an effort G by few visits to Lhasa and other say, Ku Pa Raa always had a Pa Raa had to leave due to a dif- notebook with him in which he ference of opinion with T. S. “… merely to become M. Ramanathan places. The exploration is pandits…” The study of scrip- chiefly of geological, alpinistic, noted down Chockalingam, tures was needed “to enrich our geographical, botanical, zoo- the poems of the publisher. On spiritual knowledge,” he Leadbeater expresses “high logical, anthropological, linguis- the great En- An occasional series the advice of V.O. stressed. hopes for the future of the au- tic or historical nature, accord- glish poets. on Tamil writing from Chidambaram Pillai, Ku Pa Raa Born in a well-to-do Dutch thor.” ing to the special interest of the He was a Madras in the 1930s. family, Mari Albert Johan van Van Manen detailed his ex- travellers.” graduate in accepted the Manen was attracted by The- periences while deciphering the Apart from his study of In- English litera- editorship of osophy at a young age. His con- contents, origin, author and the dian languages, driven by his in- ture and had mastered Telugu, Veerakesari, a Tamil tacts with Henry S. Olcott and unique character of a solitary terest in Buddhism, Tibetan Sanskrit and Bengali. He stud- newspaper, and moved to Annie Besant between 1896 leaf of a Tibetan manuscript, culture, and linguistics, van ied Bengali to understand Ceylon. and 1908 kept him interested in found in the collection of the Manen built up, over the years, Rabindranath Tagore better! In As he found living hard in Theosophy. From 1904 to 1906 Adyar Library, in an article an extensive collection of Ti- fact, he translated three Bengali Madras on his return, Ku Pa van Manen was the Honorary titled ‘A Mysterious Manu- betan manuscripts and block- novels, Durgesanandini, Devi- Raa shifted to Kumbakonam, Secretary of the first Conven- script’ that appeared in the prints, Tibetan Buddhist scroll choudarani and Hiranmayi. where he tried to run a tion of the Federation of Euro- January 1911 issue of The The- paintings, and southern Indian He brought in a new style of bookshop called Marumalarchi pean Sections of the Theo- osophist. In the article he had Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts writing in Tamil and wrote in Nilayam. There were many sophical Society. Writing in the this to say about the collection (olai). His collections are now that style as many as 79 short people who came and read the International Institute of Asian in the Library’s Sanskrit De- preserved in the Kern Institute stories, a novel, 8 dramas and books available in the shop, but Studies (IIAS) Newsletter, Luba partment: “It already contains and the National Museum of 21 poems, all between 1934 and none to buy! On the other Zubvoka notes, “At the age of over twelve thousand works . . . Ethnology (Leiden, The Neth- 1944. hand, he was constantly under eighteen he was carried away by a considerable number are erlands). Saraju Rath, research- As he dictated, his sister Ku pressure to repay debts and a the teachings of H.P. Blavatsky, unique, not known to exist in ing the palm-leaf manuscript Pa Sethu Ammal would take his letter written in English by a founder of the Theosophical any other library, and of which bundles preserved in the library words down. She lived a long later well-known Tamil and En- movement ... Believing that this a great number (if not unique) at Kern Institute, Leiden Uni- life of penury. (She had assisted glish critic (dated 27-2-1943) movement could instigate are of great rarity...” versity, indicates that van in writing dialogue for a film in says, “I hope you will remember Western respect for Asian van Manen left TS in 1916 Manen collected “South Indian 1943, Krishna Bakthi, in which your promise and clear my dues people as well as enhance their due to his differences with the manuscripts while he was sta- P.U. Chinnappa and T.R. Raja- at least now, making no more self-esteem, he took to spread- then President, Annie Besant, tioned in Calcutta through a kumari had acted.) excuses. I would thank you if ing Theosophy in Europe and over her involvement in Indian contact established during his Later, Dr. Mahalingam of you will so arrange that this the Dutch East India [Java].” politics. He then moved to stay in Madras.” Trichinopoly cured Ku Pa Raa’s mercenary relation of yours van Manen knew Sanskrit and Darjeeling to study Tibetan Van Manen was in 1930 sight through surgery, but the does not any longer persist. The Tamil much before he made texts and culture. From 1918 to conferred the Order of the writer could not get back his total amount due from you is Rs British-ruled India his perma- 1922 he served as the Librarian Honourable Companion of the job, even in spite of the inter- 50/- capital + Rs 7/- interest + nent home, where he remained of the Imperial Library (now British Empire, the highest dis- cession of T. Prakasam who was Rs 6/- for one copy of for the rest of his life, until his National Library, Calcutta), tinction that could be conferred then the Revenue Minister! Kambaramayanam supplied. Ru- lonely death in 1943. and during 1923-1939 he was on a non-British subject in Brit- But, as Thomas Gray put it, pees Sixtythree and Annas In 1909, van Manen came to the General Secretary of the ish India. The Kern Institute “Chill penury did not repress his eight. . . ”(I am not disclosing the Theosophical Society [TS] Asiatic Society of Bengal, (Leiden) published in 1989 a bi- noble rage”; he continued to the name of the letter-writer for (Adyar, Madras) accompanying Calcutta, and the Editor of its ography of van Manen, The write. He worked as editor of a obvious reason.) Charles W. Leadbeater as his journal. This society, estab- Dutch Orientalist Johan Van magazine Grama Uzhiyan pub- To add to Ku Pa Raa’s mis- private secretary. During his lished by Sir William Jones in Manen, His Life and Work, writ- lished from Uraiyur, by ery, a letter was received from tenure as the Assistant Director 1784, was redesignated the ten by Peter Richardus. Thiriloka Sitaram. (Continued on page 8) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2011 Growing awareness of City’s past A writer

(Continued from page 2) ahead the rich heritage of Madras amongst the participants in their This is true in the case of exhibitions too. We’ve heard it events. On the other hand, with Madras Week becoming virtually of his time said that after the crowd present at the inauguration there were a Madras Month, the Press could do a bit more for events organised (Continued from page 7) hardly any visitors during the rest of the duration. This is true of outside the core Week, even while being selective. the Newsprint Controller to almost any of the usual exhibitions, even those in art galleries. The But at the end of it all, the one incident that remained with us stop publication of Grama solution in the case of Madras Week exhibitions is what the was of four or five men in their late 30s-early 40s, men who hardly Oozhiyan, as the journal was in- Association of British Scholars did for their exhibition (of maps); looked the heritage-caring type, buttonholing us at the end of the dulging in freedom movement they invited a dozen or so schools to look around and, thus, had week-long Chennai Heritage-Freemasons’ sight and sound perfor- propaganda! several score students every day learning from the exhibits. Spend- mances and telling us, “What fine performances. Even the Free- Ku Pa Raa was called a man ing some energy not only on organising events but also on drum- masons’ lectures were interesting. We attended all seven shows ahead of his times. In every- ming up audiences, would seem to be the way to go; once you get a and now wonder why the hall was not full every day.” It’s un- thing, he was ahead of his time, reputation for putting up interesting events, a crowd will respond knowns like those in this group who keep our faith alive that including death! Born in 1902, to that reputation. Madras Week will generate its own crowds in the years to come, he passed away on April 27, We also heard some that some efforts did not receive any that it will grow year by year and create a greater heritage aware- 1944 when he was just 42! Even coverage in the Press. With so many events, the media undoubt- ness in the city. That such awareness is growing was attested to by death came so suddenly that no edly has to pick and choose what it thinks is most newsworthy, the numbers that signed the appeal to the Chief Minister asking one was prepared for it. A com- given that it can feature only two or three events a day. Con- for a Heritage Act. Many waited in a queue after each event to mon friend of the three writers strained by space they are likely to give many an event a miss. But sign the appeal instead of rushing off. People do care about their Ku Pa Raa, T. Janakiraman and event organisers should ask themselves whether they are organising heritage, they made it obvious. We do hope the Chief Minister Narayanaswami, V.R. Raja- events for publicity or they want to create more awareness about feels the same way when the appeal reaches her. gopalan (who was editing a journal from Tiruchi called Kalamohini) was getting mar- ried. The friends attended the TALKING THROUGH MADRAS WEEK marriage and, while returning, Ku Pa Raa developed a severe (Continued from page 5) pain in the leg. Dr. Maha- I vaguely knew about the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC) and lingam, the eye doctor, took Retribution came at P.C. Ramakrishna’s talk at the Madras discovered this year that the Club’s annexe stands at an impossibly them all in his car to Tiruchi Gymkhana Club. The talk was wonderful with PC, in his usual beautiful location – land’s end, where the Cooum flows into the hospital where a surgeon, way, making a perfect presentation on the history of English The- , just off the and behind Flagstaff Sharma, diagonised the ailment atre in the city. But for some reason (and here I may have been at House. I arrived there to join an ocean-based two-way celebration as advanced stage of gangrene. fault, or was it divine will?), there were no ‘refreshments’ on offer. – of Madras Week and 101 years of the RMYC. He was angry with the patient The foodies were disappointed, to say the least, but bore it with This was the first time I had been inside the harbour. I was, for having ignored the disease. stiff upper lip. To give them credit, they stayed on for the presenta- He spoke rather harshly and Dr. tion and not one asked about the absent victuals. therefore, blessed to be able to see the creation of Sir Francis Spring (the RMYC was also his baby) and the place where S. Ramanujan, Mahalingam admonished the the great mathematician, first worked. On display in the Club surgeon for being harsh with a * * * building were newspaper clippings, trophies and photographs dat- patient. The surgeon suggested ing back to the 1930s. amputation of the member as The sail formed the Club’s members setting off in various sailing the only cure. But Ku Pa Raa Answers to Quiz craft (of which there was a bewildering array of terms and termi- did not want to go through the nologies) and the guests going more sedately in a motorboat. The surgery. “I don’t want to un- dergo surgery. Please get me a 1. Zico; 2. Exxon Mobil; 3. Irene; 4. Apple, Inc.; 5. A team of Aus- sea was smooth according to the veterans, but to us landlubbers it tralian and British geologists have discovered fossilised, single-cell or- appeared rough enough. We were able to see several landmark glass of water from the ganisms that scientists say are the oldest known fossils on earth; 6. buildings from the sea, a view usually not possible unless you fly. Cauvery,” he is said to have Panama Canal; 7. Motorola’s mobility business; 8. Singapore and Ja- What was tragic, however, is that the sea front along First Line pleaded. After drinking the wa- pan, respectively; 9. A multi-super-speciality hospital-cum-medical Beach and much of North Beach Road (along Fort St George) is ter he wanted to return home. college; 10. Diamond. completely devoid of any land view, thanks to a whole lot of ugly The doctor drove them all to * * * port buildings that have come up. The mind boggled as to what a Ku Pa Raa’s place. 11. ; 12. Ganapati Sthapati; 13. Rs. 2 crore and Rs. But he did not live to reach 50 lakh respectively; 14. 426 sq km with 200 wards spread across 15 huge tourism potential was missed. Imagine what a European capi- tal or, for that matter, a or a Shanghai would have done home! The one ahead of his zones; 15. M.L. Thangappa; 16. and ; 17. Dr. V. time was ahead in death as well! Shanta and Dr. M.S. Swaminathan; 18. M.S. Subbulakshmi; 19. with it. Matrubhuteswarar; 20. P. Dhanapal. Posted by Sriram V. – K.R.A. Narasiah

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