Registered with the Reg. No. TN/PMG (CCR) /814/06-08 Registrar of Newspapers Licence to post without prepayment for under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. WPP 506/06-08 Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS INSIDE

• Short ‘N’ Snappy

• The Madras Jews MADRAS • Recalling Olcott • Heritage management

• T.N.’s new finds

Vol. XVI No. 21 MUSINGS February 16-28, 2007 What’s being planned for our

“Hey, do you see that? Those men beaches? in khaki are doing what we are sup- posed to do!” Soft centre (by Vincent D’ Souza) Well, all this world-well-lost- very now and then, either Thomé stretch. Over in Besant for-love jazz — the red heart- Ethe State or a private Nagar, where Elliot’s Beach is, shaped balloons, the clever, agency decides to do ‘some- time and again, various clubs insidious marketing encour- thing’ about . have made attempts to lay Elliot’s Beach being cleaned up... and then what’s next? (Photograph courtesy: Adyar Times.) aging lavish expenditure — is And, of late, Elliot’s Beach as lawns, plant tropical trees and over for now. You may go for it, or mutter well. It is a property that stirs widen walkways. Now everyone Estate, off San Thomé. Similar Temple area in Besant Nagar. darkly of cultural invasions. people who turn their eyes on is at it again. work was also happening on the The State agencies say that at But it is time to draw attention it. The ideas though have gen- In the past few months, a Uroor kuppam side, off Besant this point of time, only surveys to a grave injustice commit- erated opposition and contro- new set of plans seems to have Nagar. are being carried out and a con- ted within the hoopla, against versies. Blood has been spilled been drawn up for the Saravanan petitioned the sultant they have appointed will a group of unsung (maybe on the sands when, in the past, beachside. But the plans have PWD, Highways and Chennai work out the feasibility. (The slightly unlikely) heroes, as part of a ‘Let us clean the Ma- been kept under wraps. It re- Corporation under the RTI Act old Adyar bridge across the whose roles have never been rina’ campaign, the police were quired a petition to be filed un- seeking details, asking the de- river was the only link along the acknowledged. Who? you ask. challenged by angry fishermen der the Right to Information partments to tell him what this shore to the Besant Nagar Why, our police force, of from the kuppams that dot some (RTI) Act to get the details. work was all about. After much neighbourhood in the past; course. parts of the shore. They did not The petitioner, a resident of a delay, the Highways said that it now, this bridge is in disuse.) Now these toughies, worn relish the idea of having their kuppam, was curious why sur- was planned to have an el- That bridge had collapsed a down by spending all their boats removed from the sea- veyors were at work in the evated motorway along the sea- long time ago. Saravanan, who time chasing misguided citi- shore. There have also been Srinivasapuram kuppam, a shore to link works with an NGO from his zens or ferrying VIPs, may moves to promote a Cannes- fisherpeople’s colony near the and the Annai Velankanni look like they wouldn’t Church – Ashtalakshmi recognise tender passion if it type neighbourhood on the San MTC bus terminus in Foreshore (Continued on page 6) was served to them on a plate, swimming in sambar and chutney... but they do, guys, they do. Concern over future of Read the newspapers. No wonder much-harassed couples on the run from pa- rental authority turn to them. Senate House The cops listen, sympathise, and support, in sharp, unfor- tunate contrast to concerned t is reliably learnt that historic many ways also symbolises by Sriram V. The arrival of a new and en- parents... keeping within law- ISenate House, which was re- Madras University’s 150-year thusiastic Vice-Chancellor, S.P. ful limits, obviously. dedicated to the nation by the heritage. was completed. Experts in con- Thyagarajan, gave a further fil- Then, having gently pointed out President of India on September The restoration of Senate servation and restoration from lip to the work in December the wisdom of allowing love 5th last year, is facing problems House, for which this journal the UK addressed PWD engi- 2003, with the VC himself to run its course to irate fami- in the completion of the resto- had long been campaigning, neers in an effort to sensitise promising a group, that met to lies, they even conduct mar- them to the task ahead. The riages and engagements in ration work. The problems are really began in 2002 when the brainstorm on bringing the their precincts. not structural but largely ad- PWD research wing was asked PWD brought in L&T to take building alive after restoration, They may not actually sing “All ministrative. to begin the work and assured up the restoration of the roof that the Convocation for 2007 you need is love...” (Imagina- The Vice-Chancellor’s office that there would be no shortage which had to be done on a pri- would be held in the renovated tion totters a bit at the has recently made an an- of funds. An earlier attempt to ority basis. In June 2003 the Senate House. Work on the sec- thought, but they obviously nouncement that the expected begin the work in 1993 had then Vice-Chancellor issued a ond phase began in April 2004. believe it, briefly transform- quantum of funds that was to be failed within a year. A technical public appeal asking alumni, With estimates revised by then ing their distinctly scary sta- released from a Government committee, which had been set corporate houses and well- to Rs. 5 crore, work could not tions into safe harbours for wishers to contribute towards love.) Ministry has not come through up in 1996, met in December have commenced had it not So, the next time you drive ner- and that this was going to delay 2002 and began discussing the the Rs. 4 crore that was at the been for spontaneous financial vously past that angry-look- the restoration. The news has modalities of the work. In Feb- time estimated as being neces- contributions from the Willing- ing cop at the traffic signal, come as a bitter disappointment ruary 2003, a modern scaffold- sary for completing the work. don Trust, a few corporate smile. to all those involved in the res- ing was put up at a special price The sudden resignation of the houses, and several constituent For, within that rough exterior, toration of one of the best ex- by L&T-ECC with the assur- VC notwithstanding, the first colleges of the University. beats a tender heart. amples of Indo-Saracenic archi- ance that it would remain in phase of the restoration was Ranjitha Ashok tecture in the city and which in place till the restoration work completed in September 2003. (Continued on page 3) CMYK 2 February 16-28, 2007 NewA Festival steps towards by the people, a Chennai for the peopleFestival he Man from Madras such festivals are to be held in or even rules governing one was horrified to find that both Changeable laws T Musings, echoing Madras public places. A concert in a way stretches. Imagine the vista sides of this road, which is re- Musings, has been campaign- park or a performance in a of freedom that this opens up. markably free of encroach- theatre located inside a ing for years for a broad-based street is something MMM wel- Rather like some PERT or ments, are being used as urinals Amall in the city had prob- city festival to take place co- comes, but not at the cost of CPM chart that MMM puzzled to such an extent that a perma- lems with permission to inciding with Pongal. The causing enormous traffic jams over when he was in college, nent stench pervades the area. screen films, as it was found idea was that taking off with with temporary diversions and these vehicles always take the The day MMM was walking that the building did not have the Music Season and fol- last-minute changes in routes. shortest route to any destina- through, handkerchief pressed sufficient parking space for lowed by the Festi- An effort has to be made in the tion. So what if it involves stop- to nose, was also Pulse Polio patrons’ vehicles. Surprising val, a city-wide cultural event, direction of pedestrianising ar- ping other cars or injuring a few Day and the hospital was busy that this was not discovered together with a festival of eas connected with the festival passers-by? Last but not least, with many parents bringing in when the plan was filed for shopping and dining, could be through announcements and such chauffeurs are even infants. The Chennai Corpora- approval. The happy ending organised and, thereby, create signboards indicating alter- spared the trouble of hurling tion had obviously thought it was, however, in sight–at least a month-long Chennai Festi- native routes that motorists can abuse at those who come in had done its bit by liberally as far as the mall was con- val that would attract visitors take. their way. There are enough strewing bleaching powder all cerned–for permission was from home and abroad. Publicity for such events acolytes of the politicians trav- along the way. But can a few soon given. The Man from Now, MMM is glad to hear must begin at least six months elling in the same vehicle to cosmetic steps like that solve Madras Musings wonders that , an and not two weeks prior to the take care of such minor mat- what appears to be a problem what had changed during the event focussing on major folk festival. MMM takes this op- ters. Ah, what a life! with our entire city, namely interregnum. Had the mall in- art forms, is slated to begin portunity to point out that In his childhood, MMM had that of using any public corner creased its parking space? Or from February 20th and prom- when the All India Music Con- once stunned a class teacher by as a urinal? had norms changed? Or is it ises to see some major public- ference was planned in Madras stating that he would like to be An acquaintance from simply a question of imagina- private participation in its in December 1927, announce- a buffalo when he grew up as in abroad had recently com- tive interpretation? Whatever organisation. Planned as a ments concerning it were car- his opinion that animal led the mented to MMM that Chennai be the cause, the effect is the weeklong festival showcasing ried by the city’s dailies as early most carefree life. But now can truly claim to be an inter- same. More traffic jams, more art, culture, music, dance and as July that year. Surely, when MMM is wiser and aspires for a national city the day its citizens congestion, aggrandisement drama, the event has been put that event, the mother of all the higher form of animal life – give up spitting, urinating and of the pavement by auto- together by an NGO, Tamil city’s festivals, was in those namely being the chauffeur of defecating in public. Not all the rickshaws, and untold suffer- Maiyam, in collaboration with days planned six months ahead, a politician. malls and highrises will get us ing to the general public. the Tourism and Culture Department. The in- Reality on the brain auguration of the festival will be at the open air IIT stadium SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY sked to define Chennai and around 400 cultural per- Ain a phrase, one of The formances will be held in 60 Man from Madras Musings’ schools, 20 colleges, public acquaintances said, “Real Es- that stature, he was certain, parks, malls, corporate offices we in this time and age can do tate”. In his view, that hap- and streets. On the cards are A welcome trend and MMM had to agree. We pens to be the buzzword in the a lot better. It is only with such are truly a long way off. Carnatic music performances advance planning can tourists he Man from Madras city, as any available space is at non-traditional venues and be attracted. T Musings recently attended being looked at only in terms the showcasing of art forms However, this is a good be- a programme at the Roja Urban to suburban of square feet, fsi, rate per such as Thappattam, Karagat- ginning and MMM hopes that Muthiah Library which, among square foot, multiplex, mall, he Man from Madras tam, Oyilattam, Mayilattam, it is an indication of good things all such archival centres in the condo, luxury apartment T Musings is quite used to Naiyandi Melam, Silambat- to come for the city that we all city, must rank as the friendli- block, IT park and highrise. receiving calls from twenty- tam, Kalaripayattu and Thu- love. est and most welcoming insti- nothings who these days cover dumbattam. tution for research scholars. This friend, who owns a news and events for various A welcome feature is that This programme involved the rather attractive bungalow in Dream job television channels and each there will be no entry fees, inauguration of a centre for re- the heart of the city and who time MMM is quite amazed at thereby making the events ac- he best job doing the search on the Indus Valley is very proud of it, states that the levels of ignorance of his- cessible to one and all. Fund- T rounds in Madras that is Civilisation. The papers of the while earlier visitors used to tory, heritage and culture that ing is expected to come Chennai is that of being a well known scholar Iravatham admire the house, its gardens most of them display. MMM is through corporate sponsor- chauffeur to a politician, feels Mahadevan form the nucleus and general layout, nowadays always willing to part with in- ship. Another positive aspect The Man from Madras Musings of this Centre and, what is all that any visitor does is to formation, but what is shock- is that some of the events will after detailed study, contempla- more, he will be available to remark that the land there is ing is that most of those who be held in as tion and introspection. After provide guidance to all research worth its weight in gold and call up do not even do some well in prominent parks. all, the greatest causes of stress scholars working on the Indus that my friend is certainly a basic reading. MMM has long been recom- in our city are the traffic chaos Valley through the RMRL. lucky fellow to be sitting on so mending the involvement of and the resultant road rage. But In MMM’s view this is the One such incident was much real estate in the heart the forgotten North in the the politician’s chauffeur, no beginning of a very welcome when someone from a channel of the city. There are some city’s happenings and this matter how low the politician trend wherein people will come with a tie-up with a leading who go further and suggest year’s promises appear to au- may rank in the hierarchy, is forward to donate more and American news channel called that my friend would be bet- gur a new beginning. It is un- above all such petty problems. more material to the RMRL. up stating that she had to do a ter off pulling down the house derstood that the choice of Firstly, the job involves driv- MMM hopes that more people story on the Music Season and and “developing” the space. February for the festival was ing a vehicle that is just short come forward with old books, the burden of her story was that more out of delays in planning of being classified a bus. That diaries, 78 rpm records and the sabha culture had moved to God – at a price it and that the idea is to make in itself is enough to scare any other such archival material. the centre of the city from the the festival coincide with the other vehicle off the road and Incidentally, the RMRL also suburbs over the years. MMM ome temples of the city de Pongal period in future years. send cyclists and two-wheeler digitises such material for a was intrigued at what appeared Scided to celebrate New MMM welcomes the idea users into ditches. Secondly, nominal fee, which allows the to be a new interpretation that Year’s Day rather differently. but, at the same time, would such vehicles invariably come proud possessors of such items contradicted most writings on They proceeded to create a like to sound a word of cau- with a flag of some sort stuck to continue enjoying the con- the subject and then discovered special entrance and charged tion. First, any such attempt to the front which automati- tent without touching the origi- that what the young lady meant a special fee to those wishing must be done with a long-term cally means a free pass at any nal that, inevitably, with the by suburb was George Town, to avail of it. Now, that by it- plan in view; there must be a traffic signal. An added perk is passage of time, becomes in- no less! She went on to elabo- self may not be too bad, but commitment to keep such that all policemen automati- creasingly fragile. rate that she had found that fearing lack of response, a spe- events going year after year cally salute such vehicles and most sabha-s had begun in cial prize was also offered. and NOT abandon them with often manipulate signals so that Public convenience George Town and had moved The first 500 people to avail any change in political dispen- these vehicles, in case driven by to more central locations such of the special facility would sation. Neither must a witch- chauffeurs who obey traffic hat is the phrase that first as Mylapore, T’Nagar and, hold get a silver pendant and a hunt be launched on the lights, need not halt. Thirdly, Tcame to The Man from your breath, even ! laminated photograph of the organisers every time there is such vehicles come with Madras Musings’ mind when he MMM could think of noth- deity. The resultant rush had a change of government. That heavily tinted glasses so that recently found himself in the ing in reply and hung up on the to be seen to be imagined. The is one of the reasons why none can see if the politician vicinity of Victoria Hostel telephone conversation. Many Man from Madras Musings MMM has long advocated a concerned is really inside the Road, which is the road just people had referred to George wonders what has happened peoples’ or citizens’ festival vehicle. So even if there is just behind the Presidency College Town as the boondocks but to all old worldly values such with minimum Government the chauffeur driving along, he and which leads not only to the that it was now being inter- as piety and prayer? Is God involvement. becomes the lord of the road. hostel of the college but also to preted as a suburb may come as also subject to commer- There must also be infras- Fourthly, such vehicles are the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial a surprise to at least its resi- cialisation? tructural improvements if subject to no speed limits, lanes Hospital in . MMM dents. – MMM February 16-28, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

new road. A foot overbridge film companies of Madras em- achieve their end); 4) And if from KB Nagar Station across ployed a “crow shooter” whose you overcome such difficulties, Sardar Patel Road is also essen- job was to fire a country rifle the building contractors play tial. Only provision of foot and scare away the crows so such havoc through their poor overbridges will benefit com- that their cawing would not workmanship that the entire muters, especially children and intrude into the dialogues re- structure threatens to fall elders. cording. As this crow shooter within a short period of time. S. Vaidyalingam obviously did it to please the At best we can bale out the 24, Second Main Road film director I wonder whether water by any means or wait for For better water grade water can be supplied Kasturbanagar, Adyar this is the etymology of the the summer season to dry it up Chennai 600 020 leaning of waterbodies through the existing network. classic Madras expression, before the subways can be put Industrial waste generated ‘crow catching’... seems plau- to use. (If we are wedded to a C(MM, December 1st) can- Guy de pleasant not be achieved even after 100 should be treated/reclaimed at sible. demon we have to climb along the end of each process. This with it if necessary.) years if the present strategies are ir Guy of Warwickshire is C.G. Prasad will facilitate recycling, easy adopted. The authorities should Sone of the icons of English No.9, C.S. Mudali Street M. Jayaraman segregation for easy disposal. enforce eco-sanitation, treat history. He fell in love with the Kondithope 30/5 Govindan Road grey-water at source and use it S.N. Mahalingam daughter and heiress of the Lord Chennai 600 079 West to recharge groundwater aqui- 64-A, Kalamegam Street Extn. of Warwickshire. As his eco- The impediments Chennai 600 033 fers which will promote ground- Kamarajapuram nomic status was far lower, he The bhajan singer water flow towards the Chennai 600 073 participated in numerous tour- eader M. Sethuraman’s R thought (MM, December ome Margazhi, my waterbodies and generate flow Overbridges needed naments, winning huge prize in the rivers. money and, finally, the hand of 1st) is a laudable proposition C memory goes back to the Underground drainage and he execution of the I.T his beloved. but it is impracticable in a good old days of the month in centralised treatment of sewage TCorridor from Madhya Well, if Sir Guy of English country like ours where politi- the 1940s, when I had the plea- have not been effective in our Kailash is commendable. No history is the stuff of legend, our cians and contractors rule the sure of joining the bhajan ghoshti country in cleaning the rivers so doubt, users will find it a plea- own Guy of Madras, viz Randor roost. of Papanasam Sivan which far. sure to traverse it. But what Guy, is stuffed with legends of The impediments are: 1) circumambulated the Kapalees- Potable grade public water about the large number of MRT Madras which he shared with us Sharing of expenditure by warar temple in Mylapore sing- supply is only a pipe dream. commuters? They will find it at P.S. High School auditorium Corporation and railways; 2) ing choice bhajan-s. Papanasam Even now, the quality of water extremely difficult to cross the during and as part of last Madras Getting the plans and esti- Sivan, a lean, emaciated-look- supplied in Chennai is not upto six-lanes once the traffic starts Week celebrations. It was a most mates sanctioned where there ing person, hardly gave any satisfactory levels. in full strength. enjoyable talk without a mo- are vested interests; 3) The impression of a man with a Decentralised potable grade May I suggest that the au- ment of boredom and the old acquisition of land from private treasure trove of classical music water supply by borewells and thorities concerned provide world ambience of P.S. High owners who expect high value in him. R.O. treatment system can be foot overbridges or subways School was just right for the oc- for their property as compensa- M.R. Pillai the answer. The water should from the MRTS Stations, at casion. tion for acquisition (in this pro- H 64/3, Central Avenue be supplied in plastic cans at Kasturba Nagar and Indira One of the anecdotes Randor cess they are prepared to go to subsidised prices. Non-potable Nagar to the western side of the Guy narrated was how ancient court to get a stay order to Chennai 600 080 A big ‘Thank You’ Concern over Senate House to 34 of you (Continued from page 1) estimated that Rs. 2 crore more to a halt its drive for further However, the question of what would complete the work. A funds. We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.1.07 will be done with Senate House new Vice-Chancellor took Meanwhile, most worrying is and 15.2.07, added to the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, after renovation loomed large over shortly after the inaugura- the question: What will happen Madras Musings, have already received. We thank all of them and in order to allay fears, the tion and it was announced by to Senate House post-restora- him that all restoration work tion? The interiors are complete for their support for the causes Chennai Heritage espouses VC put forward a plan wherein one of the important steps was would be completed by April but they are virtually open to — CHENNAI HERITAGE to form a Trust with University 14, 2007, after which the build- one and all without any agency and ex-officio NGO participa- ing would be available to the protecting them. There is no Rs. 50: Baliga, K.R.; Rajan, Premilla tion which, among other things, public. maintenance system in place. Rs. 100: Arunachalam, T.K.C.; ; Balasubramanian, N.; would ensure the maintenance However, ever since then, The smallest act of vandalism Jayaram, R.; Nagarajan, A.; Nagarathinam; Padmanabha, P. and upkeep of the building post- there has been a shortage of can cause immeasurable harm (Bangalore); Raghunathan, T.M.; Raghavan, G.; Raj, Chubby M.K.; restoration and oversee and funds and the concern over to the work that has happened payments for work already so far – and such unthinking Reddi, C.A.; Ranganathan, K.V.; Ramamurthy, G.V.; Swaminathan, manage the place on behalf of its owners, the University of Ma- done has been reflected in the acts have already occurred. Shyamala (Dr.) dras. (Management of buildings slow progress with what All this has caused immense Rs. 116: Reddy, M.R. by one organisation for another needed to be done. What is unease among the donors, all of Rs. 150: Rahimi, Eleocon (Germony); Prof.K.Balaraman, K. (Prof) is commonplace worldwide – more disquieting is that the whom gave the money on the especially when the latter does Trust, which was supposed to assurance of good management Rs. 200: Sridharan, G.; Padmanabhan, K.S.; Soundararajan, R. not have the expertise.) collect further funds and advise of the building during and after Rs. 300: Allan J. Jackson With this and other such as- on and supervise the mainte- the renovation. What happens Rs. 400: Anantharam, N.; Ananthalakshmi, P.M.; Deivanayagam (Dr.) surances in place, funds began nance of the building, has not to the Trust that they placed met ever since its first meeting their assurance in? It would not C.N.;Gokilan T.S.; Sinha, S.N.; Sriram (Dr.) Revathi M.; Kumaraguru, coming in and work continued apace till most of it was com- with the new Vice-Chancellor. be out of place to point out that C.S.; Venkatesan, K. pleted in time for the inaugura- This lack of interaction with two of the NGOs in the Trust Rs. 500: Kadhiresan, Rupa; Dhandapani, V.S. tion in September 2006. At that the new Vice-Chancellor has represent the leading corporate Rs. 900: Jairaj time, all that was left was reno- the Trust not only wondering houses in the city and these vation of two towers and it was about its status but has brought corporates might well be wary with dealing with the University after this experience. READABILITY PLEASE OUR ADDRESSES At the same time, the Uni- Dear Readers, versity must ask itself whether For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: such a beautifully renovated As letters from readers increase, we are receiving more and more hand writ- Chennai Heritage, 260-A, TTK Road, Chennai 600 018. building can be operated with- ten letters, many of them in a hand so small and illegible or large and scrawled For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation out any guidelines. When are matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/ as to be unreadable. Often this leads to our discarding a letter, particularly if these guidelines to ensure 63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. some part of it is unreadable. protection of a heritage building On editorial matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani If you wish us to consider your letter for publication, please type it with enough to be put in place, all those Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. space between lines or write it using a medium hand, clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ connected with heritage have No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent and crossing the ‘t-s’. from these addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and already begun asking. you will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange Many readers also try to fill every square centimetre of a postcard space, Madras Musings hopes that as it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help making reading or editing impossible. all this will be sorted out soon you faster and disappoint you less. Please help us to consider your letters more favourably by making them more and the restored Senate House – THE EDITOR legible for us. – THE EDITOR preserved in the manner it should be. 4 MADRAS MUSINGS February 16-28, 2007 February 16-28, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 On the occasion of the 100th death anniversary The Madras of the founder of the Theosophist Movement, The ‘Float Festival’ K.V.S. recalls... Olcott recorded Jews... n the 19th occurred the annual “floating festival “ at the The plaque (above) in the Jewish OMylapore temple tank, and we went to see it. It is a very strik- Cemetery (right) that’s a corner of the ing picture of Indian national life. Symbolically, it typifies the float- (by A Special Correspondent) Lloyd’s Road burial ground. The early years ing of Vishnu on the face of the waters at the beginning of a Manvantara or new cosmic period. The ascending steps on the four sides of the tank, which mount from the water’s brim, are lit ver the last 2000 years, five monds, “there were only very instance, Isaac Abendana, a up with chirâgs, or clay lamps; and the small temple at the tank’s Odistinct groups of Jews have short periods without at least one Dutch Jew, was Governor Tho- centre blazes with light, while its white stucco of chunam is turned made India their home. The ear- Anglo-Jewish diamond mer- mas Pitt’s adviser in the into the semblance of old ivory by the soft light of the silvery moon. liest were those now known as chant in Madras.” All these mer- Governor’s private diamond of Olcott On a raft of catamaran fishing-boats, that has been prepared by the Cochini Jews of Kerala and chants, however, no matter that business and played a significant the coast fishermen as an act of time-honoured feudal service, the the Bene Israel of Maharashtra, they prospered in Madras, were role in the acquisition and cut- temple idol has been placed in a small pagoda covered with glitter- their origins more part of legend in fact only agents in India of the ting of the legendary Pitt (Re- their fellow Hebrew merchants, The Jews had a burial ground t was 17th February, 1907, tural schools in Europe. When ing tinsel. Its hereditary attendant Brahmans, naked to the waist, than history today. Then came big London diamond houses. gent) Diamond that helped give silver, rough coral and polished in Peddanaickenpet, the western Iwrites Annie Besant: “We sat his agricultural school closed due but with two white cloths, one wrapped about them from the waist downward, the other folded into a strip and laid across the shoul- the Sephardic Jews from Spain They might have been kin of England two Prime Ministers. coral beads, and pearls. So it was half of Black Town, and until a quietly beside him, an occasional to financial constraints, he was and Portugal – and a few from that the quarters of these coral- municipal school came up in ders, chant slokas. Standard-bearers wave their quaint banners. those who owned the London And Jaques de Paiva’s widow long breath taken, till 7.15 a.m. back to square one. Devadasis, or temple nautch-girls, sway before the idol in graceful elsewhere in Europe – who fled firms, but they were certainly not Hieronima not only bore Gover- dealers in north Muthialpet, the more recent times on its site at A shiver ran through his body, Olcott next became Agricul- motions. Coloured fires of all bright hues blaze at the corners of the Inquisition in the 16th their heirs. Nevertheless, it was nor Elihu Yale a son but was also eastern half of ‘Black Town’, the north end of Mint Street, a two minutes later he was gone. tural Editor of The New York Tri- the raft. Musicians waken the echoes with their strident sounds, and became the White in Madras that such families as his partner in business, merging came to be known as Pavalak- portion of the cemetery, long out The three Masters to whom he bune and correspondent of the and the floating raft is poled seven times around the tank, in the Jews of Kerala. And still later the Marcus Moseses, the Aaron the Paiva diamond business with karar Theru or Coral Merchants’ of use, could be seen. But while had been the nearest during his Mark Lane Express. He wrote an presence of a vast multitude of dark-skinned people who watch it there were the Baghdadi Jews Franks and their kinsmen Henry Yale’s own diamond trading. The Street (pavalam (T)= coral). Cu- the school was being raised in life, and his old comrade, H.P. article, ‘How we hanged John from the bank, the disturbed water reflecting back, while the shin- who fled persecution in West and Abraham Salomons, who Paiva fortune had a lot to do with riously, the Jews were succeeded 1983, the tombstones in the Blavatsky, were there in the as- Brown’, about an activist who ing splendour of the earthly lamps and fires, and the silver radi- Asia or sought new opportunities were known as the Franks- the Yale fortune that in a small in later years on this George cemetery were removed to the tral presence, and at 7.27 HPB was trying to get slavery abol- ance of the moon and stars far up in the blue vault. Anything and arrived in India in the late Salomons family, and the Samuel way led to the Collegiate School Town street by the , Lloyd’s Road cemetery near the more picturesque in the way of a human festival would be hard to said: ‘The cord is broken’. He ished by violent means. That was find. (From Olcott’s Old Diary Leaves, 19.1.1886.) 18tha and early 19th Centuries to de Castros made their fortunes. of Connecticut becoming Yale the money-lending Nattukkottai Marina and there, approached was free.” on December 2, 1859. Olcott’s become a significant business These merchants had close University. Chettiars who to this day main- through filthy surroundings, they The new President-elect, in articles in support of abolition of dollars involved. The US Gov- again, a southerner named Can- community in Bombay and ties with the East India The Jews of early Madras ex- tain a choultry in this crowded have a corner to themselves, funeral oration, read the slavery were putting him in such ernment, in recognition of his non. Calcutta. The fifth group is the Company’s Council in Madras, ported the diamonds of and dirty street that little reflects looked after by one of the only Colonel’s last message, signed in serious situation that if he was contributions, promoted him to In July 1874, Olcott met H.P. most recently recognised Jewish particularly the Governors. For Golconda and imported, from its former prosperity. (Continued on page 5) his own hand on February 2nd. caught in a city in the U.S. the rank of Colonel. Mary Olcott Blavatsky at the Eddy farm community of them all, the Bene He said, among other things, “To South, he faced the prospect of was proud of Henry’s achieve- House in Chittenden, Vermont, Menashe of Mizoram and Henry Steel Olcott painted by my beloved brothers in the physi- Lakshmi Krishnamurthy. being lynched and not put in a ments and her father Rev. Mor- when investigating spiritual phe- Manipur who claim to be de- ...and India’s cal body: I bid you all farewell. In books and he helped a jail cell. gan used to preach the righteous- nomena. Olcott was a correspon- scended from the Menashe, one memory of me, carry on the neighbouring farmer’s daughter On April 26, 1860, H.S. ness of the Northern cause from dent for the Daily Graphic and his of the ten Lost Tribes. grand work of proclaiming and undergo a dental procedure Olcott married Mary Eplee Mor- his pulpit. articles had many readers. Apart from these groups there udaism and Christianity, Asian religions born on the eastern The Judaic revival of the Bene Israel is dated to sometime between Jshores of the Mediterranean, spread first to other Asian coun- 1000 and 1400 CE. Around the 1750s, they migrated in small num- living the Brotherhood of Reli- made painless by his mesmeric gan, the daughter of Rev. Mor- On April 14, 1865 Abraham * * * was a small group of Sephardic tries, like what are today Iran and Iraq. From these lands they trav- bers to Bombay and Calcutta, where they sought government, par- gions.” passes. In later years, Olcott suc- gan, the Episcopal Church, New Lincoln, President of the United When Olcott met Madame Jews who, fleeing the Inquisition, elled to parts of the west coast of India, the south of Ceylon and the ticularly military, or mercantile service in British establishments. * * * cessfully helped more than 8000 Rochalle. States, was assassinated. Olcott Blavatsky, she said to him, “I was put down roots in Britain, Hol- Coromandel Coast that had from the times of Solomon traded with The Bene Israel have been the largest group of Jews in India. They Henry Steel Olcott was born patients in India and Ceylon. When the Civil War began, and two other colonels were ap- afraid that Colonel Olcott might land and Germany and then ar- West Asia. numbered around 30,000 at their peak. Today, migration has re- on 2nd August, 1832, the first When his mother died, it was Olcott volunteered for action in pointed to a committee to in- drag me into one of his articles.” rived in India in the 16th Century duced their numbers to less than 5000, most of them in Bombay, The Legend of the Thomas who Doubted, the Apostle of India, child of Henry Wyckoff and with prayers on her lips that “her the field and became a Signal quire into whether there had She was assured, “You need have to dominate the diamond and is an article of faith on both coasts of South India. Thomas, the particularly its suburb Thane, and on the Konkan coast. They are Emily (nee Steel). Olcott be- wayward son, Henry, would re- Officer. Malaria and dysentery been a conspiracy. Three years of no such fear on that score, coral trade. These Jews of Iberian legend has it, travelled in an Arab dhow chartered by a Jewish mer- divided into two groups – the majority being Gora (or White) Jews, lieved that he probably de- turn to Christian fold”. landed him in hospital. In 1862, investigation completed, Olcott Madame. He won’t mention you stock were known as the chant, Habban, and found Jews already settled in Cranganore, a who claim both parents to be of Jewish origin, and the Kala (or scended from Bishop John After a course of study at the he was appointed to investigate resigned and was complimented unless you permit it. I can assure Ashkenazi Jews and they first little north of Cochin on the southwest coast of India. Indeed, the Black) Jews, descending from mothers who were not Jewish. The Baghdadi, or Middle East, Jews, the third major group of Alcock, a favourite of Henry VII, model farm of Prof. J.J. Mapes, corruption in the Army of the for “zeal, ability and uncompro- you of that, because I am Henry settled in Goa, a territory they Jewish tradition is that the Cochin Jews date back to the times of Indian Jews, were rich traders from Baghdad, Aleppo and Basra. who in 1496 founded the Jesus near New York, Olcott was ap- Union (the North). He found mising faithfulness to duty”. He Olcott at your service!” That ser- had already been trading with. Solomon, long before Christ, and claims that they traded with the port of Ophir — believed to be Cranganore (or Kodungallur) in They spoke Arabic and settled in Surat and Bombay between 1770 College, Cambridge. pointed Assistant Editor of the much corruption in the Army then embarked on an entirely vice lasted her lifetime. After As British commercial success today’s Kerala. More generally accepted is the view that the first and 1870. Many of them later moved to Calcutta, Rangoon and Due to his father’s business professor’s magazine Working and the Navy, with millions of new career. several visits to the Ghost’s Farm grew in India, they moved to Cochini Jews settled on the Malabar coast c.72 CE after the de- Hong Kong. The best known of them were David S. Sassoon, who failures, Olcott, then 16, left the Farmer. Two years later, with the and sensational articles in the Madras in the 17th Century and In 1866, he obtained a job in struction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. arrived in Bombay in 1832 and became one of the world’s richest University, his education incom- help of a legacy, he started a Daily Graphic the Colonel re- helped London become Europe’s men in the 19th Century, Eleazar Kadoorie, who was made a peer a law office, studied dedicatedly In the synagogue in Cochin are two copper plates recording a plete. He was untrained for any School of Agricultural Science. The Olcott turned to New York in Novem- foremost centre of the trade in and became known as Lord Elly, and Emmanuel Belilos, all of them and was admitted to the Bar in local ruler’s grant of land in Cochin to the Jews. The plates are profession. His maternal uncles He introduced new crops and ber 1874. In 1875, Olcott expe- uncut diamonds in the 18th Cen- th to later make fortunes in Hong Kong. contribution New York in 1868. He was then undated but are estimated to be of somewhere between the 4 and Edger, Isaac and George Steel published a book in 1857, Sorgho rienced several occult phenom- tury; Amsterdam by then was the 10th Centuries. Such dating of the plates precludes them being ref- The Baghdadis were successful businessmen, who brought their • He helped establish 206 appointed Secretary and Direc- were farmers in Elyria, Ohio. In and Imphee, which went through schools, with 20,000 stu- ena. leading cutting centre. erences to the land the synagogue stands on. The synagogue, known families as well as Jews from other Arab countries to India. Many of tor of the National Insurance the Baghdadi Jews ran small businesses, like textile shops, confec- 1848, Olcott joined them in seven editions and was recom- dents, in Ceylon, and the On 7th September 1875, a Jaques (James) de Paiva was locally as the Pardesi (Foreigners) shrine, dates to 1568 and re- share-farming a 50-acre plot. His Convention, where he simplified th tionery and grocery stores and restaurants. But there were many mended as a school text. His sec- Harijan school in Adyar. group of 17 gathered to hear the first Jewish diamond mer- building in the late 17 Century. Jew Town in Cochin, where it is the rules, which were published who were significant figures in the Indian economy, particularly the parents had brought him up by ond book, Yale Agricultural Lec- • He and Blavatsky became George Felt’s lecture, ‘The lost chant to arrive in Madras. He sited, is itself dated to 1567. Marco Polo spoke of Jewish settle- in two huge volumes. He also ments in South India in 1293. textile industry. The wealthy Baghdadis were renowned for their strictly orthodox Presbyterian tures, was published in 1858. He the first ‘white’ Buddhists. canon of properties of the Egyp- settled in Black (George) Town, built up a thriving law practice philanthropy – and the Sassoon name survives in Bombay in many principles. His uncles introduced next went on a professional tour To him, Buddhism was a tians’. The audience were im- just north of Fort St George, in The reference to ‘Foreigners’ is significant. The Cochini Jews a public building. philosophy and not a creed. with clients like the United have over the centuries been divided into three separate groups: him to spiritualism. At the farm, of Europe to report on agricul- pressed. Olcott suggested that a 1686. It was exactly a hundred The Baghdadi in the 1940s numbered about 10,000, but today Olcott studied Dr. E. Mesmer’s • Olcott consolidated Orien- States Treasury, the New York The oldest of them, the Malabari or Black Jews, of Yemeni or there are less than a hundred of them in India, mostly in Calcutta. tal learning by establishing Stock Exchange, the Corpora- society be launched for occult years later that the last Jewish Babylonian (Iran-Iraq) origin, date anywhere from 500 BCE to 500 study. His slip of paper was merchant, Moses de Castro, left Once, Calcutta was home to around 5000 Jews, most of them the Adyar Library and tion of New York City, the CE and initially married locally but then amongst themselves. The Baghdadi, who followed in the footsteps of Shalom ben Aaron ben spread the message of Uni- handed to W.Q. Judge, who in Madras. Brown Jews were those who toiled for the Malabari Jews and, in THE MADRAS JEWS Panama Railway, and the United Obadiah ha-Cohen, a Syrian Jew, who came to Bombay in 1789 versal Brotherhood. Steel Manufacturers of Sheffield, turn gave it to Blavatsky, who al- Within five years of de Paiva time, became converts. The ‘foreigners’ were the Sephardic, or and moved to Calcutta ten years later. • He was the first to intro- ready had secret orders from the White, Jews, who fled Europe during the Inquisition in the 16th U.K. settling in Madras, with wife and By the 19th Century, the Baghdadi Jews had established a chain (Continued from page 4) duce ‘cremation’ in Century. They may be of alien appearance, but they found sanctu- site attesting to this date. That Mahatma to ‘establish a philo- servants, five other Jewish mer- of trading establishments from Shanghai to London. Their main the Jewish Cemetery is still occa- America. He and Blavatsky In 1870, Olcott went to Britain sophical religious society’ ary in the land of the Cochini Jews. two Chennai families with Jew- chants made the city their home. trade was diamonds, opium, indigo, cotton yarn, silk, piecegoods, sionally used is indicated by were cremated. He was and met world-famous occultists. (Blavatsky met this Mahatma, a At their peak, between the 17th and early 20th Centuries, the ish connections. They were Isaac de Porto, gold leaf, precious stones, ivory and coffee. But the community also Eileen Joshua’s tombstone, dated decked with an American On his return to the U.S., he took tall Hindu, in August 1851, Cochini Jews numbered 3000, about 500 of them White Jews. Mi- produced several notable professionals. Flag and a Buddhist flag Francis Marques, Bartolomeo The tomb of Jaques de Paiva 1997. to journalism to get over the mo- when she was 20 years old). Rodrigues, Domingo de Porto gration to Israel has reduced their number to less than 200 today, Between the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century, the when he was cremated in most of them White Jews. was one of the four that re- notony of legal practice. For a On 18th September 1875, the and Alvaro da Fonseca. Others heyday of the Raj, several Jews arrived in India from Britain, to That cemetery is today the Adyar. while, Olcott was a Drama Critic The Sons of Israel, the Bene Israel, claim descent from the Jews mained in the Mint Street cem- • In his lifetime, he gave 4000 committee resolved that the so- followed, like Rodrigues serve with the Government, or as refugees from Germany. But these sole marker of the significant for the New York Sun. who escaped persecution in Galilee in the 2nd Century BCE, but it is etery. It is, however, no longer to to 5000 speeches, reaching ciety should be called the Theo- Salvadore, Isaac Abendana and migrants remained a niche group, cut off as much from the Indian Jewish presence in old Madras. generally accepted that their numbers only grew with those who Jews as from the rest of India, and most of them migrated after In- be found at Lloyd’s Road, where out to 5 to 6 million people Mary Olcott was a conserva- sophical Society. On 17th No- Elsewhere in India, there are not Marcus Moses. But the commu- fled Islam’s growth in the 7th and 9th Centuries in Iran-Iraq. Like the dependence. Today, there are less then 5000 Jews in India, most of there are the tombstones of two all over the world. tive, orthodox, church-goer. She vember 1875, the Theosophical only more markers but many nity always remained a very small Parsis, they settled in villages from Surat in Gujarat to Ratnagiri, them Bene Israel, but many of whom have contributed significantly other Hebrew diamond mer- • He made Adyar the Mecca feared spiritualism, free thought Society was formed with H.S. times more Jews, even if their one, as may be gleaned from the south of Bombay along the Konkan (Maharashtra) coast and, over to the country. In Madras, however, few remember there was a Jew- chants, Solomon Franco (1763) of Theosophy, with its and new ‘heresies’. Their differ- Olcott as its President, its Corre- numbers are small compared to fact that between 1686 and the years, became an indigenised middle class. In the process, they ish presence not only in the city but also in the Municipal Corpora- and Isaac Sardo (1709). The old branches all over the world. ences ended in a divorce, which sponding Secretary H.P. virtually became an Indian caste (oil merchants), and, except for what they were in the 19th 1786, when India had a mo- tion. But while they were here, they wrote a significant chapter in site was last used in 1964, Esther was rare and frowned upon in Blavatsky and W.Q. Judge as continuing a few Jewish traditions, virtually cut off from Judaism. the commercial history of Madras. Century. – K.V.S.K. nopoly of the supply of rough dia- Cohen’s tombstone at the new those days. Mary Olcott married Counsel for the Society. CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS February 16-28, 2007

hen I was a first-year gates, I feel that army children Wstudent in the University have it easier. Overall, their of Madras, the Hindi textbook A Madrasi families have a much better sup- had a lesson titled Transfer. The port system to cope with the main character in the short constant transplanting. If chil- story, a Railway employee, does dren of Defence personnel show long stints of duty in remote in Bihar up in the middle of the aca- places. Consequently, he be- demic year, the nationwide comes a total stranger to his whose parents expected to Later, realising that it was the Central schools will take them (Current Affairs questions are children who grow up in one move within India during their summer capital of Bihar, they in, no questions asked. But here from the period January 16th comfortable and convenient career. Except in rare cases, all said: “In that corrupt State, a is a question for school princi- to 31st. Questions 11 to 20 place without him; even his wife languages are taught equally man in your position can make pals. When civilians are trans- pertain to Tamil Nadu and becomes distant, with the pass- soullessly in schools, as if the a fortune.” ferred, do they not also move? Chennai.) ing years. When this breadwin- well-chosen pieces of literature Father had to learn the Defence or diplomatic 1. For how much did Tata Steel ner retires and goes back to live mean nothing; they are simply meaning of gherao first-hand circles – if they operated in such acquire Corus in the biggest deal with his own family, he is in ‘lessons’. If we were sometimes when he dealt with powerful towns – might have called Bihar by an Indian company outside some sense bereft. He had done moved by the words, it was an unions, whose members would a ‘dangerous posting’. Yet, this India? all the right things – according is where my father battled on 2. Archaeologists recently dis- unintended effect. literally surround him and not to the dharma of the house- But Transfer was the story of budge till he showed some sem- alone. The reason we left was covered prehistoric hut sites at holder – so what kind of simple – not even the locals Durrington Walls. They are said denouement was this? studied in the place beyond to be the dwelling places of the We too left the poor man high school. Bihar has not been builders of which famous site in l Looking back with VIJAYSREE VENKATRAMAN Britain? alone in his inexplicable known for its academic institu- alienness; there was no discus- The author can be contacted at [email protected] tions since Nalanda. We moved 3. On January 17th, the minute hand of the ‘Doomsday Clock’ sion following the reading. back to the safety and comfort moved how many minutes closer Actually, there could have been our lives. Some of us knew the blance of giving in to their de- of our hometown. While it is to midnight, the fateful hour? no better group to offer him situation in the plot from an- mands. However, the general hard to imagine this in the 4. India recently became the commiseration. Of the sixty or other perspective – that of public tends to view even re- Internet era, keeping in touch sixth nation to successfully so students in the class, a few heartless kids who could not re- sponsible government positions with friends in different cities, recover a satellite from space. had picked Hindi simply as a late to their father any more de- as ‘cushy’ jobs. Giving up was or even your own father, was Name the satellite. matter of choice. Like the pro- spite being the beneficiaries of not an option because, like all not easy. 5. Name the Nobel Laureate tagonist, our fathers had trans- all his sacrifices. When Father fathers, mine was determined to Are transfers so terrible, you whose latest work Palestine: Peace ferable jobs. The so-called got a difficult posting, our ex- provide for his children’s future. ask; were there no bright spots Not Apartheid has angered many national language has always tended family could not place Meanwhile, what of our stay in the capital of present-day for its title and other sentences in been a safe bet for children the town in a map of India. in Bihar? The afternoon flight Jharkand, or at the other the book. would bring us our daily news- postings? Well, I can now boast 6. Which much-anticipated paper from Calcutta. Frequent that the dashing Dhoni and I product’s global launch com- power cuts meant that we menced with the launch event in went to the same school. More Auckland on January 30th? Efforts underway would often sit down to unro- seriously, the biggest perk is that 7. Who are the new Australian mantic candlelight dinners. We transfer does not let you remain Open tennis singles champions? to save a palace are humans, not machines, our a frog-in-the-well. India, and 8. 276 passengers and 28 crew of neighbour, another veteran of indeed the world, is a far bigger he Nagercoil Chapter of INTACH has successfully put a bad transfers, reminded us with place than you can possibly which famous carrier were sick- Tstop to the construction of a girls’ hostel in the front yard of ened by the highly infectious the Eraniel Palace in Kanniyakumari District after communi- good cheer. Apparently, we imagine. There is much to learn norovirus recently? cating with the District Collector. The Kanniyakumari don’t need electricity to func- from diversity, and not all of it 9. Whom did Shilpa Shetty beat Dewaswam Board and the Panchayat Union supported the tion. can come from books. to win the controversial Celebrity INTACH action. Like good schools elsewhere, If the institutions involved Big Brother show on January 28th? mine made sure I realised how handle transfers with some sen- Such an addition would have completely marred the beauty 10. In one of the biggest business th lucky was I to get admission sitivity, such relocations could shockers, which legendary car- of a 16 Century Palace, apart from nullifying the efforts being made by the Tourism Department to revive its past glory. One there. After some days of being be a more rewarding experience maker reported record losses of given the run-around, I made it while we live it and not just $12.7 billion? of the landmarks of this palace is the Vasantha Maaligai, intricately carved from a single stone standing on a base of to class – a week late – and while looking back. People, who * * * 8’ x 5’ granite. The palace stands amidst three acres of land settled into a routine of doing are rooted in one place, don’t 11. Which National-award win- surrounded by the Valliyar River. It has an ancient homework by petromax lamps. always understand what it ning actress/director was born Marthhandeswar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Asha Kelunni? Being the newcomer was diffi- means to be transplanted. But 12. In which hill range is the The Principal Commissioner of Archaeology, Chennai, cult in so many other ways. these are more enlightened Kiliyur Falls? following INTACH’s report on the Eraniel Palace, sent a team Being nicknamed Madrasi was times; India and the world are 13. Complete the sequence: of engineers, an archaeologist and a photographer a few months the least of my problems. In my both shrinking. As we Madrasis Ezhuththathikaaram, Sollathi- ago to evaluate what was necessary to preserve the palace. case, there was no arguing with get ready from October to kaaram, .... Restoration work is expected to commence shortly, with the the geographical correctness of March for the temporary mi- 14. For his translation of which District Administration contributing Rs.25 lakh. There will also the term. grants from all over, we should work did Kannadasan win the be some funding by INTACH. (Source: INTACH Visarat) Now, when I see big green bring the red carpet down from Sahitya Akademi Translation trucks waiting outside school the attic. Prize in 1980? 15. What was created by a Royal Charter issued on December 30, 1687 on the advice of the Chair- What’s planned for our beaches? man of the East India Company, Josiah Child? (Continued from page 1) 16. In Madras cricketing lingo, ‘beautify’ Elliot’s Beach. When sand and unpolluted water. Corporation and PWD are what is gappae? kuppam residence, has sought the earthmovers moved out, There is no need to do anything some of the worst departments 17. Name the French general more details on this transport one machine was left behind to more on the shore or away from when it comes to sharing infor- who captured Fort St. George and project and suggested that citi- sift the sand of rubble and plas- it.” Adyar Times, the neigh- mation on such public issues,” Madras before the British zens and residents should be tic waste. bourhood newspaper, has for- says Nityanandan. “So we give regained control through the consulted. Earlier, the zonal office of the mally requested the officer who ourselves at least 60 days’ time Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Meanwhile, a month ago, Chennai Corporation (in heads the zone to share details before we can actually pursue 18. What was the present Chief the Chennai Corporation sent Adyar) had called for a meeting of this project because such de- such sensitive issues.” Minister, M. Karunanidhi’s con- its earthmovers to Elliot’s of its officers and heads of local tails are never shared voluntar- Meanwhile, people like stituency when he was elected an Beach. When the machines be- NGOs to discuss the ‘beautifi- ily. There has not been any re- Saravanan and NGOs in the MLA for the first time in 1957? gan to level sand dunes and cation project’. S. Satya- sponse so far (as of February area plan to 19. In 1996, when the names of humps, a group of residents ob- narayanan of Exnora was 12th) to two letters of request. rally the support of people who Districts in the State were among those who attended the Social activist Nityanandan use the beach and kuppam resi- changed, what did Pasumpon jected to this action. They said Muthu-ramalinga Thevar that the civic body did not have meeting. He says he was horri- says that Saravanan of Uroor dents to debate these issues. District become? the powers to disturb such natu- fied to see the plans which in- kuppam has filed another RTI “We want to ensure that the 20. Near which city/town in ral expanses which fall under cluded a list of fancy additions Act petition with the PWD and community’s views are heard Virudhunagar District would one the coastal regulation zone lim- like lamps, walkways and lawns. the Corporation seeking details and their ideas accommodated see Sanjeevi Hills? its. The civic body says that this Says he, “We want the beach to on this Elliot’s Beach project. in such projects,”says Nitya- (Answers on page 8) work was part of its effort to be what a beach is. Just clean This was filed 20 days ago. “The nandan. February 16-28, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

What’s needed for better Subscriptions and contributions l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please heritage management? make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and send it, together with the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 260-A, TTK ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTHERN NTACH organised a PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 62/63, GREAMS ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. IHeritage Management Semi- An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of nar in New Delhi where our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue to be Harvard- and Stanford-edu- First principles of essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play a greater cated Chief Guest Jyotiraditya role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and its envi- Scindia, a young Member of heritage management ronment. We therefore look forward to your sending us your contri- Parliament, stated that the im- set of powerful “First Principles” to guide urban heritage butions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. peratives of heritage conserva- Aconservation has emerged over the past two decades and If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated sup- tion and socio-economic devel- has been validated through professional practice across the port from those of you who have already made contributions, and if opment could – and must – co- world. Many have arisen out of a uniquely Asian physical and many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only be able exist, notwithstanding the socio-cultural space. The pre-requisites for appropriate and to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue aware- stresses of globalisation. He successful conservation have been stated in brief as: ness-building exercises on on-going projects as well as undertake one or two more such exercises. pointedly added that the mas- • Collective mapping of cultural space, its hierarchies, sive development taking place symbolic language and associations. Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION on the Ridge and the Yamuna TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, • Tangible cultural expressions deriving their origin, value and riverbed in Delhi is indicative of we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for continuing significance from intangible cultural practices. 2006-07 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the how the obsession to make causes Chennai Heritage espouses. Delhi a global city is compro- • Authenticity, the defining characteristic of heritage, is a mising its ecological heritage. relative characteristic to be found in continuity, but not We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their subscrip- Apart from management of necessarily continuity of material. tions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a free mailer. heritage sites and tourism, the • Conservation process succeeds when histories are revealed, — The Editor focus of the seminar was on spe- traditions revived, and meanings recovered in a palimpsest cific issues like human resource of knowledge. CHENNAI HERITAGE development, urban renewal • Appropriate use of heritage is negotiated, resulting in a life- and fund-raising, all critical fac- enhancing space. 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, , CHENNAI 600 018. ets of contemporary heritage management. The highlights of I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it the Final Recommendations quality of life of the inhabit- l Heritage Management and were, in brief: ants and the environment of Tourism Development must hereafter. l Listing of heritage, both tan- the area. It may require new be viewed as two sides of the l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 gible and intangible, and tools of urban planning same coin and entails Heri- (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, classifying their importance which do not a priori ‘freeze’ tage Impact Assessment as subscription to Madras Musings for the year 2006-07. are essential for managing development activities in Studies being undertaken. their conservation and must the proximity of heritage l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment be carried out in consulta- buildings/areas/zones. l To mitigate the negative and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai consequences of tourism, tion with all stakeholders. l Visions and strategies for eritage an additional Rs...... (Rupees both the host community l The listed buildings/areas/ effective heritage manage- ...... ) zones must be inscribed in ment entail detailed engi- and visitors should be well Please keep / put me on your mailing list. the statutory Development/ neering for each site, coordi- informed about the signifi- Master/Zonal/Area Level nated inputs from different cance of local heritage mo- Name : ...... Plans which control devel- res and cultural practices government agencies, and Address: ...... opment of the city and due conformity with prevailing through interpretation cen- reference should be made to international and Master tres and a strategy to distrib- ...... UNESCO/ICOMOS resolu- Plan norms. ute tourism, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of each ...... tions, National/State laws, l The Jawaharlal Nehru and INTACH Charter for National Urban Renewal site. Conservation of Unpro- Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas Mission (JNNURM) is a l Human Resource Develop- postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All tected Architectural Heri- powerful agent of change for ment, starting with training other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. tage and Sites in India. 63 Indian cities, and must be of the trainers, is required at l The objectives of heritage used to leverage the objec- all levels to create a cadre of management must invari- tives of heritage manage- professional conservation ably lead to improving the ment in those cities. experts, tourism personnel, and sensitised bureaucrats, Senate House Conservation Fund as well as for all staff related l The Senate House Restoration and Management Trust appeals to to development and mainte- all alumni of the and heritage lovers every- nance of tourism infrastruc- where to contribute to the Senate House Conservation Fund which ture. the Trust is managing for the purpose of restoring Senate House to Till February 20: An exhibition of mation Science, University of its old glory and maintaining it thereafter in the same condition. sculpture by Nupur Chatterjee. Madras, 4 p.m.) l INTACH’s outreach pro- Cheques should be made out to the Senate House Conservation (At Apparao Galleries.) February 27: A music concert by gramme should be expanded Account and sent to the Registrar, University of Madras, Chennai Till February 21: Crafts Council of the choir of Gandharva Maha- to develop high-end conser- 600 005. Contributions are eligible for benefits under Section 80-G India’s handicraft exhibition and vidyalaya, New Delhi, con- vation education at the Uni- of the Income Tax Act. an art exhibition by Uma ducted by Madhup Mudgal. (At versity level and to create a Dayanidhi. (At Lalit Kala Kalakshetra.) public mass support for heri- Dear Registrar, Akademi.) Till February 28: Vasantha Vizha tage management. I am pleased to enclose a cheque for Rs...... – annual children’s mela with as my contribution to the restoration and maintenance of Till February 21: An exhibition of bullock cart rides, shadow pup- l The goodwill of Corporates Senate House. Kindly acknowledge receipt. the work of artist V. Anamika (at pets and special activities (at and Non-Resident Indians Alliance Francaise). Name: ...... DakshinaChitra). must be tapped for funding February 24: Hitesvara, an evening Till February 28: Paintings and conservation projects. Address: ...... of music with U. Shrinivas, photographs by Palaniappan. (At INTACH should constitute ...... Shankar Mahadevan, Sivamani Apparao Galleries.) an expert group to evaluate and Zakir Hussain, in aid of February 28: Violin concert by ...... medicare for the underprivileged strategies and make recom- T.N. Krishnan. (At Kalak- mendations for funding; and in rural areas. (At Music Acad- shetra.) ...... emy, 6.30 p.m.) lobby with policy makers to February 24-March 2: Australian create a financial regime to I am an alumnus/alumna/heritage lover and wish the project all Handicrafts, embroidery and February 26: A lecture on Innova- encourage and reward good success. My college was ...... tive Services of a Special Library by handicrafts from Australia. (At Dr. Rafael Ball, Central Library Lalit Kala Akademi.) heritage management prac- Date: ...... Signature: ...... of Research Centre, Julich, Ger- Till March 3: The work of artist tices. — (Courtesy: Virasat, many. (At Department of Infor- Sudip Roy. (At Artworld.) the journal of INTACH.) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS February 16-28, 2007

against Karnataka cost him his New finds compensate place. But Anirudha has repre- sented the country with aplomb at the Under-19 level and for T.N. disappointing should soon bounce back. None can easily forget his brave effort as a 17-year-old, when he here’s no need to feel Kapoor, who reaped a rich har- started off with a ‘duck’ in his scored 32 against one of Tdespondent that the Tamil vest of in the local first Ranji game for Tamil England’s fastest and most ac- Nadu Trophy team league, for some strange reason Nadu, against Haryana, but curate bowlers, Simon Jones, at plummeted to unexpectedly low was unable to reproduce that then scored 89 against . levels in the Ranji Trophy Su- form in the Ranji games till the Saurashtra, 134 against Uttar Among the veterans, per League group. The team last one against Baroda. Left- Pradesh, and 39 and 59 against R. Ashwin, selected Indian bowler Sridharan Sharath scored a bril- was distinctly unlucky from its arm spinner R. Ramkumar, one Karnataka. of the year. This article had been liant 109 against Saurashtra in written before that selection. first game against New Delhi. of the finest left-arm spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin, the his 100th Ranji game and Luck rather than performance the State, disappeared into off-spinner, looks to be the elu- captain Badrinath helped Tamil brought pride to his team. deserted the side. oblivion and so too paceman sive replacement that the State Nadu gain the vital lead. His Wicketkeeper M. Vikram made The selectors should be M.R. Srinivas. has been looking for since S. second six- haul conced- a promising debut against Delhi lauded for spotting some prom- Venkataraghavan’s retirement ing just 64 runs in Baroda’s sec- and also scored 52. Strangely, he later lost out to K. Varun ising talent which is bound to l by from the game in the 1980s. His ond paved the way for Kumar. I wonder what hap- make the side a much stronger BHASKERAN THOMAS performances in the just-con- the home side to gain an out- outfit in the next couple of cluded First Division League right win and four valuable pened to that agile keeper years. proved to be no flash in the pan points. This effort prevented Peston Matthews who showed All this did not dampen the much promise in the league cir- Former Indian opener and and his entry into the senior Tamil Nadu being relegated to spirit of the team. It fought hard cuit. It was a pity that Indian State skipper, W.V. Raman, side certainly lent an edge to the the Plate Division. and Badrinath led by personal wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaar- now the team coach, was given attack which for long had been Much was expected of India example, scoring 136 in the first thick was available only for the a team that was undergoing a dependent on two left-arm Under-19 paceman Vijaya- match against Delhi, an impres- last game, against Baroda, when transformation similar to what spinners. He made his debut kumar Yomahesh, but he was a sive 69 against Haryana and a he was unfortunately dismissed happened in the mid-1960s against Haryana in the third bit of a disappointment, possi- dazzling 89 against the fancied cheaply. when the then Madras team game of the Super League and bly because he lacked support at Baroda team. He also had use- It’s good news that skipper was bereft of stars like its cap- started off with 4 for 93 and two the opposite end. It is said that ful scores against Uttar Pradesh Badrinath’s name figures among tain and Indian all-rounder, for 55. fast bowlers hunt in pairs and and Karnataka. The outright the 30 probables chosen for the A.G. Kripal Singh. Captaincy Balaji was successful because of defeat against the last-named From then on he went on to 2007 World Cup. The TNCA was thrust on wicket-keeper Srinivas at the other end. team placed Tamil Nadu in the bigger performances. He nearly would do well to groom P.K. Belliappa and he inherited Jesuraj and D.T. Kumaran piquant situation of being rel- won for Tamil Nadu the crucial Badrinath, Ashwin and Vijay as a virtually raw Madras Univer- somehow failed to live up to egated to the Plate Division of game against last year’s Ranji their earlier promise. future candidates for Indian sity team that had several prom- Champions Uttar Pradesh, the Ranji tournament. Opener S. Anirudha was un- teams. They have the potential ising players who had enabled it when he took 6 for 128 and 5 The batting finds of the sea- lucky to lose his place against to replace many of the seniors to remain at the top in the All- for 23. Suresh Raina’s superb son were M. Vijay, R. Prasanna Baroda despite an 86 against who are sure to hang up their India Rohinton Baria tourna- 134 and skipper Moham-med and wicket-keeper M. Vikram. Uttar Pradesh and 56 against boots after the World Cup. — ment. Kaif’s 88 took the game away Vijay has the potential to be- Saurashtra. His twin failure (Courtesy: Straight Bat.) This past season’s virtually come an Indian opener in the from Tamil Nadu and cost the new-look Tamil Nadu team was not too distant future, going by team two valuable points. But at captained by S. Badrinath. his string of good scores. He be- one stage, Ashwin, who also ANSWERS TO QUIZ With the exodus of the likes of gan with 59 and 38 in his debut scored an unbeaten 42, had Sadagopan Ramesh and Sri- Uttar Pradesh gasping to avoid 1. £ 6.7 billion; 2. Stonehenge; 3. Five minutes, to indicate growing game against Delhi, scored a concerns about the global nuclear threat; 4. Space Capsule Recovery dharan Sriram, India paceman massive 179 against Andhra, 34 defeat at 100 for seven in its sec- L. Balaji rendered unfit through ond innings. In the game that Experiment (SRE-1); 5. Jimmy Carter; 6. Windows Vista; 7. Roger and 32 not out against Haryana, Federer and Serena Williams; 8. The cruise ship Queen Elizabeth 2; 9. a back injury, and the possibil- and a splendid 121 against Tamil Nadu lost to arch-rivals ity of Hemang Badani’s shift to Karna-taka, Ashwin made 46 Jermaine Jackson, brother of Michael Jackson; 10. Ford. Baroda which helped Tamil * * * Rajasthan, it faced uncertainly Nadu considerably. and bagged three wickets. right from the beginning. 11. Revathi; 12.Servarayan range in the Eastern Ghats; 13. Ramaswamy Prasanna, who Ashwin’s five for 65 demol- Porulathikaaram. They are the three chapters of Tolkappiyam; 14. Badani later rescinded his deci- made his debut for Tripura in ished Baroda’s hopes of a big Cheraman Kadali; 15. Corporation of Chennai; 16. Failing to latch on sion, but his form was none too the East Zone during the 2004- total in the first innings and to a simple catch. The term could mean the person also; 17. Bertrand- good. 05 season, returned to play for helped his team restrict the visi- François Mahé de La Bourdonnais; 18. Kulithalai; 19. ; 20. Veteran off-spinner Aashish his home State this season. He tors to 263. Then Vijay and Rajapalayam.

F.L. Smidth Limited

Since 1856, patently leaders UCAL AUTO — A WELLWISHER TVS MOTOR COMPANY PRIVATE LIMITED

Published by S. Muthiah forfor ‘Chennai‘Chennai Heritage’,Heritage’, 260-A,260-A, TTK TTK Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600 600 018 018 and and printed printed by by T TJ JGeorge George at atLokavani Lokavani-Hallmark Southern Printers Press Pvt.Pvt. Ltd.,Ltd., 62/63,122, Greams Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600600 006.006. EditedEdited byby S.S. MUTHIAH.MUTHIAH.