Registered with the Reg. No. TN/PMG (CCR) /814/06-08 Registrar of Newspapers Licence to post without prepayment for India 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 CHENNAI INSIDE
Short ‘N’ Snappy
Clean, not fancy, beach MADRAS Sangamam something special Season’s pluses & minuses
The Suligiri Maneater
Vol. XVI No. 23 MUSINGS March 16-31, 2007 Rebuilding Foreshores fishing The Editors Viewpoint Some plain-speaking hamlets on City festivals (By Sriram V.) efore the British there was no Madras. There was no Excuse? Traffic of course! Thats BChennai either. And that is a historical fact which needs to the fashionable excuse nowadays! he fishing hamlets that dot collaboration with a Malaysian be recognised by everyone interested in truth and not fancy. Tthe Marina are probably firm. Rehabilitation of the Yes, there was Tamizhagam, but that had little to do with Ma- Whats your excuse? the oldest and the most con- displaced fisherfolk was not to dras or Chennai till nearly 150 years after 1639. Which is why we at Madras Musings have not only kept Madras and Chennais chronic latecomers tinuously inhabited parts of the be anywhere near the place city of Madras that is Chennai. where they needed to be Tamizhagam separate but have also always embraced both iden- never had it so good. tities of the city as one and have kept referring to it as Madras Why are you late? snaps the Today, the various clusters have namely the sea. A volley of pro- that is Chennai. irate spouse/parent/teacher/ more or less merged into one, tests followed and then with the From earliest times, it was Madras in English and Chennai in boss/host... whatever. though the constituent areas tsunami of 2004, these plans Tamil, even in official publications; so, there was never a dual- And pat comes the single-word are called by various names were quietly dropped. During ity about it. But of late there has been a regrettable tendency on answer: Traffic. such as Srinivasapuram, that natural calamity, the area the part of a few to paint Madras as a city of Western-oriented That vast word hides many Doomingkuppam and Nochi- bore the brunt of the seas fury elitists and Chennai as the voice of the people, even if those truths about the causes of de- voices are in such Western-developed media as films and TV, lay, which run the gamut kuppam as you travel down San with many lives lost. Thomé High Road to the Despite this, and with an im- loudspeakers and posters. from forgetting to set your A recent summing-up of Chennai Sangamam, that success- alarm, having unrealistic Beach. A feeder road that runs portant road passing through it, parallel to San Thomé High the area has been greatly ne- ful city festival, is a classic example of this. This review, a splen- views on how much time you did example of that Western discipline called sociology, has vi- have, completely underesti- Road, and acts as a bypass dur- glected. Fires are frequent in the tiated with its divisive language what was viewed as a city festi- mating how long it takes ing peak hours, separates the tenements and the huts that val for one and all, the citys elite and the urban multitude. some of us to merely get al- houses from the beach and in surround them and even basic The review contends that the Sangamam was cosmopolitan in ready, or just being incapable the early mornings and eve- amenities such as toilets, clean its sweep and that the public spaces of the city reverberated to of placing any value on any- nings a thriving fish market op- water and electricity are denied folk forms. Agreed and the city has emerged much the better one elses time. erates on the side of this road. to the residents. Matters may for it. But can we also look at the venues that were used for And you can do nothing. You These villages have seen sev- now change and things may such events parks, beachfronts and city malls? Now what are know youre looking at the these locations if not elitist? Are they not the creations of an millenniums most bare-faced eral changes with the passage of look up with the Government time. The first was in the 1970s taking up the project of rebuild- urban upper middle class, a bourgeois ordering of space? And liar, yet you cannot challenge let us not forget that if the events were not happening in these these excuses. when the then newly set up ing 7320 tenements between parks and city malls, they were taking place in the forecourts of The problem is, youve been Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Nochikuppam and Srinivasa- five-star hotels. Yet another example of people-frequented there yourself, so you know Board built multi-storeyed ten- puram. There are at present venues? what its like... ements along the beachfront for 2862 tenements in four-sto- And as for Town, which perhaps qualified as cosmopolitan Traffic has also created an un- the benefit of those living there. reyed buildings, all of them in long before the term became fashionable, and the oldest part of healthy sort of oneupman- However, it was really in 2003 terrible condition for which the the city, the North, where the urban multitude is at its most ship in a society already over- congested, they remained completely left out, neglected as they riddled with competition. when the first threat to the very saline air is largely being existence of these hamlets came blamed. The cost of rebuilding have been for decades. The reason? Town and its earliest hinter- I got stuck the other day for an land do not have parks, malls and open spaces, the kind of struc- entire hour, you boast. when, what with rapid urbani- is estimated to be Rs. 138.10 sation, a plan came up to beau- crore. Part of the funding is ex- tures that are needed to support a peoples festival. Above all, Big deal one hour, your they also cannot accommodate cars, the kind in which the citys companion scoffs. I got tify the Marina and also de- pected to come from tsunami elite travel to witness peoples festivals. stuck for 31/ hours, that too velop housing for multination- relief funds as well and many of 2 The essay, which sounded like a Western-educated behind a smoke-belching ve- als along the beachfront on the those affected by the disaster academicians social critique, claimed that the Sangamam hicle, and missed my flight. lines of Shanghai, in (Continued on page 2) brought Carnatic music and dance to the public parks and out Factor in time taken is the from claustrophobic sabhas. Has this reviewer forgotten that new basis for planning any- till not so very long ago Carnatic music did belong to the streets thing that involves road when nagaswaram artistes performed in temple processions and usage, with some roads arbi- musicians sang in temporary pandals outside temples? Was it trarily rewriting the old rules not then interpreted as crass religious humbug and therefore about peak-hour traffic. banished from the streets? And as for dance, let us not forget Both weather and water prob- that had it not been for a mid-Victorian morality that brought lems are now depressed, as in legislation in the 1920s, dance would still be performed in they have been completely streets and temple precincts and not in claustrophobic sabhas. replaced by Traffic as The Paean for Sangamam has also conveniently forgotten conversation pieces. other truths. That Mylapore Festival was really the first of its Having become such a rare kind in the city in recent times, involving the public-at-large phenomenon, maybe we with its open air events, concerts in parks (yes, but then should present annual awards Mylapore is bourgeois and perhaps its attempts do not count), to those who display punctu- and folk art performances and demonstrations. It was an attempt ality even occasionally. (Continued on page 5) Ranjitha Ashok Fishers tenements awaiting rebuilding.
CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2007 The mother of all excuses he Chennai Metropolitan to the fact that it is a historic Bus Day passenger seat maintaining clients. But what do you call it TDevelopment Authority location and that it needs pro- a continuous monologue when the recipient also gets has offered what can be consid- tection, restoration and re-use t was only recently that The through a megaphone which is mailers en masse? MMM was in ered the mother of all lame as a cultural centre. IMan from Madras Musings for the benefit of all those precisely this situation when a excuses when it comes to had written about Valentines standing in the vicinity and in- multinational finance company explaining its tardiness in Waste & Energy Day. Now MMM finds our city cludes fruit-mongers, loiterers, of repute sent him 12 mailers demolishing illegal construc- also has a Bus Day. No, it is not those who park cars, others of the same scheme on the tions that have been so ost organisations and a day spent in the worship of who think they do, etc. same day. And all by courier declared by the High Court. It Mcorporate bodies of buses. On the other hand, it is and each to be signed for sepa- has claimed that it is unable to Madras that is Chennai claim some kind of merrymaking by One such recipient of this rately. to take the issue of waste and advice is the owner of a phar- find any bidders for its tender students which also involves On asking if this was the floated for the demolition. energy management very seri- the misuse or abuse of buses by macy opposite the humble ously, though the continuing abode of MMM. This man puts case with any other recipient, All this is very puzzling to climbing on to the roof and the courier boy grinned broadly The Man from Madras Musings. emphasis on glass and concrete probably dancing there as well. out an enormous sandwich makes The Man from Madras board each morning on the and said that this was the fifth You only have to look around After all, when film heroes, bundle he was delivering for the city walls to see bright post- Musings think otherwise. Be todays role models, dance on road, effectively blocking what that as it may, an automotive is left of the sidewalk and also a the day and everyone else had ers publicising an agency that train roofs, can students not do asked the same question. claims to demolish any building components manufacturer in something as close to it as pos- part of the road. Along comes in 48 hours! Or is that appli- the city appears to have taken sible? the police car and the voice What really happens is that cable only to genuine, Corpo- matters a bit too far. MMM was within commands the man to most marketing outfits collect ration-approved buildings? tickled pink to notice a poster This year, according to the remove the board. The man addresses from all kinds of It is quite amazing that in a displayed in the toilet which police, Bus Day passed off does so. The car moves on and sources and never weed out du- city where buildings vanish stated that the company took peacefully, thanks to tighter the man returns the board to its plication and, presto! people within a day or two and wreck- like MMM get more than their ers are doing great business, the fair share. regulatory authority is unable SHORT N SNAPPY to find anyone to help it. University buildings its Energy Management security. What puzzles MMM original position... and life goes he Man from Madras Gokhale Hall latest Scheme very seriously and that is the tension that precedes and on just as it used to. This hap- T Musings has a humble emolition and wrecking its policy was to Reduce the relief that succeeds Bus pens day after day and neither request to all those involved in Dnowadays always reminds Waste, Recycle and Reuse! Day. Why not have a strict set the policeman nor the pharma- the restoration of Senate House The Man from Madras Musings of dos and donts that the stu- cist (and, to be frank, MMM if they are still involved with of Gokhale Hall. The latest is Oh, for a camera! dents need to follow year after also) ever appears to tire of this the University and the work. that the Corporation has asked year? These are already in charade. Can they not now cast their be- for certain clarifications from hat has often been the existence, apparently. But, and nign glances at the main the Old (sorry) Young Mens Treaction of The Man from here is the rub, unless someone The helmet story building of the University? A Indian Association. That body Madras Musings while going complains, the police, which fortnight ago, MMM had vis- has not replied despite a couple walkabout in our city when he long ago stopped being proac- et another twist has been ited the place and found that of reminders. notices many things ranging tive, cannot take action. Now Yadded to the helmet debate the exterior was being given a The YMIA when contacted from the sublime to the ridicu- who will complain? It is after the Government decided coat of paint and the grille work adamantly claims that the lous. Recently we, or should another of those Catch 22 to make helmet-wearing (called jali in Hindi and for st building is unsafe for habita- MMM say some people who situations. compulsory from June 1 on- some reason as jolly in Tamil) tion and that parts of it fell in think they own the city, wards. A lawyer of the city, The was being cleaned up. Rumour in 1996. This is patently celebrated the birthday of their Mobile police Man from Madras Musings had it that all this was due to untrue. MMM is familiar with leader and hoardings and learns, has appealed against some powerful team visiting the building and all that has display boards erected for the t was only in the last issue of this in the courts, stating that the place. IMadras Musings that The the lack of helmets alone does happened is that one wall, a purpose are still in various The interior, however, had load-bearing member, it is true, stages of being dismantled. Man from Madras Musings had not result in fatalities. 95% of commented on the way the po- the road accidents are caused not been looked into. There has subsided leaving a big gap Some may never be removed were loose wires (the kind that between it and the ceiling. This until Mother Nature does lice cars remain stationary, by poor road lighting, very poor oblivious of what is happening quality of road construction cause short circuits and make forced the relocation of gym something. old Chennai buildings go up in equipment to the ground floor. What took the cake, how- around them. But MMM was and the terrible state in which wrong and would like to correct most roads are. There is much flames) and there were broken That was all. The Hall has ever, though rather appropri- windows and corridors that had survived ten years after that ately for a birthday, was a city himself before the police force to be said for both sides of the notices. argument. not been swept for years. There and MMM has seen the resto- bus with a huge poster hailing was a toilet with dripping taps ration of buildings that were in and feting the leader stuck on its The cars once in a while let and a door that had to be se- far worse conditions. rear by one of the unions affili- out a foghorn-like sound, Mass mail cured by means of either a Buildings like the YMIA ated to the leaders party. Just which by itself does enough to string or simply will power. were constructed to last and above the poster was a painted reduce the lives of geriatrics in he Man from Madras Now, do general hygiene and not all the unfit for occupa- sign which said that the bus was the neighbourhood and also to T Musings always believed cleanliness not form part of an tion certificates will stand a public property and ought not to scare cows into a permanent that mass mailing meant an educational institutions frame- genuine scrutiny. It is high time be disfigured by posters! Can decline. The car then launches organisation or an agency send- work? that the Government woke up you beat that for irony? forward with the officer in the ing out mailers to prospective MMM
A big Thank You REBUILDING FORESHORES FISHING HAMLETS to 34 of you (Continued from page 1) in which more than 5000 fami- pected to protect residents from the area and party rivalry may We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.2.07 and 15.3.07, added to the lies live, have been covered. flooding. The plan is to use pre- also throw spanners into the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, The list of beneficiaries will fabricated slabs and speed up works. In addition, aesthetics Madras Musings, have already received. We are also expected to be rehabili- thank all of them for their support for the tated in the new shelters. One soon be published at taluk of- the process of construction. All and ergonomic practices are not causes Chennai Heritage espouses of the principal sources of fund- fices and then the public has tenements will have a bedroom, really associated with anything — CHENNAI HERITAGE ing will the World Bank-funded been invited to respond. The a kitchen, a toilet and a bath- that the TNSCB usually does. Rs. 50: Sridharanarayanan, T., Sobandevu aim is to make the process room. Electricity supply and wa- Will it be able to do something Reddiar, V. Emergency Tsunami Recon- Rs. 100: Chandrasekaran, C.; Jagadish, S.; struction Project. transparent, with a view to ter supply connections will be different and at the same time Karunanidhi, K.; Kasturirangan, S.; Keshao In reality, the number of minimising social and environ- provided. cater to the residents needs? (Lt.Cdr.) Hazari (G); Nityaanand, A.D.; families residing in this area is mental impact. Tenders will Last week, model tenements Only time will tell. Yet another Parthasarathi, N.S.; Prema Ramakrishnan; then be announced and con- issue is the attitude of the resi- Ragade, Indukanth S.; Rosely Thomas; estimated at 12,000. Those who were fabricated and the public Sivakameswari, V. Narayan; Sreenivasan, cannot be covered by the struction is expected to begin in was invited to see them. Parts dents themselves, who do noth- C.V.; Sridharan, R.; Sundari Mani. present reconstruction are ex- July 2007 for completion by Oc- of the area abutting San Thomé ing to keep their environment Rs. 150: Rajan, R.; Ramakrishnan, R.; pected to be rehabilitated else- tober 2008. beach have been cordoned off clean. The expectation is always Srinivasan, D. that the Government ought to Rs. 200: Cherian, V.M., Murari Rao, P. where. The Tamil Nadu Slum All the tenements will be to begin construction. What, Rs. 400: Balasubramanian, (Dr.) T.N.; Clearance Board has begun four-storeyed and will be on however, remains to be seen is do something. Unless that Krishnamoorthy, (Dr.) Srinivas; Palani Raj, finalising lists of families who seven foot stilts, the area be- the public reaction and how ac- attitude changes, the new C.R.; Ranganathan, T.V.; Reginald, J.S.; will benefit from the plan and at neath which will be used for curate the list of beneficiaries tenements may also very soon Sivaraman, K.; Uma & Shankar, P.; degenerate into eyesores. Vijayaraghavan, B. present all but Srinivasapuram, storage. The stilts are also ex- will be. Politics is very active in Rs. 401: Varki, Anna March 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 3
goes, a yeddy-boody (meaning lackey, menial) to that grand old man of Karnataka, S. Isnt a clean beach Nijalingappa, and sometimes his duties were elevated to the 8 hours to oblivion role of chauffeur. a beautiful beach...? The tide in his affairs hap- . Vijayaraghavans piece on pened during one such trip Bvenomous snakes of the when he eavesdropped on some he Chennai Corporation is viriyan/veeran/moorkhan species vital information being dis- Tall set to change the face of (MM, November 1st) makes no cussed by syndicate leaders Elliots Beach. Corporation Fancy ideas not needed mention of the dreaded kattu and spilled the beans to the Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni viriyan or banded krait. (by Vincent DSouza) leader of the Indicate, Indira made this evident during a pub- Many years ago, my late Gandhi. The rest, as the saying lic consultation held at the Li- few weeks ago, there was a party on Elliots Beach. friend, Charlie One Hand goes, is history and the man has ons Police Boys Club at Uroor- A There wasnt any chilled beer, nor were there fizzy drinks. DCruz (so named for obvious been in the driving seat ever Olcott Kuppam in Besant But there was a lot of food. reasons), was bitten by a kattu since and going so fast, even Nagar recently. As the fireworks lit up the southern sky as part of the finale viriyan while snoozing on the nemesis has not overtaken him. The beach development of Chennai Sangamam arts festival hosted in the city, the party verandah of Seelvas Bungalow, plan prepared by the MEASI got better and went into the night. a stately ruin which stood on C.G. Prasad Gathered on the sands off the Cozee restaurant point, were Academy of Architecture was eight young men who once used to spend every other evening open ground behind the Local 9, C.S. Mudali street finalised last month. The Kondithope, Chennai 600 079 on these sands. Through school and through college, they had Fund Dispensary not far from project envisages beautifica- the Sembiam Panchayat Board shared their highs and lows on these sands. They had even A daily routine tion of the beach by building a shared stories of their romances and dalliances on this beach. office in Perambur. gazebo at the beach centre, set- Commotion ensued. The vil- And then, over a span of a few months, they had broken up. ith reference to the men- ting up small fountains, laying a To go to different corners of the country and of the world where lain was chased, cornered, des- Wtion of Loudspeaker cul- road parallel to the beach, and their jobs took them. But they did not forget Elliot's Beach. patched, stretched out and its ture (MM, March 1st), the revamping the medians, the ex- And they came back to it that week. To celebrate the old times. rings counted. It was well marriage and other functions isting jogging track and the Bessie Beach has been a part of the lives of thousands of known that the victim would take place in the marriage halls skating rink. The gyms at the people of this city. And now the Chennai Corporation has yet live for as many hours as the only for a few days in a month, beach will be expanded and another plan to beautify this urban heritage expanse. snake had rings. There were whereas the loudspeaker nui- provided with more equipment. During the course of 2007, something like Rs. 25 crore will be spent on a project to beautify our beach from the Port Trust eight. Charlie One Hand was sance is a daily routine in some Special facilities will be pro- on his way to oblivion. He in- centres of worship at all odd end in the north to the Thiruvanmiyur coast in the south. vided for the disabled. The A few fancy drawings and projects have been drawn up. deed crossed the great divide hours. Surely this is noise pollu- project cost is estimated at Rs. eight hours later! tion too and needs action to Typically, the plans include fancy ideas gushing fountains, 2-2.5 crore and work will start tiled paths, colourful sun-shades, extensive landscaping, tropi- The kattu viriyans poison be taken against it. right away. becomes more virulent as it cal avenue trees, swank washrooms and smart cabins for hawk- A gathering of about 30 ers on the sands. grows older. It also becomes K.R.S. Sadhashivan people, including residents of Ask the neighbourhoods beach-comber what he or she shorter with age, shedding its 9A, C.K.S. Nagar Besant Nagar and Adyar, envi- wants and he or she says: clean sands, clean shoreline and un- length from its tail end, lessen- Gobichettipalayam Erode 638 452 ronmental activists, fishermen polluted water. Nothing more. Nothing else. ing thereby the number of its and other citizens with con- Why arent City Fathers and the officials listening to the rings and, correspondingly, the Poor pedestrians! cerns were present. The resi- young people, the beach walkers, the hawkers and the kuppam projected life-span, in hours, of residents on what is best for all of us? riram V. deserves commen- dents felt that the beach was its unfortunate victims. Sdation for recently high- good as it was and there was no constructions on the seafront, opment Studies, Ability Foun- Malcolm Murphy lighting the major problems need to touch it. Some sug- violating CRZ rules, are causing dation, Adyar Times, Tree Vigi- 18, Northumberland House faced by pedestrians and senior gested that it was more impor- harm. Care should be taken to lant group and a few residents Gaisford Street citizens. tant to keep the beach clean as ensure that the Olive Ridley of Besant Nagar and London NW5 2EA, England The situation is no different garbage kept piling on the turtles nesting here are not Palavakkam. on Poonamallee High Road beachfront. Most people ex- The driving seat harmed. Also the beach should The beautification plan was where, despite the Bhakta- pressed the fear that the use of be declared as a plastic-free circulated among the partici- MMs reflections about vatsalam Congress Govern- too much concrete might spoil zone. These measures will go a pants by the officials. The Mthe dream job of being ment acquiring some 20 feet of the natural beauty of the beach. long way in protecting the MEASI Academy plan includes chauffeur to a political boss space for widening the road, pe- Lakhoni assured everyone that beach environment. a central pathway with a floor (MM, February 16th) are far destrians are still forced to use much of the sand would remain K. Saravanan, a fisherman of decorative tiles and palm short of the facts. The job actu- the road, as pavements have untouched, that they had noth- from Uroor Kuppam, said, If trees on either side to be laid ally goes beyond the privilege of been taken over by waste accu- ing to fear and that beach roads and pathways come up, perpendicular to the seashore, a being a road hog and getting mulation and stench. The zebra maintenance would be assured the space used by fishermen to six-metre landscape with seat- away with it. Yesteryear grape- crossings dont exist, making it by privatisation. park boats will be reduced. Also, ing facilities inside the beach, vine had it that a certain very difficult for pedestrians to cross There was a general feeling the beachside vendors may no prefabricated fountains, pave- senior political leader (happily the road at Egmore Bridge, among those present that issues longer have enough places to ments and kiosks (for vendors), still with us) began his career as, Flowers Road/Poonamallee concerning the use of public keep their push carts or kiosks if sunshades off the pavement, as that peerless Tamil phrase High Road crossing and even spaces were not being debated the plan is executed. stylised toilets, gyms with mod- opposite Breeze Hotel; road openly. Those who attended the ern equipment, landscaped safety can only be assured if the Lakhoni responded by saying meeting have created an online amphitheatre on the central READABILITY PLEASE Police prosecute car drivers Dear Readers, that infinite consultation is community which can be sand dune and a play area for who dont observe rules. The As letters from readers increase, not possible and there was reached at civilsociety children near the skating rink. Police personnel have to play a we are receiving more and more pressure on the State Govern- [email protected] to Some of those present said proactive role to protect pedes- hand written letters, many of them ment to deliver. But he assured gather public opinion on the that previous attempts to beau- trians. in a hand so small and illegible or everyone that the suggestions of proposed development. tify this beach landscaping, In regard to good over- large and scrawled as to be those concerned would be in- installing play equipment, con- bridges, why not follow the ex- Vidya Venkat unreadable. Often this leads to our corporated in the plan. He also structing small gyms, laying of ample of Bangkok and provide discarding a letter, particularly if said that the plan outline would lawns and planting trees had escalators which people can use An earlier Adyar Times some part of it is unreadable. be displayed prominently at the come to nought. Others said to cross roads. In the main thor- report adds: If you wish us to consider your let- beach so that all beach-users that basic issues like storm and oughfares of Bangkok, traffic ter for publication, please type it would be aware of the propos- Chennai Corporation offi- drainwater being let into the moves fast and no pedestrian with enough space between lines or als. He also hinted that the cials, speaking at a public meet- sands and piling up of garbage crosses the road but uses write it using a medium hand, beach beautification plans were ing organised by the Forum of on the seashore have never overbridges. clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ and crossing part of the Governments efforts Adyar Civic Exnora at Elliots been addressed. I am sure if an NGO starts a the ‘t-s’. to promote tourism. The Com- Beach, said that the civic body Others felt that it would be movement to demand an Many readers also try to fill every missioner gave those concerned was open to ideas and inputs better to interact further with increased share of road space square centimetre of a postcard one months time to get back from the public for its plans to the Corporation officials and space, making reading or editing for pedestrians, then the bu- with more suggestions. beautify Elliots Beach, Besant look at the process of this whole impossible. reaucracy in the Government Nithyanand Jayaraman, an Nagar. project instead of merely Please help us to consider your let- or the Corporation will wake up independent researcher and The meeting was attended debating the pros and cons of ters more favourably by making to the needs of the poor pedes- journalist, said, The beach is by representatives of Friends of them more legible for us. what MEASI had submitted. A trian! Anantharaman an important environmental re- Beach, Maths Science Insti- THE EDITOR follow-up meeting was Chennai 600 041 source. Already a number of tute, Madras Institute of Devel- scheduled. 4 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2007 March 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 Sangamam It felt good... t feels good when you get to know your work also mela should become a weekend permanent feature. Iinspired someone else. A city like ours needs a sangamam like the one we created We at the Mylapore Festival (the annual arts fest created around the year. held on the eve of Pongal in open spaces in and And when the fireworks lit the Besant Nagar skies around Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapore) seem to have after a rocking rock and folk music concert had come provided ideas for the promoters of Chennai to a close on Elliots Beach to signal the finale, it was something Sangamam. evident that the first edition of Chennai Sangamam So when Fr. Jegath Gaspar called us up three had made an impact. weeks before Chennai Sangamam was to be The stock-taking and planning for Sangamam 2 launched and asked us to replicate the Mylapore Fes- must begin NOW. tival at another venue off Marina Beach, we felt The hosts will have to do all they can to be, and be special good. seen, as independent promoters. With Kanimozhi at It was a job done in a hurry. But, then, often many the head, the show is seen as one that had been fabu- sponse, with some attracting beat of another music, while ideas are launched in a hurry. Neidhal Sangamam lously promoted by the State and its departments. In our folk songs lie the stories of our lives around 4000 people at a time. young faces used to blowing ear- on the campus of Lady Willingdon College of Educa- The spread and schedule must have cost a tidy sum. Aruna makes special mention of piercing whistles as their bodies tion, next to Queen Marys College, needed two eve- Now, there is a need to plan and manage the he earthy, husky voice Aruna Subramaniam. The local volunteer Satish David with re- moved freely in uninhibited nings to create a buzz, before the crowds who flood Sangamam professionally, ridding it of the political Tcarries the proud, yet poi- support was far beyond our ex- gard to park management. street dancing, now sat quiet as the Marina turned to the campus. impression it has created. Conscious efforts must be gnant, words over the park to pectations. She points out that My visits to these open-air fi- classical voices soared. Artistes The weekend was ablaze. Arts, crafts, traditional made to involve the corporates and the community city ears, while city hearts keep over the years a certain discon- games, Thamizh books on sale, artists at work, and tie in the event alongside the annual December estas endorse this view. The dressed as village elders moved screening of vintage cinema, folk performances and Season. time with pounding rustic drums. nect had developed between parks seemed to take on fresh life amongst the crowds, removing (Text and pictures by snacks were all on offer. We are convinced that this VINCENT D SOUZA.) The captivated audience is a people and folk art forms, which in their new role of showcasing dhristi in the time-honoured strikingly mixed group of people were, typically, seen on televi- greenery and art. And Chennai, manner, playing out the roles of nication lines open with the folk And you think while there Chennai Sangamam was a A Shaju John photograph. a significant feature of the re- sion, on national programmes or as if realising that the Sangamam concerned, protective seniors, artistes at all times. They cer- were perhaps glitches, and many joint effort, by non-profit Tamil cently concluded Chennai at international events. The con- was in her honour, was at her integral elements in all our lives. tainly need no help with their have voiced trenchant criticisms Maiyam (Managing Trustee, Sangamam, the quintessential cept of Chennai Sangamam grew balmiest best. Even mosquitoes The integration of social art! But wed like to help them of so many aspects, something Rev. Jegath Gaspar Raj), poet, March 30: Gisele Pineau, an ac- Theru Vizha or Street Festival. classes worked better than we showcase their work; give them special was created by Chennai columnist writer, and coordina- claimed writer of Guadeloupian During the six-day carnival thought, says Aruna although ideas on how to fine-tune, Sangamam. tor, Chennai Sangamam, Kani- origin, will be in Chennai for two featuring 60 art groups, 700 par- there were some honourable ex- present themselves, work on Maybe recognising the mozhi Karunanidhi, and the reasons; firstly in the context of ticipating artistes, and 37 art ceptions who hesitated to climb their costumes... such aspects. sameness beneath the differ- Tamil Nadu Department of Francophony, she will talk on this forms, classicism stood shoulder language and culture which has out of the box. You talk at ran- Were there faults? Yes, but I ences, and celebrating both ele- Tourism and Culture. Chennai to shoulder with folk art forms, been passed on through oral tra- dom to the audience. They are wont be too harsh on ourselves. ments in us, imbibes lives with Sangamam was directed by with Carnatic musicians later de- dition. And secondly, as an filled with appreciation. Our Everything was planned in a few many glorious colours. Vasanth, with art by Thotta Antillean woman, she will talk on scribing the experience as elec- kids finally have a true picture of weeks. And we will learn from Tharani, and music by Paul Till March 21: Art Festival Art versity Press launch the book 200 her identity on which she has also trifying. The Sangamams spec- our arts. This is the way to keep mistakes made. And that is perhaps what Life Jacob. camp and exhibition (at Lalit Kala Years of Immanuel Kant by Prof. A. dedicated one of her essays (at trum also included theatre, liter- our folk arts alive, not just con- As for the mix of arts that was always meant to be a Akademi). Raghuramaraju (at University of Alliance Francaise, 11 a.m.). ary fests, classical dance perfor- confluence... a sangamam. fined to villages or small towns. was deliberate. We are today a Ranjitha Ashok Till March 24: Women Struggle & Madras, 10.30 a.m.). March 31 & April 1: Dialogue: mances, art exhibitions and mu- And what a break from tensions people of many parts, with a cul- * * * Triumph, a photographic exhibi- Dance in Conversation with Music, March 23: Art Auction organised by sic shows that featured rock and and routine from TV, malls and ture that is going global. Why tion by Shaju John, who has spent Taj Coromandel in association a collaborative work in progress jazz, choir and piano concerts, 20 years behind the lens in India, with the Association of British between Preethi Athreya, a movies. think along restrictive lines? Let SOME PLAIN-SPEAKING and artistes from neighbouring Performances were brisk, not us represent our lives as they are freezing colour, emotion, joy, sor- Scholars, Artworld and Rotary (at Chennai-based contemporary (Continued from page 1) states. out of a perceived need to bridge couldnt keep the crowds away. laden with Chief Guests, today with so many influences, row, beauty, and the human spirit. Taj Coromandel). dancer, and Tobias Sturmer, a these gaps and fight elitism in art. The audience revelled in the This exhibition showcases the March 24: Military Band The Mili- percussionist, composer and Logistics was certainly a big speeches or even laboured trans- and celebrate the fact. made without sweeping government patronage, the kind that opens hard labour of women in the salt tary Band from the Officers Train- ethnomusicologist (at Alliance challenge, with the Government Parks, beaches, streets of his- freedom typical of open-air en- lations. The flow between Some images stay with you. A up parks and closes roads at will in order to allow a festival to take pans near Pondicherry (at Alli- ing Academy (OTA) performs (at Francaise, 7.00 p.m.). and corporates playing key roles torical character like the Mada tertainments. artistes and audience was as youngster turns and grins at his place. Perhaps because the Mylapore Festival began with no powerful backing, there were attempts to strangle it, what with some leading ance Francaise). Rukmini Arangam Open-air the- April 9-21: 1000 Bhopal, a photo in providing an efficient support Veedhis in Mylapore, city land- Crowd participation was simple and straightforward as the jeans-clad city counterparts as Till March 28: An exhibition to atre, Kalakshetra, 6.30 p.m.). exhibition primarily focussing on system. Volunteers came from marks, auditoriums wherever heartwarming clapping, cheers, shops in the area approaching the Courts. Despite all this, the Festival milieu the performers came from. they applaud him vigorously, survived and later showed the way for the Triplicane Festival, the ECR showcase the manmade works of chemical pollution and its impact among the people students, crowds gathered were chosen laughter, wolf-whistles, they gave There were sublime lessons. and, briefly, so many barriers Tara Publishing (at Alliance on human and environmental Festival and the Tiruvanmiyur Festival. All of these involved the resi- NGOs, certain Rotary Clubs, venues. Performances were also the artistes their all. Maamas and The nattu paadal was descriptive melt. A young city girl shakes Francaise). health. Though the exhibit dis- held in schools, colleges, old-age maamis who had so far kept dents of the localities, not just the elite, but just about everyone and and individuals. of specific realities, and carried hands solemnly with the tiger- very little sponsorship of any kind. Truly have they been peoples, and Till March 28: Baroda Revisited - plays images of Endosulphan poi- homes, shopping centres even taalam to the most pristine of Exhibition by artists from Baroda soning in Kasargode, Kerala, and This was a Peoples Fest, its own lessons. How many cups man as he bends gallantly over participatory, festivals. taken care of by the people, says Central Jail. The parks appear to Carnatic music, now tapped their of coffee must my mother serve to her, and then clutches her hands An attempt was then made by the CII Tamil Nadu to get all these (at Artworld). chemical pollution from the have drawn tremendous re- feet and nodded vigorously to the Till March 30: Enshrined in Ink, an Golden Corridor in Gujarat, the volunteer, Chennai Sangamam, all these men who come to see my to her chest, shuddering in deli- festivals under the umbrella of a Chennai Festival, but lacking official exhibition of recent works by Sirpi main focus is on Tamil Nadu sister, one line went, drawing at- cious fear. support the idea remained a dream to be fulfilled one day. Then came Jayaraman (at Forum Art where places like Cuddalore, tention to the evils of the dowry A 75-year-old artiste, lithe an attempt by FLO Tamil Nadu, the womens wing of FICCIs local Gallery). Mettur, Manali and Chengalpattu chapter, to revive the idea. They too failed to get official backing system. Another points out that and spry, performs amazing feats but several who were present at FLOs meetings proved more success- March 19: Book Launch Max are severely impacted by industrial Bringing us closer to roots the images raised by cinema mu- with the kavadi. The pyrotechnic Mueller Bhavan and Oxford Uni- pollution (at Alliance Francaise). ful and Sangamam was the result. t a time when everyone is thinking and talking folk artistes perform in their natural setting in the sic are all unreal. The key word display leaves the crowd gasping, When CII-TN failed, Madras Week was thought of, on either side Aglobal, it was heartening to watch an event open air, on the green grass, amidst trees and shrub, was Sangamam, says Aruna, and you wonder about the of Madras Day, to celebrate just that, the founding of a city. Talks on that attempted to guide Generation Next closer to its with their bright and colourful attire catching the rays explaining the mix of so many years of training under gruelling various aspects of the city were organised, a camera scanned peoples roots. It is not the first time that many of us were of the evening sun. art forms, traditional, classical circumstances where punish- movements and presented interesting vignettes from the beach, there attending therukoothu, folk arts, classical music, or Entering the Nageswara Park close to 7.30 p.m., it and contemporary. This, after ment for the least mistake was were quiz contests and song competitions for schoolchildren, and many fusion in Chennai. The classical music and dance was not too difficult to find your way through the dimly more such events. Talks were held on Tamil poetry and the songs of season is just past. The Madras Crafts Foundation, lit paths lined with Chennai Sangamam banners. You all, represents the multi-faceted probably immediate and harsh; citizen of today. the deprivations, the injuries sus- the crossroads in the old city. Heritage walks covered areas that have DakshinaChitra and individuals like V.R. Devika and simply had to follow the music and walk towards the long been neglected. The week-long festivity was made possible largely Vincent D Souza have been going to great lengths to plaintive strains of Pantuvarali wafting in the breeze, Kanimozhi, the Sangamams tained. No deep psycho-analyti- without any mega budgets. It was left to the people to celebrate and Work from Tara. present the folk artistes to the urban audience in and you chanced upon classical musician P. Coordinator, explains: cal indulgence given, not even to observe Madras Day in their own way and that was that. Many Chennai and elsewhere. But what was special about Unnikrishnan wooing his audience with a cascade of We wanted Chennai to have the youngest of them all. Theyve organisations celebrated the occasion in whatever way they pleased, Chennai Sangamam was that it brought all this and swaras. People were everywhere occupying every March 28-April 11: Captured For- a unique Festival. We wanted to grown, developed and, most im- but celebrate Madras is what they did in one way or another. There more closer home almost to our doorsteps! available space to listen to his music. Throw formali- bring folk arts to the people, and portant, sustained in harsh was no single umbrella body that directed the events, but that was ever, recent photographs by It was refreshing to listen to the nagaswaram and ties to the winds! The audience clapped in apprecia- Karthik Venkatraman (at Forum create exposure for the artistes. schools of life. The city-bred are exactly why everyone felt comfortable with its spontaneity. Now what tavil in the open air as you sat on the platform under tion, a few even whistled in delight; the clever ones Have we got what we wanted, momentarily humbled. was so elitist about that? Art Gallery). the green bamboo shoots, played a game of badmin- kept time to the rhythm to keep the irritating mosqui- March 21-30: Painting Exhibitions - what we expected? Oh, more You recall a heartbreakingly Madras Musings has long encouraged any festival in the city that ton, or took a stroll on the paved walkways in toes away. And when the percussionists thundered, displays concern for the citys heritage, elitist or otherwise. All you The work of Portosh Lal from Nageswara Park early in the morning. What a change the makeshift stage conveyed the beats to the mike than anything we dreamed of. I young child on stilts he should March 21 to 27, the work of ASG never expected such spontaneous be in school, you think, not earn- have to do is to see the last couple of issues of Madras Musings and from the booming sounds in a closed hall! It was all which joyfully joined in the vibrations. The audience pages 4 and 5 of this issue to note how we feel abut Chennai Vasudev from March 22 to 28 and the more heartwarming to see two young women moved in and out. Unnikrishnan continued to sing support... its been wonderful. ing a living in such a hard way. the work of Michael Irudayaraj Sangamam. But Madras Musings has also long felt that openness and Radhika and Chitra playing on the traditional pipe. under the colourful spotlights closely surrounded by Do we want to make this an Yet, will you be doing him, and tolerance should be the order of the day. If the city has the potential from March 24 to 30 (at Lalit Kala Augurs well for the future of such classical instru- his innumerable fans. Akademi). annual feature? Yes, absolutely, the art form, a favour if you take and the wherewithal to hold festivals the whole year through, adding ments. Chennai Sangamam a warm experience for around Pongal. Wed like the him away from this living, to the colour of the city, more power to it and long may they all flour- March 31: Dance Recital Bharata Having seen therukoothu, mayilattam, karagattam, Chennaiites to remind us about our cultural roots. Natyam by Lokesh Raj (at Festival to spread all over Tamil breathing element that shapes ish. Let us not allow chauvinism, long the bane of our life, and chips poikkaal kudirai, oyilattam and the like on TV and on We look forward to Pongal 2008. Nadu, not restrict it to Chennai his life? on our shoulders ruin the citys festivals also even under the guise Rukmini Arangam, Kalakshetra, the proscenium stage, it was a delight to watch the S. Janaki A Karthik Venkatraman photograph. 6.30 p.m.). Sirpi Jayaramans work. alone. Wed like to keep commu- You do not know the answer. of critical review. CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2007 The pluses and minuses of
(Current Affairs questions are another mad, mad Season from the period February 16th to 28th. Questions 11 to 20 ● In balance, the general run of creative signs feature a ridicu- tronic sruti box and went off warts such as Ariyakudi, pertain to Tamil Nadu and reviews from both Sruti staffers lous representation of the letter with their kith and kin once Madurai Mani, GNB and Chennai.) and others indicates that the O as a human ear, H appears their performance was over. Lis- Semmangudi. 1. Name the proposal, approved recent season offered good per- as horns on a dancers head. A tening to senior musicians is an ● The way the Music Academy by the G8 countries plus Brazil, formances overall, but none of acquires alarming forms as the integral part of learning. No? has emerged from its trials is China, India, Mexico and South them seems to have spotted any head moves from side to side! A.R.S. Mani something that will warm the Africa, for a global carbon emis- major new talent. Painted designs posing as back- ● Every new season seems to hearts of all those who are some- sions trading system announced ● The major gain from the mu- ground decoration come hur- bring in new innovations by our times anxious about the future. on February 15th to replace the sic season was the display of an tling at you like objects from artistes. So we get to listen to The other sabha-s should draw Kyoto Protocol by 2009. abundance of talent among vio- outer space. Advertising ban- gottuvadyam or chitraveena ac- inspiration from the manner in 2. Name the new party that linists and percussionists. This ners scream at you from all di- companying vocal music, or to which the Academy has pulled Bangladesh Nobel Peace Prize trend would surely support the rections. various combinations like itself out of controversy and is winner Mohammad Yunus wants views of the optimists who see a ● Even when a concert reaches gottuvadyam and tavil; saxo- concentrating on how to make to start. rosy future for Carnatic music. great heights, you are likely to phone and tavil; violin, flute Carnatic music vibrant and con- 3. Near which place was the ● Junior musicians, including descend from the sublime to the and tavil; keyboard and tavil. temporary without cutting at the Samjhuata Express firebombed many talented youngsters, al- ridiculous as soon as you step out What next Western drums roots of its hoary past. on the night of February 18th- most always performed before into the corridor of the sabha. All with Carnatic vocal or instru- R.K. Raghavan 19th, leading to more than 68 poorly-filled auditoriums. it often needs to become a mini deaths? ments? The last idea in fact is ● There are, among the main- ● By and large, there seems to Pondy Bazaar is to add a saree already in vogue as fusion. 4. Who won the Best Actor and stream participants, some who be an increased awareness of shop to the several stalls selling a Two good things worth men- Actress Oscars recently? ● are conspicuous for an eclectic the aesthetics of stage decor all variety of products. Not only are tioning the habit of the audi- approach and experimental im- 5. Where in the Antarctic have around, to go by some of the re- the displays jarring, but so is the ence slapping their thighs to scientists found over 20 new pulse. Playing safe and sublime ports we received, though a few cacophony of sounds from differ- keep tala has stopped. Applaud- is not in them. Well grounded species of animals? of the major venues including 6. Who were adjudged best in the basics and grasp of the the Music Academy showed an idiom and versatile in talent, female and male athletes of the unwelcome departure from recently-held National Games in this irrepressible lot carries no good taste, with their loud, even burden of the cross while retain- Guwahati? gaudy decors. Acoustics again 7. What new feature is to be ing affinity with tradition. They was an area of improvement this are not mavericks in the strict introduced at the Wimbledon season in some of the main ven- tennis championships this year? sense. They do want to belong, ues, though here too we are a but on their own terms. 8. In which South American long way from the ideal. country was Ottavio Quattrocchi The off beat, on beat trio ● There may be widely differing Arun, Aruna and Anita hail- held recently? views on the health of Bharata Arun Aruna Anita. 9. Microsoft was recently ordered ing from different backgrounds, Natyam and other classical ent CDs being played simulta- ing after every piece also has plebian, professional and privi- to pay $1.5 billion to which dances, but senior dancer and neously. All this is made worse come down a little. company in a MP3 audio leged, two recently relocated guru C.V. Chandrasekhar prob- by the sight of potato chips and ● The habit of celebrating 50 technology patent dispute? and one with long local ably summed it all up neatly instant coffee sold in the same years of service to music by 10. By how much has the thresh- lineage, illustrates the point. when he welcomed innovation narrow space. musicians is growing. Service to O.S. Arun the Delhi- old limit of exemption in the case and change as necessary for music indeed! Is it not the other of all IT assessees been increased Usha Kris groomed lad initially dance to evolve, but decried the way round? It is the music by in the latest Union Budget? I am still at a loss to under- recognised for bhajan singing tendency to create all the time ● which the artistes earn their stand as to why the mobile and dance accompaniment, has * * * and modernise the very format livelihood. travelled a long way and leap of Bharata Natyam. phones cannot be switched to 11. Why were the AIADMKs silent mode before the start of V. Karpagalakshmi frogged to fame and riches in Nedu alias Nedunchezhian, ● We receive with mixed feel- the Carnatic territory. The ings news of attempts being the concert. It shows lack of re- ● The incomparable Srirams Madhu alias Ravindran and C. spect for the fellow rasikas, the historical account of the Music baritoner with range and modu- Muniappan in the news recently? made to organise a comprehen- lation skills is an adept in di- sive Chennai Festival under a musicians and the music itself. Academy during the festival 12. What innovation is to be Workshops should also be con- evoked the most welcome nos- verse pursuits from nama used at the annual deer census at single umbrella with govern- ducted on etiquette of using talgia for me. For I was a student sankeertanam to fusion, com- the Guindy National Park in the ment support. Even assuming posing music to complicated first week of May? that the Chennai music and toilets. Luckily there was run- of P.S. High School, Mylapore, ning water in all the sabha-s but when the Academy sought ref- pallavi-s. 13. With which U.S. varsity has dance season is amenable to be hardly any user is bothered to uge there in the 1950s, tempo- Aruna Sayeeram started Anna University signed a MoU so brought together, with the turn on the tap after using the rarily to stage its December con- bombarding the Chennai scene for promoting areas of mutual same performers doing duty at as a Bombayite, with a brand of interest and common academic multiple venues, not quite the urinals. They however manage certs. I can still remember the to pour a lot of water around the Everest of a rostrum that used vocal pyrotechnics, unconven- programmes? case with the worlds leading tional articulation and abhang 14. What long-reaching environ- city festivals, is government in- sink which does not allow the to be put up right in the middle floor to dry. Walkouts during of the playground, much to the ware. She then shifted base to mental decision is to be enforced tervention entirely desirable in the Carnatic bastion itself, for a as regards Chennai autorick- tani have not really reduced annoyance of cricketers like me what has been an organic evo- rightful place. Not one to rest shaws within the next year? lution over the decades, with the NRIs are no exception, who were deprived of the game whether it be an American in for a short fortnight. This was on her laurels, she continues to 15. How many wards did the sabha-s vying with one an- extend her repertoire. Vijayakants Desiya Murpokku America or an Indian in India! when I hardly had an ear for other to offer an exciting Anita Ratnam, advanta- Dravida Kazhagam win in the mocktail of music and dance? ● I felt that most sub-juniors music. But now I cannot forgive were ascending the stage too myself for teasing my mother for geously placed in terms of en- Chennai Corporation Council V. Ramnarayan elections? early. You could easily notice what I considered an unhealthy dowment and equipment, has the added benefit of wide expo- 16. What are the terminal points ● Enter any sabha and you find the lack of depth, preparation interest in music for a housewife of Indias third Garib Rath, a sea of sponsors hogging and quality in them. There was whose only preoccupation sure, enabling her to don many flagged off on February 21st? centrestage along with the per- no dearth of confidence though. should have been to feed the roles with equal aplomb. This high profile promoter of the 17. Who organised Chennai formers. In what is often an ag- The youngsters would do well to four hungry souls at home. Sangamam? gressive tussle, the sabha-s an- practise hard, improve their Looking back, I feel, as the Other finds her place in the regular with no problem. 18. Diana Kurien is the real name nounce themselves in at least knowledge and attain greater eldest of the three sons my Andal in an orthodox arangam of which now very popular three but sometimes as many as depth in their music before giv- father was most of the time actress? ten places within the confines of ing public performances. As away on tour I should have one moment, Anita transforms, in no time, into a stylish MC of 19. What was the name of an auditorium. The backdrop Seshagopalan pointed out in been more supportive of her tal- Tiruvalluvars wife? announcing the name of the one of his speeches, the concert ent in playing the violin. I am a modern dance spectacle in a posh theatre with elan. 20. According to folklore, in sabha or festival seems abso- platform is not the place to sure she is watching with In such a scene, where is which temple is Kannagi, the lutely superfluous on stage! practise. The most disturbing amusement my having become heroine of Silappadikaram, Our concerts deserve a bet- aspect was the attitude of these such an addict of Carnatic deja vu? worshipped in a divine form? ter sense of aesthetics, when it young musicians. They music, after all my early indiffer- Manna Srinivasan (Answers on page 8) comes to stage decor. The more promptly packed their elec- ence to, if not derision of, stal- (Courtesy: Sruti) March 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 7
l ARTLESS INNOCENTS AND IVORY-TOWER SOPHISTICATES Subscriptions and contributions The second article in a five-part series. l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and send it, have been cast in the mould of together with the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 260-A, Ananda Rau traditional Indian scholarship. TTK ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTHERN He was a keen student of PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 62/63, GREAMS ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. Aurobindos philosophy and An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of and two who studied Vedic texts in-depth of- our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue to be fering his own interpretations. essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play a greater Number theory, Rama- role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and its envi- worked with him nujans area of interest, natu- ronment. We therefore look forward to your sending us your contri- rally had many adherents in the butions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. not-so-well-known con Another figure of impor- country; but work that had a If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated sup- Atemporary of Ramanujan tance in Indian mathematics of truly great impact came only in port from those of you who have already made contributions, and if was K. Ananda Rau, a founda- that time was Vaidyanatha- the mid-thirties, and it came many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only be able tion member of Indian Acad- swamy, also from Madras. He from S.S. Pillai. Pillai was born to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue aware- ness-building exercises on on-going projects as well as undertake emy of Sciences, Bangalore. His too went to England, not Cam- in 1901 in the Tirunelveli Dis- one or two more such exercises. career had an altogether differ- bridge though, to work with trict of Tamil Nadu. His mother Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION ent kind of trajectory from some British mathematicians, died within a year of his birth Ramanujans. He was born in but that was after some years as TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, and he was brought up by his we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for Madras in 1893 (six years after a research scholar at the Uni- father with the help of an aged Ramanujan) into relative opu- versity of Madras. 2006-07 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the woman-relative. He made good causes Chennai Heritage espouses. lence and, after a brilliant aca- progress at school, but tragedy demic career of the normal kind We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those struck again; his father passed newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their subscrip- through school and college in away when he was in the final Madras, went to Cambridge in tions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a free mailer. year of school. His talents had The Editor 1914 and became a student of earned him the lasting affection Hardys. As a student, he won of a teacher, Sastriar, who CHENNAI HERITAGE the coveted Smith Prize. He re- stepped in to help him continue turned to Madras after complet- K. Ananda Rau R. Vaidyanathaswamy his education. Pillai also se- 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, ALWARPET, CHENNAI 600 018. ing his studies in 1919 and was cured scholarships and com- immediately appointed as Pro- pleted the B.A. degree at I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / fessor of Mathematics at Presi- Maharajas College at I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it dency College, Madras. Ananda Trivandrum and moved to Ma- hereafter. Rau was an outstanding analyst dras where he became a student l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 who worked a great deal on of Ananda Rau for whom he summability, an area in which (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, S. S. Pillai cherished life-long affection as subscription to Madras Musings for the year 2006-07. Hardy was a leading figure. A and respect. He soon proved theorem named after Ananda I should like to emphasise himself to be a researcher of the l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment Rau figures in Hardys book Di- that in his case as well as in the first rank and, after taking his and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai vergent Series. He was from all case of Ananda Rau, their ca- Ph.D. at Madras, took up his eritage an additional Rs...... (Rupees reer decisions were taken well accounts an inspiring teacher, first job at Annamalai Univer- ...... ) held in great respect and affec- before the Ramanujan story sity; he later moved to tion by his students, many of broke out. Also most of Vaid- Trivandrum, then again to Please keep / put me on your mailing list. whom went on to become fine yanathaswamys mathematical Calcutta and finally back to Name : ...... mathematicians themselves; interests were far removed from Madras University. Address: ...... some among them were leaders those of Ramanujans and he It is in the 1930s, at Anna- was among the earliest to ven- on the Indian scene and I will malai University that Pillais tal- ...... be speaking about them. ture into areas such as Symbolic ents were in full bloom and he Ananda Rau retired from ser- Logic, Lattice Theory and To- cracked a problem that was en- ...... vices in 1948 at the then man- pology that were not British gaging some of the finest datory age of 55, but remained favourites of his times. After his minds... However, a contro- Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas mathematically active for more return from England in 1925, he versy over priorities involving postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All than a decade after that. He spent a year in Benares and the American mathematician other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. died in 1966. joined Ananda Rau in Madras. L.E. Dickson was a cause for Ananda Rau got to know The two men joined forces to some distress to Pillai and his Ramanujan in Cambridge and create a lively and congenial at- Indian colleagues. Pillai pub- he has this to say about his illus- mosphere for mathematics stu- lished his great papers in Indian Senate House Conservation Fund trious colleague: In his nature dents in Madras. Madras Uni- journals which did not have a he was simple, entirely free from versity administration, in its in- l The Senate House Restoration and Management Trust appeals to wide circulation; nevertheless, all alumni of the University of Madras and heritage lovers every- affectation with no trace what- finite wisdom, kept him as a recognition did come eventu- ever of his being self-conscious Reader till his retirement in where to contribute to the Senate House Conservation Fund which ally for these outstanding con- the Trust is managing for the purpose of restoring Senate House to of his abilities. 1952. After retirement, he tributions, but tragedy struck worked for a few years at the its old glory and maintaining it thereafter in the same condition. once more before he could Cheques should be made out to the Senate House Conservation *Excerpts from a public lecture Indian Statistical Institute in savour his success. Calcutta and later at Sri Account and sent to the Registrar, University of Madras, Chennai delivered at the Annual Meeting On August 31, 1950, Pillai 600 005. Contributions are eligible for benefits under Section 80-G Venkateswara University in of the Indian Academy of Sci- died in an air-crash over Egypt; of the Income Tax Act. ences, held at Chandigarh in Tirupati. he was on his way to the US Dear Registrar, 2002. Vaidyanathaswamy seems to his first trip abroad to spend a I am pleased to enclose a cheque for Rs...... year at the Institute for Ad- as my contribution to the restoration and maintenance of vanced Study in Princeton, Senate House. Kindly acknowledge receipt. Our Addresses where he had been invited... For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: There is little doubt that Name: ...... Chennai Heritage, 260-A, TTK Road, Chennai 600 018. Pillai would have achieved a Address: ...... For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation great deal more if his life had matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., not been cut short so abruptly...... 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. (Courtesy: The author, who ...... On editorial matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani is with the Tata Institute of Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. Fundamental Research, and ...... No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent Current Science, 2003.) from these addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and you I am an alumnus/alumna/heritage lover and wish the project all will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as it M.S. Raghunathan success. My college was ...... may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you Date: ...... Signature: ...... faster and disappoint you less. (To be continued THE EDITOR next fortnight) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2007
anthers or leopards are more ard, but was so unnerved that Pcunning than tigers; a tiger he had failed to take a shot. is a gentleman when all is said The Suligiri The panther now ap- and done at least that is what proached the bait, when all of a Jim Corbett had said. A pan- sudden there was a lot of flash- ther is more likely to enter a vil- ing of torches, then absolute si- lage or even a house than a ti- Maneater lence from the panther. The ger. He will lie in wait beside a animal, it would seem, had re- hut for an unsuspecting child to traced its steps back from where come out, then seize him by the lunch we were at Beerpalle, the dog that slept nearby. Perhaps Jonga and a Land Rover ap- it came on the other side of the neck. There will be no sound, scene of the panthers last dep- the dog itself was using us as peared and disgorged several hill. This was confirmed by the the child just disappears. A ti- redation. protection against the wily pan- hunters. It was quite an army for chattering of the monkeys that ger will rarely trouble himself We settled down in a room ther. However, I reasoned, the a panther. were in the extreme left of the with a child, there is too little in in the local school and began dog would warn us if anything A goat was procured in quick hill. it for him. It is a question of our investigations. The panther untoward was afoot. time and, as darkness began to Our party stood near the tree cost/benefit. The energy he will had lifted a child from the door- Next morning we went out fall, the hunters marched off up waiting for the hunters to re- expend in capturing and killing step of his house at about 7 p.m. to check on all the information the hillside with the goat in tow. turn. There was again the roar a child provides him with very a week before. His parents had we had gathered. We scoured They stationed themselves of engines as the two vehicles little food. He would rather kill been chatting with their the country all around, covering somewhere halfway up the hill, flashed past us leaving us gawk- a buffalo or other hoofed wild neighbour across the lane. The a large area. Finally we reached with one of them high up on the ing in the darkness. After a game, which provides him with killer had crept in the narrow the village of Punalnatham. crest of the hill. The four of us while, as there was no more ex- more food. A tiger weighs 350- space between the two houses Early that morning, an old retreated to our tree to await citement, we pushed off to our 450 lbs, while a village or, as he and when the child, of age 5-7 woman had heard roars from a events. Before long, we heard school room and slept. Next is sometimes called, a dog-pan- years, had walked across the nearby hill, we were told. the bleatings of the goat. It was morning, we left the place as we ther may be 100 lbs or so. Pan- opening between the houses, it These hills are made up of a wonderful caller and in good had to be back in Madras. The thers sometimes take to child- had seized him by his neck and huge boulders one on top of an- voice. Suddenly the silence was story does not end here, as we lifting even though normal food disappeared before anyone other, with hardly any vegeta- shattered by the roars of the read in the press that a hunter like dogs, goats, chicken are eas- realised what had happened. A panther. What surprised me had killed the leopard that same ily available. This is true in In- hue and cry ensued, lights were was the volume. Each bout evening (at perhaps the same dia as well as in Africa where lit and a rescue party set out. In l by comprised 3 or 4 roars and there spot) with a shot in the neck. It panthers are equally numerous. the end, nothing was found but R.K.G. MENON were 3 or 4 bouts that evening. was reported that the animal They suddenly change their diet the head, the soles of the feet The roars initially came from measured 6 feet, a small animal to children. It is then that they and palms. This was the second the top of the hill. The roars indeed, considering that the tail are put down. This then was the kill. A month before, in another now moved to the level of the must have been at least 2 feet case of the Suligiri maneater. village, a child of similar age was tion, somewhat reminiscent of bait and proceeded towards it. long. Beerpalle is an isolated little taken away from his hut. The the African kopje. These kopjes The goat, in the meanwhile, The question is, was this the village, some 40 km from Hosur. day before our visit, several gun- in Africa are always home to a kept up a steady stream of maneater which was killed? We Here terror reigned amongst the toting gentlemen hunters had panther or two. Our kopje was bleats. The man who was sta- also wondered whether there defenceless villagers from Au- descended on Beerpalle. longish, with an altitude of less tioned on top of the hill sud- were other panthers in those gust 1997. A local panther had Meandering through the for- than 200 ft and about 500 yards denly appeared among us all in hills with a predilection for chil- taken to child-lifting. The news est, we dropped in the hunters from the mud road that led to a dither; he had seen the leop- dren? (Courtesy: Blackbuck) startled some of us that a camp to say hello. Here we the village. As it comprised sev- maneater was operating so picked up whatever information eral huge boulders, there were close. The word itself conjured we could get and left the place, numerous caves a likely spot, up horrendous thoughts. wishing each other good luck. therefore. We sat under a tree Answers to Quiz and eyed the place through our The Tamil Nadu Govern- That night, a couple of us slept 1. Washington Declaration; 2.Nagarik Samiti; 3. Deewana, near ment declared it a maneater on the verandah of the school, binoculars and settled on one Panipat; 4. Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren; 5. The Larsen Ice Shelf and threw it open to anyone as ten Forest Department re- particular cave as the likely re- after it breaks up; 6. Swimmers Richa Mishra and Rehan Poncha; 7. Equal with a gun licence. A quartet cruits took over the school treat of the killer. During a few prize money; 8. Argentina; 9. Alcatel-Lucent; 10. Rs. 10,000. of us decided to investigate this room. hours of constant scrutiny, all maneater scene as none of us At first, sleeping out in a we saw was a troop of monkeys * * * ever had such an experience be- man-eating panther country and a couple of raptorial birds. 11. They have been awarded capital punishment in the Dharmapuri fore. Maneaters were something was a bit uncomfortable. I re- We repaired to the Bangalore bus burning case; 12. The Wildlife Department will use the Global Posi- new. We travelled by road to member protecting my throat Highway in search of a suitable tioning System for mapping; 13. University of Houston; 14. They will switch over to LPG; 15. Five (all in North Madras); 16. Chennai Central Hosur and met the District For- with all sorts of clothes, but eating house for lunch. Then, we were back at our vigil by 3.30 and Hazrat Nizamuddin; 17. Tamil Maiyam, Department of Tourism and est Officer there at nightfall. At soon sleep overtook me. There the Department of Tamil Culture; 18. Nayantara; 19. Vasuki; 20. At the first light we were off, and by was also the added comfort of a p.m. At 5.45 p.m., with a roar, a Attukal Bhagavathi temple.
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