Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/15-17 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • The ‘Socialist Capitalist’ • ‘Caviar’ for KVR • Pioneer’s fall from grace • Ecology of greening

Vol. XXV No. 16 MUSINGS December 1-15, 2015

G Why is it happening? Know your Fort Another fire better – at a another heritage building

(By The Editor)

he recent rains did not wreak as much havoc Ton heritage buildings as we feared. The roofless Bharat Insurance Building and Gokhale Hall (both declared structurally weak over a decade ago) are still standing and may they continue to remain till their owners see the light and begin restoration activities. But the iconic Lawley Hall Fire at India Silk House’s . (Courtesy: building on Anna Salai/Mount The Hindu.) India Silk House Road was not so lucky. A sus- pected electric short circuit caused a fire that left a large part of its interior damaged. This incident, the latest in sev- The best of times, eral electricity-caused confla- grations in our city, has robbed the worst of times us of another piece of history. For the record, the building, t was, to quote from the well-known A Tale of Two Cities, the officially known as Lawley Hall, Ibest of times and the worst of times. The recent deluge saw two belongs to the Anjuman-i- different faces of Chennai on display and such were the contrasts Himayat-i-Islam (AHI) Trust. A gate for the Church Walk today? that they could have been two entirely different cities altogether. Constructed in the first years of First the positives – the infrastructure did not quite breakdown the last century, it was meant to G Church Street is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the Fort, for as thoroughly as was expected. The telephone lines worked in most be a hostel and training centre there are records of its existence from the early 18th Century. localities and as for power supply, it continued uninterrupted ex- for indigent Muslim children. There is some doubt as to its exact location, the name having been cept in areas where trees fell, cables snapped or transformers com- Built in the North Indian style given to at least two passages in the early years but by the mid-18th with chattries and named after Century, the alley that connected James (now absorbed by Charles) the then Governor, Sir Arthur G Street and St Thomas Street was known variously as Church Lane/ By A Special Correspondent Lawley, the building has had Row/Street. H.D. Love states that it was immediately south of the the honour of hosting a lecture Church and ran on an east-west axis. Today no such thoroughfare by Mahatma Gandhi in 1915. busted. The milk was delivered without fail. Ambulances re- exists. When you walk out of the southern doorway of the Church The Trust moved elsewhere in of St Mary’s, you step into a beautiful walled garden on the other sponded to calls. The real heroes were the policemen that manned the 1930s and the structure was the various signals at enormous risk to their lives, as were the oth- side of which is the immense bulk of the ex-servicemen’s hospital. leased to several commercial At the end of the garden, just before the health facility’s wall is a ers of the same profession who thought nothing of wading through entities. India Coffee House was chest deep water to rescue stranded citizens. Help even came via paved walkway with wrought iron arches at either end, connecting on the first floor for several de- it with Charles and St. Thomas Streets. If so, is the garden and the helicopters. A cab service claimed it ran boats but we will let that cades, but the one surviving oc- pass as a cheap opportunity for publicity. The Corporation staff walkway the space occupied by Church Street? We can only haz- cupant from early times is India ard a conjecture. worked overtime as did Metrowater. And, what is more, all calls to Silk House and the edifice is the civic body, the TNEB and the Metrowater were answered, po- If this was indeed Church Street, it was not so peaceful in its synonymous with this retailer of heyday. Located on it were the Company’s calico godowns for quite litely at that, and action was taken speedily. A city that is not ex- garments. The building is listed actly known for neighbourly spirit suddenly saw its residents rise to some time, at least till the 1750s. As early as the 1690s, Nathaniel as being in Grade 2 A category Higginson, the first Mayor of Madras and by then Governor, was the occasion and help each other. The next day, people had begun according to the ruling of the to get back to work. All this just showed that Chennai can handle writing about these godowns being much afflicted by the ‘white High Court of Madras, thereby aunt’ by which he presumably meant termites and not a female crises as well as any other metro. making it a structure of local The national media, used to making a hullabaloo of such in- relative. There are records of these structures being renovated importance with no changes shortly thereafter. By the 1770s, Church Street appears to have stances in other cities, hardly took any notice, but then we are possible on its façade, though its used to such treatment and perhaps don’t care. The local media become what we would today call a mixed zone – there were ware- interiors can undergo modifica- houses and residences. One of the latter was where Warren (Continued on page 2) tions. Hastings came to live, at a rent of 108 pagodas a month. It is not Given Chennai’s history of clear as to who the owner of the property was. heritage buildings catching fire By the time he came to Madras, Hastings was an old India hand. Also see page 3 Born in 1732, he had in 1749 been appointed a Writer in India. He (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 8) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS December 1-15, 2015 Another fire Teaching parents to dance (Continued from page 1) front façade, a whole lot of fab- f you have lived long enough tante, some predictions on the Having put this together, ric stored in the upper floor, and Iin this Charitable Chennai bright future the child is cer- the parents get it printed in (see box below), the administra- plenty of wires hanging loose. If as it is referred to in a well tain to enjoy. The guru then outsize glossy art paper/board tion has had ample data to this is not a recipe for a fire, known Tamil hymn, chances praises himself/herself and and then set about prowling. analyse and come up with fire what else is? are that you would have throws in some desultory This is when people like safety codes for heritage struc- This is where we would have received more than your fair words about the student. Also MMM are particularly vulner- tures so that more of these do share of invitations to dance praised are the parents who able. They get these dossiers expected the Heritage Conser- debuts. The Man from Madras are, after all, shelling out the thrust at them through email, not fall prey. But that has not vation Committee of the Musings, who has been around cash. snail mail, Facebook and other happened. Most of these build- CMDA to be more proactive. for quite a while, gets them by The child then begins her such media, apart from the ings have immense quantities of With so many old buildings be- the ton. That measure of performance interspersed with most dangerous – personal dry and seasoned timber, which ing burnt down, was it not its weight is the mot juste, for the announcements and explana- mail. The last named means a is susceptible to catching fire es- task to visit other prominent invitations ‘soliciting’ MMM’s tory notes by the guru. The au- visit by the pushy parent in pecially when it exists in close edifices, see for itself their con- presence are getting weightier dience, none of whom is in any- person, armed with dossier proximity to old wiring. We are dition and then advise the own- by the day. And they are also way connected with the dance, and dragging the reluctant not entirely certain about the ers of what they needed to get getting larger in dimension, as is in a continuous state of flux, child along. After the initial age of the electric cables in done to prevent any accidents a consequence of which chez some leaving with return gifts, pourparlers, as MMM believes but anyone who has MMM may have to soon others coming in and greeting the expression is, the bio data Lawley Hall from happening? But the Com- invest in a larger mailbox. the parents while many others is produced and in case MMM passed by it can vouch for the mittee has long remained som- They all follow a standard are in animated discussion on does not read through it care- fact that the building itself has nambulant. Moreover, there pattern – a glossy cover depict- the state of the stock market. fully, or at least with the ap- been shoddily maintained – are doubts about its very exist- ing the child in several dance A few like MMM sit there si- pearance of doing so, certain ugly signage that covers the ence, the State Government postures followed by a page or lently praying for an early re- sections will be declaimed having passed in 2012 a heri- two describing the greatness of lease. MMM is also informed loudly, with accompanying tage bill that calls for the estab- the guru (all very deserving no by several in the know that a gestures. The child will then This is a list of other heritage lishment of a new Heritage doubt, but MMM, on reading small but select group, guru in- be asked to sing/play the in- buildings consumed by fire Conservation Committee them, often gets the feeling cluded, are usually invited to a strument/dance, all of which in Madras in the last 30 that it is the guru who is giving will usually be done with great which, incidentally, is of identi- years: a debut performance), and reluctance on his/her part. cal composition as the earlier SHORT ’N’ G Spencer’s Building, 1983 then several pages describing The child would probably be one. The trouble however is the various stages of the happier playing a game or G Victory Building (White- SNAPPY that nobody has got around to evening’s programme. A few browsing the worldwide web. way and Laidlaw, later constituting the second com- Swadesamitran), 1984 lines are then devoted to the At the end of the perfor- mittee and the first one is un- retinue of accompanists who dinner at a five star hotel after mance, MMM will usually G Moore Market, 1985 certain about its legal status! In will be part of the ensemble. the dance. After all this, the mouth a few standard expres- G child usually gives up dancing D’Angelis (later Bosotto), such a scenario, what further This may be the debut perfor- sions. Immediately thereafter, 1986 and focuses on becoming can be expected other than mance but also printed are the parent will furnish a list of G Madras GPO, 2000 several testimonials to the something else. But MMM be- concerts that the child is giv- more and more buildings falling lieves that the many lakhs G The Lodge, Government young girl’s capabilities, all of ing in the near future and be- Estate (later Gandhi down or catching fire? which will make you wonder spent on the debut keep the seech MMM to attend at least Illam), 2006 The AHI, which is the as to whether all established wheels of the economy moving. one. While the tone of the owner of the India Silk House G Chepauk Palace, 2012 names in the field will need to voice will be entreating, you building is yet to release a state- retire once this debutante need to just look up and see G Bombay Mutual Building, Performing parents ment on what it proposes to do takes to the stage. Not that re- the eyes, which will have an 2012 The Man from Madras by way of action. It is to be tirement ever happens in this entirely different message – G State Bank of India on art form. There are some Musings is not certain about turn up or else..., they will be First Line Beach, 2014 hoped that a sensitive restora- children who take to the stage tion will be embarked upon. grandparents still pirouetting saying. about, or at least that is what to sing, dance or perform on instruments, but their parents To some readers the above they think they are doing. passage may appear somewhat On getting these invita- are certainly a talented lot – at least as far as public relations heartless and MMM can see tions MMM, after a shudder several sagely telling them- or two, has them destroyed are concerned. Marketing as a THE BEST & WORST technique is perhaps best selves that these days nothing before his good lady manages happens without due publicity to see them. She does have a learnt from these people and it is a wonder that the renowned and so what is wrong with OF TIMES tendency to take these mis- what these parents do. MMM sives seriously and lug MMM management institutes of our (Continued from page 1) country have not yet roped in must also add here that not all around to attend. But he is not parents of child artistes do uniformly lucky and so there these professionals to share reported on expected lines – Opposition run channels trashed the their skills with aspiring stu- this. But it may be far better to Government for its poor response and those of the other variety are occasions when, bending let the child do what it wants to her will, he has tagged along dents. showered praises and sang paeans to the powers that be. The hard sell usually begins and have it perform once in a to witness these jamborees. while, thereby taking the pres- And now for the negatives. Did we really have a crisis or did it Those of you who know with what is known in our city just expose the way we have bypassed standard operating proce- as the resume, the ‘e’ at the end sure off a little. That way, the MMM well will vouch for the art remains fresh and the dures when it comes to city planning and area development? Let’s fact that he weighs his words being silent. Going through these, you will realise that young ’un approaches it with face it – this was only the heaviest rainfall that Chennai had seen before speaking them and no trepidation. If the child in ten years, there had been much worse before that – in 1976, for when he says jamboree, he there are certain stock phrases in all art-related curriculum vi- wants to eventually turn pro- instance. True, the city was smaller then and we had most of our means a jamboree and nothing fessional, and if it has the tal- else but. tae. You cannot go far wrong by water bodies intact so that they could absorb the surplus water. throwing in for good measure ent, what can stop the success The Pallikaranai Marsh was much bigger, not having been en- You would be forgiven into that will inevitably follow? In thinking you have wandered terms such as ‘tender age’ (this croached upon. The Buckingham Canal still functioned as a storm can be anything from one to that case, why is all this direct into a wedding when you step marketing necessary? water channel if not a navigable waterway. It did not have the into these debut perfor- twenty), ‘lotus feet’, ‘benign pillars of the MRTS blocking its flow. Roads, when re-laid, were mances. The event is usually grace’, ‘musical family’, ‘soul- being done with awareness about surrounding area elevations – it held at one of the best audito- stirring’, ‘yeoman service’, Tailpiece was not a question of just adding to the existing surface, thereby riums in the city. The entire ‘power-packed’ ‘deliverance’ he Man from Madras raising the level to such an extent that water flooded the surround- family and friends’ circle of the (yes), ‘ethereal’, ‘myriad hues’ Musings could not believe parents are invited and every- and, of course, ‘performed in T ing areas. New colonies when developed had a working drainage his eyes. Central Station, one is in their finery. MMM is India and abroad.’ system laid out before construction of houses began. Illegal struc- which was all informed by sources that tures were far fewer in number and therefore did not burden the along a ruddy red, dance gurus generally refuse drainage or, worse still, block it off (we are not exaggerating here – has turned white! to attend any debut unless the recent deluge necessitated the demolition of a leading (opposi- MMM surmises it cameramen are pressed into must be out of tion) politico’s portico as it was built on a public storm water drain). service. There are fear of what the Trees were still of the native variety and were lopped regularly so videographers and photogra- Metrorail works that they did not lean alarmingly over the road. phers galore, the latter trip- are doing to And, so, when did we lose sight of these basic civic disciplines? ping over the wires and cables structures in its that the former brings along. And is it too late to get back to them? The answer to the latter is a vicinity. most resounding ‘No’. We do not have any other option but to set There are speeches by chief guests in praise of the guru right our malpractices. There is a lot of hard work ahead if we need – MMM to get this done. But if we display the same spirit as we had during and, in the absence of any ma- the floods, we are sure to succeed. terial for eulogy on the debu- December 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Rain! Rain! ...And what’ve you done again?

Fallen trees blocking roads in Adyar. (Courtesy: Adyar Times.) One with the Adyar Tree management needed G The pictures below by Chetan Arya show the jogging track of an institution on the north bank of the Adyar and the lawn down to the river becoming a part (From T.D. Babu) of the Adyar River during the recent rains. raffic blocks and casualties due to uprooted The major reasons for the breaking of Ttrees are common features during a storm. branches are non-elimination of decayed and But the issue can be minimised or even averted cracked branches, unpruned cross branches, to some extent if we attend to the root cause. pest-infected branches, injuring the tree by Factors contributing to trees falling are: wrong nailing, heat from serial lamps and floodlights species, shallow depth planting, insufficient soil put above the branches, cementing around the space, infected trees, unpruned trees, several base of the tree, and general abuse of tree roots, and tree abuse. trees. In zone 13, the major species which were Planting appropriate species, taking into uprooted were several Copperpod or Ayalvagai, consideration the available space, functional an ornamental tree with yellow flowers, also an pruning by evenly stabilising the tree load, exotic species, maramali or Indian corkwood, periodical inspection of the tree for decay and and indigenous species such as Indian elm and infection, and providing appropriate soil nour- Ayamaram. Also, there were incidents of break- ishment can protect the tree from premature age of branches. These include species like falling. There should be a system of tree health Albiziasaman (Raintree/Thoongumoonjimaram), management. Millettiapinnata (Indian beech/Pungam), Bauhinia variegate (mountain-ebony/ Avenue trees should be allocated funds for Mantharai). maintenance because they need more scientific Trees are planted along the roads without inputs for their management. There should be a proper soil space from the property line and ce- proper post-storm response team in every zone mented around the trunk. Some species grow in the Corporation, which should be well trained tall but brittle; hence unfit for avenues. Trees fit by a certified arborist and equipped with appro- for avenues are Pungam, Veppalai or snowflakes priate implements to clear damaged trees as well tree, Poomaruthu, Iluppai, Poovarasam and Neer as to handle emergencies – (Courtesy: Maruthu. Adyar Times).

Corrections The write person... The Madras-Bangalore route article in MM, November 16, was written by Muthiah magazines mentioned. Jinglee mama’ who toiled exclusively Ramanathan of Bangalore. And and Jil, Jil were two other for 70 years writing for children, not Dr. A. Raman. Action by residents? canal near Mandaveli Station. favourites along with Ambuli- especially when he mentions It could have been done by the ...and the right heading he Cit’y is gasping. Lakes, mama for us. Gokulam and Revathy? residents of (say) Camp Road, temple tanks, etc. existed Azha Valliappa edited his Your answer to quiz question The heading on page 5 of the T Tambaram neighbourhood, in the past and provided respite own magazine, Poonjolai for no. 16 mentions Shivaji’s house Madras Musings, November where the encroachment on during heavy rains. But they are some years before joining as Anna Illam instead of Annai 16th, ‘The Tamil Bell Remarks’, Rajakilpakkam Lake has no longer there. Gokulam. Valliappa, Aarvi, (mother) Illam. Kindly be care- should have read ‘The Tamil happened. It is our national Our area (behind Taylor’s Tamilvanan who created Tamil ful in future. Bell REMAINS’. The errors are character to do nothing/ Road adjacent to the railway Nadu’s Sherlock Holmes regretted. talk/bemoan after tragedy Balasubramanian track across from the MCC Shankarlal, were the real trium- strikes!!! Why don’t residents [email protected] –The Editor playground) escaped the brunt virate of children’s literature of act? of the recent flooding because yesteryears. we, the residents, fought for and Jaishree Madhavan Bhilai Gopalan revived Chetput Lake (that was [email protected] 1/6 Sankara Flats MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB slated for closure) and had 6th Cross St, Sasthri Nagar To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our stormwater canals constructed Children’s writers Adyar, Chennai 600 020 and linked to the Lake and got keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to harukesi’s article on The Rs. 42 crore sanctioned for the * * * requests from many well-wishers – especially from outside revival. CFathers of Tamil Children’s Chennai and abroad who receive their postal copies very late This could have well been writing (MM, Nov. 1st) took n Charukesi’s article The – for an online edition. Madras Musings is now on the web at done by the residents (for ex- septuagenarians like us to our IFathers of Tamil Children’s www.madrasmusings.com ample) of the TTK neighbour- school-days in the 1950s when writing (MM, Nov. 1st), how hood, by seeking a link to the we never missed reading the could he overlook ‘Vandu- THE EDITOR 4 MADRAS MUSINGS December 1-15, 2015 December 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

Subbulakshmi (of all people), Carnatic music was another G In memoriam and which said that if the stories of his passions. He played a sig- did not cease, both writer and ‘Vallal Chettiar’ – nificant role in the proceedings editor would be finished off with of the first Tamil Isai Conference an AK 47 rifle! KVR and Randor held in August 1940 in Chidam- chuckled long over it and the baram. Chettiar introduced the postcard remained a prized pos- the ‘Socialist universal language of mankind – ‘Caviar’ from KVR session of KVR’s. It was also dur- music into the Alagappa Group ing this time that KVR began a of institutions by starting column himself, under the name Alagappa School of Music in .V. Ramanathan, distin- same recall applied to politics, passion – he could read and of ‘Caviar’. Titled Gaffes and 1956. Kguished civil servant, writer, administration, history, business speak the language very well. He Gobbledegook, it compiled errors Capitalist’ Alagappa Chettiar was also a scholar, music expert and sports and sports. once told me that while it stood and pompous verbiage that ap- lover of sports. He believed in enthusiast all rolled into one, Of KVR’s career in the IAS, I him in good stead in his job, it peared in newspapers and maga- healthy minds in healthy bodies. passed away last month at the know little beyond the fact that also brought him very close to zines, each one appended with a The Bhavnagar Stadium in age of 87. An avid reader of Mad- he rose to great heights and re- Tyagaraja, the great composer. comment by him. Among the n January 1948, K.V.Al.Rm. dras, who was presiding over the He sold many of his business Alagappa Nagar was inaugurated ras Musings and S. Muthiah’s tired as the Executive Director at Truly, there was hardly a song friendships formed then was the Alagappa Chettiar of Kottai- Dr. Annie Besant Centenary cel- interests abroad to fund many of I on February 2, 1952. The sta- ‘Vallal’ Alagappa Chettiar. long running-column Madras the Asian Development Bank. of Tyagaraja’s that KVR did not one with T.J.S. George. When yur went to see Jawaharlal Nehru ebrations in July 1947, made an these projects devoted to educa- ‘Caviar’ K.V. Ramanathan. dium held a special place in his flight. A voracious reader, he had Miscellany, he was a regular He did write about his early years know the lyrics and meaning of. the latter wrote M.S. Subbu- in Delhi, to ‘sell’ Karaikudi as a appeal to philanthropists and in- tion. heart. Whenever he was in a vast collection of books per- correspondent with both. He was in the service for a compilation And in his long life, he had heard lakshmi’s biography, KVR was town to house one of India’s new dustrialists in the audience to Alagappa Chettiar’s dream of was really appreciative of good Karaikudi, he always stayed in taining to various fields. His also a great mentor and friend of most of them sung by various one of the resources and George science research institutes. He come forward to start colleges in elevating the status of the edu- music from anyone, including one of the rooms in the pavilion. reading habit not only made mine. He will be sorely missed. artistes. He once remarked that wrote in his preface that it was offered 300 acres of land and 1.5 the State to meet the dire need cational institutions in Karaikudi the present day artistes. His In fact, his dying wish was that many consider him a scholar but KVR as all his friends referred it was sacrilege if an artiste per- KVR and not he, who ought to million rupees to set up the insti- felt for educational institutions, to a full-fledged university was, involvement in arts did not go his mortal remains be laid to rest he was also much in demand as a to him, was a true man of Carnatic gaffe formed a concert without even have written the book. tute in his native Chettinad. as many were denied education however, not realised during his unnoticed even while he was in in the stadium, which to him was speaker. Madras. His memories of the he Man from Madras one Tyagaraja song in it. Not Impressed by his commitment to due to lack of colleges. lifetime. It was only in 1985 that service for he was drafted on to a haven of peace. Now his me- Right from his teenage years, city, as his memories of other Musings has had many that he was a bigot – he admired people and the country, Nehru The then 38-year-old Alaga- it became Alagappa University, T the Sangeet Natak Akademi morial temple, just opposite Chettiar spoke extempore. His things, were sharp and he rarely mentors and one of these, who the works of several others, introduced Chettiar to his sister ppa Chettiar was moved by the but run by the State Government committee. G Bhavnagar Stadium, stands as speech was clear and inter- ever mixed up years and dates. used to write under the pen Papanasam Sivan whom he had by Vijayalakshmi Pandit, as the appeal. He rose simultaneously with the numerous colleges he Having grown up in North testimony to a life of service and spersed with sparkling wit and He would recount the exact name of ‘Caviar’, passed on seen frequently during his Sriram V. socialist capitalist. with the appeal and announced had founded over the years. recently. His speciality was Mada Street, Mylapore (his fa- sacrifice. wisdom. He was a gifted conver- route the Madras Trams ser- Mylapore years being a great Out of that offer came the that he would be happy to start pointing out gaffes in music ther K.V. Venkatasubramania sationalist with a brilliant sense viced, with the names of the favourite. But Tyagaraja was the Central Electro-Chemical an Arts College in his home town * * * publications and writing, which Iyer was a professor of Law and * * * of humour. stops on each line. Sadly, I never first among equals. He knew Research Institute (CECRI), a he regularly highlighted in a later a successful lawyer), his Alagappa Chettiar’s generos- bothered noting them down. A even the most obscure facts wing of the Council of Scientific * * * column titled ‘Gaffes and favourite recollection was that of Being a close friend of Sruti’s ity extended beyond education. great one for names, faces and Gobbledegook’. He would have about his musical idol including and Industrial Research (CSIR). The first blow of fate was the listening to Madurai Mani Iyer N. Pattabhiraman, it was but He made innumerable donations happenings, he would have been amused to know that the usage of Urdu words in his Nehru laid the foundation stone death of his wife Valliammal performing at the temple tank natural that KVR joined its Ad- to various institutions devoted to anecdotes about every famous MMM recently received an kritis! for CECRI in a sprawling campus Achi in 1928. Then came a se- during the float festival, the mu- visory Committee. Gaffes and causes, not necessarily related to Madras personality of the past. artiste’s CV that described her KVR loved music of the the- between Karaikkudi and ries of debilitating illnesses. sic being broadcast over the PA Gobbledegook moved to the education. Nobody who came to To many of us, he was a ready as a ‘Platform Singer’. atre as well and his hero there Kottaiyur, Chettiar’s home vil- In his early twenties, Alagap- system and he along with hun- magazine, this time looking ex- see him for any kind of help went reckoner – we could get even the – MMM was S.G. Kittappa. As for the lage, an area that was later to be pa Chettiar travelled to London dreds of others sitting at water’s clusively for errors in musical back disappointed. smallest details of the past clari- Carnatic performers, his personal named Alagappa Nagar. It was to take the Indian Civil Service edge, everyone lost in the music. writing. The pickings became Alagappa Chettiar was a fied with a phone call. Every- of reminiscences of IAS officers affinity was always for G.N. the seventh in the chain of na- examination. During the medical KVR’s reading was vast and even richer. He also wrote on se- driven man. “Ambitious ideas, thing appeared to be available on of the Tamil Nadu cadre that Balasubramaniam. This was not tional institutions and the sec- examination, it was discovered varied. P.G. Wodehouse and rious topics. His summing up in quick planning, immediate ex- tap – he rarely had to consult was brought out a few years ago. surprising for when KVR was in ond to be opened in Madras that he had leprosy. He probably Agatha Christie jostled for his one issue on the Swati Tirunal ecution became his mantra, es- books or other sources. Veteran In 1950, Madras was an undi- his teens, it was GNB who was Province that year. The main got the disease from someone time along with the great classi- controversy remains a fine piece pecially after he ventured into journalist and author T.J.S. vided State comprising large numero uno. Another favourite building of the institute was de- who looked after him when he cists such as Dickens, Thack- of writing. When Pattabhiraman educational projects during his George wrote of him as a “one- parts of Andhra and so officers was M.S. Subbulakshmi though clared open by Dr. S was a child. Though the disease eray, Ovid, Shakespeare and died in 2002 and Sruti was left last decade,” said Dr. S.Y. man encyclopaedia of Carnatic had to learn Telugu. To many it he did confess sheepishly that he Radhakrishnan, the then Vice left him after 20 years, the scars Jane Austen. He would also reel rather rudderless, KVR was Krishnaswami, ICS (RTD.), a music. Names, dates and details may have just been an additional fell fast asleep in the first concert President of India, on January 14, friend from his college days, pay- left behind by the disease on his off a whole host of obscure asked to take over as editor. In Nehru with the Socialist Capitalist in his sick bed. are forever at his fingertips.” The subject but to KVR it became a of hers that he attended. But he 1953. At the opening ceremony ing his tribute to Alagappa face, fingers etc. made him very names, writers long forgotten by that capacity he encouraged sev- the present generation. His list of there were nine Nobel laureates in Ramanathapuram District He loved children, as much as Chettiar while recalling his ca- self-conscious about his looks. In eral new writers on the arts, and favourites in Tamil was long, and on the dais. and announced a donation of Rs. he loved education. His daugh- pacity for work and his energy later years he contracted bone at least two, Lakshmi Devnath included writers such as T. The Ramanujan Institute, 5 lakh on the spot. ter recalls, “He had a dream – a which were truly immense! The cancer, with a few more cancer and I, benefitted immensely, for Janakiraman, Asokamitran and dedicated to a genius, was an- “It was a great but sudden im- dream that every child who en- words ‘cannot’ and ‘impossible’ lesions on other parts of his body. we were asked to write on a vari- the impact of the earthquake in Indira Parthasarathy. He trans- other of Alagappa Chettiar’s ini- pulse, a great turning point, a ters an Alagappa school should were not in his dictionary. Every He was constantly in pain. Nepal on the cultural property ety of subjects. He stepped down lated the last named’s Yesuvin tiatives. A standing monument transition in his life. With this be able to complete his/her stud- challenge must be overcome, “Fighting a life-long battle and social life of the inhabitants once Sruti’s long-term survival Thozhargal into English as to his love for research, it was es- one act, he seemed to have found ies. ‘We should provide for them, Alagappa Chettiar would tell his against his health, and yet ven- in central Nepal through photo- was assured in 2007, after it was Comrades of Jesus. tablished in a portion of his own his calling in life – the care for such that they never need to seek staff repeatedly. turing in ever-new ways to make graphs and digital videos – (at taken over by the Sanmar Group After his retirement from ser- house, Krishna Vilas in Vepery, in education,” writes the author, other institutions throughout the world a better place, Kadambari gallery, Dakshina- of companies. Chitra, 10 am to 6 pm). vice, KVR served as the Madras December 1951. his grandson, on whose book* their educational career,’ he used Alagappa Chettiar was a great Post-retirement, KVR went G editor of the Indian Express. It Alagappa Chettiar, true to this article is based. to say.” The first school started by R.V. Rajan soul whose role on this eternal for long walks near his lovely Till December 31: Silk Line, an was then that Randor Guy was Nehru’s description, was a suc- Within five weeks from the was AL.V. Valliammai Achi Feedback welcome on stage was one of the best ever Till December 26: Everywhere, Ev- traditions that give Nepal its na- house in Valmiki Nagar and was eryday, an exhibition of artworks tional identity. exhibition of collages by K.G. commissioned to write a series on cessful businessman who be- announcement, Alagappa School referred to as the Board [email protected] played. With ambition pushing Narendra Babu on woven silk and the acknowledged leader of the lieved in ploughing back the him up and health pulling him by renowned artists, exploring the The earthquake that struck old Madras and its famous per- group that set out each morning. Chettiar College of Arts & Sci- School in Kottaiyur. five elements of nature and the Nepal on April 25, 2015 and a sec- paintings. The exhibition is a money he earned from his varied sonalities, with KVR giving him He indulged in his passion for ence was inaugurated on August Other schools that he estab- down, the two words ‘persever- relationship to the five senses of ond large aftershock on May combination of his works using business into social causes. His His meticulousness, his sense as much as half a page of the pa- watching various tennis and 11, 1967, at Gandhi Maaligai, the lished include the Alagappa ance’ and ‘sacrifice’ sum the life the human body. (at The Leela 12th, severely damaged major different media like silk weaving, business interests consisted of of perfection, extended to even painting and drawing, all finding per every week. These articles in cricket matches on TV (an inter- former Karaikudi Municipality Model School, Alagappa of this compassionate man,” it Galleria, The Leela Palace) temples and shrines in the rubber plantations in Malaya, tin small mundane activities. He and lending space to each other English were simultaneously est which like music he shared Building which had been rented Montessori School & Hostel, was said of him. Till December 15: Exhibition of Kathmandu Valley and in the 14 mines in Burma, textile mills in could be seen explaining to his and producing a different imagery translated into Tamil and pub- with his gracious wife Ganga) for Rs. 2400. Alagappa Elementary School, On Republic Day 1957, the photographs and digital videos by hill districts surrounding the val- Kerala, insurance companies in staff how a postage stamp should Stephen Eckerd – Catalyst for ley. The exhibition will explore in totality. (at DakshinaChitra) lished by Iravatham Mahadevan and also found time to edit the and Alagappa Preparatory President of India conferred the Calcutta, hotels in Bombay, the- * * * be affixed on an envelope – en- Demolition-Earthquake Nepal (another former Civil Servant) letters addressed to S. School. Padma Bhushan on him. Less atres in Madras, a flourishing Other generous donations suring a 90-degree angle and than three months after that, on 2015. in the Dinamani, the vernacular Satyamurti, the patriot who was stock broking company and a pri- were to follow. He started a string Despite his religiousness, equal spaces. April 5, 1957, Alagappa Chettiar The photographs of Nepal were paper of the Express Group. The yet another of his heroes. The taken over a fifty year period by vate airline. Referred to as the of educational institutions in which included carrying a box of Apart from his abiding inter- breathed his last at Krishna Vilas. latter were compiled and pub- Satyamurti Letters, The Indian Karaikudi, making it an impor- small religious icons and pooja est in the Tamil and English lan- Stephen Eckerd, who retired from lished in two volumes titled ‘Unsung Business Maharajah of He considered his life mission to the Smithsonian Museum in Freedom Struggle Through The South India’ in the 1930s and tant educational centre. These articles as a part of his luggage guages and their literature, he be charity and charity he did un- Anraya Chennai Pramukhargal Eyes of a Parliamentarian wherever he travelled, he was Washington DC recently. While (Manivasagar Pathippagam) in ’40s, Alagappa Chettiar believed included Alagappa Chettiar Col- was interested in journalism and til his last breath. No wonder much remains the same, a ten-fold (Pearson Longman), came out in in having a diversified business lege of Engineering & Technol- not a temple-goer nor did he do- was the honorary editor of people called him ‘Vallal Chet- increase in the population of the 2002. There were some interest- two volumes in 2008. portfolio. The philanthropist in ogy, Alagappa Arts College, nate to temples of worship. “His Kumudam, the most popular tiar’. valley and sprawling slums of ing fallouts – the story on the Journalist Sushila Ravindra- him came to the fore only in the Alagappa Teacher Training Col- temples were the towers of edu- Tamil weekly from its inception. shops and private houses built of Lakshmikanthan murder saw nath, whose father S. Krishnan late 1940s. lege, Alagappa College for cation and his donations were Books were his constant com- * Alagappa – A Beautiful Mind cement in a style recognisable in threat mails coming in, fifty years was a close friend of KVR’s, re- Dr. A Lakshmanaswami Women, Alagappa Physical Edu- mainly aimed at helping the less panions on his travels. He would – A Saga of Perseverance, any town in India pose a serious after the incident! All were marked that a renaissance man Mudaliar, the then Vice Chan- cation College and Alagappa fortunate,” writes the author. finish a book overnight on a train Compassion and Sacrifice by challenge to the unique aesthetics One of Stephen Eckerd’s exhibits at Catalyst for Demolition-Earthquake anonymous bar one, which was had passed on. KVR would have Ramanathan Vairavan, 2015. of the valley and the culture Nepal 2015. ostensibly signed by M.S. cellor of the University of Ma- Polytechnic, among others. * * * and do the same on many a liked that epitaph. 6 MADRAS MUSINGS December 1-15, 2015

G Madras Province was the first province in India to offer women the franchise, limited though it was initially. That A pioneer’s fall was in 1921, the year the Madras Legislative Council was established. It enacted legislation in 1926, following the lead of the Government of India, to enable women to contest elections and sit in the legislature. The first two women in Madras to stand for election were Kamaladevi from grace Chattopadhyaya and Hannan Angelo. The latter was an Anglo-Indian nurse, a resident of Mada Church Road, annan Angelo was Royapuram. Angelo thrice contested elections for the H founder and secretary of Corporation of Madras and was elected every time. She the Nurses Bureau at its first ad- was an active councillor who would arrive at work sites dress, a room in the White Me- and chivvy the men doing road works, clearing rubbish morial Hall, Egmore, and and cleaning drains with a “Jaldi, Jaldi, men,” according remained at the helm of affairs to her friend, the late Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy, the until she was unceremoniously daughter of S. Satyamurti. ousted in the early 1940s. With the establishment of While she should be remembered for this pioneering the Madras Medical College record, she, in later life, strayed and that buried all and General Hospital in Madras memories of her achievements. This article looks at the in the 19th Century, the area of path she took to earn a sterling reputation and then led Poonamallee High Road be- her to disrepute. tween the YMCA and St. Geor- ge’s School became known in time as ‘The Harley Street’ of Many doctors and even pa- Hannan Angelo next ob- Madras. tients would request for the ser- tained the sanction of the Man- Several prominent doctors vices of a favourite nurse while aging Committee and of the set up their establishments many nurses would work only Court-appointed official Trust- here: Col. Pandalai’s Nursing with certain doctors. ees, to construct an even larger, Home, Vira Reddy’s Nursing As time went by, Hannan well appointed dance hall in the Home, Rama Rau’s Polyclinic, Angelo had her own favourite front garden and this roofless, A. Lakshmanaswami Muda- nurses who were given plum door- and window-less struc- liar’s Kensington Nursing cases and constant employment ture became known as “the un- Home, and Sunderavardanam’s which caused much heartburn finished monument to Hannan Nursing Home, apart from sev- among other nurses. She began Angelo” until it was sold in the eral smaller and less well-known to do as she wished with the fur- late 1970s for the construction nursing homes, clinics and con- nishings of the rooms and pub- of a Jain Temple on the four- sulting rooms. lic areas, the former in due ground site. Most of these establishments course being reduced to just a Mrs. Hopkins, on her visits required the services of fully cot, a mattress and a table and to the non-resident nurses, con- qualified nurses. The large es- Hannan Angelo chair in each bedroom and veyed all the sordid happenings tablishments whose in-patients started the Nurses Bureau in The Bureau grew from nothing else. Food cooked for to them. Some of the doctors, included the rich and famous of 1925 in a room in the White strength to strength and soon the common mess had to be like Col. Pandalai, expressed India and even Sri Lanka, re- Memorial Hall owned by the acquired an all-India reputa- exclusively of her choice and their disapproval to the doctors quired nurses for special duty Anglo-Indian Association of tion. Hannan Angelo was doing when she was having dental who were President and Vice exclusively for their patients on Southern India. Nurses, who an excellent job which was ac- problems, everyone had to eat President of the Nurses’ Asso- twelve hour shifts, the day duty became members, had to pay a knowledged by one and all. ciation. shift from 8 am to 8 pm and the nominal daily commission to In 1935, Dr. Muthulakshmi In the early 1940’s a special G night duty shift from 8 pm to 8 the Bureau for each day they Reddy, who shifted her resi- by Ronald urgent General Body meeting am. These nurses were fully worked. The Bureau unani- dence to Adyar, graciously sold E. Smith-Ansari was called and Hannan Angelo trained nurses and midwives mously elected Hannan Angelo her 22-ground residential prop- was removed as Secretary and and had undergone three and as Secretary and she was paid an erty at No. 7 Rundall’s Road to given 24 hours to vacate the half years training in the major honorarium of Rs. 200 a month the Nurses Bureau of Madras for minced meat every day. Writ- premises. The Association rules government hospitals of India. in the early 1930s as well as Rs. 45,000. Hannan Angelo now ten complaints by the nurses to were duly amended and the To meet the needs of these perks like free fully-furnished roped in several prominent Eu- the Managing Committee com- midwife who was the office nursing homes, Hannan Angelo accommodation, laundry, food ropean women, most of whom prising of doctors as President clerk, Mrs. Hopkins, with three along with three sisters, who and other incentives after the had at some time availed of the and Vice President, and seven daughters and a grown up son, were all nurses, Eva Lewis, Mrs. Bureau moved to Rundall’s services of the nurses of the nurses – which included the was unanimously elected Resi- Dias and Nathalie Lewis, Road. Bureau, to completely renovate Secretary and Treasurer, all dent Secretary, a post she held and furnish 11 rooms for a resi- handpicked by Hannan Angelo until 1950. dential hostel for single nurses. and voted for as directed by her Hannan Angelo’s transition The hostel had a a sitting room, at the Annual General Body from a highly respected special CHENNAI HERITAGE a dining room, a pantry, two out- Meeting and Tea Party usually nurse and midwife and the No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road door kitchens and an office. held in April every year – came Founder Secretary of the Nurses’ Association of Madras Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Each room had an attached to nought. bathroom and the furnishings Then came World War II to her expulsion a little over I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List included carpets and curtains and several of the rooms were twenty years later was described No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and and linen and even wall clocks vacated by nurses who joined by Dr. Lakshmanaswami would like to receive it hereafter. and ornaments. Each room had the Military Nursing Service. Mudaliar according to my G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. a plaque on the front door giving Around the same time, a few mother, Mrs. Ansari, as “one of 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI the name of the person who had soldiers began visiting the Bu- the sad casualties of the Second HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras furnished it. reau for tea and dancing to the World War.” Musings for the year 2015-16. A young widowed midwife, music of the gramophone in the Today, the Bureau has G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, envi- Mrs. Hopkins, who had been sitting room every evening. ceased functioning. The build- ronment and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, unable to become a member They started bringing there own ings have all crumbled except I send Chennai Heritage an additional because she was not a ‘sick’ girl-friends with them. Misuse what is now used as the Rs...... nurse as well, had been ap- of the rooms was alleged. Secretary’s Office and the (Rupees ...... ) pointed in-charge of the office Hannan Angelo now built a dance hall at the rear where re- Please keep/put me on your mailing list. of the Bureau. She continued large dance hall at the rear of ligious services are held every Name : ...... working from the new location the premises which still exists Tuesday...... and would take off, post-haste, and is now used for prayer meet- Address: ...... on her bicycle to the house of a ings. The place was packed ev- ...... non-resident nurse immediately ery evening with the soldiers Our Quiz Master V.V...... a call was received over tele- being joined by sailors and even Ramanan is on holiday. All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be phone number 3968 for the ser- a few locals out for an evening His column will resume sent by Speed Post only. vices of a special nurse. of fun and frolic. on his return. December 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

G An occasional column by a British freelance writer on her eight years in Madras

Fireworks boom, flames flicker and bulbs flash all European standards, but nevertheless this is a hell of over Chennai. Around India and the many parts of a lot of Rupees going up in smoke! I am impressed by the world where Indians live, Diwali is a cause for cel- this ostentatious devotion to the Gods; it goes on for ebration and an excuse for elaborate food, clothes, and several hours and has an almost Ancient Roman ex- parties. The first time can be frightening! Looking cellence. Wherever I look it seems as if buildings are back at my diary for the year 2006 and my first expe- literally on fire, and I guess this must be a busy night rience of Diwali I was clearly overwhelmed. This is for the fire brigade. what I wrote: “The children are predictably bewildered when “All night long noisy fireworks, mainly bangers they arrive in the middle of the night, but they find it have been going off and its not even Diwali yet! I be- fascinating and proclaim it better than Christmas in gin to empathise with people living in war zones. De- England. Rita, the cook, has made them a special spite being mainly Christian the staff seem reluctant chocolate cake, especially heavy and inedible, which I to work, but in anticipation of the Diwali bonus they My first manage to dispose of at a friend’s house where we go battle on with one eye on the kitchen clock. Josephine for further celebrations. On their tennis court, fire- asks me: works are let of in a controlled Western manner. All “Madam work long?” the children squeal with delight as bangers shoot out “Yes I say, “Finish your work and then you can go at every angle and rockets soar into the sky and fizzle home early”. Diwali and die or burst into a hundred colours, a happy end- “The children arrive for their first visit to India to- ing to our first Diwali experience.” night. I can only imagine how they will react to seeing Cloaked under celebrating the various Gods and people wearing plastic bags on their heads as they “This then is the greatest festival of the year. The Goddess’s Diwali is really a social occasion. In former drive the hundreds of motorbikes that roar through return of Lord Rama with his wife Sita and brother years it had stronger religious connotations, but now Chennai’s flooded monsoon streets, to the accompa- Lakshmana from a 14-year exile after vanquishing the like Christmas it has become a commercial enterprise niment of violent banging noises. demon King Ravana. And to light his way all the on a massive scale. “The streets are littered with the debris of bangers, houses around us have lit small clay lamps called It marks the start of the Hindu financial year, no which seem to be mainly made of paper. Many of the “dyas”. doubt for many people with a debt! The traditional booze shops are shut but the ones that are open are “Diwali or Deepavali is the biggest and brightest of gifts of new clothing and sweets have been inflated. doing a roaring trade. the Hindu festivals and seems to be a mixture of our The pressure to buy gold, clothing, and household “Having waited weeks for numerous household Christmas and harvest festival all at once. The mad- items has increased, and economic liberalisation has goods to arrive at our new home, there is a sudden ness goes on for four days, each day separated by a had its effect on fashion too. Bling is everywhere and rush of deliveries and workmen. The elusive carpen- different custom and I am wondering if every day will where once a girl might expect a new saree now she ter appears, as does the electrician and the air condi- be as noisy? will be hoping for a visit to a high-end fashionable tioning operative. The doorbell rings every five min- “Traditionally everyone spring cleans their house shop where she can snap up a mini dress or heavily utes and I begin to suspect that their charm and en- at this time. In preparation for the visit of Lakshmi, embellished ensemble by a top Indian designer. While thusiasm may be related to money. It is. Everyone be- doors and windows are left open to let the goddess in urban dwellers splash out on gold jewellery and ex- comes very obliging around this time of year, there is (assuming she can get past the security guard) brightly pensive electrical items, in the poorer countryside and much nodding of heads, standing around and well coloured chalk drawings, Rangolis, are drawn at the in tribal villages humble offerings and wholesome wishing, I get the idea and reach for my purse. entrance to all the houses in our street including ours. feasts resonate with the original religious meaning of “The big day arrives and we are overtaken with the (Who did that I wonder? Maybe it was the gardener). Diwali madness that is Diwali. All day the city has been “We and some other Westerners go to the Resi- Festivals, and in particular Diwali, must be diffi- booming with the dull thud of fireworks. Even closer dency Towers, a star hotel with acres of marble floor- cult for families with no money, living in poverty. are the heart-stopping explosion of bangers behind ing, palm trees in the foyer and tinkling piano music. Street kids have little enough to wear and a yearning every car and fence, wall and street in the city. After a drink at the ubiquitous pub (every country in for sweets and new clothing as they watch their better “The dog is having a breakdown, she has managed the world seems to replicate our shabby English drink- of neighbours who can only compound their misery. to wedge herself under a piece of furniture on the ter- ing establishments) we go to the 21st floor, the highest While the many rapacious dentists in Chennai will race, and I sympathize and wish I could hide from the spot in Chennai, to watch the fireworks. I can hardly be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of the noise. There is nothing much to see in the sky and the believe my eyes! damage all those sweets will do, it is still worth air is thick with smoke like an old fashioned London “The complete panoramic view is lit up with thou- celebrating the fact that in the modern world where smog, but when darkness falls the whole city is trans- sands of exploding colours. Fireworks as far as the eye everything is changing, festivals are one of the few formed and the true beauty and energy of the festival can see. As the whole city explodes it has a psyche- ways to keep families together and cultural traditions of lights is revealed.” delic quality. I know that fireworks are cheap here by alive.

G Dr. Sanjeeva Raj, The ecology of greening Consultant Ecologist

G 96,000-kilometre length of Pandyan periods, the rulers as Mughal Shalimar Garden in Uttar Kannada in Karnataka. the National Highways in In- lovers of Nature, classified land Kashmir. The British interest in Bahuguna’s 5 F trees — for grasses. Each species of vegeta- dia and 560 corporation parks ecologically into five types, trees was more for economic food, fodder, fertiliser, fibre and tion discharges specific ecosys- and several industrial parks Kurinji (hilly), Mullai (forest), gains through trade and export fuel – to be planted all over the tem services or functions, and in Chennai city are proposed Marudham (agricultural), of teak, rubber, indigo, cotton, country may today be supple- hence for a productive green- for massive greening. Here Neidal (coastal) and Paalai tea, coffee and spices. mented by two more Fs, to pro- ing, a carefully selected combi- are some guidelines for a (desert), each with its charac- Trees are life-givers and live mote flora and fauna and create nation of species is imperative. meaningful ‘ecological green- teristic vegetation, seasonal long after humans. The value of biodiversity. Most States in In- To achieve this goal, first of all, ing’, writes Dr. P.J. Sanjeeva flowers and fruits, visited by their ecological benefits far ex- dia today have adopted a State climate, soil and water at the Raj, Consultant Ecologist. honey bees, butterflies and ceed their economic benefits. tree and State flower, Palmyra proposed sites should be birds, much sung about by po- Even at the dawn of Indepen- being the State tree and Glory analysed to suit the precise spe- dmiring the bounty of big ets. Emperor Ashoka had dence, visionary leaders realised Lily being the State flower of cies of vegetation to be selected. trees, Henry van Dyke, the A planted trees along countryside the much neglected truth that Tamil Nadu. The saplings may be raised in a great American poet and cler- roads to provide shade for trav- Ecology ensures sustainable * * * nursery on the same site. gyman (1858-1933) exhorts us: ellers, and he got wells dug for Economics too. Vana The recently announced na- Proven host-plants that attract “He that planteth a tree is a watering the trees as well as to Mahotsava, the annual festival tional policy of Green High- caterpillars and adult butter- servant of God, provide for drinking water for of tree-planting was initiated, ways, greening of local corpora- flies, honey bees and birds, He provideth a kindness for travellers and their draught ani- particularly to awaken and en- tion parks, industrial parks, which are all keystone species many generations, mals. The Mughal emperors, vironmental consciousness in large academic campuses, tour- and ecological indicator species And the faces that he hath not Babur, Humayun and Akbar, as our school children. ist spots and private estates, of the success of eco-plantation, seen shall bless0 him.” lovers of flowers, followed Following the classical ex- which are all micro ecosystems, should be selected. Habitat di- Chronologically, during Persian architectural principles ample of the Bishnois of the should broadly follow the pat- versification promotes Vedic times, the whole of India and created rectangular, walled Rajasthan deserts, hugging their terns of greening evolved at biodiversity also and hence a had vast and luxurious forests. gardens, with pools, canals and khejri trees against the tree-cut- Auroville in Pondicherry. How- pond and a compost pit for Some of the chosen herbs, trees fountains, which are to this day ters’ axes were the members of ever, the underlying principle of vermiculture of local leaf-litter and groves were worshipped for cherished (for example, the the Chipko Movement led by ecological greening is to achieve and dung, and for birds, nest their spiritual, medicinal and prestigious Mughal gardens in that pioneering environmental all the ecosystem services or boxes, nesting materials, bird ecological values. During the north India). The more recent activist, Sunderlal Bahuguna in functions of an integrated plan- feeders and water and mud Sangam Period and in the fol- Brindavan Garden in Uttarkhand, and later extended tation of indigenous trees, baths should also be provided. lowing Chera, Chola and Karnataka derives from the as the Appiko Movement in climbers, shrubs, herbs and (Continued on page 8) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS December 1-15, 2015

KNOW YOUR FORT BETTER G by Sriram V. The ecology (Continued from page 1) that he was deeply in love. of greening Characteristically, he was to do (Continued from page 7) proceeded to Bengal and, while nothing in a hurry. Having there, married in 1756 the taken time to think matters Locally grown seeds and cut- widow of a Captain Campbell over, he called in the Imhoffs tings are the best for propaga- who had been in Company ser- and it was decided between tion on the same site. vice. Three years later his wife them that the husband would For visitors, name-boards of died. Meanwhile, Hastings con- file for divorce proceedings and trees and shrubs, in the local tinued to fare well profession- till this was granted, they would language and in English, drink- ally, becoming a Member in continue to remain in the eyes ing water and toilet facilities, Council at Calcutta in 1761. He of the public a married couple. garbage bins and an incinerator opted to return home in 1764 Arriving in Madras, should be on site. and five years later, having lost Hastings took up residence in Along roads, lake-beds and all his money in helping impe- Church Street. He threw him- vacant lands of villages, hardy cunious relatives, was bound for self into his work as the Num- species of trees and shrubs may Madras, this time taking office ber Two in the Council, report- be planted, with rest-areas as Second in Council. ing to Governor Du Pre. To equipped with WiFi hubs, Hastings sailed on board the quote from a third biographer drinking water and toilets. To- Duke of Grafton and his fellow Capt. L.J. Trotter, “the tal participation and apprecia- passengers were Baron and Bar- Company’s investments in silk The Church Walk. tion by local people is essential oness von Imhoff. In contrast to and cotton goods had been of for better success of greening the grand title, the couple was late so carelessly overseen that Company suddenly decided to Sir Elijah Impey, the Chief Jus- programmes. impoverished. The husband, the roguery of the native con- play cupid. It promoted Has- tice and a schoolmate and close Our former president, the Christohof Adam Karl von tractors had brought about a tings as Governor General (he friend of Hastings. She was pre- late Dr. Abdul Kalam, in his Imhoff, had served in the Seven marked decline in the quality of was the first to be given that sented to Calcutta society in a poem, The Life Tree, gave us this Years War and was out of em- goods shipped to England.” The title) and ordered him to move glittering public event on Au- advice: ployment since 1763. He had men referred to were clearly the to Calcutta. Sometime during gust 11th and took up her offi- “There was a majestic scene of been living in Nuremberg off dubashes. Hastings set about his tenure in Madras, Hastings cial position as First Lady, Life Tree, the hospitality of relatives cleaning up the system. He had appears to have purchased the though in private wags labelled Cluster of tall and straight Nag whose kindness he repaid by the duties of the Export house on Church Street, for in her Hastings’ Governess. Phali grove. doing their portraits, an art in Warehousekeeper entrusted to his farewell note to the Coun- There were to be rumours ...... which he was not overly tal- a separate officer under whom a cil, he offered it for sale at 4,000 that Marian dominated over Honey bees filling the flower ented. In 1769, he decided to go team of trained clerks began pagodas. him on official matters as well, beds, mutual love flowing. to India, to try his hand at working. Gaining proficiency in Once in Calcutta, Hastings leading to decisions that bor- ...... painting the native rulers and the local languages, he started moved in with the Imhoffs, dered on gross misuse of office You are born, live life of giving, making a fortune off these low dealing directly with the head- spending much of his time in but the marriage was a great And bond the human life.” hanging fruits. Accompanying men of the weaving villages and building a vast house for the success. They were to never him was his wife Anna Maria soon the Company began to see time when he would marry have children of their own but It is most likely that Church Apolliana Chapuset. the fruits of his labours. Anna Maria. The husband left Hastings adopted Marian’s Street vanished in the recon- Hastings’ biographers vary in But in the meanwhile ton- India in 1773, to file for divorce three offspring from her first struction of Fort St George in their views on the Imhoff mar- gues in Madras kept wagging in his native Franconia. He re- marriage. She was to see him the 1780s. The last we see of it riage – Lord Macaulay claims about his unusual private life. ceived a thousand pounds in through several tribulations, is a reference in what would to- she had nothing but contempt The trio had lived together till two instalments from a relative most noted of which was his day be referred to as a classified for her husband but G.R. Glieg Imhoff, after ten months and of Hastings in return for a por- impeachment when he re- advertisement dated July 13, simply states that they were not having painted half the settle- trait of the Governor General. turned to England. Acquitted 1791. Mrs Laney, who was run- suited to each other. Whatever ment, wanted to move to Anna Maria, by now Hastings’ after seven years, Hastings re- ning a tailoring establishment in be the case, the circumstances Calcutta to try his luck there. beloved Marian, remained in tired to a life of peace and con- the Fort, had a shop in her of the voyage threw Hastings Anna Maria remained behind Calcutta with the Governor tentment with his beloved. He house on Church Street where and Baroness Imhoff together, but Hastings very properly set General at Belvedere, his palatial passed away in 1818, aged 86, she had a variety of European particularly so when he fell dan- her up in a different house and home, his exalted status ensur- at Daylesford. Marian lived till articles for sale and could also gerously ill and she treated him visited her regularly. Then, in ing everyone kept silent at least 90 and died in 1837. The two execute orders at the shortest with tender care, watching over October 1771, she sailed for in public about this. The di- are buried side by side at the notice and ‘in the first stile of him and administering medi- Calcutta to join her husband. It vorce came through in 1777 Daylesford church. And to Elegance, having received the cines with her own hand. When may have ended as a shipboard and then Hastings married her, think it all began on Church latest and newest fashions by he recovered, Hastings realised romance but the East India the bride being given away by Street by St. Mary’s in Madras! the ships of this season.’

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