Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/12-14 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/12-14 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 • Americans & Carnatic music • Remembering Kalki • The new I.A.S. • The Chandhoks of Chennai

Vol. XXIV No. 5 MUSINGS June 16-30, 2014 Madras Landmarks State’s sad, sad – 50 years ago tech colleges

ecoming an engineer is one recession. Consequently, the nance other businesses from the Bof the easiest tasks in Tamil on-campus placement figures income earned! Nadu what with over 570 engi- for Anna University colleges are The Government has over neering colleges in the State, of a measly 11 per cent of all those the years been attempting to which 520 are affiliated to graduating. bring in some regulation into Anna University. But if that Ever since the 1980s, when these institutions. In 2001, gave you the impression of the State threw open engineer- around 400 of them were hardcore technical experts be- ing education to the private brought under the purview of ing churned out in a Germanic sector, several promoters have Anna University. The numbers mode, perish the thought. Most entered the field. Barring very have been added to since then. of those who graduate are tech- G Think ‘Oceanic’ and it conjures up was known to be one of the best hotels few, all the others have viewed But the move has not achieved memories of the 1950s – an empty San in India, “equipped with linen, crock- nically unemployable, thanks to its stated objective of raising the Thomé High Road, a pristine Adyar ery, cutlery, refrigerators, air-condi- the level of teaching and facili- bar. The cause for the failure is creek teeming with bird life, an art- tioners, cooking ranges, electric fans, ties in most colleges. The latest deco hotel standing at the edge – a ice-cream machines, ice-making G chiefly due to the poor quality news is that five more colleges by of teaching faculty at most of world-class facility where visiting machinery, light fittings and other will be added this year. Are we The Editor the private colleges. Apart from international cricket teams were moveable and also with tools, imple- focussing on quantity instead of the endemic rot in the Indian hosted. Today, all that remains is an ments, lawn mowers, equipments, quality? education system, wherein empty plot of land, fronted by a crum- kitchen and other utensils” to quote bling welcome arch over which can still from a record in the 1960s. In addi- A casual survey among this as a moneymaking option. there is a complete disconnect be seen some of the letters that once tion it had a shopping gallery where headhunters would certainly in- The investment is largely in with the outside world and its spelt the hotel’s name. some of Madras’ best known retailers dicate this to be so. Most stu- requirements when it comes to land and buildings, which is The property itself, originally five set up outlets. By 1959, the Oceanic dents hired from Tamil Nadu’s why you invariably see only syllabus, private colleges, bar- to six acres, goes back to probably the started attracting high class tourists – engineering colleges, they aver, those with large landholdings ring the best ones, do not at- 19th Century. Certainly, when lawyer being only one of three hotels in the have poor communication setting up these colleges. As for tract top quality teaching staff. K.R. Shenai bought it in 1917, it had city to offer air-conditioned rooms skills, not even bare minimum the other aspects – an enlight- This is at a time when even already had an old garden bungalow must have helped. “Luxurious Oceanic, a most popular hotel of technical knowledge, and cer- ened few go in for high quality Government colleges are facing in its Southwest corner. The evacua- tainly no practical experience. the same shortage. A recent tion of Madras in 1942 led Shenai to Madras, situated on the sea shore, all equipment and facilities. Most single and double rooms air-condi- Those taken on have to be put RTI query revealed that only sell his landholdings, and the settle for organising a fleet of part fronting San Thomé High tioned,” ran an ad in 1958. through intensive training in college buses to ferry the stu- four out of ten Government en- the organisations hiring them, gineering colleges even had Road was purchased by M.S. Chettiar died in 1964, but five dents to the remote locations Ramaswami Chettiar of Mahalakshmi years prior to that, for reasons best making it almost a repeat pro- where the colleges are and leave principals! Films. known to him, he leased out both the cess of education. Companies the rest to chance. The money All this is in conjunction hotels to R. Kapanipathi Rao, who at are grumbling at the cost, espe- Chettiar built two hotels on the they rake in, through capitation with the fact that the demand premises – the ‘Oceanic’ and the that time was running Noel’s, a well- cially at a time when margins and regular fees, is considerable. ‘Ratnagar’. Completed in 1954 or known restaurant on Mount Road. are under squeeze thanks to the Several promoters go on to fi- (Continued on page 7) thereabouts, the Oceanic in particular The lease was renewed in 1965 by Chettiar’s son Meyyappan and contin- ued to run till 1970. But by then, the Oceanic was no longer what it was. The fact that lessor and lessee were fighting each other in the Court did not Guindy National Park under threat help. In 1973, Kapanipathi Rao, following a High Court judgement, was asked to hand over the property to ur city may take pride in the construction of buildings by its original size. The GNP, in the water table and being home Meyyappan. the fact that it has Guindy Government-supported organi- 1978, was declared a national to fauna of various kinds. O The hotel could have survived had National Park (GNP), one of sations and institutions in the park. Chennai thus became the All this may have been a an urban land ceiling case not been the oldest reserve forests right vicinity. second metro in the country to matter of pride a couple of filed against the owners during which in its midst, but if the Govern- The GNP has been a reserve have such a reserve forest, decades ago. But now with the period it finally shut down. The trial ment is allowed to have its way, forest since 1910. Originally Mumbai’s Borivali National demand for space skyrocketing, went on till 1993 when judgement all this will soon be gone. It is areas such as the GNP are went in favour of the owners. There learnt that the State Govern- G by A Special Correspondent considered nuisances by those was then talk of the Taj Group of ment has written to the Union who think ‘development’ is the hotels taking over the hotel and reviv- Ministry of Environment and spanning over five square Park being four years older. It only way to progress. At the ing it, keeping the art deco main block Forests (MOEF) that the man- heart of the problem at GNP is intact. But that was not to be. The kilometres, it was steadily has since been a vital lung for owners demolished the structure early datory eco-sensitive buffer zone whittled down to make way for the city, keeping summer the proposed extension of the this century and there was talk of an around the park be removed. several memorials and buildings temperatures down in the IT Park coming up there. The site This is ostensibly to facilitate and, by 1971, was around half surrounding area, conserving (Continued on page 6) remains vacant as on date. CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS June 16-30, 2014 Decentralise This scorching summer he Man from Madras nai male clad in synthetics dur- Chennai has given MMM a waste T Musings is visibly melting ing the summer. And given heightened sixth sense about in the heat. Perhaps it is the that most of these characters places where rich pickings onset of old age, or perhaps it feast rather well at lunchtime could be had for this column is just addiction to air-condi- on onion- and garlic-flavoured and something told him that management tioning. But as the years foods, the odour gets com- this spot was one. And so he progress, MMM, who for years pounded. Add smoking and looked inside. considered himself one of frequent coffee drinking and The place could have been hennai, like a number of cities elsewhere in the country, is set those hardy specimens whom you have something building a dioramic representation of Cto face an unprecedented crisis in Solid Waste Management the vagaries of the weather up that could eventually blow the Sahara. It was barren and (SWM) in the coming years. Garbage, and how we deal with it, is affect not, finds himself more away the entire ozone layer. It the only relief features were something that has drifted in and out of the greater civic conscious- and more dependent on artifi- is time we had a movement shards from broken bottles ness of the city over the past two decades and there are a number cial means of bringing down against this couldn’t-care-less that adults who evidently the ambient temperature. O attitude towards body odour. made merry here at sundown of organisations and individuals who have devoted time and for a beaker full of the warm Get on with it, MMM, say had left behind. A few reed attention to this issue in the city. However, successes have south, sang Keats – and he the more delicately constituted mats also littered the place, in- generally been short-lived and throughout this period the city has could not have got it more among his readers. And so dicating that the celebrants at been moving steadily towards a crisis point. The crisis will be one wrong. What is needed is for MMM will bring this diatribe sundown stayed on after the of garbage going uncollected, possibly indefinitely, as it will have the south to cool down. For against stinkers to a close. But party and left only when the nowhere to go once Kodungaiyur and Perungudi, the two massive that matter, so does the north. not before making a few more milk was delivered. If these dumpsites that serve the city, can hold no more. MMM learns that those in observations. Firstly, this regular party-goers had been The Corporation’s response to this eventuality has so far mainly Delhi at 47 deg C are looking particular group has no class in other strata of society, they been to scout alternative dumpsites – unsuccessfully. There are enviously at our city which, distinction – the top-notch could have featured in the many voices in the city, however, including the Initiative for according to them, is enjoying executive who recycles clothes third page of at least one news- an unfair advantage at 41 deg smells the same as the AC paper of our city. Waste, Informal Workers, and Chennai’s Future (a coalition of C. mechanic who comes home MMM had assumed that a Transparent Chennai, Madras Institute for Development Studies, Chennai by itself is now and leaves a rich odour behind. play area for children would and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) who oppose such broadly divided into two Ditto the chauffeur or a waiter have a merry-go-round, a slide a path forward. Dumping/land-filling is both an environmentally groups – the first complains it at a restaurant. It all comes and perhaps a monkey bar/ unsustainable and socially unjust way of dealing with the ever-in- is the heat that affects it, while under the head of wrong choice climbing frame, which for creasing output of garbage. The Initiative is one of a number of the other says it is the humi- of fabric. Secondly, the old lady some reason is known as a groups and individuals in the city that advocates instead for a dity. Not that it has ever of Tamil who has a statue on jungle gym in our country. But decentralised “Zero-Waste” model of SWM that emphasises segre- snowed in our city, but there is the beach instructed that we of these MMM espied none. gation at source, maximum resource recovery (through recycling, no denying that the summers rinse our raiment even if it He, of course, realised that are getting worse. This is were a rag. That appears to those who frequented this composting etc.) and protection of the livelihood rights of people chiefly because of the way we have been given the go-by since playground at happy hours did currently supporting themselves and their families off the city’s waste (rag-pickers and scrap dealers). A decentralised model would entail that whatever waste is cre- ated within a particular geographic area (such as a ward) be dealt SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY with within that area. This is a more sustainable and responsible way of dealing with waste than centralised dumping. Cities such as Bangalore and Pune, as well as numerous small towns, have already construct our homes and her days. Lastly, can we expect not need them – they got the adopted such a system and while there have been difficulties, it is offices, and the way we dress. the State Government to dis- effects of all this equipment the clearest and most favourable way forward. Of the first two, MMM will pense branded deodorants from what they imbibed. But restrict himself to stating that along with everything else that what of the children, MMM this is not a city that can it is giving? wondered. handle buildings in close pro- And then MMM saw the G by Sushila Natraj ximity, low ceilings, glassed Not for children? sole object that could be windows and shut-in interiors. remotely classified as a play- But who is going to listen? hen in doubt, go thing. This was one of those Perhaps these are circum- W walkabout – this is one synthetic rubber water tanks Towards this end, the Initiative has, over the past year, endeav- stances beyond our control; of the various maxims that The that are visible on most build- oured to build consensus amongst various groups of stakeholders the population being such and Man from Madras Musings ings and have probably contri- on a well-defined path forward for SWM in the city. In the course the spaces being so insuffi- follows. And doubts assail him buted more to the ugliness of of these consultations with members of civil society, workers’ cient, this would appear to be often, their intensity peaking our city than anything else. groups, the scientific community and the city government, the idea the construction style for the just when the deadline for this This was being rolled around column nears. So it was last of a sustainable and inclusive Zero-Waste pilot project in one present and the foreseeable the place by a couple of ur- future. week when, keeping company chins. That made MMM rea- corporation ward was evolved. Since then, it has been engaged in But on the matter of with mad dogs and English- lise that our Corporation and mobilising citizen support as well as creating research and data to apparel, MMM has much to men, MMM too walked about its councillor had achieved help advocate for and anchor a potential pilot project in Ward 173 cavil about. What has hap- in the Indian sun, seeking their stated objective. All that would aim at being decentralised, Zero-Waste, and inclusive pened to the cottons that once inspiration for the column. other aspects, such as the of the informal sector (rag-pickers who are responsible as of now made Madras a name to con- Having wandered lonely photo-op during the inaugura- for almost all recycling in most Indian cities). tend with the world over? Why like a clo(u)d, MMM did not tion of the play area and the Transparent Chennai, on behalf of the Initiative, conducted a has the populace abandoned come upon a host of golden obligatory news report, not to detailed mapping and survey exercise in Ward 173 to establish both that eminently suitable fabric daffodils (unlikely in Chennai mention the more permanent for synthetic ones that are not where you could come across foundation plaque and the the number and nature of households and commercial terrible things quite easily), but establishments in the ward, as well as to assess the generation and meant for our climes? MMM semi-permanent banner, were wishes that the average he did espy a raised platform merely incidental benefits, of composition of the waste created in the ward. Chennai man would give enclosed by railings. A Corpo- course. This extensive study forms the basis of a detailed proposal that nylons and polyesters the go- ration of Chennai (second old- will be handed over to the Corporation of Chennai for the planning by at least in summer and re- est Corporation in the world Tailpiece and implementation of the pilot project. Community participation vert to cotton. MMM learns and civic body in charge of the ‘ imp up your home’ is a key component of this effort and a number of community that one of the reasons for the first city of modern India, in Pscreamed a link on the meetings have been held in the Ward to disseminate the proposal former scoring over the latter case you did not know) plaque web edition of one of our ul- and receive feedback. It is also available to the general public at is ease of maintenance – they boldly announced to the world tra-respectable newspapers of- www.transparentchennai.com where you can read the proposal don’t crease and wrinkle like that this was a playground for ten compared to a Vaishnavite children. It also gave the name and give feedback and suggestions, which might be incorporated cottons. Drip-dry and wear, deity on a once wide thorough- appears to be the motto. Only of the councillor during whose into the final output. fare. The Man from Madras the drip is more of sweat tenure this was inaugurated. Musings could not believe his As has been mentioned above, the Initiative is also engaged in which, when dry, hits every- And just in case the plaque creating research about, and advocating for, the informal waste eyes. He later learnt that the one’s nose. missed the average passer-by’s expression means to make sector. Waste-pickers, more popularly known as rag-pickers, are Everything in India smells attention, a large but fading something over-decorative among the most marginalised citizens of the city, yet it is their except the rose was a deroga- digital banner broadcast to the with flashy accessories. MMM labour that accounts for the only progressive or sustainable waste tory comment made during world at large the name of the realised he had to change with recycling in the city. Waste-pickers divert hundreds, of tons of the British Raj. MMM would benefactor once again and the times, particularly when it like to add that nothing smells thanked her profusely. comes to language. worse than the average Chen- Years of wandering around (Continued on page 4) – MMM June 16-30, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Seetharama Rao & Shama Bhat here are a few additional points to reader Rama Rau’s Polyclinic is close to Laksh- TV. Theetharappan’s letter (MM, May manaswamy Mudaliar-Venugopal’s Kensington 16th). nursing home, which was used by the famous Seetharama Rao lived in Dasaprasad, which Madras obstetrician-gynaecologist-surgeon was on Gangadeeswarar Koil Street, an exten- Sarukkai (Srinivasa) Rangachari before sion of Raja Annamalai Chettiar Road towards Lakshmanaswamy acquired it. Ananda Rau’s Deleted names me may have been too compla- the temple tank, nearly opposite the only son Hari Ananda Rau, a qualified medical cent to make an issue of it. arious reasons were cited Gangadeeswarar-Pankajakshi Temple in practitioner, ran a pathology laboratory for sev- There is no end to the vari- Purasawalkam. He was ‘K’ Seetharama Rao. As eral years in the 1980s and 1990s. in your column for low V ety of possible election frauds, a primary school student in the late 1950s in I understand that Hari and family have now voter turnout (MM, May 16th). and even if subsequently de- the adjacent Chidambaram Chettyar Memorial shifted to Bangalore. Bujanga Rama Rau’s sis- Could this be another reason? tected it will be too late. Elec- Preparatory School, I had always been intrigued ter (P. Rama Rau’s daughter) married K. There were many voters who tronic voting system itself is a by the chiming of multiple cymbals and bells Sripathy Rau, an MS by qualification, who found their names had been in- questionable procedure, which between 10.30 and 11 a.m. every day. Later, I practised in Barnaby Road, which is geographi- explicably deleted, as in my learnt they used to be times of aarti in cally exactly behind P. Rama Rau’s house and even ‘advanced’ nations avoid case! More than a month ear- Seetharama Rao’s house, which was next to the clinic on Poonamallee High Road. Sripathy because of the ease with which lier, when it was announced primary school I was studying in. His mother Rau, a gentle and skilful surgeon, was the doc- computer programmes and soft- that the voter lists were avail- was Ganga, to whom Seetharama Rao was at- tor-in-attendance during the last days of K.V. ware can be secretly manipu- able for inspection at the regu- tached immensely. Ganga lived 100 years and Al. Rm. Alagappa Chettiar, who lived in lated by those who are stilful on that was a big story in old Purasawalkam! Krishna Vilas on Raja Annamalai Chettiar lar voting booths, I had gone to such things. Sanjeeva Rao (who used to live by the Road, opposite the now decimated, triangular check my name, and noted the Kelly’s-Balfour Road junction), one of the el- Bank Manickam Mudaliar Park, which hosted chapter, page and serial number Thomas Tharu der sons of Seetharama Rao, named his new a congested reading room supported by the Cor- for reference. I have been vot- Kasyap A-7 restaurant in George Town ‘Ganga’ in honour poration of Madras. ing for the past ten years or so Nehrunagar Fourth Street of his grandmother. Thayir vadai was a special- Ramakrishna Lunch Home owner V.R. at the Bharath School (off LB Adyar ity of the Ganga restaurant and just to enjoy Ramanatha Iyer’s (VRR) adopted son was Road in Adyar), but this time Chennai 600 020 the ‘embellished’ thayir vadai at Ganga, I used Ramakrishnan (after whom the hotel was on voting day I discovered a Raja & Rahman to go all the way from Purasawalkam-Kilpauk named by VRR), who was also a qualified medi- ‘Deleted’ stamp across my to George Town once a week. cal practitioner. He and his wife Jayam – a eference Dr. A Raman’s I can still recall the anniversary of qualified obstetrician-gynaecologist (an MBBS, name. Rletter on etimology (MM Madwacharya being celebrated with pomp by DGO holder) – practised in a large house oppo- I noticed other names too June 1st), the popular song, Seetharama Rao. Led by him, all the males of site the now defunct Roxy (previously Globe) had been deleted on other Porale Ponnuthayee, was from his family would go dancing, chiming cymbals, cinema house on Purasawalkam High Road. pages. Even if there was anyone Bharathiraja’s Kizhakku see- in front of the decorated portrait that was car- Jayam had a roaring practice in Purasawalkam. to complain to, I felt it would be maile. The composer was A.R. ried in procession by his family members Next to the Ramakrishnans lived K.C. too late for such a mistake to be Rahman. through Lawder’s Gate Road, Adiappa Mudali Nambiar, a British qualified surgeon with an rectified and so I just headed Street, Vellala Street and, then, enter Purasa- FRCS, who was the family physician of the late home. I have no idea how Bhilai Gopalan walkam High Road, before returning to actress Savitri Ganesh. prevalent this might have been 1/6 Sankara Flats Dasaprasad. It is so difficult for me to imagine VRR was the Mayor of Madras. The follow- across the city/State, and doubt 1, 6th Cross Street, Sasthri Nagar that such a well-knit family has fragmented and ing is a humorous story I have heard from my Adyar, Chennai 600 020 the giant landmark of Madras Dasaprakash has father. When VRR’s term as Mayor of Madras whether it will be possible for been pulled down to accommodate apartments. ended, he acquired two healthy oxen auctioned the Election Commission to Author’s name Ananda Rau (Manager, Hotel Dasa- by the Corporation to use them for his (bul- compare the voting lists on prakash; he was ‘P’ Ananda Rau) lived in lock) cart. As the story goes, whenever these record with those actually de- n the article ‘SPEED, thy Anand Villa on Raja Annamalai Chettiar Road, oxen saw (or smelt) a rubbish bin (those con- ployed at the enquiry counters Iname is Blackbuck’ (MM, opposite M Ct Muthiah Boys’ High School. He crete structures on streets we had in the Ma- on voting day. It is always pos- June 1st) the author’s name – was the younger brother of the radiologist P. dras of the 1950s and 1960s), they would stop sible for photo copies to exist in Ahana Lakshmi – was inadvert- Rama Rau, who practised radiology on Poona- because they had been used earlier in the rub- multiple versions! In Maharash- ently omitted. The error is mallee High Road (later named as the Rama bish carts of the Corporation. I am not sure of tra, the deleted names became regretted. Rau Polyclinic), which was later run by his son the veracity of this story; nevertheless, it pro- Bujanga Rama Rau as a nursing home for sev- vides a laugh. big news, but here victims like – The Editor eral years, and is now run by the latter’s son, Dr. A. Raman Manohar Rama Rau, a UK-qualified surgeon. Charles Sturt University PO Box 883, Orange, NSW 2800

o reader V. Theetharappan’s recollection materialised near me and asked if the coffee Tof unforgettable fare in old Madras (MM, was OK. I hesitated but, on his prodding, con- May 16th), I wish to add I was a regular cus- fessed it could have been hotter. He immedi- CHENNAI HERITAGE tomer in the 1960s of Shama Bhat who ran ately ordered a fresh cup of piping hot coffee. No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Udupi Home at Halls’ Road. I used to walk When I asked him how he found out that the from my workplace in Casa Major Road to coffee was not up to the mark, he beamed at Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 enjoy the masala dosa he served for tiffin. It me and said that I winced after taking the first used to cost eight annas (fifty paise) and was sip which spoke volumes. Such proprietors I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) deemed, the costliest in Madras. My friends with attention to customers did exist in those / I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive used to look at me with respect for spending so days. it hereafter. much on that dish. His family now runs Matsya, a deluxe eat- Shama Bhat looked to me like an amalgam ery, at the same place. I enjoy the status of be- G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. of Madurai Mani Iyer and Lal Bahadur Shastri. ing an old customer with a record attendance Clad in spotless white khadi he used to go of more than 50 years, with inevitable breaks. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI round the tables keeping a sharp eye on the J.S. Raghavan HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras customers. One day as I took a sip of coffee Flat E, Balu Flats, 21 Mahadevan Street Musings for the year 2014-15. after my mandatory masala dosa he West Mambalam, Chennai 600 033

G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a better city that Madras Musings OUR ADDRESSES espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Rs...... (Rupees Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14...... ) Please keep/put me on your mailing list. Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor can be sent via email to [email protected]. Those who wish to intimate change of address can also do so provided Name : ...... the subscription number is quoted. For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation ...... matters: Madras Musings, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai Address: ...... 600 006. On editorial matters: The Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, ...... Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent from these addresses every ...... couple of days to the persons concerned and you will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by quickly. Strange as it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you faster Speed Post only. and disappoint you less. – THE EDITOR 4 MADRAS MUSINGS June 16-30, 2014 June 16-30, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

G With Ponniyin Selvan just having been staged in Chennai Carnatic music and on an epic scale, it seems apt to be... the Americans Remembering would have loved to hear down an invitation from Ameri- alki Krishnamurti occupies through his writings on music “I John Coltrane explore the can mridanga student Robert Kan eminent place in the an- was his intense love for Tamil Pancharatna kritis,” said Ameri- Brown – who will figure later in T. Viswanathan Jon Higgins nals of Tamil literature and jour- Isai. In the beginning of 1941, can writer Mike Marquesee, a this narrative – to join Wesleyan nalism. A trendsetter in racy Kalki Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar, man better known for his writ- University as a research scholar. through a grant from the cology from UCLA. His disserta- Tamil prose, his vast literary out- R.K. Shanmugam Chetty and a Rockefeller Arts Foundation, tion was titled “The Mridanga: A ings on politics and cricket. He Sankaran was apprehensive put included all categories of lit- few other eminent persons Kalki Krishnamurti was referring to Tyagaraja’s five about making any long-term David and his wife, photographer Study of Drumming in South erature, except drama. He also launched the Tamil Isai Move- gems. commitment in view of his fam- Carol Reck, moved to Madras, a India.” In 1964, Brown founded raised the status of Tamil jour- ment – a campaign for the inclu- tion ‘Tamizh Thatha’ (Grand Marquesee, is modest when ily responsibilities and fearful of life-changing decision. David the world music/ethnomusico- nalism. He was a connoisseur of sion of more Tamil songs in mu- Old Man of Tamil), by which he speaks of his credentials to jeopardising a flourishing con- studied Carnatic music theory logy programme at Wesleyan. the performing arts. His critiques sic concerts held in Tamil Nadu. Swaminatha Aiyar later came to write on Carnatic music, but his cert career in Madras. “I told Jon and practice, specialising in play- One of the organisers of the of music and dance recitals ap- Along with T.K. Chidam- be known, was given by Kalki in insights are brilliantly direct and I would go only for a year or two. ing the veena, learning from, American Society for Eastern peared in Ananda Vikatan and, baranatha Mudaliar (TKC), an editorial in Ananda Vikatan praiseworthy in a Westerner at- Dr. Stan Scott Matthew Allen The rest is history!” remembers among others, Kalpakkam Swa- Arts (ASEA), Brown also later from 1931, in Kalki. His re- Kalki took an active part in lead- on the eve of that event. Kalki tracted to but hardly expert in it. The day Dr. Stan Scott ar- on South Indian music with Sankaran, who has since made minathan – at the Central founded the Centre for World ports were unbiased and humor- ing the movement. He wielded also played a leading role in the He says of Carnatic music, “Its rived in Calcutta one day in the Bala’s brother, the incomparable York University and Toronto his College of Carnatic music. Music in 1973. He remained ous and were eagerly anticipated his powerful pen to create public first literary festival organised in history is a history of innovation 1970s, he received the shocking flautist T. Viswanathan, who home, visiting Chennai annually David Reck returned to the president of the organisation by music lovers. opinion in its favour. The book honour of Kamban at his birth- and broken taboos relating to news of the death of the guru he headed the ethnomusicology de- during the music season to United States in 1971, earning a until his death and bequeathed A commemorative postage Sangeeta Yogam, another Vanathi place. Kalki was also responsible gender and caste, public and pri- had come all the way from the partment of Wesleyan Univer- perform, teach and do lecture- Ph.D. in World Music from his extensive collection of instru- stamp was issued on Krishna- publication, contains Kalki’s ar- for erecting the Bharati Memo- vate. The kutcheri as we know it USA to learn Hindustani music sity, Connecticut. Allen has also demonstrations. Wesleyan University, and join- ments, recordings, books, paint- murti on September 9, 1999 to The Kalki memorial stamp with a ticles on Tamil Isai. rial mandapam for Subramania dates only from Ariyakudi from. Earlier in the US, he had written on padams and other Viswa studied ethnomusi- ing the faculty of Amherst Col- ings and artefacts to the Univer- mark his birth centenary. The Ponniyin Selvan background. Bharati at his birthplace in In 1941 Kalki resigned from Ramanuja Iyengar, a famous vo- learnt vocal music from sarod dance music of South India as cology at UCLA on a Fulbright lege as professor of Music and sity of Illinois at Urbana-Cham- postage stamp and First Day Ettayapuram. V. Kalyanasundara Mudaliar Ananda Vikatan to join the ‘indi- calist, and the 1930s. In a single maestro Ali Akbar Khan and well as recent history of Bharata scholarship from 1958 to 1960, Asian Studies. paign. The Robert E. Brown Cover designs depicted the All the songs but one sung by (Tiru Vi Ka), who was a scholar vidual satyagraha’ movement. evening it can include composi- Sushil Mukherjee, director of Natyam. and headed the Department of He continued veena lessons in Centre for World Music opened author against the backgournd of M.S. Subbulakshmi in Meera and essayist. Krishnamurti also He was arrested and imprisoned tions with lyrics in Tamil, fine arts at a Massachusetts It was with Jon Higgins that Music at Madras University from the US with Karaikudi S. Subra- there in April 2008. visualisations from his works – (1945) were written by Kalki. wrote regular columns, adopting for three months. In August that Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, school. In India, his tutelage in- T. Viswanathan entered into his 1961 to 1966. He taught at manian and, in 1991, became a How did the interest in Ponniyin Selvan (stamp) and Alai The music was set by S.V. a style that approached the spo- year, Krishnamurti launched a Marathi and Hindi. I can’t think cluded lessons from gurus like most enduring, productive col- UCLA and the California Insti- student of Ranganayaki Rajago- Carnatic music take root in the Osai (FDC); the latter won him Venkataraman. ken form. In March 1924 he got fortnightly with financial aid and of another musical culture with Krishna Chandra Banerjee, laboration. Born in Andover, tute of the Arts before joining palan, a disciple of Karaikudi West? Hindustani music spread the Sahitya Akademi Award. A Kalki song which needs married. Four years later, he left managerial support from his a comparable spread.” Sugata Marjit and Mohan Singh Massachusetts, Higgins, a Wes- the Wesleyan facility in 1975 and Sambasiva Iyer – Subramanian’s there mainly through the efforts Ramaswamy Aiyar Krishna- special mention is Desa sevai Navasakti as he found the salary friend T. Sadasivam. As Kalki Closer home, V.S. Narasim- (at Santiniketan) in classical tern classical vocalist who com- earning his Ph.D. there. Train- grandfather and ‘founder’ of the of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar murti was born on numerically seyya vareer for the film insufficient to manage a family. was already known by his pseud- han, an accomplished Western ing under Viswa, Higgins became Karaikudi bani or school of veena Khan, though there had been interesting day 9.9.99 in Putha- Tyagabhoomi (1939) directed by Towards the end of 1931 he onym, he gave that name to the classical violonist who has pio- the first non-Indian to perform music – under a grant from the others before them. Possibly the mangaslam village, Tanjore dis- K. Subrahmanyam. The film was joined S.S. Vasan’s Ananda new magazine. Kalki was an in- neered the performance of the Carnatic music at a high level of American Institute of Indian first Carnatic musician to make trict. After primay education in based on a novel by Kalki and G Vikatan as its editor. Besides writ- stant success. In 1944, it was great Carnatic music omposi- by V. Ramnarayan proficiency. Studies. A regular visitor to a major appearance in the US his village, he joined National serialised in Ananda Vikatan. The ing the editorials, he also con- made a weekly. In a compara- tions by Western musicians – his Higgins continued his studies Chennai for veena practice as was the iconic vocalist M.S. College School, Trichy, but left patriotic song was sung by D.K. tributed short stories and serials. tively short time the magazine’s own Madras String Quartet – under Bala and wrote his disser- well as performances on the con- Subbulakshmi. Her most cele- it after three years to join the Pattammal. The response that In a matter of two years, circulation increased manifold. dreams of being around when music and Kali Dasgupta in folk pleted a double major in Music tation on the dance music of cert circuit, including kutcheris at brated concerts in America were freedom movement. the film and the song generated symphony orchestras in Europe music. His stint with Vidyadhar and History in 1962 and an M.A. Bharata Natyam, returning to the Music Academy, he is a well- at the United Nations General In 1922 he underwent im- led to the film being banned by known author of books and ar- Assembly (1966) and Carnegie and America perform the mas- Vyas at Wesleyan University in Musicology in 1964 from India as a Senior Research Fel- prisonment for the first time G by S. Sankaranarayanan the government. terpieces of Tyagaraja and other trained him in the Gwalior Wesleyan University, earned a low of the American Institute of ticles on Carnatic music. Hall (1967). while serving twelve months in In October 1954, Kalki suf- South Indian composers. gharana (in addition to the Agra Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology in Indian Studies, and making a A survivor from cancer and a After her UN concert, The Trichy jail. There he met an- fered a severe asthma attack and On May 1, 2012, the Califor- gharana, he had already learnt) 1973. name for himself in Carnatic heart attack, Reck believes in the New York Times said: “Subbu- other young political prisoner, T. Krishnamurti made Ananda Kalki continued writing reviews had to be hospitalised for two nia-based Sacramento Youth and led him to his Ph.D. in He founded the Indian music music as Higgins Bhagavatar. healing qualities of Carnatic mu- lakshmi’s vocal communication Sadasivam, who was to become Vikatan the largest circulated of the performing arts in the weeks. The following month he Symphony (SYS) Orchestra col- Hindustani classical singing. studies programme at York Uni- Born in Rising Star, Texas, sic and the veena. transcends words. The cliche of his life-long friend and associate. home magazine in Tamil. He magazine. It is said that he used suffered a heart attack from laborated with Chitravina Mathew Allen came to versity in Toronto with mridanga USA, in 1935, David Reck, a Robert Edward Brown (1927- the voice used as an instrument On release, he worked as a clerk wrote under the pen name of as many as 13 pen names for his which he did not fully recover. Ravikiran to play a Tyagaraja Chennai to learn padam singing vidwan Trichy Sankaran in 1971, child prodigy in Western music, 2005) was an ethnomusicologist never seemed more appropriate. in the Congress office, where he ‘Kalki’, which became so popular articles on different subjects. He passed away on December 5, composition rearranged for the from T. Balasaraswati and other and returned to Wesleyan in is a familiar figure in Carnatic credited with coining the term It could fly flutteringly or carry made acquaintance with C. that thenceforth he came to be Through his columns, Kalki 1954. He was only 55. orchestra. According to one re- descendants of the redoubtable 1978 as a professor of music and music circles in Chennai. A Fel- “world music”. He was also on a lively dialogue with the Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), then known by that name. led a crusade against drinking, Announcing his demise, The port, “The repertoire, carefully Veenai Dhanammal. Like Stan director of the Centre for the low of the Princeton Seminars in known for his recordings of mu- accompanists. Subbulakshmi General Secretary of the Indian Kalki started writing reviews untouchability, superstitions, op- Hindu observed: “Krishnamurti, chosen by conductor Michael Scott, he too was already a Arts. Higgins had attended sev- Advanced Musical Studies in the sic from Indonesia, which in- and her ensemble are a revela- National Congress. Krishna- of music and dance recitals as pression of women, and other as a writer, was among the wid- Neumann, kept the Indian spirit trained musician in a Western eral concerts of Sankaran’s with late 1950s, he pursued a success- spired several musicians to study tion to Western ears. Their re- murti was to accept him as his well as of records in his column decadent practices in Brahmin est read in this part of the coun- even in traditional Western genre before he ventured into Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, and ful career in New York as a com- Indonesian gamelan music. turn can be awaited only with ea- mentor and worship him as a Aadal Paadal under the paseu- families of those days. He also try. His novels bore the imprint pieces such as The Crown of In- learning the complex art of In- seen him teach an American stu- poser with performances at Brown grew up in Clinton, gerness.” hero trrougout his life. donym ‘Karnatakam’. His writ- reviewed plays and films. His film of a vivid, romantic imagination dia suite by Edward Elgar and dian classical music, he did so dent of Viswa. Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Centre, New York, studied music theory Dr. W. Adriaansz, Professor Krishnamurti moved to Ma- ings were laced with humour. (A reviews were a class by them- which could plan a story on a Kromsky’s Song of India.” well that he co-authored a book Sankaran had earlier turned Town Hall, and Tanglewood. and piano at the Utica Conser- of Music, University of Washing- dras, and in October 1923 joined collection of his articles in Aadal selves. vast scale, and a mastery of style Drawn to Indian classical music vatory. Playing the piano and or- ton, wrote, “For many, the Navasakti, a magazine devoted to Paadal was brought out in a book The thirteen years that he which could keep the reader in- and dance by the concerts of gan and performing popular mu- conert by Mrs. Subbulakshmi nationalism, as a sub-editor. It form Kalki Kalanjiyam, by Vana- spent with Kalki saw Krishna- terested from the first page to the Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, sic with his own band Bobby meant their first encounter with was there he learned the alpha- thi Publications.) murti at his creative best. His last.” Decentralise waste management K.V. Narayanaswamy, Palghat Brown and His Swingsters through the music of Sourth India and it bet of journalism from its editor, One strong thread that ran prodigious literary output in- All periodicals brought out Raghu, and others, he studied his youth, Brown started his doc- was extremely gratifiying that in cluded more than a hundred special issues dedicated to Kalki. (Continued from page 2) equally important challenge essential that citizens around the Indian philosophy, yoga, and toral studies at UCLA as a piano her the necessary factors for the retary of the UN, arranged MS’s speaking no Indian language – short stories, nearly twenty nov- Ananda Vikatan too published a facing the city and its policy city begin to hold the city gov- Sanskrit. major in 1953. He eventually re- basis of a successful contact be- UN concert and two coast-to- who are making rapid strides as els and novelettes, hundreds of memorial issue and, as a unique waste from the dumps every day, makers. There is currently an on- ernment accountable for chronic Coming to India in 1968 ceived a doctorate in ethnomusi- tween her music and a new audi- coast tours of the US, donated musicians and dancers. The articles on a variety of subjects, homage to its former editor, it buying time for the rest of us who going effort to get the Corpora- poor service delivery and insist ence – highly developed artistry his impressive collection of In- hugely popular festivals of South and innumerable reviews of mu- continued to publish select writ- only create waste and do little to tion of Chennai to recognise the on better planning and imple- as well as stage presence – were dian classical – mainly Carnatic Indian classical music and dance, sic concerts, dance recitals, dra- ings of his every week for one full lessen its impact on the environ- labour and benefits these people mentation. Decentralised, Zero- so convincingly present ... with- – music to the Archive of World such as the Cleveland and San mas and films. Most of his short year. Kalki was instrumental in ment outside our own doorsteps. make available to the city and to Waste SWM, emphasising out any doubt (she) belongs to Music, Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Diego festivals, annually show- stories, serial novels and histori- chiselling a generation of suc- However, waste-pickers are issue them I.D. cards that would segregation at source, is espe- the best representations of this Library, Harvard College Library, case some of this outstanding tal- cal romances turned out to be cessful humorous writers. socially stigmatised, work in both validate their labour as well cially something we as citizens music.” Harvard University. ent along with some of the lead- masterpieces. Kalki left this world six de- extremely unsafe circumstances, as make it possible to lift them must open our minds to, as the The late James Rubin, a close No account of Americans in- ing lights in the field from India. Kalki took an active part in cades ago, but he lives on in the and are vulnerable to police and out of the poverty and margina- continued refusal to take indi- associate of MS and her family, terested in and performing The dedication of these first many public activities. I note magazine which bears his name, other types of harassment. The lisation they currently endure. vidual responsibility for one’s was an American who travelled Carnatic music can be complete generation Americans is to be here some of the more important and in his immortal creations like safeguarding of their livelihood To conclude, it is apparent to own waste is most unbecoming of to India several times to attend without mention of the rising seen to be believed. They must ones. In 1935, he organised the Sivakamiyin Sapatham, Parthiban rights (continued access to anyone who pays attention that a citizenry that claims to aim the annual music festival at Ma- number of young Americans of be among the best products of celebration of the 80th birthday Kanavu, Ponniyin Selvan, Alai waste/jobs) and improving the Chennai is at a critical point as towards an evolved civic con- dras. Rubin who, with the help Indian origin, born and brought Indo-American cooperation. of Mahamahopadhyaya U.Ve. Osai and Kalvanin Kadali. quality of their lives are an far as SWM is concerned. It is sciousness. David Reck Robert Edward Brown of C.V. Narasimhan, Under-Sec- up in the US – many of them (Courtesy: Sruti) Swaminatha Aiyar. The appella- (Courtesy: Sruti) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS June 16-30, 2014 ESSAY A member of (Current Affairs questions are have often been fascinated from the period May 16th to Iby the Street Frame. May be it 31st. Questions 11 to 20 pertain is because it is S.K. Chettur’s to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) book, The Street Frame and I, most of which was filled with the I.A.S. 1. Which video by an Asian artiste recently became the first video to narration of funny incidents up with pride if their son had We are told that intense as- guru. Before I knew what was reach two billion views on that had happened in his offi- cleared the IAS. They began piration does bring down the happening, I was set up in a YouTube? cial life. Having joined the In- the great adventure of choosing answering grace sooner than chair and found an Aerial’s 2. The heads of which three coun- dian Civil Service in 1939, he a bride who would be as beauti- later. But what form it will take, Feast. Sujji filled my plate with tries have signed a treaty to form had to work with a good num- ful as Venus and as rich as we have no idea. a kilo of gajjar halwa, some the ‘Eurasian Economic Union’? ber of British bureaucrats who Croesus. A day came when my Recently I met a dear friend kichidi and a couple of jalebis, 3. How did two Indian-American enjoyed hunting tigers, pan- brother, who had done his post- in one of our well-endowed cit- not to mention guava juice. I teenagers, Sriram Hathwar and thers and bears. He reports of graduation, hesitantly asked my ies. She was the devoted mother protested. Suppose my husband Ansun Sujoe, make news recently? the superiority complex of these 4. In which African nation did father whether he could go of six children and had seen should see his Burru, alias scientists recently announce the officers. However, Chettur him- ahead with IAS coaching them through the rising tiers of Brihadkuchambal, sitting in discovery of a remote mine the size self was not free of the weakness classes. “What for?” “To be- the Indian educational system. this expensive hotel, he might of England? as when he ordered the pulling come a Collector, Appa, and I I was leisurely choosing some think his ancient wife had gone 5. In a big deal, Apple Inc. has paid down of a pandal put up in could do such good work for the scarves in a wayside shop when mad. I slithered in my seat $3 billion to buy which popular Kalpathi (Kerala) at Rama people.” “Really?” came the Sujji’s unmistakable screech which was a replica of the Pea- headphone and music-streaming Dhyana Matom during 1939 for voice from the depths of the made me look up. “Hey, Burru! cock Throne (the entire room service co-founded by rapper the Tyagaraja aradhana. When was in peacock motif) and mut- Dr. Dre? the solemn function was going tered that I just would not be 6. Russia and China recently on presided over by senior G by Prema Nandakumar able to share the bill as I did in vetoed a UN Security Council vidwans, Chettur attended the olden days where we both resolution that would have asked function with his wife. Half way would go to a wayside eatery the International Criminal Court to through, he started smoking. A investigate war crimes in which and order ourselves a couple of embattled Asian country? young man politely objected to easy-chair. “You will end up Long time no see, but you have dahi vadas. That was an unpar- 7. How is the ‘Congregation of the this, but Chettur went on with opening the car doors for this not changed at all. Same old alleled luxury for us. People of Tradition for Proselytism his smoking and, after returning and that politician. With your drumstick figure!” Before I “Who is asking you to share? and Jihad’, which is wreaking havoc home, ordered the demolition flair for teaching, it is better you knew where I was on the It is my treat!” Sujji laughed. “I on ideological grounds in Nigeria, of the pandal which had been take to an academic life.” crowded pavement of Nehru am no more the Sujji you know, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, etc. better put up after getting due permis- And that is what happened. Street, I had been enveloped in managing to run a house wih known? sion from the municipal au- Meanwhile, I had not dared to the embrace of the inimitable needle-and-thread in hand to 8. Name the world-famous Afri- thorities. I guess, as Lord Ac- mention my thoughts to my fa- Sarojini. I took in her magnifi- repair all those hand-me- can-American author, poet, tion said, power tends to cor- ther, but I had some romantic cent sequin-rich saree and the downs. All children are grown dancer, and singer, known for her rupt even the most civilised be- notions of the Steel Frame too. variety of bangles and rings and up and I have joined the IAS...” first book I Know Why the Caged ing. The Kalpathi citizens Not as married to one, but as an necklaces that adorned her and Bird Sings, who passed away on May “IAS?” 28th. couldn’t do a thing about it ex- IAS officer myself. After all, just the very stylish shoes which had “Yes. Pappu and Sweetie are 9. To what sensitive and strategic cept lament vociferously. This is a few years earlier the first pink pom-poms bobbing away both in Minneapolis. Yes, it gets post has the former chief of IB, Ajit power. woman had joined the IAS and as she dragged me up the stairs to be very wintry there but, Doval, been appointed? All the same, in my younger I had read avidly how Anna of a nearby restaurant. then, that is where the pay is 10. Name the new index, launched days, the IAS remained a fasci- Rajan George from Kerala had I shuddered. But before I high, they say. What do I know? by Asia Index, that comprises the nating term. Parents looked for become a SDO in Tamil Nadu. could voice my fears, Sujji as- Rajan and Ranjan are in Mus- top 30 companies based on market an IAS boy, if they had plenty But I kept silent; surely there sured me that she was staying in cat, of course. Remember my capitalisation from five sectors of money to give as dowry for would be another birth, and I that Hotel Agni for a brief stay son Sahasranamam? Sahasu in (Energy, Transportation, Non- their daughter. Parents puffed will become an IAS officer. to offer pranams to her family Saudi. Can you believe it? But Banking Financial Institutions, he is the highest earning mem- Telecommunications, and Utili- ties). ber. The last one? Yes, Shivvi, * * * she is the only one in India and 11. Apart from the Puzhal prison, is in Chennai. Her husband is a where in Chennai can you shop at THREAT TO GNP globe-trotting IT person. I am the outlets of ‘Freedom Prison so happy that they are all fine, Bazar’? need me and so I am now in the 12. Where in Mylapore can you (Continued from page 1) Last year, in a bid to done away with, a nod may be IAS.” pray at the chapel named after St. obviously help the IIT, the given to IIT to go ahead with its “Oh! But you are past retire- Rita and built by the Armenians? State Government wrote to the plans. ment age....” 13. Which knight, a VC of the Uni- Indian Institute of Techno- MOEF suggesting that the These developments have “Aw, where is retirement in versity of Madras, was the first logy’s (IIT) facilities. The IIT buffer zone around GNP be had wildlife activists up in arms. this Indian Ayah Service?* I do recipient of an honorary doctorate came up on land carved out of eliminated completely. The They point out that the entire the rounds to Muscat, Minne- from the University. It was a Doc- reason given was that there was area is one ecosystem and such tor of Law degree awarded in 1908. the GNP in the 1950s. Though apolis and Saudi to look after no area around the GNP for a move will be detrimental in 14. Which institution started it was walled off in the 1980s, it the grandchildren. The chil- functioning at Locock’s Garden, has always been understood creating such a buffer. The IIT the long run. The presence of dren keep my purse filled up. It Kilpauk, from May 1871? that the Raj Bhavan campus, is all for it, with its Director the highly endangered black- is good Shivvi is in India. I am 15. What name would connect the IIT campus and the GNP going on record to state that buck in the area is also to be able to squeeze in a fortnight famous film-maker Shakti Samanta are one integrated natural pre- any development on the considered, they add. now and then to come and have to the popular drive-in theatre serve with any deforestation in campus would have no impact The battle is one that prom- masala dosai at Hotel Agni and ‘Prarthana’? one having a detrimental effect on the GNP because “we are ises to be long drawn. It is also mango pickle special in Restau- 16. The name of which building on the whole. completely walled off” – an typical of what is happening all rant Satyavageeswara. How located on the Marina would IIT Madras has for the past amusing explanation from the over the country, with those in about some ice cream topped roughly translate to ‘essence of few years had expansion head of an institution meant to favour of development in the with Sharad grapes now?” grace’? projects put on hold due to its promote science and technol- modern sense coming into With her green-and-blue 17. What once stood where Prince location within the GNP area. ogy. conflict with the environment. Conjeevaram silk unfurled at Kushal Towers is on Mount Road? The MOEF’s 2011 regulations The MOEF has in turn What is surprising is that an the zari pallu, Sujji looked a 18. What claim to fame does Ben- asked for the views of the institution like the IIT is not jamin Schultze, a German Luthe- stipulate that buffer zones be set colourful goddess on her pea- ran, have with regard to Madras’ up around reserve forests to act Principal Chief Conservator of able to come up with a creative cock mount. I began to chew religious fabric? as shock absorbers between Forests (PCCF) for his views on solution that will solve its pro- the exclusive Sharad grapes … 19. Which prominent place’s name areas of high protection and the subject. In the meanwhile, blems and at the same time not so firm, so blue, so true!” (Cour- in Madras derives from an amalgam those where normal develop- the Special Secretary (Forests) harm nature. Can it not think tesy: Sri Aurobindo’s Action) of sodium chloride and the Telugu ment can take place. The IIT of the State Government has out of the box, thereby evolving word for ‘godown’? falls within a buffer zone and written to the PCCF stating a paradigm that other institu- *Editor’s Note: There’s a differ- 20. What is the present name of has, therefore, not been able to that in the light of the stance tions located the world over in ent version of this, the IAAS. Esplanade Road? go ahead, with the MOEF stall- taken by the Government in similar natural preserves can And that’s the Indian Ayah and (Answers on page 7) ing its proposals. 2013 that the buffer zone be follow? Aduppadi (Kitchen) Service! June 16-30, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

Nostalgia DAKSHINACHITRA WORKSHOPS For children June 21: Decoupage – Paper Art Car loan for the asking For adult June 19 & 20: Glass Fusing Jewellery fter a couple of years at ment of Rs. 250. I can pay agriculturalists, street vendors rates much lower than the June 28: Athangudi Tile Making AMadras Christian College, Rs. 6,000 as margin money and of vegetables and other such prime lending rate of banks * * * I entered the profession of jour- also the monthly interest. were provided bank loans for while for the small sector it was Till June 23: Exhibition of paint- nalism in 1962. It was the pre- the first time! Small barber often PLR plus up to 4 per cent. ings by Madhini Nirmal and “The bank releases adver- Christeena Shaju (at Achalam nationalisation era of class tisements worth Rs. 3000 annu- shops received big facelifts One witnessed the large sector banking. through modest loans for decor, accessing loan at 6 per cent as Art Gallery). ally in Industrial Economist and Till July 25: The Sacred Space – an Small, especially new, busi- so, not much of risk is special chairs and simple tools. against a small unit being ex- exhibition of sculptures and nesses had no access to funding involved.” Of course, the course was tended loans at 16 per cent. Yet installations in a palette of by commercial banks. In that not smooth. There were sticky the small sector is still described whites by Pierre Legrand (at The Secretary looked at me as part of the priority sector. era, banks were essentially a for a minute and said: “Take it!” loans and accumulation of non- Apparao Galleries). collection entity. They used to performing assets. Some banks The years since 1998 wit- Till July 30: The Horizon Line, an I thanked him. Before I was collect financial instruments, were also involved in scams. nessed a spectacular expansion exhibition of paintings by back at my office, Anantha- Agathe Patil and Rajesh Patil (at charge for the service and of retail lending. This in turn raman had already telephoned But the two decades after Sandy’s, Cenotaph Road) and strictly no over-drawing was triggered demand for housing, twice. In an excited voice, he nationalisation witnessed spec- Rajesh Patil (at Sandy’s Nun- permitted. cars, higher education... The said that the Secretary had tacular expansion and reach. gambakkam). aggressive entry of Indian com- I had stabilised the business instructed him to hand over the Large sections of the population Till July 30: 24/7/365, an exhibi- mercial banks with the lower venture that included the cheque. At the time, I didn’t till then unable to access bank tion featuring N. Ramachan- publication of the transport credit, were wooed and pro- rates of interest edged out dran, M. Siva, Farhan Mujib, even have an account with the strong international players. Dhasan, Bhavna Sonawane and monthly Mobile, a bi-monthly bank! vided loans. for two-wheelers , However, commercial bank- Manish Nai (at The Leela Trade Wheel Galleria). and a Tamil monthly Cycle ing is still predominantly in the June 20-July 13: Photography Seidhi. I launched Industrial G Looking back at banks, loans and Heralds public sector ensuring security exhibition by Kushboo Bharti Economist as a fortnightly at a time when the Ambassador of the assets. But, the system (at DakshinaChitra). business journal from South suffers from the lack of an ag- June 20-July 31: Exhibition on in March 1968 and began has just said ‘goodbye’ gressive and competitive func- Contemporary art from its phasing out the smaller publica- tioning is. The rates and prac- museum collection (at Dak- tions. tices are uniform with little lee- shinaChitra). The next morning, I opened In our own case, the growth way for differentiation. The I was getting ready to gradu- the current account, deposited was possible thanks to the pri- public sector culture of a slow ate to a four-wheeler. My bank, the margin money and collected Answers to ority status accorded to the grind and bureaucratic func- the second largest at that time, the full payment for the car in a small sector and the availability tioning are still major charac- Quiz would have nothing to do with matter of a few minutes. I then of bank funding on modest teristics. Technology induction that. I approached the Manager mildly enquired whether I could 1. Psy’s Gangnam Style; 2. Rus- terms. In the 1970s, we took is high, but management prac- of Indian Bank, T’ Nagar, A.P. also ask for an overdraft for a sia, Kazakhstan and Belarus; over a dozen loans for import- tices are still archaic. Most im- 3. They jointly won the prestigious Anantharaman. He said only modest Rs. 5000. Anantha- ing printing machinery and also portantly, transaction costs are 87th Scripps National Spelling Bee the head office could decide. raman sanctioned it instantly! for acquisition of equipment high. in the USA; 4. Republic of the In the pre-nationalisation This development was just from within the country. We Congo; 5. Beats Electronics; Through the last 50 years, I era, the chief executive of the before the nationalisation of the could also access funding for a 6. Syria; 7. Boko Haram; 8. Maya have seen massive changes. Yet bank was all-powerful Secre- 14 major banks on July 19, variety of our needs – machin- Angelou; 9. National Security the penetration level is still low. tary, with the Chairman not 1969. Nationalisation marked ery, margin money for land and Advisor; 10. India Infrastructure A high portion of monetary handling executive functions. I the transformation from class buildings, cars, two-wheelers, Index. transactions is still by cash, con- * * * rang up the Secretary of Indian banking to mass banking. computer systems, etc. Bank, Balachandran, and tributing to tax evasion and 11. At the CMDA Office in The 1970s witnessed a spec- The opening up of the Egmore and near the Saidapet sought an appointment. He generation of humongous quan- tacular expansion: banks went economy in the 1990s brought Metropolitan Magistrates’ Courts; suggested 11 a.m. the next day. tities of black money. It is com- on a recruitment spree inviting about fundamental changes not mon to see in large jewellery 12. San Thome school campus; I reached the Indian Bank 13. Sir Subramania Iyer; 14. Insti- young, qualified men and all of them beneficial to the shops in T’ Nagar transactions head office in the Indian Cham- women on a scale not witnessed small and medium sectors. Im- tute of Mental Health, Chennai; of several lakhs of rupees con- 15. Aradhana, a theatre; 16. ber building, Esplanade, ten earlier. The nepotism and the portantly, the sector lost its pri- cluded in cash. (Courtesy: minutes ahead and greeted him Ezhilagam; 17. ‘Alankar’; 18. In lack of professionalism wit- ority status, lower rates of inter- Industrial Economist) in his stately room. est enjoyed by the sector com- 1726, he became the first Protes- nessed before gave way to sys- tant missionary in Madras; 19. Salt Balachandran returned the tem-based recruitment. The pared to the large sector van- – S. Viswanathan Cotaurs; 20. Netaji Subhas greeting and motioned me to sit new generation of staff was fired ished. While the large sector Chandra Bose Road. down. I submitted: “I am inter- by a spirit of reaching out. I re- could access funding from the ested in buying a Standard Her- member the Monthly Service market, from the foreign ald car priced at a little over Rs. Agency division of Bank of sources and numerous other av- SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS 18,000. Here is the invoice from Baroda manned by young men enues, the SME sector could G Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been priced Union Motors. I need a term constantly on the move to not do so. We witnessed a pe- at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make out your loan of Rs. 12,000 repayable in reach out to segments till then culiar paradox: large companies cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and send it, together with the COU- PON, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, four years at a monthly instal- unreached. Small businesses, could borrow with interest at Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTHERN PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 62/63, GREAMES ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue to be essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play a greater role in creating aware- ness about the city, its heritage and its environment. We therefore look for- SAD, SAD TECH COLLEGES ward to your sending us your contributions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated support from (Continued from page 1) three ‘respectable’ options. As a consequence of all this, those of you who have already made contributions, and if many more support- Add to this the fact that the number of vacancies in ers join the bandwagon, we will not only be able to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue awareness-building exercises on on-going for engineering colleges has increased earnings in many engineering colleges in the projects as well as undertake one or two more such exercises. been coming down in the State. middle class families means State has been skyrocketing. Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION TO YOUR With Tamil Nadu being one of parents are willing to send their The State has over two lakh SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, we will treat the most urbanised States of the children abroad for even under- seats on offer and last year saw Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for 2013-14 and the country, there is increasing remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the causes Chennai Heritage graduate courses. The costs may around 80,000 not being espouses. awareness of alternative appear daunting, but the child taken! This year, the figure is We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those newcomers professional courses. Gone are is at least assured of a good expected to reach one lakh. Is it who want to receive copies, sending in their subscriptions. the days when engineering, education, appears to be the not time to set the alarm bells – The Editor medicine and CA were the only popular view. ringing? 8 MADRAS MUSINGS June 16-30, 2014

stands. Balakrishna Joshi was The Chandhoks of Chennai – 1 the School’s first Principal. Around this time, Indersain became associated with a project to encourage camping From Upper India in Madras. When Wallace Forgie, a Canadian YMCA camper, wanted to start a camp- ing facility near Madras, it was Indersain along with W.R.G. to Madras Lala Indersain and Sushila. Ratnam, F.B. Pithavadian and ost of the Punjabis and keted in India under the brand merchant, and Lt.Col.Gurdial Nanalal Bhat (of Corks India) Pitchandi, who together helped, MSindhis who have settled name ‘Auto Friend’ and were Singh Gill, IG of the Prisons, he and T.S. Santhanam (of TVS). the Canadian establish Camp in Madras came to the city as available till the 1950s. The started the Punjab Association His next effort was to start a Tonakela on a 15-acre site in refugees, post-Partition. The Company later marketed indig- in 1938. Another well-known school on behalf of the Punjab Avadi bought for Rs. 15,000. Chandhoks of Chennai were enously produced car parts un- Punjabi of the time, Prem Association together with D.C. They developed facilities for different. Lalaji, an uncle of der the brand name ‘Carex’. Dhawan, Manager of Uberoi Malhotra, another prominent swimming and conducted resi- Indu Chandhok, the present Upper India became a training Sports, soon joined them in Punjabi settled in Madras. The dential programmes with the patriarch of the family, came to ground for many future dealers their efforts. The Madras school, Adarsh Vidyalaya, with objective of providing camping Madras in 1931 to open a of automobile spare parts in Punjabis used to meet every Hindi as its medium of educa- experiences to children to help branch of Upper India Trading what is now Tamil Nadu. Sunday morning at Indersain‘s tion, was to become very popu- build character. Co. which was started in 1920 sprawling bungalow to play lar among the North Indians Indersain was associated in Rawalpindi (now in Paki- games like badminton and en- settled in Madras. Located on a with Tonakela till he died in stan) where the family has its joy a leisurely lunch. Sushila, spacious property on Peter’s 1984. After him, his son Indu origin. Upper India was dealing Indersain’s wife, was not only a Road (where the school still took over the Presidentship of with automobile spare parts at charming hostess but a social flourishes) it had Visharda the Camp. Currently, the camp the time. activist too. During the War, Hoon, another Punjabi, as its enables over 1000 schoolchil- Indu’s father Indersain when there was shortage of food founding Principal; she went on dren from different schools to Chandhok was sent to Madras items, particularly rice, she to become a prominent educa- enjoy and learn from camping in 1934 to look after the branch taught the locals how to use tionist in India. experiences every month. which was then in Bharat Build- wheat in place of rice in a series Indersain‘s biggest strength ing on Mount Road. As nobody of radio talks. She was also ac- was his ability to silently net- came to relieve him, Indersain tively involved in the commit- G by R.V. Rajan work with the who’s who of was forced to make Madras his tee formed to help War veter- Madras. This ability enabled home. He was to leave an indel- ans with medical and other re- him to raise funds easily for any ible impression on the Punjabis quirements. The Punjabi refu- Indersain was an ardent of the projects he was involved in. settled in Madras and also con- Upper India’s Golden Jubilee in gees from Pakistan who, about Arya Samajee and would tributed extensively to the edu- Madras in 1970. 5,000 in numbers, came to the organise satsangs on weekends An ardent sports enthusiast, cational and social sectors of city after Partition through the at the school premises for devo- Indersain was a cricket and bad- the city. With business doing well, warm relationship between Lt. tees of Arya Samaj. When the minton buff. He was also fond From 1920 till World War II, Indersain decided to do some- Col. Gill and Chief Minister C. Sikh members of the Punjab of travelling by car on holidays Upper India dealt mainly with thing to help the local Punjabi Rajagopalachari who had, not Association objected to religion with his family. His business imported car parts from Japan community bond better. Along so long before, been the being brought into the school, dealings as a marketer of auto- and Germany. These were mar- with Nazeer Hussein, a leather former’s prisoner, were also Indersain, along with friends mobile car parts also led him to given help to settle in Madras Jaidev and Satyadev, quit the take an interest in motor sports and Coimbatore. Adarsh Vidyalaya committee to which was just beginning to put down roots in India. MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB Meanwhile, Indersain also start the Tamil Nadu Education involved himself in a couple of Society. Under the auspices of He would never have imag- To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our community projects which were TES, the Dayanand Anglo ined that one day his second keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to to later become landmark insti- Vedic (popularly known as son, Indu Chandhok, his grand- requests from many well-wishers – especially from outside tutions in Chennai. He was one DAV) School was started. The son Vicky, and great-grandson Chennai and abroad who receive their postal copies very late of the Founder Trustees of the team persuaded T.S. Santha- Karan would put Madras on the – for an online edition. Madras Musings is now on the web at Cancer Institute, Adyar, nam of the TVS group, with international map of motor www. madrasmusings.com founded by the legendary Dr. whom Indersain was close, to sports with their initiatives and THE EDITOR Muthulakshmi, along with her donate some land on Lloyd’s achievements! son Dr. Krishnamoorthy, Road, where the School still (To be continued)

Madras Musings is supported as a public service by the following organisations

Amalgamations Group Bata India Limited

The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

Rane Group

Since 1856, Sundram Fasteners Hotels Resorts patently leaders UCAL AUTO — A WELLWISHER Limited and Palaces TVS MOTOR COMPANY PRIVATE LIMITED

PublishedPublished by S. Muthiahby S. Muthiahfor ‘Chennai for Heritage’,‘Chennai No. Heritage’, 5, Bhattad 260-A, Tower, TTK 30, WestcottRoad, Chennai Road, Royapettah, 600 018 Chennaiand printed 600 014, by Tprinted J George by Anu at Varghese Lokavani-Hallmark at Lokavani Southern Press Pvt. Printers Ltd., Pvt. 122, Ltd., Greams 122, Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600 600 006. 006, Edited and edited by S.by MUTHIAH.S. Muthiah.