For Rs. 1000 you can BOOK YOUR have your CLASSIFIEDS online advert On ONLINE MYLAPORE All Classifieds are charged flat rate RS. 1000** For 2 Weeks TIMES of Rs.250 (plus GST) for maximum website 20 words. Will run for 2 weeks only. TIMES Pay via bank transfer only. Contact Mylapore Times YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWSPAPER For details call 24982244 / 24982244 / 9445764499 WhatsApp 94457 64499 — 10 am to 6 pm. August 28 - September 3, 2021 4 pages Free Circulation

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The children at Aditya Apartments on Dr. Ranga Road had a breakaway from their online classes doing the pookolam at 6:30 am last Saturday morning for Onam. Bharatanatyam arangetram They were enthusiastic, waking up early on a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the process. The idea was initiated by one of in USA, with flavours of Mylapore the residents of the apartment, Ramanarayanan. A Mylapore-based – Report by Karpagavalli family, now in Arizona, USA recently celebrat- ed their daughter’s dance arangetram with a touch of Mylapore flavours. GCC offers the jab to seniors at home. Mahesh Vinayagam is the CEO of tech- Here are the contacts. nology firm, qBotica Corpora- and his wife Shuba tion’s scheme to pro- Mahesh, who works vide the jab for seniors for American Express, conducted the arange- at their doorstep is on tram of their 16-year- now. Seetha Sundar, a old daughter Shreya Mahesh on August 7 at Chandler Center of Arts R. A. Puram resident with over 350 guests attending the event. says that she arranged Mahesh Vinayagam’s family has deep roots in Mylapore. His par- for a jab for her mother ents A. Vinayagam and Shantha along with his siblings Rajesh and and the vaccination Ramesh, reside close to Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple. Vinayagam is 76 process was simple and years old and has been a life-long Mylapore resident along with their smooth, all carried out entire family including their forefathers who were originally based in at her home. Mylapore for over 200 years, said Mahesh. For the arangetram, the invitation cover featured an image of Sri Seetha jotted down Kapaleeswarar Temple. Shreya also performed the Shiva padam in her experience in a Pandanallur Bharatanatyam style and later, performed Soora Sambar- social media post. am in her Kuchipudi dance item, the Mayura kautuvam. The Mayura And here are the Kautuvam finale ended with drawing the peacock while dancing, contact numbers to invoking the goddess Karpagambal’s worldly avatar, the peacock on use – 25384520 / stage. File photo 46122300. Shreya is now a 11th grader and a disciple of guru Kalashri Asha Gopal in Arizona. 2 MYLAPORE TIMES Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2021

Senior women of Marina kuppams present 127-year-old CSI Middle School colourful I-Day event This was an Independence Day event that was wholly presented by senior women of the kuppams of in Mylapore renovated. Support the Marina. And it was hosted at the Dignity Founda- tion’s Daycare Centre in Mullima Nagar on August 17. The chief guests for the programme were Sundera from alumni, well-wishers Gopalan, secretary, Lions Club of Mudra and Durga Bala, president of this Club. By Fabiola Jacob The school later start- A batch of the women held a snappy march past. ed admitting boys too, The seniors were divided into three groups and each Tucked away on from Standards 1 to 5 and group had a leader who held a flag and led the group. crowded Adam Street in was upgraded to a mid- Members also took part in a special drill that was Mylapore, the CSI Mid- dle school in 1988, with limited to their ability. Arockiamary Sasichanandam dle School – now freshly classes up to standard 8. welcomed everyone with her dance to the song ‘Adu- painted a bright fuchsia Thamizh remains the vomey palli Paduvomey’. There was also a mime show – is impossible to miss. medium of instruction, by the seniors. “I want the school to and numerous underprivi- Seniors of this zone meet daily at this centre, a stand out in this area, leged children in this area space belonging to the local kuppam to engage in skills and attract children,” have benefited. The build- training and activities that keep them engaged and says the Headmistress ing was renovated in 2004 encourages fellowship. M. Ranjitham, who along with support from three with her small band of Churches of the Church of teachers, put their heart South . and soul into collecting The school still relies funds for the renovation of this 127-year- on the generosity of individuals and cor- This new food joint old school and keep it going. porates. Various organisations like the The result is a newly renovated build- Rotary Club – Chennai East, churches in R. A. Puram ing, with attractive classrooms painted and alumni of the school have come to its in bright pink, purple and yellow, await- aid at various times. ing children once the pandemic ends. “We now need to fix the old roof, promises good appams Founded in 1894 in this very same which leaks when it rains” says the Here is a chain of restaurants, which has spot as a primary school by the Headmistress, explaining the work now come to R. A. Puram and which holds up Wesleyan Mission, to educate girls from involved – estimated at four lakhs. its appam as one of the the Devadasi community, the building Those interested in contributing best dishes on its is sandwiched between the agraharams towards this noble cause can contact menu. of Mylapore ( this background has been the Headmistress M. Ranjitham at The handed over some generations). 9789855818. T. Nagar- based chain of Shri Ganesh Bhavan opened its tenth food joint on 3rd Cross Street in the Chennai Cor- poration complex here. It has space for dining but that is limited – this being just the place to have a quick breakfast or MYLAPORE a snack. TIMES It opens for breakfast at 7 a.m. and offers all - 77, C. P. Ramaswamy the South Indian specials. Then there is lunch Road, , – meals can also be taken as a parcel Chennai 600018. ( Rs.90); the meal costs Rs.80 of partaken at - Ph: 24982244 / 9445764499 the restaurant. Late evening, you can check out WhatsApp - 9445764499 some North Indian food – chapatis and rotis - E-mail - included. Yes, appam is also served. Admin & Advertising - The place closes at 10 p.m. [email protected] - Editorial - Home delivery is provided locally – call [email protected] 47409568 / 7200431441 Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2021 MYLAPORE TIMES 3 From Sri Patham to Thiru Chinnam: 25 years of temple service By S. Prabhu

As a young school boy, studying at P. S. School, D. Kumaraswamy carried the Pillayar and Chandrasekarar swamis on his shoulder during the Kumbabhisekam at Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple in 1996. Civic staff drying the recycled waste to make manure Civic staff grow garden on

banks of Canal despite the Lord on festival occasions. He was also the ‘Meistri’ for a year in 2007. stink and dirt When a vacancy arose for the post Would you expect a vegetable garden on the banks of of Thiru Chinnam, Kumaraswamy the stinking, stagnated waters of the applied, went through the interview pro- in Mylapore? You wouldn’t want to even hang around cess and was appointed in 2019. here. Almost through his entire life of But one Chennai Corporation staffer made this effort nearly four decades, he has been in- under the MRTS elevation of the rail line off Kutchery volved in temple service mostly as a Sri Road. He made use of the local soil and recycled waste Patham service provider. to raise a kitchen garden of sorts. But it was left unat- A surprise came his way in 2019 and Photo: S Prabhu tended the past months due to the pandemic. since then the Sri Patham provider has Now, the garden is getting new life because the cur- Since then, for the last 25 years, he become a Thiru Chinnam specialist. He rent GCC staff want to see it thrive – growing keerai, has been a Sri Patham (men who carry now plays the musical instrument with tomatoes, lady’s finger. GCC contracted people working the Lord in temple processions). devotion multiple times each day during here get a daily supply of wet waste from Urbaser which He discontinued his studies and Kaala Sandhi and Saayee Rakshai as is turned into manure over many weeks. Some of this moved into temple service at the age well as on special festive occasions round manure is used to enrich the garden here. of 15. For almost two decades, he per- the year. But they have a problem – water supply has dried up formed service as a Sri Patham at Sri From his childhood, Kumaraswamy due to a faulty connection. So people here cannot water Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple in has been a resident of Ponnambala Vad- the green patch. Adyar. Later, for a brief period he was a hyar Street, just a few yards away from When the Mylapore MLA was told about it, he asked Mei Kavalar at Sri Agastya Temple, Sri Kapaleeswarar temple. Real close to the local area GCC AE to address the issue. T. Nagar. the lord. This team of GCC is showing how something fruitful At Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, he can be developed even in what is not a welcoming space. has been involved for the last 25 years n GOT A STORY ON SRI KAPALI TEMPLE to If you want to the buy the manure GCC sells, do it at in various other services including Thiru share? One that dates to the 1960s/ 70s? this place. Chinnam, carrying the big kudai and the Mail 10 lines to - [email protected] ‘Madras Day’ art contest held for children Kuppam community marks of Marina kuppam zone 111th birth anniv of Mother Teresa The community in Doomingkuppam in San Thome Madras Day / zone today celebrated the 111th birth anniversary of Chennai Dinam was Mother Teresa. celebrated by chil- A statue of Teresa that stands at one corner of this dren who reside in colony was decorated with flowers and through the the seaside colonies morning people stopped by to pray in silence. off the There are many such religious shrines dotting the last weekend when seaside colonies here. they took part in an art contest held on the sands of Pattinapakkam. A band of young people of this area headed by Deepa and Kavitha put this event together on August 21 evening. Over 50 school chil- dren took part. ‘My Marina’ was the theme for this on-the-spot contest and the children used crayons to express themselves. Ten children whose works were chosen as the best were given gifts. 4 MYLAPORE TIMES Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2021 Tribute: G. Rajagopalan: he built India’s airports One of the oldest residents of Mandaveli, G. Rajagopalan, passed away on August 16 after a brief illness. He was 84 and a typical Mylaporean, leading a highly independent life after the passing of his wife about three years ago, his family said. Rajagopalan was born on 9th April, 1937 to Dr R. Gopalan and Janaki Ammal, the youngest of three sib- lings. His father was a Railway doctor with Southern Railways This R. A. Puram colony and hence, in his childhood, Rajagopalan was constantly travelling to various towns in South India where his father adds more colour and was posted. Rajagopalan with MGR and JRD Tata during the inauguration of airport green in its public spaces projects in Madras and Bombay.

By Our Staff Reporter managed to succeed working with the previous MLA, R Nataraj. The community of R K Nagar in Now, the current MLA, Dha Velu R. A. Puram has sweated and rejoiced promises support. And streets that at its own efforts to clean and green looked messy are being beautified. One this colony. The positives have made a such effort bore colours on August 15. change – you need to take a walk here to The NGO, Karam Korporm, which appreciate the change made over some supports ‘ art in public spaces’ was a years. Colourful walls, plants and greens partner here. all over and no garbage dumps. The wall of a local gated community But it still has big aches to tackle – has got a colourful face now. But the the main being the mess that automotive mess elsewhere remains and community workers and repair shops as well as taxi leaders say it will take time to set things cab operators cause in public spaces. right. As a youngster, he had a penchant for making mechani- Repair shops pop up on pavements “We still have to convince people here cal toys with which he endlessly entertained his friends and here and streets become parking lots not to dump waste in waste bins but seg- younger family members. After schooling he got admission to for taxis. The R K Nagar community regate waste,” says one leader. “But we civil engineering (somewhat to his dismay, as he wanted to take will get it right in time.” up mechanical engineering) in Alagappa Chettiar College of Says another, “When Engineering, Karaikudi. people who own property After graduation, Rajagopalan worked on a series of civil in this nagar realise that engineering building projects in Chennai including prestigious the value goes up if the ones such as a wing of Labour Institute and one All India Radio area is neat and smart block. they know the value After a stint working on a runway construction project of cleanliness and civic at Madras airport under a contractor, he joined International duties.” Airports Authority of India (IAAI) in 1973 – a year after its formation – as assistant engineer where he worked for over 25 years rising to the position of chief engineer and project direc- tor at retirement. This cricket academy, fitness centre In his professional career, he was assigned to various airport projects across the country including in Calcutta, Delhi, is back in action in R. A. Puram Bombay, Trivandrum and Chennai. He was also posted in South The past weeks, sports coaching is getting back to life. Much of it is in cricket. Yemen for an international project undertaken by IAAI. Among The F3 Cricket Academy in R A Puram, near the Ambedkar Mantapam is abuzz now, the more high-profile assignments he undertook was as Project with over 50 boys and girls taking turns at the nets and around. Director for Madras Airport Terminal in mid-70s and Bombay This place, owned by Ramco, is now the venue for cricket coaching as well as for a fitness Terminal II in the mid-80s and also as the Airport Director for centre that is open to all. T M Thangavelu oversees this place. A coach who is employed at the Trivandrum International Airport which he modernised to inter- academy says that presently national standards. four coaches report for work Post retirement he was chief consultant to another major and one more is due to join as more children report project at Angamaly, Kerala which latterly became Cochin for training and new International Airport. registrations are coming by. In his personal life, he was blessed with a long married life A few girls, some teens of over 50 years with Padma Rajagopalan, who passed away in are also keen to join, we are 2018. Rajagopalan is survived by two sons. told. Rajagopalan was fond of chess and is best remembered by Coaching is held here friends for his non-stop wisecracks and anecdotes of life. 4 to 6 pm on weekdays and His family is at A3, Vishnoojayakoti Apartments , 2/12, 8 to 10 am on weekends. 2nd Trust Cross St , Mandavalipakkam. The fitness centre is open mornings and evenings. Contacts – +91 6385 140 067 (Mohan, son). Call Thangavelu at +91 96001 55925 (Ashok, son) 9841243123 for more details. – Contributed by Saroj Satyanarayan