Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/09-11 Registrar of Newspapers Licence to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. WPP 506/09-11 Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • When a Heritage Act? • The Congress in Madras • Chennoise – that’s us • In search of the tribals
Vol. XXI No. 7 MUSINGS July 16-31, 2011 Delhi & Ahmadabad steal a march You know Kittu Maama! The more and more he washes his hand, the greater he has enjoyed the But can we at least saappadu!! That ‘Sink’ing feeling get a Heritage Act? Wedding Yellai Sapaads are great – grand tradition... (By A Madras Week Coordinator) yummy food.... But – t was announced last week that Delhi will be applying to There’s a tricky side. IUNESCO that it be recognised as a Heritage City. The Indian They tend to get ...er...wet- National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has put ish....you know? together a dossier on the subject and has approached the Archaeo- Which means that the after- logical Survey of India with a request to make the application to meal dash to the rather UNESCO. Ahmadabad is already in the race and Delhi hopes that, Built for the new Secretariat and Assembly complex. strangely named ‘wash area’ by virtue of its being the capital requires strategy and timing, city, it will be given priority. as it involves drippy fingers Now where does that leave and possible damage to outfits Chennai which is nowhere near Whatever the views on this building, (both your own and of oth- ers). even a locally enacted legisla- That’s when you realise fellow tion to protect its heritage? to good use it must be put sink-users come in various This year, the team that forms – and they all cause de- helps catalyse a Madras Week he State Government has fall prey to vandals. Its vast size ing to the Tamil Nadu Agricul- lays. in August hopes to launch a sig- Tfirmly rejected all sugges- also means that it has the po- tural University. Surely this The Have-Mirror –Will-Look- nature campaign to press the tions that it should continue to tential for unlawful activities Government-sponsored com- ers: These tend to gaze ear- Government for the passing of operate some of its departments and may become the den of pany can fit all its departments nestly at their own faces; pat- a Heritage Act. With almost all from the recently built Assem- anti-socials. The area to the into the new Secretariat, ting their hair, adjusting eye other modes and avenues hav- bly-cum-Secretariat building. It rear is still under development thereby sparing the Nandanam makeup, while the queue be- ing been exhausted, this ap- has been decided that Fort St and there is no clear-cut plan property? At least we will this hind grows and languishes. George will be its home and the on what is to come up there. way have some use for a build- The Argle-Bargle-Garglers: pears to be the only way ahead. Readers of Madras Musings reasons being given for this are What is ironic is that the ing that has cost us Rs. 1000 This variety likes to spring that the new building is yet in- State Government is eternally crore and more. clean their mouths, throats.... need hardly be reminded that and judging from the sound – the draft of a Heritage Act was complete and that there is an in need of space. Several of its Every property requires the inside of their toes – in the completed in 2002 and had it enquiry pending on alleged ir- departments are functioning maintenance and that will hap- open. Should you call the cops been adopted then, we would regularities in the construction. from rented premises in various pen in the new Secretariat only – or an ambulance? not be a city minus buildings If that decision is irrevocable, parts of the city. Accepting the if it is occupied. If it is left to the The OCD Hand Washers: Boy, such as Gandhi Illam, Capper then the Government also elements, it will soon decay and, do they wash, wash, wash, House, the erstwhile Madras ought to specify as to what its as and when the Government while the queue behind stea- G Club building on Express Es- plans are for the building. It By The Editor decides to move in, a huge dily ages. does not make sense to have a amount of expenditure will be The Lingerers: They’re done – tates, and Government House. And Bharat Insurance Building vast edifice standing empty af- incurred in refurbishing the but will chat with co-sinkers, Government’s argument that it discover long lost friends, call would not be facing an uncer- ter a huge amount of money has place. That can certainly be out greetings, oblivious to tain future. However, with been spent on its construction. is impossible to have depart- avoided if the building is glares or dark mutterings. Queen Mary’s College being You just need to walk down ments functioning from two lo- peopled from the start. Then, the I-Don’t-Care-About- threatened in 2003, the draft Mount Road to notice that the cations (the Fort and the new The Government may well The-Next-User Messers – regulations were quietly building is already going to seed. Assembly) implies that having want to take a leaf from the ghastly. shelved. Since then there have The neon signs announcing some of the offices in far-flung book of neighbouring Karna- Maybe we need signs....or Do/ been attempts at revival in fits that it was indeed the State locations is equally inconve- taka. When in the 1950s the Don’t pamphlets handed out Chief Secretariat and Assembly nient. Surely these can be ac- Vidhan Soudha was being con- along with the handfuls of and starts, but nothing concrete has emerged. have been removed. The gar- commodated in the new Secre- structed, there were allegations bless-the-couple akshatai. dens are devoid of any security tariat? We also have Chennai of irregularities against the then Seriously – some rules here, The High Court then took guys. the initiative and, in response to and at night the building is Metro Rail Limited, which has Chief Minister Kengal Hanu- Otherwise, we’re sunk...er.... (Continued on page 6) completely dark without any for the purposes of its office manthiah. But that did not ‘sink-sunk’. light anywhere on the campus. taken over a vast and verdant Ranjitha Ashok (Also see page 2) This way the structure will soon campus in Nandanam belong- (Continued on page 3) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2011 When do we Hi-decibel weddings get a he Man from Madras unfortunately heard what he a schedule was published and T Musings is still reeling said to the caller which was it was announced that the rota from the impact of the wed- clearly inappropriate and inaus- system would be followed ding season and those of you picious to the occasion. strictly. But that was observed Heritage Act? who read his columns will Shortly thereafter, he was more in the breach than in have no choice but to hear back on the air addressing the practice, and now MMM has more on the subject. And audience, this time giving a de- made his own private schedule eritage generally refers to that its preservation for the hear, as far as MMM is con- tailed account of what happens which, simply put, means you Hsomething we have inher- benefit of the present and fu- cerned, is the operative word. at a marriage. The audience was can expect a power cut when ited from our ancestors. It is ture generations is an urgent is- For, MMM notices that our too busy talking to itself to no- you least expect it. There are used to relate to cultural heri- sue of worldwide concern, weddings have become high tice, for after all nothing out-of- days when power is turned off tage, natural heritage, virtual UNESCO proclaimed certain decibel affairs which need to the-ordinary ever happens in at the main for a full day, os- heritage, heritage canals, heri- principles and adopted a Char- be seriously monitored for any of these events. Then, after tensibly under the claim of tage routes, etc. Underwater ter in 2003. Virtual systems and noise pollution and aural dam- a few desultory chants and a few maintenance. We must surely heritage and movable heritage multimedia pioneered the field age. phone calls (“Yes, you can buy be the only place in the world have also been seriously consid- of virtual heritage over a decade There was a time when those shares”), he was once where maintenance of an es- ered in recent years. UNESCO, ago. UNESCO’s strategy in- weddings in the city were again addressing his flock and sential utility requires it to be characterised by the nagas- this time he gained everyone’s turned off at the main! Or is it in its convention held in 1972, cludes conservation of movable waram ensemble, with the attention. “We are now tying that the powers-that-be in the noted that cultural and natural heritage and museums. only other sounds being those the knot,” he thundered and electricity department are heritages are increasingly ‘Underwater cultural heri- of the conversation, the laugh- that made the audience go si- working overtime to cover up threatened with destruction not tage’ encompasses all traces of ter and the priest steadily in- lent even as the pipers and for lack of maintenance in the only by decay but also by the human existence that lie or toning the hymns. Then came drummers worked themselves past. Certainly, a cursory look changing social and economic were lying under water and had the reformist weddings where to a musical crescendo. at some of the transformers conditions, which aggravate the a cultural or historical charac- the priest was replaced by a re- “And once that is over,” he and wires gives MMM that im- situation. In view of the magni- ter. UNESCO elaborated it in spected elder who gave a shrieked above the music, pression. His supply is from a tude and gravity of the new its convention held in 2001 on speech and then supervised “please don’t come crowding transformer which at the first dangers threatening them, it is the protection of underwater the tying of the knot. But all for shaking hands of the bride sight of a cloud in the sky incumbent on the international cultural heritage. things have come a full circle and the groom. That is reserved turns into a fire-cracker of community to participate in the Noting that the ‘cultural and MMM notices that the for later. Now they must hold sorts. It lets off colourful priest has made a strong come- only each other’s hands.” No- sparks and when a drop of wa- protection of heritage of out- heritage’ has changed content back and, what’s more, having body bothered with that, for ter falls on it explodes and standing value. considerably in recent decades, taken a leaf from the book of within a few minutes, everyone throws off pieces of rubber. UNESCO has defined ‘cul- UNESCO adopted, on June 24, tural heritage’ as 2010 directives on the safe- G Monuments, sculpture and guarding of intangible cultural paintings, elements or struc- heritage. Cultural heritage does SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY tures of an archaeological na- not end with monuments and ture, inscriptions, cave dwell- collections of objects but also ings, and combinations of fea- includes traditions or living ex- reformist wedding, delivers a was busy clambering on to stage Power cuts usually dull tures which are of outstanding pressions inherited from our an- speech interspersed with to wish the couple. The priest MMM’s mind and it is on universal value from the point cestors and passed on to our de- hymns. Thereby he demon- did not appear to mind. He was one such occasion that he of view of history, art or science; scendants, such as oral tradi- strates his superiority and busy announcing the gifts, the came up with this: durability no doubt, for the names of those who gave them G Monday’s cut is outage in Groups of buildings, groups tions, performing arts, social reformer would not be able and if it was in cash the amount every phase of separate or connected build- practices, rituals, festive events, to chant hymns. also. Some of those who gave ings which, because of their ar- knowledge, and practices con- But what everyone con- cash did not appear overly en- Tuesday’s cut is low volt- chitecture, their homogeneity cerning nature and the universe veniently forgets to note is thusiastic about their names age in a phase or their place in the landscape, or the knowledge and skills to that priests do not need the and the amounts being an- Wednesday it is under are of outstanding universal produce traditional crafts. speaker’s mike to hold. But, nounced, for obvious reasons. guise of maintenance value from the point of view of In India like seasoned speakers, they Then, after a brief bout of Thursday cut means you history, art or science; and Rapid urbanisation has do not like to let go of the chants, he was back, this time take it as a penance mike, as MMM has noticed announcing the various shrines G Works of man or the com- brought immense pressure on Friday’s cut is terrible and at countless weddings. Last from where blessings had been bined works of nature and man, land and resources. These tiring and areas including archaeo- changes have brought about the week, MMM was at one such received. In short, he had the event, where a near Saturday’s cut is really en- logical sites which are of out- destruction of many priceless time of his life. apoplectic priest, who had To his bellowings you just ervating. standing universal value from buildings and built environs, obviously done rather well at had to add the general high- The cut on the Sabbath day the historical, aesthetic, ethno- and have resulted in the loss of meals, was dominating the pitched conversation, and with heaps MMM’s curse on the logical or anthropological point traditional building methods show. the noise of the traffic outside TNEB in every way. of view. and skills. The bride and bride- and the oppressive weather, you ‘Natural heritage’ has been The existing infrastructure groom had hardly sat down knew for sure that the newly- Not one of MMM’s best defined as and supporting legislation are when the agent-of-God was weds had had a wedding they but he is not Alfred, Lord G Natural features consisting all directed towards new devel- off to a start, delivering a would never forget. Tennyson. of physical and biological for- opment in both planning and speech on the importance of mations or groups of such for- construction. These laws are in- the marriage. He chose to ex- The loss of power Tailpiece mations, which are of outstand- adequate in protecting the vast pand on the topic at great t was once again at a wed- very day, even if for only an cultural heritage of this coun- length, dwelling in detail on ding and the event being ing universal value from the hour, The Man from Madras I what could possibly go E over, The Man from Madras aesthetic or scientific point of try. A new, urgent and alterna- Musings is made aware how wrong in that blessed state of Musings and his good lady view; tive approach is required to en- painful the loss of power can be. life. But the way he spoke of were trying to gain the atten- G Geological and physio- sure that what is left of our valu- No, he is not spending an hour the pitfalls made MMM tion of the valet-parking ser- graphical formations and pre- able inheritance is not lost for- each day with one of the unsuc- wonder if he was almost vice attendant. This was to cisely delineated areas, which ever. This approach will ac- cessful candidates in the recent hinting to the betrothed no avail as several others knowledge conservation as an elections. He is referring to the constitute the habitat of threat- couple that this was their last were attempting the same. power-cut, also known for some ened species of animals and integral part of and not contra- chance to break it all off and But then along came a sten- reason as load-shedding. In the plants of outstanding universal dictory to development. walk away into a sunset of torian voice that imperiously early days, MMM, having come value from the point of view of Recognition of the need to freedom. asked for its vehicle. “It’s a to know that areas in the science or conservation; and protect and conserve ‘heritage’ Then it was back to Benz,” it said in clear tones hymns and chants for a while mofussil had for long been put- G Natural sites from the and environs is the aim and for the benefit of the rest of ting up with this problem, was thrust of a Heritage Act. Sens- during which assistant the crowd and the attendant, point of view of science, conser- all for sharing their burden. But priests did the intoning while also perhaps implying that vation or natural beauty. ing the need for such an Act, now his patience is wearing the star-of-the-show busied being a Benz entitled the ve- ‘Digital heritage’, also called the Indian National Trust for thin. Let them use lanterns is himself with answering calls hicle to priority. Now MMM ‘e-heritage’, refers to computer- Art and Cultural Heritage MMM’s secret comment, on his cell phone. He did not realises why his own humble based materials of enduring (INTACH) started a heritage though he does not utter it in let go of the mike even then vehicle is often the last to be value that should be kept for movement and drafted a model public. and those who paid attention fetched by parking lot atten- Act as early as 1990 and urged When the idea of a power- future generations. Under- could clearly hear what he dants. standing that the digital heri- State regulations governing was talking. And MMM cut in Madras was first mooted, – MMM tage is at risk of being lost and (Continued on page 7) July 16-31, 2011 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Integrated Public Transport for Chennai ecently, there have been many comments sions of the suburban lines in Navi Mumbai. Rin the media on the suitability of Metro rail Thus, they have gone in for a mix of modes to or Monorail for Chennai. There are also studies suit traffic density and ROW availability. being carried out for a BRT system at grade on When the Monorail proposals were made in Of kavu and caves Century Dictionary also fur- some corridors in Chennai. Each system has its 2006 for Chennai, the main objection raised was nishes the derivative of the En- would like to add to some of own merits and demerits and no single mode about adopting it on very dense corridors like glish word Cave as Latin. Are Prof. Raman’s statements can be the solution for a city like Chennai, with Anna Salai and Periyar Salai. Thankfully, now, I the words kavu, kaaba and cava its mix of only a few wide roads and many the Metro rail corridors proposed on these two (MM, July 16th). The first built derivatives of an unknown narrow but still busy roads. corridors will stay. While planning further, it is shrine could be a small struc- mother language? Metro rail is the most expensive, but at the suggested that a specific traffic study is con- ture similar to that for Chandi- From time immemorial some same time it has the highest capacity and speed ducted to assess traffic corridor-wise. The keswarar we find in Siva caves have been used as shrines potential. World experience is that on corridors denser corridors should be earmarked for future temples. Later, big structures Metro rail links. A typical example is the Fore- for one or more deities. with likely traffic density of 30,000 and over similar to Garbagrahams were PHPDT, Metro rail is necessary. BRT, which is shore Estate-Porur-Poonamallee corridor via built. Praharas and gopurams S.N. Mahalingam most cost effective, has also reached such ca- T’Nagar-Vadapalani. were still later additions. 64-A, Kalamegam Street Extn. pacity in some Latin American cities. Such cor- The next level corridors, where Right of Way Regarding kavu and kaaba, SBI Colony II Street ridors would have four dedicated bus (BRT) is adequate, BRT will be more cost effective, e.g. corridors like, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR) and kavu means a ‘shrine’ or ‘sanc- Kamarajapuram lanes on the median, one pair for the slower Chennai 600 073 buses and the other pair for faster limited stop Anna Nagar-Madhavaram via IRR. The corri- tuary’. But this word is not buses or for overtaking. Metro rail is more ex- dors with narrow roads and/or winding align- found in that sense in Tamil, Whose responsibility? pensive, especially if it has to go underground. ment at this level of traffic requirement will be Telugu or Kannada, the princi- If it can be elevated, which is possible on roads best for Monorail. pal spoken Dravidian languages hile we agree with many with ROW of 25m and over, the overall cost The main advantage of Monorail is that its of the time. So it could be a Wof Prabha Sridevan’s ob- will be about 25 per cent higher than Monorail. structure occupies minimum space. It need not word which has its roots in some servations (MM, June 16th), it The Monorail structure being light is less costly, necessarily be on the median. The up and down other ancient language. must be stated that as regards but the monorail vehicle cost will be more than lines can be taken along the kerb on either side Similarly, kaaba is the name the maintenance of the tene- that of a metro coach combination of equiva- of the road and stations provided in between the of the holiest shrine of Islam in ments, all the allottees together lent capacity. For example, the Monorail under two lines at intervals. On still narrower roads, a should have jointly organised a construction in Mumbai is estimated to cost line in one direction can be taken on one road Mecca. Nobody knows at what about Rs.130 crore per kilometre. and the return direction line on a parallel road point of time it was built. So the maintenance crew for upkeep, repairs, replastering, repainting, A study of the cities where Monorail has close by. To start with, old tramline corridors, name may have been in exist- been used would indicate that they have been excluding the lengths covered by the Metro rail ence before Arab settlement of etc. of the buildings. There is used as airport links in major cities and for main under construction, will easily qualify for this the Arabian Peninsula. Was lack of feeling and responsibil- corridors in Level II cities, especially in Japan, mode with some modifications e.g. (i) Chennai kaaba also built within a forest? ity of ownership among the oc- which have busy corridors. The highest rider- Beach to Moolakkadai via Mint-Basin Bridge; It is a windowless, single en- cupants which has led to over- ship achieved in a direction appears to be ii) Purasawalkam-Vepery-Egmore; iii)Egmore- trance structure, rectangular in all deterioration. The Tamil 17,000 per hour by Chongziang Monorail in Chintadripet-Wallajah Road-Triplicane High plan and with flat roof. Nadu Slum Clearance Board China. The longest line is a 28-km link from Road-Barber’s Bridge; iv) Anna Salai- Royapettah High Road-Luz. Amongst new ones, It is stated by Alain should have supervised, moni- airport and to Osaka city carrying about tored and controlled things. 100,000 passengers a day. One of the earliest an orbital line from Light House to Moolakkadai Daniélou in his book ‘L’Histoire and busiest Monorail lines is the 17-km line via Gemini, Nungambakkam, Kilpauk, and de l’Inde that the Arabian Pen- K. Soundarraj & from Tokyo airport to city and it carries a maxi- Perambur can be considered. Further, Monorail insula was once a fertile land Mrs Adhilakshmi Logamurthy mum of 300,000 passengers a day. Singapore can be used as feeder mode in the suburbs and and became a desert at a later 10/12, 8th Street has provided short Monorail loops serving their in a circular route in CBD as suggested by some date. Was the Arabian Penin- Dr. Radhkrishnan Salai MRT stations in some neighbourhoods Thus, it senior experts. sula then occupied by a differ- Chennai 600 004 is an ideal mode for medium density corridors The suggestions given above for different and dedicated links and as a feeder mode. modal corridors are only indicative. In all cases, ent race that practised a kind of Change it back religion which the Arabs who Mumbai, the first city in India to implement however, there should be proper intermodal came later adopted. Perhaps so, fully endorse the views of Monorail, has adopted it for a line from transfer facilities provided wherever different reader N.P. Andavan regard- Chembur to Jacob Circle, a length of about mass transit modes (including MRTS and Sub- when the kaaba was built I 19 km of which, it is learnt, trial runs are on in urban Rail) meet or cross each other. In addi- Al-Lat, al-‘Uzza and Manat, ing our city’s name, i.e. Madras. the first 8.26 km. There is a Master plan for the tion feeder bus services will need to be provided all female deities, in addition to Changing the name was a hasty region, which includes 135 km of Monorail. At at important stations. numerous idols, were wor- decision like changing the the same time, they are fast progressing on an shipped by the Arabs of Mecca Tamil New Year Day from April East-West Metro line and have planned taking Dr. S. Ponnuswamy during pre-Islamic period. The 14th to January 14th. It is high up a longer North-South line. They are also Addl. General Manager (Retd), Southern Railway time the city name is changed optimising and adding some parallel lines on the 56, Venkatratnam Nagar tribe Quraysh comprised the Adyar, Chennai 600 020 people in charge of the shrine back to Madras. Better late existing suburban lines and are laying exten- called kaaba. The Prophet than never. (MM, July 1st), one point needs in ‘Madras again’ (MM, versity, Madras Central railway Mohammed belonged to that Sundaram tribe. [email protected] to be made clear. In the Tamil July 16th). It is time to recon- station, Madras Airport, IIT- The root of the French word Chennai 600 017 context this city was always sider and bring back the name Madras, Madras Race Club, ‘cave’ is given as cava in Latin known as Chennai. Madras. The name Madras still Madras Club, Madrasis, Madras according to the French dictio- * * * I studied in a Tamil medium rings in the ears. We have con- Musings! to mention a few. nary Peitt Le Robert. The 1959 bout the old debate on school in a village and our les- stant reminders of Madras Dr. H.K. Lakshman Rao edition of Chamber’s Twentieth AChennai and Madras sons spoke about ‘Chennai’. If through Madras High Court, 33, Krishnapuri, R.A. Puram you see the Tamil magazines Madras Fertilizers, Madras Uni- Chennai 600 028 A big ‘Thank You’ to 26 of you and dailies of the 1930s and even earlier, it was always We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.06.11 Chennai. Railway timetables in and 15.07.11, added to the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, Tamil and radio programmes WHAT’S ITS Madras Musings, have already received. We thank all of them for mentioned Chennai. But there their support for the causes Chennai Heritage espouses. was this other name Madras Till July 31: Photography Exhibi- FUTURE? – Chennai Heritage also in use. So the city carried tion: Temples of India by Photo- (Continued from page 1) Rs.50: Arul’s Coaching Centre on with both names, Chennai graphic Society of Madras (at DakshinaChitra). Rs.100: Manuel Aaron; Narayanan, KS.; Ananthachari, K.; in Tamil, Madras in English. mean that the building had to What the Government of Tamil Till August 31: Children’s Mela – Shanmugakani, K.; Venugopal, R.; Vittal Rao, K.; Folk performances, puppet be abandoned. It was put to Umamahesh Krishnan; Shantha Venkataraman; Krishna, Nadu did was merely to jettison shows, storytelling, and other ac- good use and has remained a S. one name. tivities for schoolchildren (at landmark of Bangalore. Rs.120: Venkataseshan, R. S. Theodore Baskaran DakshinaChitra). The new Assembly-cum- Rs.200: Ponraj, S.; Chandrasekaran, N.; Muthukumaran, S.; Worshops at DakshinaChitra Secretariat in Chennai too Viswanathan, TS. Asha Township Phase II Dodda Gubbi Post Adult workshops; promises to become a Rs.400: George K John; Ahalya Chari; Ravi, K.; Bangalore 560 077 July 23 & 24: Miniature painting landmark, but of a different Vijayaraghavan, B.; Sridhar, R. on marble kind – as a symbol of the parti- Rs.444: Vipradas, GB. * * * July 30: Vegetable and fruit carv- san politics that our State Rs.900: Shankar, P.; Ramasamy, SA.; Book Marketing fully endorse the views and ing. For details, contact specialises in. Services; Malathi Ramaswamy; Amalgamated Engineers Iexpressions of reader Jaidev 27472603, 27472783 4 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2011 July 16-31, 2011 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 When the Congress The evolution of a coin no more o longer is it legal tender: The road has finally come to an end for the humble 25 paise coin. The Reserve Bank of NIndia is withdrawing from circulation coins of 25 paise and below from June 30, 2011. Coins of denominations of 25 met in Madras paise and below will not be accepted for exchange at the bank branches from July 1, 2011 onwards. We trace the history he Indian National Indore and Baroda at different The Congress returned to of the 25 paise coin from the British era to contemporary India. (Sent to us by PADMINI NATARAJAN). TCongress was 125 years old times. The event was held at Madras for its 14th Session, held on December 28, 2010. This Mackay’s Gardens. This is an area in December 1898. Ananda The first issues of the quarter rupee coins were released in 1920 A new design of coins was introduced in 1919 that sought to landmark event did not receive that exists by the same name Mohan Bose was the Chairman 1835 India during the reign of William IV. The coins were made replace the then existing silver quarter rupee coins. The new much attention, scams and scan- even today and lies just off of this session, which was held at of silver. equivalent of the quarter rupee coin was the 4 anna coin, that was made dals no doubt hogging the lime- Graeme’s Road. 607 delegates Patter’s Gardens, Royapettah, the from cupro-nickel instead of silver. The rising silver prices following the light. This article is to mark that attended it, Madras leading the residence of the wealthy Gujarati First World War necessitated this change. These coins had the effigy of milestone, belated though it is. numbers with 362 participants. Lodd family. The scions of this King George V. Madras was where the seeds An interesting trivia, though not family were known for their phi- of the Indian National Congress verified, is that today’s Thousand lanthropy and support to social were sown and, in the years lead- Lights area takes its name thanks causes. Patter’s Gardens still sur- ing up to Independence, the city to the Thousand Lights that vives, though its vast gardens Doveton House was to play host to eight sessions were lit to commemorate the oc- have now been swallowed up by Madras High Court, also seems nicipal Bill was called “retrograde Cornwallis. After his time, the of the party. I look at some of casion. It was in this session that constructions. The headquarters to have owned the property at and reactionary” by the Session property changed hands with the these historic venues here. Congress got its first Muslim of the Congress Party, Satyamurti some point of time as mentioned President and a resolution was Government acquiring it. It ac- The idea of an Indian Na- President with the election of Bhawan, stands adjoining the in his short biography of his fa- passed condemning its introduc- quired a degree of notoriety tional Congress took shape in Badruddin Tyabji to the post. Gardens on land donated by The longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, ther-in-law, Sir C. Sankaran tion. The Bill evoked strong criti- when Khande Rao Gaekwad, the George V was crowned the King in 1910. He was also the late December 1884 when 17 Entertainments were hosted Lodd Govinddoss, the best- 1840 Queen Victoria also held the title of the Empress of India. Nair. Springs Gardens later be- cism as it proposed to reduce the usurper of the Baroda throne, 1925 first reigning British monarch to tour India. The 4 anna coins men met at the house of Dewan by the Governor of Madras, Lord known member of the family. His During her reign a number of quarter rupee coins were issued. Soon after came home of the Motion Pic- number of popular representa- was housed in it after he was de- introduced in 1919 didn’t gain popularity and soon the quarter rupee coins Bahadur Raghunatha Rao in Connemara, Rajah Sir Savalai tomb, surrounded by dense her ascent to the throne, a silver quarter rupee coin was issued in India. tures Combine, promoted by tives to 16 (from 24) and pro- posed by the British in 1870. The had to be brought back. Mylapore to chart out a plan for Ramaswamy Mudaliar, the phi- shrubbery, still stands on the The coins featured the bust of a young Queen Victoria. She was made the film-maker K. Subrahmanyan, posed 8 to associations wholly or Women’s Christian College the formation of a political Na- lanthropist and the then Sheriff campus. queen soon after her 18th birthday and finally metamorphosed into mainly composed of Europeans. moved into this campus in 1916 tional Movement. Most of the 17 of Madras, and Eardley Norton, Madras played host to the S.S. Vasan’s Gemini Studio. In Strong exception was also taken and Doveton House survives even men were delegates to the An- a leading lawyer. 19th Session of the Congress in the heart of this sylvan campus to the Bill due to the fact that it today. nual Convention of the Theo- stood a house that was once sup- was not in consonance with the The 1914 session was well at- sophical Society that had just posed to have been lived in by principles of Local Self Govern- tended with 866 delegates par- concluded at Adyar. Though Edward, the second Lord Clive. ment laid down in the time of ticipating. The platform was what exactly was discussed at the G Karthik A. Bhatt by Today all this has been overrun Lord Ripon. crowded with several Madras meeting is not known, it is gen- by several highrises and a star noteworthies when the Presi- erally accepted that this gather- The 23rd Session of the Con- King George VI was the last of the British monarchs to rule hotel that in its own way cel- dent-elect Bhupendranath Basu ing of the 17 men sowed the gress was held in Madras in 1908. 1939 over India. His predecessor Edward VIII abdicated the The next Congress Session in 1903. The venue this time was ebrates Chennai’s film heritage – reached the venue in a proces- seeds of the formation of the This session was held in excep- throne in order to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. The Park. sion and was escorted to the pa- Congress. The residence where Madras was in 1894. This was Spring Gardens, Teynampet, tional circumstances, it having Two notable matters dis- vilion door by a guard of Con- There were no coins issued for Edward VIII. While coins of other denomi- the meeting was held does not the 10th Session of the party and where a pandal accommodating been adjourned from Surat cussed in the Spring Gardens ses- gress volunteers on cycles. The The coins issued later in Queen Victoria’s reign had a more nations went for a design change, the quarter rupee coins continued, with exist now, and in its place today was held in Hyde Park Gardens nearly 6000 persons was put up. where it was originally scheduled 1875 sion were the Coronation Durbar session was a historic one as it mature looking bust of the queen. The quarter rupee coins only a new monarch replacing the old. stands an apartment complex – on Poonamallee High Road, a Interestingly, Burma was repre- in 1907. The move to Madras held in Delhi earlier that year was visited by the Governor of were made of silver. Vishwakamal. Residents of the place that exists even today as sented for the first time in a Con- was caused thanks to the rioting and the Madras Municipal Bill Madras, Lord Pentland. It was complex remember a plaque part of the Kilpauk Medical Col- gress session here. Lal Mohan and chaos that took place in which was to be introduced. On the first ever visit by a Governor commemorating that meeting, lege campus. It was the property Ghose was elected President of Surat due to a split in the Party the subject of the Coronation to a Congress session. but it has long vanished. of the Rajah of Panagal, this session. Spring Gardens was a over the election of the Presi- Durbar, the Congress took The Congress did not return to After its formation, the first Panuganti Ramarayaningar, and property dating back at least to dent, thus leading to the ad- strong exception to the treat- Madras till 1927, when the 42nd Congress session to be held in it was later made over to the In- 1822, then owned by one journment of the Session. Fol- ment accorded to the Indian Session was held in the dry bed of Madras was in December 1887. dian Medical Practitioners’ As- J. Sherman. It later seems to have lowing this, the Convention Princes – “subjected to a humili- the Spur Tank in Chetpet. It was This was the 3rd Congress Ses- sociation for the setting up of a changed hands many times, hav- Committee met at Allahabad in ation they had never known be- here that for the first time the sion, the first two having been college that would teach Indian ing been mentioned as the resi- April 1908 where a Constitution Following the Independence of India the currency system fore under the British Govern- Congress called for Purna Swaraj, held in Poona and Calcutta re- systems of medicine. Sir Alfred dence of the Rajah of Pitha- was drawn up for the Indian Na- 1950 continued with the British series of coins till the establish- Webb, an Irishman was elected puram, Rajah Ram Venkata ment” – and to the Indian visi- or complete freedom, with spectively. The chairman of the tional Congress. Thus, Madras ment of the Indian Republic. The first coins of independent India were the Chairman of this Session. Kumara Mahipati, Surya Rao tors, who returned with “bitter Jawaharlal Nehru moving the In- reception committee of the Ma- had the distinction of playing introduced on August 15, 1950 and they included the quarter rupee coin memories of the different treat- dependence Resolution. It also While Queen Victoria was adding to her years in real life, dras Session was Sir T.Madhava Little else is known about this Bahadur Garu, as revealed in a host to the first session held in ment received by Indians and paved the way for the formation of 1890 she also put in a bit of weight on her image on the coins. made of nickel. The coins had the words ‘char anna’ embossed in Devnagri Rao, civil servant, administrator session other than the various book published in 1915. Sir C. December 1908 under a formal Europeans.” The Madras Mu- the Music Academy, as an off- script and had the Ashoka emblem on one side. and Dewan of Travancore, resolutions that were passed. Madhavan Nair, Judge of the Constitution. The session was held at Elphinstone Grounds, shoot of an All India Music Con- Mount Road, later the home of ference that was held in conjunc- two theatres of the same name tion with the Congress Session. The Congress last met in Ma- SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS and, of course, the place to which CHENNAI HERITAGE young Madras flocked for its fix dras in 1955. The famous Avadi G No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been priced at Rs.5 a copy, of Jaffar’s ice cream and, in par- session saw the adoption of a ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERI- ticular, Peach Melba. resolution moved by Jawaharlal I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / TAGE and send it, together with the COUPON, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, Nehru on the ‘Socialistic Pattern 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTHERN The next Congress Session I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it of Society’. In 1988, a meeting of PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 62/63, GREAMES ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. held in Madras was in 1914. This hereafter. the All India Congress Commit- Another major landmark in the history of the 25 paise coin An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of our costs. Corporate was held in a pavilion erected in G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One tee, presided over by Rajiv 1959 happened following the introduction of the decimal series in support and YOUR support will continue to be essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras the grounds of Doveton House in The new century also witnessed a change on the British hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Gandhi, was held at Marai- 1909 accordance with the Indian Coinage Act that came into force from April Musings to play a greater role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and its Nungambakkam. This is one of monarchy. Following the death of his mother Queen Madras Musings for the year 2011-12. environment. We therefore look forward to your sending us your contributions IN ADDITION malainagar, following which the Victoria, Edward VII was crowned as the King of the United Kingdom 1, 1957. The 19 mm 25 paise coins were called ’25 naye paise’. The term TO your subscriptions. Madras’s historic buildings G area developed rapidly as an in- ‘naye paise’ was used for wider public recognition of the new coinage As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a better city thanks to its origins that can be and also as the Emperor of India. All new coins issued during the time bore If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated support from those of you who dustrial estate. that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional traced to the 1790s, when it was his name and face. system and was discontinued from June 1, 1964 when the word ‘naye’ have already made contributions, and if many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will In this historic year, it would Rs...... not only be able to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue awareness- built by a Benjamin Roebuck. was dropped. The coins weighed 5 grams and were made of nickel. be good if the Congress thought (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me on your building exercises on on-going projects as well as undertake one or two more such exer- The home got its name when it mailing list. of unveiling plaques at the vari- cises. became the residence of a John ous locations that it met in Ma- Name : ...... Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION TO YOUR SUBSCRIP- Doveton, who had purchased it TIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscrip- dras, as a record for posterity. Address: ...... tion to Madras Musings for 2011-12 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the on his becoming a Lieutenant ...... causes Chennai Heritage espouses. General, from its owner Linghi Acknowledgements: How We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those newcomers who want to Chetty in 1837. John Doveton India Wrought for Freedom – By receive copies, sending in their subscriptions. had served as the guardian of Annie Besant. The Theosophi- Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas postage alone payable – The Editor to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. Tippu Sultan’s two sons who cal Publishing House, Adyar, were taken into custody by Lord 1915. (Continued on page 8) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2011