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Vol. XXIII No. 2 MUSINGS May 1-15, 2013 How (NOT) to protect City’s heritage

(By The Editor)

he workings of the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) Tunder the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) are shrouded in mystery. But what is quite clear is that the speed at which it works is better suited to the era in which the buildings it is meant to protect were constructed. And in the pro- cess of grinding slowly, its wheels are letting several opportunities slip. Given the pace of its working, it is open to question as to whether the HCC seriously intends protecting any heritage struc- Because hot idli with sambar is available for one rupee, all my regular donors have started giving me one rupee ture. instead of the usual five rupees! Take the listing of heritage buildings, for instance. Despite G the presence of a list put to- Where is the water? gether by INTACH (Oops! Who or what is that?), and a subsequent list put together by Rainwater harvesting a forgotten the Padmanabhan Committee, the HCC is once again in the process of listing buildings. The n an alarming repeat of what that followed and groundwater modus operandi of this exercise Ihappened in 2004 and several solution was recharged in most localities and the people involved in the years before that, the water sup- start, was recently closed for ing supplies to the city. But resi- in Chennai. process are top secrets. It is ex- ply in the city is vast depleting. further repairs. Further, dents in those areas have long However, that practice has actly three years (judgement Thanks to a poor monsoon last Andhra has not had a good since woken up to the dangers now fallen into disuse. Most was on April 29, 2010) since the year, an exploding population monsoon either and, so, copious of over-exploitation of ground- buildings are not ensuring that Hon’ble High Court of Madras and scant regard to water bod- supplies, if they were ever that, water. In several localities, soak pits and drain chutes are mandated the formation of the ies in the city, Chennai is facing cannot be hoped for. The neighbourhood vigilance kept clear to divert rainwater to HCC. And at the end of this the prospect of a parched sum- Veeranam tank which supplies squads have been formed to underground sumps. It is doubt- period, all that the HCC has to mer and even a few months af- water to Chennai, especially to prevent water tankers from ac- ful whether buildings that were show is a first list of 70 buildings ter that, at least till the next industries, dipped to 3 per cent cessing wells. However, the constructed after 2007 have and a promise of a second list monsoon. And hopefully that of its total storage capacity as same awareness has not come even implemented rainwater ‘quite soon’. Even the first list should be a bountiful one. early as February this year. That about in the matter of deep harvesting. Certainly, the has not been made public (State What is ironic is that Govern- CMDA and Corporation au- secret, you see) and we only ment is not following up on its thorities are not attending to have vague rumours of the own excellent scheme – rainwa- G by A Special Correspondent this with the diligence that it buildings that have made it to ter harvesting. requires. Public structures, such that list. It would be relevant to The combined storage level as flyovers and bridges, certainly pause and ponder over the fact at the four reservoirs of the city necessitated reduction in borewells. Most housing devel- do not have any such scheme in that the Padmanabhan Com- – Chembarambakkam, Chola- Metrowater’s daily supplies to opments are merrily indulging place as is evident from the way mittee list and INTACH’s list varam, Poondi and Red Hills – the city, especially to commer- in this with scant regard for the run-offs simply stagnate at ei- had 400 and more buildings now stands at 3.4 tmc ft, cial consumers. The situation future. ther end. enumerated. roughly half of what it was at has since improved but officials Which brings us to the ques- Given the way the city is ex- And what after the first and the same time last year. With termed the situation as precari- tion of rainwater harvesting. panding, conserving rainwater second lists are finalised in the Chennai needing 1 tmc ft of ous when it came to continued Why is the Government re- appears to be the only long- fullness of time, at the appropri- water each month, this is ex- supplies from this tank. maining silent on this? In 2004, term solution. And considering ate juncture and when the mo- pected to last till July end. What That leaves the wells in the it was this same regime in power that we were lucky to have nine ment is ripe, to quote from a after that? mofussil. These were dug in that made a determined and bountiful monsoons since the British sitcom when lampooned The authorities are, as usual, 2003/4 at Neyveli, Poondi, highly commendable effort to last drought, we ought to have that country’s bureaucracy? trotting out a list of alternatives Tamaraipakkam and Minjur get rainwater harvesting imple- managed better. So can we The HCC proposes to write to – Krishna water, Veeranam and supply 40 million litres to mented in every building. The please get back to basics and the owners. The last time these supply, and tankers that draw the city. These have, at best, a Chief Minister appealed to citi- implement what was a very suc- people heard from the HCC was water from mofussil areas. None marginal influence on the wa- zens through the electronic me- cessful scheme and which is re- three years ago when, following of these is going to be easy. The ter situation. Private tankers dia and it paid rich dividends. quired even more now than first, plagued as it has been with have been drawing water from The Kapaleeswarar Temple when it was first thought of in (Continued on page 7) maintenance issues from the wells in the suburbs and effect- tank filled up in the monsoons 2004? CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS May 1-15, 2013 Our buses – with a Footfalls in City malls he Man from Madras to the interiors of malls for “Two people play the T Musings is not much of a their constitutionals. The game...” began the voice some- mall rat but he cannot say he watch-and-ward staff does what condescendingly at avoids them. And when he recognise these regulars but which juncture MMM said licence to kill visits them, he does take to can do nothing about it for, af- rather coldly that he knew his t has been pointed out that the Metropolitan Transport Corpo- musing on malls. What always ter all, malls are public places chess. Iration, Chennai, has the smallest fleet of buses among the In- impresses MMM is the vast and, who knows, one of the “The audience is likely to dian metros, yet it has the dubious record of more fatal bus acci- number of people in these walkers could buy a thing or run into lakhs,” said the voice. places, walking about the two. Somehow MMM is more MMM then asked as to what dents than those in any other metro. Chennai’s MTC fleet of 3622 corridors, going up and down in sympathy with these walkers buses accounted for 104 deaths in 2012. has the best was the best place in the city the escalators and, sometimes, than with the shopkeepers. that could host such numbers. record, its 4607-strong fleet of buses accounting for only 26 deaths the stairways as well. They in that year. Bengaluru has the largest fleet of 6437 buses and ac- remind MMM of railway So, are malls on the way “A stadium,” came the counted for 83 deaths in 2012. stations. But looking inside the out? Not so, as MMM learns. reply. It has long been pointed out that vehicle manufacturers have a shops themselves, MMM There are giant variants com- MMM rested his case and role in ensuring road safety. In the 1960s, consumer activist Ralph cannot but help notice that the ing up in the suburbs, the kinds the telephone receiver. The Nader proceeded against the three giant auto manufacturers of the silence is more like as what where a person can spend an next day, the same newspaper US for their vehicles being unsafe at any speed. His relentless cam- could be expected in a church. entire day without realising it. carried a photo of the resi- Those in the neighbourhood dence of a cement and horse- paign finally compelled the automobile producers to focus on And the atmosphere is akin to a church hosting a funeral ser- are hoping that these will be racing baron of the city and safety. Indian automobile manufacturers have not been focussing vice. complete before the schools claimed that it was an ancient in required measure on the vital aspect of road safety. close for the summer. What palace! So much for heritage It has been suggested in the past that buses in large cities should MMM made bold to ask a better place than a mall for and its awareness! shopkeeper or two about busi- be fitted with automatic transmissions; the strain on bus drivers in your child to spend its vacation Another caller wanted to such cities is mainly due to the need for frequently engaging the ness and the answer was that it in? Plenty of space, free light- was dull. Then what of the know if MMM could sum up clutch and brake pedals and shifting gears when driving vehicles ing and air-conditioning – and in five minutes all that he footfalls, asked MMM. Oh, complete security as well. on congested roads over long distances in the cities. Added to this that; they all come to enjoy the knew of the Indo-Saracenic discomfort is the location of the engine by the side of the driver’s Chennai has given the mall a style. A third made bold to ask air-conditioning, said one of new meaning though it is not seat. Just imagine the driver’s plight in a bus plying for two hours the disgruntled storeowners. if it was OK with MMM if the the same as what the investors caller sent in a questionnaire from Ayyappanthangal to Parrys! At most, some go to the the- and tenants envisaged. With the speeds of buses and heavy vehicles in the metro meant atres and a few others to the which MMM could fill and to be no more than 40 km per hour, there is the need for speed governors that will ensure this. This has yet to be done, and so

G by S. Viswanathan drivers are free to drive at any speed they wish. brought SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY down bus accident fatalities to 68 in 2012 after it introduced speed governors. Chennai metropolis suffers from yet another behavioural issue. Political parties, Government employees and groups of communi- food court. But the vast major- mail back in twenty minutes so ties regularly organise protests on various issues. The number of ity prefers to walk up and Chennai’s palaces that the caller could meet a protests in was 15,746 in 2012 against Maharashtra’s down the common areas. deadline on heritage. MMM 8289 and ’s 5013. Bus drivers are not exempted from MMM ought to wait till it was orld Heritage Day has could not help reflecting that protesting thus or being themselves victims of such protests. It is time for the daily power cut, Wcome and gone. The this was a cut-paste world. Man from Madras Musings was common knowledge that drivers of public transport vehicles are said one shopkeeper rather disgustedly, and then MMM asked the quotidian questions often a law unto themselves. Any stringent action taken by the and was left wondering if heri- Emu empathy police on gross violations has been met with instant dislocation of could see consumer behaviour tage has to necessarily be por- he flightless bird of Aus- traffic by haphazard parking of vehicles. The politically strong at its best. And so MMM tar- ried a while. trayed as boring and dull. Ttralian origin (three lett- labour unions also make it difficult for the police to issue a ticket to MMM perked up, however, at ers) is back on the radar of The a bus driver, or even to a driver of an auto-rickshaw, for a traffic At the stroke of the ap- the more than usually daft Man from Madras Musings. violation. The Traffic Department has to stop treating these kill- pointed hour, there was a queries and is still chuckling MMM’s regulars will recollect ers-on-the-road with kid gloves. marked increase in the num- over a couple. that there were two. Now ber of people in the mall. And Yet another cause for the worrying number of deaths on our A young reporter from one there is only one and, if mat- they did not look like shop- ters proceed the way they are roads relates to corruption and the role of speed money in getting pers. Apparently they were all of Chennai’s newspapers driving licences. In the film Indian, director Shankar graphically called up to find out if MMM now, soon there will be none. from the residences and offices And that may perhaps be a depicted the scenario in regional transport offices. He had clearly in the neighbourhood, at least knew that the World Chess Championships were due to be better fate for the bird than and truly hit the nail on the head. While fitness certificates and those that did not have genera- what it is going through now. licences are often issued without prescribed examinations, dozens tors or inverters. A couple of held in the city. MMM of driving schools have mushroomed all over the State making it grandmothers settled down informed her that he did. The emu has a habit of Whereupon the caller asked possible to obtain driving licences without the stipulated tests. comfortably on a bench, hav- breaking free and running in MMM if it was not rather dull the middle of traffic. The ow- The Centre has streamlined the issue of passport by taking re- ing let loose several children to play on the escalators. Men of the authorities to host the ner charges after it on a course to information technology. The involvement of TCS has event at some stadium or the scooter and tries to control it helped eliminate corruption and abuse in quick time. The Tamil with laptops moved into a coffee shop and occupied a other. Where else could, these with a stick. The poor bird, Nadu Government will do well to invite likewise a corporate house table. Those behind the be held, wondered MMM. crazed by the noise and the of repute to handle the job of issuing driving licences under gov- counter showed no enthusi- “Why, Sir, why not one of the vehicles, runs helter-skelter ernment oversight. asm. On enquiring, MMM palaces in the city?” came the and is beaten by passers-by I would like to stress once again the role of vehicle manufactur- found that the customers or- bright answer. and pushed around by the ers. I had suggested earlier that this prosperous segment account- dered the cheapest items on “And how many palaces cars. This has become a daily ing for a significant share of the GDP should play a more positive the menu, shared it among can you think of?” asked drama on MMM’s regular role in societal concerns on road safety. It should be possible for themselves, and sat at the MMM. beat. It is only a question of place for a full two hours. time before the bird gets in- the large oil companies and manufacturers of vehicles and compo- “Er... none, but we thought volved in a crash. nents to set up driving schools in each one of the 600-odd districts But surely things ought to you would know. And it would MMM’s heart goes out to and assist the State Governments in this vital task. Large auto com- improve by evening, thought make a column for our paper.” panies like BMW in Germany have been actively involved in as- MMM. But that was not the the creature. It has been up- case, said the shopkeepers. MMM said he could think rooted from its native sur- sisting cities in traffic engineering and planning. Similarly, large roundings and brought to an auto companies in Tamil Nadu should take care of such tasks in For, the walking brigade then of none too, but loath to let go takes over. What with there of what promised to be mate- alien land where it is being metros and cities near which they produce their vehicles. rial for this column, he asked treated cruelly. Is this what Equally important, we should place cameras on our roads that being no footpaths or walking spaces in the city, several the caller as to how many globalisation is all about? will capture violations. Such violations should be met with puni- evening walkers have turned people were expected. tive action with no leeway for anyone to interfere with the process. – MMM This has worked well abroad. It will work well in India also. (Cour- tesy: Industrial Economist) May 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

Clarity from the Finance Ministry

A reader from Chennai 600 028 writes: Here is a recent Service Tax Notification. I think the beauty of the language needs to be seen by all. (He refers to the introductory paragraph quoted below). A way to decongest A herbal solution Government of India ment, being satisfied that it is necessary in the ‘ Ministry of Finance public interest so to do, hereby exempts the tax- hennai is divided by three hile the Corporation (Department of Revenue) able service of the description specified in col- waterways, the Adyar, Notification No.26/2012 – Service Tax umn (2) of the Table below, from so much of C W is tackling the ‘Mosquito the service tax leviable thereon under section Cooum and the Buckingham buzz’ (MM, April 1st), Govern- New Delhi, June 20, 2012 Canal, and by the train track 66B of the said Act, as is in excess of the service ment should also ban anti- G.S.R…(E) – In exercise of the powers tax calculated on a value which is equivalent to from Chengalpattu to North mosquito creams, coils and a percentage specified in the corresponding en- Chennai and Arakkonam, with conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 93 of sprays of chemical origin. They the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994) (hereinaf- try in column (3) of the said Table, of the limited crossovers by bridges contain nothing but harmful ter referred to as the said Act), and in superses- amount charged by such service provider for and subways. chemicals like ‘Allethrin sion of notification number 13/2012 – Service providing the said taxable service, unless speci- 1. The number of bridges and compound’. Tax, dated 17th March, 2012, published in the fied otherwise, subject to the relevant conditions subways should be increased Gazette of India. Extraordinary, Part II, Section specified in the corresponding entry in column In this connection, I recall a (4) of the said Table, namely:-... for easier cross-over of these 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 211 (E), herbal combination which divides. Most of the subways dated 17th March, 2012, the Central Govern- ‘ proved successful with 99% are choked at peak hours at result at Loyola College in present. EDITOR’S NOTE: Any wonder everyone who has to pay Service Tax curses the confusion it 2002. The Biotechnology causes him or her. Such gobbledygook can only ensure that confusion is worse confounded. 2. Many countries have sepa- Department of the College rate roads for two-wheelers. conducted experiments in We can have one for two- its lab using the leaves of Heritage Day (April 18th). (Go and three-wheelers along the two trees – the Ashoka to https://www.facebook.com/ banks of the rivers which (Polyalthia longifolia) and groups/cyclingyogis/?fref=ts) cover most areas of Chennai. Velikathan (Prosophis juliflora) Snakes and men 3. These roads can be of 12 feet – and offered the resultant The yogi is a young width on either side of the product to the Corporation. man called Ramanujar Mou- he counselling on snakes (MM, April 16th) reminded river banks and could be Since there was no lana. And I appreciate his Tme that while I was in Kadapa, in charge of a public connected by causeways response and support extended effort because it comes from sector organisation that occupied several acres of land where (roads made over Hume from the civic body, it within and it celebrates our its offices, quarters, etc. were located for several years, a heritage. pipes…this will do as for was dropped by the Loyola corner of the land was a home for snakes. I was terribly sad- most of the year our rivers team headed by Prof. S. I am hoping the Cycling Yogi group organises more such tours dened to see their home razed when I returned after a day’s are dry) at adequate inter- Vincent. tour. This resulted in the following outpouring by me: vals. This will help people to of the city and keeps the idea travel from one end to other K. Ramadoss going. Another group bent on Snakes and men, nature’s creation without going on the main 4/1, P.E. Koil West Mada Street exploring the city and its heri- roads. Ayanavaram tage is Sowmya Swaminathan Nothing created sans purpose of action Chennai 600 023 & Co., active on Chennai All to coexist with mutual appreciation This model has been suc- Bloggers Club. Alas! Many work for mutual destruction! cessfully implemented in It is 39 degrees alright, Madurai along the Vailgai River Exploring the city but holidays are the best time Survival of the fittest, law of Nature and has been in use for more incent D’Souza writes: A to explore this city. Do it in Not for humans to make it a structure than two decades. tour of Mount Road was small groups. If you want tips, V To help each other and start nurture T. Sekkilar recently organised by Cycling mail me at: Sure paves the path for glorious future! [email protected] Yogi on the occasion of World [email protected] Pity it is to see the stronger Sit in judgement over the weaker READABILITY Brutal strength makes the other poorer CHENNAI HERITAGE Keeps lives in agony and destroys altogether! No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, PLEASE Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Dear Readers, Man and serpent, wonders of creation Funny it is both in constant fears I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / As letters from readers Trying to provoke the other’s extinction I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it increase, we are receiving more Stronger is the man , puts snakes in tears! hereafter. and more hand written letters, G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 many of them in a hand so small Lovely serpent made molehill its home (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, and illegible or large and Made its young ones sleep in foam MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year scrawled as to be unreadable. Taught its toddling prey and roam 2013-14. Often this leads to our Fell the evil eyes right on this zone! G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment discarding a letter, particularly if and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai some part of it is unreadable. Fear and panic razed the molehill to the ground Heritage an additional Rs...... If you wish us to consider your Parent snakes on return from their round (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me letter for publication, please type To their horror and sorrow razed home they found on your mailing list. it with enough space between And dead were their offspring with misery around! Name : ...... lines or write it using a medium Living in harmony all with nature ...... hand, clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. Peaceful coexistence high in stature Address: ...... Many readers also try to fill All living and let living without torture ...... every square centimetre of a How to ensure for a glorious future! ...... postcard space, making reading or editing impossible. Please N.V. Subbaraman ...... help us to consider your letters 12/1045, Jeevan Bhima Nagar Chennai 600 101 Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for over- more favourably by making seas postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers them more legible for us. Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. EDITOR’S NOTE: Maybe not great poetry as such, but they are sentiments certainly worth recording. DD/Cheque should be sent by Speed Post only. – THE EDITOR 4 MADRAS MUSINGS May 1-15, 2013 May 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 A jolly good time with Lord Connemara’s sponsorship pecadilloes n 2012-2013, season from other states in various tour- Sanmar Group’s cricketing Ihas been a triumphant one for naments around the country. growth commenced in 1982 date has been fixed for What happened next is best the Sanmar Group, for the The sheer professional when former Test stumper “A the hearing of the suit for given in Lady Jersey’s own words Chemplast cricket team won a approach of the players ensures Bharath Reddy joined the divorce brought by Lady (Fifty One Years of Victorian Life): major national level title when it that no competition is taken Company. The team’s fortunes Connemara against her husband, “Shortly after our arrival, Lady defeated India Cements team to lightly. The skills of the players soared and the number of Lord Connemara, Governor of Connemara, who had been stay- win the BCCI (Board of Control have made Jolly Rovers the trophies it won increased. Reddy Madras,” reported the Tarar- ing at Ootacamund, arrived at for Cricket in India) all-India champion in all types of cricket – was quick to sense the changing algon Record of Victoria, Austra- Government House, accompanied Corporate Trophy. And Sanmar- “instant cricket”, like the Hindu face of the game. It was no more lia, on March 1, 1890. By then, by the doctor and one of the sponsored Jolly Rovers beat Vijay Trophy and the Calcutta T-20 a genteel game played in a lei- ‘The Connemara Divorce’ had staff. The following day she mi- CC to win in the TNCA first di- tournament, the senior division surely way on weekends. Crick- become a permanent headline grated to an hotel just as a large vision league for the Palayam- league games which have been eters were now required to be From left to right: Vijay Sankar, N. Sankar and N. Kumar who ensure trophy- story in most newspapers across dinner party was arriving and we patti Shield for the 17th time. played over one, two and three professional in their attitude, winning is part of the Sanmar-Jolly Rovers’ DNA. the world. Who would have had to conceal her absence on imagined that what was once the plea of indisposition.” News- In Chennai, business houses days, and various competitions willing to play every day – if need ture, we have the best coaches, Saad bin Jung, a talented considered a brilliant match paper reports had it that Lady and banks have played a major like the Buchi Babu Trophy, be – for a price. Reddy roped in trainers, net practice and train- cricketer of yesteryears, now would come to this? Connemara had drawn up a pa- role in supporting the game by ing facilities, including different writes regularly on cricket. K.S. Narayanan. Born on June 11, 1827 as the per listing out her demands as offering stable careers and types of and bowling ma- He says: The Sanmar Group’s third son of the 5th Earl of Mayo, preconditions for her staying on excellent facilities to cricketers, matches the Sanmar teams chines. When I come across a undying love for sport has seen the Hon. Robert Bourke quali- in Government House. When but Sanmar has been the only played in the 1960s, as were his Winning record good prospect, I invite him to our it achieve many accolades. This fied in law and had a successful Lord Connemara refused, she corporate group in India to con- sons Sankar and Kumar in later nets and take a good look at him has been possible because the career as a barrister. In 1863, he had no option but to move, Sur- sistently promote cricket and years. Trophy/Tournament Titles won for a couple of days. Once I find Group has recognised young married Lady Susan Georgiana geon Major Briggs arranging her cricketers for well nigh fifty years, And KSN not only had the Palayampatti Shield 17 (5 times in a row from 2000-2006) him good, I turn him over to our talent and invested both Broun-Ramsay, eldest daughter accommodation at the hotel and starting with Jai Hind CC and knack of talent-spotting, but was VAP Trophy 5 (in 8 years) physio Shyam Sundar – one of time and money in it on a timely of the 1st Marquess of Dalhousie helping her to shift. Jolly Rovers in the 1960s. Besides a great motivator of men as well. Moin-ud-Dowla Trophy 6 the best in the country – who basis. For many decades now, the who, when Governor-General of Jolly Rovers, Alwarpet Cricket He would personally bring play- KSCA Trophy 3 analyses the player’s physique Group has established a system The Quinns having left for India, had applied the doctrine Club is the second team at ers Gunn & Moore, Gray Nicolls Corporate Trophy (BCCI) 1 ( February 2013) and then hands him to our that scouts for talent and absorbs England, Lord Connemara had of lapse with ruthless efficiency. present supported by Sanmar, as- or Autograph bats (the best Hindu Trophy (MCA) 8 trainer Dhanasekharan, again it in its embrace, moulding to request the Jerseys to stay back She was also the grand-daughter suring some 40 cricketers and known brands then, not easily Corporate Trophy (MCA) 1 one of the best in the country. it with the best of cricket so that Lady Jersey could help in of the Marquis of Tweeddale support staff of the opportunity available in India) from abroad. Buchi Babu Trophy 3 Our cricket coach Jaykumar is support in the form of a profes- taking care of the house guests. who was Governor of Madras in to fulfil their professional career Sanmar Group has also en- Canara Bank Centenary 1 responsible for the development sionally managed team and Among them were Sir Harry 1842-48. The Hon. Robert Lord Connemara ambitions. And from the two sured that the players enjoy the Calcutta T20 Tournament 1 of our recruits into fine cricket- excellent back-up support both Prendergast of Baroda and his Bourke’s elder brother, the 6th clubs, there emerges the best facilities. With its lush green YSCA Trophy 2 ers. Test opener M. Vijay is one on the field and off it. One has to tireless traveller, going up and position,” went an analysis in the daughters. The absence of Lady Earl of Mayo, would also become Chemplast team. outfield and a red-bricked En- Arlem Trophy 2 such player.” only visit the IIT-Sanmar down the vast Presidency repeat- New York World (28.11.1890), Connemara was concealed so Viceroy and Governor-General For Sanmar, cricket has been glish village type pavilion, the * * * cricket ground to see the great edly, his faithful secretary (later “he began a career of moral licen- skilfully that most thought she Sanmar’s Tamil Nadu cricketers who have played for Indias of India in 1869, only to fall vic- a way of life since the time the IIT-Sanmar ground is Chennai K. Balaji of Kasturi & Sons facilities provided by the Group. Sir) J.D. Rees in tow. tiousness that was the scandal of was ill and confined to her tim to an assassin’s knife in the late Chairman Emeritus K.S. cricket’s pride. B. Arun; Bharath Reddy; V.B. Chandrasekar; Hemang and a former It is a showpiece and arguably But there were whispers that the little Governmental court, to rooms. Fortunately, as Lady Jer- Andamans. Narayanan (KSN) was instru- * * * Badani; S. Ramesh; Robin Singh; T.A. Sekar; T.E. player writes: The string of tro- one of the best grounds in India. all was not well in Government the disgrace of English represen- sey recollected, the servants Robert Bourke entered the mental in India Cements taking Partab Ramchand adds: Srinivasan; Sujith Somasundar; L. Sivaramakrishnan; S. phies and titles under the Jolly It offers four practice wickets and House. Lady Connemara, it was tation.” Whatever that meant, knew no English and did not House of Commons in 1868 as a Jolly Rovers under its wing in the There can be little doubt that Venkatraghavan; L. Balaj; K.K. ; S. Rovers or Chemplast banner – six centre tracks offering varied rumoured, had not taken well to Lady Connemara was not so communicate with the guests. Conservative member. He was 1966-67 season of the Tamil over the last half a century Jolly Badrinath; R. Ashwin; and Murali Vijay. the most recent being the BCCI playing surfaces. India. She complained of the much bothered with it as she was appointed Under Secretary of Nadu Cricket Association league Rovers has been the dominant Corporate Trophy earlier this mosquitoes and the heat. Above with his Lordship’s closeness to Eight days and several implor- Even State for Foreign Affairs in 1874 after S. Rangarajan of The Hindu side in Tamil Nadu cricket. year – won in different formats of all, she could rarely sleep with- Lady Eva. ing letters later, Lady Conne- remarked on the ground, “The when Benjamin Disraeli became founded it. Jolly Rovers won the Think of Tamil Nadu cricket and KSCA Trophy and Moin-ud- the best players, offering them the game and in diverse out the help of sleeping draughts. Matters came to a head in mara returned. But it was only quality and atmosphere of the Prime Minister for the second first division league that same inevitably the name that springs Dowla which are played over terms, incentives and allowances conditions make for an impres- Even before leaving England, her 1888, when the Connemaras re- for a brief while. During her stay Sanmar cricket ground are excel- time. He relinquished the post in season. to mind is Jolly Rovers, the most three days. that could not have been dreamt sive record. The statistics quite health was not good. Indeed it tired to Ootacamund for the hot in Government House, she discov- lent. I enjoyed playing in the 1880 only to be reappointed in KSN was the one who pio- feared and respected opponents What makes Jolly Rovers the of a decade earlier. clearly show how successful Jolly had never been the same since weather. Lady Connemara in- ered the true nature of her ill- ground nestling in the sylvan IIT 1885 when the Lord Salisbury neered the idea of scouting for in Chennai that was Madras. most attractive team for Sanmar’s has been a unique Rovers has been as a cricket club. the time when, shortly after mar- ness. Her condition, Dr Briggs Campus.” And Sir Richard administration was sworn in. talent from outside the State. Moreover, they have held aloft promising youngsters? By far the model of sports patronage with They don’t, however, reveal the riage, Lord Connemara had explained, was of a nature that Hadlee added, “The IIT-Sanmar The next year he was made Gov- G KSN was himself a constant the banner of Tamil Nadu when most important reason has been many sides to it. It helps young role the club has played over the come down with ulceration in his By Sriram V. could have been transmitted Ground is an outstanding one, ernor of Madras. It was generally and inspiring presence in the battling it out with top teams the sponsorship of the parent cricketers through school and decades in improving the lot of mouth. She soon suffered from only by a wayward husband who the pitches and pavilion can believed that this was a step in company, be it India Cements, college, conducts tournaments the humble Madras/Chennai the same complaint and contem- was infected himself. That de- compare with the best any- the direction of greater things. Chemplast or the Sanmar for them and provides adult league cricketer. plated going to the Continent for sisted that Lady Eva could not be cided Lady Connemara. It was where.” Arriving in Madras, the Hon Group. Over three generations cricketers employment or profes- Under the late K.S. Naraya- a cure when her husband a guest at any of the gubernato- back to the hotel and from there Robert Bourke proved to be a from K.S. Narayanan to N. sional cricket contracts. The re- nan and his son N. Sankar, the Cricket contracts, employ- brought her a medicine that rial houses and, so, was lodged in to England in March 1889. Sankar and N. Kumar to Vijay sult is a steady stream of talented hard worker. He personally over- helped her recover. But she had Coonoor. The Quinns decided it status of the club cricketer had ment, good cricket grounds, an Left behind, Lord Connemara Sankar, the Company has been recruits. saw famine relief measures in remained sickly ever since. was time to return to England, risen from that of a mere excellent pavilion, comfortable continued with what was consid- DakshinaChitra workshops June 22: Paper quilling or paper fortunate to have people at the * * * Ganjam, lobbied with the Gov- At Government House, the and Capt. Quinn resigned his For adults company employee to that of a dressing rooms and trophies are ered by The Madras Mail to be a filigree art (8-14 years) helm whose interest in sport is One man has been respon- ernment in England to extend duties of the hostess were more commission. In October the May 10-12: Rajasthani miniature valuable resource. What set him synonymous with a dedicated set “bright epoch in the annals of To register contact Lakshmi, intense and who have had a far- sible over the last three decades the Madras Railway along the or less taken over by Lady Eva Governor’s household moved painting – advanced (16+years) apart from the other patrons of of people sharing the same British administration.” The 98417 77779) sighted approach. Moreover they for translating the top manage- east coast up to Waltair and in- Quinn, Lord Connemara’s niece. back to Madras, Lady Conne- May 18,19,25: Terracotta jewellery- the sport was the professionalism vision, making it a challenge in foundation stone for the Madras have kept pace with changing ment’s cricketing agenda into terested himself in civic works in She was married to mara remaining in Ooty, tended making and firing (15+years) Till May 6: Paintings by Pare- and consistency that KSN and their busy schedules to firstly High Court was laid in 1889 and, May 25, 26: Table mat weaving – 6 times. action: Bharath Reddy, former the city. The drainage of George Quinn of the 17th Lancers, who by Surgeon Major Briggs. Back in meshwar (at DakshinaChitra). Sankar brought to seeking out hiring people of similar vision a year later, work commenced on mats or 1 runner (15+years) Town was a pet project. In 1887, May 9-13: Kaivinay: an inhouse Aware of the importance of India wicketkeeper and Jolly cricketing talent and nurturing and then combining the united had been appointed ADC to the Madras, Lord Connemara, over- June 8, 9: Lac handicraft-pendants, the Connemara Public Library. exhibition. The museum turf wickets the Sanmar Group Rovers’ captain who, as a vice- knowledge and efforts of each the year he was made Baron Governor. It was said that Lady looking his promise to his wife, earrings, bangles (18+) it. In accomplishing this, Sankar Shortly thereafter, a market in collection at DakshinaChitra was the first to sponsor a pitch – president in Chemplast, over- individual to ensure that the Connemara, he took the unprec- Connemara, rather than being permitted Lady Eva to spend her For children found Bharath Reddy a reliable Chintadripet was named after offers a glimpse into an era when at the University Union ground sees cricket affairs in Sanmar. edented step of entertaining at grateful to Lady Eva for helping last few days in India in May 9-11: Residential camp for folk “lieutenant” with a keen eye for company achieves harmony and the Governor. But the storm even the most mundane of house- – in the 1980s. But its most Bharath says, “My job is to Government House the delegates her out, felt that her official posi- Government House. He needed a dance – thappattam (all) talent-spotting. A great many perfection – not perfection in the hold objects such as combs, foot of the Indian National Congress, clouds were gathering for, in May 18: Card modelling – miniature important contribution in this spot talent, and I think I have a Chennai cricketers owe a great winning trophies sense but tion was being taken over by the woman there anyway, for the scrubs, coconut scrubs, spoons then holding their annual session early 1890, Lady Connemara, house (8-12 years) aspect has been the scenic good eye for it, and make all the deal to Bharath for the opportu- perfection in playing the game in younger woman. She suspected house was overflowing with etc. were aesthetically crafted in Madras. The papers of the much against the wishes of her May 25: Intro to Kalari – martial art ground at the IIT that has best facilities available for its nities that Jolly Rovers (and, as the true spirit of the game her husband of taking an undue guests, several being members of ‘wonders of the hands’. time praised the Governor for his family and Queen Victoria, filed of Kerala (10-14 years) earned praise from international growth and development. a consequence, other clubs) sense. The trophies would come interest in Lady Eva. There were the British aristocracy, among tact, kindliness, industry and for divorce. June 1: Kirigami – a type of origami June 5-16: Paintings by Rupak cricketers. Thanks to Sanmar’s readiness to presented them. later. And they have been other rumours as well. “Losing them the Earl and Countess of (8-14 years) Munje (at DakshinaChitra). caution. He was known to be a A significant phase in the invest in our cricket infrastruc- * * * coming. his head with the greatness of his Jersey. (To be concluded) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS May 1-15, 2013 Living with nature (Current Affairs questions are from the period April 1st to G This is the first of three 15th. Questions 11 to 20 per- parts and reproduces the tain to Chennai and Tamil opening chapter of a book Nadu.) titled Footsteps through the 1. In which neighbouring coun- salad on the wildlife of When Pondicherry try of India did private newspa- Auroville by longtime pers come back into circulation after a gap of 49 years? Aurovillian Tim Wrey. For 2. On April 3rd, President Pranab more information e-mail exported leeches [email protected] Mukherjee signed the Bill which he word ‘leech’ derived gical treatment of periorbital city of leeches in Western Eu- gives India a strong anti-rape law. When I first came to Auroville from the Anglo-Saxonic haematoma and in diverse rope. Therefore, leech har- What is the name of the Bill? T with my family in 1973 we spent term loece, means ‘to heal’. plastic surgeries. The cream vesting became a paying activ- 3. What is so special about the Physicians of the 5th-11th cen- marketed as Hirudoid™ is a ity at the time. material Carbon Aerogel, pro- five weeks living in a dilapi- dated, semi-open thatched hut tury England were known as synthetic product that mimics Warm shallow water stands duced by scientists at China’s ‘leeches’, the book of medicine the anticoagulating principle in peninsular India had a Zhejiang University and an- in the horticultural nursery. Be- was leechdom and the practice of the leech (hence ‘Hirud- ‘plentiful’ stock of leeches. nounced on April 3rd? ing two adults and two children, of medicine was leechcraft oid’). Leech saliva inhibits People waded through leech- 4. Name the Prime Minister of it felt quite crowded, but we (see Anglo-Saxon leechcraft: an platelet aggregation, which is infested waters and collected the United Kingdom, the only soon discovered that we were historical sketch of early English induced by collagen, ADP, them. Pharmacists in woman to hold the post, who also sharing it with numerous medicine, American Medical and epinephrine. Mauritius ¯ a French colony in th th passed away on April 8th. other occupants. Chief among Association, 1912, Burroughs As items of Materia the 18 and 19 Centuries 5. Name the TV series in which Wellcome & Co., New York). Medica, leeches were dis- imported leeches from them were some 18 toads, who Practitioners of comple- pensed in dispensaries and Pondicherry. Random issues Sachin Tendulkar is to make his lived under the kitchen cup- debut in an animated avatar. mentary and alternative medi- sold by apothecaries (= phar- of the Mauritian newspaper board and in various other cool cine use the live-leech therapy macies) in the 19th Century to Journal de l’Ile Maurice pub- 6. Who is the latest recipient of to manage pain. Besides tradi- physicians and patients. The lished between 1833 and 1872 the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke spots around the house. tional medical practices fol- species most commonly used included catchy advertise- Award? When we first moved in, we decided to ‘shoo’ them all out, lowed in Greece and Arabia, ments placed by pharmacists 7. The Supreme Court has al- the Indian medical system also in Mauritius offering medici- lowed the translocation of Asiatic and with a concerted effort we uses leeches in their medical nal leeches imported from lions from Gujarat’s Gir Forest to almost succeeded; but as we management. Phlebotomy, i.e. Pondicherry at competitive which sanctuary in Madhya scrabbled about trying to get draining blood from human prices. Pradesh? the last three or four to leave, body in a controlled manner, Pondicherry was a major 8. At which famous annual sport- we turned round to only see the was a valid medical treatment exporter of leeches in the 19th ing event in the USA did a ter- first dozen or more hopping tactic in the Europe of the Century. Sadly, no further de- rorist attack leave three dead and back in again! Twice we tried, 1800s. Several bloodletting tails are available about who more than 280 injured? techniques existed, but none dealt with the trade, and how and twice they all came back 9. Name the famed screen writer, was as efficient and painless as and from where in Pondi- one time resident of India and the within a space of 10 minutes. was the use of leeches. For cherry the leeches were pro- only person to have won both an Then we gave up, and settled treating any blood-coagulation cured. Increasing numbers of Academy Award and a Booker down to our first experience of disease, we today use Heparin people of Indian origin in Prize, who died recently. living in Auroville, i.e. living (or heparinoids, the synthetic Mauritius could be a factor for 10. Which eminent non-filmy with nature! equivalents of heparin). Be- leech import from Pondi- Briton received a BAFTA re- cause natural heparin was iso- Hirudinaria granulosa (Indian cherry to Mauritius. With the That hut was an unforget- lated from canine liver cells, it cattle leech) abolition of slavery in 1835, cently and was called ‘the most table introduction. Not only memorable Bond girl yet? derives its name as Heparin many Indian labourers moved was it full of toads at ground (‘hepar’ [Greek] = liver). Un- for bleeding was Hirudo to Mauritius, who may have medicinalis, indigenous to the * * * level, but the roof was a veri- til heparin came into use in taken with them the practice 11. What World Championship, the early 20th Century, leech streams and swamps of Cen- of (and the principles?) table wildlife park. Frogs hid in tral and Northern Europe, and with one of its players having the palm-leaf thatch, and therapy was popular. Ayurveda, which extensively Chennai connections, is to be Leech is a freshwater ani- known in commerce as the used leeches (Chapter 13, snakes went up there to find Swedish or German leech. In held in the city between Novem- mal, classed under the th Suœruta Œamhita, 200 BC) as ber 6th and 26th? them. A feeble cry from above Annelida. At one end of its the late 19 Century, Swedish a treatment strategy. leeches were sold in America th usually heralded the end of the worm-like body is a large Leeches were also, possi- 12. On April 15 , the Tamil for $5/100. The Hungarian Nadu Assembly adopted an frog, but the snakes weren’t al- sucker by which it attaches it- bly, exported to West Indies self to the ground, and at the leech (indigenous to Southern from Pondicherry, at least 15 unanimous resolution that the ways successful. Sometimes the Europe) and the American name of the modernised domes- frogs would escape by jumping other end it is a smaller years before the British ships sucker, in the middle of which leech, Hirudo decora, were also brought Indian emigrants. tic terminal II at Chennai Airport down onto our beds – on one used in leach therapy. be named after which former is a chitinous mouth with Which leech species were im- memorable occasion immedi- which it inflicts a triangular Phlebotomy was so com- ported into Mauritius from Chief Minister? mon in the 1800s that in 1833 13. After whom are the docks of ately followed by the snake, puncture on the animal (or Pondicherry is uncertain. In a which fell onto a mosquito net I human) it would feed on. alone France imported more high likelihood, it is the large, Chennai Harbour named? than 42 million leeches. By 14. Name the two species of di- was putting up. There was a fro- Leech saliva includes a natu- th aggressive cattle leeches Hiru- ral anticoagulant (hirudin). the end of the 19 Century, dinaria manillensis, which nosaurs that stand tall outside the zen moment of shocked con- Western Europe had ex- Children’s Museum in Egmore. frontation, before we each When a leech is attached to occur abundantly throughout mammalian skin, its action re- hausted its local stock of India. Hirudo granulosa (In- 15. Lord Connemara, once Gov- jumped back in opposite direc- pairs damaged veins. Once leeches (Hirudo medicinalis). dian cattle leech) was used by ernor of Madras, was the son-in- tions! normal vein flow is restored, Jean-Baptiste Sarlandière medical practitioners of 18th- law of which controversial Vice- (1787–1838), a French hu- In the world of that hut’s the leech can be removed. 19th Century Pondicherry. roy of India? Some surgeons, even today, man anatomist – physiologist 16. What is the modern, cor- thatched roof, these and mice devised a mechanical leech Dr. A. Raman were the big game species. But occasionally use leeches in rupted name of Deodi Sardar-ul- procedures, such as in the sur- (bdellomètre) because of pau- mulk Dilawar Jung Bahadur there were also many other found in Mylapore? creatures up there, from cock- 17. Which educational institu- roaches and lizards to ants and with Dietra, an American (Some years ago, I had 14 of and coming back to a semi- tion in Chennai began in 1912 spiders, plus termites by the woman living in the settlement them walk across my garden in a nightmare in my room. I didn’t under the name Madras Trades thousand. We had only to of Gratitude. She was brilliant single awesome parade!) know it at the time, but the School? touch the roof and the whole with injured and fledgling birds. Most of my memorable con- wooden beams had been pen- 18. Connect the Chennai structure ‘rattled’ with the Collectorate and the first advo- She also later did something else frontations with nature, except- etrated by termites, and it was cate from the fisherman commu- latter’s synchronous vibrations. wonderful for Auroville, which ing those in and around my own their mating-flight night! As I nity (who was also a founding When the time came for our was to introduce peacocks into residence, were in connection approached the room I couldn’t member of TUCS). departure after our five-week our environment after an initial with Gratitude where I lived make out what was causing the 19. Which of the five Taluks in stay, it was like saying goodbye intensive breeding programme while waiting for my own place heavy rustling sound I heard Chennai District has the most to a familiar zoo. using chickens as surrogate to be completed. I remember coming from within – until I number of villages in it? When I finally returned to mothers. Today they are seen all one evening, while there, going entered, and walked into a 20. What are TANTRANSCO live in Auroville in 1977, one of over Auroville, and are breeding out to a nearby communal din- cloud of fluttering insects, and TANGEDCO? the first friendships I made was successfully in the forested areas. ing facility for my evening meal, (Answers on page 8) (Continued on page 7) May 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

was an untypically small area of just under a thousand square Just who were the British miles it had a substantial Euro- pean population for well over a century, from 1820 to 1950. Several of the censuses make in India? this clear: in 1871, for example, the district held 1,339 Euro- he British in India formed a example, you could find high- on the other. And what Montessori, Sir Edward Arnold, peans, mainly British; in 1891 Tbroad subject the para- level police officers by the name emerges from a study of this one Mahatma Gandhi, Edward the number was 1,795; in 1911 meters of which may seem clear of Cunliffe in Madras and in the small hill district in South India Lear, Jiddu Krishnamurti, it had become 4,627; and in enough at first glance, but Punjab, but not elsewhere. Ev- is just how deeply Europeans of among many others. 1931 the figure was 3,246. which are in fact so multi-di- ery few years District Collectors all sorts became embedded in * * * Comparable figures for the Eur- mensional that it has been an were moved around from one Indian society in pre-Indepen- Who the British actually asians (as they were then academic area of interest in sev- city to another, and while all of dence times. They did not were is a slippery and rather un- called) or Anglo-Indians in eral quite distinct disciplines: them prior to 1947 would have abandon their Western culture, academic topic that has been these four census years were history certainly, but also an- been well-educated British their beliefs and biases, but did distorted in the minds of Indi- 796, 1,237, 1,333 and 1,628 re- thropology, literature, music, males of the upper middle class, modify their habits greatly as ans, Westerners, and television spectively. Taken together, and the histories of the visual in individual cases they could they adjusted to life in these producers alike, in favour of an their numbers were sufficient to arts too – architecture, paint- image of paternalistic and dis- support a depiction of the Eu- ing, photography and cinema. tant rulers belonging to what ropean class structure of what All have explored the complex G With ‘The trek to the Hills’ some of them thought was “a was indeed a stable, alien popu- relationships that have linked beginning, this three-part master race”. This was in pre- lation. the British with Indians over re- Independence days, of course. Ootacamund was not only cent centuries, through govern- feature by A Special Correspon- The view has been supported the largest of the five towns in ment, religion, scholarship, over the years by the practice of the Nilgiris (the others, in order writing, theatre, tourism, even dent looks at the Nilgiri Hills. hundreds of senior officials or of size, being Coonoor, Kotagiri, emigration and intermarriage. army officers writing their auto- Wellington and Gudalur), it There is no need to rehearse biographies or memoirs of their was also for some seventy years here the voluminously docu- time in India late in their lives. turn out to be Scottish or Irish, hills. The Encyclopaedia names the summer capital of the Ma- mented history of the relation- We know that the British were dras Presidency, and was in ship between two countries Methodist or Catholic, gradua- the individuals and outlines a society organised into social tes from Oxford or from Dublin; their lives to provide details of those months flush with offi- whose capitals lie some 4,200 classes with fairly rigid differen- cials of every stripe, from the miles apart. What this article in other words, competent the ordinary Europeans who tiations. However, while the people of rather diverse back- made their homes in the Nilgiri Governor on down. Ootaca- does try to do is to fill in some content as well as the status of mund thus came to be the home local details; for, as a general grounds pursuing what they Hills or who just came for a these classes, at least prior to took to be a useful and fruitful pleasant, extended stay during of upper administration ICS of- impression, we can say that “the 1939, was clear enough in Brit- ficers and retired military per- British in India” have been a so- life’s career. The Season in the mild climate ain itself, the situation in India The recent publication of here – and there were some not- sonnel. Coonoor was much cial category there for the past was much less clear, because of more the home of tradesmen couple of centuries without be- the Encyclopaedia of the Nilgiri so-ordinary Europeans too. At the contrast between the highly * (‘boxwallahs’) and planter soci- ing much tied down by time and Hills (Hockings, 2012 ) throws various times the hills were visible official ranks and the much light on the day-to-day home to the rather notorious ety. Kotagiri, which was always place. The point is that whether lower, unheralded, ordinary quiet and slightly more remote, the British went to India as sol- interactions between British of- soldier-adventurer Sir Richard British who lived in all parts of ficials, residents, planters and Burton who wrote his first book was the retreat of missionaries diers or as government servants, India as shopkeepers, railway and retired churchmen. Well- or just as family members of churchmen on the one hand, there; to Sir Neville Chamber- personnel, private soldiers, or and the panoply of castes, lain, uncle of a future British ington was a big military can- these men, they could be posted retirees. tonment. So geography fostered anywhere. A century ago, for tribes, and religious affiliations Prime Minister and the inven- If we focus on a single district tor of the game of snooker (at a sort of lateral ranking of the out in the mofussil (which is British residents. But behind the Ooty Club); to Johannes Hindi and Arabic for the boon- Hesse, the lacklustre evange- this lay a real class structure docks, I suppose), we would that was held together by lical father of the brilliant usually find, in the period of How (not) to protect Hermann Hesse; and to Sir agreed-up and long-held under- British hegemony, just one or standings about a person’s Ronald Ross, who discovered two dozen British people hold- here the link between the Plas- obligations and his or her posi- ing down a wide variety of pe- tion in society. City’s heritage modium parasite and malarial destrian jobs until they could mosquitoes that soon won him “go home” (as they fondly put (Continued from page 1) pense. If they cannot afford to the Nobel Prize in Medicine. it). Their numbers were so small *Encyclopaedia of the Nilgiri Hills. do so, then what? the directives of the Court, the And there were hundreds of that a picture of the class struc- (2 volumes. Edited by Paul HCC wrote to the owners of all Will the HCC, at least, help other well-known short-term ture in any one district would be Hockings. Manohar Publishers, the properties/precincts listed with technical advice on what visitors too: Madame Blavatsky, too uncertain to pontificate New Delhi. 2012.) as per the Padmanabhan Com- can be done? No, because that Pandit Nehru, Nikita Khrush- upon. Not so the Nilgiris Dis- mittee. They were restrained is not perceived to be its man- chev, Annie Besant, Madame trict, however, for while this (To be continued) from demolishing or making date. Peopled as it is by mem- any changes to their premises. bers who are all from the Gov- Now, it is learnt, the owners of ernment and its aided institu- the buildings featuring in the tions, there is complete confor- LIVING WITH NATURE HCC’s first list will be invited mity to the rulebook and a cer- for public consultations. What tain rigid adherence to proce- (Continued from page 6) over her house. The following huge ticks, engorged to bursting of the owners of the remaining dures that makes the very for- trapped inside by the screened morning my popularity rating point on the dog’s blood. It had mation of the HCC a self-de- buildings? They will, it is pre- windows. It took nearly was zero! generously left five of them, feating exercise. If at the end of sumed, sit tight and continue two hours to clear them all Dietra levelled scores with which seemed poor payment for three years all that there is to to wait for further instructions out. me not long after, however, the night’s lodging, but even as the structures in their show is a measly list of 70 build- through her dog. In a moment adequate repayment for the ings yet to be made public, Not long after I had moved possession gradually wither to my own place, I found that a of weakness I had let it share my snake eggs! away. Some, of course, are when are we likely to see any dozen small eggs in a pile of room after it turned up whim- Dietra also scored via a bound to rejoice, as the status constructive action that will re- builder’s sand being removed pering and drenched at my door young kite she had reared and quo helps those who are not in- sult in some positive protection of our heritage? Are we hoping from outside my house. I car- one night during a prolonged released, which used to swoop terested in preserving their heri- monsoon downpour. It smelled down on me and other unsus- tage structures. for too much? ried them down to Dietra for strongly of wet fur, but settled pecting visitors to grab objects That is not the end of the Further, a judgement of the her opinion. “Could be lizard quietly for the night. The next we were carrying. It was a spe- story. Those who own buildings Court called for the HCC to as- eggs,” she said, and then sug- featuring in the first list will be sess the buildings identified in gested I leave them with her to morning, after I had sent it on cial menace at the tennis categorically told that they can- the Padmanabhan Committee see if they would hatch. They its way, I was puzzled to see courts, where it delighted in not expect any support from the Report and advise on how these did that same night, but instead some small, grey, pebble-like sometimes catching lobbed balls Government for protecting are to be conserved and made of harmless lizards out popped objects on the floor, each nearly in mid-air and flying off with their heritage. This is expected places of tourist importance. 12 snakes, which then pro- a centimeter long. On closer them! (Courtesy: Sri Auro- to be done at the owners’ ex- What of that mandate? ceeded to escape and hide all examination I found they were bindo’s Action) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS May 1-15, 2013

G The second in a series of profiles by V. RAMNARAYAN of cricketers who may have made an all-time Madras* squad.

he bright spot of my school able of the pre-Independence Tyears in Chennai was my Madras team. school sending me to attend ‘Mr. Reliable’ whom Starting out as a quickish coaching camps at the Madras spin bowler in his youth days, Cricket Association’s BS Nets. Ram Singh developed “a I was lucky enough to come un- tantalising flight” in his mature der the benevolent gaze of A.G. India overlooked years. His accuracy was prover- Ram Singh and T.S. Worthing- bial and ‘never say die’ his phi- ton, two wonderful coaches. remember Ram Singh’s prow- (In the only Ranji Trophy tie losophy as a bowler. On a rain Both knew when to coach and ess, for against them he was in Madras played in 1935, losing to affected or a turner, he when to leave well alone. K.S. his best form. Not that Ram Mysore, Ram Singh had scores was virtually unplayable. Kannan, who assisted them, Singh did not prove himself of 40 and 17, and took 3 for 64 Ram Singh took to coaching was another marvellous coach against better teams than those. and one for 80. Next year, the after his playing days, serving in with great empathy, especially Just after the War, he bearded same fate befell Madras, and the National Institute of Sports for the diffident among the the lion in its own den, when in Ram Singh scored 32 and went as part of the Rajkumari Amrit boys. the zonal tournament at wicketless in a short spell Kaur scheme. He coached well Almost every cricketer who Bombay, he played a magnifi- against Mysore.) into his eighties and was much knew A.G. Ram Singh not only cent century knock against the Madras or, for that matter, beloved in the Venkata Subba loved and respected him but best of India’s bowlers. It was Tamil Nadu later, has not pro- Rao School where he continued owed him at least a small debt an innings that many who wit- duced many genuine left arm his work after his retirement of gratitude – for a kind word at nessed it said should have all-rounders. Ram Singh was from official duties at the Tamil the right time, a vital piece of earned Ram Singh a place in the perhaps the only one in that Nadu Cricket Association. advice when things were going Indian team to England in 1946 category to show equal prowess He was arguably the greatest A.G. Ram Singh wrong with our cricket, or just but the ‘nabobs’ of cricket in both batting and bowling. cricketer never to have played his strong, quiet presence in the thought otherwise.” In the first Ranji Trophy sea- A keen student of the game for his country. He had the sat- sidelines at important games. Before his father moved to son, and Ram Singh took 6 for who came under the influence isfaction of watching two of his Ram Singh was the chief de- Madras, young Ram Singh lived 19 and 5 for 16 against Mysore, of the Sussex professional sons grow up into Test players stroyer of Mysore in the inau- just a huge six away from the scoring 14 in a total of 130. A.F.Wensley, Ram Singh es- and at least one more develop gural Ranji Trophy match at scene of the Jallianwala Against , he scored chewed all frills in his batting into a Test class batsman kept Chepauk in December 1934, Bagh massacre in Amritsar. 74 and 70 and had bowling fig- and believed in spending long out by injury. His grandsons too taking eleven wickets in the “He and other members of the ures of 5 for 88 and 6 for 71. hours at the nets. He was a played good cricket, living tes- match. For years after that, he family were locked in a small In the second season, 1935- strong hooker of anything timony to the Ram Singh heri- repeated that kind of bowling room and they could hear the 1936, he made 25 and zero ver- pitched short, but generally tage. They, like hundreds of performance many times, and gunshots and the shrieks of the sus Mysore, but took one for 63 waited for the bad ball, rather other Tamil Nadu cricketers, was also the team’s most consis- people,” wrote K. Sunder and 5 for 55. Against Hydera- than try to play extravagant learnt their cricket at his knee. tent batsman. Rajan, Sports Editor, The bad, he claimed 2 for 77 and 6 strokes. He played long innings A tribute written in 1953 Hindu, in 1980. for 32, besides remaining un- and revelled in crisis situations. * Madras Province/State/Tamil Nadu. said: “Anybody who goes An avid spectator of British beaten in both innings – with In short, he was the Mr. Reli- through the scorebooks of the soldiers’ cricket, the young scores of 121 and 57. In the Madras Cricket Association sardar was fascinated by the do- semifinal, which Madras won by will be struck by the amazing ings of the Englishmen on the 91 runs, he made 9 and 11, consistency of A.G. Ram Island ground and Chepauk while capturing 4 for 43 and 4 Answers to Quiz Singh, the stockily built all- once he came to Madras, and for 30 against Bengal. In the 1. Myanmar; 2. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013; 3. With a rounder. It would indeed be a found he was a natural. Ac- final that Madras lost to density of only 0.16 mg/cubic centimetre, it is the world’s lightest sub- truism to repeat that Ram Singh cording to Sunder Rajan, “On Bombay, the sardar scored 32 stance with a density only one-sixth of that of air; 4. Margaret Thatcher; bore the burden of Madras and 3 while returning figures of 5. Master Blasters; 6. Pran; 7. Kuno Sanctuary; 8. Boston Marathon; 9. the day he landed in Madras, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala; 10. Queen Elizabeth II. cricket on his shoulders as very his father wanted to take him to one for 77 and 5 for 92. few had done before and none the beach. On the way he saw Ram Singh was overlooked * * * after him. Centuries flowed members of the Madras Cricket when the Indian team to tour 11. FIDE World Chess Championship; 12. M.G. Ramachandran; 13. from his bat while with his left- Club practising at Chepauk. England was chosen in 1936. B.R. Ambdekar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subramania Bharathi; 14. Tyran- handed spinners he sent many a He was so passionately fond of Ten years later, he once again nosaurus Rex and the Stegosaurus; 15. Lord Dalhousie; 16. Devadi Street; missed the boat despite a bril- 17. Central Polytechnic (CPT); 18. The Chennai Collectorate is housed batsman to his doom. More cricket that he appealed to his in the M. Singaravelar Maligai named after the lawyer; 19. Mambalam- than any other, Mysore and father to watch cricket rather liant century in a trial match on Guindy (15 villages); 20. The two subsidiary companies of the holding Hyderabad States have cause to than go to the beach.” the eve of the tour of England. company TNEB Limited.

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