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Vol. XXII No. 22 MUSINGS March 1-15, 2013 The sad, sad state of Chepauk Palace Will it ever get better? t is now more than a year (By The Editor) housed the area of worship (be- Isince one part of Chepauk low which is the old marble Palace, the Khalsa Mahal, was as much as that of Khalsa plaque that states that this was consumed by flames. While its Mahal. What is worse, a part of the residence of the Nawab of proposed restoration has been the ceiling in Humayun Mahal the Carnatic) has plenty of veg- The sorry spectacle that is Chepauk Palace. in a state of masterly inactivity has caved in and the building etation growing from its crev- dislodging them. There is plenty announced that the building ever since, what is worrying is continues to remain in occupa- ices. Windows are falling apart of litter all around and Govern- would be demolished to make that the rest of the campus con- tion! and several gaping holes can be ment employees do not think way for fresh construction. tinues to remain in a state of ne- The Khalsa Mahal presents a seen. If at all there is one struc- twice before putting up posters Then, following an outcry in glect, thereby giving very little very sorry spectacle too. ture that still looks solid, it is on any of the historic walls. The the media, this was shelved and hope of a better future for what Through its arches it is possible the tower that Chisholm built entire area, though a very busy a three-member committee was is the cradle of the Indo- to see the fallen beams and to weld the two wings together. place, appears to be quite con- appointed to study the struc- Saracenic style of architecture. plenty of rubble. Even the mol- Outside, the upkeep of the tent with its squalor. Does all ture. It was pointed out even A recent visit only served to ten plastic sheets from erstwhile precincts too leaves much for this give any indication of seri- then that the committee lacked confirm that none of those in temporary partitions have not improvement. Squatters had ousness on the part of the Gov- structural engineers but the charge of the place has learnt been removed and hang pre- taken over the portico of the ernment to restore Chepauk Government went ahead. It is from the conflagration of 2012. cariously from the windows. Khalsa Mahal and the fire ap- Palace? now almost ten months since The same conditions that The north-western end which pears to have not succeeded in Shortly after the fire, it was (Continued on page 6) caused such extensive destruc- tion continue to exist in the sur- viving wing of the palace – the Humayun Mahal. All along its Will Metro moves threaten outer corridor, a huge quantity of discarded wooden furniture has been stored. Inside, the place is a rabbit’s warren of of- Ripon Building, VP Hall? fices, wooden partitions, make- shift toilets and any number of recent newspaper report aspects may get sorted out, belonged then to CMRL. These All this perhaps has something files filling every available spot. Areveals that Chennai what is clear is that Metro work, were hastily removed. But an- to do with the judgement con- Add to this, shoddy electrical Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) including drilling and tunnel- other request from the Corpo- cerning the land belonging to wiring, some ages old and sev- has moved its barricades 1.5 ling, will be much closer to ration is yet to be paid heed to. the Raja Sir Savalai Ramaswami eral new and exposed, and you metres closer to Ripon Building. Ripon Building and neigh- This pertains to the impact of Mudaliar Choultry located op- have a deadly cocktail for an- This in effect means CMRL has bouring Victoria Public Hall tunnelling on the two heritage posite Central Station. That other fire. And with the build- taken land over and above what than what was planned earlier. structures. The Corporation space, with its heritage building, ing being a structure that has was allocated to it by the Gov- was being eyed by CMRL which plenty of old timber in its make- ernment. While the procedural put up barricades along the property. But with the Court up, the extent of damage can be G by A Special Correspondent ruling that the takeover can happen only if proper compen- sation is paid, it is probable that The impact of such work on had in October 2012 asked CMRL has given up that plan these two heritage structures is CMRL to begin submitting and opted to take more land on yet to be assessed. monthly assessment reports. the northern side, from Ripon In 2010, the State Govern- CMRL is yet to do so. Building and VP Hall. ment allotted 4500 sq m of land Earlier this month, the barri- The taking over of space is on the Ripon Building campus to cades on the erstwhile grounds however only a temporary fa- CMRL. The Corporation of Ripon Building moved 1.5 m cilitation with CMRL intending Council gave its assent subse- closer to the structure. CMRL to return the land to the two quently. In 2011, 1964 sq m was now needs additional land for precincts once it completes its taken from the Victoria Public traffic diversions and has taken work. But what is worrying is Hall campus for the same pur- over the extra space it needs the silence regarding the impact pose. The Corporation took without the Government per- of underground work. The same umbrage over CMRL boards mitting it to do so by means of a question has been raised in “No, Amma, I don't need tea, the mosquitoes will make sure I stay being put up all around Ripon GO. The Corporation Council’s Building claiming that the area awake all night!” assent has also not been sought. (Continued on page 6) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2013 CUMTA should have a Cut-out season tis the season of giant cut- Second, there is the shape of the emus that he wrote about ’ outs for ’tis the season of the cut-out. The spherical one last fortnight. MMM is happy wider role various important people in is the most preferred for it oc- to report that they are doing the political firmament cel- cupies the maximum surface well. Last week MMM was out he Metropolitan concept that evolved over much of the twen ebrating birthdays. And then area and so cuts off visibility in walking when he saw the duo. all four directions. You cannot They have taken to running tieth century emerged from the industrial urban forms, con- there are stars releasing T troublesome films as well. And bend low and walk under it ei- along with the traffic and centrated core oriented production that, by agglomerating indus- ther. The rectangular ones are MMM noted them merrily try and employment in a single centre and packing the population all this calls for cut-outs and digital hoardings. The Man better for they permit walking keeping pace with scooters around the centre and along radiating transport networks, pro- from Madras Musings notices underneath rather like the Co- and cyclists, the latter being a vided a spatial solution to the problem of slow and expensive trans- that our city is full of nothing lossus of Rhodes allowed ships great favourite. Two or three port. The production and distribution of goods and an emphasis else but these. to pass below. But these suffer were sent crashing into ditches on radial movement to and from the urban core gave way to the What with having to navi- from a major weakness in the by these enterprising birds. No rise of the service economy, with communication increasingly sub- gate and negotiate these, eyes of physics. Their height question of any ennui with stituting for movement and movement occurring in all directions MMM has had ample time to being far greater than their these emi (or is it emus?) on at all times of the day and week. By and large, in a metropolitan study them. He realises that width, they have a very high the roads. MMM regretted centre of gravity. This causes that he was without a situation, now, there is a consequent need to constitute a unified the fixing of cut-outs, banners and digital hoardings follows a the Olympian leaders to gradu- camcorder, rather like those metropolitan transport authority to ease the traffic situation, ally bend down and try and big game hunters who regret- mostly for urban commuters. few simple rules. And these are listed below: mingle with the common folk ted not having brought along Mega cities in low and high income countries have more in com- on the road. They also sway to their guns the moment they mon with each other, irrespective of their locations. For example, G Every cut-out remains in the breeze. All this stooping to saw the emu. Or was it the the place it was put up till it is conquer gives motorists the jit- gnu? MMM is always confused consider Bangkok and Los Angeles, both territorially vast, amor- removed as and when those phous, multicentre regions with their populations residing in loca- ters for you never know on about this. And who knows? who put it up think it neces- whom the grace of the leader Perhaps the gnu will make its tions upto 100 km from the city core. sary. In recent years, many researchers have found that simple classi- will fall. All in all, these are ad- appearance on our roads too. G The direction in which a venturous times for those on Not everyone is particularly fication of central city, suburbs, and metropolitan area is not fea- cut-out is fixed is parallel to the roads. happy with the appearance of sible. Researchers see an emerging pattern of settlement taking the the footpath (if it exists), in the The Man from Madras the emu. The local TASMAC form of increasingly dispersed and decentralised centres of activity direction of the traffic and Musings notes that the children has seen a marked dip in busi- and residential settlements. must block a traffic light or are celebrating birthdays too, ness. The birds apparently In the Indian context, the national definition for a metropoli- two. though the mater familias has have taken to jumping out of tan area means an area having a population of ten lakh or more, in G For every political party’s expressed disapproval of events dark corners the moment they one or more districts and consisting of two or more municipalities cut-out there is an equal (if of this kind. It is only that the see anyone moving around or panchayats or other contiguous area, specified by the Govern- possible bigger) one from the with unsteady gait. The sud- ment by public notification to be a metropolitan area. opposition. den shock of seeing some tall According to the Census of India definition of an urban ag- These may be considered to and ungainly creature leaping SHORT ’N’ at them has made many a glomeration, it should be a continuous urban spread constituting a be the MMMian laws of pro- motion, directly inspired by SNAPPY toper swear off his drink. The town and its adjoining urban growths or two or more physically the Newtonian Laws of political party whose scion contiguous towns together with adjoining outgrowths. Each of such Motion. made it his business to put up outgrowths may not satisfy the minimum population limit to qualify As these are strictly against attempts at using Queen’s statutory warnings on alco- the law and as there is another English to sing of someone, holic refreshments may as well whose vocabulary is said to be adopt the emu as its party sym- G law that stipulates that if cut- by Dr. K.R. Thooyavan outs are put up, they need to of the best, is rather amusing. bol. Its fortunes may soar, but be removed within three days, And so, what do you mean by then the emu is a flightless bird and so it may not augur well. it to be treated as an independent urban unit but may deserve to be we must realise that these are referring to someone as after all temporary structures. ‘Patritian’? clubbed with the principal town as part of an urban spread. Lincoln is the spirit of the However, the definition of metropolitan areas adopted by the And so they need to create the The silent P maximum impact in the short- times we all know. And so planners in several cities is of much larger areas, including villages, est possible time. How can this some have also referred to he tailpiece is very often a whether urban or otherwise, but which are at the periphery or are be done? Imperatrix as the second Lin- Tphotograph these days. intervening in an urban agglomeration. There are 53 urban ag- coln. The largest of the hoard- The Man from Madras Musings Firstly, by ensuring that is of the view that this will glomerations in India as of 2011 with a population of one million they are put up at the busiest ings have been put up on a or more, as against 35 in 2010. route that the erstwhile pater more or less be a permanent possible place. The putting up feature what with those re- If we look at urbanisation in India, Mumbai is the largest city; process is a ceremony by itself. familias of the State shuttles on. This is presumably to en- sponsible for road signs giving Delhi NCR is the largest urban agglomeration; Bangalore is now The hoarding/banner/cut-out plenty of grist to MMM’s mill. almost as big as Chennai; Jaipur has moved into the top 10 slot. is laid flat on the road, occupy- sure that he does not miss this assessment of leadership. The latest is down Sripuram Among the next set of big cities, Bangalore, with an UA popula- ing space meant for vehicles. way, a quiet colony in the tion of 8,728,906 (8,499.399 excluding Hosur) is now bracketed In the meantime, a group of Royapettah area. MMM no- with Chennai – 8,917,749 (8,696,010 excluding Kancheepuram). toughs loiters about to ensure More on the emus ticed that the signboard does that those in charge of the law he Man from Madras not have a particular letter. Hyderabad, which was marginally bigger than Bangalore in 2001, do not interfere. A gang of Musings has been bad- But perhaps because this is the has now become the sixth largest city with a population of workmen then gets busy with T gered with phone calls, sms, favourite corner for those with 7,749,334. Ahmadabad (6,352,254), and Pune (5,049,968) make crowbars and pick-axes. This emails and messages on full bladders, the painter de- up the other larger metros. Surat (4,585,367) continues to grow is to dig and dislodge pavement Facebook asking about the cided to leave out the obvious? rapidly and has added over 1.7 million during the decade. Jaipur, stones from the footpath (if it whereabouts and well-being of with a population of 3,073,350, has pipped Kanpur for a spot in the exists) so that casuarina poles – MMM top 10 slot. can be firmly fixed. The re- Among the 53 cities listed as metropolitian cities, 13 are capital moved stones are not thrown cities which have wider influence over the region beyond what is away for they come into use for defined as the metropolitan area. The consequence of the influ- steadying the poles that cannot be fixed on the sidewalk (if ence deprives opportunities to the rural poor, resulting in income it…) but on the road which disparity, conversion of agricultural land for urban use, elimina- unfortunately cannot be dug. tion of agricultural produce much needed by both the urban and Then comes the task of nailing rural population. the hoarding/banner/cut-out Based on the experience of Western countries and the nature in place. When this is done, of operations being carried out, there is a need to establish a Uni- the toughs and the workmen fied Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for proper coor- depart, leaving the debris be- dination and to streamline the activities among the agencies and hind – loose paving, nails and to utilise the available infrastructure facilities and resources. To yards of rope. These are their gifts for the meek who, having start with, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ban- inherited the earth, have to galore should establish UMTAs. walk about on it, tripping over Act 44 of 2010 provided for the establishment of a Unified Met- the loose stones, getting ropolitan Transport Authority for the Chennai Metropolitan Plan- pricked by the nails and being ning Area. This was called the Chennai Unified Metropolitan entangled in the rope. (Continued on page 3) March 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 An American in search of Easementary violations n Madras Musings, January I16th, a Special Correspon- Mylapore memories dent has said that in George Town new buildings are com- fter a 42-year absence, I G James (Jim) McConaughy walked the mada veedhis of conversations. What had hap- ing up without any adherence Arecently returned to Mylapore on the eve of Pongal to soak in an atmosphere that he pened to the owner of the ho- to fire safety norms. In this con- Chennai to see some old tel, and the manager, such a nection, it should also be stated friends, walk down memory had once experienced in the 1970s. friendly man who lived there that they do not, in addition, lane, and explore new parts of James, an American who now lives in Andover, Massachu- with his family? And the staff: adhere to the laid down build- South India I had missed in setts, lived in Mylapore then to pursue an interest in Carnatic Sashee and Raju, who duti- ing rules which protect the my previous visits. music and interact with vidwans like the late Ramnad Krishnan. fully kept the place clean and easementary rights of the The primary purpose of my ran simple errands? What neighbouring buildings. visit was to bring to the family James’ haunt in Mylapore was Hotel Suprabath on North Mada about the parade of young en- The violation soon becomes of Ramnad Krishnan (whom I Street, a place that provided him many different experiences. gineers who lived there, saving had the fortune to study with That landmark has gone but James wants to reconnect with its money and building a career a fait accompli and, later, gets at Wesleyan University and in before they ventured into the ratified by paying the fine under India) several previously un- owners and other Mylaporeans he once knew. demands of married life? the periodical ‘regularisation’ known recordings I had made On this journey to India schemes of the Government. of his concerts during 1968 your palm for just a few ru- There were more goats, from Andover, Massachusetts, This is injustice against the ag- and 1971, my times in Madras. pees. cows and water buffaloes. Lep- where I live in the United grieved householder whose During the times I was in While he was off the mark ers on low wooden carts were States, I was able to return to easementary rights are invaded Madras, I stayed about six that I would be the owner of pushed down the street quite the place where my love and and right to privacy denied. months each time at the several movie theatres before regularly to seek alms. appreciation of Carnatic mu- I reached my 65th year, I am Vellaikarans like myself were If such civic offences can be Suprabath Hotel (really a sic was nurtured and my con- boarding house) at 10, North hoping that I meet or exceed seldom seen; maybe just two nection to South India was ‘regularised’ by payment of a Mada Street in Mylapore, now his prediction that I would or three a month would make deepened. fine to the Government, the day the site of the Saravana “live to the age of 90 years, their way up from Luz Corner While I successfully kept will soon come when criminal Bhavan, it would seem. like Winston Churchill.” I to the temple area. up my pursuit of Carnatic mu- trespasses too may be legalised! The hotel allowed me to must remember to get back to Trains and autos were ve- sic for a few years in the This indicates a possible moral live in South Indian style in an you in 2036 on that one. hicles firmly rooted to the 1970s, I did not seriously con- decadence in the administra- inexpensive way, being a North Mada Street and the ground, not flying over it. tinue my studies in the field, tion of Chennai. young man pursuing his stud- surrounding area were quieter Traffic jams were caused by taking a different direction ies. and much less congested than napping or recalcitrant cows, professionally. But the real C.G. Prasad My rent was 150 rupees, I found it today. There were not by a plethora of vehicles. connection with India has 9, C.S. Mudali Street not a day, or a week, but a no shops on the temple tank And the Indian Bank on the been the people I met who, Kondithope, Chennai 600 079 month. How inflation and the side of the street, and you corner seemed like the most without exception, have exchange rates have changed could see all of the tank and modern building from my per- proven to be generous, genu- Congestion fee in 42 years! the Kapali Temple from the spective, looking massive and ine and a lot of fun to be with. n a bid to decongest some of A vegetarian meal was 1 front door of the Suprabath. soaring. If anyone reading this piece the busy business centres like rupee 50 paise. The bicycle re- Motorcyles and cars, while As I made my pilgrimage to might be able to shed any light I present, were a rarity, the my former abode in early T. Nagar, Broadway, Purasa- pair guy on the street would fix on what became of the people your bicycle’s flat tyre for 25 transportation being primarily January 2013, I looked for who worked at or stayed at the walkam, etc. in Chennai, and paise, and the old sage palm bicyle, cycle rickshaw, pull someone who might be able to Suprabath during 1968 or similarly in other States, and to reader would give you a thor- rickshaw, bullock cart and the fill me in on what happened to 1971, I would enjoy hearing encourage the use of public oughly researched two-page red diesel buses that spewed the Suprabath, its owners, and from you. Mail me at a transport system, the Union 14-point report of your fate black smoke as thick as the old any of those young bachelors JLMcConaughy@ aol.com – Urban Development Ministry, based on a careful imprint of steam-driven locomotives. with whom I had many great (Courtesy: Mylapore Times.) it was reported, had asked the States to collect ‘congestion fee’ the side streets and other places As it is a very sensible deci- from those who would prefer to for parking. In doing so, they do sion, it should be welcomed by travel to these places by their not bother to think of the in- all. The authorities must imple- Wider role for CUMTA? own vehicles. convenience to others, particu- ment this in true letter and (Continued from page 2) In shopping hubs like T. larly the residents. Thus, the spirit as it will greatly help in de- Nagar, there is no space even shoppers considerably add to congesting the heavily crowded Transport Authority (CUMTA). Its main functions include over- to walk – thanks to the en- the congestion by parking their places and avoiding traffic seeing, coordinating, promoting and monitoring the implementa- croachments, and haphazard vehicles at public places. Festi- snarls which are a routine affair. tion of various traffic and transportation measures, including pro- parking of vehicles at public val or no festival, T. Nagar This move will definitely pro- moting the cause of public mass passenger transport systems and places. This apart, since most draws crowds from far and near vide great relief to the residents. regulating their operations, besides implementation of certain traf- commercial complexes do not throughout the year. Hence, For the shoppers too, it will be a fic and transportation infrastructure of special nature in the have parking space to accom- there is every need to decongest significant savings on fuel. Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area. modate vehicles of their clients, the area so as to provide a Tamil Nadu State’s capital, Chennai, has got a wide influence V.S. Jayaraman the shoppers naturally turn to breather to all the stakeholders. and, consequent to that, Tiruvallur, Arakonam, Kancheepuram 31, Motilal Street and Chengalpattu have got to play a vital role in provision of hous- T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017 ing and infrastructure for absorption of population migrating to CHENNAI HERITAGE First Indian doctor Chennai and must strengthen the overlying agricultural area for production of agricultural produce and protect rural employment. No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, read with great interest your The link of chain of Tiruvallur, Arakonam, Kancheepuram and Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Iarticle ‘First Indian Doctor’ in Chengalpattu to Chennai can well provide mass transportation of I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / Madras Musings. Near the persons and produce (flower, food and vegetables) in the region. I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. Royapettah Hospital there is a Therefore, CUMTA has got a wider role to play in the region to G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) street branching off from the establish a balance between urban and rural areas, by establishing payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the main road. It used to be called ring and radial routes connecting road and rail, including mass year 2012-13. Andy’s Street and I think the transit systems. – (Courtesy: Our Building and Construction.) G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a better city that name has not been changed, Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional since it is a small street and no Rs...... politician would like it to be (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me on your mailing list. named after him! MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB Name : ...... In the early 1930s and 40s many Anglo-Indians lived To reach out to as many readers as possible who share Address: ...... there. I often used to wonder our keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in re- sponse to requests from many well-wishers – especially ...... who this Andy was. from outside Chennai and abroad who receive their postal ...... I wonder whether this street copies very late – for an online edition. Madras Musings is is named after him. Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas postage alone payable now on the web at www.madrasmusings.com to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. Radha Padmanabhan DD/Cheque should be sent by Speed Post only. – THE EDITOR [email protected] 4 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2013 March 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 He took up a host The illustrious scientist who

take the paper the next year to get his degree. He then went of public causes teamed with back to his native Watrap, and took up the position of headmas- ter of the Hindu School where he ao Saheb K.V. Krishna- took very seriously. The Bar lawyers for a nominal rent. He had studied. But soon, to his joy, R swami Aiyar (KVK) be- Council then had the practice of exercised great control over the C.V. Raman he was offered the post of Dem- longed to the band of lawyers of inviting each year a senior law- library of the Association and, as th onstrator in the Chemistry labo- the first half of the 20 Century, yer to deliver a series of lectures C.R. Pattabhiraman put it, “Law- Krishnan was born in School of Srivilliputtur. ratory of MCC. He returned to who made it their mission in life on the subject to the apprentices. yers who built their libraries with Vizhupanoor, spent his child- Krishnan, after passing the Madras, a city he had fallen in to take up public causes and In 1939 it was KVK’s turn and the Association’s books began to hood in nearby Watrap and stud- Matric exam, joined the Fine love with, and lived in Linghi make successes out of them. he went into it so deeply that it fade away.” All this was achieved ied in the Hindu School in Arts class of the American Col- Chetty Street. As Demonstrator, While most of them espoused a was decided to publish his lec- within the one year he was secre- Srivilliputtur, all in the same dis- lege in Madurai in 1914 and ex- he did more than what was re- worthy cause or two, KVK took tures as a book. Professional Con- tary. The majority of the advo- trict of Madras Province. Among celled in Science, English and quired of him, stopping by at on a whole host of them, and en- duct and Advocacy was released cates did not understand the his schoolmates were Rama- Tamil. His first exposure to ten- each student’s table and explain- sured that they were placed on a in 1940 to great acclaim. Sir S. man’s strict ways and certainly swamy Raja and Kumaraswamy nis was here, and developed into ing the details of the observa- sound footing for future growth. Varadachariar, then a Judge of did not brook his legendary short Raja (Rajas, a deviant of Rajus, a lifelong passion for the sport. tions to be made and how to A portrait of K.S. Krishnan. At least one of the institutions he the Federal Court, was to write temper. He stepped down and of Andhra Pradesh) who settled Krishnan left Madurai for record them in their notebooks. nurtured – the Music Academy, that the book was an apt illustra- within months chaos was to reign in a place which took their name, Madras and joined Madras If things went wrong, he would class was always overflowing with Madras – has lived to tell the tale tion of KVK, in particular his once again in the Advocates’ students not only from Christian K.V. Krishnaswami Aiyar from a and is going strong. thoroughness. In 1945, the book Association. College but from Pachayiappa’s was reviewed in the Journal of KVK was elected a member of 1935 Ananda Vikatan cartoon by ‘‘The first four decades of the 20th Century were glorious years for science, KVK was born in 1885 in Mali. and Presidency. I learnt more Kumbakonam into a family that Comparative Legislation and Inter- the University Syndicate in especially physics. Our view of the physical world changed forever with the Physics in Krishnan’s class than national Law, thereby coming to prided itself on being related to 1923. The Tamil lexicon project, taken, all this and more became emergence of quantum mechanics and Einstein’s formulation of the theory of during the regular lectures, as his the notice of Lord Macmillan, the Tamil scholar U.Ve. set up in 1913, was then lan- matters of routine. Thanks to relativity. India too contributed significantly to this scientific revolution with the explanation of physical concepts then Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, Swaminatha Iyer. Having stud- guishing. The tardy progress this, men of letters, such as S. discoveries made by S.N. Bose, C.V. Raman and M.N. Saha, all in the space of was wonderfully lucid.’’ ied in Kumbakonam at the Town meant embarrassing questions Vaiyapuri Pillai, Narayana Iyer about a decade. Kariamanikkam Srinivasa Krishnan (1898-1961) belonged to With the express purpose of High School and the College being asked at the University and M. Raghava Aiyangar, the same illustrious group. He was perhaps the only Indian physicist of his working with C.V. Raman, there, he moved to Madras Senate and Syndicate and, to generation who was equally adept in theory and experiment. Besides a life of Krishnan reached Calcutta in G By Sriram V. worked to produce the lexicon where he graduated in 1903 from save the situation, KVK was which was released in six vol- excellence in science, Krishnan’s destiny led him to be an able science policy July 1920. On Raman’s advice, the Presidency College. He asked to become Chairman of umes, the last one coming out in maker and administrator. He was also a great teacher, a humanist and a scholar he enrolled into the MSc Physics qualified in Law in 1905. In the Lexicon Committee. M.A. 1936. Besides his work on this, of Sanskrit, Tamil literature and philosophy.’’ class in the University College of Science where Raman was 1907, he enrolled in the High Great Britain, and he praised it Candeth, Dy. Director, Director- KVK was also to contribute as – From the biography: K.S. Krishnan, His Life and Work by D.C.V. Mallik teaching. Krishnan never ap- Court of Madras, rather coinci- greatly. The Oxford University ate of Public Instruction, imme- Member, Board of Studies in and S. Chatterjee (Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2012). peared for the MSc exam. Al- dentally, according to legend, Press Madras published a second diately remarked that the Uni- Law, and as Examiner for the ML K.S. Krishnan with the first flask of liquid helium produced at the Low-tem- though he was a student of the with Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar edition in 1946. Another publi- versity would shortly hear of “sui- degree. For a time it was perature Division of NPL, on September 29, 1952. College of Science, his social life and T.M. Krishnaswami Aiyar. cation of KVK’s was on Propor- cides and resignations.” Sure rumoured, with the Rao Saheb revolved around the Indian As- All three Krishnaswamis were to tional Representation by the enough, KVK rammed his way title in 1935 adding to the specu- aking more than nine years drawn to the contribution of K.S. Rajapalayam. Kumaraswamy Christian College (MCC) in often ‘demonstrate’ the precise see a rapid rise in the profession. ahead. But he was careful to re- lations, that KVK would become to complete, this 460-page Krishnan as the co-collaborator Raja later became Chief Minis- George Town. He took his BA in way of doing an experiment. Af- sociation for the Cultivation of Single Transferable Vote, which T Science (IACS) in whose labora- In his memoirs, Justice W.S. strict his role to the administra- Vice Chancellor of Madras Uni- biography by two professors of in the discovery of the Raman ter of Madras. Ramaswamy Raja 1918, when he won the Aber- ter his appointment was made guided elections in various bod- tory Raman did his research. In Krishnaswami Nayudu was to tive side and support the schol- versity. That was never to be, but Indian Institute of Astrophysics Effect which won for C.V. established the first industries in deen Prize awarded for the most permanent, he began going, in ies for years. November 1923, Krishnan for- remark that other lawyers had to ars all the way through. Periodic he was to achieve success in sev- is ideal reading for researchers, Raman the Nobel Prize for Phys- the region, today known as the outstanding student of Physics. addition to the daily ritual of vis- Prosperity in the profession mally became a research scholar share among themselves what- review meetings, representing eral other passions of his. students and general readers. ics in 1930, the first time any Ramco group. The two Rajas and He did exceedingly well in iting the college library, to the ever cases were not taken up by meant shifting to Mylapore the problems faced by the higher- What is significant for the igno- Asian or non-White received the Krishnan are known as the Chemistry too but, strangely, did Connemara Public Library in at IACS, and a research associ- the three Krishnaswamis. where KVK took up residence at ups and ensuring that action was (To be concluded) rant is that their attention is prestigious award in Science. ‘Great Trio’ of the Hindu High not pass in English and had to Egmore to peruse the then-latest ate in 1926. Krishnan calls the Among the three, KVK was the Swaminatha Vilas, No 6, North scientific journals. first five full years spent at the first to command a five-figure Mada Street. Widowed early, his Along with international Science Association under the income. family comprised a son and a names reported in these journals, tutelage of Raman as his daughter. His elder brother Masters of 20th Century Madras science Krishnan also found the name of Gurukula vasam, and recalls, KVK apprenticed under S. Viswanatha Iyer moved in with C.V. Raman and S. Ramanujan. ‘‘These five years turned out to Srinivasa Iyengar and, according family to take care of the home. – An occasional article in a series by Dr. A. RAMAN BR blazed new trails The former had left a lucrative be a festive season in my scien- to V.C. Gopalaratnam (A Cen- KVK was, therefore, free to de- accountant’s job to become the tific life.’’ In April 1927, with 12 by the public as both a neurosurgeon and a neurophysician. BR’s tury Completed, 1962), “devel- vote his considerable surplus en- Palit Professor of Physics at the research papers to his credit and . Ramamurthi (BR) was born on January 30, 1922 in Sirkazhi his retirement in 1978. After that he spent his time at the Volun- contribution to science would be incomplete if I do not refer to his oped the powers of his advocacy ergies to the world. University of Calcutta. Students a recommendation from Raman, (where his father Captain T.S. Balasubramanian worked as an tary Health Service Hospital (Madras) developed by his mentor K.S. pioneering stereotaxic surgical procedures. Besides using stereotaxic naturally on the same lines as B in Madras aspired to work with he applied to the University of The first of these was tennis. Assistant Surgeon in the Government Hospital). BR had his early Sanjivi, where he set up a sophisticated neurosurgical theatre. He surgery on patients suffering movement disorders, he extended its those of his leader. There used al- Raman some day, and one of Madras for a MSc. He was Labelled a stylish player, he was education in Trichinopoly. His father and a friend of his father con- was also the principal of MMC and dean of MGGH before his re- scope in epilepsy management, pain relief, cerebral palsy, and drug ways to be present … a sort of them, T.K. Chinmayanandam, awarded the Master’s degree the formidable at the game, playing vinced BR to study medicine rather than prepare for the Indian tirement. BR, along with neurologists Jacob Chandy, S.T. addiction, and even some psychiatric disorders. He explored neuro- explosiveness. His arguments was already working with him same year. in his usual garb of shirt and Civil Service examination. Narasimhan, and Baldev Singh, established the Neurological Soci- physiological functions of the amygdala, hypothalamus, and the were always closely reasoned and producing some original work in Krishnan’s first scientific dhoti! He was to win tourna- Entering Madras Medical College (MMC) to do his MBBS, BR ety of India in 1951, which started functioning in Madras. deeper-lying brain regions. logical. He had a habit of speak- optics. Krishnan found his papers paper titled ‘On the molecular ments at the Mylapore and Cos- passed out in 1943, winning the coveted Johnstone Medal. Work- BR published extensively from the early days of his career. His His publications included different dimensions of diagnoses and ing in court in a loud and clear published in The Physical Review scattering of light in liquids’ was mopolitan Clubs, and also at ing with N.S. Narasimha Iyer, he got his Master of Surgery degree publications in the 1950s were on spinal extradural granuloma, treatments of a range of tumours (e.g. pituitary acenomas, voice which could be heard even and the Proceedings of the Royal published in the Philosophical Advocates’ Association. Of the in 1947. He went to Edinburgh to get his Fellowship of the Royal brain abscess, ventriculographic diagnosis of cysticercosis, and pi- neurinoma, gliomas). He studied aphasia and the use of feedback from outside the court room. An- Society. Magazine. Krishnan was to au- latter he was to become Secre- College of Surgeons, which he achieved in six weeks. On his return, tuitary apoplexy. He presented an extensive commentary on brain technique and tested the vitality of yoga in treating nervous system other very fine characteristic of The biology students who thor singly or jointly with Raman tary and in that capacity, he Surgeon Narasimha Iyer persuaded BR to specialise in neurosur- tuberculomas, based on his MGGH study involving more than 200 disorders. At 60, he readily learnt and enthusiastically used micro- KVK was the high level of dig- came to the chemistry practical 16 papers during the years fought long and hard to ensure gery, whereas BR was contemplating cardio-thoracic surgery. As a cases, at an international neurology congress in Brussels in 1957. surgical techniques. nity which he maintained at all classes, soon came to know about 1925-28, before the Raman amenities in the High Court step towards becoming a neurosurgeon, BR went to Newcastle (UK) His early research pertained to the tuberculosis of the central-ner- BR strongly believed that a uniform postgraduate education sys- times when dealing with clients. Krishnan’s proclivity for Physics Effect was discovered. In his first building. Till he came along, the in January 1949, to train with G.F. Rowbotham. He subsequently vous system. tem was necessary to maintain quality in medical education in In- He fixed a standard according to and he arranged for a class dur- research paper, Krishnan essen- vakils had to make do with a worked with leaders in European neurosurgery: Geoffrey Jefferson He blazed new trails by developing a specialised head injury ward dia. This belief turned out to be a strong force behind the establish- which he stipulated his fees for ing tiffin break for students who tially repeated his colleague cramped room in the north-east in Manchester, Hugo Krayenbuhl in Zurich, Edward Busch in in MGGH – the first of its kind in India. He published prolifically ment of the National Board of Medical Examinations, the office of the brief accepted by him, to wanted his help in physics and Ramanathan’s experiments of corner, with no storage space or Copenhagen, and Herbert Olivecrona in Stockholm. on the prevention of head injuries, strategies to reduce head injury which he presided over for several years. The National Brain Re- which he invariably adhered, a mathematics. Calamur Maha- 1923. The biography poses the recreation area. KVK convinced BR then travelled to the Montreal Neurological Institute and related death, management of intracranial hematomas, skull frac- search Centre, Manesar (Haryana), was his brainchild. This centre standard which assessed his own devan, later to become a distin- historic question why was the the Chief Justice to give advo- worked with Wilder Penfield. After successful neurosurgical train- tures, and their psychological effects. of excellence in neurosciences is a great gift to the nation. He and worth at a proper and a high guished geologist, was a student Raman Effect not discovered in cates three large rooms on the ing stints in Britain, Continental Europe, America, and Canada, he During 1970-1975, his interest turned to studying cerebrovas- Prakash Narain Tandon (then with the All-India Institute of Medi- level. He always observed a very of Krishnan. Mahadevan writes: 1923 or 1925 and gives various top and middle floors on the returned to Madras in 1950 and in October that year was appointed cular diseases and epilepsy and his studies were supported by PL cal Sciences, New Delhi) published the Textbook of Neurosurgery in high level of professional eti- ‘‘I attended lectures that he scientific, practical and socio- western side of the building. He Assistant Surgeon in Neurosurgery, Madras Government General 480 grants administered by the Indian Council of Medical 1980, which ran into a second edition in 1996. He was working on quette and ethics.” was giving to Biology group stu- logical answers to the poser. got lockers put in so that gowns, Hospital (MGGH). He subsequently rose to the rank of the Direc- Reasearch. Between 1950 and 1975 his knowledge of the human his subsequent book Textbook of Operative Neurosurgery, which re- dents in the mathematical prob- When Krishnan took the news of The last aspect was one that coats and books could be kept. tor of the Institute of Neurology at MGGH – the post he held until brain and nervous system was so profound that he was considered mained unfinished when death overtook him in December 2003. lems of physics. The voluntary most seniors in the profession The facility could be hired by (Continued on page 6) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2013 The scientist who teamed with

(Current Affairs questions are from the period February 1st to C.V. Raman 15th. Questions 11 to 20 per- tain to Chennai and Tamil (Continued from page 5) of Reader in Physics. His appli- for the Cultivation of Science in Raman recurring funds for re- Nadu.) Arthur Compton winning the cation was accompanied by Calcutta as the first MLS Pro- search in his retirement but ask- 1. Which Australian was the lone Nobel Prize in Physics in glowing testimonials by his fessor, a move to which Raman ing for an annual report on the million-dollor buy at the IPL auc- December 1927 to Raman, the teachers, including Raman. Ac- contributed in no small measure progress and expenditure state- tion held recently? latter was delighted and felt he cording to the authors, Raman’s as he himself had moved to ment in return, Raman is said 2. A Kashmiri rock band was closer to India’s path- most generous official praise of Bangalore as the Director of the to have flown into a rage over ‘Pragaash’, made headlines for all breaking discovery. his colleague and student Indian Institute of Science the strings attached. the ‘wrong’ reasons. How? February 1928 was the time Krishnan was in a testimonial to (IISc). Krishnan’s next move The NPL was formally inau- 3. What was February 13th ob- when Indian science moved to- the Andhra University, was to head the Department of gurated at its Hillside Road served as by UNESCO as a trib- wards making history. Under Waltair, in 1932. It reads as fol- Physics at Allahabad in March (now Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg) ute to a communication medium Prof. Raman’s guidance, S. lows: ‘‘If the Nobel award for 1942. In heading to Allahabad, location on January 21, 1950. with the widest audience reach Venkateswaran and Krishnan Physics made in 1930 had been Krishnan moved closer to the Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar worldwide? experimented with the new based on the record of the year centre of national activity, and Vallabhbhai Patel was the chief 4. Which team claimed the scattering phenomenon in a 1928 alone, instead of on the in the ensuing years he assumed guest. To help Patel, who had honours in the inaugural Hockey number of liquids. On the 9th af- entire work on the scattering of a leading role in planning the difficulty in walking, to inaugu- India League? ternoon, when Prof Raman re- light done at Calcutta from growth of scientific and indus- rate the laboratory from the 5. Rex, costing 600,000 Euros, turned from the Science Col- 1921 onwards, Krishnan would trial research of India and also dais, Krishnan built a wooden was unveiled recently at the Sci- lege where he was teaching, in justice have come in for a its atomic energy programme. replica of the building and ence Museum in London. What Krishnan gave him a visual share of the Prize.” This was On June 13, 1946, Krishnan placed it on the dais. The snap- is the Rex claim to fame? demonstration of the ‘modified misleading, as Krishnan started was knighted in an investiture ping of a ribbon and an electri- 6. In which State capital was the scattering’ using sunlight as the working with Raman in 1923, ceremony at Buckingham Pal- cal wire, tied around the build- world’s tallest statue of Mahatma source. Raman was ecstatic. Be- and a substantial part of the ace. In January 1947, Krishnan ing, was to activate a switch Gandhi, 70 feet in height, inau- tween February 19th and 26th, work prior to 1928 was on the was back in Allahabad after a which was connected to a trans- th gurated on February 15 ? more experiments were con- scattering of light on liquids. rejuvenating tour of Britain and mitter that sent a signal to be 7. Name the new association ducted by Krishnan. On Febru- While in Dacca for the next the United States. In June the picked up by a receiver placed formed by 30 major Indian soft- ary 28th, Raman and Krishnan 12 years, Krishnan’s research same year, he moved to Delhi inside a building. The receiver ware product companies breaking discovered what has now come was in the study of magnetism. as the first director of the Na- actuated in turn a relay circuit away from the omnibus IT indus- to be known as the Raman Ef- In Dacca, he bonded very tional Physical Laboratory that switched on electric mo- try body Nasscom. fect, and the day is now cel- closely with another South In- (NPL), hand-picked by tors which would force the main 8. Which popular Indian singer- ebrated as the National Science dian, the Reader in the Math- Jawaharlal Nehru and C. Raja- doors open. composer was honoured with a ematics department, T. gopalachari, the head of the Krishnan lived his life to th Day. The next day, the news of Google Doogle on February 8 ? the discovery was released to Vijayaraghavan, and was in- Council of Scientific and Indus- the fullest. He pursued his in- 9. Name the new health intiative, the Associated Press. Within a strumental in the creation of trial Research. Meanwhile, terests in Physics till even a few aimed at improving overall qual- few weeks of Raman’s public the Ramanujan Institute of Krishnan’s Guru, Sir C.V. hours before his death on June ity of life of children through early proclamation of the discovery, Mathematics of which Raman, was nearing his retire- 14, 1961. His last paper – detection of birth defects, dis- Krishnan was able to photo- Vijayaraghavan became first di- ment at the IISc, Bangalore. finalised on the day of his death eases and deficiencies, launched rector. A few years later, in De- When Nehru sent word – came out a month after his recently. graph the ‘‘anti-Stokes lines’’ in benzene and Raman was very cember 1933, Krishnan re- through Krishnan that the Gov- death. 10. Because of which natural phe- pleased. According to Sukumar joined the Indian Association ernment was ready to give T.K. Srinivasa Chari nomenon did the Siberian town of Chelyabinsk make news? Sircar, Palit research scholar, who was working on the Kerr * * * 11. Name the Madras University Effect in viscous liquids at Sci- alumnus who has been awarded ence College, Raman felt that Neglected Chepauk Palace the prestigious National Medal of discovery of the anti-Stokes Technology and Innovation by lines was as important as the President Barack Obama, for initial discovery of the modified (Continued from page 1) architects appear to have not to document the entire Palace received it. In the meanwhile would be the ideal first step, breakthroughs that enabled scattering lines at lower fre- the committee submitted its Khalsa Mahal continues to mapping out what is an ex- LASIK surgery. quencies, and he told Sircar report, which incidentally moulder. tremely confusing complex, 12. Which Tamil composer won that Krishnan deserved half the suggested a partial reconstruc- What is evident now is that built as it was repeatedly over a the first-ever National Film credit for the discovery and he tion, whatever that means. This restoration is needed in all parts hundred years. With that in Award for Best Music Direction would share with Krishnan any may not be entirely acceptable of the Palace including the as- place, a restoration attempt for his work in Kandan Karunai? reward that came to him for it. as the study was completed in of-now standing Humayun would be more meaningful. 13. Theosophists in the city have But Krishnan knew that al- less than a week, surely a very th Mahal. In fact a dedicated move Hopefully, that should happen. chosen February 17 as what though his contribution to the short period of time for a ‘Day’? discovery was recognised by monument of such undoubted 14. Which royal’s statue, now in Raman and others in the Sci- historicity. a temple, was originally opposite ence Association, in the public It was then heard that the the Raja Annamalai Manram? eye he was still playing second Government was wanting to THREATS POSED 15. Which Tamil literary giant’s fiddle. Raman was extremely make the restoration of first book was a retelling of the possessive of the discovery, ever Chepauk Palace an example of Jain epic Ceevaka Cintamani? so wary of sharing the real credit how heritage conservation was BY METRO RAIL 16. Which well-known actor and of it with anybody else. The fact to be done. It invited ‘expres- that Raman had sent the paper film director of yesteryear lived sions of interest’ from conserva- (Continued from page 1) in the family house called titled ‘A change of wavelength tion architects for working on completed in time for a grand Canberra? in light scattering’ to Nature celebration. That does not ap- Khalsa Mahal. It also was under- connection with CMRL’s ac- 17. With which publication under his sole authorship with- pear likely now. Similarly, VP stood that the Government tivities near the LIC Building would you associate Vasantha out Krishnan’s knowledge both- would be happy to get the res- Hall is being renovated for over Vilas in Mylapore? ered him. It was known in the on Mount Road and the Law four years now, at a cost of Rs. toration done on rates and College near Esplanade. In all 18. Which famous ruler’s name is precincts of the Science Asso- methods that were not those of 3.5 crore. That too has slowed said to mean ‘the man with the ciation that Raman was in cor- cases CMRL has stonewalled down considerably. These the PWD’s. This indicated that beyond a general assurance that charred leg’? respondence with some emi- the Government was willing to structures are clearly not the fo- 19. Which sage is considered the nent physicists in Europe trying all would be well. cus and all resources including consider that heritage conser- The continuing activity near guru of all ‘Siddhars’ with the to get the nomination for the vation cannot be on the same land are clearly to be harnessed Siddha system believed to have 1929 Physics Nobel Prize for Ripon Building and VP Hall has for a speedy completion of the lines as new construction. All also put the restoration of these been handed over to him by Lord himself. that was in June 2012. Since Metro. Muruga? two structures on the With a view to establishing then nothing has been heard. 20. Who was awarded the Sahitya his own reputation, Krishnan in backburner. This being Ripon While that is all to the Has the request for expression Building’s centenary year, it was good, it is to be hoped that Akademi award for Tamil in September 1928 applied to the of interest been formally sent 2012? University of Dacca for the post hoped that the Rs. 7.7 crore heritage is not sacrificed in the (Answers on page 8) out? Structural engineers and restoration project would be process. March 1-15, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 From R’puram Medical School to Stanley Medical College (Continued from be examined by the Superinten- medals was unrivalled in the last fortnight) dent and touched to see if they Madras Presidency! were dirty!” He remembers that In 1941, three medical and he predecessor of Stanley once, when the Superintendent surgical units were created. Per- Medical College was the T Lt. Col. D.G. Rai was doing his mission to start MD and MS Royapuram Medical School rounds in the Willingdon courses was given in 1948. By that was started in June 1903 as Ward, the floors made of Ital- 1950, the College became inde- a small school housed in the ian marble were kept so clean pendent of Madras Medical Old Bullet Factory of the East and polished that he slipped College. When the new India Company. Between 1910 and fell with a bang. He got up Anatomy and Physiology De- and 1920, Government started smiling though!” partments were inaugurated in medical schools in Calicut, A milestone in the annals of the new college building (built Vizagapatam and Tanjore to the institution was the at a cost of Rs.9.5 lakh), it be- make medical knowledge avail- upgradation of Stanley Medical came a full-fledged college of- able to more people. But ineffi- Sir George Stanley. Dr. T.S. Tirumurthi – first Indian School to Stanley Medical Col- fering facilities for training stu- ciency and ill-equipped estab- principal of the Medical College. then Chief Lecturer, Dr. S. lege in 1938 and also the intro- dents in all subjects of the medi- lishments resulted in all those Swaminatha Pillay, assisted by duction of the five-year under- cal curriculum. The number of 1955 as a platform for research schools, except the one in Dr. Sivasubramaniam. Their graduate course in Medicine students admitted increased and dissemination of informa- Royapuram, being closed down. treatment of the subject was and Surgery. Dr. T.S.S. Rajan, from 72 to 100. There was also tion on developments in When the five-year LMP “something marvellous, we an alumnus of Stanley, who an additional increase of 10 stu- anatomy at the annual confer- course was inaugurated on thought we were reading Ara- held the medical portfolio in the dents to help Licentiate D M ences. March 27, 1934 by the then bian Nights!”. Pathology was Four years later, a major ad- Governor of Madras Presi- taught in the third year by dition to SMC was the newly dency, Sir George Fredrick Dr. C. Chinnaswamy Pillai, constructed (at a cost of Rs.32 Stanley, the college, till then who was interested in many lakh) Raja Sir Ramaswami known as Royapuram Medical subjects and who was a volumi- Mudaliar Lying-In Hospital School, was renamed Stanley nous reader and constructive with 275 beds. By January 1963, Medical School in his honour. critic. Third year students were annual admission rose to 150. Dr. V.C. Sudarsanam, Hon. posted in the pathology depart- There were by then seven medi- Ophthalmic Surgeon (with ment and would start the day at cal and surgical units. more than 33 years of service at 7 a.m. In a unique gesture in the Stanley from September 1930, “All urine, blood, stools ex- history of government institu- and who had studied in the aminations had to be done by tions, old students and former school before joining Madras students who were assisted by and the then-working staff of Medical College in 1934), re- an Assistant Lecturer. All ex- SMC generously contributed members joining Royapuram aminations had to be con- Rs.1 lakh towards construction Medical School in 1920 to get a ducted in his immediate pres- of the auditorium for the Col- diploma to practise medicine, ence. Every finding was re- lege. The Chief Minister of Ma- surgery and midwifery as a Li- corded in separate sheets and dras, M. Bhaktavatsalam, ac- censed Medical Practitioner had to be ready before the lec- cepted the amount and sanc- (LMP). He says, “Students who turer arrived at 9 a.m. After we tioned another Rs.5 lakh for the joined then had just finished read reports, we were asked to auditorium. The foundation high school and were from vari- write on the blackboard, and stone was laid by the then Presi- ous parts of the then Madras handwriting checked for forma- dent of India , Dr. Sarvepalli Presidency. School work started tion of dots, dashes, spellings, Radhakrishnan, on October 30, as early as 7 a.m. and, twice a punctuation, etc. Post-mortem 1964, as a part of its Silver Jubi- week, we had to attend physical classes were very illuminating lee celebrations. instruction class held in the and description of findings had “The whole campus of the ground behind what is now the to be accurate. All measure- institution, comprising college, ladies’ hostel blocks. At the ap- ments were made correct to the hospitals and hostels extend pointed hour, correct to the tenth of an inch, including the over 3 square furlongs or 27 minute, we lined up and by that length and breadth of intestinal Stanley Medical College. acres of land, unfortunately cut time the Superintendent, an worms! Dr.V. Kalyanaraman, first Congress Government of and S to undergo condensed across by a busy road and sur- IMS officer, would come riding assisted him ably. Methodical Madras Province, inaugurated course before graduation. rounded by shrieking multi- on his horse, sometimes in uni- work was emphasised, test tubes the event on July 2, 1938. Ad- By 1952, the Department of tudes of railway engines, over form, and inspect us. Col. and slides washed, microscopes mission to the DMS course was Anatomy was upgraded with which even the Central Minis- Bryson would pick out all coats cleaned and covered, and the discontinued a short while later courses for M.Sc and Ph. D in ter of Transport appears to have without buttons, shoes without number of match sticks used to and the college was affiliated to Anatomy. The intake capacity no control,” stated a note from socks, open coats without tie, a be counted before we left Madras University. The birth was 4 per year, chosen from Dr. K.C. Nambiar at that time. tuft without a turban, and un- class!”, he further recalled. pangs were many and varied for among students from all over Dr. A.N.K. Menon, Dean, shaven faces and those so iden- Dr. Sudarsanam talks of two the first batch of 72 students. India. The institution of a Dean Stanley Medical College and tified were ordered to be at his giants, Dr. S.M. Trasi, whose There was no college building to administer both the College ex-officio Vice Chairman of the office after class work was over. way “of putting sutures was so ready and preclinical teachings and Hospital was created the Silver Jubilee Committee, re- The next inspection was out- quick and correct that both in Anatomy, Physiology, Bio- same year. The first Dean was corded: “What started as a stretched palms. All palms felt hands worked like a machine”, chemistry and Organic Chem- Dr. Ananthanarayana Iyer who medical school in 1903 in the soft would be sent to the Gym and his assistant, Dr. N.S. istry were done at Madras established the Institute of Bullet Factory of the East India instructor with orders for prac- Narasimha Iyer. “The hospital Medical College. The best out- Anatomy at Stanley in 1955, Company has now grown into a tice on various bars; others had a very pleasant look, neat going student of the first batch attracting students from all over full-fledged Medical College would do marching and physi- with well-laid out gardens and was Dr. T.S. Kalyanam, an out- the country. He also established giving training to both UG and cal exercises.” plenty of breathing spaces in standing student whose tally of the Anatomy Society of India in PG and occupying a remarkably Lecturers and teachers were between wards. Stanley was the high place in medical colleges in “very keen on maintaining dis- first among all the medical col- G A peaceful students’ strike in 1920 resulted in “two impor- India. The attached teaching cipline.” When students failed tant reliefs”. Till then, if a student failed in the final year three hospital which started in 1790 leges in the city to create a gar- times, he was “dismissed and career ended”. Students had to to pay tuition fees or exam fees den. Dr. P.F. Mathias, the Su- as a Native Infirmary with 75 on time, each would be ques- secure 80 per cent attendance and pass in the selection exam perintendent, was very focussed before being sent up for the Board Exam every year. After the beds has developed into a mag- tioned by the Superintendent in on cleanliness. After hostel strike, the practice of detention by selection exam and dismissal nificent modern teaching hospi- private and in genuine cases of rounds, there were rounds of after three failures was stopped! tal accommodating thousands poverty, he often paid from his hospital gardens, where every of patients with facilities for G The very first student journal of the institution, issued in own pocket! The Senior nook and corner was inspected. special treatment in all Anatomy class was taken by the March 1933, was called The Royapuram Medico! Every wall in the wards would (Continued on page 8) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS March 1-15, 2013 Of war and wickets ethnic conflict and tries to fill corrupt military, police and bu- gland, for Sussex in several gaps on what could have reaucracy.” August 1957, when Still Counting The Dead – gone on in the last five months The book is definitely for the he was just 16. Tiger Survivors of Sri Lanka’s Hid- of war from the perspective of brave hearted, as some of the was someone who den War: Frances Harrison LTTE activists/sympathisers as truth can really wrench you. changed the way (Portobello Books, Rs. 399). well as innocent civilians. But beneath the coldness of war cricket was perceived Once a tropical paradise The book tells the tale of and the suffering, you glimpse and played. As the with virgin beaches and pictur- human suffering, the ugly face the triumph of the human spirit, youngest captain (he esque landscapes, Sri Lanka of war and the futility of it all in the courage of a people who was only 21) who led soon became synonymous with the voices of several – a U.N. have moved on despite the cir- India in 40 Tests, he clude Farokh Engineer, Abbas blood and gore as civil war be- official, a pro-LTTE TamilNet cumstances. And that’s what forged a national identity in a Ali Baig, Bishan Bedi, Mike tween the Tamil Tigers and the journalist, the head of the makes this a compelling read. team where that was sometimes Brearley, David Woolley, LTTE Peace Secretariat divided by regional lines, and Government tore the country * * * Naseeruddin Shah, Sunil apart and left hundreds of thou- (Pulidevan) who was killed un- helped raise the bar of fielding Gavaskar, Ian Chappell, N. sands of children, doctors, farm- der controversial circum- Pataudi: Nawab of Cricket: and bowling like never before. Ram, Tony Lewis, Vijay Mer- ers, fishermen, nuns and other stances, a government doctor, a Edited by: Suresh Menon with Despite the handicap (he chant, M.J. Akbar, Suresh civilians in a traumatised state. nun, a teacher, an LTTE media Foreword by Sharmila Tagore lost one eye to an accident even Menon, Ray Robinson, Mudar Now, the United Nations department woman functionary (Harper Sport, Rs. 499). before he became a pro), Tiger Patherya, Rajdeep Sardesai, has launched an enquiry into with two children, an LTTE Dashing, smashing and one was a force to reckon with from John Woodcock, Rahul Dravid, the war crimes, some of which fighter, a shopkeeper and a rape of cricket’s early superstars, the moment he made his Test Robin Marlar, Ted Dexter, find their way into this book in victim married to an LTTE Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, debut against England in De- Mike Coward, Saba Ali Khan shattering detail. fighter. whose other name was Tiger, cember 1961 till 1975. and Soha Ali Khan. Harrison, a former BBC Significantly, most of the was perhaps one of the most dis- This book is a compilation of Who better than Suresh correspondent, who spent four people who have lived to tell tinguished and undisputed essays by fellow cricketers, Menon to be at the helm of this years in the war-ravaged nation, their story have “managed to ‘Nawabs’ of Indian cricket. friends and family, summing up book? A well-known sport jour- puts together some interesting buy their way out of the island A right-handed batsman, he Tiger, both on and off the field. nalist, Menon has edited books insights into the decades-long nation by heavily bribing the made his first-class debut in En- Some of the contributors in- on many sportspersons, includ- ing Sachin Tendulkar. A touch- ing foreword by Tiger’s wife Sharmila Tagore lends a per- sonal touch. From Medical School to Medical College – Savitha Gautam (Continued from page 7) and fields. Today, the city has Stanley Medical College’s arm; Dr. Kuttumbiah, well branches. At present, the Col- grown vastly and in all the three early rolls had many medical lu- known physician; Dr. Mannadi Answers to Quiz lege has on its roll about 1120 directions. The Medical School minaries and administrators, Nair, the first Professor of Bio- 1.Glenn Maxwell, 2. Being an students with 150 undergradu- too has grown and developed like Dr. T.S. Tirumurthi, the chemistry in Madras Presi- all-girls’ band it was branded ‘un- ates taken in every year. At the into the Stanley Medical Col- first Indian principal; Dr. dency; Dr. R.G. Krishnan, ob- Islamic’, 3. World Radio Day, 4. inauguration of the Silver Jubi- lege. The palm groves and fields Dinkar Rau, wonderful teacher stetrician and gynaecologist, Ranchi Rhinos, 5. He (or it ) is the lee celebrations, a magnificent that once surrounded this area and principal; Dr. David, the who made the outpatient de- world’s first bionic man, 6. Patna, three-floor OP block will be have gone and in their place first Professor of Pharmacology partments and clinical services 7. Indian Software Product Indus- opened, and will be one of the stand factories, big and small. and the author of one of the at the hospital more effective; try Round Table (iSpirt), 8. Jagjit Institutions which serve people earliest textbooks on the sub- Dr. M. Natarajan, renowned or- Singh, 9. Rashtriya Bal Sawsthya best equipped and spacious OP Karyakram, 10. A streaking meteor blocks in India, if not in South- grow with the growing popula- ject; Dr. Ananthanarayana thopaedic surgeon, and tea- tion. Iyer, the well known Professor cher; Dr. M. Vishwanathan, flashed across its skies injuring at East Asia.” least 1000 people. In the Diamond Jubilee Sou- It is a matter of pride that of Anatomy; Dr. R. Maha- well-known diabetologist; Dr. venir of the SMC (1963), M. Stanley Medical College, which devan, eminent surgeon who Natesa Mudaliar, professor of * * * Bhaktavatsalam, the then Chief completes 25 years of life this performed the first mitral valvo- venereology and an excellent 11. Rangaswamy Srinivasan, 12. Minister, wrote, “When the year, has been able to send out tomy in the country; Dr. R. teacher; and well-known physi- K.V. Mahadevan, 13.’Adyar Day’ every year medical men who go Raghavachari, legendary sur- cian, Dr. Rathnavel Subra- 14. Chitra Tirunal Bala Rama Royapuram Medical School was Varma, 15. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, started 60 years ago, the area in out to heal the sick and the geon and exemplary teacher manian, and many others! wounded in different parts of who operated on Shri Ramana 16. K. Balaji, 17. Law Weekly, 18. which the school was located – Shobha Menon Karikala Chozhan, 19. Agastya, 20. the State.” Maharshi for cancer in the fore- was girdled by palms and groves (To be continued) Daniel Selvaraj for Thol.

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