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Vol. XXIV No. 12 MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014 Window opened Madras Landmarks on heritage – 50 years ago – For Corporation engineers t long last, the city’s civic (By The Editor) are not designed to dwarf their Abody appears to have surroundings. woken up to the fact that none programme, and promised Nevertheless, one of the of its engineers is trained in support to more such training greatest failures of the HCC, heritage conservation. This wis- programmes. and therefore of the CMDA, dom, though belated, is to be While this step of the has been the inability to come commended. And it is to be Corporation is indeed a most out with a comprehensive list of hoped that will lead to correc- welcome initiative, it is to be heritage buildings in the city tion and, consequently, the hoped that the Chennai Metro- which can then be notified. presence of a trained corps that politan Development Authority Though a fresh listing is most will in future be able to take on (CMDA) and the Public Works unnecessary, given that the tasks of enumeration, evalua- Department (PWD) will follow High Court of Madras has fur- G The Madras Legislative Council set up in the 1860s continuously expanded there- tion and conservation of heri- this lead and work together nished the CMDA with what after till the 1920s. It had its meetings in the Council Chamber in Fort St. George. with INTACH-Chennai on When the Legislative Assembly came into existence following the institution of tage buildings within the city. was put together by the Justice dyarchy, it met first in 1937 at Senate House and between 1938 and 1939 at This thinking was followed similar programmes, as much of E Padmanabhan Committee on Banqueting (Rajaji) Hall. By the 1940s, a full-fledged Assembly Hall had been up with quick action when the the heritage of this city is also hoardings, the CMDA has been built inside Fort St George and so the Assembly moved into the Fort. Corporation recently had over under the control of these two insisting on preparing a list of its Independence posed a new problem – the composite Madras State, which 80 of its engineers attend a departments. The CMDA own. That it has failed despite comprised what later became Andhra, had 375 Assembly constituencies and, three-day workshop on built- holds the key to decisions on seven years having passed is so, that many legislators as well. The Assembly Hall in the Fort could not heritage conservation specially demolition of public heritage chiefly because it has no trained accommodate so many. A new Legislature building was, therefore, constructed organised by INTACH-Chen- buildings, especially those that personnel to take on this activ- in Government Estate, just behind Rajaji Hall and Government House. nai with experts from the city, stand in the way of develop- ity. It may be best that the task Completed at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh, it was inaugurated on May 2, 1952 by Delhi and Bangalore offering ment projects, through the role is entrusted to the Corpora- Governor Sri Prakasa. that could be played by its Heri- The division of States on the basis of linguistic regions saw the creation of the participants a wealth of in- tion’s Junior Engineers (JEs), Andhra Pradesh in 1953 and the number of legislators in Madras State fell to sights into both the theoretical tage Conservation Committee now that they have been 205. This could be safely accommodated in the Assembly Hall inside the Fort and practical aspects of conser- (HCC). This largely dormant through the recent heritage and so the legislature shifted back. The newly built Legislature building was re- vation, supported by site visits. body has, thankfully, controlled awareness programme. These developed as The Children’s Theatre where children’s films and documentaries These engineers, thus, had an the Metro Rail’s tendency to JEs, given that they are at- were shown at subsidised rates. It was, however, never popular. The auditorium exposure to the technical largely steamroll its way over tached to wards, will be able to received a fresh lease of life when it was refurbished as a 1000-seat theatre and knowledge necessary to save old heritage. For instance, some list what is in their localities and relaunched as Kalaivanar Arangam, named after N.S. Krishnan. buildings as well as sensitisation positive action has been taken then a comprehensive list can The theatre survived till 2008 when, as part of the magnificent obsession to on the unique architecture of by the HCC when it came to be made with the inputs re- build a new Assembly-cum-Secretariat in Government Estate, the heritage the eventual decision to protect buildings in the premises were all brought down one by one. Rajaji Hall was the the city, whatever that is left of ceived from them. sole survivor. Kalaivanar Arangam too became a casualty. That it was all to no it that is. The Mayor attended the RSRM Choultry from As for the PWD, it still con- use is now clear, what with the Assembly having shifted once again into the Fort the valedictory session, which is demolition. Similarly, the HCC trols all restoration activities in and the new building becoming a multi-speciality referral hospital. a good indicator of the impor- has also ensured that proposed Meanwhile, work has begun on building a new theatre on the spot where tance that was attached to the stations near heritage buildings (Continued on page 5) Kalaivanar Arangam once stood. City pedestrian plaza being planned f everything works well, T’ how the project shapes up in By A Special lar problems before becoming a Salai will have the standard INagar may soon have a reality. Correspondent walking/cycling only area. This four-lane carriageway and wide pedestrian plaza, a walkers’ The idea was first mooted in appears to have been the inspi- sidwalks. The cost is estimated paradise that will stretch from 2012 when experts from New high speeds was outdated, and ration for our Corporation. at Rs 83 crore and part of it is Panagal Park to Anna Salai/ York were called in to study the the need of the hour was for in- The design, which was expected to be funded from the Mount Road. In terms of problems of public transport in creased use of public transport, finalised in May this year, envis- Rs 50 crore loan that the Cor- distance it is not much, Chennai. The team comprising encourage cycling and promote ages the division of the area into poration hopes will be sanc- being just about 1.4 km, long, the Big Apple’s Transport and pedestrian facilities. The report three zones. The first, between tioned by the World Bank for a but it is significant as it is prob- Planning Commissioners was singled out T’Nagar and, while Panagal Park and Dr Nair Road, larger revamp scheme of ably the first instance when the brutally frank in its findings – recognising its high energy, said and the second between Dr T’Nagar that includes aerial authorities have recognised the the city’s waterways were pol- that it needed to be cleared of Nair Road and Residency walkways and parking lots. rights of pedestrians. However, luted beyond words and needed all traffic, making it a pedestrian Towers, will have pedestrian There are, however, dissen- from concept to implementa- to be resurrected, the concept area. It drew parallels between walkways and a dedicated bus sions within the Corporation’s tion is a long road to be trav- of designing flyovers and roads Panagal Park and Times Square lane. The last section, between elled and much depends on to facilitate car movement at of New York, which faced simi- Residency Towers and Anna (Continued on page 3) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014 Of culture Blue boxes of many uses he Queen (of England, suited for pasting posters. power surplus in the next two & commerce Tthat is), we are told, oper- What is worse is that, as MMM months or words to that effect. ates out of red boxes. The Man notices, these blue bins have For the sake of record, such rt and commerce are strange bedfellows. And in India during from Madras Musings wonders occupied what little there is left predictions were made and re- Athe nineties of the last century, there was a sudden awaken- as to what Indian leaders use of pedestrian space on many ceived with wide acclaim in ing. To put India on the world map of wealth and prosperity, we for their confidential docu- thoroughfares. In short, they 2012, 2013 and 2014, the last thought that we had to opt for gigantic consumerism, as in the rich ments. The Chief, MMM are among the most useless cre- one being made in May of this Western nations, especially the US, and try aping their corporate knows, works out of a small ations of our civic body. It is year when it was asserted that cultural values and norms. grey diary into which he peri- high time these are dismantled there would be no power cuts odically enters profound and the sheets put to good use, effective June 1st. There were P.V. Narasimha Rao, India’s Prime Minister then, conceived thoughts in a handwriting that such as backdrops for hoard- none to give credit where it is only he can decipher, and that ings, supports for cut-outs, and due, but nobody said that this the idea of a free market-oriented economy and Manmohan Singh, too only on a sunny day. Our stands for posters. But then was only a temporary reprie- his Finance Minister, delivered it, paving the way for corporate beloved city, of course, works MMM forgets that that is ex- ve, and had been entirely de- moghuls. And there was this technological boom when every young out of blue boxes, the gifts that actly what they are used for pendent on wind power. In ef- person became a whiz kid, whose short and long range vision was our governing fathers have be- even now. fect, like the Rock-a-Bye-Baby money and making more money. Love of art and aesthetics for stowed on us. rhyme, when the wind blows, their own sake became the casualty. Every aspect of our living These boxes have been Candles in the wind our State rocks. But what hap- became related to the value of money. In a free-for-all kind of placed in all strategic street pens when the wind stops? economy, with buyers and sellers, conditioned by bulls and bears, corners. In shape and size they mong the few wise things Down comes the power gen- resemble the large containers Athat The Man from Madras eration and everything goes with very little breathing space for art and culture, corporate czars Musings has done, is the saving took over the business of art. Literature, theatre, cinema and fine that carry industrial output with it. from one country to another, up of petromax and hurricane MMM is, of course, not arts acquired values determined by their market value in terms of on ships. The idea was that lanterns that were once used by entirely fazed by the power money. No other critical yardstick as handed down to us by our these commodious containers his ancestors. For some reason, cuts. Unlike the High Tension traditional concepts of culture were necessary. In such an would be used as receptacles of MMM was always of the view users, he is a Low Tension unhealthy environment of cultural confusion and decay, how can the rubbish that would be col- that they would come in useful customer and so suffers in you expect the young of the country to be aware of their past heritage and withstand the onslaught of contemporary trends? SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY

G by Indira Parthasarathy lected from all the houses in and, sure enough, their hour silence. It is also with a sense Look at our cultural institutions. Though they were established the neighbourhood. Hand- has now come. of déjà vu that he does that, for carts, it was rather grandiosely MMM alludes to the recent it all reminds him of the time to integrate the various cultural aspects of this great country, they declared, would do that task of announcement by the TNEB when he was the Cherubic rarely collaborate with one another in organising integrated collecting the rubbish and (Totally No Electricity Board) Child of Calcutta where 22 cultural festivals or seminars. transporting it to the blue box. aka TANGEDCO (Total Ab- hour power cuts were the The garbage collection vehicle sence or No Generation of norm, rather ironically when India is a synthetic fabric of many coloured threads with differ- (the big green one that is Electricity, Deploy Candles the State of West Bengal was ent regional cultural forms for which there is one well-defined fab- motorised and stops all traffic Only) that it will be resorting ruled by a Chief Minister who ric of what we have known from time immemorial as ‘Indian cul- and which is not to be con- to power cuts once again. Not rejoiced in the name of ‘Jyoti’, ture’, as the bottomline of this great concept. Have these cultural fused with the battered grey that anyone is surprised, but or ‘light’. institutions, which have been in existence for several decades, suc- handcart) would then stop at MMM understands that the But those were days when ceeded in carrying this message to the youth of this country? each of the big blues and col- High Tension users are having ours was a country of short- Instead, the country is getting divided further and further into vari- lect what is in them and carry hypertension and several are ages and we were taught to ous claustrophobic cultural pockets distanced from one another. them away to God Knows swearing under their breath to accept it as our fate. These Where – namely the landfills take their custom elsewhere. days that is not the way. With The National School of Drama every year stages hundreds of plays about which nobody is as yet Not that it has really made the everyone being exposed to in different Indian languages in Delhi during its national festival. bothered except for those who powers that be concerned. The international standards, claim- The Malayalam play is seen by the Keralites in Delhi, the Tamil have the misfortune to live in powers could not care less, or ing that our city or State is at play is seen by the Tamils in Delhi, and so on. Were all these their vicinity. so it would appear. All that that level sounds rather hol- cultural institutions created to perpetuate this division? That at least is the plan on matters is that they need to be low when we do not appear to paper and like all good things in power. have any strategy to combat How did the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, though written in of Chennai, it looks good on And, so, MMM has pulled this problem. MMM wonders a language which is not the mother tongue of any single commu- paper only. In reality, the out his collection of lanterns, if any developed State/City/ nity in India, become an intrinsic part of the national and cultual handcarts do not collect the candle stands and even a rail- country can claim to depend psyche of all the regions of Bharat, where every region has adopted rubbish. It is brought by way signal lamp which appears on the wind as a permanent the stories befitting its own cultural genius but retained the spirit householders to various bins to have somehow attached it- solution and then wring its provided by our Corporation. self to MMM’s grandfather’s hands when that fails. Sounds and soul of the epics as a whole? Was there a Sahitya Akademi or But, and here is where the retinue. (Like everyone else, rather ancient, does it not? National Book Trust at the time to organise translations of these householders differ from those MMM had two grandfathers works? in other countries – nobody and both were in the railways, Tailpiece puts the garbage into the bins. so MMM is unable to guess as The reason is not far to seek. There was free interaction between They strew their rubbish all to which one of the two walked nce again, our airports the people of various regions in this country in the form of pilgrim- around it. The motorised ve- off with the signal lamp). These Ohave come to the rescue ages, temple festivals, cultural and philosophical debates, music hicle comes once or twice a MMM plans to clean and press of The Man from Madras and dance melas, without the interference of a political govern- day and collects whatever it into service. He will be known Musings, when it comes to the ment. This continued to happen till the 1930s and 1940s. There can from the bins and from as ‘The Lad with the Lamp’. tailpiece. No comments on the were individual patrons of art and culture, who promoted a around it and departs. The Leaving aside the levity, it is English, but those in the know national art consciousness among the various sections of the task of emptying the bins is time that this power crisis is assure MMM that the Tamil is horribly wrong as well, as you people, transcending the caste and linguistic barriers. made easier by foraging cows taken in hand. It is not enough that tilt them over in the pro- to make empty announcements can see from the picture cess of reaching for some juicy that the State would become featured below. Secondly, the concept of classical and popular art never existed – MMM plastic bags. in those days. This division is an idea imported from the West What of the big, blue and which, during the period of industrilisation, the rich – having lost roomy boxes? They remain the feudatory privileges – created. The famous literary critic Leslie empty. Several have begun to Fiedler asks, “Between elitism and populism, how would you rate collapse and present a sand- Shakespeare? A classical poet or popular poet? The illiterate Eliza- bagged appearance. Some bethan masses loved him as their darling. In the same way, we can have been converted into cow also ask “Was Valmiki or Vyasa or Tulsidas or Kamban an elitist or pens and makeshift residences popular poet?” The young people of today, having surrendered for rag pickers. One or two their taste to the worship of Mammon, do not ask themselves these are convenient spots for a tipple or two after sunset, es- questions and have become the children of a bastardised culture. pecially if a TASMAC outlet It is the responsibility of the artistes and cultural activists to start a is nearby. The corrugated movement, as Vivekananda did for spiritualism, to reclaim our sheets are, of course, most national culture, which is our due. – (Courtesy: Sruti). October 1-15, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

When London was worse Reader T. Santhanam's letter in MM, August 16th, the high basements similar to such houses. exhibits a contempt for Indian toilet habits and Environmentalists mindlessly curse the internal admiration for European culture ignoring the very combustion engine and the modern mechanical recent history of flush toilets inside houses. Far world as the root of all pollution, and as evil incarnate. But it was diesel and Benz’s automo- too often, our media, government and social bile that improved farming. activists exhibit such an attitude. I hope the Thomas Hager, in his book on the synthesis Turning around PSUs ing labour participation in following changes a mind or two. of nitrogen, The Alchemy of Air, vividly decision-making; motivating he article (MM, September describes cargo ships carrying mountains of R&D efforts; taking bold deci- The Thames & the Cooum 16th) on V. Krishnamur- guano bat and bird dung from the Pacific islands T sions to aquire Maharashtra n the 19th Century, the river Thames that off the Peruvian coast, arriving at the ports in thy’s tenure at the helm of SAIL Electromelts and Badravati Iflows through London was a far worse river England. This worsened the smell. London was made me nostalgic about our as- Steel Works for integrated raw than the Cooum that flows through Madras. Not steadily getting dirtier and smellier well before sociation with him at middle materials flow – all these bold only the river, but the stinking city of London the Industrial Revolution, dumping its management level: executing was the world’s largest dumpyard. measures, made SAIL, a run-of- untreated sewage and trash into the Thames his out-of-box ideas on shop When the scientist Chadwick proposed that the-mill organisation in the only worsened things – in fact, the Great Stink floors to Improve productivity: Thames be cleaned, The Times, London, op- of 1858 caused Parliament to shift from London 1970s, to transform into a suc- his efforts to bring back steel posed it vehemently: “England wants to be to Oxford! cessful commercial enterprise in experts who left SAIL for one clean, but not be cleaned by Chadwick” ran its Most readers of English literature will be the 1980s. editorial, according to Peter Medawar in his reason or other to lead the familiar with Charles Dickens’s satires on the VK established the Indian book The Limits of Science. soot and terrible pollution of London. What we units; his concern to train and Model of Management. Poor Prince Albert, consort of Queen generally don’t think about or realise is that develop executive managerial Bhilai Gopalan Victoria, died surrounded by 42 cesspools, and such a London no longer exists. It has become skills by conducting workshops 1/6 Sankara Flats the inconsolable queen then ordered the clean- far cleaner, far less polluted metropolis. It is a with management consultant; 1, 6th Cross Street ing up of London – thus was born the modern lesson for the dirty cities of the world. improving HRD and introduc- Shastri Nagar sewerage system. This was the most useful royal I cannot resist pointing out at this point that Adyar, Chennai 600 020 death in history, first for England, then the the single most repeated thing about the Indus world: the largest metropolis of the post-Indus- Valley Civilisation is that the people had the Jerdon’s volumes trial Revolution era systematically got its first most advanced sewerage systems of the world effective sewerage system. he T.C. Jerdon article until the 19th Century. The system they devel- The old Another fact might be mentioned here – one oped appears to be better than what we have in T (MM, September 1st) was about horses. More specifically, horse dung. As most cities and villages in India. During January an impressively written piece. Stephen Leavitt explains brilliantly in his book 2014 site visit of the Tamil Heritage Trust to order The story of a pioneer orni- Super Freakonomics, the modern curse of Car- Lothal, we were given a tour of the drainage thologist was told with great bon dioxide pollution is insignificant compared systems of that Harappan city. Sewage is changeth warmth. I hope the author is to the pre-automobile horse-dung pollution that disgusting as current affairs, but is apparently writing his biography. every European and American city suffered. fascinating as heritage! The tall basements of stone houses in the US G In the 1990s, while serving As Sriram V. elucidated to some of us on a A comment in lighter cities of that era – New York, Boston, Philadel- vein on the changes in in Ahmadabad, I was invited for Chintadripet Heritage Walk, it was during Lord phia – and similar cities in Europe owe their Hobart’s Governorship of Madras Presidency, the work ethic in the first lunch by a former rajah to his design to the moneyed classes, who built such palace in a small town nearby. that the plan for a sewerage system for Madras 100 days after Modi. This residences to prevent rain-mixed sludge, germinated. In fact, Lord Hobart’s death was as little ode is dedicated to Near the dining table stood an enriched with horse and human refuse, from useful to Madras, as Prince Albert’s was to all Government offices almirah and there, among other entering their homes. In a remarkable coinci- England. everywhere. books, the three volumes of dence, the houses of Bohra Muslims in Jerdon’s The Birds of India Siddhpur in Gujarat were built on the designs R. Gopu The Boss all fired with caught my eyes. It was the first of the European houses of the time – and have [email protected] Vision edition, in mint condition, com- Made it his one and only plete with golden letters em- mission bossed on the calico-bound To see that things were hard cover. My friend, himself a Pedestrian plaza being planned moving keen birder, was working in the (Continued from page 1) ther changes in the light of the after the plaza is ready? Will it In the corridors of power. estate of the rajah and I told pedestrian plaza – what was be free of encroachments? Will him about seeing the book. executive on how the project is originally planned as a multi- hawkers not take over the Now the files are getting Ten years later, I visited my to be proceeded with. The engi- storey parking facility, it has whole place? Will commercial lighter, friend in another town. He neers are of the view that it is now been redesigned as an un- interests not want all pedestrian The halls a whole lot brought out a bundle wrapped best that the multi-level park- derground lot capable of hold- areas to be made over as park- brighter. in cloth, gingerly kept it on a ing lot, which was to be con- ing 500 cars. ing lots? Much depends on how In at nine and out betimes table and opened it. In it lay structed on one side of Panagal While all this is welcome and the Corporation handles all at nine, Jerdon’s books, sparkling. My Park be completed before the hopes run high for the revamp that. Experience has shown us The canteen is no place to friend told me that when he left pedestrian project takes off. of T’Nagar, our fundamental that construction of such facili- spend the time. the estate job, the king gave the They are concerned about the fears, highlighted when this ties is relatively easy. It is in the And when you go to pay books as a parting gift. No…I traffic chaos that will ensue if idea was first mooted in 2012, maintenance that we invariably your taxes will not reveal the identity of work on the latter begins with- still hold good. What happens fail. At the corner where the fax my friend. I do not want his out any proper arrangements is, house to be burgled. for vehicles. It is, however, reli- That lazy blighter is not ably learnt that the elected rep- sleeping at his desk. S. Theodore Baskaran resentatives are all for the pe- 26, Asha Township Phase II destrian project to start at once, CHENNAI HERITAGE The motto being Dodda Gubbi Post presumably because of its high No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 “fitter not fatter,” Bangalore 560 077 profile nature and the urgency There is no Moghul biriyani Recalling Triveni to see it completed before the I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / At one for Indirani. term of the present Council I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. The lady is in a fix, . Ramakoteeswara Rao of ends in three years. The multi- G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 A meal or aerobics? KTriveni, which was brought level parking lot, incidentally, (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, out beautifully, was a good has had a history of its own. It MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year 2014-15. There is no fiddle and no friend of my father. remained on paper for years, faddle, K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, with no bidder being interested G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment No huddle and no muddle, father of Prema Nandakumar, in the tender. Estimated at Rs and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional Rs...... And the Boss can’t stop used to contribute to Triveni 25 crores, it has undergone fur- under the pen name ‘Crystal’. I (Rupees ...... ) Please keep/put me grinning on your mailing list. For the money that is think his magnum opus. Sita- Sole author yana, appeared in Triveni. This Name : ...... jiggling he article on Triveni in is the Ramayana retold with fo- In the coffers where it MM, September 16th, was Address: ...... cus on Sita. T rightly ought to be. by Ganga Powell alone and not ...... – Beatrix D’Souza Dr. S.S. Rajagopalan as stated. The error is regretted. All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by 30, Kamarajar Street Speed Post only. Chennai 600 093 – The Editor 4 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014 October 1-15, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 Bridge-building Catching a wave tales of yore to the future ittle would have Murthy to Yotam Agam, co-founder of coach and owner, the Covelong (Continued from penditure before giving their ap- once, the suspension bridge was, LMegavan – a fisherman and EarthSync, a record label and Point Social Surf School was in- last fortnight) proval. the Military Board invited ten- a school drop-out from Kovalam, audio-visual production com- augurated in Kovalam on No- The Superintending Engineer ders and gave the contract to two 40 kilometres from Chennai – pany. Murthy caught five waves vember 16, 2012, by the then overnment insisted that an gave a statement of costs in- local maistries, whose quotation realised that he was creating a with a surfing board Yotam lent British Deputy High Commis- estimate be given for ap- G volved in two other bridges to was much lower than the esti- future for himself and other him. An elated Yotam gifted him sioner, Mike Nithavrianakis. proval for construction work St. George Bridge, Mount Road, River Cooum. prove his work was carried out mated cost. youths from his village when he the surfing board. Murthy, Vicky, Venkat and whatever the cost. Unless ap- most economically, but the bail- Neither Military Board nor borrowed a surfing board from a Murthy was unstoppable Appu now conduct training ses- Arun Vasu, Murthy Megavan, Jonty Rhodes and Yotam Agam. proval was obtained, no work ing of water for foundation build- the Government paused for a reluctant ‘Surfing Swami’ in thereafter. He quit fishing and sions for people wanting to learn could be started. ing was most unexpected. He minute to ascertain whether the 2001. Jack Hebner, popularly turned coach to train young surfing. And to keep them going, went to their first-ever surfing Murthy’s tryst with surfing If the estimate was exceeded stated that the river was always maistries were capable of building called the Surfing Swami, who is Vicky, Venkat and Appu from TTK Logistics has extended its competition in Pondicherry in hasn’t stopped with the surfing in the final account, Govern- full of water. While keeping the a large bridge. They gave them credited with creating the surfing his village. Gifts of surf boards support till the school can sus- 2011. Murthy finished second in school. In 2013 he donated a ment needed to know the rea- cofferdams dry, he had to use ex- the work, but not without a se- movement in India, was in from other surfers visiting tain itself. Meanwhile, an Aus- the advanced surfers’ category, substantial sum from the surfing sons for the excess amount spent. tra persons for bailing water. Af- curity. Kovalam in 2001 to explore op- Kovalam followed. A couple of tralian NGO, 'Boards for Bil- which boosted the confidence of school’s revenues to the village Lieutenant Thomas Fraser, ter protracted arguments, the is- Having faced all kinds of portunities for surf sports near years later, a stunned Yotam saw lions', is sending about 100 surf these fledgling surfers. panchayat to finance the educa- who built St. George’s Bridge, sue finally came to a happy end. difficulties, the local builders Chennai. He reluctantly lent his the way Murthy and his trainees boards over a year and half to the Among the late entrants, tion of schoolchildren in the lo- was censured for exceeding the gave up the project half way. The surfing board to Murthy who were surfing and was so im- school. Dharani is showing good prom- cal school. The school has also estimate. His commission and * * * work was taken over by the Su- showed an infectious enthusiasm pressed that he made a docu- ise and is a consistent winner in organised many free health benefits were all withheld. The Government decided in perintending Engineer, Presi- surfing competitions held in camps. In deserving cases, it has In his defence, he brought to 1840s that all ‘works’ should be dency Division, and completed Pondicherry, Kerala and Orissa. paid for surgeries. Murthy has the notice of the Governor that given ‘on contract’. When the in 1848. He is keen on becoming an in- also been channelising surfing to when the work on the founda- time came to build a new bridge In the meantime, the lead ternational surfer. He is also in- transform the village youth and tion was completed, he was in- across the Cooum in Chintadri- Elphinstone Bridge, River Adyar. maistry died and the creditors be- terested in training young boys, structed to realign the whole pet at the same location where, even as young as six, so that they bridge! Once again he had to G by A bridge near Ashton’s shop reach international levels sink wells for the foundation, and was designed with a width of 22 quicker. K. Venkatesh the piers and abutments were feet between parapet walls. In To popularise the surf school, raised. Still, changes continued Through the painters’ eyes 1846, when construction was the first Covelong Point Classic to be made, and he complied about to start, the Military Board Surf and Music Festival was make them responsible citizens with them all. These changes amous painters have left us beautiful paintings trance of the Fort, had seven arches. Painted in 1820, realised that the bridge would be organised by the School in No- of the future. He strictly prohib- added to the final cost for which Fof the city’s graceful arch bridges: just after renovation, by Major De Havilland. too narrow and suggested that a vember 2013. Jonty Rhodes, its his wards from drinking, he was not responsible. The Gov- Armenian Bridge: William Hodges St George’s Bridge: Lieutenant Thomas Fraser minimum width of 30 feet with 5 South African cricketer and a smoking and gambling. He helps ernor accepted his plea and re- Painted in 1780, gives the earliest view of the “A view of the Bridge over Chintadripettah River, feet raised causeways on either keen water sport enthusiast, pro- them focus on aiming for inter- stored all his benefits. bridge with pointed arches, and with some structures near Government Garden Madras.” side for ‘foot passengers’ safety, moted the event as its ambassa- national surfing participation In another instance, the great above the roadway. The Superintending Engineer who built the thus in total 40 feet width was a dor and also conducted a train- and to take an interest in entre- 18-arch Elphinstone Bridge was bridge in 1804 painted it himself in 1805. He pre- Armenian Bridge: Thomas Daniel must. They felt that in the dis- ing session. The second edition preneurial activities. completed successfully and the Painted in 1792-1793 when he, along with his sented it to Sir John Sinclair of Ulster, with the above tant future, with the city expand- of the festival too blended surf- The Kovalam boys are now Military Board was all praise for nephew, William Daniel, visited Madras. The arches title. ing, and comparing with the ing with music, yoga and fun. regularly winning prizes in com- the Superintending Engineer are more semicircular. St. Andrew’s Bridge: John Gantz width of the bridges elsewhere, There was an all-women’s cat- petitions across the country. To who gave the people of Madras a Painted in 1821 by the Austrian father of Armenian Bridge: Justinan Gantz Government needed to act on egory in the surfing competition. take the surfing school to the grand structure. But not so the Justinan. He worked with the East India Company Painted in 1840-45. His painting is a distant view, this suggestion and increase the Raghu Dixit of Raghu Dixit next level, a beachside location Governor. He demanded an ex- with the river in the foreground. Another painting as a draughtsman and architect. Later, father and son outlay sanctioned in 1846. The Project sang in pouring rain. has been identified for the school planation from the Military shows the huge pillars at the approaches. opened a publishing house. Government accepted the sug- T.M. Krishna gave a classical and a mini-restaurant. Murthy is Board for the excess over esti- Wallajah Bridge: Thomas Daniel Suspension Bridge Chintadripettah: An artist’s sketch gestion. music concert and stalls were put confident that the future he has mate, mainly because the Court showing the imported suspension bridge that crossed This bridge, one situated by the southwest en- Even today we see just two- up by the local villagers as part of found for the youth of his village of Directors had put a cap on ex- the Cooum at Chintadripet in 1831. lane new bridges. What will hap- the organisers’ effort to encour- will be more exciting than fish- pen after 50 years? age the local economy. ing. gan putting pressure on the Mili- private lands compulsorily and A picture of Murthy while surfing. tary Board to return the promis- pay due compensation. Thereaf- * * * sory notes given by the builder. ter the roads were completed and Many of the city’s bridges The Military Board sought the the bridge built. were built with chunam and for riding the waves. In the next mentary on Murthy and the oth- Vicky, a school dropout, was Advocate General’s opinion and Today, many of our road and bricks and are 150-plus years old. 20 minutes Murthy spent with ers in 2009. Yotam also began a shy, uncommunicative youth Corporation wakes up to he was forthright in stating that bridge projects are stalled by They were designed for the the surfing board, an astonished exploring ways to help Murthy whose life was fishing and play- “no notice should be taken of the vested interests because of lax transport system of those days, Hebner saw him catching a 20- start a surfing school. The lucky ing on the wooden plank in wa- application in question,” as it was legislation. namely bullock carts, horse- metre wave and a few smaller break came when Arun Vasu of ter. But his life changed when he conservation training “a fraud of frauds.” This was in drawn carriages and, of course, ones. TTK Logistics, a passionate wa- took to surfing. He now beams * * * 1854. The recently concluded ter sport enthusiast for over three with confidence on the back of gun carriages. They served well Things have changed somewhat A bridge on South Beach not only in those days but still do Covelong Point Classic Surf and decades, entered Murthy’s life, his wins in several surfing com- (Continued from page 1) * * * Music Festival at the Kovalam courtesy Yotam, in 2012. petitions starting from 2011 and recently, with the long post- Road needed urgent repairs. Also so. When Government wanted Government buildings. Given In 1840, the Military Board Beach, hosted by the Covelong Arun found Murthy a “good is aiming to become an interna- poned Chepauk Palace renova- wanted to erect a bridge near its wooden handrail needed re- to broaden or widen the roads, that it has no trained personnel Law’s Bridge, Iyah Mudali Street, River Cooum. Point Social Surfing School guy,” a young man he could cer- tional surfer. Appu finished his tion expected to be on different placement and its arches needed the immediate thinking was to for such special tasks, it contin- Ashton’s shop (present-day Har- along with the EarthSync, and tainly support. Murthy was asso- hotel management course and lines — but that has not yet plastering. On further inspec- demolish the old bridges and ues to put out specifications for ris Bridge). But some “influential support of the Surfing Federation ciated with social causes in his went up to the national level in moved beyond the planning tion, it was found one arch had build new, broad ones. Nobody heritage restoration on the same natives” did not want to give land of India, based in Mangalore, is a village. He helped villagers to re- volleyball but, then, surfing stage. sunk. thought of building a bridge on lines as modern buildings. The for the purpose of a new road. consequence of the journey build their lives after the tsunami grabbed him. He now wants to A couple of years later, the either side of the old bridge, so consequence is that budgets are It is therefore to be hoped that Another road was proposed Murthy and his friends began in in 2004. For seven years, he compete internationally. Venkat Military Board wanted further we lost beautiful General Hospi- completely out of touch with re- such heritage awareness along the river from the western Kovalam. served Banyan, the mental too finished a hotel management funds and provided an estimate. tal Bridge, Elephant Gate Bridge, ality – you cannot restore a programmes are taken up soon end of the bridge towards Murthy’s love for surfing health NGO, and took care of course but found that working in The Governor was very curious Hamilton Bridge (all, across the wooden doorway that is 100 by the CMDA and the PWD, Marshall’s Road and one north- made him buy a surfing board in the mentally ill in his village. restaurants wasn’t what he to know why the bridge was not Buckingham Canal) and, lastly, years old at the same cost as a teaming with experts in the field. wards to St. Andrew’s bridge. 2003 for Rs. 1500 from a visiting Arun, impressed by Murthy’s wanted to do with life. Venkat’s inspected initially. He also Munro Bridge in Chetpet and modern glass one with alu- Training Corporation engineers When the Government tried to Australian. The next ship was passion for surfing along with his ambitions now don’t end with wanted to know who was respon- the one in Aminjikarai over the minium beading. Yet that is ex- and officials alone will have lim- acquire land under Section I of when Tobias, a German archi- bent for social service, decided to becoming a surfer at the interna- sible for the regular maintenance Cooum. actly what is expected of con- ited impact. It is nevertheless a Act XX of 1852, it was not clear tect, frequented Kovalam to surf request TTK Logistics to sponsor tional level; he wants to turn a of Presidency Bridges. If there tractors, resulting in most of step in the right direction and whether it would apply to the (Concluded) along with his children. Seeing the surfing school, as part of the restaurateur catering to surfers was someone, why had he not them shying away from such will hopefully have a beneficial Presidency. So the Government Murthy’s interest in surfing, CSR activity for a year in early on the beach. brought another Act of 1854, carried out his work sincerely? Text and pictures by tasks leading to buildings lan- effect on heritage conservation Tobias introduced him in 2007 2013. With Murthy as the head Murthy, Appu and Venkat in the city. M.K. Amman Koil Bridge, M.K. Road, Buckingham Canal. under which it could take over * * * D.H. Rao guishing without restoration. 6 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014

G Media & Advertising

(Current Affairs questions are from the period September 1st to 15th. Questions 11 to 20 per- tain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) Growth of advertising 1. In the context of linguistics, September 14th was observed in the country as…? 2. The State Bank of India on September 13, 2014 celebrated in Madras 150 years of its operations in which SAARC country? ass media as we under- support catchy text (‘copy’). Swamy. He not only used re- chain field. New textile and 3. The Supreme Court recently ruled what per cent quota for dis- Mstand it today took root Line drawings and half tone search for the first time to de- jewellery showrooms like Chen- abled persons in all Government with the establishment of the prints of human figures were velop effective advertising strat- nai Silks, Pothy’s, RMKV’s, jobs, including the IAS? print media in the West in the used to make the advertise- egies but also came out with Saravana’s, Prince’s and Joy th 4. The ICC recently suspended 17 Century. The medium ments more attractive. some very creative ads for his Alukka’s appeared on the scene which prominent Asian from offered opportunities to reach a One of the earliest full-fledg- clients like TVS and T.I. dominated earlier by Nalli’s, bowling in international cricket large and widespread audience ed advertising agencies was Cycles. ‘Set your watch on the Kumaran’s, Vummidi’s and with immediate effect for an ille- simultaneously. It was the East started by P.S. Mani Aiyar in arrival of a TVS bus’; ‘You can Nathella’s. These new retailers gal bowling action? India Company that brought 1939. Aiyar began his advertis- trust TVS’; and ‘Hercules Cycle splurged big on media advertis- 5. What were Op. Megh Rahat the medium to India and to ing career by canvassing adver- – your lifetime companion’ were ing, even putting many of the and Op. Sahayata which were Madras that is Chennai. tisements for Swadesamitran the headlines of some of the leading FMCG brands to shame launched by the Indian Army Newspaper publishing start- and The Hindu. It is said that he famous ads he and his team in terms of advertising spend. recently? ed in Madras with the launch of got 25% commission from these created. 6. ISRO scientist T.N. Suresh The 1980s to 90s saw almost a weekly, The Madras Courier, newspapers for the ads he got He quit JWT and started all leading multinational agen- Kumar became the first Indian to in 1785. The Spectator, founded for them. Simpson’s and Spen- R.K. Swamy Associates in 1972. achieve what endurance feat by cies opening their branches in flying in a MIG-29 in Russia? in 1836, became the city’s first cer’s were two of his best known In addition to walking away Madras. Thanks to the efforts of daily newspaper in 1853. clients. He had innovative ideas with some prestigious clients of 7. Which Indian film won the some of the best creative minds Lion of the Future-Luigi De Tamil publishing made a sig- and he hired artists to create JWT Madras, he persuaded sev- of these agencies, the standard Laurentiis award for a Debut nificant beginning in 1881 with advertisements with interesting eral large public sector under- of advertising, especially print Feature at the prestigious 71st the weekly Swadesamitran, and TV advertising, went soar- Venice Film Festival? which later became the first G ing. This was the period when 8. The Brazilian who partnered Tamil daily. by advertising business in Chennai Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles From the very first newspa- R.V. Rajan was at its peak.. crown at the US Open was... per, advertising was very much Many local agencies started 9. Name the residence of the part of the contents of newspa- by executives and creative founder of the Tata business pers and magazines. But the visuals. He is supposed to have heads who left multinational ad empire that was one of the two pioneering personalities to takings to advertise, for the first persuaded Simpson & Co, deal- agencies organisations to start Indian properties to win the make significant contributions time, so as to build better cor- ers of cars, to offer cars on hire on their own also contributed UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage to the advertising business were porate images for themselves. Award for 2014. purchase. A car costing Rs. significantly to improve the the legendary S.S. Vasan (of Some of the ads that his agency 10. The Andhra Pradesh Chief 3,500 was available on a month- standards and quality of adver- Gemini Film fame) and T. created for BHEL, ONGC and Minister has announced that the ly instalment of Rs. 100! tising. One of the earliest was Sadasivam. Their imapct began SAIL were trailblazing efforts at State’s new capital would be lo- Later, V.G. Panneerdas & Gopulu, the well-known car- in the 1930s. Vasan started the time. cated around which bustling city? Co, popularly known as VGP’s, toonist with Ananda Vikatan, Vasan Advertising Centre, can- Another legend, Mani (SR) * * * made the hire purchase system who teamed with Vimala to vassing advertisements for vari- Aiyar based in the Madras of- 11. In this non-exhaustive list, popular for all types of con- start an agency called ‘Adwave’ what masonry structures that ous newspapers and getting fice of Bomas in the 1960s, was sumer durables among middle which created some interesting criss-cross Madras has/had names commissions from them. Mov- a hard core professional who class households, making exten- campaigns for the Madras- like Benfield, Calinaroy, Munro, ing on from there, he bought made a significant contribution sive use of print and outdoor based Shriram group. Fountain- Wallajah etc? out Ananda Vikatan and also to the Madras advertising scene media. head, Insight, Rubicon and oth- 12. Which Sangita Kalanidhi was started Merry Magazine in when he was in Madras. The 1940s saw a number of ers not only created good adver- referred to as ‘Pitamaha’? English and brought in T. Sada- Though the 1970s and 80s local agencies being started. tisements which won awards 13. Which literary journal was sivam to get advertisements for saw a steady growth of advertis- They included United India but also helped to build brands. started by K. Ramakotiswara Rao that publications. Sadasivam ing business in Madras, it was Publicity Company (UIPC) in 1928 and had a run for 80 had a flair for writing very per- during the late 1990s that Ma- Insight’s efforts for Solidaire years? (1939), Eastern Advertising suasive direct mailers appealing dras gained greater importance TV and Rubicon building a na- 14. Which leading major in its (1944), Elegant Publicities for advertisements. It is said in the Indian world of advertis- tional brand, ‘Color Plus’, a field had its genesis in 1946 as a (1945), Federal Advertising that thanks to Sadhasivam’s ef- ing thanks to the influx of a readymade garment unit oper- small toy balloon manufacturing and Criterion Publicities forts the advertising income of number of new MNCs like ating from Ambattur, are well unit in a shed in Tiruvottriyur? (1946). UIPC was perhaps the Ananda Vikatan went up from Hyundai, Ford, Renault, BMW, known case studies. 15. After which two emperors are first among the Madras-based Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 72,000 in six Nokia, Citi Bank, Standard the Presidential and Grand Presi- agencies to get accreditation Thanks to the growth of months. Sadasivam later left Chartered Bank and others. dential Suites at ITC Grand from the Indian Newspaper So- television viewership in the Chola named? Ananda Vikatan to start Kalki Even software giants like TCS ciety (INS). D. J. Keymer & Co. 1990s, the importance of print 16. Which respected college’s magazine with ‘Kalki’ Krishna- and Infosys established large was the only multinational media in the promotion of emblem has an anchor and the murthy who had been the bases in Madras – all leading to agency (headquartered in Cal- FMCG, Consumer Durables motto In Hoc Signo? Editor of Ananda Vikatan. increased advertising spend cutta) to have a branch in Ma- and other services started going 17. What did Dr. Annie Besant Newspaper advertisements originating from Madras. It was dras at the time. It was soon to down from early 2000. Today, call the ‘Flaming Centre’ from in those days were mostly for also the time when a few local be followed by F.D. Stewart’s, the print media is dominated by which the “Powers of Wisdom and products like Keshavardhini brands like Cavinkare, the well- Grant Advertising (1954) with advertisements from retailers Compassion radiate their benevo- hair oil, Asoka Betelnut Pow- known FMCG (fast moving lent influences to the world”? Lance Dane as Manager, and J. (jewellery/textiles), real estate der, Amrutanjan, Narasu’s Cof- consumer goods) group, were promoters, automobile compa- 18. Name the former director of Walter Thompson (1955) with fee, Binny’s, Westend Watch putting down roots in the mar- the King Institute who is regarded R.K. Swamy as Manager. nies and a whole lot of educa- Co., Himalaya Snow and an- keting world and were getting as the ‘Cholera Conqueror’ for Umesh Rao, who was working tional institutions. Consumer nouncements of new film re- ready to give a tough fight to the pioneering work in the 1920s in as art director with JWT Ma- durable companies use the leases. Sadhasivam was respon- multinationals in the years to understanding that disease? dras around this time, is cred- medium only for promoting sible for many Britain-based come. 19. Which famous twin was the ited with creating the famous their discount sales during firms advertising the products Meanwhile, Madras had be- first Indian Principal of the drawing for the ‘Maharaja‘ mas- festive season or for announc- Madras Medical College? they marketed in India. come the retail capital of India. cot of Air India, conceived by ing new launches. The trend 20. Which institution synony- It was in the early 1930s that Departmental stores like Spen- Bobby Kooka of Air India. has definitely affected the vol- mous with books in Madras was advertisements which were cer’s and retail chains like ume of business from Madras started in 1840s by the librarian of essentially classified ads started Credit for introducing pro- Vivek’s, which had their origins for the print media. the Wesleyan Book Depository? getting a new look with the fessionalism into the advertising in Madras, inspired a whole lot (Answers on page 8) introduction of visuals to scene in Madras must go to R.K. of new groups to enter the retail (To be concluded) October 1-15, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

Our Physics professor was C. G Viraraghava Iyer, a tall, pleas- Nostalgia ant person with a red namam on his forehead. He was known for his punctuality. You could set your watch following his punc- tuality. Both for organic and in- First days at organic chemistry we had a ven- erable-looking, elderly professor who used to dictate notes, al- most a repetition of the same notes – year after year – so that Madras Medical even the jokes could be antici- pated and the laughter used to Dr. S. Ramaswamy. precede the joke! After the oon after receiving a letter Medical College to check the question, “What is full Indian ‘snakes’ practical class, some of Sinforming me of my admis- information. To my surprise I dress”, and wondered if “Pajama who had the mounting of an my male classmates used to sion to Stanley Medical found my name on the restored and Jibba was permitted,” he earthworm ovary under the mi- smuggle out one or two of the College, my brother, who had list, which also informed me had a hearty laugh and asked, croscope as his practical exami- snakes from the lab and frighten been admitted to Government that my admission had been “Young man, don’t you know nation question, struggled to do the women students seated in Veterinary College, Madras, transferred to Madras Medical pajama means nightwear?” it. John Sunder Rao came to the front rows by throwing and I prepared to leave Salem him and repeatedly asked him them at the girls, who would for Madras. But on the day of “Have you mounted the ovary”, jump up and shout “Sir, departure Madras was rocked once, twice and thrice, each snakes!”. The women students by a bombshell. A telegram G Madras Medical College, 73 years ago – time raising the volume of his never felt hurt by this informed me that my admission as recalled by Dr. S. Ramaswamy, voice. My friend could not get innocuous fun at their expense. to Stanley had been cancelled. the hint that all that the Professor of Anatomy (Retd). He was a In fact, among them were Shocked and upset, we never- Professor expected of him was graduates, one of them being theless decided to go to Madras, 1941 batch student of MMC. to just place some part of the T.C. Vimala, an M.Sc. in my elder brother to join Veteri- earthworm under the Botany. nary College while I, though the microscope and show it to him. As for ragging, I was late in last date for admission to the Each time my friend only joining by a few days due to B.Sc. Chemistry course in College. There, I had to go The course began with six blurted out ‘no’. Thoroughly influenza fever and so I escaped, Loyola College was just past, through the formality of a short months of Physics, Chemistry disgusted, the Professor left the but I saw a few Anglo-Indian would try to get into the interview with the Principal, and Biology (Zoology and place. My own practical exer- students dressed in khaki, College. Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mu- Botany). For a maths student cise was the demonstration of belonging to the Indian Medical On arriving in Madras, I met daliar, by way of introduction. like me, the biology part (of the trigeminal nerve and its Department (IMD) group, with a friend who told me that a The dress regulation was very B.Sc. level) was tough going. branches in the frog. What half-shaven heads or with hair reconsideration of the case of strict (coat/jacket, trousers and Dr. John Sunder Rao was the marks we got was not known, cut here and there on their those whose seats had been tie) or “Full Indian Dress, Professor of Biology. He was but with no individual minima heads. Ragging practice at the cancelled had taken place and closed coat”. When I asked the very lenient as an internal for the theory and the practical, time did not include day that I should go to Stanley Stanley Principal an audacious examiner. A friend of mine, I got through Biology. scholars, unlike what started a few years later. But the ‘victims’ were never subjected to violence or humiliation. I used to be nicknamed Lady with a diamond nose stud ‘vakil’. I had only two coats, one of which was black and which I used alternately with the other G The Dutch master Vermeer single stone, with five diminu- tain wavelength and emit at an- R. K. Narayan, The Early Years, of a different colour. Of my two was famous for his Girl with a tive diamonds around its base. other. Some diamonds, because you read about the novelist’s trousers (pants, as they were Pearl Earring. In South India I When sunlight fell on the cen- of the impurities in their crystal mother Gnana. “She would wrongly called), one was white am convinced he would have tral diamond, it became suf- lattice, absorb invisible ultra- look resplendent in her nine- and the other greyish. been pressed upon to depict fused with a bluish glow. The violet rays from intense sunlight yard sari, her earrings, seven Even while in the six-month “Lady With a Diamond Nose- intensity of that glow, he sus- or a special lamp, and emit blue Blue Jager diamonds set in each, pre-registration course (where stud.” pected, caused her noontime light, which the human eye can and her single-diamond nose- Physics, Chemistry, Maths and agony. Diagnosis done, he pro- see. Such rare bluish-white dia- stud,” says her granddaughter he middle-aged couple ar Biology were taken), I was ceeded with the ‘cure’. For the monds fetched a premium. The Hema. In this attire, Gnana rived at the famous invited by the college cricket T record, he took cash for the jager rating once went to the played tennis or sat down for a doctor’s clinic in their Rolls captain to join the team, even treatment; the couple’s grati- very best diamonds, but it soon game of chess and bridge at the Royce. With her check-pat- in while I was attending a tude was a bonus. became an obsolete term. Ladies’ Club. Her partner was terned silk saree, ruby earrings, lecture! I also had a short stint the Maharani of Mysore, to and chunky gold bangles, the with the Minerva Cricket Club, whom she diplomatically lost on woman seemed dressed for a G captained by A.F.W. Dixon. by many an occasion. This won her wedding reception, but she was But my cricket experience then invitations to play at the palace really there for a consultation. V. Vijaysree stopped with my being a and, as the evening drew on, Her medical complaint: Every perpetual twelfth man. Gnana would return to her anx- afternoon, she took her tea out- ious family in the royal Rolls (To be continued) doors in the garden of her large In the second half of the This apocryphal story is the Royce. Palace servants fol- home but, lately, she had been stuff of Madras medical school 20th Century, the international lowed, bearing gifts of sweets coming down with severe head- legend, but there is nothing community of jewellers drew up and nuts. With these treats, and MADRAS MUSINGS aches soon after. “I can cure mythical about these exquisite a list of criteria to evaluate the by her lively narration of the you,” said the doctor, “but it’ll quality of a diamond. There- ON THE WEB diamonds. Blue jagers, prized in events of the day, she would dis- cost you your new nose stud.” South India, originated in after, the gem’s colour, cut, cla- pel the tension at home. Along To reach out to as many read- That was a peculiar fee he was South Africa, where diamonds rity and carat weight would with her sparkling diamonds, ers as possible who share our asking for. determine its price. Diamond were discovered for the first luckily she also had a sparkling Much like the physician fluorescence tends to be less keen interest in Madras that is time in 1867. The bluish-white wit. Sherlock Holmes was modelled regarded, but these things can Chennai, and in response to diamonds were unearthed at Another woman who was after, the doctor, owner of a Sil- requests from many well-wish- the Jagersfontein mine. Jewel- be a matter of individual taste. very much in the public eye ver Ghost himself, paid atten- ers – especially from outside lers prefer colourless diamonds, The Jagersfontein diamond owned a pair of these blue jager tion to the tiniest of details Chennai and abroad who but they made an exception for mine closed operations in 1971. earrings. Carnatic singer M.S. about patients who walked in Nostalgia, however, is a power- receive their postal copies blue jagers, which are essen- Subbulakshmi used to lay out through his door – their gait, ful thing and old connoisseurs very late – for an online tially white but can emit a dis- these special studs carefully their clothes, even the colour of continue to speak of blue jagers. edition. tinctly bluish glow. along with her saree, blouse, the mud under their shoes – all And you’ll, of course, find the Musings is now on the web at Photochemistry has a simple and other accessories by 2.30 in the cause of good diagnosis. occasional references to them www. madrasmusings.com explanation for that blue glow: p.m. on concert days, according So, he’d noticed the woman’s fluorescence. A fluorescent in old books and magazines. nose-stud, which consisted of a substance can absorb at a cer- In the delightful biography, (Continued on page 8) – THE EDITOR 8 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014 Pioneering mobike production

.R. Sundaram Iyer (KRS) KRS’s eldest son, S. Sankaran, prices shooting up and with the Kand his nephew K Eswaran and, later, his younger son S low fuel efficiency of the Bullet, from Kallidaikurichi started Viswanathan took charge of the going became tough. With with trading in bicycles and managing the company. KRS’s a low capital base, with heavy built an industrial empire. second son S. R. Subramanian dependence for orders from the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350. The Royal Cycles and the headed Madras Motors that dis- government (Defence and English Cycles and Motorcycles tributed the company’s prod- Police), and with stiff competi- Importing Co. were set up in ucts at the national level. In the tion from Jawa and Escorts, the The diamond Broadway by KRS and his protected market conditions company accumulated losses nephew Eswaran to sell bicycles with limited competition, and struggled for survival. and motorcycles. They dealt Enfield India flourished. Two Thereafter it was a series of ups nose stud with the branded bicycles of other companies – Ideal Jawa and downs for Enfield India till Raleigh, Rudge, Humber, BSA, Ltd and Escorts Ltd – focussed Eicher Group took control in (Continued from page 7) youth is gone. Blue jagers and Hercules, Phillips and Royal on motorcycles in the 2.5 hp 1990. After three years, Eicher white diamonds are meant to Enfield motorcycles. The 3.5 hp and 1.75 hp range and built up group bought out the shares of to an article in Sruti magazine. dazzle the beholder. A pair of M.S., as she was popularly Enfield Bullet, with its rhythmic good custom. Viswanathan. And revival earrings, set in the classical known, favoured a certain deep engine sound, was highly popu- began with the group focussing seven-stone design, often does shade of blue for her silk sarees, lar for its power and reliability. on the huge potential offered just that, as do diamond- by the two-wheeler industry which a silk merchant and mu- encrusted nose studs. Some- In line with such flourishing G by sic aficionado created specially dealerships leading to progres- where volumes have grown, times, of course, the plan back- S. Viswanathan from a few thousands to over for her. Her female fans began fires, as it did for the poor sive manufacture in the after- clamouring for “M.S. Blue” 13 million in less than two woman who suffered from the math of independence, the two sarees. Some bought blue jager decades. stone’s radiance. But it must business leaders set up Enfield earrings as well. The singer have been a simple matter for India Ltd at Tiruvottiryur in The attempts of Enfield Enfield India that pioneered might’ve never thought of her- her to direct the Rolls Royce to North Madras. India to produce motorcycles in motor cycle production in India self a style icon but, to this day, a jeweller’s shop, ask him to find The uncle-nephew duo also the lower capacity did not almost six decades ago is now many older South Indian the diamond’s twin, and have women aspire for her aesthetics set up the Easun Engineering succeed. The brand Prince did gearing up to evolve as a signifi- them set in a flattering new de- in appearance. Co that focussed on electrical not take off nor did the cant supplier of mobikes in the sign – a pair of earrings, maybe. Truth is that women in our transmission equipment. Later, Fantabulous scooter designed higher power ranges. Then, she would’ve proceeded KRS and his sons took total part of the world have long re- to enjoy the gleeful brilliance of in-house. The plans of Siddharth Lal lied on sparkling stones to lend charge of Enfield India and the stones in accordance with Diversification into agricul- to focus on export markets in them radiance after the glow of Eswaran and his family focussed tradition. ture engines proved to be a developed and emerging mar- on electrical transmission. success. The company set up a kets and in rural-urban and tra- Enfield India flourished with plant at Thoraipakkam to ditional youth segments hold Answers to Quiz the reliable workhorse, the produce Villiers engines and it promise ending years of low Royal Enfield motorcycles. KRS 1. National Hindi Divas or Hindi Day; 2. Sri Lanka; 3. 3 per cent; 4. met with good demand. growth. Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal; 5. The operations launched to deal also set up the K R Sundaram Viswanathan, who took control Enfield India has also open- with floods in J&K; 6. The first Indian to visit the stratosphere, the second Industrial Estate in Tiruvottri- in the 1970s, embarked on layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; 7. Court, written and directed by yur, the first private industrial expansion, investing in a large ed a new factory at Oragadam Chaitanya Tamhane; 8. Bruno Soares; 9. Esplanade House in Mumbai; 10. estate in the State, to produce facility in southern Tamil Nadu, spread over 50 acres. Vijayawada. * * * components for Enfield India. created production facilities at Production capacity is ex- 11. Bridges; 12. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer; 13. Triveni; 14. MRF Ltd; But tagged to a single mother Ranipet and also spent on a cor- pected to be to 250,000 by unit with limited production, 15. Karikalan and Raja Raja Chola; 16. Madras Christian College; 17. The porate headquarters at Saida- 2014. (Courtesy: Industrial Theosophical Society HQ in Adyar; 18. Dr. K.V. Venkataraman; 19. A. the estate did not flourish. pet. Post-1973, with the petrol Economist) Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar; 20. Higginbotham’s.

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

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The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

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

PublishedPublished by S. Muthiahby S. Muthiahfor ‘Chennai for Heritage’,‘Chennai No. Heritage’, 5, Bhattad 260-A, Tower, TTK 30, WestcottRoad, Chennai Road, Royapettah, 600 018 Chennaiand printed 600 014, by Tprinted J George by Anu at Varghese Lokavani-Hallmark at Lokavani Southern Press Pvt. Printers Ltd., Pvt. 122, Ltd., Greams 122, Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600 600 006. 006, Edited and edited by S.by MUTHIAH.S. Muthiah. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS October 1-15, 2014 Pioneering mobike production

.R. Sundaram Iyer (KRS) KRS’s eldest son, S. Sankaran, prices shooting up and with the Kand his nephew K Eswaran and, later, his younger son S low fuel efficiency of the Bullet, from Kallidaikurichi started Viswanathan took charge of the going became tough. With with trading in bicycles and managing the company. KRS’s a low capital base, with heavy built an industrial empire. second son S. R. Subramanian dependence for orders from the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350. The Royal Cycles and the headed Madras Motors that dis- government (Defence and English Cycles and Motorcycles tributed the company’s prod- Police), and with stiff competi- Importing Co. were set up in ucts at the national level. In the tion from Jawa and Escorts, the The diamond Broadway by KRS and his protected market conditions company accumulated losses nephew Eswaran to sell bicycles with limited competition, and struggled for survival. and motorcycles. They dealt Enfield India flourished. Two Thereafter it was a series of ups nose stud with the branded bicycles of other companies – Ideal Jawa and downs for Enfield India till Raleigh, Rudge, Humber, BSA, Ltd and Escorts Ltd – focussed Eicher Group took control in (Continued from page 7) youth is gone. Blue jagers and Hercules, Phillips and Royal on motorcycles in the 2.5 hp 1990. After three years, Eicher white diamonds are meant to Enfield motorcycles. The 3.5 hp and 1.75 hp range and built up group bought out the shares of to an article in Sruti magazine. dazzle the beholder. A pair of M.S., as she was popularly Enfield Bullet, with its rhythmic good custom. Viswanathan. And revival earrings, set in the classical known, favoured a certain deep engine sound, was highly popu- began with the group focussing seven-stone design, often does shade of blue for her silk sarees, lar for its power and reliability. on the huge potential offered just that, as do diamond- by the two-wheeler industry which a silk merchant and mu- encrusted nose studs. Some- In line with such flourishing G by sic aficionado created specially dealerships leading to progres- where volumes have grown, times, of course, the plan back- S. Viswanathan from a few thousands to over for her. Her female fans began fires, as it did for the poor sive manufacture in the after- clamouring for “M.S. Blue” 13 million in less than two woman who suffered from the math of independence, the two sarees. Some bought blue jager decades. stone’s radiance. But it must business leaders set up Enfield earrings as well. The singer have been a simple matter for India Ltd at Tiruvottiryur in The attempts of Enfield Enfield India that pioneered might’ve never thought of her- her to direct the Rolls Royce to North Madras. India to produce motorcycles in motor cycle production in India self a style icon but, to this day, a jeweller’s shop, ask him to find The uncle-nephew duo also the lower capacity did not almost six decades ago is now many older South Indian the diamond’s twin, and have women aspire for her aesthetics set up the Easun Engineering succeed. The brand Prince did gearing up to evolve as a signifi- them set in a flattering new de- in appearance. Co that focussed on electrical not take off nor did the cant supplier of mobikes in the sign – a pair of earrings, maybe. Truth is that women in our transmission equipment. Later, Fantabulous scooter designed higher power ranges. Then, she would’ve proceeded KRS and his sons took total part of the world have long re- to enjoy the gleeful brilliance of in-house. The plans of Siddharth Lal lied on sparkling stones to lend charge of Enfield India and the stones in accordance with Diversification into agricul- to focus on export markets in them radiance after the glow of Eswaran and his family focussed tradition. ture engines proved to be a developed and emerging mar- on electrical transmission. success. The company set up a kets and in rural-urban and tra- Enfield India flourished with plant at Thoraipakkam to ditional youth segments hold Answers to Quiz the reliable workhorse, the produce Villiers engines and it promise ending years of low Royal Enfield motorcycles. KRS 1. National Hindi Divas or Hindi Day; 2. Sri Lanka; 3. 3 per cent; 4. met with good demand. growth. Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal; 5. The operations launched to deal also set up the K R Sundaram Viswanathan, who took control Enfield India has also open- with floods in J&K; 6. The first Indian to visit the stratosphere, the second Industrial Estate in Tiruvottri- in the 1970s, embarked on layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; 7. Court, written and directed by yur, the first private industrial expansion, investing in a large ed a new factory at Oragadam Chaitanya Tamhane; 8. Bruno Soares; 9. Esplanade House in Mumbai; 10. estate in the State, to produce facility in southern Tamil Nadu, spread over 50 acres. Vijayawada. * * * components for Enfield India. created production facilities at Production capacity is ex- 11. Bridges; 12. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer; 13. Triveni; 14. MRF Ltd; But tagged to a single mother Ranipet and also spent on a cor- pected to be to 250,000 by unit with limited production, 15. Karikalan and Raja Raja Chola; 16. Madras Christian College; 17. The porate headquarters at Saida- 2014. (Courtesy: Industrial Theosophical Society HQ in Adyar; 18. Dr. K.V. Venkataraman; 19. A. the estate did not flourish. pet. Post-1973, with the petrol Economist) Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar; 20. Higginbotham’s.

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

Amalgamations Group Bata India Limited

The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

Rane Group

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

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