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MM XXVI No. 1.Pmd Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/15-17 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • The Nandi Hills Swamiji • The Ryans & Rajaji • Rameswaram & Sri Lanka • Our lakes, once Vol. XXVI No. 1 MUSINGS April 16-30, 2016 The youth reach out to Madras Musings (By The Editor) s it steps into its 26th year, Madras Musings is happy to find Athat the maximum number of greetings and best wishes for its continued existence has come in on social media – the preserve of the young. This makes us most happy for we believe that by mak- ing an impact on the next generation, we have carried forward the concerns over heritage – both built and natural – as well as over our city to the guardians of the future. This by itself is a victory for us. It was only in the last issue that we made it known that we as a publication have completed 25. Ever since then, we have received countless messages on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter The Mylapore Temple and Tank look beautiful in the picture above. But come closer and this is what you will see wishing us well. We have pub- (below) behind the railings protecting the tank. lished some of these messages elsewhere in this issue (See page 3). We thank every one of these people and promise them that Can Mylapore become we will live up to their expecta- tions. At the same time, we also express our gratitude to these young people who have dis- a heritage precinct? pelled the notion that concerns about heritage and the city are exclusive to the elderly. This is (By A Special Correspondent) a definite sign of changing times. Let us take for instance sk any tourist as to what is No other locality in Madras bet- Facebook forums that discuss Athe first destination he or ter symbolises the city’s its ethos our city. The Madras Local His- she has in mind when they visit and heritage. Adding aura is the tory Group is perhaps the best our city and the Mylapore Mylapore Festival, unique in its known. The focus is chiefly on Kapaliswarar Temple will most design and conduct. During this uploading photographs of our likely be the answer. For most festival every January, the local- city’s past and the volume. The Chennai residents, this ranks ity surrounding the temple variety that has been dug up high as a place of worship, as transforms itself. It becomes a from various online and offline evinced by the vast numbers beehive of activity for the sources is simply amazing. This who throng the shrine on a daily thronging crowd, which turns remains one of the busiest basis. On festival days the num- its gaze towards valued memo- groups with uploads happening bers swell to unmanageable pro- ries of the past, having fun all times of the day and night. portions. The shrine is main- alongside. The same is true of Singara Chennai looks at vari- tained well the year round and the temple’s annual festival that ous places in our city that add has, in the last month, under- takes place in March/April. colour, vibrancy and beauty. gone a spectacularly successful The civic amenities around There are other groups that spe- consecration. the temple are no match for the cifically concentrate on waste Several crores are spent on crowds. For disaster manage- reduction, environment and its upkeep and deservedly so. ment during festive times, tem- water bodies. On the blogging Unfortunately, the same cannot porary measures are put in front, there are numerous writ- be said of its environs, to which place, with roads leading to the ers who devote columns to their the authorities and the general temple blocked and a posse of areas of interest within the city public pay the least attention. policemen posted to manage – its arts environment, theatre, The surroundings have de- the crowd. Toilets and medical temples, and general city his- graded terribly over the years. help are woefully inadequate The cultural quotient of the (Continued on page 2) Mylapore area ranks very high. (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS April 16-30, 2016 Youth reaches Down Silver Jubilee Lane nd so, Chief, here we are, mond and Platinum Jubilees happens to be the local Lord Aon our 25th anniversary. and after that centennial, ses- Bountiful, practising his chari- out to MM Congratulations to you. As quicentennial and quasqui- ties with an eye on popularity. several in the city and else- centennial celebrations. MMM For several afternoons he set (Continued from page 1) as enthusiastic about their work where acknowledge, had it not has reached the limit of the up a water and buttermilk dis- tory. Mention must also be as they are in attending a been for you, we would not words he knows for landmark pensing pavilion that also fea- made of people like Ramaswami temple or a beach festival and have become so conscious of anniversaries, Chief, but he is tured a high decibel music sys- Nallaperumal and R Shantaram posting photographs about it on our heritage – or our city. sure that Madras Musings will tem that belted out songs in platforms such as Instagram and Those in administration, from last for many years after these praise of the One Great who add a photograph every what The Man from Madras as well. And so, ladies and Leader. The thirsty hordes day to the World Wide Web Pinterest. Are we to assume Musings understands, also gentlemen, a toast, to our dear flocked to the pavilion and from our city and have been that all of them are against agree to this, only they are Chief and our Madras Musings! drank to their fullest. But then doing it for years. progress? rather petulant about it. Their As these are days when prohi- when the party list of candi- The walks and tours are an- These young persons only attitude to heritage has always bition is being thought of, dates was published MMM other success story. Gone are strengthen our basic philosophy been akin to what Henry II felt MMM raises his glass of butter- noticed that his neighbour was the days when Mylapore or – heritage and progress are not about Thomas Becket if you milk in a toast. Or should he not on it. The pavilion was Beach Road was the only choice antithetic. They complement recall. And MMM must say opt for palm toddy? On that taken down and the services for a heritage walk. Hundreds of each other and while it is nec- they have been doing a great happy note, let us proceed to dispensed with. MMM pre- essary to look ahead, this need job of ridding themselves of all other matters. sumes that the buttermilk of routes have been mapped across heritage buildings. Fortu- human kindness had turned not be done by wiping out the the city and, on any given day, nately, the city is still with no. Electoral round-up sour. chances are that a group of vol- past. Sadly, our political masters But be that as it may, Sour reminds MMM of fer- unteers have set out for some have not yet woken up to this MMM would like to join in the ver since the electoral code mentation and that in turn unknown spot, making a picnic fact. Not one party has even chorus of congratulations. On Eof conduct kicked in, every brings to his mind the stuff outing from it. The bulk of made a mention of heritage this occasion, MMM would one of our political parties is on that cheers. It appears that all these people are young and ad- conservation in its manifesto for also like to remember, Chief, its best behaviour. There are parties in the fray have decided venturous. the upcoming elections. Or of your own good lady, who al- no posters or graffiti disfiguring that imposing Prohibition is Which brings us to this oft- how to make Madras a better ways took a keen interest in walls and no cut-outs and going to be their chief electoral hoardings line the routes the quoted opinion of some people city. Today’s generation de- matters pertaining to Madras promise. It looks like the State mands sensitivity and an all in- Musings. She it was, you will is all set to go dry no matter that heritage is against progress. recollect, who would always SHORT who comes to power and by If that be so, what would these clusiveness and this can best be notice when we made a mis- that MMM does not mean the people have to say about the demonstrated by adapting heri- take in the issue number of our ’N’ water crisis. MMM wonders young people who combine ex- tage to serve current needs as publication and both you and what will happen to the vast citing, cutting edge jobs with a we have maintained all along. MMM would tie themselves SNAPPY populace that has come to passion for searching out the The sooner those in power see into knots in response and per- look upon its daily tipple as a past? These are people who are this, the better for our city. spire freely from every pore. leaders take to office.
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