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Vol. XXIII No. 11 MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013 The vanishing story at Ripon Buildings. The annexe built in the 1950s is a joy to behold while the later Vista additions are terrible and falling apart. From the point of view of a eritage buildings, always quick demolition of the erst- property owner not overly con- Han endangered lot in our while Southern Railway book- cerned about heritage, building city, are faced with a new threat ing office, which by any stan- a new structure to hide the old – being hidden behind modern dard was a heritage building makes much sense. The hidden high-rises, built on spaces sur- (but was not in the Padma- building can wither away due to rounding them and originally nabhan Committee report lack of maintenance and even intended to give an approach and so did not qualify as one). collapse, without anyone notic- vista and an impressive setting. There are many more such ing, thereby making space for Thanks to realestate hungry examples. still newer buildings. A tough owners, unimaginative archi- Heritage Conservation Com- There are several reasons tects and an indifferent admin- mittee can choose to object but why new buildings have to be istration, most of the familiar in our case we have a largely hi- built, all understandable – ours heritage structures we know are bernating and comatose com- is a space-starved city, institu- soon going to become lost to mittee, which prefers to look tions need to modernise and view. the other way. We can only require space to grow, etc. We hope for better sense among the Not many of our readers may are not objecting to any of this. owners themselves. The SPCA building hidden by an arch and a new block. be familiar with Moore’s Pavil- What we are concerned about ion, a handsome double storied is the manner in which it is tiled-roof structure that stood being done. It sometimes

G by The Editor The mosquito

(or probably still stands) behind appears that the new ones are Central Station. Over the years, built only to weaken the older menace all its surrounding space has buildings or at least hide them been built over and it is impos- from view. Secondly, the new ome the rains, and along to trap the mosquito eggs and of a new variety that breeds in sible to even catch sight of it wings are built in styles that do Ccome the mosquitoes. And kill them. A year later came clean water- such as in over- now. Long admired the Quaid- not remotely resemble the heri- they do not proliferate just what was then touted as the head tanks. This caused the e-Milleth Government Arts tage structures thus destroying when it rains, having become a best possible solution and one dreaded dengue fever. The Cor- College as you drove by? A new the delicate fabric of the entire year-long feature. Chennai now that had met with some success poration has now taken on the block is rising fast and is going precinct. Perhaps the only two has the dubious distinction of at what was then the Alandur task of educating the general to hide the old building from exceptions are the new exten- being identified by the National Municipality (now a part of public on the risks of keeping view. The Egmore bungalows sions to the Central Station and Institute for Malaria Research Chennai) – the eco-treatment water stagnant – be it clean or that were residences of the Su- the DGP Buildings on the as an ‘endemic area’ for the ill- sullied. But it is going about it perintendent and other officers Marina. And yet it was not ness. The Union Ministry for in such a slow fashion that it has of the Government Hospital for always like this. The Presidency Health has ranked Tamil Nadu G by A Special hardly made any impact. The Women and Children now College campus has two later as a state with a high incidence move to penalise house owners have several construction additions to the original of dengue – another illness Correspondent who do not cover water tanks, projects on their premises, some Chisholm-designed building. caused by mosquitoes. What sumps and wells has also been so close to the old buildings that The first, done in the 1930s by has the city’s Corporation been lethargic at best. Earlier this windows in the latter are for- Jackson and Barker is so akin to doing about it and, more impor- of sewerage so that it ceases to year, the Mayor launched 150 ever sealed. The CSI Rainey the original that only the clos- tantly, are we citizens doing our support larvae. This too was hand-operated larvicide sprin- Hospital has a new block that, est inspection can detect that it best to help in the battle against given up after some initial dis- klers and 15 fogging machines, true to its name, completely was constructed 70 years later. mosquitoes? cussions. All three schemes, to be used in the various zones. blocks the old building from The next one, close to Tripli- There has been no dearth of praised when considered, failed These are now doing the view. The old Kardyl Building, cane High Road and built in the solutions. In 2009 the great idea in implementation, thereby giv- rounds. Last heard, the Corpo- which has long suffered thanks 1980s in a manner as to block was the introduction of ing us an idea as to how our ration appeared to have given to the Bharat Insurance Build- all side views of the old college gambussia fish, a variety that civic body works. up on mosquitoes – its much- ing built in front, now has a building, is shockingly ugly and, feeds on mosquito larva. In Mosquitoes had all along touted announcement of giving Metrorail structure coming up not surprisingly, the most di- 2010 it was the spreading of been believed to thrive in stag- beside it. Space for the latter lapidated of all the buildings in certain chemicals at strategic nant and dirty water. Then a has been made thanks to the the campus. Similar is the breeding spots. These were said few years ago we came to know (Continued on page 4) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013

Can corporates The Fort where it all began... help improve …thus begins one of the That said, MMM has to he came and rather reluctantly Chief’s magnum opuses (or is confess that the moat and what opened the case. MMM and it opi?) and so whenever any lay below it were really the high group were shocked to know Corporation friend or visitor arrives asking point of the tour. Never again the prices – they were that for the history of the city, The did the group display the same low; the church obviously did Man from Madras Musings enthusiasm as they did when not keep tab of inflation. The takes the person to the Fort. they all speculated about the group, or at least a few from it, schools? And much like the city, MMM provenance of the UFO and bought books and postcards all finds that the Fort too is how it came to be there. of which did not go down too steadily going downhill. It Once inside, MMM had to well with pop-in-charge of the here are 284 Chennai Corporation schools. The Mayor of would not be too much of an explain as to why the whole items, for it meant additional TChennai, Saidai Duraisamy, himself a philanthropist, offers exaggeration to say that the central quadrangle resembled a work for him. free coaching service for IAS. In 2012, 34 candidates from his In- place is now rather shabby and vast unkempt rubbish tip. Cars The Fort Museum had stitute got selected for the Services. So he is only too aware of the gone much to seed. were parked hither and thither, MMM all excited but how was value of education and the need for a strong foundation. He was This impression was only garbage bins overflowed and in he in for a disappointment. receptive to a suggestion of involving large corporates in joining reinforced during MMM’s re- midst of it all was a shop that This must be the only museum hands with the Corporation to upgrade the schools as a pilot cent visit when he, along with sold refrigerated drinks and where the methods of display project at the primary level. a set of partially interested visi- snacks. Those who extended deserve to be kept in museums tors, performed the pilgrimage. patronage to the outlet simply and preserved in amber. With the kind reference from the Corporation, we visited five Rather carried away by the threw wrappers and bottle caps Printed paper stickers, lami- primary schools in and around Kodambakkam. In this part of the sight of the moat and the gates, all over the place. To think that nated boards and rather dirty city the Corporation has 18 schools that offer from primary to MMM made the singular error plastic bottles abounded where cloth curtains flapping in the secondary and higher secondary education. Thus the Corporation of putting a toe into the hal- the immor(t)al Clive once si- breeze do not make for a gives focussed attention to developing high quality education. lowed portals through the phoned off the best. MMM’s world-class museum though, We observed good infrastructure already available in the form main entrance. There was an motley crowd made a beeline to be fair to it, the Fort Mu- of land and building. The primary schools visited also had comput- ers and class rooms with fans and tube lights. The headmistresses’ rooms were also well-furnished. Another welcome feature was the quality of the restrooms and water supply. The schools had good SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY sets of books in the library and children were allowed to use them;

uproar immediately and di- for the shop and that was the seum does not claim anywhere G by verse officers and security second high point of the tour. to be world-class. Nobody can S. Viswanathan men surrounded MMM and From there everyone could get accuse it of higher aspirations. friends. They were of course, a good view of a ten-storied There was an audio guide, courteous to the extreme and modern structure undergoing which had to be listened to then escorted the group out what appeared to be a messy within a booth. And this was some schools allowed them to take books home. Parent-teachers’ and directed it to a small and facelift. It was left to MMM to not working when MMM vis- meets were conducted every month and the parents were made most unprepossessing gate, explain as to why and how this ited. And even if it did, MMM aware of their wards’ performances. which they said led to the mu- too was heritage. By now the doubts its purpose. Is the visi- Yet another striking feature was the Activity Based Learning seum. The group made its en- chorus of complaints against tor expected to listen to all the method that these schools employ. It is somewhat similar to try, MMM all the while think- the heat having reached a cre- facts and figures about the ing of how different the expe- scendo, MMM decided it was museum in one hearing, re- Montessorri-based learning where children learn subjects by doing rience was while entering his- safest that everyone was taken member them all and then group activities. The lessons were interactive and were done by the toric precincts elsewhere in somewhere indoors. And so, off keep recollecting them as students as regular activity. Another feature was the Integrated the world. But, then, this was everyone went to … he/she walks around the Education for the Disabled (IED), where differently-abled students a working Fort as MMM con- place? are taught in the main stream along with other children and many soled himself, not one of those St Mary’s and the The ground floor has old teachers expressed how well they were able to cope with others. dead monuments from the Cornwallis looking rather lost The drastic change in their behaviour and the acceptance of the past. So you had to make some Fort Museum… and a couple of other Colonial other students were an example of an inclusive approach. compromises. Governors brought in from Once inside, the group be- oth of which places the the roads and kept there. What then is missing? The headmistress ruefully remarked, BChief waxes eloquently in “Students”! gan clamouring that it was hot Then the stairway to a first as hell. MMM was sorely public and also, as The Man floor, which is a long portrait Can you believe demand for education in the metro teeming tempted to inform them that from Madras Musings suspects, gallery. The first floor takes with around 50 lakh is not there? This is not true. There are people this was not the Himalayas but sings of in his bath. Of the the cake. Ostensibly dedicated crying for admission to renowned private schools willing to pay a refrained. He also desisted church MMM has little to say to the freedom struggle, it has high capitation plus hefty monthly fees exceeding Rs.1000. In con- from telling them that it was other than that it was, well, a empty shelves that have here trast, Corporation schools offer education free with nutritious only during the week that they fine church. Not more could be and there a poster or two and had deigned to visit that the said as, apart from one of those a small booklet. In the middle meal, four sets of uniform, slippers, bags and books...yet, suffer for sculpted texts that gave the want of students! city was so hot. Leaving that is a vast national flag that is aside, the group followed place’s history in brief, there rather worse the wear for want A major issue relates to the absence of English medium from was no other source of informa- Class One. This is now being corrected with a couple of Chennai MMM down a longish of proper preservation. And footover-bridge that ran above tion. MMM and group gaped at then you are back down again, Corporation schools offering English. The second complaint re- the moat. “Don’t look down, statues, looked into the baptis- to look at a few cannon and lates to the absence of LKG and UKG classes. The provision of don’t look down,” chanted mal font and tried deciphering amidst them a rather hideous these classes would contribute to seamless entry to Class One. MMM’s heart while his face some of the inscriptions on the imitation one too. With a few Corporation schools already running creches, this issue kept a fixed smile on. And tombstones. And within a few It all reminded MMM of is also not insurmountable. sure enough everyone looked minutes the tour was done. Oscar Wilde – the place, to Perhaps, Hindi may also be offered as an optional third lan- down and began identifying How different a similar spot in paraphrase Wilde, is a work of the various items of garbage another country would have art, but reflective of too many guage. been, MMM reflected – audio Private participation can take care of several essential require- that lay in the moat. A particu- schools – the ASI and PWD larly pesky kid, thanks to guides, booklets on sale and predominating. ments, like an analysis of the census of the population around, the docents. There was a counter number of children requiring primary education, their needs and sharp vision, noticed an un- mentionable feminine object of sorts with a few picture post- aspirations. It can focus on the quality, training and management. (UFO) and wanted to know cards and books securely Clear Orf! The objective could be to evolve these as community-run pub- what it was and obviously de- locked beneath a glass lid. It lic schools with high standards. The facilities available can be inte- took quite a while and deter- hat if the Man from cided that MMM would have Madras Musings recol- grated and put to optimum use. the answer. The kid kept tug- mined search to find a person T lects, was a favourite expres- ging at MMM’s sleeve and, who could unlock it. This in- We were also impressed by the passion and interest of the staff sion of a policeman from one pointing in the direction of the volved going all around the to leverage the facilities already created. The Vision 2023 of the of Enid Blyton’s books. The UFO, kept asking what it was. building and finally discovering Jayalalithaa Government is built upon nurturing a highly educated, an alcove of sorts under a stair- Fort takes its cue from him skills-rich society. It is time the foundation for this is laid today and It was thanks to yoga and com- evidently, for it has one sign munioning with the soul that way, where a family was resid- the children at the primary school are given the attention they everywhere – RESTRICTED MMM restrained himself from ing and if MMM was not much AREA. deserve. 11 years hence they would ideally fit into the vision. pushing the child into the mistaken – cooking as well. A We suggest expeditious launching of a pilot project. (Courtesy: great world below the moat, in hunt for what MMM assumed Industrial Economist) which also lay the UFO. to be daddy ensued and finally – MMM September 16-30, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 More on Memories of a pioneering Kilpauk imeri Murari’s narrative (MM, September 1st) brought back missionary Tseveral pleasant memories of Kilpauk. As a cycling errand boy in my father’s pharmacy in Kelly’s, I have crisscrossed he photograph of Rev. Loveless accompa- A 1893 report states, “If the old walls of Kilpauk and its neighbourhood many a time. I remember not Tnying the notes on him was surely a bonus Davidson Street could repeat what they have only the majestic Taylor’s Road in detail, but also the tiny to the contribution that appeared in MM, heard, what notes of holier days we now might Kuttiappa Gramani Street opposite the Secretariat Colony be- August 16th. Rev. Loveless was originally hear!” Ringletaube, the great and pioneering hind the now-extinct Uma Talkies. Reading Murari’s piece, all appointed by the London Missionary Society to missionary in South Travancore (including those big and small streets of Kilpauk came to mind as though in establish a mission in Surat. He reached Madras Kanniyakumari District), preached here in 1815 a flash. Every year, when I visit Madras to spend my annual in 1805. But an unexpected series of events had his last sermon in India. Thereafter he went on holidays, I make it a point to either walk or ride a push bike to him settling in Madras. his tragic mission to no one knows where and Purasawalkam (where I was born) from my house in Shenoy At that time, the British East India Company disappeared (alleged to have been killed in the Nagar, via Kilpauk, at least twice during my month-long stay. was still hostile to the evangelisation of the na- Malayan jungles). Henry Bower, the chief trans- This is in addition to at least two evenings I spend in the tives. Hence, Loveless was practically compelled lator and reviser of the Tamil Bible, was chokingly crowded Marina. to devote himself largely to the needs of Euro- nurtured in this church in his earlier days. The photo of the interior of Our Lady’s Votive Shrine (the pean residents. Though a non-Anglican, Love- Rev. Loveless also mentored Cornelius Trav- Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) in the Kilpauk story less was chosen by Dr. Richard Kerr, the Angli- eller and was instrumental in Traveller building left me wondering whether the leader of the Kilpauk heritage can Chaplain at Fort St. George, to assume the the Missionary Chapel at Purasawalkam (1819). walk remembered Edgar Raphael Prudhomme. This merchant overseeing of the Male Orphan Asylum meant A vibrant congregation still worships there. of Madras and Pondicherry donated his property, that included for Eurasian and Anglo-Indian pupils.This in- Loveless resigned the mastership of the Male a bungalow on Hall’s Road, Kilpauk, to the Archdiocese with a stitution, along with the Female Orphan Asy- Asylum in 1812 and opened a “high class board- request that his bungalow be used to care for the destitute and lum, the Military Asylums, Waltair Orphan ing school” in Vepery. The whereabouts of this abandoned. The then Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, the Asylum and the Gordon Orphan Refuge in later property is yet to be properly identified though Most Reverend Louis Mathias, SDB, who was satisfied with the years, came to be amalgamated with the it can be guessed. selfless service of the Sisters of the Society of the Salesian Mis- St.Mary’s Church Charity School in Fort Due to his failing health, Loveless returned sionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI), handed over this prop- St. George, originally established in 1715. (An to England in 1824. A significant aspect of the erty to them to start what today exists as the Prudhomme earlier school establishment 1672-1707 had also legacy left behind by Loveless was in the domain Viduthi (the Mercy Home) celebrating the munificence of existed in the Fort. The merging of these insti- of Christian literature. The Madras Bible and Edgard Prudhomme. The foundation stone was blessed and laid tutions evolved into the St.George’s Anglo-In- Tract Societies founded by Loveless came to ini- on May 24, 1957 by Archbishop Mathias. The home was offi- dian School and Orphanage on Poonamalle tiate and promote a huge mission of printing and cially inaugurated by K. Kamaraj, the then Chief Minister of High Road.) In 1903, when the Railway re- publishing activities. In the following half a cen- Madras State, on January 8, 1958. quired for its new terminus in Egmore the land tury, by 1871, as many as 717 Tamil publica- and the portions of buildings of the Civil Or- tions came to see the light of the day. During I hope that the leader of the Walk would have spoken about phan Asylum there, the Asylum moved further 1862-71 alone, more than 2,900,000 copies of Ratnavelu Subramaniam of Balfour Road (and Guruswami down Poonamalle High Road. The old Military tracts containing Protestant and evangelical Mudaliar of a slightly earlier period, but away from the Heritage Female Orphan Asylum originally situated there teachings and precept were in circulation. The Walk stretch), Madhaviah Anantanarayanan of Ormes Road, became part of the Lawrence Asylum (now banner of the Bible rose to new heights among besides the distinguished Lakshmiratan and Venkatapathy School) in Lovedale in the Nilgiris. Tamil Christians. Naidu families, whose descendants reside in Kilpauk even to- Rev. Loveless built the Davidson Street Loveless, along with Robert Morrison, the day. Of course, the greatest memorial of Kilpauk is Balfour Church in Black Town for the London Mission- first missionary to China, was trained in the Road, reminding us of that noble and multifaceted Scottish sur- ary Society in 1810 (not in 1806 as stated). But Hoxton Academy in England. It is on record that geon Edward Green Balfour of 19th Century Madras! it was not the first church to be built outside many of his fellow missionary trainees were We can talk about Kilpauk endlessly: its name originated as Fort St.George. St.Mark’s Church, behind the highly inspired by the “awful magnitude of the opposed to Medawakkam that lies opposite Kilpakkam; the lake Bharathiar Women’s College, was the first spiritual burden” of Loveless and his prayer life. – including the elevated area – got the name Medapakkam church outside the Fort St.George. It was (corrupted as Medavakkam), whereas the lake – including lower completed in 1800 and consecrated in 1804, Rev. Philip Mulley area – got the name Kilpakkam. However, the Davidson Street (William Charles Anihatti Road Shobha Menon and I have written in Madras Musings earlier Memorial) Church was a notable centre in mis- Kotagiri 643 217 on the Mental Hospital in Kilpauk. The Poonamalee High Road sionary history. The Nilgiris section of Kilpauk includes some of the great names in Madras medical history, starting from Lt. Col. K. Gopinatha Pandalai In memory of Ensure their use A correction and P. Rama Rau’s Radiology Clinic. remember my schooldays in ell, the natives P. Rama Rau was the brother of P. Ananda Rau, the most M. Krishnan Ia village in Tiruchchirappalli “W seemed fairly friendly articulate cricket commentator of yesteryears; not many would district where there was a small so I decided to stay the know that P. Ananda Rau, before he became the General Man- temple tank (MM, August night.” ager of Hotel Dasaprakash, worked in his brother’s x-ray clinic he Madras Naturalists’ and because of this experience he could read radiographs and 16th). It was put to excellent “I made a mental note never interpret them meticulously. TSociety has instituted a use not only for temple needs to seem fairly friendly to an ex- Nature Writing Award in but also for those of cattle, the plorer. If you do , he always de- Anantanarayanan Raman memory of M. Krishnan to be fields closeby, and those who cides to stay the night.” Charles Sturt University awarded every year beginning lived nearby. During rainy days, MMM in his column (Sep- Orange, NSW 2800 overflowing street/road water tember 1st) has stated the Australia 2014. was carefully directed to the above as having been said by The Writing Competition tank. (Jim) Corbett (of “ManEaters of is open to all those between Kumaon” fame). However, it There are thousands of such ages of 18 and 30 and opens needs a correction. temple tanks all over the State. The statement appears in a MADRAS MUSINGS on September 1. The last date Government departments golfing story by P.G.Wodehouse for submission of the Original should take suitable action to ON THE WEB titled “A mixed threesome” and Work is November 30, 2013. protect these tanks and put is uttered by Eddie Denton, a Details and rules of the Na- them to use for the good of all. Big-game hunter in the story. To reach out to as many readers as possible who The public should also take re- ture Writing Competition, to- The “I” in “I made a mental sponsibility for making proper share our keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, gether with the Entry Form, note...” refers to the Oldest use of temple tanks and their are available on our website Member of the golf club who and in response to requests from many well-wish- maintenance. In cities like narrates the story in the first blackbuck.org.in Chennai, such action is impe- ers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad person. rative. G. Vijayakumar I do, however, enjoy MMM’s who receive their postal copies very late – for an Hon. Secretary S.R. Rajagopal narrative in every issue. Madras Naturalists’ Society online edition. Madras Musings is now on the web 7/12, Peters Colony Rajaram 98400 90875 Royapettah 62/1, M.E.S. Road at www. madrasmusings.com Chennai 600 014 East Tambaram THE EDITOR Chennai 600 059 4 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013 Panigrahanam of (Current Affairs questions are from the period August 16th to 31st. Questions 11 to 20 pertain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. Which team won the inaugu- a Panigrahi ral Indian Badminton League? 2. Recently scientists discovered the world’s longest canyon (about he news of the passing away Raghuramiah also had a great the street corner. Soon Raghu- 800 km long) beneath the ice Tof the renowned Hindus- singing voice and was famous nath, Lakshmipathi and I sheet of which autonomous Euro- tani classical musician Raghu- for his rendering of Telugu formed a chat group. Raghu- pean territory? nath Panigrahi on August 25 padyams, with raga alapanas and nath would come down to the 3. Name one of India’s most brought to mind memories of sangats infused with stunning street from his maadi and we wanted men, the alleged head of my and my brother Lakshmi- bhrigas. would stand in our street the Indian Mujahideen terrorist pathi’s brief friendship with him Raghunath Panigrahi was junction and chat. Raghunath Raghunath Panigrahi. group, who was arrested recently. some sixty odd years ago. We perhaps taking music lessons was fluent in English, and 4. Around which famous natural were respectively in our late from Raghuramiah at that time. spoke quite a bit of Telugu and name, fascinated us. We could park in the USA did a fire, more teens and early twenties then, I am not sure of that because we Tamil. not believe that ‘Panigrahi’ than the size of Chicago, create and residents of Pelathope could be a part of the name of never got to talking about it at We mostly discussed Tamil havoc recently? Street in Mylapore. Raghunath a person. Lakshmipathi who any time. But he would go to music. Lakshmipathi was more 5. Who is the latest recipient of was in a lodge at the junction of has always had an impish nature the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the Raghuramiah’s house regularly into music than me – he was a our street and Ramakrishna in him (later in life as nation’s highest individual sport- in the evenings and spend an decent singer himself – and was Math Road. There used to be a Dr. Lakshmipathi he has writ- ing honour for a season? hour or so there. I am sure of a great admirer of Ghantasala hotel named Amarjyoti Cafe ten three best-sellers on medical 6. Name the country’s first Indian that because he had to pass op- Venkateswara Rao. Raghunath operating from a two-storied humour) asked Raghunath defence satellite that was posite our house to get to thought very highly of building at the junction. It was about it. In Sanskritised Tamil launched successfully by an A.M. Raja. We would have essentially an Udupi style veg- the term panigrahanam (literally Ariane 5 Rocket from the Kourou endless discussions about etarian restaurant; but it also meaning holding of the Spaceport of French Guiana. G by our favourite songs. Raghu- provided a very basic dormitory hand) means Lakshmipathi 7. What is the name of the new- nath could do an excellent imi- type of accommodattion for G. Ram Mohan once joked with Raghunath est element added to the Periodic tation of both Ghantasala and Table recently? bachelors in rooms on the first about it. Raja. He would surprise us with floor at, what I presumed, must 8. What prestigious gallantry his version of how he thought “When is the panigrahanam award was given posthumously to have been very cheap rates. Raghuramiah’s house and we Raja would have rendered a of Panigrahi to be?” he asked. Andhra Pradesh Greyhounds in- Raghunath, then just out of watched him almost every day. song sung originally by “Very soon! Very soon, I spector KLVSSNV Prasad Babu Kalakshetra and a struggling It was not long before we started Ghantasala. We became his hope,” replied Raghunath, only recently? young musician, had a dormi- exchanging smiles and then great admirers. half-smiling. 9. Scientists at the National In- tory bed in the maadi of became friends. stitute of Standards and Techno- Amarjyoti Cafe. In those days in Madras in Now, viewing things in logy in the US recently created A very popular pastime of us retrospect, I am pretty sure that There was one celebrity resi- general, and in Mylapore in the most precise clock of the Chennaiites in those days was thoughts of his friend Sanjukta dent in our street in those days, particular, we hardly came world (ticking rate variation of to stand in street corners and from Kalakshetra must have less than two parts in one quintil- an Andhra stage actor, Kalya- indulge in endless chats. It was across people from outside the four southern states, Tamils, crossed his mind at that lion) using which element? nam Raghuramiah, popularly more popular as an after-dinner moment. 10. Name the initiative of the known as ‘Finger Flute Raghu- pastime, and every neighbour- Telugus, Kannadigas and Union Ministry of Women and ramiah (for his uncanny ability hood had its own chat groups Malayalis. And many of our Of course, as the art world Child Development, recently of rendering elaborate raghas to that would gather every friends were named Subra- knows all too well, that launched to address the issue of absolute perfection by whis- evening after dinner for a half- manian, Srinivasan or Venkata- panigrahanam did take place. violence in all its forms against tling, with his right forefinger hour or so of friendly and some- raman. So a young man with a The rest, as they say, is women, through a mass move- placed inside his mouth). times not so friendly banter at different name, and with a sur- history. ment. * * * 11. Tyagaraja’s composition ‘Darini Telusukonti’ is about which Chennai temple goddess? The mosquito menace 12. India cricketers Sadagopan CHENNAI HERITAGE Ramesh, T. Kumaran, Hemang Badani and Sridharan Sriram (Continued from page 1) added to the problem. No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, have all played for which Most residents in the city are Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Mylapore school? free mosquito nets to slum- unconcerned about what 13. What establishment was happens to their rubbish once it dwellers, by itself an admission I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / started by Raja D.V. Appa Rao at leaves their premises. They that mosquitoes are here to I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it Luz in the late 1940s? stay, has failed to take off. appear to think that the hereafter. 14. Which ‘public service’ started As a consequence, the city vast unsightly mounds that recently in the metropolis has the litter the streets are the Corpo- now abounds in a variety of G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 tagline ‘Chennaiyin Gouravam’? ration’s problem and not mosquito repellants – a few (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 15. Name the Hakim who was theirs. What nobody realises electrical – a majority of them MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year the first Indian to have acted chemical based and therefore is that this accumulated 2013-14. Governor of Madras (in 1934). most harmful to users in the garbage is ideal for mosquitoes 16. Whose imposing statue can to breed in, in their own long-run. G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment you see at the intersection of the neighbourhood. What is forgotten in all this and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai erstwhile Chamiers Road and Ultimately, we get the city Mount Road? is that we as Chennai dwellers Heritage an additional Rs...... have contributed immensely to we want and it may be best if we 17. What is the biggest example (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me the proliferation of mosquitoes. contribute our mite towards of a ‘four leaf clover’ structure in on your mailing list. Chennai? The rising density of buildings malaria and dengue control. For a start, can we ensure that our Name : ...... 18. One of the famous mobile and the cutting of trees have numbers, seen all over the city increased the surface tempera- rubbish is put into the bin and ...... ture in the city, making it an not all around it? Can we design walls, was 9841072571. Who Address: ...... would have answered the call if ideal breeding ground for the and live in homes that allow you dialled the number? insect. And the practice of natural light and fresh air and, ...... in the process, not take away 19. Which film gave Ajith Kumar violating set-offs, once unheard ...... the nickname ‘Thala’? of but now most prevalent, has what is our neighbour’s rightful 20. Which locality of Chennai given rise to so many dark and share? And can we please cover has a 50-year-old SSI estate that damp corners where mosquitoes our wells and overhead tanks? Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for over- is considered the biggest in South are practically welcomed in. Once this is done, we can con- seas postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Asia? The accumulation of garbage front the Corporation on what Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by Speed Post only. and the careless tipping of it it is supposed to do or has not (Answers on page 11) into communal bins have also done. September 16-30, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 Looking back on Madras Week A four-page special feature Learning about Royapuram hen you have a group of the next stop was the Parsi cem- W50 enthusiasts looking to etery – Anjuman Bagh – and the learn about the locality in the close by Parsi fire temple – the northern part of Chennai – Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar E which has been “heard” more of Meher, where only Parsis and but not “visited” – and a person Zoroastrian Iranis are admitted like Sriram V. who leads it, into the sanctum sanctorum. Listening to Sriram V in the Royapuram station platform. what you get is an outstanding This temple celebrated its cen- educative tour with lots of fun tenary in 2010. and learning! A brief walking tour fol- And what is nice about these lowed, getting to know the walking tours is that it brings streets of Royapuram – Mani- people together to learn the his- Suma Padmanabhan sharing yakara Chaultry Theruvu, via tory of the city’s oldest neigh- her memories of a 1962 storm Lying-in Hospital, leading to borhoods and, more impor- and the story of a ship that sank the dargah of Hazarath Sheik tantly, the information and off Royapuram. Kunangudi Masthan Sahib, a conversation which gives an in- sufi saint who visualised God as sight and discovering hidden ermen residents and conse- a female entity in his prayer treasures. crated in 1829. It is popularly songs and inspired Bharatiar to Places covered: Royapuram called “Madha kovil” and has write “Kannamma” themes! railway station – the first rail- four Mada Streets around it. Robinson Park, a legendary way station of South India Royapuram derives its name park, now named Arignar Anna opened in 1856 and which is from St. Peter, who was referred Poonga, is the place where the oldest surviving railway to as “Rayappar” in Tamil. DMK was founded. station in India. Royapuram was also a prin- All in all, an exemplary day! St. Peter’s Chruch built in cipal suburb to the Parsi and 1799 by the local boatmen/fish- Anglo-Indian community and – Sreemathy Mohan At the dargah of Hazarath Sheik Kunangudi Masthan Sahib. The return of Unni

G rious Test match business, as When V. RAMNARAYAN spoke at a meeting organised by the Sankarabharanam unfolds in its Association of British Scholars during Madras Week on majesty. Now he is cutting and ‘Cricket, Carnatic Music and Coffee’ – a tale to be told in these pulling too, with courage and pages one of these days – he responded to an introductory technical perfection. reference to the writings of Cardus on cricket and music, K.N. Completing a well-earned Prabhu on cricket and English literature, and N.S. Ramaswami century, Unni is back on the on cricket, literature, history and archaeology, saying that he field with a brilliant ragam- had written an article on P. Unnikrishnan for the Economic tanam-pallavi in Kiravani. Once Times Sunday supplement in December 2000 using cricketing a close-in fielder and occasional terms to describe a Music Academy concert of his. “In my opin- wicket-keeper, Unni now All the finalists in the Madras Quiz 2013 held at the Ramada ion, the concert marked Unni's return to form,” he added. proves he is just as good in the Egmore during Madras Week. very seat has been taken at plays some delicate strokes in outfield. He chases, dives and Ethe Music Academy audito- the Charavakam piece, like a slides, throws accurately like rium in Chennai. The Decem- wristy batsman relying on tim- the best of them, as melody and ber season is at its peak and ing rather than brute power. His rhythm merge in a perfect today’s vocalist is a star of the defence is sound, and he is ro- blend. Carnatic music scene – one of tating the strike well, enjoying At the end of the concert, its biggest crowd-pullers, thanks great rapport with his accompa- we come away knowing that in part to his success as a film nists. the prodigal son has returned. singer. By the time Pantuvarali He is as good at Test match Today, I am waiting with comes round, he is really mid- cricket as he is in one-day bated breath for Unni to open a dling the ball, presenting the internationals. bagful of pre-Christmas gifts. full face of the bat. Dhanyasi is a Here’s a champion who has This is Test cricket at its best. poem, elegantly executed, the learnt his lessons from cricket. I The venue is the Lord’s of strokes still flowing essentially am convinced his cricket disci- Carnatic music. There is an air in the V, no tickling to third pline helped Unni make this of expectancy very much akin man, no paddling to fine leg. marvellous comeback. Cricket The best school team was from to the tension of the first morn- The voice is now open, rich in teaches you to take the ups and P.S. Senior, but it could not make ing of a Test match. Handsome glorious akaram. Nayaki is downs of life with equanimity. applause greets Unni and his gentle and mellow. The bats- it to the finals which was won by It helps you to deal with criti- team as the curtain goes up. man is now past his fifty and cism and make course correc- the team of Ramanan Vembu and My instinct was right. Here’s taking fresh guard. tions if warranted. Ram Kumar Shankar. The Quiz a rejuvenated Unni, back at his Suddenly he plays a flurry of In short, it gives you that in- was sponsored by the Murugappa best. Nicely warmed up with the typical one-day strokes, with a valuable quality, the sporting Group. Nattai varnam, his eye in, he brief Padavini, but is back to se- spirit. Well played, Unni! 6 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013 Why Madras is special to Indian cinema everal little-known facts Hariharan highlighted two Sand insights on Indian cin- unique features of the Indian The birds still find a place at Pallikaranai despite development ema and Madras cinema came movie industry: Unlike other towering over them. to light at a talk given by K. countries where Hollywood Hariharan, director of the L.V. movies dominate theatres, In- Prasad Film & TV Academy, as dian cinema is wholly indig- part of the Madras Week cel- enous. Our movie industry de- ebrations. He was addressing a pends almost entirely on Indian joint meeting of the Rotary movies, and they come in many Clubs of Madras South and languages – Hindi, Tamil, Chennai Coastal. Kodak Krishnan Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hariharan said that as we Bengali, Punjabi…India makes celebrate 100 years of Indian more films than any other coun- cinema this year, we should try in the world. India is the bear in mind that cinema pre- world’s best movie audience, ceded industrialisation in India because its 1.2 billion people and is therefore one of India’s love cinema. The Indian nation first industries. When Dada- is in fact a cinematic imagina- saheb Phalke showed Raja tion. People grow up with in Bombay in memories of cinema, its stars, its A rare view of Sri Parthasarathy temple, Triplicane. Harischandra 1913, the industry was in its in- K. Hariharan singers and songs. fancy. People saw skyscrapers leaders said disparagingly. They Its size apart, India’s movie Without Reserve and aircraft in movies before didn’t remark that every Tom, industry is a great tool of na- surprise participant in this year’s Madras Week programmes seeing them in real life. In this Dick and Harry was making tional integration and brings Awas the Reserve Bank of India’s Chennai Region office which respect, India differed from the steel or leather. Result: Indian communities together like no organised several events. An even greater surprise to this Madras West. When the Lumiere cinema suffered neglect, even other industry. You are a Week correspondent, who was present at one of the events, was Brothers exhibited the world’s ill-treatment from the Govern- Hindu; but sitting next to you the Bank’s house journal, Without Reserve, which he found one of first film in New York in 1895, ment and the corporate world. in a theatre could be a Muslim, the best in the country, whose July-September issue – conscious or industrialisation had begun al- Centres of learning like the IIT a Sikh, Parsi, a person from any not of Madras Week – carried two features on the city. ready. Automobiles created taught everything from naval State in India. Vyjayanthimala One was a photo-essay shot by the office’s photographer of traffic jams on roads, skyscrap- architecture to civil engineering brought South India to the Madras’s landmarks. It was titled An Evening in Parry’s and in- ers pierced the sky, planes were to paper technology to leather homes of North Indians. Ami- cluded over a score of brilliantly shot (and printed) pictures, a ready to fly. Cinema arrived in technology, but not film tech- tabh endeared North Indians to couple of which we present here. The other was a feature written the West as the bridesmaid of nology. The Government set up the South. capitalism, to deliver the goods a Sahitya Akademi to encour- and photographed by Nalini Sankaranarayanan, an officer of the Hariharan pointed out a of capitalism. age literature, a Sangeet Natak Bank. Her Brushed by Feathers featured here gives readers a peek little-known paradox. Despite In India, not merely did cin- Akademi for music and drama into the wild life of Madras. the 1,100 movies made every ema precede industry, it also and dance, a Lalit Kala year in India (by far the largest heralded political change. Ma- Akademi to encourage paint- number in any country), despite hatma Gandhi came back from ing, but there was no talk of a the 13,000 theatres and 1,400 South Africa, India’s freedom film academy. recording studios and 25 labo- movement began, and the What the Government did ratories, the annual financial clouds of World War I gath- do was to set up the S.K. Patil turnover of the industry is mod- ered. Cinema came to be asso- Committee to probe the ills and est – barely US $ 1.2 billion or ciated in India with ferment and evils of the film industry. This about Rs. 8,500 crore. “This protest and rebellion and free- committee turned in an atro- makes the film industry a dom. It was a voice of the cious moralistic report. An- pipsqueak industry,” Hariharan people, a tool of dissent and other committee recommended asserted. Individuals in India protest, an instrument of de- nationalisation of the film in- command a higher net worth. mocracy and popular culture. It dustry, a move supported by During his lectures in the US, was not seen as an art form that film critic Marie Seton who was he discovered that any book on merited patronage. close to the Government. She world cinema devotes barely After independence, India said the Soviets had nation- ten pages to the world’s largest inherited three corrupt systems alised their film industry. Fortu- movie producer. Five pages go A view of Kalakshetra from a balcony. from the British – a corrupt po- nately India gave up this disas- to Satyajit Ray, a few pages to litical system, a corrupt legal trous idea because the IAS Adoor Gopalakrishnan and system, a corrupt police system. pointed out that Government Shyam Benegal, a few lines to Indian movies targeted all did not have expertise to man- Bollywood. There may be some three. Politicians, policemen age the film industry. mention of Rajnikanth or and lawyers figured as bad char- In 1954, Dr. B.V. Keskar, Kamal Haasan. acters in Indian movies – they then Information Minister, were castigated or lampooned, banned film music from All In- Had either the Government unless the hero played one of dia Radio. Radio Ceylon ben- or corporate India been more these characters. Our heroes efited from this; all of India lis- enlightened in their attitude to berated existing systems and tened to its broadcast of Hindi movies, the Indian film indus- called for change. film songs. The every-Wednes- try today could have been a gi- This is perhaps one reason day ‘Binaca Geetmala’ became ant industry, something all of why Government saw film- the rage and acquired cult sta- India would be proud about, makers as trouble-makers and tus. Wiser counsels prevailed in said Hariharan. It could have mischief-makers, not as pio- the country after a few years, been a formidable world player neers of an art form, said and film music returned to AIR, in art, education, commerce Hariharan. “Every Tom, Dick dramatising the fact that you and entertainment, a huge cre- One of Madras’s feathered visitors. and Harry is making films,” can’t ban popular culture. (Continued on page 8) September 16-30, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 The uninhibited role of youths

adras Week this year but not at the cost of destroying M(August 18-25) more or nature or by upsetting its laws. less settled into being Madras His presentation was comple- Fortnight and promised to be- mented by some moving pic- come Madras Month, with tures (mostly depressing in the more than 100 programmes/ second part) taken by Shaju events/happenings across the John, a well-known freelance Active participation by youth at the seminar on the Madras Press city. photojournalist. held at the Indian Press Institute. This year was particularly I finally breathed a huge memorable for Harry MacLure, sigh of relief when the final comic book illustrator, cartoon- Harry MacLure introducing his programme at the Institute ist, graphic designer, magazine film Going Away. went off without a hitch. Mod- editor and publisher. His film, erating a controversial subject, Going Away, was screened to est in history, authored by S. ‘Madras newspapers – the good, houseful audiences at the Press Muthiah and Harry, was also bad and ugly’, was S. Muthiah. Institute of India and the Ma- released during the week before The speakers discussed various dras Club. The film, set in an an audience of nearly 300 per- issues confronting journalism Anglo-Indian milieu in St. Tho- sons. today – paid news, corporate mas’ Mount, is about a fictional * * * ownership of newspapers, cred- Anglo-Indian family coming to One of the high points at the ibility, citizen’s journalism, ad- terms with the possibility of Press Institute (there wasn’t vertising and the commercial Panellists discussing the Madras Press at the Indian Press Insti- emigration to Australia and even space to squat on the tute. From left to right: R.V. Rajan, S.R. Madhu, S. Muthiah having to leave loved ones floor) was when Nityanand (Chair), Dr. Jaya Sreedhar and Shreekumar Verma. behind here. The Anglo-Indians Jayaraman made a presentation G by – A 500-Year History, a book on Chennai’s vanishing wet- Sashi Nair nallur and KK Nagar projects. that is a must-buy for all those lands and its consequences. De- She made an impassioned plea with more than a passing inter- velopment is all fine, he said, to the youth in the audience aspect, as well as the quality of and elsewhere to do their bit for the fare on offer.What was best the city and make it more live- about this get-together was the able. She even admonished uninhibitedness of the college them with a ‘Shame on all of students from various media you!’ outburst. It was probably courses who plunged into the her frustration coming out, discussion. finding little support for her ini- However, for me, the star tiative from people of her age. during the four days of More power to her. programmes at the Press Insti- * * * tute was Kadambari Badami, an The Pupil Saveetha Eco Kadambari Badami making an active member of Transparent School, Poonamalle, made a de- impassioned plea to youth at the but in this year’s Madras Chennai, who spoke about cre- Indian Press Institute. ating a pedestrian-friendly and Week’s celebrations. And what ‘walkable’ city, through partici- a debut! The school organised Nityanand Jayaraman and photographer Shaju John (right) dis- weeklong programmes that it inter-school and intra-school patory planning, public-govern- events and competitions that cussing garbage and Chennai’s vanishing wetlands at the Indian ment partnerships, citizen em- collectively styled ‘Madras Memoirs’. There were a series of highlighted the transition of the Press Institute. powerment, and the Nanga- city from Madraspattinam to Chennai. The person who made all this possible at The Pupil, al- SOS Village looks at temples most single-handedly, was Dolly Mohan. She says she initially had heard of SOS Village near Tambaram and the great work it Chennai. The very peaceful and calm setting here is enhanced by dreaded taking up the onerous Ihas been doing since 1979 for children who, unfortunately, had the greenery all round, including a big banyan tree near the en- task but as she got into the no family support or protection. I had wanted to visit the place for trance. The chirping of birds, hardly any traffic – what a pity chil- groove she began enjoying be- long and when I was invited to deliver a lecture as part of their dren in the city mostly don’t get to experience anything like this ing a part of the old and the Madras Week celebrations, I was only too happy to do so. I had no either in schools or around their residences! new. She’s been in Chennai for idea it would be a learning experience for me. I spoke among the students and the adults there about the more than two decades now I didn’t earlier know that this home for children was spread temples of South India with a special mention of those in Chennai but, like many, she was ignorant across a vast expanse of five acres. Nor did I know that those – about their antiquity, sculptures, architecture and valuable in- about how the city had evolved children lived in groups of five or six in beautiful little houses, each scriptions. The lecture focussed on the ancient Chola temple in and grown. Once having been unit with a hall, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. Each home is Madambakkam near Tambaram and the four famous temples of entrusted with the responsibil- run by a woman who is like a mother – ‘amma’ to the children – Chennai along the coast – Adipurishwarar temple in Tiruvottriyur, ity of organising the events at who buys groceries, cooks for them, helps with their homework Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane, Kapaleeswarar temple in the school, she researched hard and generally does everything a real mother would do. Backpacks Mylapore and the Marundeeswarar temple in Tiruvanmiyur. These and found a magical path lead- arranged in a row, stuffed toys, a ‘happy birthday’ poster made for coastal temples existed in Pallava times and have witnessed archi- ing to the past. In the process one of the children by others in a house – these were some of the tectural growth spanning many centuries. she rediscovered a small part of signs I saw of a happy home and those of little boys and girls from Many in the audience had visited the Madambakkam temple, the rich legacy of Madras- diverse backgrounds, bonding and growing up together as brothers fairly close to SOS Village, and so could connect with what was pattinam. She knew it all and sisters. There were cheerful faces all around making it obvious being explained. It was heartening to see their interest in the sub- amounted to only scratching that the children have moved beyond a difficult past. A little ject. the surface but she had made a temple for Lord Ganesha finds a place near the office and it is here Post lecture, there was enough time for interaction and there great start. ‘The quiz, the pho- that many of the children who had grown up in SOS Village come was a flood of questions – ranging from “Were animals used in the tographs, the relics – everything back to get married after completing higher studies and securing process of constructing temples?” to “How come we are told that added to my personal knowl- good jobs. the shadow of the Thanjavur temple never falls on the ground?” edge of Madraspatinam. Wish Lectures, music recitals, dance performances and all such func- And the commonly asked query was “How long did it take to build we had a time machine that tions are held in the auditorium, a beautiful structure in the centre a temple?” which was difficult to answer. would take us back into those of the SOS village, designed like a Koothambalam found in Kerala temples and even reminding of the Kalakshetra auditorium in – Chithra Madhavan (Continued on page 8) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013 Converting a dump into a tree park

ou can be an armchair only one Purasai tree (Flame of “Yactivist and say ‘the gov- the Forest, Butea frondosa) in ernment didn’t do this’, ‘the the whole of Purasawalkam, in corporation didn’t do this’. But Gangadeeswarar Temple. what have you done?” asked This concern led to the for- Shobha Menon, founder- mation of Kotturpuram Tree trustee of Nizhal, an NGO dedi- Park through a persevering vol- cated to greening urban areas untary effort led by Shobha. and regenerating biodiversity, And it was the heart-warming speaking during a Madras Week story of this Park that she nar- event. Of concern to Nizhal is rated in her talk. Nizhal activ- native trees disappearing from ists and willing volunteers, aged their original locations, as the from three to seventy plus, de- A rare visitor to the Park. unique flora and fauna that veloped the Park sapling by sap- flourish around these trees also ling, literally. After six years, than 400 trees belonging to over Veppalai, Karuvaali, Konji, park sporting exquisite growing vanish. For example, there is the Park today is home to more 100 species and teems with a Ulakkaipalai, and Kuttippirai. stalks, Chennai Corporation diversity of insects. Community support as ex- laid walking paths. By now, Shobha had been writing on pected was not forthcoming ini- wheel barrows were used by vol- civic affairs for long and her vi- tially and the volunteer group unteers to transport water from sion of long-term care for trees started with pitting a small area one end of the park to the “that supply us oxygen” led her just after the monsoon in 2008. other. The swelling volunteer to found Nizhal. In early 2008, As only one hand pump in one numbers, comprising school- a proposal came to Shobha from corner was available as a water children, college students, cor- the Superintending Engineer of source, the saplings were porate volunteers, and senior the PWD, who knew of Nizhal’s planted in batches of ten. Sum- citizens, continued to contrib- work, on doing something ute their wholehearted support. about the five-acre area of wild “This was not ad hoc vol- growth on the banks of Adyar unteerism,” stressed Shobha. river opposite the Madras Club. She commended volunteers Situated on one side of River from the core team of Nizhal View Road, Kotturpuram, the (Dr. Babu, Swaminathan, area had earlier been used as a Latha) and a few young volun- A view of the Park. dumping yard. A small volun- teers (like Gajendran and teer group was formed, under Vinod) who came and helped to the guidance of the first Chief meet whatever the Park Madras & Indian cinema needed. Even Shobha’s mother, Urban Planner of the Madras The tussar silkworm on the (Continued from page 6) Tamil film has to spend a mini- Metropolitan Development Arjuna tree, which also has medicinal Thangam Menon, became an mum of Rs 2 crore on publicity; Authority, the late G. Dattatri, properties. enthusiastic volunteer as was ator of jobs and incomes and it has to release simultaneously to develop a tree park. “We another septuagenarian neigh- revenues for the Government, a in at least 120 of the 900-odd were excited about the prospect bour, Radha Padmanabhan. source of global prestige. theatres of Tamil Nadu, else it of bringing back local trees,” re- mers were testing times due to Walkers began to throng the Hariharan said that though can forget the idea of profit. called Shobha. The PWD, water scarcity. Dattatri proved park and, a few months ago, ac- Bombay is described as India’s Compounding the problem is which proposed the Park to to be a “godsend” when things tive members from among the film capital, it’s actually Madras the fact that film distribution in mark its 150th year, did not weren’t moving and helped volunteers formed the Friends that merits this label. When Tamil Nadu is controlled by a have funds and wanted the lo- Shobha tide over low phases. of Kotturpuram Park, which cinema arrived, Madras Presi- few players who lay down the cal citizens to maintain the Four months later, volunteer was registered as a society. dency was the largest presi- law to serve their own interests. Park. The Park project, there- support gradually built up. Poochi Venkat, the macro dency in India. It was Madras The solution to the distribu- fore, became a volunteer-driven Funds were in short supply and photographer who works on in- that gave birth to such fine cin- tion problem lies in DTH (di- effort and activism of a persua- the team had to fight limited sects, discovered many insect ema entrepreneurs as S.S. rect satellite telecast to home), sive kind won Shobha support physical resources as well. Every species in the Park that the vol- Vasan, L.V. Prasad and A.V. Hariharan said. Kamal Haasan from many, including the gov- possible citizen, be it a child unteers didn’t know of. Stand- Meiyappan. The ungainly-look- tried this for Vishwaroopam, but ernment. playing cricket in the vicinity or ing tall in the park are Arjuna ing Sandow Chinnappa Devar failed because of opposition by To give a local flavour, sap- a senior citizen, who came to trees (Termilnalia arjuna) and a was a genius. His films starring distributors. Through DTH, lings from Tiruvannamalai and the park to walk, was roped in Wheeler tree (Albizia amara). wildlife were hits nationwide. you can watch a new movie on Auroville, which had evergreen as a volunteer. Large volunteer Another attraction is the Heli- Devar could make films for the your TV set from the conve- tropical dry trees, were brought support was needed to water copter Tree (Gyrocarpus Tamil audience and for a na- nience of your own home. in to begin the project. These the saplings and extend the area americanus). Shobha was ex- tional audience. Stars come You’ll end up spending much included Tannaku, Purasai, of tree cover. cited to see the tussar silkworm from all over India to work in less money – you’ll save on cin- After four years, with the on the Arjuna tree, which also Madras. ema tickets, you’ll save on has medicinal properties. Madras had pioneered the transport and popcorn and soft Shobha is happy that stu- colour era in movies, Hariharan drinks and junk food! THE ROLE OF YOUTHS dents visiting the park learn the said. He pointed out that his Hariharan said that the fu- value of sustained action. “The own father, then vice-president ture of cinema lies in informa- (Continued from page 7) and geography in the lower idea is to inspire more urban of Kodak, had made a huge con- tion technology. The IT indus- classes. I would suggest devot- biodiversity parks,” she said. tribution to the film industry in try ought to take up cinema. ing a period to Madras and its Her activism has demonstrated India through the manufacture Reason: the immense potential days when life was so peaceful history in classes 5, 6 and 7. how a caring citizen can make a of colour negative film. Kodak of Internet and Youtube and compared to the frenetic one we Nanditha Krishna has already difference. She regretted that Krishnan was a household mobile and hand-held media lead today,’ she says. done it at the school run by the some people have a mental name in the movie industry. such as cell phones and I-Pads What was also significant at C P Ramaswami Aiyar Founda- block when it comes to getting He said the biggest problem for dissemination of movies. The Pupil was that Saveetha, tion on Eldams Road, and Mrs. involved with public spaces. in Madras today is that of distri- This could herald a phenom- who runs the school, was her- Y.G. Parthasarathy has said that She exhorted citizens to con- bution. Because of piracy – pi- enal change for cinema. This self enthused and that enthusi- the PSBB Schools would do tribute in any way possible to rated copies of a film begin to development is inevitable, asm helped motivate her team. likewise from the next academic improve their own neighbour- spread soon after its theatre ex- Hariharan thought. The school is now looking to- year. All this bodes well for the hoods. hibition – even an ordinary – S.R. Madhu wards focussing more on history future. – K. Venkatesh September 16-30, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 9 A book triggers memories of an Anglo-Indian childhood

read S. Muthiah’s fascinating der brother Niranjan was James Ibook, The Anglo Indians – A and my younger brother Sidd- 500-year History, released dur- harth, simply Sid. As we siblings ing Madras Week celebrations, called each other by these with such interest that I could names at home and we spoke hardly put it down until I fin- mostly English, our relatives ished reading it. The subject thought we were very snooty. was researched thoroughly and Dressed in the school uniform, the book very sensitively writ- socks and shoes, and with a so- ten. The book brought back to lar khaki topee (hat) and with a me memories of my childhood name like Peggy who would and filled me with nostalgia. guess that I was an Indian! I studied in St.Williams’ Spare the rod and spoil the European High School, Madras, child was the maxim those days. where the Headmistress and her As I recount the punishment assistant were Irish nuns. The we were subjected to, it would rest of the teachers were all sound like a horror story. But Anglo-Indians. My father took we took it all in our stride. And me when I was about 4 years old our teachers no doubt thought that they were doing it for our G by own good. Children who did The back and front covers of the book that triggered the author’s memories. Radha Padmanabhan not understand a question were sometimes made to wear dunce feared most by all the students. and the way the Anglo-Indians listened longingly, wanting to caps for the day. They were We dreaded going to her class. lived. I used to admire the way attend one of them. in 1930 to get me admitted to made of paper and shaped into Later I heard that she had led a the dining table was laid, with I do remember some of my school. Mother Margaret, the a cone. A cane was always on tough life and took it out on her plates and spoons and forks and classmates. The youngest was Headmistress, shook my father’s the teacher’s desk, to be used students. We all loved the drinking water glasses and Lizzie who was the darling of the hand and planted a kiss on my whenever she wished to – like if gentle and soft-spoken Miss napkins where the teachers had school. She had a crop of golden cheek which I wanted to brush you did not pay attention or if Soares and the quiet Miss Tho- their lunch, while we at home hair like Shirley Temple and, off but did not dare to. As was you scored 0 out of 10 for the mas. Miss Ormes made the sat on the ground and ate with like the child star, could sing the case with all Europeans, sums done in class. If all the students adore her because she our hands. They sipped water and do a tap dance. Unfortu- they could never pronounce spellings of words dictated to was full of fun and made us of- gently from the glasses while we nately she died of typhoid at the any name in any language but you were wrong, the answer ten laugh in class. Miss Smith at home had to hold the metal age of 6 or so. I remember theirs. So I was named Peggy paper was pinned to your back taught us music and was digni- tumbler high and pour the wa- Merlyn Trimm and her sister (short for Margaret, the Head- and you had to wear it all day fied and had beautiful classic ter into our open mouths. My Irene. They stayed with an mistress said). My two elder sis- long. features. classmates spoke often of uncle and aunt as they were, I ters, Indira and Hemalata, were Mrs. Martin, Standard 2 As a child I remember the dances and parties that they as think, orphans. Rosy Santa- named Hilda and Annie, my el- teacher, was one who was difference in the way we lived a community attended and I (Continued on page 12) Masters of 20th Century Madras science – An occasional article in a series by Dr. A. RAMAN The scientist who looked towards the wilderness f India today is a leader in and Venkataraman attempted Indian director of SBS, he per- Out came the Coimbatore vari- cates of family planning. He Isugarcane research, it is crossing the tropical sugarcane, fected developing a range of eties C0 312, C0 313, C0 419, was constantly worried about solely because of T.S. Venka- Saccharum officinarum, with an hybrid sugarcanes that are used and a few others, which chang- losing our precious wild pl- taraman, who was closely ass- indigenous taxon cultivated in the world over today as genetic ed the complexion of sugarcane ant-genetic stock by irrespon- ociated with the Sugarcane northern India, later named stock. He always looked at the production and that of the sible deforestation. He was Breeding Station (SBS) (now Saccharum barberi. The Barber- wilderness as the gene pool for sugar industry not only in India, convinced that unbridled Sugarcane Breeding Insti- Venkataraman trials went on drawing germplasm to improve but also in other sugarcane- population growth was a criti- tute) in Coimbatore. He was for a few years; they were, how- crop plants, especially sugar- growing nations with a similar cal pressure point leading to born in 1884. He had a Doc- ever, unsuccessful. Later, the cane. C0 205 proved well suited climate. destruction of India’s forest tor of Science degree from the Barber-Venkataraman team to Indian climate and soil con- A highly significant element wealth. He played an active University of Madras and be- contemplated utilising the ‘rela- ditions because of its parentage that sparkled in Venkatara- role in educating people on longed to the Indian Agri- tively useless’ cane species S. going back to the hardy native man’s effort was to reconstitute the need for family planning cultural Service. spontaneum that was growing S. spontaneum. This achieve- sugarcane germplasm by hybri- and stressed the adverse im- Charles Barber (Director- wild along the channel borders ment of utilising wild plants in dising the sugar-yielding cane pact of population growth on Superintendent of the Sugar- near the SBS to evolve the hybridisation was novel in species with the ‘useless’ wild natural resources of the coun- cane Breeding Station, much-needed hardy varieties plant-breeding efforts through- cane species. Venkataraman’s try. Coimbatore) and Venkata- suited for subtropical India. The out the world. efforts reinforce what we today Venkataraman died in raman were the first in the variety named ‘C0 205’ (‘C0’ Soon Venkataraman came value as the vitality and vibran- 1963. He was one of a few world to attempt to evolve standing for ‘Coimbatore’) up with ‘C0 285’ that proved cy of biological diversity. Indian scientists who was way sugarcane varieties suited for proved a thumping success better in performance than ‘C0 Venkataraman’s two other ahead of his contemporaries. the subtropical parts of the in northern India, especially in 205’. For the first time through- passions were in preserving and He was knighted for his con- country, while similar stations the Punjab, where it yielded out the world, research aiming utilising medicinal plants of In- tributions to Indian agricul- in Java and Barbados were 50 per cent more than what the to combine desirable traits from dia and stalling the rapidly gro- ture in 1942, which changed engaged in developing varie- indigenous varieties produced. three species (S. officinarum, S. wing human population in the India’s sugar production sta- ties for tropical conditions. In the 1930s, Venkataraman barberi, S. spontaneum) was country. Few would know that tus – from an empty begging Dealing with this task, Barber succeedeed Barber. As the first made by Venkataraman at SBS. he was one of the earliest advo- bowl to an overflowing sugar bowl. 10 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013

(Continued from the style to their own purposes, and August 16th Issue) there seems little doubt that The gubernatorial this is a very close copy of a five- storeyed Buddhist monastery, 1885 – January used as a temple. e are passing the Christ Early on the morning of the Wmas holidays at Guindy, life 12th we proceeded by the canal and I strolled, with the Chief to Sadras, walked over the old Secretary, through the garden Third and final installment from the diaries of Sir Mountstuart fort and the picturesque ruins of in the moonlight (which, for the Elphinstone Grant-Duff (1881-1886) the house of the long-vanished last week, has been divinely Dutch Governor. beautiful). The notes of the The rising of the moon over ing with us, as the Cloud with It is a pretty spot, thanks On a pond near this there band, which was playing one of the sea, the flood of silver light the Silver Lining. largely to a grove of palmyra grew most lovely blue water-lil- our selections of Scotch airs upon it, upon the great reach of * * * trees with a thick undergrowth ies. I observed, too, for the first (that which begins with “The the Cooum, and upon the pond of the Phoenix farinifera. To a meeting in time in India, the precise effect lowlands of Holland”), growing where the lotus grows, have, as March 12: The buildings, excavations, Pacheappa’s Hall, where my described in the lines of ever clearer and clearer as we seen from the verandah where and sculptures would be more wife presided and delivered a Tennyson: returned along the terrace, we dine, been, for the last few interesting than they are, were speech about the foundation of “A light wind blew from the close to which the black buck evenings, lovely beyond de- it not for the thick darkness an hospital for women, who are gates of the sun, And waves of had congregated in large num- scription. made only the more visible by at once too poor to have the at- shadow went over the wheat.” bers. rays of light from opposite quar- * * * tendance of female doctors at Only in this case the crop ters, which, as in the case of so * * * My wife gave a their own houses, and too that bent under the breath of February 16: many Indian antiquities, cross January 17: Parade on the Is- Fancy Ball in the Banqueting highly placed socially to be able the breeze from the Bay of Ben- and perplex the vision. land of a little more than 2000 Hall. She went as Anne d to go to an hospital managed by gal was not wheat but rice. What are these things? Who men – always a pretty sight. The Autriche; I as the Duke of men. From Sadras we returned to made them? Why did they last I attended was, I think, on Buckingham, who was Ambas- The Guindy gardens were lit our camp at the Seven Pagodas, make them? I consult Fergusson 18th December 1883. To-day I sador at her Court. Moore, up after dinner, and my wife re- and, gliding calmly through the in the copy, which was given me rode Renown and my wife Cavendish, and Bagot as Les- ceived such of the society as de- night on our homeward way, on 27th July 1875 by Mr. Ruby, Sir Frederick his little trois Mousquetaires; Mrs. sired to take leave of her before were next morning at Guindy. Murray, of The Handbooks to white Arab. The South Wales Awdry as Madame de Motte- she left for the Hills. * * * be a guide for my first Indian Borderers were amongst those ville; her husband as my Secre- * * * journey, and I find the follow- March 22: I have heard on the ground, and the “March tary; J Evelyn as a gentleman After Council on ing, as to which I can only say, much, since I arrived in Madras, of the Men of Harlech” was and Agnew as a pikeman of the March 13: the loth, I returned to Guindy, “It may be so”:– of mango showers at this season characteristic of this occasion. same period; Lawford as an En- and, late in the evening, em- “On the Coromandel coast, when that fruit should be ripen- On the last, the “Garb of old glish Officer of the last Century; barked on the Buckingham Ca- some way south of Madras, and ing, but never saw one till this Gaul” had, if my memory serves Colonel Herbert as Clive – an nal for the Seven Pagodas, close near the village of Sadras, is a morning, when it rained me aright, the honours of the admirable copy of the portrait to which we found, on the spot well known to Indian anti- heavily, for some twenty min- day. (said to be the best of him exist- morning of the fifth, our tents quaries by the name of Maha- utes, while we sat in the garden ing) in the monsoon dining- * * * pitched. Balipooram, or, more properly, house, where the Eucharis lilies room at Government House; January: All through the After the heat of the day was Mahavellipore, familiar to En- grow, enjoying the unwonted Miss Martin as Julie d’Angen- month of January the sunsets over, I inspected the temples glish readers from the use freshness. We have not seen a nes; John Lubbock in a very be- and after-glows have been of and other objects of interest, Southey makes of it and its tra- drop of rain since the deluge of coming dress arranged by Colo- the most extraordinary beauty. together with the recent en- ditions in his Curse of the north-east monsoon ceased nel Herbert; Miss Gordon, I have never seen anything croachments which have given Kehamay. a day or two before Christmas. grand-daughter of Sir Walter equal to them in Egypt or else- us some trouble. Of granite hills, the highest * * * Scott's Secretary, who was stay- where. part rising, perhaps, 100 feet December 1: My wife, who, from the level of the plain. In accompanied by Miss Moxon these hills some half-dozen and Captain Bagot, arrived caves have been excavated, and from Ootacamund on the 5th, Rotary Clubs and several others commenced: this afternoon opened the some as excavations, others as Victoria Caste Hospital for monoliths. Between the hills Women, which has been estab- and the seashore seven masses lished mainly by her exertions. Madras Week of granite protrude from the The concluding passage of sands, which have been carved her speech ran as follows: adras Week was celebrated by several G RCM Midtown conducted a weekly meet- by the Hindus, probably about “When we reflect that it is MRotary Clubs, though under the guise of ing participated by Gopu who spoke on 1300 a.d. It is evident that the barely four hundred years – a the “Madras 374”. ‘Chennai Pattinathu Edison’. object on the right imitates a mere moment in the history of The various activities conducted by the G RC Madras Centenary Commemoration Buddhist monastery of five mankind – since the great Clubs during Madras Week are as follows: held a photo exhibition titled ‘Madras’ at storeys. The lower storey is movement of the renaissance in The District Club Service launched its the Pallazo Art gallery between August 21 wholly occupied by a great Europe brought the re-awaken- initiative “Madras 374” on August 1st to cel- and 31. square hall; the three next pos- ing of medical science in its ebrate the legacy of Madras and also to bring G RCM Central Aaditya held Madras Day sess central halls, diminishing in train, and that it is not four in some fresh air to weekly club programmes. celebrations on August 24th. size according to their position, hundred years since the Inqui- Many Clubs participated vibrantly. G RC Anna Nagar Aaditya held a meeting on and surrounded by cells on the sition, jealous of the eagerness G RCM South conducted multiple activities August 26th where Ramanujar spoke on ‘I outside; the upper one is after research of the great in the form of a Quiz conducted by love Chennai’. crowned by a dome, or rather a Vesalius, the Court Physician of S. Muthiah, Heritage speakers held joint G RC Madras held multiple programmes to dome-formed termination. Al- Philip the Second of Spain, meetings to promote Madras. Almost every commemorate Madras Week celebrations. together the building seems to drove him to die a shipwrecked week they had a programme. G RC Ambattur celebrated Madras Day along represent, with great exactness, exile on a lonely Greek island, G RC K.K. Nagar conducted quiz competi- with their Charter Day. They invited and all that we know and read of we ought to feel neither surprise tions and also had a meet on Madras Heri- honoured the models who posed for the Buddhist monasteries. Nor is nor impatience at the tardiness, tage addressed by Shashi Nair. ‘Triumph of Labour’ statue. this a mere accidental coinci- with which the desire for medi- G RC Velachery conducted a joint meeting G RC Temple City participated in the Madras dence. The time at which it was cal aid has come in a country, along with RC Thiruvanmiyur on the sub- Quiz with three other clubs. executed was very little re- where the advancement of all ject ‘Eminent women of Madras’ addressed G RCM Chenna Patna organised a talk on moved from that of Buddhism knowledge has been interrupted by Nina John. Natural Heritage of Madras. in this part of India. Its being by incessant wars and ceaseless G RC Madras Coromandel conducted the G RC Royapettah organised a dinner and cut in the rock is obviously a changes of Government. But ‘Mylapore Heritage walk’ guided by fellowship meet to celebrate Madras Day peculiarity of that religion. the desire has come, all honour Dr. Chithra Madhavan. and they conducted a quiz and Rtn.Kishore There is little or none of the to those who are doing their G RC Chennai Towers conducted a photo Kumar gave a speech on ‘Madras and its extravagance of later Hindu best to gratify it, who have like competition titled ‘I love Madras’ and also heritage’. styles in the sculptures. so many of those whom I am participated in a quiz on Madras organised G RCM Ashok Nagar conducted a Family Neither the Jains nor the now addressing, that noble by RCM South. An SMS-based quiz on Ma- Fellowship dinner night and conducted a Hindus introduced anything ambition of mitigating suffering, dras was conducted by them. Quiz on ‘Singara Chennai’. like a new style of architecture. They adapted the Buddhist (Continued on page 11) September 16-30, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 11

(Continued from page 10) seven and eight on Sunday mornings. We are in the midst of promoting health, and with of that brief paradisaical period, health the efficiency and the which is known as the “cold happiness of generations. A history of Tamil weather” at Madras but which Different faiths and different is a very hot European summer, religions have varied widely as tempered by a delicious breeze to their beliefs of what our lives from the north-east. The wild consist in after death. What journalism date (Phoenix syhestris) is in becomes of our personal con- flower, and perfumes all the air sciousness is a question which near the corner of our domain, each man must settle for him- he first Tamil journal Subramania Bharati entered strongest weapon was his edito- where the little very tame hares self according to his own creed. TTamil Patrika (1831), a the portals of journalism rials in which, in simple lan- (Lepus nigricouis) live. In the But, ladies and gentlemen, monthly, was published by the through the Swadesamitran guage and style, he explained to midst of that pleasant tangle, I there is a life after death for the Religious Tract Society. Al- where he served as a sub-editor his readers political and eco- came upon a great wreath of actions of each one of us, what- though it had government sup- for a short period. He paid this nomic issues which until then Abrus precatoriously now flower- ever our beliefs may be, in the port, it did not survive long and tribute to Subramania Aiyer in had remained beyond the cog- ing and robed in the most deli- shape of the permanent conse- closed down after two years. a letter to The Hindu from nitive reach of large masses of cate green. I am more familiar quences of our good or evil do- Another journal of the period Pondicherry in December, Tamil readers. In his hands the with it in a later stage, when its ings. was Rajavvritti Bothini (1885), 1914: “Unaided he (Subra- Swadesamitran proved to be beautiful black and scarlet seeds “May those whom I see here which specialised in publishing mania Aiyer) had made Tamil both a teacher and a leader for are its only attraction. to-day live in the blessings they news items translated from journalism a fact of the world, the Tamil literates whose politi- will have caused to many, long * * * newspapers received from En- in spite of his very imperfect cal consciousness was stirred by after their own feeble lives will January 16: In the evening gland. Dinavarthamani, its con- early training in Tamil litera- its relentless campaign for the have passed away into the Great we drove to the Mylapore tank temporary, was a weekly edited ture. Learn, says the Tamil social development and politi- Infinite. In the name of Her and saw, for, I think, the third by Reverend P. Percival and aphorist, while you are yet cal emancipation of the coun- Most Gracious Majesty the time, the floating festival in published by the Dravidian young. In Subramania Aiyer’s try. Queen-Empress, I pronounce honour of Siva. On this occa- Press. It had government sup- youth he had wholly neglected CRS, as he was affection- the Victoria Caste Hospital sion, the effect of this intensely port and was reputed to have his mother tongue like most ately known in journalists’ open, and I invoke the blessing Indian scene, with its raft bear- had a circulation of 1000 cop- people in this country who cirlces, was a brilliant commen- of that Mighty Power, who ing the semblance of a temple, ies, which was considered large claim to have been ‘educated’ in tator in English too. His fre- watches over us all, on its its dancing girls, its lights, its in that age. English schools. But his mature quent contributions on men work.” flowers, and its music, was A British-sponsored publica- patriotism had to realise later and matters appeared in The tion was Jana Vinothini which that for the elevation of the Hindu and were greatly enjoyed * * * heightened by the most lovely moonlight! captured general public by its readers. The 1886 – January imagination by carrying Swadesamitran declin- * * * a series on the ed after his passing The sentries at Government Rama- By MRINAL CHATTERJEE March 1: About half-past . It gave greater away in 1962 and House mount guard, for the first yana Mrinal Chatterjee leads the Eastern India four p.m., the Viceroy Lord importance to literary folded up some years time, in their Lancer full dress – campus of the Indian Institute of Mass Dufferin arrived with a large and educational sub- later. It was revived scarlet with yellow fiicings. Communication in Dhenkanal, Odisha. party. We met him on the pier, jects than to current under another owner Hitherto the Body Guard has and, after the usual events and news. but did not quite pick worn a Hussar uniform – dark Vive- ceremonials, returned together, appeared in up. The old magic was blue and silver. ka Vilasam through a great concourse, to 1865 its main object was to Tamil race, the Tamil language gone. * * * Government House. counteract the missionaries’ would be not only the most ra- In 1917, V. Kalyanasundara January 6: My wife made a * * * propaganda. It was promoted by tional but the indispensable me- Mudaliar started a daily, Desa- speech to-day to the children of non-Christian Tamil scholars. dium. They win who dare; bhaktan, which had a short life March 4: On the evening of St. Matthias’ schools, in which Madras was the home of these Aiyer dared and he has suc- of three years. Its aim was to the 3rd, I took Lord Dufferin to there was a description of some journalists and it was also the ceeded in establishing a Tamil present a new and refined style visit the Harbour, where we saw parts of Madras, which seemed centre from where newspapers daily journal which with all its in display of news and one of its the working of the titan crane, to me very correct. in several other regional lan- faults is the most useful news- editors was the revolutionary, which takes up blocks of con- It ran as follows: guages were published. In 1876, paper in the Tamil country. V.V.S. Aiyer. It did not have crete, thirty tons in weight, and You have a great advantage nineteen journals were pub- After Subramania Aiyer, A. much of an impact. Kalyana- gently drops them into the wa- here in living in a very beautiful lished from Madras in four lan- Rangaswami Iyengar took over sundara Mudaliar’s weekly ter to act as wave-breakers. place. Madras does not possess guages: Tamil, Telugu, Mala- the editorship of the paper. He Navasakthi, which was a politi- the magnificent mosques and * * * yalam and Hindi. carried out mainly improve- cal and literary magazine, was tombs which adorn many towns September 14: The Sun rose The first Tamil newspaper in ments in its format and con- an instant success. of Northern India, or the broad in Madras on the brilliant uni- the real sense was the Swadesa- tents and made it very influen- Another great name in streets and wide pavements of form of the Body Guard and mitran which was started as tial in provincial and national Tamil journalism during the European cities; but it has a their lances. weekly in 1882 by G. Subra- politics. The Swadesamitran peiod was that of P. Vara- very great charm of its own. The rains have been excep- manya Aiyer, who was also one became the mouthpiece of the darajulu Naidu, who published With the extensive compounds tionally heavy, and the whole of the founders of The Hindu. It Congress party and it was also Tamil Nadu, a daily from Ma- and fine timber on the one place is green. In the evening I became a daily in 1899 and the Tamil version of The Hindu dras in 1926. It achieved signifi- hand, and the sea on the other, rode with Bagot along the Ma- dominated Tamil journalism whose popularity and circula- cant success. Varadarajulu we, inhabitants of Madras, are rina. The Rotten Row, which I until 1934. It was a pioneering tion it shared in fair measure. Naidu was a Congressman and never far away from nature, and have created, is now finished as effort for Subramania Aiyer and But the man who was its great- an ardent supporter of Annie to be near nature, with its help- far as the Cathedral Road, and very soon he was equally at est editor and made it a house- Besant’s Home Rule move- ful and soothing teachings, is the fishing village, which five home in Tamil journalism as he hold name was C. R. Srinivasan, ment. He carried on a campaign one of the best privileges of months ago was so great an eye- was in English. who took over from Ranga- against the Justice Party man, and nature is never mo- sore, has not only disappeared, The poet and patriot swami Iyengar in 1928. His through his paper and it added notonous. but disappeared so entirely that to his popularity. Varadarajulu * * * its site is already almost covered Naidu, however, began to wa- ten days, has given us most of ver in his support to the Con- January 16: Strolled in the by vegetation. December 1: I made my my favourites, and Stradiot se- Park as I usually do between * * * “Farewell Speech” to the Presi- gress from 1926 and his critics dency at large at a great dinner lected, as the last thing to play said he was leaning towards the given by the Maharajah of at dinner to-night, a piece com- Hindu Mahasabha. Tamil Nadu Answers to quiz Vizianagram. posed some time back in daily closed down in 1930. Pursuant to arrangements honour of Iseult. Some enterprising Congress- 1. Hyderabad Hotshots; 2. Greenland; 3. Yasin Bhatkal; 4. Yosemite made at our dinner of 19th No- When we had gone into the men started a paper, India, in National Park; 5. Shooter Ronjan Sodhi; 6. GSAT-7; 7. Ununpentium vember, a meeting of the Ma- drawing-room they played, by a 1931 but it did not make much (Atomic Number 115), 8. Ashok Chakra (highest peacetime gallantry dras Literary Society, which happy inspiration, Mozart’s headway. Jayabharati, a tabloid award); 9. Ytterbium; 10. Ahimsa Messenger. has, as a learned institution, “Agnus Dei” and Schubert’s priced at 3 pice, came on the * * * been asleep, if not in a state of “Ave Maria.” Thereupon I scene and had some initial suc- 11. Tripurasundari (Vadivudaiamman) of Tiruvotriyur; catalepsy, was held to-day at the stopped them. There could not cess. A party newspaper started 12. Santhome High School; 13. Kamadhenu Theatre; 14. Namma Museum. I presided and spoke. have been a better end to the by the Justice Party was the Auto; 15. Khan Bahadur Mohammed Usman; 16. Pasumpon service they have performed so Dravida edited by J.S. Kanna- * * * Muthuramalinga Thevar; 17. Kathipara Flyover; 18. ‘Magician’ P. well. ppar. James; 19. Dheena; 20. Ambattur. The band has, during the last (Concluded) (To be continued) 12 MADRAS MUSINGS September 16-30, 2013

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

game in several capacities, the highest of which was as chair- A swashbuckling entertainer man of the national selection committee. During his tenure, the Indian team came up with at the top of order several creditable performances in India and abroad, peaking ew Tamil Nadu cricketers thodox, ways, must have helped explosive starts. His partnership with the World Cup triumph in Fhad captured the national – him to stay in contention for with V Sivaramakrishnan was 2011, though he and his col- even international – imagina- the opener’s slot at the end of often compared to successful leagues received more than their tion as Krishnamachari Srik- the season. His impressive 38 in pairs of the past like Johnstone fair share of brickbats when In- kanth did in the 1980s, with his the final, which played a crucial and Nailer and Rajagopal and dia was trounced in England and uninhibited aggression, unor- role in India’s unexpected 1983 Belliappa. Like Nailer and Australia in recent series. thodox ways and literally over- World Cup triumph in England, Rajagopal before him, Srik- Srikkanth has also worn the-top batsmanship. He came earned him many fans and his kanth was the quintessential other hats in cricket, as an ex- into the Indian XI as Gavaskar’s way back into the Indian team aggressor who unnerved the pert whose views TV channels opening partner at a time when on a more permanent basis. bowlers with his daring assaults frequently seek, for instance. In the Little Master was in the In fact, the World Cup in par- and restless ways at the crease. this and in his role as mentor to middle of a successful partner- ticular and one-day inter- (The Pakistan captain and the Chennai Super Kings, he ship with Chetan Chauhan but, nationals in general proved deci- bowling spearhead Imran Khan has often come through as an after a scratchy debut, Srik- sive in shaping Srikkanth’s ca- was once driven to such despair amusing and colourful person- kanth quickly established his reer in international cricket. Krishnamachari Srikkanth. by his audacious batting and ality with an original mind. unique style as an impressive, Though he was not a role model eccentric walkabouts at the Srikkanth’s career statistics destructive, if idiosyncratic, foil in terms of batting technique, his at his best, though in England crease, that he muttered loudly, read 2,062 runs in Tests, with to Gavaskar’s technical perfec- fairly simple batting principles he did not convert good starts “I can’t even swear at this chap two hundreds, and an average tion. included a preponderance of into big scores. when he walks away towards of 29.88, and 4,091 runs in I first came across Srik- shots in the V, often clearing the Australia was where Srik- the square leg umpire after ODIs with 4 hundreds and an kanth’s unusual gifts when I infield, especially against the at- kanth had grown to folk heroic every incorrigible shot” or average of 29.01. Strangely, his heard Dilip Vengsarkar describe tacking fields of the early overs. status during the same season, words to that effect.) strike rate of 71.74 in ODIs was his fireworks in the Moin-ud- He was a fierce hooker, unafraid running Ravi Shastri close in a Srikkanth was named India only marginally better than Dowla Gold Cup match which against the best in the business thrilling chase for the player of captain in 1989. Though unsuc- Rahul Dravid’s 71.24. He will, he won for his side with a fre- and a strong cutter as well. Very the series and Audi car award. cessful with the bat, he man- however, always be remem- netic hundred against all odds. quick between the wickets, he Many felt Srikkanth deserved aged to bring the team together bered for the joy he brought to Vengsarkar who had watched managed to win the confidence the prize as much as his open- as a cohesive and fighting unit, millions of spectators by his the innings – I don’t remember of his senior partner Sunil ing partner, as he played an in- creating a record of sorts by carefree batting and unbridled if he was at the receiving end or Gavaskar, once the master bats- valuable role with his electrify- drawing the series. It was quite enthusiasm on the field. a spectator – with incredulity, man unravelled Srikkanth’s ing batting, superb fielding and an achievement, given India’s * Madras Province/State/Tamil Nadu. predicted a bright future for the methods. enthusiasm in India’s triumph earlier record in Pakistan. It was intrepid young opener. His brilliant batting against in the World Championship of on that tour that the boy An Anglo-Indian It was Srikkanth’s 90 at Pakistan during that country’s Cricket. wonder, Sachin Tendulkar, memory Hyderabad against Pakistan in visit to India in 1986-87 in- Srikkanth flourished thro- made his Test debut. partnership with T.E. Srini- cluded his best Test innings of ughout his career in limited Dropped from the team on (Continued from page 9) vasan who scored a hundred 123 at Chepauk, Chennai, overs cricket, not only as an his return, he spent a couple of maria was a lovely looking girl. that brought him into the lime- where he pummelled Imran attacking batsman and all- years in the wilderness, and his And then there were the Dalys. light. While TE scored another Khan & Co. to all parts of the round fielder, but also as a very subsequent form after he made a Marie Daly was a beauty and century in the Irani Cup that ground, to the delight of his useful off-spinner, with two five comeback was average. He she knew it. I was told that the season and booked his berth to home crowd. His other hundred wicket hauls in that form of the could not reproduce his earlier Dalys emigrated to Australia. Australia, Srikkanth had to in Test cricket had come at the game placing him above many success of the Australian tour Do I regret my Anglo-Indian wait till another season, before Sydney Cricket Ground in Aus- regular bowlers. In local cricket, and the 1992 World Cup, and childhood? Not at all. he made his debut against the tralia in the 1985-86 season, he was also capable of rare within a year he was omitted I am 87 years old and I know touring Englishmen. Though he perhaps his most consistent bursts of medium-pace bowling, from the South Zone squad in that the gentle Mother Marga- averaged only 19.83 in that se- Test series. During that series, especially when he was fresh out the Duleep Trophy. He ret, the bright and young Sister ries, his ability to score quickly and the tour of England as a of college. announced his retirement from Paula, all my teachers and many and demoralise the bowlers member of Kapil Dev’s victori- Playing for Tamil Nadu, international cricket, but con- of my classmates are no more. I with his irreverence and unor- ous team, Srikkanth was batting Srikkanth gave the team many tinued his association with the owe what I am to all of them.

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