Schooling in the 'New Normal' – Part 2 Mega

Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/18-20 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/18-20 Publication: 1st & 16th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) INSIDE Short ‘N’ Snappy Remembering N. Venkataramani The travails of two cities An eminent son of Pondicherry www.madrasmusings.com WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXX No. 5 August 16-31, 2020 Mega plans for mega HERITAGE WATCH streets project, with Where Governors once resided outstation architects ou have to hand it to our is now busying itself with the Adyar and Mylapore. As part Ycity’s Corporation. It is for- Mega Streets project. of this grand scheme, Mylapore ever in the process of launching This is to make sure that has been taken up as pilot and some mega scheme or the our roadways and streets are the project has been awarded other. The last few years saw obstruction free for a seam- to an architectural firm in much noise over the Smart less commute by pedestrians, Ahmedabad. City initiatives and you had non-motorised vehicles and of While this is in no way a consultants literally popping course cars, buses, autos and comment on the abilities of the out of every second building selected entity and we are sure Government House, left and Banqueting Hall right, from a 19th Century in the city. One of the most due process has been followed print. visible outcomes of this was by The Editor by the civic body, it does come It was in 2008 that the High Court of Madras decreed a very wide footpath on Sir as a surprise that no local firm that around 400 buildings of the city merited heritage status. Theyagaroya Road in T. Nagar, was considered suitable for two-wheelers. On the anvil A Heritage Conservation Committee was formed under the which narrowed the space for executing a project in an area auspices of the CMDA and it was mandated to come out with an vehicles considerably. Since is a plan to invite consultant that is viewed as a cultural architects to submit proposals action plan to protect these structures. Bureaucracy managed then not much has been heard, heartland by many residents of to stifle all the noble intents in that judgement while on paper presumably because attention on an area-wise basis. Phase 1 Chennai. Many local architects fulfilling every requirement in it. The entire HCC was populated has been diverted owing to the will focus on 110 km of roads have over the years developed with bureaucrats and those with Government affiliations. The pandemic. But that has not in Tondiarpet, Anna Nagar, Committee hardly ever met and after several delays managed deterred our civic body, which Velachery, Nungambakkam, (Continued on page 2) to send out letters to the owners of the listed buildings, all of which stated that they could do nothing with the structures in their possession. Many were quite happy to oblige, for they could that way give up bare maintenance as well and wait for Schooling in the ‘New the buildings to collapse. The State Government had a bigger agenda. That was when the new Assembly cum Secretariat was being planned Normal’ – Part 2 and in the Government Estate, which was the site, there were (Continued from last the treasurer at the MWA around 1,600 children under as many as six individual structures listed in the judgement. fortnight) Matriculation Higher Second- its wing, most of whom are con- Five of these were demolished, leaving Rajaji (Banqueting) ary School, estimates that more tinuing to receive education Hall the sole survivor. The biggest loss was of Government hen the lockdown de- than half of her school students through digital mediums even House, once the city residence of the Governors of Madras, Wscended on the city in later used as an MLAs hostel and finally with the police. A * are struggling financially. “Most in the lockdown, thanks to the March, Raju felt the eco- of the children in my school hard work of the 60 teachers building that held within it over 250 years of Madras history, nomic pinch immediately. An are first or second generation on the rolls. The staff depend for it was acquired from the Madra family that owned it in the auto driver, he suddenly found learners,” she explained. “The 1750s, it was quickly done away with. The new Secretariat did himself without any patronage. families live hand to mouth, come up, but was used very briefly as such, for a succeeding With savings quickly dissolving by A Staff some of the mothers keep their Correspondent Government changed it into a hospital. to meet living expenses, he families afloat by working as Most ironically, the High Court judgement classified faced an unprecedented situ- housemaids.” A bird’s eye view Government House under grade 1 – of national importance and ation – he didn’t have enough on their professional income to of the situation would under- a prime landmark. But what do you do when the Government make a living too, like everyone in the kitty to pay his childrens’ standably lead the layman to else. Making the best of the drives the bulldozer? school fees. Raju isn’t alone; recommend waiving school situation, Nikhath’s school has many working class parents are fees for struggling parents. But taken to requesting parents to struggling through the same the matter is more complicated pay as much as they can and is state of affairs. than that, especially for schools Madras Week in the process of inviting public To gain a better understand- like Nikhath’s and Radha’s, who donations to offer scholarships ing of the situation, Madras have to balance the needs of the This is that time of the year when under normal to families who simply can- Musings spoke to Nikhath students as well as the staff. circumstances, Madras Musings will be neck deep not meet the expense. The Suhail and Radha Vasudevan, “We are not an aided school. in putting together its quota of programmes, talks teachers have taken a 20 per whose schools deliver education We don’t have a trust fund built and walks for Madras Week. This year, owing to the cent pay cut in salaries as well, to children from economically from donations, either. How ongoing Covid pandemic, we have decided to abstain counting their blessings that unprivileged backgrounds. can we take care of our teach- from organising any events. We wish all our readers they have retained their jobs. Nikhath, who serves as ers?” Nikhath points out. It’s a a healthy and safe Madras Week and Madras Month. But the school is walking a fair question. Her school has – Editor Name changed. (Continued on page 2) 2 MADRAS MUSINGS August 16-31, 2020 MEGA PLANS FOR MEGA STREETS PROJECT The strange lure of (Continued from page 1) of the same ilk – upper-class, English speaking and forever expertise and knowledge as dreaming of an Acropolis like unhappiness and frustration far as Mylapore is concerned solution for Mylapore, none of and it is a wonder that the those who eventually will have he Woman from Madras downs when they fell all the Women have it tricky in award had to go to someone in power to make or mar the proj- TMusings is beginning to way down to square one. And other ways, too. Most are Ahmedabad. Handling a space ect were visible. And in this we think that, in general, people everybody – even the players, accustomed to sporting well- like Mylapore demands being include the elected Member are more attracted to things (Wo)MMM thinks – absolutely shaped eyebrows and facial aware of the local idiom and of the Legislative Assembly, that are ominous or frustrating loved it. The kicker? It was a features free of whiskers and culture and this may be hugely officials of the civic body, local than happy and pleasant. Take paid game, which meant that moustaches. This hasn’t been absent when outstation archi- residents, the temple admin- for instance, the Covid situa- the players actually had to possible to maintain in the tects are chosen. istrators, representatives of tion in Chennai. When mat- shell out hard-earned money lockdown and men across A brief interaction with the the shops and establishments ters were grim a month ago, to experience such exquisite the city have been stumbling with the rapid rise of infections frustration. (Wo)MMM is cer- across feminine secrets that team did not reveal anything in the area and above all, the out of the ordinary. There in the city, much attention tain that the crafty developer the gentler sex has largely hawkers. If these people do was given to daily statistics, behind the game earned a fat sought to suppress for most of were the usual plans – to clear not get to see what is being lockdown regulation mea- sum out of all this. history – for instance, while the space of hawkers, cre- proposed, to what effect then sures, medical infrastructure And so, the (Wo)MMM has it is common knowledge that ate broad footpaths, parking such consultations? analyses and so on. There were come to the conclusion that we are also capable of growing spaces, repositioning of the Over the years, various some chaps that (Wo)MMM pleasant, informative content moustaches, we have largely hurdles people normally face schemes such as this have knew, who would log onto is not as saleable as dark or been able to hide how lux- while walking, and regulated been mooted, partially exe- the Aarogya Setu app for the frustrating content.

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