Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/15-17 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • Remembering alma maters • Ekamra Nivas seminars • festival buzz • Cholamandal’s latest

Vol. XXIV No. 20 MUSINGS February 1-15, 2015 How do we cash Madras Landmarks in on tourism? – 50 years ago s a nation we never had it 2014 are impressive – over 3.9 on hearsay and secondary Abetter as far as our tourism million foreigners came into sources, gaining experience as industry is concerned. Foreign , the majority they go along, not all of which tourist arrivals are at an all time making their entry via Chennai. is good. Secondly, the tours the high, clocking a figure of 6.97 The State still remains the top Tourism Corporation offers are million in 2013, the latest year attraction for overseas tourists. led by guides who provide little for which statistics are avail- Encouraged by this, the State information and less by way of able. That corresponds to for- Tourism Department has answers. There was a half- eign exchange earnings of $18.4 claimed that it will soon be hearted attempt a few years ago billion. It is estimated that the unveiling a package to get more to set up a hop on, hop off tour Indian travel and tourism sec- tourists to the city and the of Chennai but that it was

tor will be the second largest State. planned to fail was quite evi- G This landmark institution began life in May 1844 as the Government employer globally, involving dent to everyone except the Maternity Hospital. Its first home was near the railway station, either directly or indirectly 4.04 G by A Special Department of Tourism. facing the . This was thanks to public subscription. The Gov- million people by 2019. The Chennai, like Ahmadabad ernment met the cost of the staff and the dieting of the patients. The place entire industry is currently Correspondent and Delhi, has a number of was run under the supervision of a committee of six medical officers who valued at $23 billion and is precincts that have the poten- gave their services free of cost. growing at 4 per cent annually. At the ground level, how- tial to become heritage destina- In 1847, the instituted a professorship in Mid- How does Chennai fare in all ever, those in the know feel that tions – the Palace, the wifery and the Government appointed the incumbent, Dr. James Shaw, as this and is it capable of going Chennai still remains a mere Mylapore tank area, , the Superintendent of the Hospital. Two new wings were added to the old along with the flow? gateway, with tourists who land Tiruvottriyur and Fort St building in 1852 but by the 1870s it was time to move. The city has been in the here immediately moving on to George are some of them. All Laid out in the shape of a female pelvis, the new structure came up on news for the correct reasons in other destinations in South that requires to be done are Pantheon Road, under the guidance of Major General G.G. Gifford, who is 2014. It was the only Indian India. Poor packaging of what is steps to regulate traffic, provide commemorated with a block in his name on the campus. The new hospital metro to feature in The New on offer appears to be the chief uniform signage and explana- was completed in 1881 in Egmore and by 1900 had expanded to five blocks with a total of 140 beds. The hospital was to be headed by several noted York Times global list of most issue. For instance, there are no tory plaques, regular cleaning medical practitioners among whom was Lt. Col. A.M. Branfoot who in desirable destinations to visit in tourist advisory centres strate- and sanitation and the provi- March 1886 successfully saw the imprisoned ex-Queen of Burma – 2014. Closer home, a survey has gically located, and the one or sion of public toilets. None Supayalat – through a difficult delivery. listed it as the best city to live in two there are, are manned by of these steps requires huge The Maternity Hospital, or MH as it came to be known, was the only on the basis of various counts. poorly trained personnel. Those And the tourism figures for who come plan their tour based (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) Awards for urban mobility – but what’s the reality? month ago, there was a fighting for better utilisation of The Chennai Corporation is non-motorised transport users, the best intentions, but if it is to Asmall news item that may available space, the Corpora- a pioneering civic body in that has since lost out on this edge, implement them successfully, it have escaped the attention of tion has provided continuous it adopted a Non Motorised thanks to a completely mis- needs to change the mindset of many. Our city’s Corporation and accessible pavements, relo- Transport (NMT) policy. This placed emphasis on catering to just about every other stake- received an award at Urban cated obstructions such as elec- was in 2012 when it was de- the comforts of the owners of holder, including its officials. Mobility India, a conference trical boxes and garbage bins, cided that solutions to the road passenger cars. This despite the Pavements have been lost to conducted by the Union Minis- created safe cycle paths and woes of the city would no longer fact that cars occupy less than makeshift car parking thanks to try of Urban Development. The streamlined traffic. The new come from flyovers but by sen- ten per cent of the available commercial establishments and award, we learn, was for the pavements have been designed sitively redesigning the city road space in the city! The Cor- residential complexes that have civic body’s continued efforts to according to Indian Road Con- space and enhancing pedestrian poration is largely to be blamed come up without any parking make our roads a comfortable gress standards and are aimed to for this. Beginning with 1996, it spaces planned in them. Who is place for pedestrians and non- provide “continuous and un- has worked overtime in reduc- to blame for this? The CMDA motorised transport users. That hindered walking” and “reduce G by A Staff Reporter ing pavement space, putting up and the Corporation which, may come as a surprise to many. conflicts between pedestrians huge flyovers that have com- after all, are in charge of licens- What is even more surprising is and vehicles.” There are photo- infrastructure. The NMT policy pletely altered street topogra- ing such construction and that the Corporation claims to graphs to back these claims as mandates that 60 per cent of a phy and not monitoring the il- monitoring them! Most new have put this policy into well. But a recent visit to some city’s transport budget ought to legal takeover of what little buildings are now on high practice on 26 important of these places indicates that be directed towards walking space that is left by vendors, plinths requiring steep slopes for thoroughfares and is planning matters are still in a nascent and cycling initiatives. The political parties and private vehicles to enter and exit and to take it up in 29 more. stage and the Corporation’s policy also aims at zero pedes- owners. Now it would appear the ramps have to perforce And so what has really claim of progress may be prema- trian and cyclist death by 2018. that all that is set to change. extend on to the roads. Why do happened to these roads? With ture. In short, its intentions are It must be mentioned in this But can it become a reality? the buildings have to be the help of city-based organi- good, but there is very little to context that Chennai, which A simple survey would reveal sations that have for long been back this by way of action. once had a high proportion of that the Corporation may have (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2015 TO CASH IN ON TOURISM... What say the headlights?

(Continued from page 1) present is more by chance than s The Man from Madras 4. Out of the way, you lurked under the mat even as by design. AMusings ages (and rather titch! These are the large you took your next step. investment for them to be put gracefully, as he likes to vehicles which are in the oppo- Standing at one particular into place but, if in place, they What is really needed is a think), he has difficulties with site lane, heading towards you. stall, MMM suddenly found can generate considerable re- tourism master plan that ought flashing headlights. A few They need you to make way for the ground giving way under turns. Yet, no steps are being to be drawn up for a five-year years ago he would have taken them so that they can proceed his left foot, which began to go taken to harness the potential period. Steps need to be them in his stride but not so unimpeded. And in case you deep into the bowels of the in any of these locations. outlined in terms of actions any more. A blinding beam, don’t move, they can cause you earth. MMM had visions of be- Chennai also uniquely has proposed within the overall followed by complete darkness and your vehicle grievous ing rescued using excavating several cultural seasons – the plan and implemented, keeping and then a blinding beam injury. machinery but some kind Music Season in December, the tourist potential in mind. It is again, stuns MMM. He then 5. The compulsive flasher – souls helped and after a couple imperative that the local stake- prefers to halt his vehicle when This one has it and so will flash of heave hos, MMM was back Pongal festivities of various this happens and resumes only it. By that MMM means that on flat land. kinds in January (dance, litera- holders, in terms of shops and when he has regained his bear- there is no earthly reason for Walking over raised ture, the Mylapore festival and establishments, residents and ings. these vehicles to keep flicker- mounds was not much of an folk arts), the temple festivals in service providers are roped in so All this has, however, had ing their headlights but they issue beyond mild attacks of March/April, May/June, Au- that they can see the benefits as MMM do some research on will do it just because they have vertigo here and there, but gust/September and December well. If all this is done, we see what the headlights actually the facility to do so. walking over hollows was a and the Madras Week celebra- no reason why tourists will not hope to convey when they are All these are just indicative different matter altogether. tions in August. Each one can throng Chennai and, more im- flashed at an oncoming ve- types. If you can identify some The sheet beneath bowed become a tourist draw if adver- portantly, stay here, without hicle. MMM learns that in the people whom you recognised in under your weight and, as you tised and packaged well. Here merely flitting in and out of the United Kingdom, rather char- the above archetypes, or if you lifted your foot, rebounded acteristically, flashing of head- can add some more to this list, back on your heel with too, attendance by foreigners at first city of Modern India. lights means nothing more the credit and responsibility are renewed force, making it feel than conveying the informa- all yours. like some third degree torture tion that there is a vehicle treatment meted out to worst somewhere out there. MMM is At the Book Fair of the opporents. Madras Landmarks no wordsmith, but there is That men of books were something in the way this in- et another Chennai Book not stern men of accounts was (Continued from page 1) formation is worded that gives YFair has come and gone. made amply evident at the you the impression that dim- The Man from Madras Musings Fair. The counters were man- one of its kind in this part of India for several decades. It was in that capacity ming and brightening the lights never misses it and this year too ned by staff who took ages to that it hosted the first All-India Obstetrics and Gynaecological Congress in in that country is the worst of made it there and returned add the simplest of totals and 1936. The venue was the Museum Theatre and inaugurating it was Dr. Ida form. The US equivalent is home laden with books, much oftentimes made serious goofs Scudder of CMC Vellore, with Dr. Sir A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar in quite typically encased in le- to the consternation of his good in adding up. Those who had the chair. He was also the first Indian to be the Superintendent of the MH, galese and claims that flashing lady, also known as She Who credit card payment facilities occupying the post between 1939 and 1942. It was to be 1984, however, of the lights is permitted by Must Be Obeyed. The Fair was, scarcely knew how to operate before a woman came to head the institution, the first one being some amendment or the other as it ought to be, filled with the machines. Most stalls Dr. Lokasundari Selvaraj. A children’s ward came up in the hospital in 1949 with 28 beds. In 1963, the Government sanctioned a separate hospital for children and this came up in the Arni House compound. When completed, this became the SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY Government Children’s Hospital, with 250 beds. The hospital became a teaching centre with postgraduate and diploma courses in 1930 under the Madras Medical College. In 1952, it became one of that country’s constitution people, books and earnest dis- wrote out the bills manually of three postgraduate institutes of Madras city, and that marked the begin- which document, as you may cussions. There are some who thereby slowing down the pur- ning of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the MH. Dr. R.K.K. be aware, the Americans are have complained to MMM chase process. And, finally, al- Thampan was the first Director. rather inordinately proud of. about the crowds and give it as most every one of the stalls The hospital is today a recognised centre of excellence and delivers This states that the flashing of the main reason why they don’t expected you to come to the around 22,000 babies annually. headlights has varying mes- go to the Fair. It is MMM’s Fair with huge bags of loose sages to convey based on the standard response that a Fair is change. State of that country you meant to have crowds and so URBAN MOBILITY AWARDS happen to be in. you cannot expect anything Tailpiece Coming to our country and, else but that at this event as (Continued from page 1) may come a cropper thanks to in particular, our beloved city, well. To MMM it is gratifying he Pinjrapole is rather a its own practices. the records are silent. And so that an event centring on books Tfavourite of the Chief’s constructed on high surfaces? And so, those who give it is left to prophet MMM to draws such vast numbers in an and he writes about it ever so Because the road surfaces keep awards for the civic body’s good interpret our codes. And here era when Cassandras are pre- often. The Man from Madras Musings was, therefore, de- rising in our city! And why do intentions may have jumped they are: dicting the end of the printed they rise? Because the Corpo- 1. Get out of the way, I am book as we know of it. lighted to receive an invitation the gun somewhat. If only all of from it for “the inauguration ration does not adhere to road going ahead – this is the variety Having said that, MMM our Corporation’s well-meant that flashes its headlights into would like to draw the atten- of 14 cows”. laying norms. These are just resolutions made it to action, your rear-view mirror. You, tion of the organisers to a few Signboards too can always two small examples of how the we would be a virtual heaven on therefore, get it up close and areas that need to improve. be counted upon to delight Corporation’s own NMT policy earth. right between the eyebrows. Having the Fair at the YMCA MMM. Given that ‘c’ and ‘e’ Having thus incapacitated you, is a great idea but, are silent in any case, The your predator overtakes you surely, some thought can be Man from Madras Musings is OUR ADDRESSES and rushes ahead. spared on levelling the exhibi- not surprised that someone 2. I got money, I got money! tion space before laying out the decided to economise on For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of This variety uses those mam- stalls? The land is what them. receipts etc.: CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott moth cars whose names rhyme geographers call as one of high – MMM Road, , Chennai 14. with the word gaudy. The relief, the topography being full Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor lights apparently are never of hills and can be sent via email to editor@madras musings.com. Those who switched off, or cannot be, and dales. The wish to intimate change of address can also do so provided the so they are forever glaring at organisers subscription number is quoted. you. had simply For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation 3. On Government duty – laid out metal matters: Madras Musings, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., You can never miss them. sheets on this, 122, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. On editorial matters: The They will keep flashing and placed mat- Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, also continuously hooting at ting on that Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. you till you are blinded and and erected No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be deafened and come to a halt. the stalls. sent from these addresses every couple of days to the persons They then charge ahead, car- There was concerned and you will get an answer from them to your queries rea- rying their precious personage consequently sonably quickly. Strange as it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ from one meeting to another. no way that approach, we will be able to help you faster and disappoint appoint you The speed is only on the road. you could less. Very little actually happens in know what the meetings. – THE EDITOR February 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

valley civilisations. It has actu- ally encouraged us to ‘throw away’ things and create waste without suffering any immedi- ate consequences, hence with no concern for where it all goes, except for a few do-gooders to- day whose voice may never be heard. Organisations like Greenpeace get hounded by Of toilets & waste may be worth reviewing! Our governments and corporations perceptions of dirt and hygiene eader K.V.S. Krishna’s for speaking out against toxic are perhaps quite artificial or letter (MM, January 16th) wastes. R socially conditioned, rather triggered some memories and I am not qualified to offer than based on science or logic. reflections. any practical solutions to the I recall a discussion during a Many of us may be familiar mess in which our so-called school Geography lesson about with dwellings where the walls civilisation finds itself. Reader a region somewhere in Asia and floors were paved using KVSK’s proposals may work where the peasants would mix cow-dung paste, with a fresh only if there is adequate moti- the ‘night soil’ and the soil in coat being applied every year. I vation, incentive and certainty the fields with their fingers, have lived in one such, and it for those who could implement knowing its value as manure. wasn’t a mud hut! Today’s edu- such schemes. In any case they It drew mixed reactions and, of cated lot may consider it unhy- apply only to a fast-dwindling course, a lot of sniggers from gienic – may be just because rural environment, and would the well-to-do category of there are commercial interests require both a top-down and students. The invention of aggressively promoting our bottom-up approach to gain toilets and septic tanks was glamorous, sanitised and waste- acceptability before even evidently superfluous for those ful lifestyles. There could be al- starting. farmers. ternative views about whether The situation in towns and In History lessons we also animal or human excretions are cities is a growing nightmare. It learnt of Moheniodaro and ‘dirty’. hardly makes sense to enforce other early settlements which The first nail in the environ- use of toilets where water and A Doordarshan laugh were considered ‘advanced’ ment’s coffin might very well sewage connections are absent or inadequate. because the excavations re- have been the development of took these pictures on the evening of January 25th. I really vealed fairly elaborate drainage drainage and sewage systems in Thomas Tharu Ididn’t think DD could make such huge mistakes. Seeing them systems. Such an impression the urbanisation drive of river [email protected] the following thoughts struck me: G Pres. has new panacea for country’s woes; physiotherapy. R.K. Laxman as I knew him G Pres. provides the healing touch! G Modi: Rejuvenate India; Mukherjee: Rejuvenate Indians! he legendary cartoonist R.K. Laxman is Of course, if this goes viral, there will be many more interest- Tno more. My mind races back to August ing captions. But are we, as Indians, able to laugh at ourselves? 1978 when I had the privilege of spending Bryan Oliver Peppin three memorable days with him in Madras. [email protected] I was the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Chapter of the Public Relations Society of In- dia (PRSI) and helped organise a lecture- cum-demonstration by Laxman at the MADRAS MUSINGS Connemara Hotel. In his typical tongue-in- ON THE WEB cheek style, Laxman gave a talk and demon- strated on a drawing board how he visualised To reach out to as many readers as possible who share politicians. our keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in In his mind, every politician was response to requests from many well-wishers – symbolised by an object which Laxman drew first and then converted it into a cartoon, add- especially from outside Chennai and abroad who ing a few strokes from his creative pen. To receive their postal copies very late – for an online draw the cartoon of Morarji Desai, he first edition. Madras Musings is now on the web at www. drew a flower pot and within a few seconds transformed it into a cartoon of Morarjibhai. madrasmusings.com A water jug became Indira Gandhi. It was THE EDITOR amazing, yet looked so simple. During this visit he also participated in other meetings and media interviews, all of CHENNAI HERITAGE which I had co-ordinated. He also came home one evening for dinner. During the informal No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road get-together I found him very conscious of his Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 celebrity status. He was also as sarcastic and I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / humorous in person as he was in his cartoons. I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it He also talked about the difference between hereafter. being funny and humorous. He asserted that G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 his cartoons were not funny but tried to be line on my forehead, a reminder of an acci- (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, humorous. dent I had when I was six years old. Truly a MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year At the airport, where I had gone to see genius with a fantastic memory and powers 2014-15. him off, he asked me to look at him and of observation. G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environ- framed my figure within his four fingers. I was It was a priceless gift from an all-time ment and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send puzzled and wondered why he did that. A great cartoonist The cartoon not only occu- Chennai Heritage an additional Rs...... week later, I had the answer in the form of a pies pride of place in my drawing room but (Rupees ...... ) Please keep/put birthday gift I received by registered post – also adorns the cover of my autobiography, me on your mailing list. just two days before my 36th birthday. It was a Courage My Companion, described as an Name : ...... caricature of me with amazing resemblance “uncommon autobiography of a common Address: ...... to his ever popular common man. Though I man”...... was not as plumpy then, R.K. Laxman visual- Laxman’s common man? ...... ised what I would be like in the future. The cartoon showed me dressed in my favourite R.V. Rajan All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent striped safari suit. It also captured the small [email protected] by Speed Post only. 4 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2015 February 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

There was a Music Associa- for the soldiers. The entire area tion which had an orchestra with in front of the college and also 25 veenas. Music was one of the the lawn in front was made use ‘The gang Remembering their century-old alma maters subjects you could take for your of to house all types of stalls – B.A. The ground floor central lucky dip, throwing the arrow, area had cane tables and chairs selling clothes, eatables, coffee where students could receive and cold drinks. Miss Myers en- of five’ visitors with prior permission couraged us to set up whatever given by their parents. The Prin- stall we liked, provided it made t is a matter of immense pride 500 metres away, there was no cipal had her quarters in the cen- money! Ito us octogenarians that our need for ceiling fans. Frankly, I tral portion on the first floor of In front of Capper House there alma mater, Queen Mary’s Col- don’t remember if we had any. Pentland. On either side there was a pond with a fountain in the lege (QMC) is a centurion this There was just one toilet for the were double rooms for students, centre. Grace and I got permis- year and that we are alive to be a five to six hundred girls. Not two to a room. Grace Soans and sion to use the pond. Our stall part of the celebrations. much different from now! Taps E.K. Padma shared a room fac- was called “Ringing the duck”. So what’s there to gloat over without water was the norm even ing the sea. Sathyabhama Reddy We bought four ducks from a college’s century? One that’s then. We shunned the toilet. and I had the one behind. Moore Market and put them in going to seed, that has unkempt Water for washing and drinking It was the first time all of us the pond. We got some bamboo grounds overgrown with weeds, was from just one tap, with the were staying in a hostel. I could rings. Grace held the rings aloft, dirty corridors and forlorn- girls jostling around to get it. have been a day student, as my while I ran around shouting, looking buildings presenting a There was no culture of everyone parents were staying in Madras, “Four annas, three tries, double poor picture of itself. carrying a water bottle. but my father insisted that I stay the money or the Duck.” I used But to the two of us, it once A lunch box was a common in the hostel to become indepen- to be known as “gun throat”! To meant a window to the world, sight; it could not be avoided. dent and enjoy life. Looking our delight we lost only two freedom from the four walls of But we did not carry too many back, they were the most ducks and collected a lot of home, if you remember the ethos books. Yes, looking back, how wonderful years! To the left of money. Miss Myers was very of those times, 65 years ago. Our carefree student life was then, From left to right: Vijaya Subramanian, Shanta Sundari Brahmam, Shanta Ramaswamy, Rajathi Sarat and Capper House where QMC started. nation had first shaken itself free leisurely and weightless. Kamala Kasturi Capper House there was group of happy. of British rule and talk of We were the first women in single-storey buildings, except * * * for discipline and decorum. After vam, making us curious as to the week-end fun. Memory being women’s emancipation was in our families to get degrees, but for one which had a first floor. With Japan joining the War her there was Vijaya Koman, a contents of those pages. How- somewhat hazy about an event the air. more than that what we still The members of the staff stayed the situation was getting worse. graceful personality who left ever, students were assured that which took place six decades The War – and in these buildings. In the same We students had to learn First Queen Mary’s College was cherish are the great friendships soon to make way for a Ms. no questions would be asked in back, I only recollect the fete born on July 14, 1914 (inciden- that last to this day. The two of complex was a small swimming Aid and Home Nursing. Dr. Lakshmi. the exam from the skipped ending in chaos due to some mis- tally, Bastille Day, and the year us met on the first day in college pool. I am told it is no longer in Laksmi Swaminathan used to As for the lecturers, we portions! Our Librarian (we for- chief-mongers and boys from of commencement of the Great and have been inseparable ever use and is a rubbish dump! come and take classes for us. She wonder whether there are such got the name) never failed to neighbouring colleges. Needless War), thanks to the indefati- since. We caught up with Kama- ‘Quit India’ The canteen had four sec- was so beautiful that instead of dedicated teachers nowadays to amuse us, always dressed in to say, the red-faced Principal gable attempts of Dorothy De la la Kasturi straight from the tions. The European section, concentrating on how to tie a guide the students. Ahalya Bai, Conjeevaram silks with zari cancelled the event and chas- Hey, the founder and first Prin- wedding hall with flowers in her t 93, memories keep flood pursue postgraduate or honours Capper House where the College where spoons, forks and knives bandage we were lost in wonder who taught Shakespeare, actu- borders, as if coming straight tised everyone, forbidding us to Aing back of Queen Mary’s studies could stay in Queen started. The three main buildings were used, was on the first floor ally acted out the scenes. History from a wedding! Dr. Irawathy talk or mention it ever, a vow Mary’s Hostel. There was a col- on the right were G College (QMC) as it celebrates Pentland, Jey- of Capper House. The vegetarian by Shantha Ramaswami & lecturer Kalyani Kutti Amma in (later Principal) of the Geogra- kept until now! its centenary. The years I re- lege bus which would take them pore and Stone. The ground floor G by a traditional Malayalam mundu, phy Department and Rajamani A more recent incident that section was on the ground floor Vijaya Subramaniam member are from 1937 to 1942, in the morning and bring them of Capper House had classrooms, Achayya looking elegant in a of the Tamil section had rooms was the talk of the town was a and food was served on banana Anna Varki momentous years with World back in the evening. The bus which had galleries where the Coorgi saree, Krishna who in- which were next to our B.A. spirited defence organised by the leaves there. The non-vegetarian cipal. It is India’s third oldest hair and a shining mangal sutra. War II raging and the freedom would also take us to various students sat while the professor, and Brahmin sections were in a sisted on the students reading classrooms, giving us no chance old students’ association to fend gazing at her! Soon she left for women’s college. The College We became best friends from struggle and Quit India move- matches, like basketball, tennis, sitting in a chair with a table in separate building. aloud the English text in class, for any sort of revelry – a silence off the State Government’s Singapore and then joined fulfilled the need for higher edu- then and still are. We had great and Vinaya Bai (who had just zone. efforts to take over QMC land ment gathering strength. etc, we used to play against front of her on a small platform, * * * Subhas Bose’s Indian National cation of the women of not only outings in her car for our harm- one lung) are all etched in our In the first or second year of for a new TN Secretariat. Later, Queen Mary’s College for WCC and bring us back. We delivered her lecture. There was During the years we were Army. From then onwards she Madras Presidency, but many less yet ‘daring’ pursuits like see- memories. Ms. Thomas of the our Intermediate, a college car- dilapidated Capper House, where women had as its neighbour would sing all the way and back a well-equipped library, a central there, Miss Myers was the Prin- was known as Captain Lakshmi. distinguished families from ing a film occasionally or a visit English Department looked so nival was proposed on the lines it all started, was replaced with a Presidency College for men and the refrain “Queen Marians hall with a stage on which plays cipal. When the Japanese joined At the same time the struggle North India also sent their to Jaffar’s for a Peach Melba or to majestic that you avoided collid- of the annual YMCA carnivals. new building. But a pond that women. The only other women’s never die, never die, they only were performed and where we the War, the College, which was for freedom was being relent- daughters to study at QMC. It Modern Café for masal dosai ing with her. For Sanskrit stu- Though initially she disliked the fronted the old building is no college at the time was Women’s fade away.” held debates. We also had some fully painted white and a beauti- lessly pursued by Gandhiji and was not only cosmopolitan, secu- (then the equivalent of the dents, it was the simple Devaki idea, Dr. Ramamoorthy later longer there, nor are the fish it Christian College (WCC). Stu- * * * small prayer rooms for different ful sight, could be seen from far, lar, but also elitist, perhaps, at present-day pizza). the Congress party. Gandhiji Menon who, blushing, skipped yielded to the pleas of students hosted which kept a watchful eye dents who graduated from As you entered the gates of denominations. These were especially from planes flying the time, but the abiding memo- Shanta Sundari, a dancer and launched his ‘Quit India’ move- many pages of Kumara Sambha- and staff alike to have some on the girls! Queen Mary’s and who wished to QMC the first building was maintained by the students. high. So orders came from Gov- ries of the College are the spirit the unchallenged beauty of ment. Miss Myers with the coop- ernment to paint it gray so that it of freedom we enjoyed and the QMC of our time, now lives in eration of a few students made a would not be easily visible! The profound sense of decency and the U.S. but still keeps in touch huge “V” sign with seashells on windowpanes were covered with discipline that was instilled in us. with us. Rajathi (alias Raja- the front lawn. Tea with Anna at Presidency... and other memories gray paper! The military had few What did you achieve with lakshmi) Sarat completed our Some of us got together with anti-aircraft guns. So all along your degrees, people ask. They group, which was referred to one are those Halcyon Days, We spent happy days in Victoria Hostel. What lovely food we One day in the 1940s, I was standing in front of the entrance iron pricks and hammers when the , coconut palm know not the virtue of doing by many as the ‘Gang of Five’. Back in 1945, I came to join Presidency College. What impressed had. The mysorepak would melt on your tongue. I gratefully remem- along with my friends, admiring the green lawn. There was a sign- lights were out, dug up the “V” G board reading “No thoroughfare”. Near that signboard stood a beau- trunks, cut to a particular size nothing! Yet some of our con- Sarat, who penned a limerick in me most at first sight was the grandeur of the impossing structure and ber Nagaraj Rao, the Head Cook (Vegetarian A-Section). He was sign and scattered it. Next morn- temporaries made more than a our praise, called us the five tiful lass, whose name I did not know. My friends cajoled me to write and painted black, were placed the lovely garden. A sense of awe struck me. Those days, the stu- the prime speaker at almost all Hostel Day functions. His perfect ing, when Miss Myers saw what mark. Sharada Pai, based in New fingers of a hand. Rajathi’s a poem including the greenery, signboard and the lass. I wrote: slanting in the hope that planes dents of Presidency College were called ‘Princes of Presidency’. To English was a surprise to all VIPs. Students from other colleges came had happened, she was furious. Delhi, is an educational consult- passing away last year has left us “On the gateway of my heart, I wrote “No thoroughfare”. flying above would take them for join such a great institution was a matter of pride for me. She did make an effort to put it ant in Delhi Public School. four-fingered. But love came piercing through, Saying I enter each and everywhere”. anti-aircraft guns and keep away! I joined as a student of Chemistry. Prof. M.E. Duraisamy of the together again, but it didn’t Ananda Lakshmi and Kalyan We had a mentor in our class- The poem was shown to my good friend S. Ramasamy. He said, Blackout was observed. Ditches Chemistry Department was a strict disciplinarian. In contra-distinc- work. She never discovered the Lakshmi, the duo of Vidya mate A.V.Padma, seven years G “Merely writing this, you are not going to achieve anything. Why were dug behind the college. tion, the then Asst. Prof. B. Ramachandra Pai, was soft-spoken and by Justice S. Mohan ‘patriots’. Some of us who were Mandir, and Meena Muthiah of our senior in age, who joined endeared himself to everyone. The English Professor Milgnatius don’t you go and hand over the piece of paper to the young lady?” One person on each floor was “Quit India” enthusiasts cut Chettinad Vidyashram in Chen- QMC after marriage and moth- Absalom, known for his sartorial discipline, was invariably clad in Summoning all my courage, I handed over the piece of paper to her armed with a torch. She was the classes and were seen on the nai. Dr. Matangi Ramakrishnan, erhood. Nearing ninety now, she white suit with a red kerchief protruding from his pocket He was an with trepidation and fled. The young lady mistook it for a ‘love letter’. air raid warden. To prepare for streets in front of the Egmore the surgeon, was known then for lives on the outskirts of Chennai, impressive figure whose lectures were inspiring. When he taught to Victoria Hostel to enjoy lunches and dinners at the nominal price She went and handed it over to Principal Dr. Abdul Haq. Naturally, an emergency we had mock air Chief Presidency Magistrate’s her long black plait. P.S. Sakun- in the premises of a school named Shakespeare, he was almost acting on stage, personifying each char- of eight annas a plate. I was summoned by the Principal. Trembling in my shoes, I gave him raids. Miss Myers used to sound court shouting “Inquilab Zinda- tala Raman was selected to the after her, in the land donated by acter. What fine friends we had! A galaxy of names simmers in the sauce my name. I thought something disastrous would happen. But to my a siren at an unearthly hour and IAS and rose to become the her to the Punjabi Association to bad”. A few got arrested, my * * * of my memory. In later life, all of them happened to adorn very high surprise Dr. Haq, a good-hearted person, told me, “Mr. Mohan, you the student warden with the Additional Director General of run an orphanage and school for posts. The late B. Mithreyan from Thanjavur was my closest friend. cousin Maya among them. They The famous Marina Ground is where we played entertaining are capable of good poems as evidenced by this paper, but why do you torch would lead us down the Doordarshan. And Usha Nath the poor. Cookery queens may He became a Deputy Auditor General, Government of India. I always give this to a person who can hardly appreciate your poetic talent. I were all taken to the ‘Peniten- cricket. It encouranged an excellent sporting spirit. It so happened stairs to jump into the ditches started the Queen Marian Club recall her as the translator of the enjoyed his witticisms. T.V. Rajeswar, the former Governor of West advise you to write about the glistening of the waves of the Bay of tiary’, where they were kept that in one match the batsman, a star player, hit the ball straight and wait till the all clear was in New Delhi, a club active for highly popular Samaithuppar Bengal and Sikkim, was a ‘prima donna’. No wonder he became Bengal on a full moon day or the beautiful sun-set. That will make us before being sent to various jails! towards me at mid-on at great speed. The ball hit my stomach, but I sounded by Miss Myers. We then 50 years now. books into English as Cook and Governor. Sathia Dev was a close friend of mine. He became a Judge love nature more. You may go now.” What a relief! This building was on the Marina grasped it. Lo! The star batsman was out. The excruciating pain in went back to our rooms. People ask us about the facili- See! my stomach did not bother me at the time, but for three days, I suf- of the High Court. Likewise, Sivasubramaniam, an embodiment of and we went and visited our * * * Miss Myers decided to hold a ties in the College in the 1940s Dr. Nallamuthu Ramamoor- fered hell. Hot water formentation was the only remedy in those days. patience. War Fund Fete to collect money and 50s. With the seashore just thy was our Principal, a stickler * * * * * * (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 8) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2015 Seminars at Ekamra Nivas (Continued from name. It had neither buildings give lectures on their work. It last fortnight) nor a library. It had neither was a great experience for them body nor soul. The ill-furnished to speak in the dominating pres- n June 1958, a few of the new Ekamra Nivas. and crowded rooms at the col- ence of Sir Raman in the front students in the MSc course Madras were ignored by the ity shifted to the United States. I leges where I was asked to teach row! started attending Father’s semi- University! “This speech of mine im- had a depressing effect since I * * * nars at home. By July, Father pressed Subramaniam so much had just returned after spending In 1959 Father was holding * * * was regularly giving seminars at that he asked me to meet him a year at the Institute for his regular MSc Physics classes A turning point in Prof. home. All this was in addition at his official residence, Cooum Advanced Study...” in a room in Senate House and Ramakrishnan’s life was his un- to his lectures for the MSc House. I wasted no time and An interesting opportunity conducting his informal but ad- expected meeting with C. course at Madras University emphasised to him the need for arose unexpectedly. Rama- vanced seminars at home. Since Subramaniam in October 1959 where he was Reader in Phys- providing suitable opportunities krishnan was invited to serve on these seminars had become a and the Minister’s visit to the ics. Many new students at- to the band of theoretical physi- a National Committee for regular feature supplementing Ekamra Nivas shortly thereafter tended these seminars at his cists working with me. I invited Hindi terms in the physical the MSc course, he decided to to meet the students of the home, but the University took him to dinner at my house to sciences. Even though he did formalise the practice in March Seminar. Recalling the meeting no cognisance of Father’s which he readily responded. It not know Hindi, he accepted 1959 and called the programme Prof. Ramakrishnan wrote, efforts. At that time, Madras was at that dinner he suddenly the assignment because he the ‘Theoretical Physics Semi- “During the Dasara season of University, led by Vice-Chan- asked me to explain what I could stop in Madras en route nar’. V. Devanathan, one of his 1959, I received an invitation to cellor, Sir A. Lakshmanaswami meant by suitable opportunities to Delhi for the frequent com- most dedicated MSc students, an international gathering of Mudaliar, decided to open an for creative science. I told him mittee meetings. He adds in his was made the Secretary of the African and Asian students at extension centre in Madurai, plainly that it was something diary: “I knew that money was Seminar. It was decided to in- Woodlands Hotel with C. and asked Father to shift to like the Institute for Advanced available in India for such vite eminent scientists visiting Subramaniam as their Chief Madurai to start the Physics Study in Princeton.” The Min- committees even though funds or travelling through India to Guest. He was then the Minis- Department there. Several ister asked for a note on how were denied for symposia and speak at the Seminar. ter for Education and Finance decades later, this extension the new institute could be laun- lectures! This would give me The first visitors after the in the Madras Government. I centre became the Madurai ched. During the years 1960 knew of him and had met him and ’61, several world-famous University. in New Delhi during the mo- KRISHNASWAMI ALLADI describes the scientists spoke at the Theoreti- Father was very upset at mentous days of the Constitu- story of the birth of MATSCIENCE, the cal Physics Seminar and Minis- being asked to shift to Madurai, ent Assembly when he was a Institute of Mathematical Sciences, the ter C. Subramaniam came to but agreed to do so. In his diary blackhaired young Congress- efforts of his father, Professor Alladi Ekamra Nivas on many occa- he recorded his reactions to this man who came to have discus- Ramakrishnan, and the role of his Theoreti- sions to meet the visiting scien- assignment in Madurai: “What cal Physics Seminar in the creation of this sions with my father (Sir Alladi tists and have discussions with really pained me was that the Institute in Madras on January 3, 1962. Krishnaswamy Iyengar). But I them over dinner. University took no cognisance did not know him personally. I * * * of the valuable experience I greater freedom of movement formal launch of the Theoreti- did not feel enthusiastic about The years 1960 and 1961 gained at Princeton, where I and the possibility of contact cal Physics Seminar were Pro- going to the meeting since I felt were packed with the lectures of had heard over 150 seminars by with higher authorities in Delhi fessor Ziro Koba, whom father that he may not have a real in- many world-famous physicists world-famous physicists, and I whose attention I could draw to had met during his visit to terest in higher education or and mathematicians at the wanted to initiate work in high my vision and efforts in Yukawa Hall in 1956, and Dr. creative science. So, that even- Seminar. The year started with energy physics in a university Madras.” He also found it con- Kotani. Professor and Mrs. ing I decided to go and relax at the visits of physicist Abdus which had among its alumni venient that Madras University Kotani stayed at Ekamra Nivas the Marina beach with my wife Salam of Imperial College, Raman, Ramanujan, and Chan- allowed him to conduct the and therefore had leisurely dis- Lalitha. As the car was about to London, and Niels Bohr, both drasekhar. The only reward for MSc course in theoretical phys- cussions with Father and his take a turn towards the beach, of which had a profound influ- my enthusiasm was the modest ics in Madras (it was for the first students. In addition to expos- she suggested that we should ence on the creation of MAT- compliment of banishing me as batch) during specific periods of ing his students to lectures by respond to the invitation and SCIENCE and on Father’s ca- a professor to an extension the academic year 1958-59. foreign visitors at the Seminar, attend the meeting for at least reer. centre. I found no alternative It was while in Madurai that Prof. Ramakrishnan also took half an hour, to which I con- Professor Salam spent a few but to accept the professorship, Prof. Ramakrishnan wrote to his students regularly to partici- sented most unwillingly. days in Ekamra Nivas and at his since otherwise someone else Sir C.V. Raman offering to pate and lecture in conferences “At the meeting, one of the two-hour lecture there he was would be appointed and would organise a session on stochastic and summer schools which were topics that came up for discus- thrilled to find such an eager later wangle a transfer to processes at the Indian Acad- held in various parts of India. sion was about racial prejudice and enthusiastic audience. Madras above my head.” emy of Sciences meeting in After a Summer School on and how these students should Following dinner he relaxed Ramakrishnan moved to Baroda in December 1958. Sir Theoretical Physics held in tackle this in India... When I with the students on the lawns Madurai and settled there with- Raman agreed to the request, Mussoorie in June 1959, to was asked to give my views, I of Ekamra Nivas. Father pre- out his family, but visited but suggested that the lectures which he took four students, he stressed that racial prejudice or sented Salam with a portrait of Madras frequently to be with should be of wide appeal and wrote, “The moving spirit of the prejudice in any form is best Lord Krishna which he gra- them, and also to supervise his emphasise the relationship be- summer school was Satyen tackled by demonstration of ciously accepted. In return, Fa- students who were in the MSc tween theory and experiment. Bose, the doyen of theoretical good performance. Such snob- ther expressed his thanks by at- class. He wrote in his diary: Father was able to take several physics in India, and very sym- bery exists even in the realm of tending Namas with Prof. Salam “The University extension cen- of his research students to the pathetic to the aspirations of science and in many profes- at a mosque in Madras! tre in Madurai was a mere Baroda meeting and have them the young scientific commu- sions. When my father started Salam’s visit was immedi- nity. He was more interested in his legal profession (in Madras), ately followed by that of Nobel stimulating creative thought he was warned that it would be Laureate Niels Bohr who was in than in expository talks at the difficult to succeed unless one India in January 1960 as the conference... In my speech I had tasted the waters of the guest of Prime Minister Nehru. exhorted that the Mussoorie Cauvery. But within seven Professor Bohr accepted spirit should pervade Indian years, with hard work and dedi- Father’s invitation to visit science in due course.” cation, he became the unri- Ekamra Nivas and meet the stu- In August, Father received valled leader of the Madras Bar dents of the Seminar. He was an invitation from the Univer- and had several juniors who staying at Government House, sity Grants Commission to serve hailed from the banks of that but agreed to have dinner at on an Expert Committee to rec- famous river! Similarly, in and spend a lei- ommend proposals for the Ekamra Nivas modern physics, while it was surely evening with the stu- advancement of mathematical generally agreed that Europe dents. Father later wrote in his sciences in India. It was indeed was the seat of science and cul- diary: “It was flattering that ironic to be appointed to this ture, with the efforts of Oppen- Professor Bohr and his wife Committee when his efforts to heimer and the new generation C. Subramaniam at Ekamra Nivas with Prof. Ramakrishnan. initiate advanced physics in of scientists, the centre of grav- (Continued on page 8) February 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

Clockwise from above: A street full of kolam-s; Krishnan Thoothu, a play by Arulmigu Srimandaveli Amman Nadaga Mandram; and folk dances by students from Queen Mary’s College... a part of the buzz at the Mylapore Festival.

street festival has a life of stuff and interact with the stall- Aits own. The annual holders. Sundaram Finance Mylapore A festival with a The Fest also launched a Festival’s 2015 edition (January public petition – asking the City 8th to 11th) had more of these Traffic Police to consider mak- elements than ever before. ing the three Mada Streets ‘one The back-to-back perfor- way’ and to create a ‘walk only’ mances of a medley of folk life of its own zone for certain hours on the dances by a team of students weekend. (You can sign this from Queen Mary’s College, (By A Special Correspondent) online petition if you support and the kattai-koothu recitals this issue at http://bit.ly/ by the Arulmigu Srimandaveli Besides the street perfor- same area and build a food and around the temple zone, and Mylapore-Mada-Streets-Peti- Amman Nadaga Mandram, mances, the weekend kolam performance zone here. Chithra Madhavan put the tion.) Cheyyar Taluk, Thiruvanna- contests this year turned out to This year, the five Heritage spotlight on four ancient The Mylapore Festival has malai, lent that unique colour. be Kolam Displays – the 90 Walks/Tours got a huge temples on the other side of been the trigger for a few local The festival, the only one of kolams designed by the partici- response. The leaders were Kutchery Road. community initiatives. One its kind in the city, always hosts pants were protected, the flood- Cycling Yogis, Sriram V., As always, the Food Street such is the ‘mike-less’ concert in events in the streets and lanes lights switched on them and the Chithra Madhavan, Sridhar was packed on all four evenings the park, a series that was first that run off from the Sri Kapali east end of North Mada Street Venkataraman and T. Sun- of the fest. This year, the stall launched by this Festival. Temple zone precincts in turned into something of a live dari. promoters were asked not to Hopefully, the call for Mylapore. Each street is themed art installation. If Sriram led his group of 60 cook snacks on the spot – but changes in the Mada Streets’ – craft, food, home products, By doing this, visitors who people to what were once their mouth-watering dishes traffic system, aimed at improv- kolam, live performances. The came in later in the evening villages in this area, Sridhar sold out by 10 p.m. ing the condition of this idea behind this curation is to could enjoy the kolam-s. This showed foodies the snack joints This year, a small Organic heritage zone gets a positive nod treat the zone as a religion- has enthused the Festival Cura- that thrive here, while architect Food Bazaar was created from the Police and the cultural-heritage space and set tor to consider hosting a late Sundari focussed on local archi- on Pitchu Pillai Street. It Chennai Corporation. the festival in it. evening kolam contest in the tecture as the group walked allowed people to sample the (Courtesy: Mylapore Times) Cholamandal’s latest addition holamandal, started in 1965, is an Artists’ Village situated on Can eight-acre plot of land 8 km south of Adyar on Muttukadu Road by the sea. Thirty painters and sculptors of talent have acquired land for themselves in order to be able to work in comparative peace. Cholamandal stands for the rehabilitation of the creative artist as an equal participant in society, self-employed and independent. Here the artist paints or sculpts through the major part of the day and applies himself to a congenial art-craft during leisure hours to supplement, if necessary, his income from the sale of paintings and sculptures. Cholamandal is perhaps the first of its kind anywhere in the world. It is administered by an annually elected council of members. In the last few years, cholamandal has been adding facilities to its campus. On February 1, 2009, the Cholamandal Centre for Contempo- rary Art was inaugurated. It consists of the K.C.S. Paniker Museum of the Madras Movement, two commercial airconditioned galleries, Labernum and Indigo, and an open-air international sculpture park surrounding the complex. It has two guest houses of 400 sq.ft. each available on rent and a garden restaurant amidst which is located “Shiraz”, a 30-seater airconditioned café with Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. The latest addition at Cholamandal Artists’ Village is the Cholamandal Cultural Centre (in picture) inaugurated on January 7, 2015. It is a state-of-the-art international Artists’ Residency and a space for cultural exchange programmes. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2015

Minister’s Office would lead The War – to the creation of MAT- Seminars at SCIENCE. With the endorsement given and ‘Quit India’ by Professor Bohr, Father wrote Ekamra Nivas to the Vice-Chancellor that it (Continued from page 5) Around midnight or later we would be impossible for him to would suddenly hear loud foot- (Continued from page 6) done in the field of theoretical continue the assignment in friends who had been arrested. steps stomping! We gathered stayed on until midnight in physics by Professor Alladi Madurai. He had received an We could view them through a our books and fled to our spite of repeated reminders Ramakrishnan of the Madras invitation to visit the University small window which had iron rooms! We knew it was our be- from the official aide to get back University. of Berne, Switzerland, for two months. In the same letter, he bars covered with a net. nevolent principal making to Government House. Mrs. “He seems to have men- tioned this to the Prime Minis- requested the Vice-Chancellor enough noise to give us time to Bohr, a gracious woman of great Miss Myers was finding it dif- ter when he met him before for two months’ leave to visit escape. Being caught meant the charm and elegance, kept a ficult to control the students leaving India.” Europe. The University sanc- who cut classes. She just signed end of our studies. watchful eye to prevent her husband from putting his burn- Prof. Ramakrishnan, not tioned the leave and reluctantly the register and left. All she * * * long afterwards, received a agreed to relieve him of the as- could do was to issue an ultima- ing pipe into his coat pocket! We could not believe that such communication from the Prime signment in Madurai, stating tum that gates would be locked I finished my Master’s at a great physicist, engrossed in Minister’s Office asking for that he should return to Madras by 6 p.m. The next step was to Presidency in English language his own thoughts who, along further information about his after the Swiss assignment and close the College except for and Literature. It was during with Einstein, set in motion the efforts in Madras. It was to take serve as “Professor without the time when Professor those appearing for the final ex- atomic age, could evince inter- nearly two years before this portfolio”. Aiyappen Pillai was the Head of ams. We who were appearing est in a group of stripling physi- interest from the Prime (To be continued) for our public exams had a prob- the Department. There would cists in a far off country. He did lem with having no lights to be pin-drop silence when he en- February 12: Contemporary so in a generous measure at a dance, The Past by Constanza study. Lights were switched off tered the class in his flowing press interview at the airport by 9 p.m. Only the passage black gown. After our time, the Macras. Constanza is one of which was reported in The Till February 28: Bodhisatva, Zen the most renowned choreogra- lights and bathroom lights were Queen Mary’s College hostel Hindu as follows: Buddhist drawings, by Bodhi- phers of Germany. She inte- kept on, covered with gray pa- was meant only for those study- Asked about the place math- selvam. Also exhibition of oil grates dancers, actors & musi- ing in Queen Mary’s College per. It was a problem for those ematics should occupy in the pur- paintings on temples of Tamil cians, combines text, live mu- and not for those who wished to of us appearing for the exam to suit of theoretical physics, the pro- Nadu by K. Ravee. His work sic, dance & video. Passes: study. So what we did was to get study in Presidency. They were fessor said that in Bombay and in features temple images and Goethe Institut (Venkata- flasks full of coffee from the no longer allowed to stay there Madras efforts were being made sculptures. (at Dakshina- subba Rao Hall, 7.00 p.m.). canteen before it closed, take as authorities felt it disturbed for the promotion of knowledge of Chitra). February 14-15: DAM Fest – a our books and armed with flasks the discipline and functioning physics which demanded new February 6-28: Unheard Melo- unique festival of creativity in of coffee settled down to study of the college. A separate hostel mathematical methods and the dies, an exhibition of photo- collaboration with NIFT, in the passages, something we was established for those going training of young people to be able graphs by Mala Mukerjee (at Chennai (at DakshinaChitra). were not supposed to do. to Presidency College. fruitfully to contribute to such Apparao Infinity, Nungam- February 14: Theatre for Chil- work. Wonderful work was being bakkam). dren, Ha zwei oohh! H2O by Helios Theatre, Hamm. Passes: Goethe Institut (at Spaces, TEA WITH ANNA AT PRESIDENCY Besant Nagar, 12.00 p.m. & 4.30 p.m.). (Continued from page 5) February 15: Jazz concert by Ma- One more incident. I was the Vice-President of the Tamil During tea, prior to the meeting, I whispered to Anna about the dras Special – New Genera- Association. Ananthanayaki, later a Congress MLA, was the fear of the Tamil Professor. Being a thorough gentleman, Anna tion. Percussionist Ramesh Secretary. The President, Teeka Ram, was an ardent Dravida said, “I am aware this is a Government college and the position of Shotham and his rhythm tour Kazhagam man. He had invited, without our knowledge and even the Tamil Professor. I will not cause the slightest embarrassment to de force Madras Special pay without the permission of Viswanatha Iyer, Head of the Depart- anyone, have no fear.” I felt assured. Later, I asked what his topic tribute to Mariano, a ment of Tamil, the DK leader Annadurai. On the morning of the would be. He said “Fear”. Anna’s speech lasted an hour and fifteen famous American jazz alto function, the invitation was shown to Prof. Viswanatha Iyer. He minutes. It was like torrential rain during summer. The speech was saxophonist. In the 1970s he to was reduced to shivers. He called me and asked, “Mohan, what is about the fear that pre-historic men had for thunder and lightning. settled in Cologne/Germany, this? This is a Government college. How can he invite a DK leader They thought they were due to curses. The early men propitiated a where he died in 2009. He was like Annadurai? If he makes a speech criticising Government, there form of God to appease God’s anger. No wonder the speech held us known for his use of the will not only be embarrassment and several problems may arise, spellbound. (Courtesy: TCC Digest) nadaswaram (at Goethe but I will be in the soup.” Institut 7.30 p.m.).

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

Amalgamations Group Bata India Limited

The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

Rane Group

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

PublishedPublished by Anu by Varghese, S. Muthiah Lokavani for ëChennai Southern Heritageí,Printers Pvt. 260-A, Ltd., 122,TTK Greams Road, ChennaiRoad Road, 600 Chennai 018 and 600 printed 006. Printed by T Jby George T.J. George at Lokavani-Hallmark at Lokavani Southern Press Printers Pvt. Pvt.Ltd., Ltd., 122, 122, Greams Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600600 006.006, andEdited edited by byS. S.MUTHIAH. Muthiah.