Registered with the Reg. No. TN/PMG (CCR) /814/06-08 Registrar of Newspapers Licence to post without prepayment for under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. WPP 506/06-08 Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • Ammu & her daughters MADRAS • Historic autographs • The talk of The Season MUSINGS • KBH’s Victorian traditions Vol. XVII No. 17 December 16-31, 2007 FlyoversIs VPH to are get still a newseen as the

What’s my New Year resolution this year? To send only 250 sms instead of 300 sms a day! solution... I hereby swear... Making resolutions?So you (By A Staff Reporter) can forget all about them by the afternoon of January 1st? hennai is rapidly becoming reacted in the same way as the Here are some situations that Ca city of flyovers, which are Boat Club area residents. could do with re-thinking. seen as the cure for all traffic ills. The second flyover is coming Starting with cell-phones. In the past few days, there has up at the High Seriously, a huge no-no while been plenty of news regarding Road-Mahalingapuram Junc- Day by day, traffic keeps growing in the city and, unless solutions are found, driving. Using ear gizmos the work that is going on on tion. Being built at a cost of will soon reach gridlock. that give you that alien-from- four mini flyovers in various lo- (Continued on page 8) The-Flintstone’s look is cations in the city, but will they mere quibbling. solve the city’s traffic ills? Can we ease The Season’s And please, people can hear The first of these flyovers (By A Staff Reporter) you mumbling into your was to be on Chamier’s Road at ahead of The Season, and discussing with them specific phone while at the movies, its junction with Turnbull’s he Music Season is here. pain? even with all that noise. location-related issues and Road. But based on the repre- TAnd as it annually does, it The hotspots are just less No, MCs aren’t obliged to arriving at implementation sentations made by residents of brings with it, along with music, than ten in number (see box look at you directly when plans. the Boat Club area, it has been plenty of good food, music prod- below). And it does not really they request the audience to 2. Getting sabha-s to coordi- decided to reorient the flyover uct sales, several fringe events require enormous imagination switch off their phones. nate with schools and col- so that it will now connect such as walks and talks and, of to solve the problem. It just re- Deliberately holding long, leges in their vicinity to ar- Turnbull’s and Cenotaph course, traffic snarls. Yet, apart quires will-power and some mundane cell conversations range for parking space, so Roads. This will involve fresh from posting a few policemen, forethought. True, the sabha-s while in a group can, and that road space is not utilised land acquisitions and further the authorities do not appear to have themselves taken some will, be treated as an act of unnecessarily. For instance, delays. Strangely, residents in think of anything innovative to steps, the efforts of the Music social aggression. the Music Academy has al- other parts of the city, whose ease the flow of traffic near the Academy and Narada Gana Also, let’s clean up those con- ready got an arrangement lives were suddenly impacted by sabha-s. Sabha in particular being com- tact lists. If you find a name with St. Ebba’s School and the arrival of flyovers, have not mendable. But unless this be- listed as ‘RSWZap’, and can- this has worked well in the comes a larger exercise, involv- not remember who, from past couple of years. There ing the authorities, it is not go- where, or even why the ... But pedestrians are such possibilities in other ing to be feasible. code...it’s time to hit that de- locations (Sri Parthasarathy lete button. get no relief A few suggestions are Swami Sabha – Vidya All e-mail IDs needn’t be cute. listed below: Mandir; the And every ‘Forward’ needn’t sabhas – PS High School hile all the above constructions may spell good news for 1. Calling for a meeting with be ‘forward-ed’. Wvehicle owners, the pedestrian appears to be getting short sabha representatives, well (Continued on page 8) Some emotional distance from shrift as usual. Most flyovers in the city come up by utilising space the TV should be considered that reduces the width of the roads at ground level. When these — prevents that migraine need to be widened, the pavements are the first things to be brought about by the second removed, thereby forcing pedestrians to use road space and com- Season’s traffic hotspots daughter-in-law’s third pete with vehicles. The risk is all the more where, in the case of cousin’s villainy. • The Music Academy junction, where the Academy, Narada some flyovers, heavy vehicles and buses are not able to use them Gana Sabha and the Sankara Hall events ensure that traffic Try misplacing that remote and perforce need to continue to use the roads. That leaves very is held up often. now and then. little space for those who walk and pedestrians are put to grave A friend’s losing weight, or risk. • The Mada Streets of Mylapore, where the proximity of the changing his/her hair isn’t al- The traffic arrangements in T. Nagar, following the beginning Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the R.R. Sabha (now being rebuilt) ways a declaration of war of flyover construction in the area, were initially praised by vehicle and the R.K. Swami Auditorium (inside Sivaswami Kalalaya), ensures together that evening traffic is chaotic. against you. users but, with festival shopping at an all-time high, matters soon As for that obsession with the degenerated into chaos. The traffic arrangements have all been • The (Oliver) Road-Luz Church last word? No one has a done keeping vehicles in mind, with total disregard for pedestri- Road stretch, where Mylapore Fine Arts and Sivakami copyright over it... and ans. Parts of the road have been commandeered for parking and Pethachi Auditorium programmes slow down the traffic. shouldn’t. what is left is all dug up. Vehicles are forced to the periphery of the • The Vani Mahal roundabout, where a combination of Let’s make those bells toll for road, thereby squeezing out the pedestrian. Residents are also com- T’ Nagar traffic and the sabha’s events causes mayhem. change. Happy New Year. plaining about the dust and the pollution. Ranjitha Ashok • High Road, where the Sri Parthasarathy Swami All this activity, it would appear, focusses only on the few who Sabha holds its events. are vehicle users and not on the thousands who move on foot. CMYK 2 December 16-31, 2007 The Swaminathan Did I drench you? I’m sorry! mother he Man from Madras birthdays, posters for felicita- pending further hearing. So it T Musings is unhappy and is tions and also posters when in- is back to square one once feeling guilty as well. The roads terviews of theirs are published again. and daughters of Madras that is Chennai have in magazines. These publicity MMM is confident that taken a beating following the campaigns are undertaken by when he runs out of material orn in a family of Nairs, Ammu had become one of the not-so-torrential rains this fans’ associations in the same for his column, this problem BAmmukutty, the youngest leading socialites of the time, year. MMM is not one of those way film stars have rasikar will always provide sufficient child of P. Govinda Menon of and in a smart coach, drawn by who drives his car at high speed manrams which take up such matter. through puddles, thereby en- activities. Nobody is bothered Palghat, was married to Subba- two matched horses, she would suring that pedestrians and about civic cleanliness. But Senate House rama Swaminathan, a Brahmin drive herself to the Marina. She two-wheeler users are that being the way of life in of Madras, at the tender age of played tennis, and threw parties drenched. He, in fact, slows Chennai, MMM fully expects he Man from Madras 13. Subbarama Swaminathan for the elite of the city. She was down at such spots and, yet, that cutouts of artistes will be T Musings learns from his came from a family that was far the first woman of Madras to that is precisely the reason why the next wave. sources that Senate House has been declared out-of-bounds from well off, but was helped by obtain a driving licence and he is unhappy today. The other day, MMM happened to be for public events once again. Govinda Menon, a State used it – driving her car herself! Saving Govt. House The University authorities official, who recognised Swami- In spite of all these accomplish- driving along when the car To have locked the building and it nathan’s exceptional intelli- ments, she was basically an went over what MMM thought was a shallow puddle. What he The Editor – Madras Musings now appears evident that by gence. He helped him, both Indian Woman free of snob- did not realise was that there Dear Chief, doing so they are hell-bent on financially and with words of bery, and was soon attracted to were some spots where the de- I have heard from a little reverting it to the condition in encouragement, to complete his the Swadeshi movement, par- pression was quite deep. The bird that you have written a let- which it was prior to restora- studies. After his studies at the ticularly by its social content. tyre went into one such rut ter to the Governor of Tamil tion. Edinburgh and London Univer- Issues of caste and gender dis- and, the next moment, a ma- Nadu appealing to him that What is achieved by such a hide-bound and reactionary at- sities, Swaminathan obtained crimination engaged her atten- tron who was walking by was Government House on Govern- drenched from head to foot. ment Estate should be saved titude is quite a mystery to his Doctorate in Law from tion. She also gave her whole- MMM. It does not require Harvard University. He came to hearted support to Gandhi’s MMM rolled down the window keeping in mind its historicity. to apologise and was greeted But are you aware that a Ger- much intelligence to realise Madras and started practising campaign against foreign cloth. man team of architects is al- that nothing damages a build- law and became a distinguished She made a bonfire in front her with a flood (pun intended) of invective. Whereupon MMM ing more than lack of use. barrister. house of all the foreign clothes beat a hasty retreat. MMM now SHORT What was the purpose in going When Swaminathan went to she had. apologises through the pages of through the entire restoration Vadakkath House in Anakara Swaminathan, for his part, Madras Musings, but some- ’N’ exercise if this was to be the village to see A. V. Lakshmi- always guided her on the latest thing tells him that the matron end result? It also smacks of a kutty Amma, the wife of developments in the political does not read this journal. SNAPPY betrayal of trust, for public The incident reminded funds and donations were gar- Govinda Menon who had scene. When he passed away in nered for the restoration on the MMM of what an acquaintance ready busy working on plans passed away, he wanted very 1930, Ammu was just 30 years promise that it will be a build- had told him a couple of years for constructing the new as- ing that will be used for various ago. Apparently, the condition sembly complex at the very l Another in the occasional series on the early events. Sadly, those in power in the suburbs and the ‘new ac- same site? I am not claiming to do not appear to realise this. feminists of Madras by K.R.A. NARASIAH quired colonies’ of the city is far be clairvoyant, but something worse. There, the trenches can tells me we can expect a struc- Let there be light much to repay the family in old. Before he passed away, he be several feet deep. Those who ture with a dome and lots of red some way and decided to marry had got a promise from her that walk home from railway sta- granite. he Government has passed a daughter of the house. she should not observe any of tions virtually form a human Chief, do let me know if and Tan order that use of dark Lakshmikutty Amma was sur- the usual customs followed by a chain for safety. Then, if any- when you do get a reply from films over windows in vehicles prised, but said that all her widow in India. And Ammu one falls into an open manhole the powers-that-be. It is always is illegal and they must be re- or a ‘drainage dig’, he is secure a pleasure to peruse a well writ- moved at once. daughters were married except kept the promise. He had also The Man from Madras the youngest, Ammu, who was provided enough for the family. in the knowledge that others ten and imaginative letter. can fish him out. Musings has not stopped laugh- just a little girl. When Swami- Ammu as a political activist Warm regards, The Man from ing ever since then. For, nathan met this young girl he never hesitated in stating her Poster kutcheris Madras Musings guess who uses the maximum asked her if she would be his ideas to even the top leadership amount of sun-control film? wife! To the surprise off all, of the Congress. In spite of her he Man from Madras Illegal-Legal-Illegal The Government itself. Ammu said she would, provided critical approach to some of T Musings thought it was Have you ever seen a gov- her conditions were fulfilled. Gandhi’s ideas, she was quite only film stars and politicians nd so it goes on. The Man ernment vehicle (those with ‘G’ who indulged in poster warfare A And what were they? close to him. She was elected an from Madras Musings is al- marked prominently on the while defacing the walls of pub- luding to the continuing ding- number plate and a chauffeur “I should not be asked to live MP in 1952 and was asssociated lic and private buildings. But dong battle on the status of the who has one foot on the accel- in a village, but only in a big city with many cultural and social what is amazing to MMM is illegal buildings of the city. erator and a hand permanently like Madras, and I should learn organisations. She went to that Carnatic musicians, whom After the High Court of Ma- on the horn) without sun con- English from an English- Ethiopia, China, USA and he always thought were a law- dras struck down the Govern- trol film? So, what next? Issue woman,” she stated. Swami- USSR as a goodwill ambassador. abiding lot, though some are ment Ordinance that called for of a tender for removal of sun- nathan agreed. When he In the inaugural year of the also consummate politicians, a one-year freeze on action control film? How can our married Ammu, he was 20 years Internatioal Women’s Year, she have begun indulging in the against illegal structures, work VIPs be exposed to the sun and older than her! To make sure was awarded the title ‘Mother of poster activity. Now their faces began once again on demolition the public gaze? Most unthink- smile down at you from all pos- that his marriage was legal in all the Year’, 1975. of additional storeys and able. sible locations, with the walls in unauthorised extensions. But respects, since a Brahmin All her children had remark- What MMM suspects is that the vicinity of sabha-s becom- within a week the Government rather like the helmet order, un- marrying a Nair girl was un- able careers. Lakshmi, who was ing the favourite spots. filed a plea with the Supreme official instructions will soon be acceptable in society, he en- born on October 24, 1914 in There are posters for forth- Court seeking a stay and an in- sent to go easy on the matter. sured that his marriage was Madras, decided to study medi- coming concerts, posters for terim stay has been granted – MMM legalised by actually going to cine because she wanted to be England and having the of service to the poor, especially spoke at a series of public meet- widely known, however, as Communist Party of India marriage registered there with a to poor women. Studying at ings of his determination to Captain Lakshmi. (Marxist), ironically the bitter repeat performance of the , she raise a National Army, includ- She was captured and opponents of the Indian Na- entire marriage procedure! obtained her MBBS degree from ing a women’s regiment to be brought to India by the British, tional Army and Subhas Back in Madras in a few Madras University in 1938. called the Rani of Jhansi Regi- but was set free as the mood in Chandra Bose! Later, she be- years, their son Govind and Later she received her Diploma ment. Lakshmi joined it and India was then different. An- came a leader of the All India daughter Lakshmi were born, in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. was immediately given the rank other officer released in India Democratic Women’s Associa- followed by another daughter She wanted to work abroad for of Colonel. She became the was Colonel Prem Kumar tion. She was awarded the Mrinalini and son Subbaram. some time and in 1940 she left Minister in Charge of Women’s Sahgal, and they were married Padma Vibhushan by the Presi- All four grew up with group for Singapore, where she soon Organisation in the provisional in Lahore in March 1947. Col. dent of India. Her daughter freedom and with no bias had a thriving practice. She Government of Free India Sahgal was the son of another Subhashini Ali is also a promi- about caste whatsoever. How- joined the India Independence (called Arzi Hukumate Azad Indian legal luminary, Justice nent Communist. ever, the boys were sent to League and in 1942 served the Hind) led by Bose. She also Achru Ram Sahgal. Ammu’s other daughter, England for their studies, while prisoners-of-war after the Allied commanded Rani of Jhansi After their marriage they , became a the girls were put in Madras surrender to the Japanese. Regiment. In a regular army dis- settled in Kanpur, where well-known classical dancer schools. Subhas Chandra Bose came position, this may be called the Lakshmi served the needy refu- and married Vikram Sarabhai, In the meantime, in Madras, to Singapore in July 1943 and first of its kind in Asia! She was gees. In 1971 she joined the the great scientist. December 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Tramway alternative

any elderly residents of Chennai dream Madras Electric Tramways had two types of Mnostalgically of the times when trams tra- cars, one a long eight-wheeler and the other a Dismal scenario protect it as they did in Vellore versed the roads of the city. They long for the shorter four-wheeler. The shorter type will be days when these vehicles chugged majestically more suitable, as it is easier to manoeuvre them – pardon my being autobio- am constrained to write this on the highways. That was an era in the past using less power. graphical – at my instance, a few Iletter because MMM’s ken when electric tramcars were the main passenger The cars may be provided with period fit- years ago. does not extend beyond the transport means all over the cities of the world. tings. The operators too may wear period cos- When fast and nimble petrol driven vehicles tumes. A small fee as ticket charge may be col- Cooum and the Dr. G. Sundaram (RTD.) IAS took over, these gentle giants on rails had to give lected from users. This can be utilised for main- on the Marina. To start with, ‘Burma House’ way to them and they disappeared in most cit- tenance. When the system becomes popular, a the beautiful War Memorial is 33/18, 9th Street ies, but some retained them as a relic to delight second line may be laid for separate up-and- getting covered with coal dust Dr. Radhakrishnan Road children and tourists. down tracks. Also more vehicles may be put on from the coal-dumps of the Port Chennai 600 004 In Chennai that was Madras, the tramcar was the track. Initially, the service may be only in Trust just opposite it. There is Pedestrian travails put into service at the turn of the 20th Century. the evenings. Later it could be extended for the no need for a gate here and the It worked successfully, but was taken off the full day. trucks can be made to move in- reating a triangular one- road in the middle of the 1950s for various rea- In every public endeavour, the bugbear is side the wall on a parallel road Cway system at Raj Bhavan- sons and its presence was obliterated leaving no finding money. Logically, the Chennai Corpo- using the main gate at the end Halda-Little Mount without trace. ration should bear the cost. If it cannot, some of The nostalgic dreamers need not despair. It the commercial corporations may be asked to or even the gates beyond. Be- first constructing pedestrian subways is an act of cruelty is possible to revive it although it cannot be put foot it. If none comes forward, the public may sides, this gate and the possibil- on the roads of Chennai due to its present hec- be asked to donate to make it a success. ity of an ugly construction by inflicted upon pedestrians. Although adequately high- tic traffic. A rail line parallel to the Beach Road Where there is a will, there will be a way. the side have already attracted in Marina can be laid with electric traction over- slums. Since there are army or lighted in the Press, the needs head wires, on the seaward side from Senate H. Sethuraman navy quarters by the side, I in- of pedestrians are hardly House to San Thomé. Cars similar to the ones S-3, Sai Prasad vited the attention of the GOC considered. that were plying on the roads earlier could be 9, Vel Nagar Extn. Those responsible (the manufactured and put on this track. The of the area about a year ago who Chennai 600 088 promised to took into the mat- Highways Department, PWD, ter. But he was transferred after Corporation) must be taken to about a fortnight! task for this. To start with, their and may, in due course, enter produces brown rice, contain- tion is better than cure’ needs The greenery of the fort on officials must be made to cross the English language as ing 8% protein and a source of to be pursued. the left and the old trees on the the road in this area during peak ‘prepone’ and ‘bio-data’ have. I iron, calcium, and B vitamins. K.V.S. right provide a pleasant view hours, ten times a day for ten wonder whether using the term Removal of the bran layer 2A, Parkland Apartments and drive. But these trees are in consecutive days. Hopefully, for printing error should be con- leaves white rice, greatly dimin- they will then realise the travails Kamalabhai Street danger of being chopped down doned till then. Madras Musings ished in nutrients. Enriched T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017 because a construction is al- of a pedestrian. generally features impeccable white rice has added B vitamins Remember the Creek ready coming up just opposite B. Gautham prose. I, therefore, feel offended and minerals. This is where we the country’s tallest flag-mast – 137, Wallajah Road that such a solecism should be in India are lagging behind, as am very happy to learn that perhaps a stand for the VVIP to Chennai 600 002 committed in it. no enrichment of milled rice is Ithe Sabarmati River Front take the salute. Beyond this made. H.J. Pavamani Development plan (MM, No- point, the parking lot or the ‘Printer’s Devil’ As a policy, many developing 80/1, Road vember 16th) has interested playground upto the Port Trust his is with reference to your , Chennai 600 032 countries do not permit im- Government de- is disappearing and an ugly con- Tfinal item, Printer’s Devil, ported milled rice for sale until Editor’s Note: Point taken; partments who had reportedly struction is coming up. In New in Short ‘N’ Snappy in Madras the rice is upgraded to FAO we were careless – and apologise sent a team to Ahmadabad to Delhi, at least the new con- Musings, November 16th. I standards. In India, no such sys- for it. gather necessary information structions blend with the sur- have always been intrigued by tem exists. There is an urgent with a view to considering such roundings, which include the many in our country using the Fortified rice need to consider upgrading rice, a “similar exercise” along the sandstone pink buildings, term Printer’s Devil to mean a as in the case of salt. . thanks to th Urban Arts Com- printing error. None of the stan- ike iodised salt preventing According to Census 2001, The article ‘Can Adyar mission. dard dictionaries gives this Lthyroid deficiency, rice too in Tamil Nadu, there are Creek ecopark ignore estuary’ This is a dismal scenario be- meaning to the term, and all needs to be fortified. Now, prac- 964,063 blind, 197,115 deaf, (MM, April 16th) had rightly yond the Cooum. Despite define it as an assistant or an tically all rice in India is milled, 127,521 mentally retarded posed the question, “Can you VVIPs moving up and down ev- errand boy in a printer’s esta- unlike in the past. This causes people. The blindness, deafness, ensure a successful ecopark ery day on this route, the only blishment, and nothing else. serious and continuous damage and mental disability of a great without sustaining its feed wa- recent good development is that I feel that usage of this term to the consumers, especially the many of these people could ter systems and the natural the ASI has started construct- to signify a printing error is poor. have been prevented with wealth about it?” That is the ing a fence around the Fort to confined to the Sub-continent Removal of just the husk treated rice. The policy ‘Preven- question that has to be an- swered before work can begin on the ecopark. Subscriptions and contributions This has not been answered by CHENNAI HERITAGE the Tamil Nadu Government so 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, , CHENNAI 600 018. l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has been far. It is in its court and the an- priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and send it, together with swer should come before any I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 260-A, TTK ROAD, work in this connection comes CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTHERN PRINTERS PVT. LTD., hereafter. into effect. Any plans for the 122, GREAMS ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. Adyar River along the lines of An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of our l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 costs. 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Adyar will be truly beneficial to and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated support from Madras that is Chennai only if Heritage an additional Rs...... those of you who have already made contributions, and if many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only be able to keep Madras the eco-system of the Creek is (Rupees ...... ) Musings going, but also be able to continue awareness-building exercises restored to ensure a natural ha- on on-going projects as well as undertake one or two more such exer- Please keep / put me on your mailing list. cises. ven for the forgotten flora and Name : ...... Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION TO fauna of Adyar. YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, we will Address: ...... treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for 2006-07 and P.S. Subrahmanian the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the causes Chennai Heri- ‘Muruganadi’ ...... tage espouses. F-4, Kannika Nivas Apartment We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those newcomers 7, Varadachari Street Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas postage who want to receive copies, sending in their subscriptions. We are indeed alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to sorry we can no longer remain a free mailer. Ranga Nagar ‘Chennai Heritage’. — The Editor Srirangam Trichy 620 006 4 MADRAS MUSINGS December 16-31, 2007 December 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 Boondocks The talk of for Boddam The Season

ight from 1862, the year in before he went through the case. he mineral water bottles The grass is too dusty; there’s Rwhich the Madras High He put questions which favoured Tare piling up on me, and too much noise. People don’t Court came into being, there his own view and was greatly im- meal-times that grew increas- bother to hide their garbage, and have been many instances of its patient towards questions which ingly quiet with the years are get- did we have to have a pothole Judges contributing to its glory did not favour his view,” stated Sir ting chatty again. right outside our gate this fort- and its achievements. Many of Sivaswamy Ayyar. This means it’s that time of night? them, including those who prac- Finding that a large percent- year – when that special subsect Mrs. Harassed’s also been tised law before the High Court, age of his judgments were re- of your species, the NRIs, come going on about over-enthusiastic were not only famous leaders in versed in appeals, Justice home to roost. mosquitoes making a ....er... the legal firmament who shed Boddam found a way to prevent Something puzzling about beeline for The Family the lustre upon the practice of the those words? minute they land. this. He simply refused to give Justice Huncerford Tudor Boddam. law and the administration of copies of his notes of evidence, That’s because this is the din- “Within seconds, they’ll all routine now, these two, one It’s tough... I understand. ing table talking. have red dots sprinkled all over, At the exhibition of the late Al Lakshmanan’s autograph collection. justice, but were also acknowl- enunciating a new doctrine that Justice Boddam’s one-sided that’s hard to break. You don’t mind Bay-Area X, That’s right – those whom especially those poor babies.” edged as progenitors of succeed- those notes were his private views in cases may have brought Why, even I’ve got accus- although she’s related to those you humans classify as ‘inani- I wince as she drags a vessel ing generations of successful and property. “You may take your him ill-fame among many mem- tomed to handling not more irritating East-Coast-Ms, (seri- mate’ can talk; we also see, hear, across me in an agitated manner. distinguished legal professionals own notes and read them if you bers of the Bar, but he had his than three vessels at a time. ously, an accent is just so passé) Intriguing juxtapositions feel, and, above all – we record. Mr. Harassed’s ill-timed joke from Madras. Names like Justice want to go before the Appellate redeeming features as well. On Poor Mrs. Harassed usually who rudely refused to share their We’re the reason why you hu- about putting a huge mosquito Sir Victor Murray Coutts-Trot- Court,” Boddam would thunder the advice of SPCA, he helped eats her food watching the TV in concert season tickets last year. mans sometimes do that quick net over the city does not go ter, Justice Sir T. Muthusami in his court. However, it did not with the opening of the Madras the corner, weeping over her And what about Cousin N, who of historic autographs neck swivel, sensing a presence down too well either. Ayyar, Sir V. Bashyam Ayyangar seem to have had any effect on Pinjrapole on Konnur High soaps. She now has to pretend to tends to behave like the unin- you cannot actually see – yet you and Sir S. Subramania Ayyar are the number of appeals filed Road, Ayyanavaram, that exists censorious offspring, accompa- vited Bad Fairy at the christen- know something was watching, l Lakshmanan (1926- Over the years, the auto- The personalities were mentioned in hushed whispers against his judgments. even today. In fact, Justice nied by critical new additions, ing if left out, but is so compari- something neither human nor A 2006) was the first grand- graphs filled several albums, grouped into categories such as even now inside the campus of Boddam was the first President l by that she only watches the news son-obsessed, I am even tempted That many of the Bar Council animal. son of Raja Sir Annamalai some of the more important ones politicians, freedom fighters and . (1906 to 1910) of the Pinjrapole, channels or National Geo- to tilt and spill something with members in those days didn’t like So, if you are a dining table RANJITHA ASHOK Chettiar of Chettinad. He was being encased in silver. When statesmen, lawyers, judges and However, in the long history a home for abandoned cattle. graphic. Bit much, especially heavy stain-potential all over him much comes out from the owned by a fairly normal family born to the Raja’s daughter and Lakshmanan passed away, his advocates, businessmen, musi- of Madras High Court, as it hap- There were a sizeable number of since I remember a time when her? fact that when Justice Boddam (normal for humans, that is), grew up in his maternal family, finding that the albums cians and artistes and sportsmen. pens elsewhere too, there were a people too who apparently ben- the same offspring displayed the retired, he was not accorded any your occupational hazard is fam- And yet – it isn’t all bad. grandfather’s home, Chettinad were crumbling, decided to re- This categorisation led to some fair number of personalities who efited from Boddam’s kindness. most amazing low motivation farewell by the Bar. Unmindful of ily noise, apart from food-related To hear her talk, viruses, al- There’s warmth, tenderness, Palace. This brought him into store them as a fitting tribute to interesting combinations. Thus were not only less popular So much so, they collected suffi- four times a week, strewing that, Boddam joined many of his accidents. ways more adventurous in this and nostalgia...like when a contact with several prominent him. The Tamil Nadu Archives Jinnah, Nehru and Gandhi among the lawyer fraternity, but cient funds to put up a statue of books all over me as they re- judicial friends during the vaca- My owners – let’s just call season, apparently conspire an- child’s favourite food is cooked. personalities even when he was was contacted and it did a mag- shared a panel as did Lord also thought to be short on judi- him in a public place in Madras. ceived their ‘tuitions’ from a tion period and left Madras by them Mr. and Mrs. Harassed – nually to single out her family (So, what if the concerned quite young. nificent job in saving the auto- Wavell and Sir Stafford Cripps. cial acumen. In spite of this, The statue was installed at worn-out professorial type, who train for Bombay, on his way to have been in a distinctly pouty and, specifically, ruin their holi- 45-year-old ‘child’ has forgotten A meeting with cricketer and graphs and ensuring that they The last two were not on speak- these men left a mark. Justice the junction of Body Guard Lines would sneak biscuits from the catch the boat. Unfortunately, mood over the past few days. The day plans. So, what if the city is old loves?) Bhavnagar royal family scion were protected from further ing terms following the failure of Huncerford Tudor Boddam is Road (now Pallavan Salai) and side-board, and accept bribes he died on way and his body was steel tumblers in the house are filled with interesting events? Duleepsinghji when Laksh- deterioration. the Cabinet Mission. U Ve one such. Mount Road. It was unveiled by from the kids to be let off early. Or the rustle of newspapers sent back to Madras to be buried complaining of back-pain, They mean crowds, most of manan was 17 led to his hobby of Swaminatha Iyer and Kathiresan According to the centennial the then Governor, Sir Arthur Great – it looks like I’ll never while the whole family sits to- here. thanks to being set down sharply whom never cover their mouths collecting autographs. The pas- Chettiyar were together as were volume on the History of the Lawley, on 25th November, know how it all turned out with gether on a quiet morning, over It must, however, be acknowl- on my fake-antique surface in fits while coughing. sion lasted from 1941 to 1950 Pattabhi Sitaramayya and Madras High Court, very few 1911. It stood there for several that sister-in-law-cum-assassin- that second cup of coffee (“Just people had a good word to say edged that Boddam was a brood- of irritation triggered by inner Oh, the guilt if an NRI falls ill during which time he collected l by Sriram Shuddhananda Bharati, one be- years. However, after Indepen- with-the-worst-intentions. one mouthful, please”). ing, foul mouthed judge. Sir tension. in your house! over 350 signatures. Laksh- ing a staunch Telugu and the about him with regard to his dence, it was one of the first stat- Entertaining the NRIs. If visits coincide with signifi- Venkatakrishnan Sivaswamy Ayyar recognised (This season to be jolly is Then, food. My lady is wor- manan wrote to the big names of other an equally great lover of work as a Judge. Justice ues removed from its prominent Where to take/send them? cant dates, they cut cakes, and Boddam as a man who was very marked by a distinct undercur- ried about menus. She has, of the period, introducing himself Tamil Isai. In legal circles, Sir Boddam was appointed a Judge position. And Mr. Harassed wonders how sing (they sound dreadful, but quick, witty, full of humour and rent of uneasiness; the ‘Oh-God- late, succumbed to the low-calo- as the Raja’s grandson and re- Alladi, leader of the Mylapore of the Madras High Court in suc- Today, not many are aware to answer webcam questions that enjoy the ruckus). cession to Justice Parket, who pleasantry. “Unfortunately, he I-hope-everything-goes-off-all rie, low-fat, low-oil, low-salt, go: “Yes, but how safe are roads/ questing them for their auto- 114 autographs were then se- clique, shared space with V.L. that the statue is in an incon- And I am surrounded by chat- retired in 1896. Very soon, Jus- had this failing of making up his right’ touch, typical of all happy low-taste food everyone’s on drivers/food/water?” graphs. He also asked them to lected from the collection and Ethiraj, giant of the spicuous corner inside the May ter and jabber once again. tice Boddam earned notoriety mind too early and took a one family reunions, I’ve noticed.) about, which I cannot help but And those endless get- inscribe a motto. Realising that exhibited recently to mark the group. John Mathai and TTK in Day Park (old Napier Park), be- Slowly I can sense Mrs. H’s for being very partial to one or sided view according to his own The NRIs are coming – and feel will make my kind togethers. But that’s where I they were doing him a favour, he first anniversary of Lakshma- the same panel as too hind Simpson’s, at . mood settling down. two of his favourites at the Bar. prepossession,” reminisced everything seems to be a extinct...or at least very light. come into my own, with my lady sent a self-addressed stamped en- nan’s death. The curators had Sathyamurthy and Rajaji were It was soon alleged that he de- Sivaswamy Ayyar. – Brahmma Raju problem. But returning children now dressing me up differently for Everyone’s home — that’s all velope so that the respondents taken pains to collect photo- intriguing placements. Inciden- cided cases in their favour irre- ask for ingredient breakdowns each occasion. The whom-to-in- that matters. were not out of pocket when graphs of many of the personali- tally the last two did not see eye- spective of merit. for every single dish, and their vite-over debate involves much As for rest, it’s just my people they sent him their replies. Sev- ties whose autographs were on to-eye even in the matter of au- In the memoirs left by Sir V.C. questions are getting harder to pen-tapping, and tossing of tele- doing (if a dining table may eral autographs were collected show. Footnotes on the lives of tographs. Sathyamurthy has Desikachari, father of eminent Why not a break for all? answer. phone and address books, all of be forgiven a little improvisation) when personalities called on the the personalities provided a brief asked Lakshmanan to be brave The bigger the family, the Raja in person. and defeat his grandfather in ev- lawyer V.C. Gopalarathnam, which give me a headache. the talk...doing the talk of life. but fascinating glimpse of history. Twenty-one years at the Bar, Jus- more complex the dynamics. ery sphere of life. Rajaji, signing Right now, there’s a tortuous, below, has said it is not at all nec- tice Boddam was described as embers of the Madras slough of a cobra was picked followed by a long, bone- M Naturalists’ Society in up, measured and photo- rattling ride to Dengumarahada circular discussion going on essary. “terrible”. Desikachari goes on, Our Addresses A big ‘Thank You’ “ Justice Boddam presided early December went on a trip graphed by many. on the banks of the Moyar about how the NRIs will divide The Venkata Subba Raos, Sir to Hasanur in the Sathyman- The next day members River through Sujjalkuttai their time between various sec- Mutha and are to- mostly over the Original Side and For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts to 13 of you he laid down openly his own stan- galam forest range and K.V. walked through Geddessal forest. We sighted herds of tions of the family...especially the gether as they were in every ac- SUDHAKAR reported: village and on to Minjikuzhi Blackbuck and Spotted deer. etc.: Chennai Heritage, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, West Cott Road, Royapettah, dards of Justice. His head was full in-laws. Chennai 600 014. tivity they were involved in. Day 1 brought some lovely with its wonderful views of The places abounded with “So many days with Them; We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.11.07 and of prejudices in respect of parties views of the Sathymangalam shola-like forests and grass- birds, with more than 60 For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation They have even signed jointly. A only so many with Us”, Mrs. Ha- 15.12.07, added to the support Chennai Heritage and its voice, Madras and pre-judgment of witnesses all plains as we drove up to lands. Sighting of a pair of species of birds recorded. matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., rare autograph is that of M.S. rassed intones with obvious re- Musings, have already received. We thank all of them for their support Subbulakshmi, taken in 1943. arranged in graded scales on the Hasanur via Dimbum. The Kestrels soaring was the high- Editor’s Note: Sounds like an 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. basis of race, religion, sex and so bungalow at Dimbum, made light of the trek. A Gaur seen sentment. for the causes Chennai Heritage espouses. Rather strangely, Sadasivam has ideal break from the city. Per- On Editorial Matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani — Chennai Heritage famous by Kenneth Anderson, in the bushes on the drive up haps MNS should think of I can tell by the way Mr. Ha- not intervened and signed on her on. I have seen with my own eyes Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. several incidents of reversal of is at the edge of the escarpment was another high point. That organising such trips more rassed shuffles his feet, he’d like Rs. 100: Rani, S.; Chandra Sekarn, S.; Rama krishanan, P. behalf. MS’s motto is indicative No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Justice Boddam’s judgments in overlooking the plains. We evening, we took a drive on the frequently and offer to guide to dig a huge hole for himself and K.; Krishnamurthy, N. of what she was already on her the Appellate Court .” An- trekked through coffee planta- Talamalai-Thalavadi road, groups of city dwellers on these pull it down after him. Letters received will be sent from these addresses every couple of Rs. 150: Krishanan, R. way to achieve. It says in Tamil, days to the persons concerned and you will get an answer from them other prominent Judge of those tions, orange orchard, and ragi where we spotted Dholes (Wild nature treks. It could be both Mrs. Harassed, judging from Rs. 200: Jacob John, K. “My Lord! I will always sing your fields to reach the tank at dogs), Black-naped hare, and a income-earning for the Society to your queries reasonably quickly. days, Justice Sir P. S. Sivaswamy the way in which she is drawing Rs. 300: Subramanian, J. R.; Meena Rawlley glory like a bee which goes Hulikare (meaning tiger Civet. and an opportunity for other Ayyar too shared this view. “Jus- patterns on me in that little pool Strange as it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we Rs. 400: Nagesh, S.; Raghavendra; , K.; around your feet.” bund?). Spoor of leopards was Day 3 began with the sight- nature-lovers with little know- tice Boddam was not known for of spilt water, is also wondering will be able to help you faster and disappoint you less. Rs. 900: Ramaswamy, N. The exhibition took all visi- seen on the path, and at the ing of a lone Gaur on the grass ledge of what Tamil Nadu soundness of judgment. He had a tank an unusually long snake verge on the roadside. This was offers. about the days ahead. Rs. 1900: M.V.M. Trust ( Murugappan) tors back in time. It was a day to They’ve got used to a quiet THE EDITOR remember and cherish. knack of making up his mind long CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS December 16-31, 2007 December Season, online and off

(Current Affairs questions are et another December The section features all the portraits of leading artistes. Two from the period November Yseason of classical music major concerts at all leading guides – one on music and one 16th to 30th. Questions 11 to and dance has begun. With sabha-s, has news and informa- on dance – are being released 20 pertain to Tamil Nadu and hundreds of concerts at over a tion on special kutcheris, lec- on December12th and 18th. Chennai.) dozen venues and allied events dems and workshops, previews Copies can be had at the like lec-dems, theme fests and of shows, and even lists PG ac- 1. Kevin Rudd is the new Prime KutcheriBuzz office at 77, C. P. exhibitions, this year is possibly commodation and a rough Minister of .? Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, the biggest fest of its kind. guide to The Season. Uniquely, 2. Name the Indian priest el- Chennai 600 018 (Ph. : 2499 To take a rasika through the it features loads of pictures and evated to the rank of Cardinal of 4599). E-mail: editor@kut fest, KutcheriBuzz has, over the video reports on the key events. India by the Pope recently. cheribuzz.com 3. Name the Hindi actor of yes- last nine ‘Seasons’, promoted it Which means, rasika-s around teryear who took strong excep- through its web site, www.kut the world can get a front seat And every evening at 6.00, tion to a sequence in Om Shanti cheribuzz.com, out of its office feel of the fest (so if your friends at the sabha-s, the KutcheriBuzz Om and for which Shah Rukh on C. P. Ramaswamy Road, and relatives could not make it daily newssheet will be circu- Khan has offered an ‘unqualified’ Chennai. to The Season, they still get a lated, for free. They’ll keep the apology. The web site, devoted to piece of the action). rasika updated on the buzz of 4. Which cyber giant’s recent ini- and classical The KutcheriBuzz Season’s The Season. tiative for R&D and related in- dance in South India, has de- Guide is a handy reference to vestments in renewable energy is voted its home page to the ‘De- the season – it lists the top con- – Vincent D’Souza dubbed ‘RE < C’? cember Season 2007’. certs at all sabha-s and has pen 5. Which foundation gave the Rotary International a $100 mil- December 26: Kalakshetra’s An- lion, the largest ever grant re- nual Art Festival – Masquerade, ceived by the organisation, for a dance theatre narrative by polio eradication programmes? Kalakshetra repertory (at 6. Who recently became the first , 6.30 batsman to notch up 100 sixes in p.m.). Test cricket? December 27: Bharata Natyam by 7. Name the scheme launched by (at the Prime Minister recently that Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, will provide a monthly pension to ceramic exhibition co-curated by December 22 & 23: Carnatic 6.30 p.m.). Vocal by Sanjay people over 65 years and living Kristine Michael and Jin Kyoung Music Appreciation Programme Subrahmanyam (at Bharat below the poverty line. Kim, focussing on aspects of specially for music lovers and Kalachar, 6 p.m.). contemporary ceramic art and students to understand and 8. Who officially became India’s December 28: Mohana Krishna – arranged with four broad themes enjoy Carnatic music better. By 17th Grandmaster in chess re- Krishna as enchanter by dancer – Freedom with material; Meta- Dr. Radha Bhaskar (at Infosys Malavika Sarukkai (at Bharat cently? phor of the body; Poetics of the Hall, Ramakrishna Mission Kalachar, 6 p.m.), Bharata 9. Name the e-book service/ Till December 20: Reflection, an domestic; and Beyond history, School, T. Nagar, 10 a.m. to 4 Natyam performance by Anita reader launched by Amazon.com exhibition of mixed media glass tradition and culture (at Forum p.m. Details: 98400 72821 or Ratnam: Faces (at Krishna Gana on November 19th. work by Hemi Bawa (at Apparao Art Gallery). 93821 63330 or 28220453.) Galleries). Sabha). 10. Where in the U.S. was a peace Till December 30: Poetry with December 23: Vocal by K.J. conference trying to end the Till December 20: Frozen Prakriti is a new festival in Yesudas (at Thyaga Brahma December 29: Guitar by R Arab-Israeli conflict, held re- Unfrozen...Silence, an exhibition Chennai, where poets from Gana Sabha, 6.30 p.m.), Mando- Prasanna (at Thyaga Brahma cently? of sculpture in cast glass by Sisir varied backgrounds in multiple lin by U. Srinivas and U. Rajesh Gana Sabha, 4 p.m.). Guitar by Sahana (at Forum Art Gallery). R. Prasanna (at Bharat Kalachar, * * * languages will read and share (at The Music Academy, 7 Till December 22: An exhibition their poetry at many different p.m.), Saxophone by Kadri 6 p.m.). Bharata Natyam perfor- 11. Which comic actor has played of mixed media collage works locations across the city in a Po- Gopinath (at Bharat Kalachar, 6 mance by (at Bharat the lead role in the French film with treated flora by Mahendra etry Festival organised by the p.m.), Ragotsava – A Celebration Kalachar, 6 p.m.). Violin recital Paris Paris? Singh Solanki (at Apparao Gal- Prakriti Foundation. of Love by dancer Malavika by T.N. Krishnan (at Kalak- shetra Foundation, 6.30 p.m.), 12. Which Tamil Nadu district leries). Till December 30: National Eques- Sarukkai (at Sri Krishna Gana Bharata Natyam performance by has received the top National Till December 23: An exhibition trian Championship 2007 (at Sabha). : Neelam (at honour for the current year from by Pichaya Manet. His paintings Mohite Stadium, OTA, December 24: Bharata Natyam Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium). the Union Ministry of Social Jus- are singular for his exceptional St. Thomas Mount). recital by Shobana (at Narada tice and Empowerment, in recog- use of colour and movements in Till December 31: An exhibition Gana Sabha). Kathakali by December 30: Vocal by K.J. nition of the exemplary service depicting the human form and of paintings by 24 artists for a Sadanam Balakrishnan (at Yesudas (at Bharat Kalachar, 6 rendered to differently-abled per- for using the canvas much like a charitable organisation, Shiv- Kalakshetra Foundation, 6.30 p.m.), Mohiniyattam by Kala- sons? stage to visualise and set scenes. sakthi Home (at Vinnyasa p.m.). mandalam Kshemavathy (at 13. Which award-winning direc- Both these strengths follow his Premier Art Gallery). December 25: Bharata Natyam Kalakshetra Foundation, 6.30 many years of being a Bharata p.m.). tor’s debut film was Bharathi December 20: Saxophone by Kadri performance by Padma Subrah- Kannama? Natyam dancer and choreogra- manyam (at Bharat Kalachar, 6 pher (at Alliance Francaise). Gopinath (at Thyaga Brahma December 31: Dance ballet by 14. What is the name of the Gana Sabha, 6.30 p.m.), Vocal p.m.). (at Chennai team in the new Indian Till December 23: Season’s Greet- by Bombay Jayashree (at Thyaga Bharat Kalachar, 6 p.m.) Cricket League? ings, an exhibition of oil paint- Brahma Gana Sabha, 6.30 p.m.). ings by Dharshana Bajaj (at Lalit 15. The song Akila Akila from Kala Akademi). December 21-Jan. 4: Early Nerukku Naer is a direct ‘inspira- Propogation of Music; through READABILITY PLEASE tion’ of which Bob Marley song? Till December 26: The Annual print and Gramophone (at Roja Crafts Bazaar organised by the Dear Readers, 16. In ancient Tamil, what were Muthiah Library, 10 a.m. to Crafts Council of India. 150 arti- 7 p.m.). As letters from readers increase, we are receiving more and more hand kural, tuttam, kaikkilai, uzhai, ili, sans will be participating in this vilari and taaram? mega bazaar which offers a never December 21: Violin recital by written letters, many of them in a hand so small and illegible or large and 17. Name the Danish sailor before range of jewellery, in sil- Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan and scrawled as to be unreadable. Often this leads to our discarding a letter, whose memorial stands on Elliot’s ver, thread, beads, seeds, lac Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (at The particularly if some part of it is unreadable. Beach. bangles, jute, thewa, pearls, Music Academy, 4.15 p.m.). If you wish us to consider your letter for publication, please type it with 18. Which currently popular ac- wood and terracotta. This apart, December 22: Odissi by Surupa tor has two children called Jason the bazaar displays lacquerware, Sen and Bijayini Satpathy (at enough space between lines or write it using a medium hand, clearly dot- Sanjay and Divya Saasha? bronzes, rugs, handloom sarees, Kalakshetra Foundation, 6.30 ting the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. p.m.). Pocketful of Memories: 19. Where does the Vaigai empty metalware, and a range of stone products developed by the Retro pop concert by The Live Many readers also try to fill every square centimetre of a postcard space, itself? Council in granite, marble, sand- Martini featuring music from making reading or editing impossible. 20. If Madurai enshrines ‘Kooda- artistes Cliff Richard, Michael stone, Jaisalmer stone, and pink Please help us to consider your letters more favourably by making them lazhagar’, which place enshrines sandstone (at ). Franks, Eric Clapton, Rolling ‘Kattazhagar’? more legible for us. Till December 28: Earth Synergy, Stones, etc. (at Museum The- atre, 7 p.m.). – THE EDITOR (Answers on page 8) an Indo-Korean contemporary December 16-31, 2007 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 The KBH’s Victorian traditions continue

(Continued from when we didn’t have female gically. “The current Police Sta- last fortnight) physicians or surgeons, were the tion was the original Patients’ male doctors called in. The Waiting Room before they went . Kasturi, a long time staff balwadi, for children of the into the Delivery Room. The Gat the Kasturba Gandhi employees, was also opened by Waiting Shed you see now was Hospital kitchen, remembers, October 1973; the new OP built much later,” he adds. “That was a time when carts Department by 1976. The hos- with wooden logs moved Current Resident Medical pital was affiliated to the Lady Dr. Mary Beadon, first Superin- Dr. H.M. Lazarus, first Indian around carrying fuel to fire the Officer, Dr. Isaac, son of a Willingdon Medical School tendent. Superintendent. kitchen. Oats cooked on coal former Superintendent, Dr. A. (which gave LMP degrees) from fires used to be supplied to Abraham (1961-1968), was 1929 -1938 till it was amalgam- fee) too to pep you up early in nowhere else have I found this patients in the Special Ward, born at the KGH. On a guided ated with Stanley Medical Col- the mornings. The nurses were kind of bonding between where 4 patients would be tour of the old and new addi- lege. KGH was recognised for so very kind then.” And the patients, doctors and staff of the attended to by one exclusive tions to the hospital, he remem- the MD OB & G and even memory of clean white rows of hospital. Generations of women ayah. Circular spiral staircases bers “Mother narrating stories KMC students used to come for nursing students filing out in in families come back again and in all the blocks still remind old of Superintendents Dr. Paru- internship to our Hospital, since rows to the hospital wards at again!” He too vividly remem- timers of the Matron’s surprise kuttyrayan and Dr. A.B. we had better facilities .” precise timings brings a ready bers how the huge banyan fell, checks to the upper floors! Mariker (who went on to be- Dr. Kanthamani joined in smile, for, “They looked so like “I remember the lone man Earlier, we used to live in tiled come Director of Medical Ser- 1958 as an Assistant in Gosha vellai pura (white doves)!” under it, the sudden half a mud houses (on the site of the vice)” of how they were known Adjoining the hospital is the minute shower that made him new OP) that leaked badly to have petrified medical quaint Victorian style housing run inside, and the many kites when it rained. Our quarters students by the rigorous disci- quarters built in 1889 with a on the tree flew away a minute were declared open by Kamaraj pline and impeccable standards donation of Rs. 37,000 from the before we heard a mighty himself!” they set, on all fronts. KGH was Maharaja of Vizianagaram – re- crash!” Remembers B. Venkatra- also one general hospital which plete with high roof beams and The hospital campus still mana, an LGGS, whose mother was commended for its excel- a central grand wooden balus- continues to be a shady haven and paatti were Female Nursing lent maintenance, regularly trade – that cries for mainte- with many ancient peepul, nuna Assistants (FNAs) in the hospi- received awards for ‘Well nance. Initially the home of the and athi trees. All the old build- tal, “The foreigners used to Maintained Hospital’ from the Superintendent, with adjoining ings are sited around quadran- regularly come and give baths to Mylapore Academy. “The tradi- servants’ quarters, it was later gular garden areas (now shab- children in the hospital, and a tion continues; we received it occupied by the Resident Medi- bily maintained). even last year!” dose of cod liver oil. Tins of bis- cal Officers (RMOs). Staff re- The KGH has been up- cuits used to come in periodi- “Near the Old Labour Ward member how “RMOs used to are two huge pillars that face graded since October 2007 to cally too. The Prince of Wales Dr. Vasantha Subbiah, current stand on the balcony with the incorporate the Institute of So- Block also had a manual lift. Bell’s Road; they could have staff lining up alongside the TB Director, and last Superintendent of been part of the original cial Obstetrics. And so Dr. The diet would be placed on a KGH. Ward to take roll call.” Vasantha Subbiah has the wooden platform and on a entrance to the hospital. The Says Dr. Gunasagaram, “The stately 200-year-old banyan in honour of being the last Super- signal the ‘lift’ would be raised Hospital and continued for a School of Nursing was com- intendent and the first Director to each floor by the nurses!” few years till she joined the MD the central compound was an mended across the country (and integral part of the Gosha of the newly upgraded Institute “Those were the days,” says course. ‘Super’ from 1980 - still continues to be). Till 1990, and the KGH. In her room, with Venkatamma, a senior FNA, 1986, and so the person who Hospital of my childhood. It the KGH was the only hospital always had crowds of children neatly arranged portraits of nostalgically. “What discipline officiated at the Centenary cel- that undertook examination of former Superintendents (all there was! And how proud we ebrations on 9.11.85, she women) in succession all were to be part of its rigour! The recalls, “Those were the times around, she reminisces, “Born Neonatology Block actually when there was very strict at the KGH in 1950, I went on l by came up on an old well. Earlier, supervision, strict cleanliness to complete my house surge- the main kitchen was where the regimes and impeccable disci- SHOBHA MENON oncy and postgraduate studies Tuberculosis ward is now,” she pline. In spite of all this, the here, and also worked here for remembers. The two old woo- entire hospital had a very 25 years!” den gates that used to open homely atmosphere, very much Of late, there has been much onto Bell’s Road have been swinging on its aerial roots. An rape victims from across the like being in one large extended frenetic activity on the KGH, sealed off now, except for a anthill that appeared under the State, since it had a 24-hour family.” with the many newly recruited small gate to facilitate removal tree in the early 1960s, and medico-legal cell casualty Says K. Seshaiah, the ‘Dafe- staff engaged in cleaning the of bodies from the new air-con- venerated by patients with service. It is also the only dhar’ in charge of overall main- premises and new infra- ditioned mortuary. The old offerings of eggs and milk, had general hospital for women in tenance, who has worked for 38 structural additions being made. mortuary (about 6 ft x 8ft ) still years in the hospital after join- grown into a small temple the city. The first microsurgical stands, in a dilapidated state ing as a temporary worker at during my mother’s tenure as unit for doing tuboplasties The recently renovated Op- now. Rs.2¼ a day, “Such a family Superintendent.” When the (restoring a tubectomy) started eration Theatre Complex is the Ward No 6, the Beadon atmosphere in a general hospi- tree fell in October 2005, the here in the late 1960s, with T.K. latest addition. Coming soon, Ward, was named after the first tal is a legacy of many decades. entire original area was marked Mahalakshmi (sister of T.K. through the Reproductive and Superintendent, Dr. Mary 7 in the morning and the ‘Su- by a nandhavanam. Shanmugasundaram, the Child Health Scheme, is a gov- Beadon (1921-27). And Ward per’ briskly slinging her coat Till about the late 1960s, famous orthopaedician) insti- ernment-sanctioned Rs. 30/- 7, now the Postnatal Ward, across her shoulders would be fish, mutton (the preference for tuting the unit. The concept of crore modern Steam Laundry, remembers the first Indian enough for all of us to line up male goats even leading to mal- a Waiting Shed for patient and a Tower Block that com- Superintendent, Dr. H. M. for roll call, and meet the day!” practices where male goatskins attendants was initiated first in prises both Neonatology and Lazarus (1927-1940). By 1939 “Earlier, the mattukottai were stitched onto female’s car- this hospital.” Maternity sections. A new Visi- there were 172 beds. The Lady (cowshed) was where the cur- casses!) and liver were a regular In 2007, there are 695 beds, tors Waiting Shed, a remodelled Hope Block came soon after- rent crèche is. About 50 -100 part of patient diet. Six succu- with the hospital recording Nurses Quarters and a new PG wards, opened on March 31, cows were brought in every day lent oranges too! Rukkumani about 12,000 to 14,000 deliver- Hostel are also on the cards. 1941. The Nurses’ Hostel was through ‘the Milk Gate’ open- Amma says, “I delivered my ies a year! Nearly 500,000 The KGH’s Mission state- built in 1953. The PG Diploma ing onto Bell’s Road at about 4 seven children here I remem- patients are treated a year. ment reads, “To provide the in O&G was started in 1959. a.m. and were taken out by 7 ber the row of cows that lined Dr. Rathnakumar, currently most comprehensive quality Octogenarian Dr. Sitaratna, a.m. Officers were appointed to the wall here, to provide fresh RMO II, says, “The KGH owes health care to the poor and former Superintendent (1968 - check the quality of milk regu- wholesome milk to patients, the a lot to the impeccable needy women in India.” That 1975), recalls, “We used to con- larly, and the huge cans were long loaf of bread we used to be standards set by former Super- was the hoary tradition of the duct more than 10,000 deliver- delivered to the wards for pa- given with a pat of butter and intendents. In my experience of Royal Victoria Hospital. It still ies a year in the late 1960s. It tients through an informal relay nattu chakkarai for taste. ‘Super’ working in all the government continues. was an all-women show. Only service,” he remembers nostal- it was! Kattam Kapi (black cof- maternity hospitals in Chennai, (Concluded) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS December 16-31, 2007

Looking back on Madras cricket CAN WE EASE SEASON’S PAIN (Continued from page 1) cially hired for the occasion, any use, all in the name of grounds; Mylapore Fine Arts such as school grounds. security for VIPs who use the Turf circumvented – M. Ct. M. School/ Educating patrons that they road. Vivekananda grounds; Vani need to walk from the park- 6. The Government must also Mahal – Holy Angels). This ing spots to the auditoria and consider reviving bus ser- by matting will obviously have to be a that the luxury of getting vices especially for The Sea- commercial arrangement, dropped at the door is a mat- son, with specific pick-up uring World War II, the Madras but schools could well look ter of the past. and drop timings and places. DCricket Association (as it was forward to it. Most crowd- 4. In the event a sabha allows Today, the MTC boasts of known then) had suspended the league pulling shows are in the patrons to get off vehicles at luxury buses with exits that tournament. This was resumed in 1946- evenings, and so such the gate, it must ensure that are easy to navigate even by 47 with 36 teams in 3 zones of 12 teams arrangements will not put a valet parking service is the aged. Perhaps it is time each. the schools/colleges to any made available to ensure to press these into service. I nostalgically remember the league inconvenience. that the vehicles are speed- The use of cars to go to match played on March 3, 1947 between 3. Ensuring that those with spe- ily removed. sabha-s can thus be discour- my team, Egmore Excelsiors, and Egmore cial requirements, who need 5. The authorities must make aged. Recreation Club known as ERC ‘B’. The N. Krishnamoorthy parking facilities within the the spaces beneath flyovers If only these steps are taken, match was to decide the promotion of available for parking. Cur- life will be a lot easier and much ERC ‘B’ to the 1st Division. ERC ‘B’, al- sabha complex, are issued ready at the head of the table with a lead of one point, was as- passes and that all others are rently these are dumping more enjoyable during The sured of promotion even if they drew the match. made to park in spaces spe- grounds and are not put to Season. V. Pattabhiraman, who was Hony. Secretary of ERC ‘B’, strengthened his team for the match with the induction of six new players, four of them Maharashtra State players who came Flyovers as solution in from IAF, , and the other 2 from Madurai. As Hony. Asst. Secretary of the MCA, he also made arrangements for the (Continued from page 1) flyover, when completed, is ex- ing is that, if flyovers are indeed match to be played on the turf wicket at the Marina Grounds, as Rs. 9.72 crore, this will permit pected to ease traffic flow on the solution, no steps are being he thought it would be advantageous to the State players in his the Mount- Road. taken at certain well-known team. As the Hony. Secretary of the Excelsiors, I appealed to traffic on both sides. It is ex- the Hony. Secretary of the MLA K.S. Ranga Rao to re-post the pected to be completed in Feb- It is significant to point out here trouble-spots. The first is the match on any matting wicket. Ranga Rao obliged by posting the ruary 2008. The third flyover is that the CMDA in 2005 had Eldams Road-Mount Road- match at Pachaiyappa’s College ground and also posted two Test coming up at the Doraisamy objected to this flyover, claim- Thyagaraya Road intersection. umpires, T.A. Ramachandran (Laddu) and S.V. Kumaraswamy. Road-Usman Road corner at a ing that it would obstruct rail The place witnesses terrible It was a match between two Egmore clubs and, naturally, cost of around Rs. 20 crore. This networks in future. That objec- traffic build-ups each morning most of the Egmore residents had gathered to witness the match. is to be completed by June 2008. tion has, however, since been and evening. Yet another spot Excelsiors had one player in N. Krishnamoorthy (from The last flyover in this instal- withdrawn. is the - ) who had scored a century in each of its ment is at the junction of With all these developments High Road junction. Inciden- five previous matches and was looking forward to his sixth cen- in place, it is hoped that tally, this project was proposed tury. Tirumalai Pillai Road and G.N. Chetty Road. To be built at a Chennai traffic will be more as early as 1999, but has since ERC ‘B’, captained by G.B. Chandrashekar, won the toss and cost of Rs. 16 crore, this will be streamlined. That did not hap- been shelved. It is learnt that put Excelsiors in to bat first. Excelsiors scored 176 for 6 and completed by September 2008. pen with the last lot of flyovers. is working on declared at 2.45 pm. ERC ‘B’, batting with its new State players It is to be hoped that things will a feasible solution and, once from Maharashtra, collapsed for 63, with an hour of play to Gammon India is handling all the projects. be better this time around. this is received, work will spare. Meanwhile, what is surpris- progress. I remember this day (Aravathu Moovar), the festival at the In the meanwhile, a mega Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple in March every year with nos- flyover, at a cost of Rs. 36 crore, talgic memories of this match, relating the 63 palanquins which is being planned at the Answers to Quiz go around the temple to the collapsing of ERC ‘B’ for the paltry Junction where it is estimated score of 63. that 14,000 passenger car units 1. Australia; 2. Mumbai’s Arch- 11. Senthil; 12. Karur; The highlights of the match for the winning team were the cross the point. Land of about bishop Oswald Gracias; 3. Manoj 13. Cheran; 14. Chennai Super- performances of N. Krishnamoorthy, who scored his sixth con- one hectare in extent is being Kumar; 4. Google; 5. The Bill and stars; 15. Buffalo Soldier; 16. The secutive century, and the bowling performance of this writer acquired from private parties Melinda Gates Foundation; 6. seven notes of the musical gamut; Adam Gilchrist; 7. ‘Indira Gandhi 17. Kaj Schmidt; 18. ‘Ilaya who took 4 wickets for 11 runs, ably assisted by the left handers, and the designs are expected to JC Mohan and Basheer Zinna. — (Courtesy: Straight Bat) National Old Age Pension Thalapathi’ Vijay; 19. Palk Strait, be finalised within a couple of Scheme’; 8. G.N. Gopal; 9. Kindle; Ramanathapuram dist.; 20. S.R. Jagannathan months. Work is expected to 10. Annapolis, Maryland. Srivilliputtur. begin in May 2008 and the * * *

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