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Vol. XXIII No. 7 MUSINGS July 16-31, 2013 Yet another Cooum clean-up!

t is just a couple of months name of resettlement they sently, around 30% of the city’s Isince we reported on a would be displaced to far away raw sewage gets into the Cooum detailed exercise that was colonies, completely removed river. Cynics aver that this is the planned to clean the city’s river from the places where they earn reason for the river having any of sorrow. Even then we had their livelihood. The study is water at all. But when you con- apologised for expressing a expected to be tabled before the sider that around 100 million sense of déjà vu, and now we are Government in a couple of litres of sewage makes its way not certain as to what is to be months after which work is ex- into the river in a year, the en- said. But plans are afoot once pected to begin. vironmental impact is stagger- more, for yet another attempt, ing. Some 340 drains connect It cannot be forgotten that this time with Spanish techni- no project has thus far cal help. It makes you wonder succeeded in cleaning the river. as to what happened to the The first attempt was in the (Continued on page 4) “It’s wise to look before you leap, especially at this time of water scarcity!” earlier plan and/or whether this 1970s, when boating was new exercise is part of the same planned on the Cooum. Some scheme. of the piers and jetties built for The new team has done a this can still be seen along the detailed study and presented its river. This was abandoned T. Nagar multi-level findings at a public discussion when there was a change of organised by the Chennai River government. Since then there Restoration Trust a couple of have been several programmes weeks ago. It ran along the and schemes, all of which have parking lot revived, again! expected lines that anyone come to nought despite crores he State Government has per. The Broadway lot, pro- that the entire facility be under- Tyet again resurrected the posed to be constructed at the ground, below , G by idea of having a multi-level present bus terminus (which in with exits on GN Chetty, The Editor parking lot adjacent to Panagal turn is on the erstwhile Madras Doraiswamy and Venkata- Park. This is perhaps the fourth United Club ground), was an- narayana Roads. But the Cor- or fifth time that this plan is nounced four times only to poration has shied away from being mooted. Each time it has have had no bids for the tender. this, citing implementation familiar with the river restora- of rupees having been spent on been hailed as a solution for the It has even now not been given difficulties. While this may be a tion knows – steps needed to so-called improvements which congestion that continues to up; it has been merely put on tough solution to implement, it keep water flowing during off- somehow never appeared to plague the surroundings and hold thanks to the Metrorail probably was the best, for it season, prevention of untreated have had the desired result. In each time it has failed on just project taking over quite a bit would have allowed for smooth sewage from being let into the addition to these schemes, one count – no contractor has of space meant for the facility. flow of surface traffic. The idea river, ensuring solid wastes are there have been several smaller ever bid for the tender each has already been successfully not directly disposed off into it, grants for periodic desilting of time it has been floated. Will it executed in New Delhi’s Palika and resettlement of slums that the waterways. These have be any different now? G by A Staff Reporter Bazaar, in the heart of exist along the river. been for shorter stretches and The Corporation of Chennai Connaught Circus. their effect, on completion, has Those who attended the has repeatedly toyed with the The Flower Bazaar parking lot, The present modified plan, been negligible. Almost Rs. 2 consultation trashed the study idea of multi-level parking fa- which was meant for two- which calls for an over-the- crore is spent each year on these as elitist as it focussed princi- cilities at several locations in wheelers, has also remained on ground facility, has received the exercises. pally on beautification, which the city – namely Wallace Gar- paper for want of takers. Given State Government’s approval. included building of cycle tracks In 2001, a Rs. 1200 crore dens (), Broad- this background, what is the The Corporation hopes to call and parks, along with upmarket City River Conservation way, Flower Bazaar and Panagal guarantee of success for the T. for bids and select an approved housing on space that is now Project was sanctioned by the Park. Of these, barring the first Nagar plan? contractor in six months. The occupied by shanties. Some Central Government. Rs. 750 one, none has moved beyond On paper at least, the idea plan will take 18 to 24 months were of the view that the study crore out of that was spent on the proposal stage. The sole ex- looks good. The Rs. 25 crore to implement. All this is did not take into account the building sewage treatment ception, which is nearing facility will be on Bhashyam provided a contractor expresses problems of the slum dwellers. plants for the CMWSSB. At the completion, probably owes its Road, adjacent to Panagal Park, interest. Reluctance to partici- It also skirted around the issue end of it, raw effluents were success to the persistent push of on land that is already being pate in such bids mainly stems of wastes being let into the river found to be still pouring into the a nearby private hospital that used for parking vehicles. It will from doubts about commercial by Government agencies. river. It was admitted later that desperately needs this facility to be on 1600 sq m of land, with viability, possible delays in Among those who were present the scheme had failed to take decongest the surroundings. space for 500 cars and 900 two- execution and the likely were representatives from the into account the needs of city’s The others have had a wheelers. The consulting slums who feared that in the exploding population. Pre- chequered history even on pa- agency had initially suggested (Continued on page 7) CMYK 2 July 16-31, 2013 Path of industrialisation Exasperation at he Man from Madras wheelchair would be sent as the number of traffic lights fter a couple of years’ stint in teaching, I began my career in T Musings can hear you all soon as the previous hirer had that are on the blink. There is Ajournalism in 1962. Through these 50 years, I have witnessed groan “Oh, no, not another returned it. And how long one near where MMM lives phenomenal changes in the growth of corporate entities. There Egmore story.” But let MMM would that take, asked MMM. which for over four months has been innovative and special support by the governments at the assure you that once you have The voice had no answer. After has literally been blinking. Centre and the State level to promote enterprises and encourage read it your knotted and com- some hesitation it replied that The ailment began with the entrepreneurship. Development institutions at the State level, like bined locks will part and stand the entire station had one various lights blinking rapidly the Madras Industrial Investment Corporation (today, Tamil Nadu on end like quills on a fretful solitary wheelchair and it was all the time. Then they began Industrial Investment Corporation), and Industrial Finance porpentine, as the Bard said. anybody’s guess as to when it to flicker at the edges. Some- That by the way is something would be returned to the book- one then attended to them af- Corporation of India (IFCI), Industrial Development Bank of India that will never happen to ing office. There were, added ter which they ceased blinking (IDBI) and the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of MMM, for what with working the voice most helpfully, ten together but blinked in proper India (ICICI) at the national level provided liberal term loans and for the Chief on a permanent trains arriving in that one hour sequence. equity support. basis, he (meaning MMM and and so the wheelchair was in A few days later, it was no- Days were also different with political leaders passionate about not the Chief) is challenged in great demand. It could not ticed by those who look at traf- development and known for their integrity. Leaders like Rajaji, the matter of hair. have been more sought after fic lights at all (and yes, that Kamaraj, C. Subramaniam and R. Venkataraman (RV) were But to get back to Egmore. had it been a minister’s chair. foolish fraternity, though imbibed with these qualities in a rich measure. RV, who handled The other day MMM had to go By that time the platform dwindling, does have some important portfolios of industry, labour, power and transport, aided to the station, this time not as was pretty much deserted, members) that the lights had a passenger but to meet some- barring MMM, the elderly reduced in diameter though by stalwarts in administration like T.A. Verghese, could create a one who was arriving. The per- passenger and a pile of luggage. that did not in any way inter- new generation of entrepreneurs, persuading them to set up indus- son to be met needed assis- The phone rang. It was the fere with the blinking. Now, trial units. Initially the focus was on the traditional sectors like tance in walking and that made voice again. A wave of hope all of the three have become textiles, sugar and engineering. Soon, effectively utilising the MMM’s alabaster brow fur- surged in MMM. Could the mere dots. You need to have licensing and permit regime, these sectors expanded to a range of rowed. There are overbridges wheelchair have been re- the eyes of an eagle to be able new industries like aluminium, cement, chemicals, fertilisers, to negotiate and the platforms turned, after all? But that was to spot whether the lights have papers, viscose yarn, watches and even shipping. I recall RV persuading M.A. Muthiah Chettiar to set up a cement plant in Karur offering the licence and support from State financial institutions. This was also enormously helped by the Union government, also administered by the Congress. Visionar- SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY ies like T.T. Krishnamachari and civil servants like S. Ranganathan

Business notes by are long, uneven and often not the case. The wheelchair turned red, amber or green. S. VISWANATHAN dirty. would take quite a while, said Not that it matters to those on And so it was a pensive the Voice of God, but MMM the road anyway. Editor, Industrial Economist MMM who crossed the stately could avail of the next best Most of these road-hogging portals of Egmore station. He thing. The voice said that it had monsters, it appears to MMM, did not pause to admire the organised for a porter to bring a are those who think that the extended the necessary support and advice. Tamil Nadu was stained glass (once multi- luggage trolley in which the horn is the only component in quickly and effectively set on the path of industrialisation. coloured but now stained a passenger could be moved. It a car that needs to work. And * * * permanent betelnut red) or had, said the voice, the added perhaps that is the only one The experience of TVS is an interesting case. Prior to 1962, the corbels or the staircase, all advantage that the bags could that they know how to operate TVS was largely known for its efficient bus service in Madurai and of which, had MMM been also be loaded on to it. And anyway. They use it to clear differently situated, he would then having added smartly that their route of other vehicles, adjoning districts, for its parcel service through Southern Road- have spent time on. He was, MMM could settle directly pedestrians and stray animals. ways and for retreading and rubber parts through Sundaram In- after all, there with a purpose. with the porter, the voice went Above all, they somehow dustries, as also for dealerships in vehicles and components, and MMM went straight to the of- off, no doubt to spend the rest believe that the louder they for insurance and financing of vehicles. fice where, he was told, he of the day folding bed sheets. hoot at a traffic light, the T.S. Srinivasan, the fourth son of founder T.V. Sundaram needed to book a wheelchair. In the distance MMM could faster it is likely to change Iyengar, acquired a large tract of land in Padi in the western part of It was one of those places that see a porter wheeling a baggage from red to green, assuming Madras. From 1962, at quick intervals Wheels India, Sundaram could have passed for a trolley. He was weaving his way that these people are the Clayton, Brakes India and Lucas TVS were inaugurated. These morgue, for it appeared at first uncertainly towards MMM variety that stops at traffic were set up in collaboration with renowned British companies. sight to be filled with winding having, no doubt, spent a con- lights. S.N. Ramasami (SNR), Advertising Manager of the group, was sheets. The wheelchair book- siderable portion of his ing office, it transpired, also anteprandial earnings on an Onward, ever onward a Gandhian and freedom fighter, and had deep insights into the doubled as the laundry collec- aperitif or two. His vocabulary transport industry. Clad in khadi (a four cubit dhoti and kurta), tion area. The staff was was rich judging by the way he here is yet another SNR provided me with a flood of information and introductions. friendly enough and MMM addressed a stray dog that hap- Tvariety of road-users, as I referred to the ease of setting up a company. Total investment was assured that all he needed pened to cross his path. MMM The Man from Madras involved in setting up Wheels India Ltd., for instance, was around to do was to give a call on the looked at the elderly relative, Musings notices, that never Rs. 2 crore. Of this, Rs. 1.50 crore was accessed from the financial wheelchair-in-charge’s cell who just had a resigned air. really stops its vehicle. They institutions. The promoters – the foreign and Indian counterparts phone as soon as MMM’s There is little further to be said, merely slow down and all the – pitched in around Rs. 25 lakh each. There was no hassle and friend had alighted from his other than the fact that the while they keep looking for any gaps that they can per- procedural issues like publicising a prospectus, incurring huge train. The wheelchair, MMM journey was by trolley, pushed was given to understand, by a cursing porter. ceive in the ranks in front of expenditure on promoting it to the public, getting numerous clear- would be there in a jiffy. them. Having identified it, ances, etc. And so off went MMM to Chennai’s traffic laws they proceed to nose their way A similar process was involved in setting up any unit, be it the assigned platform. A load there, often using their horns related to textiles, sugar or other products. In several cases, if the had been lifted from his head. e Chennaiites are differ- to good effect (that does re- Central FIs’ funding was not sufficient, State corporations and He could not help contrasting Went. The rest of the mind you of what buffaloes banks pitched in. it with his younger days when world may go by the nursery and bison do, does it not?). Of course, those were different times from the present, with elderly relatives had to suffer rhyme that went ‘Stop says the Having reached the front of limited disclosures and information made available to the public. the indignity of being trans- red light, go says the green. the waiting vehicles, they be- Most industrial units were closely held by the promoter families. ported in baggage trolleys, Change says the amber light gin inching forward, keeping a twinkling in-between’. There is wary eye for any vehicles com- Excepting the inauguration of a plant or such other important pushed by cursing porters. The train arrived. The person also something else about ing at right angles, for the sig- landmark event, there was little occasion to access information. whom MMM had come to queens obeying it and all that nal is green for them. By re- Very few companies had public relations officers. Since the size of meet duly alighted and stag- which The Man from Madras lentlessly keeping at it, they the media was small, for most press conferences addressed by gered off to a nearby bench. Musings has forgotten. Not that reach the other side, long be- business leaders, the number of reporters was just a handful. MMM made his call. The any of it is relevant in Chennai fore the signal actually turns I cite an instance. Tube Investments of India Ltd. was then voice at the other end said that where it is ‘Run says the red green. Makes you green with active in the production of steel tubes, bicycles, bicycle compo- the wheelchair would soon be light, go says the green. Keep envy especially when you are nents and metal sections. The company had appointed Markand on its way. A stage wait oc- going says the amber light twin- left waiting. Desai, who earlier lived in London, as its PRO. Desai liked to move curred. MMM made a second kling in between’, and twin- call. He was informed that the kling is just about right given – MMM (Continued on page 3) July 16-31, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Air terminals uch has been said and written about the facilities could have been incorporated into the Mnew domestic terminal at the airport (un- new terminal, topography notwithstanding. The fortunately mostly negative) with the latest to best joke is that any new facility is described as join the chorus being MM (June 16th). Most of world-class! the comments pertain to the functioning of the The new terminal does not have art work un- Unintelligible names consisting of 5,000 Infantry and terminal as such – glass panes breaking, poor 2,000 Cavalry (which included like the new Delhi air terminal. Art in the form urther to my note (MM, maintenance, stinking toilets, steep ramp not of paintings, sculptures, etc. enhances the 1,300 Europeans), vanquished June 16th) on the Duke of suitable for baggage, etc. beauty of the terminal. One gets a feeling that F the Marathas consisting of Wellington, I wish to commend A key issue that has been overlooked is the new terminal is drab, dull and lifeless. It 42,000 soldiers at the Battle of the excellent sense of intuition whether this is how a terminal should be. After does look modern, though, and also attractive Assaye. The insignia of Assaye of your special correspondent, spending two thousand crores, one would expect when viewed from a distance. Elephant that was awarded, a terminal with all features and facilities that are in the light of some fresh infor- What can be more quintessential than the later replaced the Royal Crown required for comfortable arrival and departure mation I have stumbled upon. traditional South Indian filter coffee? Imagine in the Madras Regimental by air passengers and also the people who come His intuitive guess that the being greeted by the sound of ‘sooda kaapi’ upon Crest. After the departure of to receive and send them off. Sadly that is not arrival. Imagine a mobile counter (or fixed, it Duke’s Indian military experi- English troops (garrisoned here the case. really does not matter) moving around the four ence might have wrested his since 1853), the Madras Regi- The concept of an Arrival Hall does not seem baggage carousels dispensing hot coffee. What Waterloo honours is certainly ment came to be cantoned at to exist in India. Consequently we see people a hit it will be! Needless to say the coffee must not mistaken. Wellington from February including drivers standing and waiting behind be of the highest quality. Reputed restaurants According to a modern day the railing just outside the arrival area to meet such as the one named after the six-headed God 1947. historian, John Keay (2000), incoming passengers. Chairs have not been (to plagiarize MMM) should be considered. If The proposal to name this the Duke always regarded his provided. Consequently some people simply sit at all there is a debate on this issue, it will likely Military establishment after the Maratha encounter a stiffer on the raised edge that protects the plants. (Ban- be the number of cups that can be sold daily – Duke of Wellington (d.1852) contest than his victory at galore Airport has several steel chairs outside 500, 1,000, 1,500 and so on. It requires a lot of was first made by the then Com- the terminal.) One needs to go no further than imagination and out-of-the-box thinking to cre- Waterloo where he lost 15,000 mander-in-Chief, Sir Richard Colombo (just an hour’s flight away) to get an ate something novel, new and innovative which of his men while the French lost Armstrong. This was because idea of an Arrival Hall. Colombo Airport has a at the same time is beneficial. Traditional gov- 40,000. The Battle at Assaye the Duke had always advocated huge, gargantuan Arrival Hall which is probably ernmental thinking will not suffice (which the (Ahmednagar) which the establishing a health resort in 200 feet X 150 feet X 150 feet. Yes, that’s right, new terminal is perhaps the result of). (This let- future Duke fought against the these hills for the English bat- the height of the hall is the same as the width. ter focusess on the arrival portion of the new Scindia is said to be the fiercest There are only a few hundred chairs. terminal since I have not yet used the new talions in India. But this pro- campaign that Arthur Welles- departure portion.) posal was vetoed by the then Does the new terminal have a telephone ley, ever waged. Wellesley, Governor Sir Henry Pottinger (STD) facility? If yes, it is certainly hidden from No article on airports and airlines (in news- commanding his Madras troops view. You will not believe the number of people papers) is complete without a quote from the who held that “the name would who require a phone upon arrival (mobile ran president of the Air Passengers’ Association. In- be unintelligible to the natives”. out of charge, etc.). Delhi, Calcutta and terestingly it is the same person who gets quoted A future Governor Sir Charles READABILITY PLEASE Hyderabad have a phone facility. Once, in Delhi again and again making one wonder whether he Trevelyan, however, okayed it there was a queue of ten people waiting in line is the life-time president. What has this associa- Dear Readers, in 1860. A bridge connecting to use the public phone. tion done for air passengers? The answer is per- the cantonment to Ooty road Emerge from the Hyderabad airport and you haps a closely-guarded secret. Does this asso- As letters from readers increase, we are was originally known as Water- ciation participate in meetings concerning air receiving more and more hand written will be greeted by eateries, shops, etc. Go down loo Bridge, which subsequently one level and you will encounter the ubiquitous travel? Are the office bearers on the various letters, many of them in a hand so small committees constituted by the government? and illegible or large and scrawled as to came to be called Black Bridge McDonald’s. Come out of the Madras airport and what greets you? Nothing! Yes, that’s right! Does this organisation influence the planning/ be unreadable. Often this leads to our after iron girders replaced the decision-making process? Did it provide any in- discarding a letter, particularly if some Nothing other than the drivers holding placards original wooden construction. puts into the design of the new domestic termi- part of it is unreadable. Now a broadened bridge has with the name of the passenger. How long do these poor fellows usually have to wait, I won- nal? Does this association have a website? Sadly If you wish us to consider your letter for been re-christened as Manek- publication, please type it with enough der. Cannot something be done for them? At one does not get a sense that this association space between lines or write it using a shaw Bridge. These new names least provide a TV fixed high on the wall. There serves the needs or protects the interests of air medium hand, clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ and had to be provided because the is supposed to be a Snack Bar in the arrival area passengers. When the government allowed air- crossing the ‘t-s’. local name for the ford across but I am yet to find it. If it does exist it is hidden lines to unbundle services thereby enabling Many readers also try to fill every square the watercourse on the road from view; the signage is certainly poor. It can them to charge for seats, etc., this association centimetre of a postcard space, making happened to be “unintelligible” be argued that the Hyderabad and Bangalore air- should have been in the forefront to oppose reading or editing impossible. Please help to the Europeans and their suc- ports being greenfield constructions, facilities such measures. us to consider your letters more cessors! such as restaurants, shops, etc. were included in B. Gautham favourably by making them more legible the design and executed. However, with a little for us. Rev. Philip K. Mulley imagination and planning, these much-needed 137, Wallajah Road, Chennai 600 002 – THE EDITOR Anaihatti Road, Kotagiri 643 217 PATH OF INDUSTRIALISATION (Continued from page 2) not known for disclosures of Fernandes insisted that large small group of media persons. I quotas was withdrawn. The Se- around in his three-piece suit, such information. With limited companies mobilising capital sought information on the new curities and Exchange Board sporting a pipe which he used to competition, companies pro- should offer a portion to the technology that would come of India (SEBI) was set up as the light for special effects! vided minimum information. public. Of course, the size of the from yet another new collabo- regulator. In quick time, SEBI In my publication, Mobile, I Of course, for the media these offer was small, of just a few ration (there were already two formulated guidelines for corpo- presented the production have to be only positive! lakhs of rupees and could easily other large manufacturers of rate behaviour. Companies figures of TI Cycles and Stan- * * * have been provided by the pro- brake linings – Hindustan were directed to be more trans- dard Motor Products of India. During the Janata Party moters. Ferrodo and Bramec Suri). parent and to disclose informa- Desai called me and asked for Government (1977-79), In the South, Amalgam- S. Narayanan, heading Madras tion over wider arena. the source of my information. I George Fernandes, as Minister ations Ltd., whose shares are al- Auto Service and a grandson of Today, several Indian corpo- assured him that I did not get of Industry, decreed that the most fully owned by the pro- T.V. Sundaram Iyengar, pulled rates adopt the Generally the information from the com- foreign equity holding in com- moter family, came out with a me back. I heard some murmurs Accepted Accounting Prin- pany’s top brass, but from a panies should be limited to 40 public issue for a small portion later that that was why they ciples (GAAP) and Inter- report of the Department of per cent of the total capital. Af- of equity for Amalgamations shouldn’t go public! national Financial Reporting Industry of the State Govern- ter some initial resistance, for- Repco Ltd. Of course, it was Of course, the capital sought Standards (IFRS). The public is ment. The report furnished the eign companies, with the excep- quickly oversubscribed. to be raised was too small for the thus provided much vaster information in a very simple tion of IBM and Coca Cola, fell Likewise, when the TVS group and could easily have range of information than ear- format. in line. group promoted Sundaram been provided by the promoter lier. Surely, it is a Hanuman The next year, Desai V. Krishnamurthy, Industries Abex Ltd. (now Sundaram companies. jump from the time the PRO of promptly got in touch with me Secretary, who had headed Brake Linings Ltd), it was for a Things changed after 1991 a company looked for produc- around June to know the pro- BHEL earlier, introduced to the small issue. Chairman T.S. when the economy was libera- tion figures from a news maga- duction figures for the previous public sector the culture of Srinivasan announced the offer lised, The protection offered zine. – (Courtesy: Industrial year! Clearly those were days greater information sharing. at the to a through permits, licences and Economist) 4 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2013 July 16-31, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

are secondary. If the Institute can save a patient with its exper- Always first with the tise, it will do so. It will never A gold chain from the Prince of Wales turn him back because he can- not afford the treatment. Afford- latest equipment able and equitable treatment for G This is the final part of a all is the mantra at the Cancer three-part story on T. Institute.” Ramachendra Row, the first When I asked her, “After Dr. Indian to be appointed Shantha, who?”,she smiled and Assistant Commissioner of said, “The current Director of Police, Madras City, the the Institute, Dr. T. G. Sagar, highest post achieved by an who himself has been with the Indian till that time. It is Institute for over 40 years, and narrated rather differently his team of dedicated doctors, I – through testimonials and am sure, will carry on the vision letters he received and of the founder in the years to which his family have care- fully retained – to provide a flavour of the times and show something of the come.” G interaction between the British and the Indians. These extracts have been On the occasion of the As regards the ability of the Diamond Jubilee of the Cancer copied from a printed compilation the family had done. Institute, Adyar, R.V. RAJAN nar- Institute to continue to provide free service to the poor people, rates in a three-part feature his (Continued from last fortnight) personal experience with the she was happy to report that hospital and the story of the hos- apart from major donors from LETTER pital itself. This issue features across the world, who continue the final part. to help the Institute, in recent times both the State and Central Governments have come for- he Cancer Institute has been therapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen 2010, MED Mantra has helped ward to provide financial grants Tthe first to buy the latest Therapy. the Institute automate all admin- to the Institute. equipment related to diagnosis It also installed the first Intra- istrative, clinical and nursing, The Institute has also been and treatment of cancer because operative Radio Therapy patient admission and transfer able to get all the cancer related of its ability to take quick (IORT) and Brachy Therapy and all imaging functions. All drugs at very special rates from decisions and the help from (CITRON) between 1995 and the information about a patient the manufacturers without taxes supportive corporate and indi- 1998, and the Clinac 2300 (a), is securely stored and is acces- and VATs. This helps the In- vidual donors who are willing to the first conformational therapy sible to an authorised doctor at stitute to offer drugs free or at help, whatever may be the cost. unit in 1999, and the Rapid Arc the click of a mouse. This infor- highly subsidised rates to pa- The Institute was the first to Accelerator in 2009. mation system, unique to the In- tients. introduce the super voltage era The state-of-the-art Accel- stitute, enhances the quality of * * * in Asia with the installation of erator for Radio Therapy, costing care for all patients besides pro- “The will be the Cobalt Therapy unit `in Rs.12 crore – with a grant of Rs.6 viding easy access to data for re- celebrating its Diamond Jubilee 1956, to instal an indigenously crore from Government of India search. next year (2014). At the same built Caesium Tele Cure The- – was also inaugurated by the I had the opportunity to see time, I will be also completing my rapy unit in 1962, to have indig- Chief Minister as part of the Dia- the system in operation when my association with the hospital for enously designed Therapy Simu- mond Jubilee celebrations. wife was admitted for treatment 60 years, ” said Dr. Shantha with lator in 1968, and also to intro- at the Institute. Whether it was a sense of pride and fulfilment in * * * her eyes. The year-long celebra- duce Hyperbaric Oxygen The hospital has also been the specialist medical oncologist Therapy in 1978. At present, it is or the duty doctor, he or she got tions include conducting Medi- very fortunate to have Tata cal Education Seminars and Ma- the only place where the facility Consultancy Services (TCS), a complete details of the diagnosis is available. In the same year, it and progress of the treatment at jor Medical Meetings through- top IT company in the country, out Tamil Nadu. also introduced the first blood providing it a state-of-the-art the click of a button, which en- compound unit, using the blood sured that every doctor attend- I came back from the inter- Hospital Management System view with the confidence that cell separator in the supportive ‘MED Mantra’, and maintaining ing on my wife was fully aware of treatment of high dose chemo- her case. the Institute will continue to it totally free. Operational since make new strides in Cancer care, * * * with the team of dedicated Speaking of the philosophy of doctors and support staff it the hospital, Dr. Shantha said, rightly and truly boasts of. “The Institute believes in offer- (Concluded) CHENNAI HERITAGE ing the same kind of care to both No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, paying and non-paying patients. Feedback welcome on , Chennai 600 014 Patient care is foremost. Returns [email protected] I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year Cooum clean-up! 2013-14. G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment (Continued from page 1) who recommended desilting of and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai ’s waterways in Heritage an additional Rs...... particular, constructing micro- (Concluded) (Rupees ...... ) Please keep / put me from CMWSSB manholes directly into the river. and macro-drains, and building on your mailing list. concrete walls. The sanction was Name : ...... The Union Government had hailed as a major victory for the OUR ADDRESSES ...... in 2009 sanctioned Rs. 360 crore State by the powers that be. For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: CHENNAI Address: ...... for the cleaning-up of Chennai’s What of that scheme now and HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14. waterways. This was based on an what is its fate? ...... Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor can be sent via email estimation submitted by the Leaving that aside, the to [email protected]. Those who wish to intimate change of address can ...... city’s Corporation for which present scheme, like most of its also do so provided the subscription number is quoted. For non-receipt of copies, Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for over- funds have been allotted out of predecessors, chooses to avoid change of address, and all other circulation matters: Madras Musings, C/o Lokavani seas postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers the Jawaharlal Nehru National the question of the slums along Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. On editorial Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. Urban Renewal Mission the river. What can such a matters: The Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, DD/Cheque should be sent by Speed Post only. (JNNURM). The estimate was solution that ignores ground Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. based on a study by consultants realities achieve? – The Editor 6 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2013 Down memory lane (Current Affairs questions are itting with my husband, by a few enthusiasts. The first Tamil scholar P.N. Appu- One of the most popular items from the period June 16th to Senjoying coffee and the programme, a Carnatic music swamy, who lived on 2nd Main of the bakery was ‘Bun Butter 30th. Questions 11 to 20 pertain morning newspaper in the concert by the Soolamangalam Road, where Grand Sweets now Jam’. It was a simple bakery to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) porch of my son and daughter- Sisters, was held in the open air, operates. Little Kumar’s dance bun, sliced and spread with but- 1. Which eminent business group in-law’s home in Adyar, the outside a small shed which was as an angel in white dress and ter and jam. But it was a deli- launched Indicash, the country’s mornings give us time to go the Club House. This little shed wings was so mesmerising, giv- cacy and extremely popular. first-ever network of white label down memory lane. My life and stood in the same place where ing us a heavenly feeling, that it There was no youngster in ATMs, on June 27th? Adyar have seen so many the majestic Gandhi Nagar continues to be fresh in my Adyar who was not fond of it. 2. Who won the man-of-the- changes and I am proud to say Club now stands. mind even to this day. Kumar With Adyar growing, Venu’s match award in the final as well that I was part of them. The Gandhi Nagar Ladies’ was also the one who acted as son started his own shop in as the Golden Ball in the ICC Changes are inevitable and Club was started a little later the young Lord Muruga in Shastri Nagar and named it Champions Trophy won by India? good in many ways, as we keep and my mother, Daisy Boaz, was Gemini’s movie Avvaiyar. He is Venson after his father. Venson 3. According to a survey con- up with the fast growing world, made the Entertainment Secre- the one who asks K.B. still continues to flourish in ducted by UNCTAD, India was but old still continues to be tary, as she was talented and Sundarambal, who acted as Shastri Nagar today. the third most attractive destina- gold. The years have gone by gifted in presenting simple so- Avvaiyar, if she wants “Sutta There is an interesting story tion for investment in the world. and we continue to live in cial plays in Tamil. For Christ- palzhama, sudaatha palzhama?” behind Hotel Runs, also on the Name the top two. Adyar, now as a retired, older mas, she put on Nativity plays. The Gandhi Nagar Ladies’ main road. In the same place 4. Who has again become Prime couple, full of memories, memo- A memorable grand finale of Club, in one of its fundraising where it is now, many different Minister of Australia after a gap ries and memories. one such play was an Angel events, invited actor Chandra shops opened but, for some rea- of three years? Living in Gandhi Nagar, Dance around the crib and the Babu to open the sale. Even son or the other, none of them 5. Which Indian properties have Adyar, in the early 1950s was baby Jesus in it. This role was though he was at the height of survived and they all eventually been added to UNESCO’s World very different. We were one big performed by a small, sweet- his fame then, he gladly agreed closed down. Finally, an enter- Heritage Sites list this year under happy family, where everyone looking boy in an Angel’s cos- and his presence drew a big prising person decided to open the Cultural category? knew everyone else in the tume. crowd. I was one of those who a hotel with a name that made 6. What type of creature is colony. It was then that the The boy was P.N. Kumar, actively participated in that sure it was going to run: Hotel ‘Ammu’, the mascot for the 35th Gandhi Nagar Club was formed grandson of of the famous event, and it was exciting to see Runs still continues to run! National Games to be held later a movie star close and in per- When my father was getting in the year in Kerala? son. our house built at No.5, First 7. With an objective to help sim- My father, Dr. G.D. Boaz, Crescent Park Road, Gandhi plify the web for Indian users, The founder of was the first correspondent of Nagar, facing the , which online giant recently the Gandhi Nagar School, the maistry who was in charge launched a campaign called ‘Start started by some of the residents of overseeing the construction Searching India’? South Madras of Gandhi Nagar. Interviews for was Ganapathy. I still vividly re- 8. Which eminent Indian origin the appointment of a Headmas- member going with Father to sculptor has been honoured with n the middle of 1940s, when Rao Bahadur J.C. Ryan was ter for the school took place in see our house coming up and to a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth IRegistrar of Co-operative Societies, South Madras was a God- forsaken village. There were only the Raj Bhavan and the Col- our house, and I remember a see Ganapathy. He was a tall II in her birthday honours list, for lege of Engineering surrounded by bullock-cart roads. number of people calling in with man who always wore a white services to Visual Arts? veshti and shirt, and he would 9. The lawmakers of which cen- On holidays, Ryan and his three sons used to hide behind patiently listen to Father giving the trees and bushes on the Adyar river-bed early in the morn- tral American nation have G him a million instructions about ing to shoot rabbit and other animals that had strayed out of Raj by granted rights to an Asian com- the construction. Ganapathy pany to build a $40-billion ship- Bhavan. It was on one such occasion that it occurred to him Bharati Paul that a co-operative housing colony could be built on the vast was a hard and sincere worker. ping canal to rival the Panama He later bought a property on Canal? acreage of neglected land on the riverside. He purchased the land from the Most Rev. Louis Mathias, the then Archbishop of Lattice Bridge Road, where he 10. What was Operation Rahat Madras, for Rs.14.5 lakh, and it was there that Gandhi Nagar built a theatre named Gana- that made news recently? and Kasthurba Nagar came up. big files in their hands. Later, pathy Ram. When the theatre * * * the school was handed over to opened, I excitedly took my 11. Name the Tamilian who has Four types of houses were built by the co-operative society in another management and it be- Gandhi Nagar and given to its members on a 20-year instalment children to see the place and been appointed the next Chief came the Raja Muthiah School. showed them the achievement basis while Kasthurba Nagar was sold as plots with all infra- More and more people Justice of India. structure provided as a site and service project. and results of a simple, hard 12. Name the three MPs from the moved to Gandhi Nagar as the working man. Out of the ‘Common Good Fund’ set aside by the Society State who were re-elected to the houses got completed. In the early 1960s, C.N. Rajya Sabha recently. and money advanced by the State Co-operative Bank, the board St. Patrick’s School, which of management then purchased about 100 acres on the new East Annadurai and a young 13. Name the trophy given to the was already there and run by Karunanidhi frequently visited Coast Road near Mahabalipuram and sold them as one or two- the Patrician Brothers, started a second division champion in the ground plots to the public. actor K.R. Ramaswamy, who TNCA league. very small private section with was a resident of Gandhi Nagar 14. Vaduvoor K. Duraiswamy Thanks to the foresight of J.C. Ryan, South Madras has been only a few classes inside their 4th Main Road. They were and is spreading and you can say it is the best area in the city. Iyengar’s work Bhaskara Vilas campus, called St. Michael’s good friends and could be seen Puraanam was an adaptation of In April 1947, Ryan had registered the Katpadi Co-operative School, with Miss Mitchell as playing cards. My brother Rasi which famous Sherlock Holmes Township Society Ltd and acquired 411.30 acres and allotted the head. My son who still lives Boaz, whose friends were Rama- story? 1240 plots to the public. Katpadi is now a flourishing town. in Adyar was one of the very swamy’s sons, vividly remem- 15. Expand the initials in the first students of that small bers seeing them when going to name of the popular yesteryear Thereafter he built houses and also sold 50,000 plots in the school. It has now expanded then . Thousands of people live in houses in play at his friend’s house in the actor T.R. Mahalingam. these plots today. The Vedachella Nagar in , into a big building on the other evenings. 16. The city’s corporation before Crawford Colony and Thillai Nagar in Trichy came up due to side of their compound and has Movie scenes filmed in moving into Ripon Buildings was his initiative. grown to become St. Michael’s Gandhi Nagar always brought housed on which street? Academy . excitement to our life, espe- 17. Which respected medical in- He also helped build the Nirmala Co-operative Housing So- The very first big bakery to ciety (Colony) in Bangalore, the Yemmiganoor Weavers’ Co- cially down the road we lived in. stitution in Chennai gets its name operative Housing Colony now in Andhra Pradesh and intro- come to Adyar on the main All of us know that the super- from a Portuguese queen from the duced the concept of co-operative housing colonies in many road was McRennett’s, later star Rajinikanth’s first picture 13-14th Centuries? Third World countries where he served as adviser to the Inter- named Adyar Bakery. Most of was Apoorva Ragangal. His first 18. Where in the State is the national Labour Organisation (ILO) and Food and Agriculture the residents of Adyar were shot in the film was taken at the post-independence avatar of the Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. regulars at this bakery, where last house of 1st Crescent Park Army Staff College that was first would always bump into some- Road, Gandhi Nagar, adjacent established in Deolali in 1905? Inspired by the work of J.C. Ryan, his son Felix Ryan pro- moted a co-operative housing colony for about a hundred fami- one whom we knew. It was such to St. Patrick’s School. The 19. Between which two places lies in the Ullagaram Village behind St. Thomas’ Mount railway a popular place. The reason be- scene in the movie was was the first railway line in the station for use by his staff when he was a Director in the Minis- hind the friendliness of the bak- Rajinikanth standing at the South laid with the first sod cut try of Industry, Government of India, stationed at . The ery was Venu, who was in in 1853? gate of that house, wanting to colony, which is called SISI Colony, is now a landmark in South charge of it. He welcomed ev- see his wife Sri Vidhya. Little 20. What now stands where the Madras. eryone with a smiling face and did we know then that this un- ‘Pleasant’, the Rane Group’s made sure all customers were hotel, once stood? – Bernard Ryan known actor would later be- taken care of in a special way. come world famous in the cine (Answers on page 8) That was customer service! field. July 16-31, 2013 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

adras Week, which M started off as nine years ago to celebrate the Draw up your plans for founding of the city on August 22, 1639, has become Madras Fortnight, if not Madras Month. For the small band of volunteers who began this concept and Madras Week now help coordinate the programmes, the response from Nizhal celebrates Madras Week this August with tree walks in English and Tamil. The walks will reconverting Tamilians in the corporates and public citizens of last for about an hour. Rediscover the verdant parks and magnificent trees in your neighborhood with Chola times to Hinduism from the city has given enormous sat- friends and family! The Azhinji at Tree Park, the Thaandri at Semmozhi Poonga, the Jainism and Buddhism. The 30- isfaction. Putranjiva at Panagal Park and many more such gems! minute walk will explore the This year, the hotels of the sadly modernised temple and city will, as usual, be enthusias- Date Venue Timings/Language help understand how religion tic participants. Some are ven- August 16th (Friday) Kotturpuram Tree Park 5.00 pm (Tamil) and politics mingled for mutual ues for talks while others are August 17th (Saturday) Nageswara Rao Park, Luz Church Road 4.30 pm (English) benefit in the 6-9th Centuries. hosting art and photographic August 18th (Sunday) Tower Park 4.30 pm (English) Using the hymns on the temple, exhibitions besides organising August 23rd (Friday) Panagal Park, T Nagar 5.00 pm (English) we will recreate how food festivals with Madras cui- August 24th (Saturday) Semmozhi Poonga, Cathedral Road 4.30 pm (English) Tiruvanmiyur looked in those August 25th (Sunday) Nanmangalam Forest Park 8.00 pm (English) sine as their theme. Art galler- August 25th (Sunday) Sivan Park, K.K.Nagar 4.30 pm (English) times and how the conversion ies have also taken to this event techniques the saints used can in a big way. As a part of Madras Week celebrations, a “Special Musical Tree Walk” will be held in Kalakshetra teach the modern management The Chennai Chapter of the on Sunday, 18th August, at 8 am. The walk will be led by the Nizhal team (Latha Nathan and Dr. expert a thing or two about Indian National Trust for Art Babu), and Carnatic musician Dr. Sowmya along with her disciples. achieving lasting changes in in- and Cultural Heritage Meeting and assembly point will be the Kalakshetra Road entrance to the campus. stitutions. (INTACH) is also planning sev- Registration for all the Walks Date: Sunday, 11th August eral competitive programmes By phone, please call: Usha at 97910 29568 between 10 am and 6 pm. Online through 7.30-8 a.m. Meeting spot will be for schools, such as quizzes, elo- www.facebook.com/Nizhal.shade announced to those whose reg- cution contests and debates * * * istration is accepted. with Madras as the focus. G The walk is free and will not Times too is Sunday August 18th, – The South India Heritage Programme, Tag Centre, Chennai. 9.30 a.m. Y.G. Mahendran and A.R. Srinivasan will do a dialogue-presentation focus on the religious aspect organising a wide range of on Tamil theatre – history and landmarks. (Note: private of the temple – there will be events for Madras Week. These gathering. Only for members). no time in the walk to offer include walks, quiz contests and worship, please plan for that other programmes. As has been Tuesday August 6th – Rotary Clubs of Madras South, Madras North, Madras West, separately Madras East: Ms Nina John on Women of Chennai: Where are they the practice in past years, G Please dress appropriately for Chennai Heritage, publishers of now? Where are they going? 6.30 p.m. Hotel Savera. (Note: only for Rotarians). a house of worship. No shorts Madras Musings, will be hosting please! talks at various locations on Tuesday August 27th – Rotary Club of Madras South: K. Hariharan, film-maker and G Participants above 40 cannot subjects related to the city. director of the L.V. Prasad Academy on Chennai, Chennaiites and register unless they bring Plenty of heritage walks are also Cinema. 6.30 p.m. Hotel Savera (Note: only for Rotarians). with them a school (class 8 being organised this year. Ro- * * * and above) or college stu- tary Clubs are also having sev- As has been the practice for a few years now, as part of the Madras Week celebrations, the Madras dent. This is the best way we eral programmes. Further de- Naturalists’ Society (MNS) will organise a Nature Walk for the public at Marsh on can get younger folks inter- tails will soon be available at the Sunday, 25th August. The details are as under: ested and they will get site www.themadrasday.in Group size: 30 enough information that will Participation is purely a vol- Reporting time: 6.15 a.m. help them in their careers. untary effort by those wanting Reporting place: Forest Dept. Office on -Thoraipakkam Road The student doesn’t neces- to organise programmes during (When coming from Velachery, take the service road along the 2nd Flyover on the Velachery- sarily have to be someone the Week. The role of the infor- Road and turn left at the junction under the Flyover onto the Velachery-Thoraipakkam you even remotely know; so mal group of co-coordinators is Road, travel around 300 metres. and take the U-turn after the Toll Plaza sign and the Office is on the please don’t ask for excep- only to encourage such partici- left immediately after the turn. When coming from OMR, the Office is 200 metres after the Toll tions! pation, try to organise publicity Plaza). G No more than 30 partici- for the events, offer advice and, pants. Registrations to where possible, arrange venues. * * * [email protected] For any assistance or informa- on or before August 1st, 12 tion please contact Sunday, 11th August 7.30-8 a.m. Walk. Waves of conversion! Tiruvanmiyur in 7-8th Century: A noon. landmark on the Vadagu Peruvazhi (as the ECR was known in Chola times), Tiruvanmiyur. editor@madrasmusings. com. G No transport/food arrange- is a great place in Madras to understand the work of the Shaivaite saints in * * * ments for the walk. Parking lot revived, again! Madras Week contacts For any assistance or information regarding ‘Madras (Continued from page 1) The problem calls for some ing 1400 vehicles of different Week’ programmes please contact: out of the box thinking. The types going to make at T Nagar? [email protected] difficulties in dealing with mul- Corporation, while undoubt- What is required is that [email protected] tiple government agencies. And edly good in its intention, is agencies such as CUMTA PRISM PR, Satyan Bhatt (9840085411). so, we may very well remain at coming up with solutions in iso- (Chennai United Metropolitan Website www.themadrasday.in this stage even after a full year, lation, none of which will have Transport Authority), the To list your programme on this site, e-mail: themadrasday@- with the number of vehicles on a significant impact towards Metrorail, the MRTS and the gmail.com the road likely to have - decongestion. After all, what Corporation, together with * * * increased substantially by then. difference is a facility for park- private transport authorities, For INTACH competitions come up with a unified plan for Padma Swaminathan: [email protected] freeing of our roads. This can Malvika Harishlakshman: malavika.harishlakshman@ gmail.com MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB mean significant increases in * * * parking fees, decongestion For showings of INTACH DVD To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our surcharges and other deterrents [email protected] and keen interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to against using of private [email protected], Telephone : 24991696 requests from many well-wishers – especially from outside transport. This has to be done * * * Chennai and abroad who receive their postal copies very late in tandem with development of multimodal public transport For Walks – for an online edition. Madras Musings is now on the web at facilities at hotspots such as T Sushila Nataraj: [email protected] www. madrasmusings.com Nagar. Only then will we have * * * THE EDITOR a long-term sustainable and For Talks impactful solution. S.R.Madhu: [email protected] 8 MADRAS MUSINGS July 16-31, 2013

G The seventh in a series of profiles by V. RAMNARAYAN of cricketers who may have made an all-time Madras* squad. e must be cricket’s most the stumps!” Venkat was then Hversatile all rounder – the captain of the State team within the game – not an all The Mr. Versatile of and Vasu was one of his main rounder beyond it like C.B Fry, bowlers. the Rev. David Sheppard or The years Venkat led Tamil Mike Brearley, cricketers who Indian cricket Nadu in the Ranji Trophy were rose to great positions in other some of the best in its history – walks of life. For, few players merit alone mattered in his have achieved excellence as showed against the express pace Trophy match against Central scheme of things, and despite Test cricketers as well as inter- of Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith Zone at Bangalore in 1975. One his stern exterior, his players national umpires, besides barely a couple of years after his evening during the match, knew that he was a fair man serving the game in administra- Test debut. Venkat met with a minor road who led by example. With V.V. tive and other capacities, as Venkat’s most successful accident, falling off a scooter. Kumar, he struck a deadly part- S. Venkataraghavan has done. Test match came in his very (Can you imagine a current nership that ran circles around Venkataraghavan’s creden- first series, when he played a Test cricketer on two wheels?) most opposition batsmen. His tials as an off-spinner were large role in India’s win in the On the morrow, he carried on record against southern greats immaculate. He came into the Delhi Test. His 12 wickets in as if nothing had happened, like Jaisimha, Pataudi, Patel Indian side when he was a the match – 8 in the first and 4 bowling a long, match-winning and Vishwanath was outstand- student of the Guindy Engi- in the second – cost him merely spell with little or no indication ing. that he was in any discomfort. neering College, barely two 152 runs in an astonishing total After his playing years, months short of his 20th birth- of 112.3 overs. But back in the pavilion he had great difficulty taking off his Venkat continued to be aggres- day. Making his debut at the In the series against Garry S. Venkataragahavan trousers to change, because he sive and relentlessly focussed on Corporation Stadium, Madras, Sobers’ West Indies in 1966-67, had been badly bruised from his job as an umpire. He has in February 1965 against New Venkat bowled well enough to pitted against each other. He waist to foot on one side. never sought to win popularity Zealand, he bowled impres- draw high praise from Sobers, led the formidable Guindy contests and revels in calling a sively, finishing with figures of and played defiant innings in No tribute to the disciplinar- Engineering College against spade a bloody shovel. He is in- 48-23-90-2, clean bowling two rearguard actions in ian Venkat can be complete Presidency, my college, which deed a professional, for whom Dowling and Sinclair in the pro- Bombay, but lost his place to without mention of the terror had a number of talented pride of performance in all he cess. That he stood out in a spin Prasanna, making a comeback he struck in the hearts of players. He was already a Test does has been an article of faith. attack that also included at . colleagues and rivals alike. I cricketer, and some of the remember him describing the * Durrani, Borde, and Nadkarni His best performances for Madras Province/State/Tamil Nadu. senior batsmen in my side got South Zone fielding in that was testimony to his impact in India came under Ajit Wade- out to him even before they left same Bangalore match as that drawn game. kar’s captaincy in 1971, when the safety of the pavilion, so “diabolic” and my wondering Venkat, as most cricketers he played a crucial role in complete was his psychological Answers to Quiz know him, then bowled in a how many of my teammates India’s twin triumphs in the domination on them. Our first understood the word. And sure sharp, fastish style and was al- West Indies and England. He 1. The Tatas; 2. Ravindra victory over Engineering was enough, I found one of them most impossible to score off, as also captained India with skill Jadeja; 3. China and USA respec- achieved only after Venkat’s scurrying off to the KSCA office many of us who played against during the 1975 tour of En- tively; 4. Kevin Rudd; 5. Six hill graduation. and asking the clerk there if he him in local cricket knew. He gland, though the disastrous forts of Rajasthan; 6. Hornbill; 7. My enduring memory of could borrow a dictionary. Google; 8. Anish Kapoor; 9. Nica- was a tall, good-looking, slightly World Cup campaign, for Venkat is one of seriousness ragua; 10. The IAF’s massive opera- built young man, with long, which the captaincy could Another time, playing for with which he approached net tion to rescue stranded pilgrims in strong fingers that enabled him hardly be blamed, resulted in his Madras Cricket Club in the practice, bowling non-stop for Uttarakhand and Himachal to give the ball a sharp tweak at exit as captain. Chennai league, he was the Pradesh. three hours every day, following non-striker, with S. Vasudevan terrific pace. He was accuracy I played with or against * * * personified and bowled a that with an extended session of in the midst of a brilliant spell 11. P. Sathasivam; 12. (mostly against) Venkat from fielding practice. Taking a hun- of left-arm spin, claiming six wicked leg cutter that caught the time I was about 10 and he Kanimozhi (DMK), D. Raja (CPI) dred slip catches a day was wickets on a placid track. Vasu and V. Maithreyan (AIADMK); batsmen – and often the slip 12. We had some enjoyable above par for the course for bowled one ball down the leg 13. C.P. Johnstone Shield; 14. ‘The fielders – by surprise. He was su- exchanges, highly competitive him. side during that spell, possibly Hound of the Baskervilles’; 15. perbly fit and quite tireless, and intensely fought, at the which explained his accuracy Throughout his career, the only bad ball he bowled that Thenkarai Ramakrishna; 16. college as well as State levels. Errabalu Chetty Street; 17. St. over long spells. He was a bril- Venkat never left the ground day, and to his utter shock the We both played for the same Isabel’s Hospital; 18. Wellington. It citing injury. Two occasions non striker literally barked: liant close-in fielder and a very school, P. S. High School of is now called Defence Services Staff stand out in my memory. The “How many times have I told competent batsman, quite fear- Mylapore, Madras, but in col- College; 19. to first was during a Duleep you to bowl the faster one on less against fast bowling, as he lege cricket, we were regularly Wallajah Road; 20. The Trident.

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PublishedPublished by S. Muthiahby S. Muthiahfor ‘Chennai for Heritage’,‘Chennai No. Heritage’, 5, Bhattad 260-A, Tower, TTK 30, WestcottRoad, Chennai Road, Royapettah, 600 018 Chennaiand printed 600 014, by Tprinted J George by Anu at Varghese Lokavani-Hallmark at Lokavani Southern Press Pvt. Printers Ltd., Pvt. 122, Ltd., Greams 122, Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600 600 006. 006, Edited and edited by S.by MUTHIAH.S. Muthiah.