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• Short ‘N’ Snappy • National Trusts team up MADRAS • Dr. Kesari‘s reminiscences • The weavers’ agony • The Auroville dream

Vol. XVII No. 23 MUSINGS March 16-31, 2008 WhenIs VPH will to IT getExpressway a new keep its promises? Would they fine us for not gener- ating waste, too? (By A Special Correspondent) The ides of April he Highways Secretary, A drive down the corridor News: “Immediate fines for lit- TGovernment of Tamil shows that almost all is well on tering, garbage dumping (in- Nadu, has in a recent meeting the stretch from Madhya cluding unsystematic disposal) from April 1, 2008.” announced that the work on Kailash to . But from You: Great. Watch out, all you the high profile IT Expressway Kandanchavadi and paan-spitting, litter-bugging (now renamed Rajiv Gandhi onwards, it is clear that work Salai) will be completed by types, because ... (Continued on page 7) Voice-from-the-Crowd: Hoy! March 31st. He has also stated The Expressway to be completed by March 31, 2008! You (slightly taken aback): Yes? that the main carriageway of the VFTC: Are you being funny first phase from about something as serious as to , spanning 20.1 km, garbage disposal? and the ECR Link Road, con- You: Er...no... VFTC: And waste segregation? necting and You (nervously): Of course not. Akkari (2.1 km), would be I’m registering support, in my ready by March. The service own, possibly totty-headed roads are expected to be com- way, for the cause and... pleted by August. It has been VFTC: Why specifically men- decided to build link bridges tion ‘paan-spitting’? That’s from the MRTS stations that sheer social bias. And why are are on the same route. The toll you hopping about? plaza will be complete by April You: Not hopping. Reeling. and will be operational from With shock. All I meant was... VFTC: You think paan-spitting July. The reality on ground, and garbage-dumping are con- however, appears to indicate fined only to some social cat- that it is doubtful if any of this egories? will be completed to the satis- You (mopping your forehead): faction of road-users. No, no, paan-spitting, garbage- throwing, ignoring recycling and bio-degradable (or non) as- pects... offenders are every- Ours is world’s eighth densest metro where, regardless of sex, in- come, education, appearance, hair-type, taste in music... he US-based Forbes maga- (By A Staff Reporter) Most Indian cities are densely whatever. Tzine has, in its recent sur- the top ten densest metros of contamination of ground and populated and have poor waste VFTC(raising voice): Prejudice- vey, listed Chennai among the the world has three Indian cit- water. There are efforts being removal and sewage systems. ist. Inappropriate-funny-sider. densest cities of the world. The These issues, combined with in- There’s a menacing rush to- ies – Mumbai, Kolkata and made at containment.” th wards you. city ranks 8 in the list. Delhi is Chennai. While Forbes magazine’s creasing air pollution, contrib- Choosing to be even feebly in 13th position and Bangalore Citizens of Chennai may penchant for listing just about ute to their relatively low rat- funny for a career sometimes is 19th. The magazine has com- take solace in the fact that the anything (10 hardest drinking ings, according to the study. It requires you to be fleet of foot. mented that “Living in a dense list of the top 25 dirtiest cities of cities of the world, is an ex- highlighted the fact that there You take off for the open, dis- place affects the quality of liv- the world does not include the ample) may have resulted in the is a very real risk of transmission playing impressive speed. ing, unless you have loads of metro, while it does have “dirty” statistics going unno- of diseases in these cities owing But, dutiful to the last, you yell money and the place is Mumbai (7th) and Delhi (24th). ticed, last year’s Worldwide to the poor ratings. out: “April 1st... remember, gentrified like Tokyo and New But while Chennai appears to Quality of Living Survey by Given this scenario, the April 1st. You have till then to York. Dense is, however, a rela- have escaped, neighbouring Mercer Human Resource Con- Central Government has come study and categorise your gar- bage”. tive term. A Mumbai native vis- Ranipet has not. It comes in for sulting showed Indian cities in up with the idea of satellite You almost chuck your speech iting New York is bound to feel special mention and it is stated a very poor light as well. That townships for 35 cities in the notes, then hastily stuff them like a New Yorker vacationing that “Ranipet’s pollution can af- study stated that Indian cities country. For all cities having into your bag. on a Wyoming dude ranch.” fect up to 3 million people, as it score relatively poorly on health populations exceeding a million Every little gesture counts, for a The magazine has blamed “fast- is upstream from populous and sanitation counts, with – and naturally Chennai is one responsibly clean environ- track economic growth” for the Chennai. Its tannery waste scores ranging from 52.8 for – the Ministry for Urban Deve- ment. density of population in metros. amounted to 1,500,000 tons a Chennai (position 177) to 38.2 lopment is finalising a “satellite Ranjitha Ashok It is significant that the list of year of toxic material. There is for Mumbai (position 209). (Continued on page 7)

CMYK 2 March 16-31, 2008 Birthday bashes the

Causing congestion and . I became a rather unlikely mem- he State Government had Chennai way ber of her family and was never Tsome time ago announced made to feel anything different. ecently, both our leading seemed to think that this was tumbled out, leaving the pongal that during the last 18 months As unusual and enlightened Rpolitical parties celebrated an indication of their leader to hold fort even as the sand- ten new industrial projects, in- in his time as Dr. Kesari was, so, the birthdays of their leaders. having become an interna- wich looked on in grim satisfac- volving an investment of too, was his daughter Sarada And what events they proved tional authority. Two toughs tion. Even this was not spared. Rs.15,000 crore, had been . The family is blessed to to be. Almost took The Man who conversed even as they re- By the simple expedient of not finalised in . The share their genes. I am very from Madras Musings to the lieved themselves against providing a knife, the butter days of the Maharajahs and MMM’s compound wall was not usable. Cleverly, the government has also just an- proud of Vasantha eduthi’s nounced finalisation of five Maharanis of yore. MMM had claimed that even “Glindon” knife was provided to some and skills in translating Dr. Kesari’s no choice. He was literally (wonder which one, Bill or not others, so that there would more new mega projects involv- memoirs. They are a gem. ing Rs.16,000 crore. These caught in the thick of the fes- Hill?) took the leader’s advice. be no mutiny by the passengers fifteen new projects are to be Gopalakrishnan tivities. The procession moved on at en masse. MMM has been told 26/2, Arundale Beach Road For one leader, the celebra- its own sweet will and took that it is not so, but he still located around Chennai, to tions included a health camp more than three hours to com- thinks that the withholding of generate new employment op- Kalakshetra Colony Chennai 600 090 for the poor. The venue was a plete the route of a kilometre the knife is done by a computer portunities for over two lakhs of Community Hall close to or so. programme that selects at ran- people. A tram experience where MMM has his humble Across the road from where dom the passengers to be de- Government should con- eader Sethuraman’s letter abode. Obviously, the harmful MMM lives came up a digital prived of this implement. sider locating a few of the new Ron trams (MM, December effects of prolonged exposure banner praising the leader to In the evening journey, con- proposed projects in the hinter- 16th) reminded me of my visit to high decibels of sound did the high heavens. The person- siderable savings have been ef- not come under the purview of age was compared to several fected by ensuring that coffee land and southern districts, to to Melbourne in 2005. It was a enable development of the dif- this health camp, for loud- mythical personages and also is 99% hot water with some joy, the modern trams in speakers were installed at vari- hailed as the leader of the past, murky powder added. Then the ferent regions of the State and Melbourne. The city centre had ous places and film-songs were present and future. The scaf- 7.00 p.m. bun, which accompa- to generate employment oppor- a free tram service, a great boon played non-stop and at deafen- folding to support this ban- nies the soup, again has butter tunities in the districts also. to tourists, as it went on a rect- ing volumes all through the ner But we went into all that provided sans knife. The net This will reduce regional dis- angular route, making shopping event. The blood pressure data before, didn’t we? result? So many butter packs parities in the State as required so comfortable. Other tram in the new industrial policy of routes in the city were not free, the State announced recently. but senior citizens had to pay SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY This will also ease the growing much less. As a senior citizen, congestion in Chennai and sub- the Melbourne Museum let me urbs. of those living in the vicinity Railway profits saved. MMM rather hesitantly in free! My grey hair was good would have made for some in- asked for a knife, only to be J.W. Thomas enough for verification! teresting reading. No amount he Man from Madras looked down upon by the 9, Ritherdon Road K.V.S. of appeal to reduce the volume T Musings, despite his high haughty bearer. Others, not so Chennai 600 007 2A, Parkland Apartments had any effect. sounding title, is a small fellow. intrepid, were seen tearing Across the road from where His outlook is all on the micro chunks of the bun and swiping Lasting solution Kamalabhai Street, T. Nagar Chennai 600 017 MMM lives came up a digital and he rarely understands it on the butter. Also, with the lyovers (MM, December banner praising the leader to things such as budgets, both dinner, which is usually North railway and ‘general’, filled as F 16th) may not be the pana- The stage ‘Avvai’ the high heavens. The person- Indian, comes sambar, which is age was compared to several they are with terms that go clearly recycled from the morn- cea for all traffic evils, but they he article on Avvai mythical personages and also completely over his head. All he ing breakfast leftover. This certainly help. Can anyone T Shanmugam (MM, Febru- hailed as the leader of the past, knows is that, post budget, saves the cost of providing imagine Gemini Circle without ary 16th) kindled nostalgic present and future. The scaf- prices will go up and he must dhal! And, of late, tissue papers the flyover? However, the last- memories. About 60 years ago, folding to support this banner tighten his belt some more. are also not provided. Perhaps ing solution lies in the develop- I had the opportunity and plea- blocked the narrow pedestrian Hopefully, the time will not it is with a view to save paper. ment of satellite suburbs (if not sure of attending the play pavement and those who dared come when MMM can comfort- But MMM does not think so. It cities), complete with all the ur- Avvaiyar, enacted by the troupe walk had to do so at their own ably tie his watch strap around all goes, according to MMM, in ban paraphernalia. Unfortu- of TKS Brothers in Coimbatore. risk. Tube-lights were erected his waist. But this time, given saving money for the Railways. nately, such proposals get all along a kind of ceremonial the Railways’ stupendous per- Donning a woman’s garb, T.K. pathway, electricity supply for formance, MMM has, based on The kiss of joy stalled in the name of protect- Shanmugam portrayed the leg- which being drawn from the his own travelling experiences ing farmers. endary poet with amazing per- mains of the street. by the Shatabdi Express, come he Man from Madras T Musings was at the Banga- C.G. Prasad fection. It was thereafter that Then came a few days’ re- to the conclusion that it is en- lore airport when the slog overs 9, C.S. Mudali Street the title ‘Avvai’ was prefixed to prieve. The loudspeakers were tirely due to cost cutting mea- his name like ‘Nawab’ before removed. The tube-lights went sures and not due to any in- of the cricket match at Gabba Kondithope were being played. MMM Chennai 600 079 the name of Rajamanickam for into hibernation and the digital crease in freight that the Rail- his role in Bhaktha Ramdas. banner too went no doubt to ways have posted a profit. found himself cheering and clapping, but not to the extent Surrogate mother In the 1930s, as a school boy, perform duty as a roof-top in The Railways have done this some slum. The scaffolding re- in several subtle ways. The first of a stout gentleman who was r. K.N. Kesari (MM, I had attended all the dramas of mained. And then came the method has been to reduce ca- clearly the cheerleader. His D March 1st) passed on to the TKS groups whenever they birthday of the other leader, tering costs and also take care flight had been announced, but his daughter Sarada Devi his played at Tirupur, my home- who belonged to the rival party. of passengers’ health. This win- he refused to budge stating that wonderfully humane qualities. town. Whether the themes This celebration involved a win step involved a gradual re- he would wait till India had She was quiet and self-effacing were Puranic or social-based, procession of the party faithfuls duction in the quantity of the won and, sure enough, India and her kind nature endeared every drama of theirs with to the accompaniment of per- breakfast served to them. In the won. Then the unexpected happened. The stout gent, after her to all who knew her. When Shanmugam as hero and Bhaga- cussion instruments from vari- early days, this meal was a vir- tual feast, with passengers having jumped, danced, waved I came from England in 1962 to vathi as villain was interesting. ous states. The procession, It was at Tirupur they en- naturally enough, had to be barely able to get off the train his arms and yelled, still had be married to her sister’s surplus energy which had to be rolled a woman artiste, M.S. held at peak traffic hour in the and walk up the over-bridge at brother-in-law, Sarada eduthi, morning. MMM, whose brief is Bangalore station. This in- spent. He found MMM stand- as I addressed her, became my Draupathi, for the first time in to gaze upon the world and volved a sandwich, idli, vada ing next to him and enveloped surrogate mother. She com- their troupe. It was also make notes, stayed in his bal- and pongal. The idli in the ini- him in a bear hug. Not content forted me when I was homesick, Tirupur-based Jupiter Pictures cony and watched the proceed- tial spacious times was what with that, he planted two kisses found the perfect remedy for which gave all the four TKS ings, at grave risk to his hear- those in Delhi would have on MMM’s cheeks before he continuous sickness in my preg- brothers suitable roles in their ing (the Chief will please note called a ‘healdhee’ idli, so round was led away by an irate airline nancy, opened her home to my film Menaka, the first ever this and appreciate the risks and plump it was and so white attendant. MMM is yet to live this down; as for the gaze of the children during summer holi- Tamil social film. MMM takes). What amazed its complexion. He was a true Gandhian, a MMM was a group of foreign- Then the idli was put on a surrounding passengers, the days so that they might play less said the better. MMM is lover and patron of Tamil litera- ers, all carrying sequinned gar- diet and it slowly shrank and, with their cousins, allowing lands for the leader. Why this one day, vanished. The vada, seriously thinking of growing a them to explore the hidden cor- ture, arts and music. group was in the procession is mourning for its lost compan- beard as deterrent. ners of Kesari Kuteeram, a de- M.K. Pillai something that MMM is yet to ion, began pining away and, light my daughter talks of even 110, Rupa Nagar figure out, but party cadres soon, like Jill following Jack, – MMM today, told me stories from the Coimbatore 600 045 March 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

National Trusts team Thus they spoke... articipants in the 12th International Conference of National together P Trusts had many things to say. Here are some significant quotes: “Many years ago, Jawaharlal Nehru was faced in Parliament with a demand that a programme of fellowships for artists and scholars be abolished. We were engaged in military conflict with – Launch umbrella organisation one of our neighbours, and the distinguished parliamentarians were arguing that scholarship funds could be better utilised for defence purposes. Pandit Nehru listened carefully and acknowl- he 12th International Con- mitigate the negative impact of respects value systems and a edged that the logic was sound. “But then, gentlemen,” he is Tference of National Trusts tourism on the culture of com- culture that learns from the reported to have added, “What are we fighting for?” These (ICNT) was formally inaugu- munities. past. “Unless we respect our things are worth fighting for – the beauties of our natural envi- rated by Prime Minister At present, INTO has a to- inheritance, unless we are pre- ronment, the monuments that have been left to us in trust by Manmohan Singh in New Delhi tal of 10 committee members – pared to learn from it, we will generations past, and the integrity of all the manifestations of our living cultures that have brought us together here.” in December. On the eve of the they are representatives from not invest in its preservation,” S.K. MISRA Conference, the International Australia, Bermuda, Canada, he stated. He candidly admitted National Trusts Organi- that while India was conscious Chairman, INTACH India, Malta, Netherlands, * * * sation (INTO) was formally Scotland, Slovakia, UK and of the need to preserve, protect launched. and promote its cultural heri- “Let us bring nature and culture INTO the future.” USA. One of them said, “If con- Prof. MYUNG-RAE CHO, Simon Molesworth, Chair- servation is to succeed, it must tage, “we have not always Trustee, National Trust of Korea succeeded in doing so.” He man of the Steering Committee, move beyond a narrow focus to * * * stated that a decision had been deal with broader issues such as pointed out that to assume we need only resources is not “Change is inevitable – but we must ask ourselves: Is change taken at the 11th ICNT to forge poverty alleviation. The conser- also desirable?” enough because “conservation a common platform of National vation of heritage and culture of SHYAM CHAINANI, Chairman, Trusts to strengthen the net- people across the world is an should not be seen as an ‘elitist’ Bombay Environmental Action Group preoccupation. It must make work of non-government advo- important global issue today, an * * * cates for heritage conservation. issue which embraces equally itself meaningful to society in a manner that engenders commu- “Heritage conservation is rehabilitation of memories and cre- INTO, the result, could speak our natural heritage, our built ating experience. It is shared value for all.” nity participation on a large jointly and boldly to the leaders heritage and its art forms, along Prof. ALEXANDER P. KUDRYAVTSEV, of the world about threats to with the traditional knowledge scale. To be effective, conserva- President, Russian Academy of Architecture & mankind’s collective legacy. systems like folklore, music and tion efforts need to be coordi- Construction Sciences, Moscow The parties to the INTO Char- dance”. nated with a compreshensive * * * planning policy through prepa- ter agreed to establish a cohe- The launch of INTO con- “Broadening the base of heritage consciousness should get ration of local area plans and sive framework, a non-govern- cluded with the adoption of its prioritised.” participation of the resident mental, non-profit, non-stock, Charter signed by 53 countries. HASMUKH SHAH community.” charitable, educational and INTO’s objective is to influence Vice Chairman, INTACH membership organisation to heritage conservation policy, Dr. Karan Singh, the key- * * * promote conservation and en- national in terms of geographi- note speaker at the valedictory “In business, the motive is profit, in the case of heritage it is hancement of cultural and cal remittance, but global in function, said young people education or the enjoyment that it can provide. Having got the natural heritage of all nations answer to these basic questions... there will have to be a proper strength. Having learned from should grow up with a knowl- for the benefit of people world- strategy for managing heritage.” each other about sustainability edge of and deep feelings for wide through public involve- and partnership, INTO will be DR. O.P. AGRAWAL their heritage and this must Director General, ICCI, INTACH ment. primarily committed to public be nurtured in the national * * * Speaking at the INTO education and heritage aware- interest. launch, the Vice President of ness. It will engage in cultural “The Government launched the National Lottery in 1994 and natural heritage conserva- which would give money to good causes... all of which must be India, M.H. Ansari, stated that The conference was for the public good... the Heritage Lottery Fund has generated special attention needed to be tion at a practical management organised by INTACH, a major £4 million for heritage, which has been awarded to over 26,000 given to heritage conservation level. stakeholder in INTO and its fu- projects throughout the U.K.” in areas affected by conflict and The Prime Minister, inaugu- ture activities. (Courtesy: JUDITH CLIGMAN natural disasters and to ensure rating ICNT-2007, stressed the Virasat, The journal of Director, Policy & Research, HLF, UK that adequate steps are taken to importance of a mindset that INTACH.)

Our Addresses CHENNAI HERITAGE Subscriptions and For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, , CHENNAI 600 018. contributions of receipts and copies, change of address, and all l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List other circulation matters: CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad been priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014. No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings Please make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and E-mail: [email protected] and would like to receive it hereafter. send it, together with the COUPON, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, On editorial matters: THE EDITOR, MADRAS MUSINGS, 260-A, TTK ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI SOUTH- l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for ERN PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 62/63, GREAMES ROAD, CHENNAI C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI Road, Chennai 600 006. 600 006. HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Queries sent Musings for the year 2007-08. of our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue by e-mail or regular mail will be answered as soon as possible. l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, envi- to be essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play ronment and a better city that Madras Musings a greater role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional and its environment. We therefore look forward to your sending Readability please Rs...... us your contributions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. Dear Readers, (Rupees ...... ) If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated As letters from readers increase, we are receiving more and Please keep / put me on your mailing list. support from those of you who have already made contributions, more handwritten letters, many of them in a hand so small and and if many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only illegible or large and scrawled as to be unreadable. Often this Name : ...... be able to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to con- tinue awareness-building exercises on on-going projects as well leads to our discarding a letter, particularly if some part of it is ...... as undertake one or two more such exercises. Address: ...... unreadable. Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDI- If you wish us to consider your letter for publication, please ...... TION TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for type it with enough space between lines or write it using a ...... Rs.500, we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras medium hand, clearly dotting the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. Musings for 2007-08 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution to- Many readers also try to fill every square centimetre of a ...... wards the causes Chennai Heritage espouses. post-card space, making reading or editing impossible. Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their Please help us to consider your letters more favourably by overseas postage alone payable to M/s. Lokavani South- subscriptions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a making them more legible for us. ern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to ‘Chennai free mailer. – THE EDITOR Heritage’. — The Editor 4 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2008 March 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

stones and took them out to get Madras in the more money! There was a gang of lazy, idle people, particularly mischief- makers, orphans and those who 1890s eaving – a metaphor for working conditions, the flood of had been driven out of their houses. They would go to places Wcreation. he play, ‘Song of the synthetic fabrics, migrations from Across the world, diverse cul- T Loom’, is being staged by rural to urban areas, and failure (Continued from Even rich people had food there of marriages and other functions the Madras Players in associa- and would fill their stomachs tures acknowledge its magical, to locate and adapt to new mar- last fortnight) on some days. Food was brought mystical essence through their tion with the Crafts Council of ket needs. She speaks, among to the houses of those who were with the leftovers. They used to India, which is sponsoring the n the last issue of Madras myths, legends and folklore. other instances, of Benares, unable to attend. also shout out for money. At inaugural day of the play, on IMusings, we carried extracts nights, they slept at the doors of India’s rich and ancient tex- March 21st. which saw suicides, because of relevant to Madras from the On Vijayadasami Day, the shops or houses. Komatti people tile tradition, even today, shares Krishnaier, co-di- Chinese imitations flooding the reminiscences of Dr. K.N. Kesari, was decorated with dia- were afraid (of thefts) and they a very special link with religion rector, says: “There were many market. a well-known Ayurvedic physi- mond ornaments and brought used to ask these people to sleep and philosophy. A passage from reasons for the Madras Players Pit looms are hard to work cian of Madras. These were out in procession. Usually, it was outside to guard their houses and Sabita Radhakrishna’s forthcom- choosing this play. The prob- with; arthritis and severe eye penned in 1953 and pertain to taken along Varada Muthiappan ing book on textiles says that the lems of the handloom industry problems are rampant, while al- they used to pay (these people) have to be highlighted. We buy the period spanning 1890 to Street where many Muslims re- Above: A variation of a closed landau... Below: A cabriolette on cee Rig Veda and the re- cohol abuse is not unknown. for their services. For wedding the sarees, but we do not see the springs... both by Simpson’s of Madras. fer to the ordered universe as an Some handloom weavers have 1950. We offer readers a few sided. Once, a number of Mus- processions, they would accom- tragedy of lives behind them. more extracts about Madras in lims tried to create trouble. The pany the party carrying the lights. infinite cosmic fabric woven by Each thread has a story to tell, turned to power-looms. Others the 1890s. authorities, to be on the They were also given money to the Gods, its warp and weft form- of suffering, even death. Atten- have chosen construction-work safe side, had already arranged ing a grid pattern displaying life, and brickmaking as employment Catering to the Andhras attack enemies. They took ganja tion has to be drawn to their police protection. Among the instead of liquor. There were in all its illusions and endless predicaments, and not a day too options. There have been in- n those days there were no policemen, Weldon was famous even women amongst these cycles. soon. ‘Their’ stories become stances where children have Ihostels for college students. and he with three other sergeants people. After the First World Sabita Radhakrishna’s play ‘our’ stories.” been sold into bonded labour, bureaucratic methods with too form, generate buyer interest, Andhra people disliked having was proceeding on horseback. War, these people were no longer Song of the Loom, dedicated to The Crafts Council of India, with very little hope of release. many delays are unhelpful. On with cities supporting the weav- a leading NGO headquartered food in Tamil hotels. So Andhras Walking along with the deity to be seen. the human face of this age-old Even older weavers have been the other hand, promises of sti- ers. took a room for rent and had were Kolla Kannayya Chetty and craft, was born out of her aware- in Chennai, has for the past few forced into other jobs, allowing pends and upgraded looms do She warns: “The Kanchee- food in some houses and paid for Beggars were of different ness of the harsh circumstances years paid special attention to traditional skills to dwindle and not always have the desired ef- puram korvai is in grave danger other temple trustees, temple weavers, especially those suffer- it. In Tankasala (Mint) Street, workers, Pundit Gopalacharyulu types. Some performed dance, that beset the lives of weavers in die. Weaving handlooms follows fect. “The weavers pointed to the of becoming extinct. One weaver others made dolls to dance, some ing extreme hardships in Kasi ‘Paatti’ used to make chut- and I. South India. The play is being Vidharbha, Varanasi and closely behind agriculture as a samples of the low-cost saree and from Arni said: ‘Your grandchil- neys in a hostel. But Tamilians dressed in female dresses. Like- staged on March 21st in Andhra Pradesh. It has fo- source of livelihood, and adver- dhoti piles and wanted to know dren will probably have to see and Andhras always had disputes It was 10 o’ clock in the night wise, eunuchs also dressed like Chennai. cussed attention on specific is- sities in the farming sector im- why we were trying to ‘come and traditional sarees only in muse- and, so, finally Telugu people when stones were thrown. women and people found their Sabita, well-known in sues, like the plight of the pact the weavers. change them’.” They naturally ums.’ This shattered me. I’ve were not allowed to have food in Weldon was hurt. He tied his shows quite amusing. Some also Chennai as a fashion and textile Benares weavers displaced by Kancheepuram, Salem, Rasi- prefer an assured income, resist- visited weaving centres in Tamil that hostel. head with a cloth and ran to performed magic shows. Some designer, fashion show choreog- the invasion of Chinese imita- puram with its “gorgeous bor- ing efforts to push them towards Nadu. There was a time when bring the constables. After their from Andhra would wield sticks the back, one or two persons During the rainy season, water rapher, freelance writer, televi- tion silks. ders”, Madurai and Coim- more tiresome work, if there is no they used to be so enthusiastic Then one Andhra lady started pushed it. overflowed and the roads were sion programme presenter, re- Bela Khaleeli, Joint Trea- batore... there are many areas guarantee of sale at the other about every design we gave. Not surer, CCI, and a member of a hotel and started cooking filled with knee-deep water. No cipient of the Gourmand World closely identified with weaving end. Is there a touch of demand- any more.” Andhra dishes. The hotel the Executive Committee, says: There was a dress etiquette dustbins were placed in the roads. Award for the Best Indian Cook- through the State, but cotton ing that an art stays alive at Suicides, debt, changing so- charges were Rs 7 to Rs. 10. The l Reminiscences of followed while out riding. Rich “Through our sponsorship of The municipality staff used to re- book for 2002, and active execu- the play, and the timing of our weaving is under threat in all of someone else’s cost? cial values and structures, the lady got Rs.10 from the people, Dr. K. N. Kesari - II men wore gold chains around move the dirt and the dust in a tive committee member of the them, says Sabita. There are no easy answers. slow crumbling of spirit, the very but since she had to provide sale, we wish to both enlighten their wrists. To display these, vehicle. Even human excrement Crafts Council of India, has in- and educate. We need to save Theorising about idealism is a How then do you, literally, real danger of a precious art slip- them with costly food varieties they wore shirts with short was carried in this way making the volvements with the world of the saree from slow extinction. luxury. “I too have been an ide- bring all these ‘threads’ to- ping into oblivion – the images like chutneys, avakkai, plenty of sleeves. Aram village arrival they blocked the two en- and knives and beg. One man whole route dirty. textiles since 1977. We are committed to promot- alist, and it has pained me to see gether? kept playing in her head, leading , she found it hard to meet was famous for dry washing of ing the handloom sector. Many trances. The assailants were un- used to carry a bell and go on Roads were lit by kerosene As proprietor of the city’s the weavers suffer. This pain is “Weavers must deal with the to the play. “I want to infuse ev- the growing expenses. Ulti- clothes. They washed the then first-of-its-kind boutique, the activist groups are involved in reflected in my play.” customer directly; get a feel of eryone, not only craft activists mately she had to close the hotel. successful and the deity reached ringing it. Another sang funny lamps. Those who were en- this cause, and CCI believes in famous dhotis with chocolate very successful ‘Amrapali’, Sabita Sabita strongly believes that and textile traditionalists, with the temple safely. The police ar- songs while begging. borders very well. I recall how in trusted with this job took some working with them to help There were no good coffee rested all the miscreants who portion of the kerosene and so created unique sarees, sourcing craft activists must understand, the same passion, that sense of There were people to carry those days, Telugu Nayudus and highlight the problems. These l by houses. Coffee was served out- were hiding in various places and the lights burnt only for a short material from all over the South, events are also fundraisers for and accept, that help and sup- urgency, about this cause.” dead bodies and they formed Chettys used to wear these side the veranda of small houses. the trial in the High Court went time and the city became dark giving them a different identity. weavers and craftsmen, and act port must be realistically given, RANJITHA ASHOK The media, films and plays their own group. The man who dhotis, with gold chains on their Brahmins were served inside. on for a long time. Kannayya soon. Till 1910, gaslights were “I’ve always loved the feel of as platforms for them. We be- keeping the weavers’ familiar and like hers, she hopes, will strike a conducted the final obsequies hands, short sleeve shirts and The coffee had no taste or Chetty was helpful in arresting used. Electricity came thereafter. Indian handlooms. After a while, lieve that this exposure, com- comfort zones in mind. If sym- chord and help make people would bring a group of people to Srichurnam on their foreheads, I thought, ‘Why not get different bined with their own individual pathy translates into accepting the market; what will, or won’t, more sensitive to these issues. flavour and was poured in dirty many people. There are sixteen lakh people carry the dead body. The rate riding in the ‘Rekla’ carts. acumen, will help take them to poor work, there is very real dan- sell.” Sabita feels. “This is where Weaving has tremendous po- tumblers as well. Vadas, dosais, in Madras now. From 1949, the would be according to the finan- Thinking that pipe water was new heights.” ger of an entire art-form being middlemen are a stumbling tential for employment, and does murukku, puliotharai, curd rice, Then came the ‘Madras Corporation supplies only 160 The services in Madras cial position (of the dead person) impure, Hindus used only well spoon-fed into complacency and block. And, merely providing a not require elaborate infrastruc- thair vadai were served on leaves. Coach’, the ‘Brougham’ and, still lakh gallons of water daily, which Once, while passing through ld Chetty people, Nayudus and was also dependent on the water. lack of drive and moti- platform for display is not ture and huge investments. later, the ‘Bombay coach’, the means 10 gallons per head or 21/ Oand Mudaliars wore tur- weight of the dead person. Thus, 2 types of weaves?’, and decided to vation. That will ultimately enough. Help must take the Sabita wants the corporates to Kothwalchavdi, I stepped into a horse carts by name Phaeton, kerosene tins. Water problem is Those who did not have wells bans. The turbans were long and the man in charge would also get go further into the textile line.” bring about extinction, not sus- form of loans, perhaps ‘tide-over’ encourage employees to retain coffee hotel to have Thiruppa- Landau, Landaulet and Dakart not new (in Madras). It was al- at home had their bath and got broad and were in different a commission. This led her straight into what tenance. money; at the same time allow- their traditional skills. “You can niaram. Thinking it to be a spe- with 2 and 4 wheels. Soon after ways there. Water was sold at their clothes washed in temple colours. There were three people she calls “the heart and soul of “I am not against co-opera- ing them to grow in self-suffi- use them part-time and make it a cial tiffin I ordered it. I was given came the trams and the motor- two annas a pot in Pedda- tanks. They brought this water to tie this on one head and they India”, where handwoven fabric tives. But, the weavers tell me: ciency.” condition that they devote some something oily and not being Transport in Madras cars. I bought at first a ‘Madras nayakkanpeta. home for drinking purposes. The were given 1 or 2 annas. reflects both the ethos of the ‘Amma, all of you come in your She offers the successful ef- part of their lives to their tradi- able to withstand its bad taste, I coach’, then a ‘Bombay coach’, water in those tanks was so dirty n those days horse driven In 1720, due to scarcity of wa- weavers and the richness of the cars, and ‘do’ all this, but once a forts of Sewa and of Judy Frater’s tional work,” she suggests. Gov- had to throw it away. These In George Town, a fat dark thereafter a Phaeton, Landaulet with weeds that the then execu- Icarts were in vogue. And they ter cholera broke out. Then in cultural diversity that is India. project is over finished, you Kala Raksha as very good work- ernment agencies, given their “Clubs” were run by Vaishnavas. man by name Ramdas used to and Landau. I also used a Velur tive engineer Standish described were not at all comfortable. They 1772, pure water supply scheme Sabita went to villages tradi- forget about us’.” ing models. The weavers are standing and reach, can form give baths to others. He would Jutka and a cart drawn by two it as follows: were converted into ‘Velur was begun. Well water, after tionally associated with weaving, Yes, she acknowledges, there taught marketing and contempo- panels, involving textile tradi- Kanyaka give a clean bath chanting the horses. I bought Australian Jutkas’. Besides these, there were storing in tanks, was purified and “I have not seen such dirty wa- met craftspeople, visited their is support. Governments, NGOs rary trends. Traditional skills are tionalists in each city for advice kirtanas of Ramdas (Bhadra- horses and (later) sold them for a Parameswari temple also bullock carts. ‘Rekla’ cart is was sent through pipes to mili- ter so far except in the temple homes, spent time with them in and institutions like the All In- applied to present needs, turning on schemes. chala) and his charges were only good price. oor feeding for Brahmin still in use. It has two wheels. tary men. Water was always tanks. In Kapaleeswarar Temple their weaving centres. dia Handicrafts Board do much them into professional skills, Weavers are national trea- four annas. His services were, Pboys was conducted at the There is a seat, and children can available in the Seven Wells the water in the tank is so dirty Today, she says, there is no to help weavers and other bringing with them a sense of sures. They must re-discover however, not available for every- Kanyaka Parameswari temple. sit leaning on the back of the Civic amenities area. When there was no piped that I have not seen so much de- longer any joy in weaving. When craftspeople. Opportunities for worth. pride in their art. one. Vaisyas had great respect for driver. It is light in weight and he roads were not smooth; water, water was supplied from cayed water even in gutters. Even they were part of the royal ate- focussed work, training, new de- A holistic approach, empow- The solution lies with all of us, Brahmins and so plenty of Brah- Another set of people was en- can pick up great speed. Races Tthere were many ups and seven wells and that street came then, people use that water.” liers, there was a sense of signs and new markets are all of- ering the entire weaving village, not just the powers-that-be. The mins were given food during fes- gaged in cleaning and removing are held once in a while with downs. There were no proper gut- to be known as Seven Wells bhakthi. Weaving was seen as fered. But the weavers sometimes is required. No one advocates next time you buy a handloom To meet the needs (of the tival season. Almost 2000 Brah- waste from the ears. With cotton these ‘Rekla’ carts. Three- ters to drain out the dirty water. Street. Only thereafter supply population) and to purify the something godly, with a philoso- express a very real fear that removal of basic hand skills; but saree or material, look closely at mins were fed daily for nine days. and medicines, these people used wheeled carts were also there. Rainwater which collected on from the Red Hills tank started. water, the Government took phy, a sense of divinity, to it. The schemes are forsaken, leaving they do need to become more ef- the threads weaving in and out. The brinjal curry and rasam were to wander about the streets to do Middleclass people owned these. roads had no way of draining out, When cyclone and heavy rains steps from 1861. Red Hills water last few years, in particular, have them adrift. “We cannot take ficient and productive. Go beyond the colour and very famous and were cooked by their job. They would even take Rich people, besides horse-drawn except to dry in the sun. Once in a damaged several machines in and scheme came seen drastic change and a shift in people to heights and abandon Sartorial taste and usage has design, for, woven within the fab- expert cooks like Buna Kutum- out stones from people’s ears and carts, used these three-wheeled way, the municipality took neces- Red Hills, well water was sup- into being after 1866. Water was both the situation of the weavers them there... that is dangerous changed. But it is possible to rics are human dreams, expecta- bayya garu, Mulukutla Subbayya, increase their charges for doing carts for short rides to the mar- sary steps to let out the dirty water plied for ten days. Water supply stored from these sources in and the basic attitudes, she too. You can destroy a person’s bring weaving skills into contem- tions, and destiny. Jalayya and Appayya. For nine so. It was said that these people ket etc. The front wheel was run by making gutters in the middle of through pipe connection was points out with regret. psyche that way.” porary usage. This would be a If you listen closely, you may days they were paid Rs. 1116. themselves used to first insert the by the man driving the cart. At the roads and covering them. given to houses during I783-87. (Continued on page 8) She attributes this to poor Insensitive and over-layered great way to rejuvenate the art even hear their song. CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2008

l Forty years ago A township (Current Affairs questions are from the period February16th to 29th. Questions 11 to 20 that began pertain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. The decision of which elec- tronic giant to withdraw from HD with a dream DVD production has ended the format war in Blu-ray Disc’s favour? ri Aurobindo had the dream tree, the youth of the 2. Which country declared its Sof an inevitable Human world were invited to come and independence from Serbia on Unity and the Mother had share in this dream and build a February 17th? shared his dream of an ideal city that would become the 3. Which iconic leader stepped city: “There should be some- cradle of a new Humanity. The down recently, 49 years after cap- where upon earth a place that Mother’s organ music wafted turing power in an armed revolu- no nation could claim as its sole across the devotees from the The Matri Mandir. tion? property, a place where all hu- and peoples from 4. Which famous activist has man beings of goodwill, sincere around the globe who came to various states of India and the was deposited in the Urn by launched his fourth straight in their aspiration, could live witness the start of a new age. countries of the world marched youth representing each state of White House bid (ignoring his freely as citizens of the world, two by two bearing the flag India in alphabetical order. 1992 write-in campaign) as an obeying one single authority, l by (with name placard) of the state Thereafter, during the reading Independent candidate? that of the supreme Truth; a or the country represented, and of the Charter in Arabic, Chi- CHANDRESH PATEL 5. Which film won the Best place of peace, concord, har- the symbolic earth. Many coun- nese etc. (above listed lan- Picture and Best Director Oscar mony, where all the fighting in- tries and states had sent their guages) youth representing the recently? stincts of man would be used ex- The Charter of Auroville was representatives for the cer- various countries of the world 6. YouTube access was lost clusively to conquer the causes read by the Mother in French. emony. Where such representa- (in alphabetical order) depos- globally for hours on February of his suffering and misery, to Thereafter, the ceremony of tives were not sent, youth from ited symbolic earth in the Urn. 24th, owing to which Asian surmount his weakness and ig- laying the symbolic earth in the the Ashram substituted for the The city of Auroville is today country’s decision to block access norance, to triumph over his lotus urn was commenced. The country or the state. After the at the threshold of a new age. domestically? limitations and incapacities; a first ones to march forward were reading of the Charter in Forty years in the making, the 7. Which cyber giant was slapped place where the needs of the Kiran-di and Vijay bhai French, the charter was read in symbolic spiritual centre, the with a record $1.35 billion fine by spirit and the care for progress (Poddar). Kiran-di held the other languages, Tamil, San- Matri Mandir, is now complete. the European antitrust regulator would get precedence over the Mother’s flag and Vijay bhai skrit, English, Arabic, Chinese, The forests have been planted, on February 27th? satisfaction of desires and pas- carried the symbolic earth from Dutch, German, Greek, He- water run-off bunded, small 8. Which Asian country has been sions, the seeking for pleasures the Ashram. Vijay bhai depos- brew, Italian, Japanese, Norwe- communities have taken deeper chosen to host the first Summer and material enjoyments....” ited the symbolic earth and a gian, Russian, Spanish, Swed- root, children have been going Youth Olympic Games in 2010? The day was February 28, 1968. scroll being the Charter of ish. As the Charter was read in to school and now their chil- 9. Name the record-breaking At 10.30 in the morning on Auroville into the Urn. Tamil, Sanskrit and English in dren shout and play in the for- adventurer who was officially de- a barren plateau, close to a lone One by one, youth from the the background, symbolic earth ests and grounds of Auroville. clared dead on February 16th, The first Aurovilians from five months after he vanished around the villages have taken while flying in a small plane. His on a new role in the building of second around-the-world balloon Auroville. Human challenges attempt ended in India. are now real and intense. The 10. Which two cricketers topped Vale! it’s designer actuality of Human Unity seems $1 million in the recently a chimera. The difficulties concluded bids for the Indian ust weeks before Auroville celebrated its 40th Roger Anger, like many visionaries, faced a abound. Many of the pioneers Premier League? Jbirthday, Roger Anger, its chief architect, lot of struggle. Ever since the Mother left Her passed away. Anger(24.3.1923 – 15.1.2008) physical body, Auroville plunged into a struggle who came harkening to the first * * * call left due to challenging gov- 11. After which World Heritage will be remembered as an exceptional architect regarding collective organisation and decision- who belonged to the avant-garde trend that was making; and Roger’s role and authority were ernance issues. There are new Site is TANFLORA’s indigenous, emerging in Paris around mid-fifties. endlessly questioned by those residents who forces, new faces, new energies deep-red rose, bred near Hosur, At the age of 45, Roger Anger had already had comfortably settled into an organically and new impetus. Peoples are named? It is expected to boost executed over 50 large-scale projects, and growing settlement, orginally intended and in- coming, many are returning. exports manifold. significantly contributed to modern architecture augurated as a planned city. (Courtesy: Sri Aurobindo’s Ac- 12. Which leading business in France. A Paris guide to Modern Architec- From 1978 to 1985 he had left Auroville, tion) group owns ‘Chennai Super ture cites seven of his projects. “Simple in with a sense of hopelessness and paralysis, but Kings’? conception but complex in treatment” is how reappeared when conditions seemed more A big 13. Who preceded C.N. Anna- his approach had been summarised in French favourable. Sadly, he didn’t realise any further durai as the Chief Minister of architectural essays of the time. The most spec- architectural project. All his energy was spent ‘Thank You’ to Madras State? tacular highlight of his work was L’lle Verte on creating conditions for the city to come. 14. On the banks of which river Grenoble, then the highest inhabited residential His responsibility was to ensure the urban 7 of you building in Europe. It was awarded the Brussels form of Auroville, and his last efforts revolved and in which town was Appar Premier Prix International d’ Architecture in around the creation of a suitable governance We publish below the list of born? 1967. structure that would promote the development donors who have, between 15. What do the initials U.V. In 1966, he was appointed Chief Architect of a city rather than a short-sighted one suited 15.2.08 and 15.3.08, added to stand for in the name ‘Thamizh of Auroville. Together with Pierre Braslawski for the day-to-day activities of a handful of Thatha’ U.V. Swaminatha Iyer? and Mario Heymann he developed a concept for people. “I am trying to save what can still be the support Chennai Heritage 16. From whom did the English the city on a barren, eroded land. saved”, he had said. Roger Anger was a mem- and its voice, Madras Musings, East India Company buy Fort St. His early houses and schools demonstrated ber of Auroville’s Governing Board. have already received. We David in Cuddalore in 1690? exemplary innovations at various levels. Archi- The aim of architecture was to manifest a thank all of them for their 17. In the demographics of the tects and aspirants who were absorbed into high standard of beauty, he said. “Beauty had Roger’s office, earlier in Pondicherry and later the power of uplifting the consciousness, spon- support for the causes State, Adiyan, Malasar and Chennai Heritage espouses. Kurumans are all examples of in Auroville, recall the high concentration of taneously...” creative energy and collective work in those For me, he was an intriguingly rare person- what class of people? — Chennai Heritage early days when the excitement of this idealistic ality who could maintain the widest of vision 18. Name the reservoir created project was still fresh. and simultaneously pay attention to the small- Rs. 900: Subramanian, N. by the Mettur Dam. He produced proposals for other towns: est of details. A refined and heroic being, Rs. 400: Padmanabhan, 19. Where is the temple dedi- Salem, Kudremukh, and Faridabad. His last straightforward and courageous, who led a dis- K.S. cated to Ketu among the project – Matri Mandir – was a highly complex ciplined, balanced life, and rarely skipped his Navagraha in the State? building that could be practically hand-made, afternoon game of chess: “It’s one game, where Rs. 150: Ayer, R; 20. Which actor is credited with thanks to years of assistance from Jacqueline La nothing can occur by chance, you create Narayanaswamy, V. playing the first double role in Coste, his partner, Piero Cicionexi, and a col- everything.”(Courtesy: Sri Aurobindo’s Action) Rs. 100: Suryaprakash, lective effort of the residents. Tamil films? Anupama Kundoo P.V.; Prema Ramakrishnan (Answers on page 7) Rs. 25: Krishna, V.C. March 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 When will IT Expressway keep its promises?

(Continued from page 1) ECR Link Road, it has also been project indicates that the stated, would be blacktopped by March 2008 completion will be has happened only on the road March-end. But users are ask- a paper one, with the greater Till March 20: An exhibition of young boy and his encounter paintings by R.B. Murari (at with theatre (at Alliance surface proper and not on the ing if that is all that there is – if part of work to be done later. In Artworld). Francaise, 7 p.m.). surroundings. It will be remem- it indeed does happen – to what the meanwhile, the traffic on bered that when the IT Corri- was once flaunted as a world- this stretch, which stood at Till March 20: Regional Kala Mela April 1-19: Sapling Exhibition, dor was promised, it was de- class highway. 22,000 vehicles in 2004 during 2008 (at Government Museum). comprising 30 messages — picted not merely as a road, but The project, kickstarted in peak hours, has gone up mani- photographs of tree saplings March 20: Sculptures in bronze, also as an experience, with side- 2004, was estimated to cost fold. with captions that hope to in- fibreglass and terracotta by T. walks, cycle lanes, bus stops that Rs. 84.41 crore in the first In November 2006, a spire people across the world to Vijayvelu (at Artworld). are set off from the main road phase, which included the cost petition signed by concerned plant trees and heal the earth. and a subterranean corridor for of setting up toll plazas, super- residents of the city asked the March 21: Song of the Loom, writ- All tree saplings used in the utilities. As of now, these have vision costs and contingencies. Highways Department the ten by Sabita Radhakrishna campaign are native to India not made an appearance any- The core activities included following questions: and directed by T.T. Srinath and an indicator of the trees and Indrani Krishnaier. The that can be planted (at Alli- where except in the initial conversion of the stretch into a Q1. Is there a slippage from the play talks of the plight of the ance Francaise). stretch. In fact, the subsequent six-lane carriageway with medi- schedule of completion of master weavers in Tamil Nadu stretches do not appear to have ans and road signs. The cost of the strengthening and wid- April 3: Concert by Trio à Vent, (at Sivagami Pethachi Audito- any footpaths at all, thereby land acquisition was not in- ening of the IT Corridor a wind trio that was formed rium). showing that this road is not go- cluded and this was estimated project? from the quintet “A ing to be any different from the to be Rs. 43 crore. There was Q2. If there is a slippage, what March 21-30: Display of work of Vent...Propos”, a well known rest of Chennai’s thoroughfares. great delay in land acquisition are the reasons for the devia- artist G. Madhavan (at chamber music ensemble from Drainage pipes meant to be laid and still greater delay in shifting tion from the schedule and Vinyasa Art Gallery). Lyon, with more than 200 per- underground dot the roads and, the utilities. The contractor had where are the revised sched- formances to its credit since its in many places, the road surface difficulty in mobilising resources ules published? inception in 1999. Fabien itself is damaged thanks to con- which resulted in stretching of It is not clear if the petition Bernoud (on the oboe), Rich- ard Malblanc (on the clarinet) tinued use. In fact, in many the timeline. Acquisition of liti- was answered, but once the and Henri Roman (on the bas- stretches there is no blacktop- gation-free land was the first road is declared complete, many soon) explore a repertoire that ping at all – and a nighmare hurdle and resulted in the com- more questions are likely to fucusses on the French music drive is the consequence. Also, mencement of the project being emerge. of the end of the 19th and be- in many parts, the road appears shifted to 1st January 2005. The ginning of the 20th Century (at to become a four-lane highway problems of over 120 linking Answers to St. Andrew’s Kirk, 6.30 p.m.). contrary to the six lanes prom- roads in this area were appar- ised earlier. However, this may ently underestimated, leading Quiz April 5-20: Indian Princes and be an optical illusion owing to to further blocks in the imple- Parisian Jewellers, a photogra- heavy traffic and absence of mentation. Several religious phy exhibition that depicts 1. Toshiba; 2. Kosovo; 3. Fidel lane markings. Judging from the shrines in the area added to the jewellery designed by re- Castro; 4. Ralph Nader; 5. No nowned houses in France for number of shops and semi-per- problem, what with their shift- Country for Old Men; 6. Pakistan; members of Indian Royalty be- manent structures that still ing becoming contentious is- 7. Microsoft; 8. Singapore; 9. Steve March 22: Ugadi Celebrations longing to the various princely stand on both sides of the road, sues. Clearly there had been Fossett; 10. M.S. Dhoni and with traditional folk dances, states. There are also films that it would appear that the several aspects that had been Andrew Symonds. * * * handicrafts and special cuisine accompany the exhibition that project’s greatest bugbear – land overlooked when the original will be screened in conjunction acquisition – continues to project plan was laid out. 11. Taj Mahal; 12. India Ce- (at DakshinaChitra). ments group; 13. M. Bakthavat- with the exhibition (at Gov- plague it. The first stretch of 3 km was salam; 14. Pennai and Marul- March 22-April 5: Birth Marks ernment Museum). The Government has said opened in October 2006, a full Series, a solo exhibition of the nikkiyar respectively; 15. Utta- that blacktopping was in year behind schedule of the en- madhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer; work of Vidya Kamat (at Gal- progress from to tire project. The remaining 18 lery Samukha). 16. Marathas; 17. Scheduled Tribes the Sholinganallur junction km was to be completed in June in India as recognised in the Con- March 26-29: A workshop with (2.6 km), and from Sholin- 2007. The cost in the mean- stitution; 18. Stanley Reservoir; 19. Georges Wolinksi, a French ganallur to Siruseri (7.7 km). while increased to Rs. 117 Keezhperumpallam; 20. P.U. artist, who draws principally for The main carriageway of the crore. The present state of the Chinnappa in Uthama Puthiran. the press. His work is seen in the daily newspaper Libération, the weekly Paris Match, L’Echo des savanes and Charlie Hebdo EIGHTH DENSEST METRO (at Alliance Francaise). IN THE WORLD

(Continued from page 1) Act was repealed in the State in sq.km city, the prevailing den- 1999. sity is 247 persons per hectare while the density in the suburbs April 20: Pramil After Pramil, a The Centre is also proposing township policy”. The Ministry is only 59 persons per hectare. retrospective of poet Pramil’s the redefining of city municipal envisages appointing a consult- The focus should certainly be works. Pramil was the enfant- limits. A National Urban Com- ant for coordinating with State on the development and densi- terrible of modern Tamil writ- mission is being set up to focus ing. Starting his life as a painter governments on the proposed fication of the suburbs. on developments in towns and and sculptor, he later began to townships. It is understood that While this emphasis on sur- cities and to increase their lim- write New Poetry and literary these initiatives will be manda- rounding areas is welcome, it is its. This move is meant to criticism. He was given the tory for States, if they propose to be hoped that the city, which change the urban-rural equa- Pudumai-Pitthan award in to avail funds under the is already bursting at its seams, tion in the cities and, thereby, 1995. Jawaharlal Nehru National Ur- will not be neglected. Also, a redefine the density of popula- ban Renewal Mission good plan for development of To celebrate the beginning of his tion. It has been noted that (JNNURM). The States will satellite towns would envisage March 29: Gayatri’s Monologue 70th birth anniversary, a series while the population of India also be asked to reform their their being independent enti- presented by Indianostrum of events to commemorate this grew 2.8 times between 1951 land policies, including the re- ties, thereby reducing the daily Theatre, written and directed great poet, including photogra- and 2001, the urban population duction of stamp duty to 5% influx and exodus of population by Koumarane V, translated by phy and painting exhibitions increased 4.6 times. Cordis Paldano. An inquiry on the poet, poetry reading ses- and the removal of the Urban in the metro resulting in traffic into the emotions of an actor sions, book releases and also Land Ceiling Act wherever it is The extent of Chennai city chaos and adding to the pollu- and his or her relation with the discussion on his life and work, applicable presently. The stamp is about 157 sq.km and the tion. Time alone will tell as to personage. It is the tragedy of are being organised (at Alli- duty at present is 8% in Tamil Chennai metropolitan area is what the new plan will have for Gayatri. It is also the story of a ance Francaise). Nadu. The Urban Land Ceiling 1117 sq.km. Within this 157 this city. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2008 GOING... GOING... AND REBORN Madras TO KEEP UP WITH A CHANGING CITY in the 1890s (Continued from page 5) tanks at a height of 44 feet and supplied to the city. Governor Napier inaugurated it on 13-5-1872. Piped water came into vogue but still the water contained germs and insects. The rich people used to get pure water from . Even doctors advised that this water was good for health. This water was car- ried by Brahmins in pots and distributed at one anna per pot. l Our OLD is of Saraswathi Stores, once the pride of Mount Road from where Though water position im- A.V. Meyyappa Chettiar (AVM) sold the Odeon and, later, the Saraswathi proved in 1940-41, the popula- Stores 78 rpm records. After the gramophone business closed and the company tion was increasing day by day. shifted to more modest premises on TTK Road, the building, once a handsome colonial structure, became AVM Dasa, a fine restaurant which closed for rea- In summer it became worse. sons never explained fully (above, right). Last year, the heritage building was There will be relief if the pulled down and this extraterrestrial structure has been constructed. That is the Krishna-Pennar project is NEW. (Photos courtesy: OLD from Appachi, the biography of A.V. implemented. But there are two Meyyappan Chettiar, and the NEW from R. SARAVANAN.) obstacles – damages to fields and to gardens. The scheme is Statement about Ownership and other particulars about newspaper expected to be implemented (As required to be published under Section 19-D Sub-section (b) of the Press and Registration soon. of Books Act with Rule 8 of the Registration of Newspaper (Central Rules), 1956.) Sri V.D. Krishnaswamy, Form IV M.A., had written in 1939 as Madras Musings (Fortnightly) follows: 1. Place of Publication : Chennai (Madras) “In 1639, Europeans made 2. Periodicity of its publication : Fortnightly the mistake of settling here, 3. Printer’s name : Mr. T.J. George knowing the water problem. Nationality : Indian There is no development re- Address : M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. garding water scarcity.” No. 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006 4. Publisher’s Name : Mr. S. Muthiah for Chennai Heritage In 1949 also the position is Nationality : Indian the same. is flow- Address : 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, ing through the centre of Ma- Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 dras. It is of no use except to 5. Editor’s Name : Mr. S. Muthiah spread bad smell. After coming Nationality : Indian to Madras I have seen several Address : 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, changes but some things are still Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 in the same state as before – the 6. Names and addresses of : CHENNAI HERITAGE impurities in piped water, the individuals who own the 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, bad odour from the River publication Royepettah, Chennai 600 014 Cooum, and the dirty water in I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my the temple tanks. I doubt very knowledge and belief. Sd. S. MUTHIAH much whether these will ever Publisher improve in future.

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Published by S. Muthiah forfor ‘Chennai‘Chennai Heritage’,Heritage’, 260-A,260-A, TTK TTK Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600 600 018 018 and and printed printed by by T TJ JGeorge George at atLokavani Lokavani-Hallmark Southern Printers Press Pvt.Pvt. Ltd.,Ltd., 62/63,122, Greams Greams Road, Road, Chennai Chennai 600600 006.006. EditedEdited byby S.S. MUTHIAH.MUTHIAH.