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• Short ‘N’ Snappy • Woman of words & action MADRAS • Narasiah a winner again • Keep smiling MUSINGS • A curates’ egg of a season Vol. XVII No. 19 January 16-31, 2008 Is VPH to get a new

Isn’t it a brilliant idea to let us park our cars on the unfinished fly-over just outside our house? Loop-the-Loop lyovers – today’s buzz-word, Fselling the dream that traf- fic problems will soon end. This spectacular painting, ‘Sunflower & Space-I’, is part of Ravi Gossain’s exhibition ‘Celebrating Space’ that is on at the Lalit Kala Akademi. And SPACE That’s nice, although hopefully, is what our two stories on this page are about. they’ll keep them user- friendly. These guys can be seriously confusing, with octopus-like Are authorities serious arms looping, bending and twisting over themselves. You can get lost on them, you hances are that most has to be compulsorily allotted Ccitizens of Madras that is for OSR purposes. Building as- know. A little like battling an about OSR? unfriendly maze. Chennai had never heard of the sociations can maintain this Pretty impressive, the sight of term OSR, unless they were in land as a park. one under construction. You the building trade, until the (By A Special Correspondent) Laudable though such rules gaze with awe upon the huge other day. That was when a are on paper, in reality most de- arms slowly inching towards high profile attempt by the munity and recreational pur- OSR provisions. However, velopers violate these norms one another, and hope Chennai Corporation to take poses. The OSR norms help these roads are to be transferred with impunity. OSR has re- they’ve got their calculations over what it felt was OSR land maintain a healthy ratio be- to the local body free of cost (by cently come into focus in the right. A bit disconcerting if the arms didn’t meet, and from a five-star hotel made tween the built-up area and a gift deed) in order to qualify Chennai Corporation debates surprised construction crews news – and thousands caught open spaces in a city and are for the exemptions.” when the Councillors alleged found themselves sailing past up with the fact that OSR worked out based on the prop- The article goes on to state that private institutions had one another. stands for Open Space Reserva- erty extent. that wherever a developer can- taken over OSR lands and were But just one point – the primary tion. “As per Development Con- not provide OSR due to various violating norms. The specific reasons for traffic woes are An article written by Suresh trol Rules (DCR) of the constraints, he has to make a instance of a private hospital the users themselves. So, un- Kuppuswamy in The Hindu CMDA, the OSR is applicable payment equivalent to the maintaining a parking lot for less road-usage lessons are dated February 17, 2007 defines only for plots exceeding 3000 space to be reserved to the Cor- which it was charging parking ‘taught’ – literally – flyovers the OSR specifications in m2 (13.5 grounds) in extent. In poration. This is applicable only fees was cited. The Mayor, in may come and go, but the clueless driver will mow on Chennai as follows: “The Open large plots, where developers for plots ranging from 3000 sq. his response on December 30, forever. Space Reservation (OSR) propose public roads, the area m to 10,000 sq. m. In plots ex- 2007, ordered the Land and For example, speed junkies norms are mandatory for large covered by public roads is ex- ceeding 10,000 sq.m, land Estates Department of the must learn to differentiate plots and are intended for com- cluded from the calculation of amounting to 10% of the area (Continued on page 7) between a flyover and a race track, or they’ll find them- selves dropping like the Court-ordered committee to gentle rain from heaven upon some unfortunate beneath. Given the numbers planned, monitor ecopark the city might soon begin to resemble a fairground filled (By A Staff Reporter) with roller coasters. he Madras High Court ten days ago ordered the formation of a the State Government to preserve the wetlands. On December 22, Ordinary roads will seem dull, unexciting. Tcommittee to oversee the Adyar Poonga Restoration Plan. 2003, the State Government handed over 58 acres of the area to Incidentally, word’s out that This committee will comprise the following members: advocate the city’s Corporation to develop it into an ecopark modelled on there is a nice stretch of road T.K. Ram Kumar to represent Exnora International; Bharath Jairaj Tezozomac of Mexico. The budget for creating the park, Rs. 60 in a certain locality clean, of the Citizen, consumer and civic Action Group (CAG); Sudha crore, was passed in 2005 and a special purpose vehicle (SPV), straight, no potholes. Ravi of the Environment Society of Madras; and Ranjith Daniels Adyar Creek Eco Park Limited, was set up to harness and channel Something wrong with that im- of CARE Earth. This is the latest step in a long battle over the the funds for development. An Adyar Creek Trust was set up with age? Adyar Creek between environmentalists on the one side and the Chief Secretary as the Chairman and the Secretaries of the Don’t worry. Government departments on the other. Highways, Forests, Fisheries, Municipal Administration, Sewarage Plans are afoot, and they’ll To recap, the uncontrolled exploitation of the area had been & Water Supply, and Finance Departments as members. Ironically, come a-digging real soon. challenged by the CAG in the court during the building of the Ranjitha Ashok Ambedkar Memorial, and in 2000 the High Court had directed (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS January 16-31, 2008 Court-ordered New Year greetings on SMS committee he Man from Madras Wishes tically all the landmarks are T Musings has no mobile You languishing! phone and feels blessed. There Everything Even Senate House which are others who have felt differ- Automatic was so splendidly renovated is for ecopark ently, in particular MMM’s Results in Success now out of bounds to visitors. good lady. But MMM only felt As for Bharat Insurance Build- reassured on New Year’s Eve, And there was one of ing, it is without a roof for over (Continued from page 1) when he noticed several among MMM’s friends who received three years now. his friends and acquaintances an SMS that went: MMM was recently at the being plagued by New Year “Peace, Love n Joy in the New Teachers’ College premises in many of the members of the Trust were those who had appeared greetings, all relayed through Yr. A Wonderful New Year to U. Saidapet and was shocked at for the Government when the CAG had challenged its actions in SMS. Being a magpie collector Hugs, Love and Kisses, Smita.” the way the buildings were be- court while, curiously, the CAG was not made part of the Trust. of sorts (though others have in- ing maintained. If the authori- This came in at the witch- terpreted this as the height of ties are working on a case for Environmentalists subsequently suggested the handing over of the ing hour of midnight and unemployment) MMM asked demolition, they are going entire 350 acres of the Creek for protection and also questioned MMM’s friend’s wife picked up about some of the messages and about it the right way. how only 58 acres of it could be preserved without access to the the phone. He, when ques- reproduces them below for the And Victoria Public Hall waters of the estuary which was the lifeline of the area and which tioned closely, denied know- benefit of MM’s readers. has crossed one more year would be cut off with the proposed development. ledge of any Smita, but wife as without any attention being not willing to believe such stout Here is one that combines busi- paid to it. In 2007/08, for the second year running, money was allocated denial. New Year was not so ness with pleasure: The scribe departed much for the development of the Creek, Rs. 100 crore this time. The happy. The rift within the lute Wish you a very happy and satisfied with the info. At least Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited could have carried on well into prosperous 2008. We are playing a someone has benefited from all (TNUIFL) was appointed the coordinating agency, and consult- 2008, had it not finally tran- concert tomorrow at 9.00 am at this. ants from Auroville were brought in to advise on developing the XYZ location. We would be happy spired that it was a casual busi- Park. The Government requested the court in July 2007 to if you can make it convinient (sic) ness acquaintance who sent a A fond farewell recognise the TNUIFL as the agency for the development of the to attend. bulk sms to everyone. God Park and that it be allowed to select the consultants responsible for knows how many more house- oarding a night train to Another of the same variety: BBangalore, The Man from the work. It also requested that the TNUIFL be allowed to recon- holds are cursing the unfortu- Happy New Year. My daughter nate Smita! Madras Musings was witness to struct any building within the Adyar Creek and Estuary. This was is dancing at ABC tomorrow. a father seeing off his daughter challenged by the CAG which also questioned the moves by the Please join us. to that city. The girl, well into TNUIFL to permit the consultant from Auroville to “demonstrate” Then there is this flowery one: SHORT her twenties, appeared to be their plans for development. This, the CAG felt, would mean a May the miracle of New Year confidence personified, but the built-in bias in favour of the consultant when it came to the final be a source of inspiration and the ’N’ poor father was on tendering process for the actual execution. cause for celebration. tenterhooks, plying her with SNAPPY questions in a voice that was On August 3rd, the Government gave an assurance that it was MMM wonders as to what is loud enough to drown the not contemplating any permanent construction in the area and so miraculous about the New engine’s whistle. With every- that the existing building would be developed as an information Year. Perhaps it is a miracle one listening in and grinning at centre. However, objecting to the proposal, the CAG filed a that the world makes it to yet All glass & steel the girl’s discomfiture, the man another year despite terrorism, counter-affidavit stating that the project would adversely affect the he Man from Madras finally got off the train after disease, war, poverty and pol- estuarine wetland. Instead of adopting sustainable methods to pro- T Musings learns that while having reminded her to be lution! tect eco-sensitive areas, the Government has embarked upon an Chennaiites may go gaga over careful not to let on to anyone that she was travelling alone! unsustainable project that will ensure the destruction of the Adyar Then there is this one that can the new styles of construction, Creek area, it said. The petitioners, it alleged, had transferred the only be defined as going over- all plate glass and steel, outsid- land to the Adyar Poonga Trust without approaching the High board: ers are not so impressed. MMM People’s car Court. In the meanwhile, a high profile inauguration of the devel- learns of an overseas director ven as The Man from WISH arriving at an IT company and YOU EMadras Musings is banging opment activity was held on August 1, 2007 and a master plan was complaining about the dark in- A this article away on his key- unveiled on the same day for public discussion. teriors of the offices and their Fantastic January board, late as usual and expect- total dependency on artificial The State Government filed another writ petition before the Lovable February ing a phone call from the Chief Court requesting permission to proceed with the work. It stated lighting. To let in some fresh any moment, he cannot help Marvellous March air, he tried opening the win- Foolish April noticing from the television that the objective of the Poonga Trust was to restore the wetland dows and found that this was in the Adyar Estuary area, comprising 58 acres, and to create an Enjoyable May screen that the much-awaited something that had never been Rs. 1 lakh car has been un- ecologically sensitive zone nurturing the flora and fauna peculiar Successful June attempted at ever since the in- Wonderful July veiled in Delhi and is expected to the locality together with human interface. It also claimed that auguration of the building Independent August to be available on the roads by objections and suggestions received from several stakeholders, in- many years earlier. It finally re- Tastyest (whatever that is) September. The only question quired an army of carpenters to cluding NGOs like Exnora International and CAG, were consid- October that MMM has is this – where ered. Interestingly, the Government is still sticking to its plan of get the window to open. What are the roads? If cars are going Beautiful November a strange thing, says this visitor, restoring only 58 acres and not the entire area, something which Happiest and Musical to be available at this price, will that in a country where there is environmentalists claim will be unsustainable. The Court, while December there not be an explosion in so much of natural light, people Have a Victorious Year their number? But do we have ordering the formation of the panel, has asked that the members try to shut it out. MMM could MMM could not help notic- the roadspace for them? be given full access to the facilities and that the term of the panel not help but agree. be co-terminus with the execution of the project. It has ordered ing that September was absent. MMM is all for technologi- that the panel file a report of the development each year. It now Perhaps given all the excite- cal advancements and the mak- Languishing landmarks ing available of luxuries for the remains to be seen as to how all this transforms into reality. ment, a Sane September would be best. common man at affordable scribe known to The Man prices, but he cannot help won- This one has New Year in the Afrom Madras Musings is dering if an investment in mass initial letters, but MMM is still working on a column that public transportation would puzzled over what he really features languishing landmarks not be more worthwhile and means: of the city. He came to MMM beneficial in the long run. Our Addresses New for ideas. Just look around you, For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: Enthu said MMM to the visitor. Prac- – MMM Chennai Heritage, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, West Cott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation A big ‘Thank You’ to 8 of you matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/ 63, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. On editorial matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, We publish below the list of donors who have, between 16.12.07 and 15.01.08, added to the support Chennai Heritage C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 62/63, Greames Road, Chennai and its voice, Madras Musings, have already received. We thank all of them for their support for the causes Chennai 600 006. Heritage espouses. — Chennai Heritage No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent from these addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and you Rs. 50: Muralidharan, K. will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as it Rs. 100: Ramanathan (Dr) J.D., Jambunathan, T.S. may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you Rs. 116: Seshadri, R. faster and disappoint you less. Rs. 200: Vijayalakshmi, K., Seshan Raghavan THE EDITOR Rs. 400: Satpoorani Rs. 401: Krishnamoorthy Srinivas January 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 A ‘transformer’ needed

here is an air of euphoria in the wake of the loaded about two months after the order. The Tprocess of liberalisation and globalisation ground was marked after another four weeks. that has been set in motion during the last 15 The poles were fixed two months thereafter. A years. Certainly there has been some change. cable drum was brought two weeks later. The But its impact on the working of State-run cabling was done three weeks thereafter. The Excess fees reasonable, but several schools organisations has been minimal. In fact, if we transformer was brought after another three were to analyse dispassionately any work to be weeks. Activation of the transformer was demand fees over and above t is gratifying that students of got done through these organisations, it will be possible only about eight months after the or- these fees for parent-teachers’ IClasses X and XII in Chennai clear how much more needs to be transformed. ders. In any effective organisation everything association, etc. which make Corporation schools are to be This is best shown by a rather commonplace connected with a job is systematically analysed the education unduly expensive provided fruit bread as they put incident. to see that it is done in the shortest possible time for the poor students. and all the required materials are so procured in extra hours of study every The residents of a street needed a new Further, the schools insist that they are in position “well in time” or “just evening to prepare for their fi- transformer, as the power supply was fluctuat- that such payments should be in time” for the work to go on without nal examinations. About ing and the voltage was very low because of extra made only by cash and not by load after apartment complexes came up on the interruption. This, unfortunately, is a casualty 11,200 students studying in cheque. Proper receipts were street. For years together they requested the in the working of our Government departments. Class X and 5,500 students in not given in most cases for such Divisional Officers and the Circle Office to What I have stated here is only with refer- Class XII in Corporation fees collected. mitigate the problem by installing a transformer. ence to an electricity transformer, but it reflects schools would benefit and the The students studying in In the meantime, power breakdowns and a malaise plaguing our entire governmental Corporation will spend Rs. 50 voltage drops occurred frequently at all times of sector, the more evident signs of it being: Corporation schools are so poor lakh on bread to be supplied till night and day, necessitating the residents to ring that many of them find it ex- a. Decisions not taken promptly at the lowest the end of March 2008. up the power breakdown number very often. If level these can be taken. tremely difficult even to pur- the power supply department had any concern While this is laudable, the chase uniforms and notebooks. about customer satisfaction, it would have b. This forces ‘consumers’ to approach higher Chennai Corporation should In view of the insistence on pay- analysed the frequency and type of complaints levels. take immediate steps to ensure ment of such excess fees, several and would have installed a transformer on its c. This overloads the higher level, who are left that the students studying in poor families would be forced to own. But this of course was too much to expect with no time to devote to their own work, Corporation schools, all of withdraw their children from from a department accustomed to customers including periodical unannounced on-the- whom are from the lower the school, thus defeating the coming to them on bended knees to get as a spot visits to see what the ground situation is. income group, will not have to objective of the government to favour what was due as a matter of course. pay fees more than the pre- provide universal education. Even after repeated requests, there was not d. When decisions come from a higher level, scribed level, under one pretext The Corporation should give even the slightest indication whether and when the lower level implementing the same is peeved and tries to sabotage it, not realising or other, to the school manage- wide publicity to the prescribed a transformer would be installed. The residents had no option but to use a contact to approach that if the decision had been taken at the ments. fee structure for the students the highest functionary dealing with electricity, right time by that lower level authority, Nandini Voice For the De- studying in its schools and who ordered the installation of a transformer approaching a higher level would have been prived, a Chennai-based NGO, should also exhibit the details “immediately”. It is not good governance if in- avoided. extended scholarships to sev- on the notice board of every stallation of a transformer on any street needs e. All this leads to the possibility of unscrupu- eral poor students studying in school in the city. the orders from a functionary at the highest level lous elements making some money on the the Corporation- and Govern- If the students and their par- who should be concerned with policy matters side. A whole lot of contact men/lobbyists ents are enabled to know the only. Loading such decisions on someone so have sprung up now and this again is another ment-owned/aided schools at high in the authority ladder rather than on the the beginning of the academic prescribed fee structure, it factor which distances the public from the would give them the courage to one competent to decide on the basis of merit government. year 2007-08. and felt needs, only means the higher ranked We need a real “transformer” – one who can refuse to pay the excess fees officer has less time to do work required of him. While doing so, the NGO change the attitude of public servants who think when demanded by the school Many a time, the lower ranked officer also takes came across many cases where that the public are their servants! managements. umbrage by interpreting this as having gone be- students studying in these N.S. Venkataraman hind his back to force a decision on him. The schools were asked to pay natural reaction in most cases is to go slow and K.R. Baliga Trustee excess fees over what is throw as many obstacles as possible. 2B, Parkland Apartments stipulated by Chennai Corpora- Nandini Voice for the Deprived 7, Nathan Street 54, First Main Road The “immediate” in the orders passed took tion. almost eight months for the installation of the Harrington Road Thirumalainagar Annexe Chennai 600 031 The fees prescribed by Perungudi transformer. The RCC upright poles were un- Chennai Corporation are very Chennai 600 096

READABILITY PLEASE CHENNAI HERITAGE Subscriptions and 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, ALWARPET, CHENNAI 600 018. Dear Readers, contributions I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / As letters from readers l Since Volume XIV, No.1 (April 16, 2003), Madras Musings has increase, we are receiving more I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it been priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. hereafter. Please make out your cheque only to CHENNAI HERITAGE and and more hand written letters, send it, together with the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI many of them in a hand so small HERITAGE, 260-A, TTK ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 and illegible or large and LOKAVANI SOUTHERN PRINTERS PVT. LTD., 122, GREAMS (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. scrawled as to be unreadable. Often this leads to our as subscription to Madras Musings for the year 2006-07. An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue discarding a letter, particularly if l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment to be essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play some part of it is unreadable. a greater role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai and its environment. We therefore look forward to your sending If you wish us to consider your Heritage an additional Rs...... us your contributions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. letter for publication, please (Rupees ...... ) If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated type it with enough space support from those of you who have already made contributions, between lines or write it using a Please keep / put me on your mailing list. and if many more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only medium hand, clearly dotting be able to keep Madras Musings going, but also be able to con- Name : ...... tinue awareness-building exercises on on-going projects as well the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. as undertake one or two more such exercises. Many readers also try to fill Address: ...... Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDI- every square centimetre of a TION TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque postcard space, making reading ...... for Rs.500, we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to or editing impossible. Madras Musings for 2006-07 and the remaining Rs.400 as contri- ...... bution towards the causes Chennai Heritage espouses. Please help us to consider your ...... We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those letters more favourably by mak- newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their ing them more legible for us. Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas postage subscriptions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd. All other cheques to free mailer. – THE EDITOR ‘Chennai Heritage’. — The Editor 4 MADRAS MUSINGS January 16-31, 2008 January 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

rians who have viewed the city from the land, A woman of words his look at it is from the sea coast, which is an Keep unusual perspective. Being the nephew of well-known writer ‘Chitti’ Sundararajan must have helped, but – and action he says his interest in history really stemmed from a visit to Calcutta in 1956 when he smiling realised that the people there showed a great hen her mother Pattam- She met Gandhiji in 1925 in respect for heritage, something which he feels Wmal passed away, Vai. Mu. Madras through Ambujammal, is sadly lacking in our city. From then on it o you want people to come It makes sense. Kodainayaki Ammal, (Vai. Mu. daughter of S. Srinivasa Iyengar. was a love and passion for history and heri- Svisit? No point going around Ko.) was just an infant and her When Gandhiji saw all the tage. Then, when he was appointed by the Try smiling a bit more. Athithi-Devo-Bhava-ing if the mother hardly 20 years old. women who had come to meet World Bank for a project in Cambodia, he saw This isn’t advice – it’s practi- first thing to greet an enthusias- Angkor Wat and was further inspired. He says Kodainayaki was the second him were decked with jewellery cally an order, with the full tic tourist eager to meet the mys- he can still recollect the fluency with which daughter of Neervalur Venkata- and were wearing silk sarees, he weight of officialdom behind it. terious East is a snarl, snap or chariyar and Pattammal. As her remarked, “When Baratmata is guides there could point out panels depicting the Markandeya Puranam and talk about According to a recent news- plain old indifference. father was in the Police Depart- in chains, you are in golden paper report, we citizens appar- “Be nice,” everyone is being ment, she was left in the care of chains!” From that day till her Tirukkadaiur where the story is believed to have been enacted. ently need to overhaul our told. her grandmother, Vedavalli death, Kodainayaki Ammal reaching-out skills, up the friend- You cannot help thinking The airport staff have been instructed to smile, but haven’t been told why! Involvement in research began in 1991 Ammal, and aunt, Kanakammal, stopped wearing costly jewellery liness-quotient significantly. that the locals could do with a bit when the Government appointed him to do a And keep in mind that not pletely clueless staff, appreciates in Triplicane, Madras. and wore only khadi sarees. ‘Concerned’ officials are pointing of cheer too, and some protec- everyone is on holiday. the true meaning of ‘baffled frus- Vai. Mu. Kodainayaki Ammal. survey on the ports of India. This took him to She was barely 6 years old in When Ambujammal started various libraries and instilled in him a love for this out, going on record, and tion from service-goofiness...of A brilliant smile does not tration’. 1907 when she was married to in the English papers like the Swadeshi League, Kodai- research. From there to Madaraspattinam was demanding a change in attitude. any kind, at any level. make up for an almost complete What do you do with a sales- nine-year-old Vai.Mu. Parthasa- The Hindu. Appreciation came nayaki Ammal also joined it and not exactly a step, for there were many short Bit much, when citizens need The ‘advisors’ need to remem- lack of relevant information, an person who, when told “Same rathi of the ‘Vaithamanidhi from Subramania Bharati, Sister started preaching Gandhian ide- a diktat from a government de- ber, though, that a smile is not ability to think fast, offer sugges- size, but different colour,” offers K.R.A. Narasiah stories in between. Mudumbai’ family, a traditional Subbalakshmi, Vaduvur Durai- als in remote places, along with partment for something as basic an island, entire of itself. It has tions or alternatives or even you a different size in the same Vaishnavite family of Triplicane. swamy Iyengar and many others. Salem Kamatchi Ammal, as being friendly. to be supported by other factors. something as basic as clean toi- colour? Vaithamanidhi is the name of Rukmini Lakshmipathi, Ambu- This is reminiscent of the days lets. Entrepreneurs come in many the ruling deity of Thirukkoilur, Her second work to be pub- jammal and Janammal. when you, while still a toddler, Ever had the experience of forms, including those cheerful, lished was a novel, Vaidehi, l by their place of origin. She was imprisoned when she Three in a row insisted on gazing, tight-lipped, going into a restaurant and ask- direct souls, who, if irritated, are which dealt with the plight of the took part in a procession on Feb- pop-eyed and distinctly hostile at RANJITHA ASHOK ing the young person solicitously liable to give you (the locals, that Though the family had many Devadasis and showed her con- fawning relatives while your hovering over you to ‘explain’ a is) facts about your ancestry and well-educated males, the women cern for social conditions. This ruary 27, 1932. Even when she was in prison she continued to Wins Tamil literary award again then-young parents desperately dish only to have him stare at your face you were hitherto un- were not sent to school and, was also a great success. It was pleaded with you to “Say Like body language, indicat- the menu, then at your face, then aware of, the whole process tak- therefore, Vai. Mu. Ko. had no then that she realised that she write and completed Uthama Seelan, a novel which was .R.A. Narasiah, whose book on the Work on Madaraspattinam began in 2005, ‘Hello’.” ing willingness to help, advise, back at the menu in baffled igno- ing just a few minutes filled with formal education. On her own should be able to put it all down when Narasiah, concerned that there was a serialised in Jaganmohini. She also Khistory of Madras City, titled Madaras- Now, the dictionary defines a and being there for someone – rance? brisk, colourful dialogue. she learned the Tamil alphabet in writing herself and, with the plethora of books on Madras in English, but composed several kirtanas both pattinam, Oru Nagarathin Kathai, was smile as “a facial expression indi- especially those first-timers who The smile is still in place, but A few lessons in that direction and asked relatives to read out help of her husband and her reviewed recently in Madras Musings, has none in Tamil, decided to write one on the cating pleasure, favour, or are invariably overwhelmed by the eyes, in sharp contrast, are would help, including addressing Tamil stories to her. uncle Ragavachari, a Tamil in Tamil and Telugu while in every reason to be happy and proud. For he is history of the city. It took him 18 months to prison and set them to music. amusement, but sometimes deri- the sheer numbers. now round with growing horror a certain indigenous habit of the only writer who has won an award for put it together and the research had him trav- sion or scorn, characterised by an Or re-defining the word at the probability of an unseemly shrewdly assessing the naivety of When she was released after six three years in succession from the Govern- elling within the city to Fort St George, the months, Margaret Cousins met upturning of the corners of the ‘queue’, given our unique inter- brawl with an increasingly irri- customers, and then proceeding ment of Tamil Nadu’s Thamizh Valarchi Archaeological Survey and the Tamil Nadu mouth.” pretation of it. In many other tated customer. to take them to the cleaners. her and congratulated her. Kazhagam. In 2004 it was his collection of Archives. He is immensely satisfied with the l Another in the occasional series What could be clearer? parts of the world, a ‘queue’ does Hysterically interior-designed In fact, visitors from afar, who She started the Mahatmaji short stories titled Sollanaperu which won the response that the book has received and says Officialdom, agreeing with not mean a 5-lane human wave malls, hotels and offices are filled come armed with this informa- on the early feminists of Madras with pride that almost all reviewers have writ- Seva Sangam after the assassina- prize. In 2005, it was for his chronicle of mari- this, obviously expects everyone huddled near a small window... with young things nattily dressed tion about this pleasing little as- time trade titled Kadal Vazhi Vanigam. ten positively about the book. His work, he by K.R.A. NARASIAH. tion of Gandhiji, an association to ignore the “derision or scorn” complete with impatient shoving in smart uniforms that stress the pect to shopping on our conti- Madaraspattinam has been adjudged the best says, is not meant so much for the scholars as for women between 15 and 75 bit, and will certainly frown upon and desperate reaching-over- ‘global’ image, to make, you as- nent, have been known to go years of age, and raised money to book in the History, Archaeology and it is for the lay reader who has an abiding in- terest in the history of the city. any attempt to smirk at the visi- and-around, even if you are sec- sume, every variety feel at home. into glossy showrooms and bar- put up its own building in Research category for 2006. The award will be presented by the Chief Minister on What next? A history of Madurai, no less. tors. ond in line. A visitor, caught in But work-savvy has to match ap- gain briskly with stunned, liver- Soon, she was so interested in scholar, began studying the nu- Triplicane. After Independence, Tiruvalluvar Tirunal (January 16th). This has Narasiah now climbing rocky out- All entry-points into the city this melee, may feel just a bit pearance. If you merely look ied staff behind gleaming storytelling that T.C. Pattammal, ances of the Tamil language and when she was given seven acres Narasiah, a well-known writer in Tamil crops outside the city with a view to seeing are being given a talking-to crowded. smart, without actually being so, counters. a tenant in the family house who caught up with its literature. of land for her part in the free- who is now a regular contributor to Madras inscriptions and edicts and also getting the airport, railway and bus stations, Even the art of nodding needs the customer feels cheated, re- You also need to choose the had studied upto to the IV Form, Soon, she started writing on her dom struggle, she donated it all Musings, says that his fascination with Madras best views of the city. All this is to immense including those services guests attention. Apparently, the way sentful. moment. volunteered to write if Vai. Mu. own. It was at this time that to the Bhoodhan movement of began with his career in the Merchant Navy. annoyance of his family, concerned as they normally come in contact with – we move our heads to register a Only someone who has gone “Can you direct me to the Ko. would dictate to her. Thus Vaduvur Duraiswamy Iyengar Vinobhaji. Each time the ship steamed into Madras are about his safety. But there is no stopping a autos, taxis, and even plain old ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is a source of im- around some of these shimmer- nearest pharmacy?” must be met was written Vai. Mu. Ko’s first suggested that she should run a In 1956 she lost her only son Harbour, he felt a thrill that he still finds hard historian. citizens intent upon their daily mense confusion to some hands- ing places, accompanied by with the concerned look, the Tamil drama Indra Mohana. magazine and that since Srinivasan. She was devastated by to describe. He claims that unlike most histo- Sriram V. chores. across-the-seas. equally shimmery, but com- soft, honeyed tone not a grin, Jaganmohini was for sale, she Parthasarathi supported his her loss, fell ill in 1959 and the which can only damage any should buy it. This was a monthly wife in this effort and to encour- magazine had to stop publication. chance of a friendly, cultural ex- run by one Nagaswamy Iyer. age her took her to watch plays She was admitted to the TB Hos- change. in Tamil performed by Mysore Vai. Mu. Ko. took over the pital in Tambaram and passed he Western Ghats of India, The reptile toll traffic takes lizard (Calotes versicolor), Bengal Too much fake camaraderie Kuppi Veeranna and Party. Dur- magazine and ran it under the away on February 20, 1960. Tone of the 25 biodiversity monitor (Varanus bengalensis), can be very irritating, especially hotspots in the world, is rich in Common Vine Snake (Ahaetulla for a bedraggled passenger who’s ing those visits to the theatre, she same name from the Vinayaka Even after running a popular faunal diversity and has numer- nasuta), Common kukri just got off a plane after 27 hours got to know the women of the Chaturthi day of 1925. Noble magazine single-handedly for 35 ous endemic species. Of the 285 (Oligodon ornensis), Checkered of zigzagging across the world, family who owned the Noble Press was its printers. years and having written 115 In Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary species of vertebrates endemic to keelback (Xenochrophis piscator), dragging along toddlers and Press. And it was to this press novels and a number of plays, she Vaidehi was serialised in the the Western Ghats, 60 species Green keelback (Macropisthodon babes-in-arms. that she gave the manuscripts of was not recognised as a writer by tend to rest on warm roads where Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary of To study the road-kills on the magazine and helped the journal are reptiles. However, the l P. KANNAN plumbicolor) and Striped That’s the “I don’t know you; her two plays, Indra Sena and male-dominated Tamil society. they are easily injured or killed by Kerala and on the south and east Ooty-Mysore highway within the considerably. Jaganmohini was biodiversity of the Western Chennai Snake Park keelback (Amphiesma stolato). Of don’t want to; I’ll probably never Chandra Lochana. The former In fact, she was not admitted to vehicular traffic. Snakes and by private cultivated land and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, known as a monthly novel Ghats has long been under threat them, the Bengal monitor is an see you again, but do, for my was accepted for publication! the Writers’ Cooperative other reptiles that move from coffee and tea plantations in the highway was scoured on foot magazine. In six months the due to the expansion of planta- to be callous and show less con- endangered species. sake, have a nice day” syndrome. Sangam, when she applied for one place to another also get Tamil Nadu. during the early hours for road- The manuscript had been print order became 2,000, an un- tions and townships. According cern for reptiles than to other The study confirmed the Overdone smiling can also membership simply because she killed by vehicles. Snakes show a The sanctuary, with its kills. All the road-kills were ex- read through carefully by Vai. heard of figure for Tamil maga- to Forman and Alexander in animals confronted on roads. observations made by V. Gokula have the opposite effect of mak- was a woman. The excuse was unimodal daily activity pattern neighbouring wildlife sanctuar- amined, identified, photo- Mu. Gopalakrishnamachariyar zines in those days. In 1937, she 1998, vehicles on roads have The Mudumalai Wildlife in 1997 on the impact of ing people nervous – probably that she was only a writer of by moving to basking sites dur- ies, national parks and reserve graphed and removed from the (a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil changed the format to include overtaken hunting as the leading Sanctuary is one of the most vehicular traffic on the reptile wondering what you’re up to. “popular fiction, not literature.” ing mid-day. In late spring and forests, is part of a contiguous road to avoid repetition. The who was associated with the current affairs etc. The magazine direct human cause of vertebrate popular and oldest wildlife sanc- population in the Mudumalai As in everything, the middle She never got her due as the first early autumn, the snakes are forest complex and supports a snakes and other reptiles were preparation of a Lexicon and had a section called Vanitha mortality, often endangering lo- tuaries in India. It is situated at Wildlife Sanctuary. A detailed path, people, the middle path. woman editor and first woman most active during early morning healthy population of reptiles. identified. who had assisted Dr. U.V. Mandalam and in the 1940s, cal populations of common and the trijunction of Tamil Nadu, study is needed on a long-term Now that the authorities have novelist in Tamil. and late evening. During the Since the Ooty-Mysore highway 36 reptile road-kills from eight Swaminatha Iyer) and by her Vasumathi Ramaswami, threatened species. Roads cause hottest part of the summer they Karnataka and Kerala. The runs through the sanctuary and species and five families were re- basis to quantify the impact and stepped in, you’ll probably wake husband before being forwarded Ranganayaki Ammal, Ambu- NOTE: Based on Dr. R. forest fragmentation and take a are nocturnal. Slow-moving rep- 321.5 sq. km Sanctuary is also along the Moyar River, ve- corded. They included the In- to formulate conservation up one day to a city that may to the publishers. In 1924, the jammal and many other women Prema’s biography of Vai.Mu. heavy toll of reptiles during con- tiles are more vulnerable than bounded on the north by the hicle movement is very high all dian flapshell turtle (Lissemys measures. (Courtesy: Cobra, sleep every now and then – but play came out in printed form writers contributed for this Ko. published by the Sahitya struction and subsequent use. most other animals to vehicular Bandipur Tiger Reserve of through the year, and particu- punctata), Green forest lizard Journal of the Chennai Snake never stops smiling. and received good reviews even section. Akademi. Reptiles are cold blooded and traffic. Also, vehicle drivers tend Karnataka, on the west by the larly during the tourist season. (Calotes calotes), Indian garden Park.) CMYK 6 MADRAS MUSINGS January 16-31, 2008

January 19-February 5: Sutra, tri- adic expressions in canvas, stone will work with two Indian musi- and textile by Lakshmi Srinath cians (a sitar player and a tabla (at Forum Art Gallery). player) to the music written by Brunet for modal instruments Till January 20: Celebrating Space, and also to the music suggested an exhibition of paintings by by the Indian players (at Alliance Ravi Gossain (at the Lalit Kala Francaise, 6.30 p.m.). Akademi). and M.S. Subbulakshmi (at Mu- February 5: The Absent Lover, pre- (Current Affairs questions are January 20 & February 1&2: seum Theatre, 7.30 p.m.). sented by Thresh-Preeti from the period December Proof presented by the Madras Vasudevan. A major new pro- 16th to 31st. Questions 11 to Players. A mathematical play From January 28: Kumamoto Artpolis, an exhibition on Japa- duction from Thresh, re-working 20 pertain to Tamil Nadu and directed by Mithran Devanesen the passion and mystery of a 5th (at Museum Theatre). nese architecture (at Lalit Kala Chennai.) Akademi). Century drama by Sanskrit mas- January 20-February 29: Vasantha January 28, 29 & 30: Tree of Life ter-poet Kalidasa (at Chinmaya 1. Who was sentenced to life im- Vizha and Children’s Mela (at Heritage Centre, 3.00 p.m. for DakshinaChitra). Festival 2008 – Puppet show on prisonment on December 18th the environment by Brigitte schools, 7.00 p.m. for public). January 25: Phèdre by Jean Racine, for killing the BJP leader Pramod Revelli. Her tales have in com- February 9: Open Studio. translated into Tamil by Daniel Mahajan? mon the forest as the main place Indianostrum Théâtre will offer Jeyaraj and directed by Astrid 2. Which two airlines in the In- of action. These tales revolve an experience with dancers and Bas. dian skies decided to create a around a tree and around a ques- actors and also a discussion on single entity on December 19th? The play is located in ancient tion. She uses various techniques Sophacles’ Antigone (at Alliance Greece. Phèdre has fallen in love Image from Euripides’ Hippolytos of masks, puppets and shadow Francaise, 7.00 p.m.). 3. Who are the new Chief Minis- with her stepson Hippolytus. She ters of Himachal Pradesh and illustrated by Indrapramit Roy. theatre in her show (at February 12 & 13: Meeting with confesses her guilty passion to Navbharat Matriculation Serge Bromberg who has been Gujarat after the recent elections Oenone, her nursemaid and ad- water colours studded with there? Swarovski gems (at Artworld). School, T. Nagar, 12.00 noon on involved in the preservation, visor. The story of Phedre will be 28th & 30th and at Alliance restoration and distribution of January 24-February 5: Drawings 4. In which city was Benazir played out by Indian actors in Francaise, 12.00 noon on 29th). classic cinema in all its forms Bhutto assassinated on December Tamil. With the assistance of & Paintings of K.G. February 2: Wine Tasting Workshop since 1985 (at Alliance Fran- 27th? Koumarane Valavane and with Subramanyan (at Gallery – Wine, how to choose it, how to caise, 6.30 p.m.). six actors, Bas will present ex- Sumukha). 5. Who was named Time maga- taste it, how to enjoy it (at AFM At DakshinaChitra: tracts from Racine’s play inter- January 24: Japanese Kagura mu- zine’s ‘Person of the Year’ for Auditorium, 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Workshop for adults spersed with a reading of texts in sic concert (at Music Academy, 2007? Please sign up for the workshop January 25 & 26: Cherial Painting English and French from Jean- 6.30 p.m.). 6. Name the famous film-maker at the reception). Workshop. Christophe Bailly’s journal, January 27: Nachu Poigai. Swami, and producer of the mega classic February 2: Alain Brunet Trio – February 10: Screen Printing Phedre in India (at Alliance after completing a performance, Sholay who passed away recently. Alain Brunet is a jazz trumpeter Workshop Francaise, 6.30 p.m.). narrates a three-generation-old who has played with some of the Workshop for Children. 7. Who was chosen as FIFA’s January 21-27: Art exhibition by story about societal affairs as he greatest names in jazz both in January 27: Competition based on ‘Player of the Year’ ahead of K.R. Santhana Krishnan (at removes his make-up. The France and internationally. In the various exhibitions at the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Lalit Kala Akademi). storywriter is Pugazh. Nachu 2000 he came up with a new centre. Ronaldo? Poigai is a short story from the January 21-February 10: Group form of mixed music, Didgeridoo February 2: Balloon Sculpting Mahabharata (at Alliance 8. Apart from Sourav Ganguly, Show – An exhibition of paint- Orchestra. In Chennai, three Workshop. Francaise, 7.30 p.m.). who or what reached the land- ings and sculptures by nine art- French jazzmen, Brunet (trum- For further details on workshops mark figure of 100 Tests on De- ists (at Vinnyasa Art Gallery). January 27: Mangosteen Melodies, pet/vocal), Luc Fenoli (guitar) and to register please contact cember 26th? January 23-February 2: Sparkling an evening of music from Bing and Jean-Louis Dô (drums/elec- MCF: 24462435 / 24918943 or 9. On December 20th, who did Stories. Olaf Van Cleef presents Crosby, Saigal, Aretha Franklin tronic drums/sound designer) Ms. Lakshmi @ 98417 77779. Queen Elizabeth II, at 81 years, 7 months, and 29 days, surpass to become the longest-lived British monarch? 25 tips to make a difference 10. Nine more countries became part of the Schengen Agreement 1. Change your bulbs. Replace 16. Recycle. Indians don’t need on December 21st to bring the to- incandescent bulbs with – and to help bring down tal to 24. Five are the Czech Re- to be told of this – we are the compact fluorescent lamps public, Estonia, Hungary, Carbon Dioxide emissions and best recyclers. But it’s good Lithuania and Latvia. Name the (CFL) – these consume one- combat global warming to be reminded of its virtues, other four. quarter of the electricity and lest we forget. last longer. * * * 11. Walk, don’t drive. If you 17. Switch to wind power. 2. Use solar devices to heat wa- 7. Check your tyres. Maintain- Okay, we are not expecting 11. Where in present-day have to buy a packet of ter for bathing – such heat- ing the right degree of pres- you to put a windmill on top Mylapore in Chennai was ers have got better over the sure in car and motorcycle chips, don’t drive to the ‘Palathope’ considered the ‘law- store next door – take a of your house. But if you are years. tyres improves on mileage setting up a factory in an yers’ enclave’? 3. Construct green buildings. considerably and saves fuel. walk. If you must drive, com- bine a lot of chores. SEZ or living in a small town, 12. With which eminent school Not the colour of the wall, 8. Buy energy-efficient appli- you could champion the case of Chennai would you associate 12. Reduce air travel. If you silly. If you are planning to ances. Next time you buy an for installing windmills for the name of Subbaraya Iyer, Sis- build a house or an office iron, an oven, a refrigerator have the option of getting ter Subbalakshmi Ammal and work done over the phone or most of the electricity gener- complex, hire an architect or even an air-conditioner, ated for use. Mrs. Padmini Chari? who could work out ways to opt for models by manufac- e-mail, then go ahead. It would save you money and 18. Shun plastic bags. Although 13. In which form did Lord Shiva optimise the use of energy. turers whose USP is energy it’s an old advice, no one re- ‘stay’ at Mylapore? the world a whole lot of car- The structure could simply efficiency. It will cut your ally listens. Carry a reusable 14. When did Tamil acquire its have better insulation to re- electricity bills and India’s bon emissions. 13. Turn the geyser off after a tote while shopping. It will present geographical boundaries? tain heat in winter. Also, emission levels. help reduce emissions from 15. Who was the Prime Minister avoid huge glass walls so that 9. Prepare for disaster. Dengue bath so that water is heated only when you need it. Also, decaying plastic bags in land- of Madras (now Tamil Nadu) you don’t spend more on air- and diarrhoea cases are ex- fills. when India became a Republic? conditioning during the pected to rise. Ensure that good quality shower heads ensure the flow of water is 19. Use public transport. Don’t 16. To which of the navagrahas is summer. your local hospitals are well- drive down to the office. the temple at Kanchanoor dedi- 4. Turn computers off when not equipped to handle the im- low but efficient, thereby conserving energy. Take a metro instead. Also, cated? in use. They consume as minent crisis so that recov- avail the train when you are much electricity as three 60 ery is quick and there is 14. Consume less. No, we are 17. Who is the Chancellor of the not expecting you to turn a travelling to another city. Gandhigram Rural University? watt bulbs, so avoid the minimum loss of life. Push the government to im- stand-by mode. 10. Buy fuel-efficient cars. yogi, but there is no need to 18. Which famous Chennai go to the other extreme ei- prove public transport facili- institution’s name was suggested 5. Switch off the lights while Agreed, we are not like the ties – it needs goading. sleeping or when office shuts Americans who love guz- ther. When you are about to by Pandit S. Subramania Sastri, a buy something, ask yourself 20. Save paper. If you want to Sanskrit scholar? down. You will be surprised zlers. But it’s time to renew convey something to your by the amount of energy you our awareness about fuel ef- whether you really need it. 19. What does D.K. stand for in friend, do it over the phone save. ficiency, not just to save en- 15. Turn the tap off while soap- the initials of the Carnatic legend ing your face or shaving. or e-mail. Get off the Indian D.K. Pattammal? 6. Conserve water. Use sprin- ergy but to beat the rise in habit of putting everything klers or drip-irrigation de- petrol prices as well. For ev- Don’t let the water flow un- 20. Where in Chennai would necessarily. Water is going to on paper. Thousands of trees vices for watering your lawns ery litre of petrol consumed, would be saved. visitors be greeted by the ‘Stone or growing crops. The days of about four kg of cabon diox- be a scarce commodity if you of Remembrance’ with words wasteful flow of water are ide gets injected into the at- don’t learn to conserve it from the Book of Ecclesiastics? over. mosphere. Think about it. now. (Continued on page 7) January 16-31, 2008 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 A curate’s egg of a season

l Tamil Nadu had a curate’s egg partnership set a tough target bai, Tamil Nadu did well of a season in the Ranji Trophy for the visitors to reach. This against Karnataka, a superb championship in 2007-08. In the came after a see-saw battle for century (108) on debut (in end, it found itself nowhere near the first innings lead. The low- Ranji Trophy) from young the leaders. Nevertheless, much scoring first innings was built Abhinav Mukund and his 139- talent was on view and the team with the help of skipper run third wicket partnership did have its high points. Subramaniam Badrinath’s 111 with his captain Badrinath BHASKERAN THOMAS, continu- and his partnerships with the (143), laying the foundation for Abhinav Mukund S. Badrinath ing his reviews (MM, December talented opener M. Vijay (32) a big first innings score. 1st) of Tamil Nadu’s perfor- and K. Vasudevadas (39). But it was the all-round per- wicket partnership between Trophy Super League. Perhaps mance during the season writes: Tamil Nadu folded up for formance of left-arm spinner R. Mukund and Vijay. Vijay’s su- an injury to fast bowler Yo 234 after being 147 for three at Ramkumar who scored 65 and perb 230 not out that included Mahesh prevented skipper amil Nadu’s batting find of one stage. The seasonal rains bagged four wickets that helped seven sixes and 22 fours and Badrinath from enforcing the Tthe season, Abhinav that preceded the game pro- the home team gain a first in- lasted 632 minutes, clearly follow-on against a struggling Mukund, has the unique record bably made the wicket a little nings lead. It was he and the marked him out as a possible for Karnataka. of starting his Ranji Trophy difficult to bat on. Led by young persevering P. Amarnath, who the opener’s slot in the Indian Be that as it may, Tamil campaign with a century fol- paceman Vijayakumar Yo claimed 5 for 75, who dismissed Test lineup. The national selec- Nadu emerged with vastly im- lowed by a duck. His next in- Mahesh (four for 40), the visi- Karnataka for 221. tors would do well to study this proved performances against nings was a stroke-filled hun- tors fell short of the hosts’ total M. Vijay (47), Badrinath young player’s technique and the above-mentioned sides after dred. When he began with a by 11 runs. sliding to defeat against blob in his third game against Mumbai. No doubt Karnataka Himachal Pradesh, there were l were handicapped as national expectations that he would fol- Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy review duties beckoned skipper Anil low it up with a three figure Kumble and star batsman knock. That was not to be; he Rahul Dravid. Tamil Nadu too fell for an invaluable 96 in the Despite losing Vijay cheaply, (46) and an unbeaten 50 from find him a place in the India ‘A’ did not have Dinesh Karthik in second innings. Tamil Nadu built up a sizeable Srinivasan in the second in- side to start with. He is such a their ranks for the same reason. Thanks to this knock from total of 296 for six declared, nings helped Tamil Nadu to get graceful player and appears to The advantage of playing at Mukund and his significant thanks to Mukund’s sheet-an- into an unassailable position. have plenty of time while play- the M.A. Chidambaram Sta- partnership with another Ranji chor knock and good partner- Karnataka responded by scoring ing his shots. dium was a major factor for debutant, Selvam Suresh ships with Badrinath and 170 for three wickets in their While rain deprived Tamil Tamil Nadu’s gaining six points Kumar (66 n.o.), the team Suresh Kumar. The target was second outing to easily draw the Nadu of garnering full points from the two matches. This has tasted success against Himachal too much for Himachal. match. against Saurashtra, it should helped the team’s chances con- Pradesh. Suresh also came up In earlier matches, Tamil Tamil Nadu reached a rapid have gone for the kill against siderably of not facing relega- with a match-winning bowling Nadu fared well against Karna- score of 531 for two wickets Karnataka and won an outright tion to the Plate Division. spell. taka and Saurashtra. After a against Saurashtra, thanks victory. This would have helped Thanks largely to the zeal The Mukund-Suresh Kumar crushing defeat against Mum- largely to an epic 256-run first boost its points tally in the Ranji and enthusiasm of coach and State selection chief W.V. Raman, a young Tamil Nadu Are they serious about OSR? side has gelled into a good all- round combination with the (Continued from page 1) fully functional and then de- fore taking any action. Why are no choice other than to take potential to do much better Corporation to prepare a report cided to stake its claim. The such projects not held up at over the area. next year. on the status of OSR lands. The demolition of what the Corpo- foundation level itself in case The hotel has claimed that Mukund’s 120 clearly Corporation identified 13 spe- ration claimed to be illegal they are violating norms, is the no notice was ever given and showed that his hundred cific locations where there had structures occupying OSR was question most people are ask- that the attempts by the Corpo- against Karnataka was not a been violations. The recent at- begun on a Sunday. The next ing. According to the Corpora- ration amounted to forcible en- fluke. This Under-19 lad tempt at demolition and take- day the hotel approached the tion, several reminders had try into the premises. It has also showed splendid consistency over appears to be the direct re- courts and obtained a stay on been sent to the hotel which did claimed that its staff and guests while playing in Sri Lanka for sult of all this. the demolition and there mat- not part with the land but, on were denied access during the the age group team and has As largely characteristic of ters rest now. the other hand, went on with demolition and has asked for continued to demonstrate it at the civic body’s activities, this The media reporting on the the construction of parking compensation for the damage the higher domestic level. too was a knee-jerk reaction demolition and the subsequent sheds, generator room and sev- incurred during demolition. Mukund is another possibility and was botched from the start. court case have rightly ques- eral other amenities on the According to the Chennai Met- for the national team; he has The Corporation waited for tioned the Corporation as to space in question. The Corpo- ropolitan Development Au- proved his quality and standard years after the hotel became waiting for such a long time be- ration has claimed that it had thority (CMDA), which con- right from his Under-13 days. trols such buildings and land He has a fearless approach they occupy, the hotel is in while going for his shots. 25 TIPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE violation of norms and had paid Vasudevadas, who came Rs. 34 lakh for regularisation in good at last, scoring an un- (Continued from page 6) gency? Each one, Plant one. 24. Demand clean tech. Just as the 1990s. This was, however, beaten 103 off a mere 114 balls, 21. Rationalise price of electric- Okay, so it may not be PC in HIV/AIDS, for which na- not taken to its logical conclu- showed his class as a left- ity. With electricity being but the sentiment was cor- tions agreed to drop prices of sion, as the regularisation handed strokemaker. It’s heart- supplied for free in many rect. Trees are the best sinks drugs to suit every pocket, scheme itself was challenged in ening that he’s also developing states in rural areas, no one for carbon dioxide. If every get the government to per- court and later set aside. into a useful leg-spinner. really bothers to install en- human being planted one, sist on developed countries All this simply points to a Amongst the players Tamil ergy-efficient pumpsets. Or we would have six billion to sell clean technology to plethora of rules being avail- Nadu faced, there were several to put off the switches when trees growing. That could India cheap so that we can able, but their implementation promising young ones. Saurash- not using them. Energy take away thousands of cut down on our emissions being most ineffective. Cer- tra had to depend on its inter- shortage is going to be the tonnes of carbon dioxide without paying a heavy price tainly, allowing a building to national class batsman Che- norm in the age of global from the atmosphere. for research and develop- come up in violation of norms teshwar Pujara, who’s been warming. So, haul up politi- 23. Switch to biofuels. Start ment. and then trying to demolish consistently making big scores cians for indulging in popu- looking seriously at cars that 25. Let others know. You may parts of it, leading to legal for his State team and India lism and educate villagers on run on alternative fuels. A be conserving the natural re- tangles, is a most ineffective Under-19. Another Under-19 the virtues of paid power. whole range from biodiesel sources, but if your method and is a costly and player from the State is the 22. Grow more trees. Remem- to ethanol is being readied. neighbour isn’t, you are still wasteful exercise. Why can the promising batsman Ravindra ber the slogan by Sanjay Be among the first to drive a goner. Educate others. – rules not be followed from the Jadeja. — (Courtesy: Gandhi during the Emer- one of them. (Courtesy: India Today.) development stage itself? Straightbat) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS January 16-31, 2008 Overwhelmed by the stamp themes

he X International Phila- contribution of Madras to the Ttelic Exhibition, held in Indian Army was commemo- Madras recently, proved a great rated in 1980 with a stamp on attraction to the city’s popula- the Madras Sappers. tion. For philatelists there were Among the political figures counters and trading booths of the city were stamps on S. that appeared to be doing brisk Sathyamurthy, C. Rajagopala- business. But for the general chari (depicting him as Gover- public the theme – and there nor-General), Annadurai, K. seemed to be an overwhelming Kamaraj, TTK, MGR and number of them – displays were Murasoli Maran. The scientists the attraction. of the city featuring in stamps Among the displays, there included Sir C.V. Raman and S. was a special section devoted to Ramanujan. The film section A picture postcard that was available at INPEX. (Courtesy: Postmaster General, Central Region, stamps relating to Madras and had Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Tiruchirappalli.) Tamil Nadu. Senate House has Ganesan, Ghantasala, A.V. there are not many stamps re- mony to this. There were dis- special gifts for those signing up been featured twice, once in Meyyappan, L.V. Prasad, S.S. lating to this field. plays on birds featured in for this account. 1957 during the University Vasan and K. Subrahmanyam. An interesting picture post- stamps accompanied by de- Overall, it was quite an edu- Centenary and again in 2007 Arts personalities included card released on the occasion tailed descriptions of the cational experience – but a when the sesquicentennial was M.S. Subbulakshmi, Rukmini featured stamps on buildings winged creatures that would pleasant one – going around the celebrated. The High Court of Devi Arundale, Chembai and institutions of Madras and have done a Salim Ali proud. displays. Perhaps Madras Week Madras had a stamp released in Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, environs – the High Court, the The Postal Department has this year ought to have an ex- its honour in 1962 during its Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar College of Engineering, Guindy, also an account facility to en- clusive exhibition of stamps re- centenary. Among the colleges and Musiri Subramania Iyer. the GPO, the Connemara Pub- courage philately. Those inter- lating to men, women and insti- of city, Madras Medical Col- The philosophers of the city lic Library, St Andrew’s Church ested pay a deposit amount, tutions of Madras. lege, the College of Engineer- commemorated in stamps in- and the Shore Temple. which works like a credit bal- – A Staff Reporter ing, Guindy, and Madras Chris- cluded Annie Besant, S. Even though I’ve been a ance and new stamps, first day tian College had stamps on Radhakrishnan and J. Krishna- stamp collector of sorts for some covers and special cancellations Do you want them displayed. There was a murthy. The mercantile section years, I caught up here with are sent to the account-holder rather intriguing “loin cloth” se- included A.M.M. Murugappa much that I was not aware of – whenever such releases take to lead ries which featured, among oth- Chettiar. Strangely, there was Tamil Nadu organises place. This is accompanied ev- a Heritage Walk? ers, Tiruvalluvar, though he no section related to sports per- TANAPEX, a philatelic exhibi- ery time with a statement of ac- was depicted fully robed. The sonalities of the city. Perhaps Do you want to lead a tion every year – and the Postal count indicating the balance heritage walk? If you are in- Department, which supports amount available and this can terested in history and the this display, encourages philat- be “topped up” by those want- stories of Old Madras and Answers to Quiz ely among the public. The Post ing to continue with the service. would like to lead those simi- Office holds the view that phi- Such home deliveries obviate larly interested on a 2-3-hour 1. Pravin Mahajan; 2. Kingfisher and Deccan; 3. BJP’s Prem lately is not only for those who the necessity of having to watch heritage walk through a par- Kumar Dhumal and Narendra Modi; 4. Rawalpindi; 5. Russian President aim to make a killing by collect- out for news items on stamp re- ticular stretch of the city, Vladimir Putin; 6. G.P. Sippy; 7. Brazil’s Kaka; 8. The Melbourne Cricket ing the Penny Black or some leases and then having to go to drop in at our Training Ground; 9. Queen Victoria; 10. Malta Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. other equally rare stamp. It is the post office to buy them. This Programme at the Metro- * * * poiltan Accord in T’Nagar at meant to widen general knowl- little-known service has been in 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 11. Vedanta Desikar Street or Desigar Swami Street; 12. Vidya edge and the detailed sleeve operation for some years. At 27th. Mandir; 13. Velleswarar; 14. November 1, 1956; 15. P.S. Kumaraswamy notes to some of the thematic INPEX-X, the Department had For further details, con- Raja; 16. Shukran or Venus; 17. The Vice-President of India, Mohammad displays, all put together by tact Ms. SUSHILA NATA- Hamid Ansari; 18. Kalakshetra; 19. Damal Krishnaswamy; 20. Madras amateur philatelists, were testi- Sport on page 7 RAJ 98840 72433. War Cemetery.

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