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Vol. XXV No. 6 MUSINGS July 1-15, 2015 Water pandhals or Know your Fort space markers? better
ou can safely trust our po- are all thatch structures which, tionary doing the honours. Ylitical outfits to be innova- incidentally, are not allowed by Since when did temporary tive when it comes to circum- law, after the Kumbakonam structures merit such promi- venting the law. With the ad- school fire a few years ago. All nence? ministration being forced by the of them carry the images of their The goal, it is clear, is some- High Court to come down favoured leaders and have thing other than the serving of heavily on the erection of ban- bunting strung across the street water to the thirsty. That be- ners and cutouts, the parties thereby menacing two-wheeler comes evident now when sum- needed some other method of riders as well. Songs praising the mer is on the wane and yet cornering public spaces. The re- there is no sign of these pavi- cent summer has seen a spate of lions being removed. These politically sponsored water-dis- G By have in effect become perma- pensing facilities, all of them nent structures that are pro- hogging the few remaining pub- A Special tected by the political hoods of lic footpaths and street corners. Correspondent the locality with the administra- This is a new menace under the tion either indifferent or simply garb of social service that ought helpless to do away with them. The Assembly and Secretariat. to be nipped in the bud before it leader are played over a public Past history will tell us that becomes a bigger issue. address system every afternoon. this is exactly the way we ruined G The most frequently photographed feature of Fort St George is Come to think of it, the re- There is yet another common our city by erecting large adver- the Assembly building. It dominates the Fort’s frontage and is strik- cent summer was hardly a se- feature among all of them – not tisement hoardings. Many were ingly beautiful. It is, sadly, completely out of bounds for the casual vere one. Moreover, with the one really dispenses any water. classified as temporary, came up visitor, housing as it does the offices of the Chief Minister, the present dispensation selling The only sign of such an activ- on street corners and footpaths State Cabinet, the Legislative Assembly and the ministries. Com- packaged water at heavily ity is an empty water dispenser and most had political patron- pared to the rest of the Fort, this edifice is of relatively recent prov- subsidised rates, where is the with not an attendant in sight. age. When they began growing enance, having been constructed in its present shape in1910 and need for these water-dispensing And yet, each one of them is out of control in terms of subsequently added to. But its core is very old, almost as old as Fort facilities? And yet they have declared open with much fan- St George. Among the first structures to be built in 1640 by Andrew Cogan come up all over the city. They fare, an important party func- (Continued on page 2) was what he termed the “Tower in the midst of the Fort”. This was finished before he left Madras in 1643. It housed the civil estab- lishment of the Fort, while the military disposed itself below the curtain walls. According to Dr. Fryer, who left an account of the Changed rules will Fort in 1673, this central tower, a domed edifice rather like a Mughal tomb, was the Governor’s House. Later accounts speak of it as a flat-roofed building and H. D. Love in his Vestiges of Old Madras dismisses the domed depiction as “untrustworthy”. threaten beaches It appears to have been multi-functional, for it “contained of- fices, reception rooms, a dining hall, a chapel and accommodation (By A Special Correspondent) for the Writers.” An earlier write-up, dated January 6, 1664, refers to this building as the ‘Mansion Howse’ and has it as the residence he Central Government The new regulations appli- have basement and stilt-based of the Agent (later designated Governor) and the second, third Thas pulled the plug on the cable to Tamil Nadu, Andhra car parking facilities. The Gov- and fourth members of his Council. It also housed a “very beautifull only protection that our city’s Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, ernment has, however, stipu- Chappell for Divine Service, and Convenient Lodgings for the coast had – norms governing West Bengal, Maharashtra and lated that the floor space index Minister, as alsoe a faire dineing-roome and Celler.” building in areas that qualify as Gujarat remove all restrictions (FSI) for these constructions Dr. Fryer does not mention it, but Hiram Bingham, in his biog- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) on CRZ II areas. Mumbai city will be based on the rules pre- raphy of Elihu Yale, notes that even a year earlier to Fryer’s de- II. According to the existing and Goa had already lobbied vailing in 1991 – this, it is ar- scription, the building was in need of repair. All sources agree that rules, all construction within hard for the change and had gued, will be sufficient to pro- by 1677 the walls of this building were tottering. Several Gover- 500 metres of the sea was disal- succeeded in getting the regu- tect the areas from rampant nors had added to the structure over the years. The additions had lowed. Now, thanks to intense lations affecting them removed over-construction. In addition, been made without any thought of the foundations and by 1688 lobbying by the real estate in- in 2011. That gave a fillip to all all buildings coming up on CRZ Fort House had three floors with the Governor’s Consultation dustry and continued represen- other coastal states to fight for II areas will have to compulso- Room on the top, all ready to collapse at short notice. tations by the State Govern- the same rights. They will now rily recycle wastewater. Action was finally taken in 1693 by Governor Nathaniel ment, this has been relaxed, be subject to the same regula- You only need to look Higginson who, like Yale, was born in the colonial America. He with a few conditions attached. tions as the rest of the city to around you to speculate on was also the first Mayor of Madras. The building was emptied and The builders are jubilant, but as which they belong. There will what will happen to these areas all its effects transferred to Jearsey House on Charles Street within to what it portends for the city be no limits on heights of the in a few years. In a city where the Fort. Demolition was completed by April 1694 when orders is a matter of concern. structures and these can also (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 8) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS July 1-15, 2015 Are they space markers? On oga Day id you yoga on Inter- buildings? Would they bend can attract more people to in- (Continued from page 1) step. When confronted about Dnational Yoga Day, over backwards to protect di- volve more in this event. this, some political leaders have Chief? You will be happy to lapidated but historic struc- “Many people like me are know that The Man from Ma- tures? Or would they continue more interested to involve ac- number and size, and after there argued that putting up water dras Musings did not, for he as they are – tying themselves tively for a social and environ- were several accidents leading dispensers is an age-old Tamil yogas on all other days like up into bureaucratic knots? mental cause which will to fatalities, civic activists had custom. They cite the example nobody’s business and so de- The invitation revealed that directly benefit people and to fight the menace, which took of a prominent temple festival cided to give it a miss on that none of the above was being citys look.. Kindly Consider. I several years, culminating in a in Mylapore where such facili- day of days. Not so several oth- contemplated. It was an exhi- feel happy to share my feel to Supreme Court judgement that ties come up each year on the ers whom MMM knows. And bition of yoga as seen in sculp- you, and you can make it last banned them all. We have had day of the event. But what is they all did it in front of cam- tures and temple art. MMM did long.” a few hoarding-free years, but a forgotten is that they are also eras. Some were of the still va- not visit it. He preferred to lie MMM had visions of the casual glance around the airport removed immediately thereaf- riety while others moved and on his back and let his mind Chief himself and sundry area will show you that they are ter, which is not the case with by that MMM refers to the in- wander. That, in MMM’s view, hangers-on (the lady who coming back in ones and twos, these politically motivated ability of most people to re- is the yoga of yogas. writes the occasional humour slowly but steadily. The will to stalls. main stationary while twisting The next day, even as column in particular) going implement the law is always The administration is, in the their untrained bodies into MMM unrolled his yoga mat, around arm-in-arm with the weak in our city. meanwhile, watching it all knots. he noticed that most of the ar- film actors. At strategic spots, The same screenplay will be without any action being con- The camera apparently was dent practitioners of the previ- the group would unlink hands enacted in the case of these ille- templated. They are obviously an integral part of the yoga. Of ous day had rolled up their and then get down to work – gal water-dispensing facilities. waiting for someone to file a course, given the prevalent mats forever. Several were call- MMM digging, the Chief Each evening, it is common- public interest petition which, obesity, MMM is rather glad ing up their doctors for placing the sapling, sundry place to see several anti-social after following the usual tortu- that those who yoga’d for the unknotting themselves from hangers-on clapping and the elements congregating in these ous routes, will finally result in day, did so in suitable attire, the postures they had tried the actor smiling and bowing as for the ancients, who were previous day. Others com- though he had done all the thatch shelters. From here to a a judgement that will necessi- spurt in organised crime is but a tate taking steps. SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY CHANGED RULES POSE A THREAT rather fitter, did it in the al- plained of backache. In hard work. And so on from most altogether. Not so for our MMM’s considered view, the sapling to sapling till the 25 (Continued from page 1) water body could have shrunk budding Sumo practitioners. day after International Yoga lakh trees, or whatever the within a few years of these Many garments were seen to Day ought to be declared chosen number was, was com- constructions indicates what be lifting up in postures of International Aches and Pains pleted. Come to think of it, FSI is consistently violated, and havoc these builders can play their own, resulting in men Day. why just 25 lakh, why not 376 where the enforcement agen- when they indulge in violations and women having their lakh? cies prefer to look the other of all sorts. embonpoints exposed. Madras Week (again) The other missive reads: way, what is the guarantee that Lastly, the tsunami of 2004 Now, where was MMM be- “No other city in India has fore he went midriff gazing? is that time of the year heritage and celebration like violations will not take place? appears to have receded from Ah yes, he was talking about ‘T again – what The Man this. But do you know that What will prevent an area like collective memory. The havoc from Madras Musings terms as MRC Nagar becoming another the camera. Yes, that was Chennai city is the city with it played on the coastal areas deemed necessary because Daft Suggestions Fortnight”. least green cover in India. T Nagar? Nothing really. Vio- and the subsequent crash in This usually comes about im- lations are sadly the norm in without that, how could all What are you celebrating demand for property along the those in distant Chennai curry mediately after the Chief holds about? More street side shops Chennai’s construction indus- beach needs to be recalled. How favour with the big boss up freth the first of at two occupied platform than any try – a few extra feet of land per has a decade changed all that? north? They had themselves press conferences announcing other metro in India. Less building may not amount to Or are we imagining that such a recorded and the images and Madras Week. A whole host of number of parks and less num- much individually, but collec- disaster will never occur again? movies were duly uploaded on “why don’t you” emails imme- ber of water bodies. tively it can have very detri- Ten years ago, we hardly had YouTube in the hope that the diately crop up, every man and “Even Maylapore tank is mental effect on the quality of any coastal constructions and great leader would in an idle woman wanting the Chief and surrounded by illigal platform life. But who is to realise that, so the loss of life was low. What moment want to see these an- immediate coterie to take up all shops. Traffic is getting worst especially when there are crores will be the outcome if high tics. A self-declared sage from kinds of impossible tasks. Mind day by day due to CMDA and of rupees at stake? waves strike densely populated down South came to our city you, they are all good sugges- Copn poor foresight and plan- tions but pretty nigh impossible We have in the recent past areas? And if such a tsunami is to conduct mass breathing ses- ning. Plan sanction is a piece of to fulfil and the persons who unlikely, why is the Govern- sions in an open-air venue for paper with no scantity. No carried a story about how most come up with them invariably of the gated communities and ment using that bogey for benefit of an invited audience. malls, store, restatement need His doppelganger rival, who have no clue as to how to go to follow rules. I don’t know apartment complexes that have evicting the fisherfolk who are about any of them anyway. come up in the outskirts of the the original settlers in coastal has a a double double prefix what you are celebrating about. city lack water treatment areas? Is it to make way for the prefix and usually hangs out in In this connection, MMM If you are concerned, plant IT city flew to Edelweiss coun- would like to quote verbatim more trees and remove garbage plants, exploit groundwater and builders? try to yoga there. A political from two of the emails received: on that day, rather than having In the meanwhile, hurry up release untreated sewage into hopeful who answers to a fairly “It’s great to hear about the a lame photo exhibition and the public drains and water and go and take a look at the junior army rank put up on the Chennai Week. In this mo- chat forums. Sorry to have bodies. It is a well-known fact beach. Chances are that it may Internet his version of what he ment, We not only think about been blunt, as native of the city that the Buckingham Canal, no not last long and, before you spoke of as ‘yoha’ which raised Chennai memories,We should I feel we have to do much more matter what be its condition know it, exclusive villas and a number of hahas. In short, also try and restore its values than talking.” within the city, was a pristine highrise for the rich, and shanty much energy was generated, and ambience. In this great It takes all kinds to make up stream just outside of it until towns for the poor that support everyone went around chant- moment we will try to make the city, does it not? The point these housing communities the services to the former will ing Om and spoke of world our city much greener by plant- about Madras Week is that it is came up along its side. That the soon close it all off. peace. And they all did it on ing more trees. As Chennai is everyone’s festival. If these let- camera. the less polluted among all ter writers and others of their What intrigued MMM was metro cities we can make it ilk feel something has to be cel- an invitation from the Ar- least polluted. As I do not ebrated or changed, it is up to MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB chaeological Survey of India to know you might have planned them to do it. There is nothing To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen observe Yoga Day. Before already about this. I request to be achieved by sending interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests from opening the missive, MMM you to organise an event for emails to Madras Musings com- many well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad wondered as to how the De- planting trees as a part of the manding the team to do things who receive their postal copies very late – for an online edition. partment proposed to yoga. event. Kindly invite actors like or whining about matters that Madras Musings is now on the web at www. madrasmusings.com Would the officials wrap them- Vivek who had planted 25 don’t change. selves around the endangered lakhs trees all over Tamil Nadu – MMM – THE EDITOR July 1-15, 2015 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Citizens’ green landmarks urther to Dr. A. Raman’s review of Living seating facing the students. Half the classes were FLandmarks of Chennai (MM, June 1st) I held below the mango trees of Damodar Gar- wish to offer two observations. dens.