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• Promoting tree culture • Preserving heritage MADRAS • The homes of Mylapore • Flavours of South India MUSINGS • Only one grabbed chance Rs. 5 per copy Vol. XV No. 14 November 1-15, 2005 (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) Mumbai ruling food for Chennai thought? Appa, they’ve given me an additional 1000 minutes of free talk-time... Now I’ve only got to find friends to talk to! n a landmark decision on October 17th, the Bombay High I Court ruled against the sale of mill lands in Central Bombay for Talk’s cheap large-scale commercial development. Mobile users, persistently wooed The land belonged to five National Textile Corporation Mills and by mobile service providers, are had been sold to bidding developers. The Court ruled that one-third a happy lot today. of the land should be used for low-cost housing, another third as Phones are easily available, and open space and only the rest for commercial development. with free talk times, they can In the Bombay judgment there is much that is of relevance of chatter all night. (Right – like Chennai in what has gone on, and is NOW going on apace, in the we, as a nation, need to be Adyar Estuary and its surroundings. But will anyone concerned coaxed to talk more and with building development in Chennai pay any attention to what we longer.) report below on the Mumbai case? But what will this constant — THE EDITOR staying-in-touch do to us? (Compiled from reports by D. Murali) The average human was never designed to be in a state of fer- he petition in Mumbai was “recent deluge during the last vent, feverish accessibility and Tfiled in the larger public in- week of July this year” as the communication 24X7. Half terest, to protect the interests of context. Senior advocate I.M. the fun in having kith and kin residents of Mumbai and to im- Chagla, representing the Envi- is being able to get away from them occasionally. prove the quality of life in ronmental Action Group But now, even mundane veg- Mumbai, which has drastically (EAG), said that the main etable-shopping is no longer deteriorated during the last 15 thrust of the petition was to en- an escape route, what with years, begins the 368-page judg- sure ‘Open Spaces’ for the city Muniamma getting herself a ment of Justice Dr. S. and to provide space for that cell-phone, and accepting only Radhakrishnan, along with Jus- crying need, public housing. phoned-in orders. Silence, al- tice S.C. Dharmadhikari. “While it is true that in a devel- ready a mere concept in teen- The PIL (public interest liti- oping country there shall have ager-ridden homes, is forced gation) Writ Petition had the to be development, that devel- into further retreat. As for self-congratulatory roman- Bombay Environmental Action opment shall have to be in clos- tics, careful now – she’s prob- Group (a public charitable est possible harmony with the ably guessed that this sudden trust) and its secretary, Shyam environment, as otherwise there increase in calls and long con- H.K. Chainani, as petitioners. would be development but no versations is more about eco- The 32 respondents included environment, which would nomics than a rush of pas- the State of Maharashtra, the result in total devastation,” sion. Municipal Corporation of stated Justice U.C. Banerjee in Recent reports, admittedly, kill- Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the the decision in People United for joy, warn of an increase in Maharashtra Housing and Better Living in Calcutta vs. State headaches, aggressive Area Development Authority of W.B., Chagla cited. behaviour, hypertension, and other depressing urban ill- (MHADA), and the Maha- “Nature will not tolerate us nesses endemic to a chronic rashtra Pollution Control Board, after a certain degree of its de- noise environment. along with labour unions such struction and it will, in any Too voice-of-doom? Perhaps, as the Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor event, have its toll on the lives but having a little gadget yam- Sangh and the Girni Kamgar of the people,” continues the mering at you all the time Karmachari Rozgar Sangha- ominous quote. “Can present- ... especially in the Adyar Estuary area can’t be good. tana. Apart from the NTC day society afford to have such Can you avoid cell-phones? Yes, (National Textile Corporation), a state and allow nature to take The map above dates to 1798 and shows several islands in the Adyar Estuary. if you can handle the guilt other mills too were mentioned its toll in future?” Justice Note the three islands grouped together to the right in the estuary in this map. The heaped on you in this cell- biggest of them was later called Quibble Island. In the map of today (below) not only phone-enabled society. as real estate players. Banerjee had asked and replied have the three islands been merged but they have also been merged with the mainland Maybe it’s time to give that old The petition sought to pre- in the negative. (shaded portion at the top of the estuary). Most of that land that’s been merged has tympanic membrane (okay, vent “further serious damage to “The tragic events in now been built over and is continuing to be built on, making what was once no showing off), your ear- the town planning and ecology Mumbai in the last week of July earmarked for a sanctuary a bit of urban development that will soon be an urban drum, some rest. so as to avoid an irretrievable 2005 have shown that the jungle. It’s in this context, the Mumbai High Court ruling could well be food for Give peace a chance. breakdown of the city”, and the environmental degradation in thought in Chennai. Ranjitha Ashok text of the judgment cites the (Continued on Page 2) (Also see page 3.) 2 MADRAS MUSINGS November 1-15, 2005

(Continued from page 1) more would be required to Lessons for Chennai obtain environmental clear- Mumbai has crossed nature’s ance from Central Govern- degree of tolerance,” Chagla ment,” states the Bombay High said, referring to the price that Court’s judgment dated Octo- the city paid during the recent in Mumbai ruling? ber 17. deluge. It was also clarified that all The main legal issue in the new construction projects EAG’s petition was “the true based on relevant socioeco- mandates that the State shall January 27, 1994 (as amended where work had not come up to meaning and correct interpre- nomic considerations and the endeavour to protect and im- on July 7, 2004), issued under plinth level as on July 7, 2004 tation” of Development Con- improvement of the living and prove the environment and the provisions of the Environ- required clearance under the trol Regulation (DCR) No. 58 working conditions and envi- safeguard the forests and wild- ment Protection Act, 1986 and Notification. (as amended in 2001). It is ronment as enshrined in Ar- life of the country. These two the rules thereunder. It became apparent during titled ‘Development or redevel- ticle 21 of the Constitution of Articles form the core of the According to the Notifica- the hearing of the petition that opment of lands of cotton tex- India are followed with regard country’s environment law, tion, every new project, or ex- despite the publicity given by tile mills’ and begins with a dis- to all development/redevelop- stated Chagla. pansion or modernisation of the Maharashtra Pollution Con- cussion on ‘lands of sick and/or ment on the mill lands, so as to Courts have recognised the any activity (if the pollution trol Board (MPCB) to the EIA closed cotton textile mills’. The protect the interests of the resi- duty of the Government with load is to exceed the existing Notification, not a single appli- regulation stipulates the dents of Mumbai.” regard to the environment. load), listed in Schedule I of the cation was made for clearance percentage of ‘open lands and Article 21 is about ‘Protec- For instance, the Supreme Notification requires ‘environ- until after the issue was raised balance FSI (floor space index)’ tion of life and personal liberty’. Court had said in the Virendra mental clearance’. in the petition. Even thereafter, to be earmarked for open It states that no person shall be Gaur case, “There is a Consti- For this, an application has “only five applications for clear- spaces, public housing, and deprived of his life or personal tutional imperative on the State to be made, along with a project ance were received by the residential/commercial liberty except according to pro- Government and the munici- report, including an Environ- MPCB in respect of develop- purpose. cedure established by law. palities to ensure and safeguard mental Impact Assessment ment in the mill lands,” the The judgment mentions 58 “Enjoyment of life and its at- proper environment and also (EIA) Report, an Environmen- judgement states. as the number of textile mills in tainment, including their right take adequate measures to pro- tal Management Plan, etc. On June 16, 2005, the Mumbai occupying ‘approxi- to life with human dignity, en- mote, protect and improve both The amendments made in MoEF wrote to the Chief Sec- mately 602 acres in the heart of compasses within its ambit the the man-made and the natural 2004 spoke of “New construc- retary of the Maharashtra the city’. “The area comprising protection and preservation of environment.” tion projects” as item No.31 in Government asking for a re- just 8 mills, known as the environment, ecological bal- One of the objections raised by Schedule I to the original Noti- port of compliance with the ‘Golden Triangle’, is approxi- ance free from pollution of air Chagla while arguing the case fication. EIA Notification in respect of mately 8.5 times the size of and water, sanitation, without was that none of the respon- “Under this amendment, the mill land. Nariman Point.” which life cannot be enjoyed,” dents who have started con- new townships, industrial town- “By that letter the MoEF Chagla clarified that he was not the apex court had said about a struction of residential/com- ships, settlement colonies, com- stated that it is apparent that seeking a freeze on all develop- decade ago in Virendra Gaur vs mercial premises has obtained mercial complexes, hotel com- the development of such prime ment in the mill land. What he State of Haryana. the mandatory clearance from plexes, hospitals, industrial es- urban lands will have serious prayed for was an intervention Additional protection is the Ministry of Environment tates and office complexes for implications on the provision of by the court “to ensure that the given by Article 48A, titled and Forests (MoEF), before 1,000 persons or more or dis- community facilities, open principles of sustainable devel- ‘Protection and improvement starting any development. charging sewage of 50 thou- spaces, transport networks and opment, balanced develop- of environment and safeguard- He was referring to the sand litres per day or more, with infrastructural services.” — ment, sound town planning, ing of forests and wild life’. It Ministry’s Notification dated an investment of Rs.50 crore or (Courtsy: Business Line) NIZHAL – to promote tree culture Nuggets of judicial (By A Special Correspondent) wisdom IZHAL (Shade), a Trust agencies to raise more trees, for those seeking information on l In all developed and developing countries, there is emphasis on Nto promote concern for pointing out that each site – trees and looks forward to net- planned development of cities, sought to be achieved by zoning, trees in the city, has recently such as schools, bus stands, working with other interested planning and regulating building construction activity, said the been formed by a group of parks, Government offices, av- citizens who can help either as apex court in Friends Colony Development Committee vs State Chennai citizens. enues and beaches – calls for volunteers or as resource persons. of Orissa (2004). “Such planning, though highly complex, is a It aims to bring about aware- different treatment with re- Those interested may con- matter based on scientific research, scientific study and experi- ness on the role and utility of spect to tree planting, with the tact NIZHAL at: ence leading to rationalisation of laws by way of legislative enact- trees in people’s lives and on the characteristics of indigenous 13/10, I Main Road, ments and rules and regulations framed thereunder.” need to plant, propagate and and exotic trees needing to be Kotturpuram, Chennai 600 l The principal objects of any town planning legislation generally care for trees for the benefit of understood before saplings are 085. are to provide for planning, the development and control of the all. It also plans to disseminate chosen for planting. NIZHAL email: shobhamenon@- use of land and to confer on public authorities such as City Municipalities, Municipal Boroughs, Town Municipalities and knowledge about trees and the will provide such knowledge touchtelindia.net or call Town Panchayats powers in respect of the acquisition and devel- laws relating to trees in the ur- through its data bank and with Kamakshi Subramaniam at opment of land for planning and other purposes. Thus educates ban setting. the help of experts in the field. 24919390, Sekhar Raghavan at the 1986 decision of the Supreme Court in Prakash Amichand The Trust will urge govern- NIZHAL sees itself being a 24918415, or Shobha Menon at Shah vs State of Gujarat. mental and non-governmental resource centre and facilitator 52045137. l In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court observed that the ‘precautionary’ principle and the ‘polluter pays’ principle are essential features of sustain- The Law – and tree-felling able development. The court explained the precautionary prin- ciple in the context of the municipal law thus: f late, there has been a lot non-bailable offence under the situation with experts in the One, environmental measures by the State Government and Oof unnecessary worrying Municipal Corporation/local Parks Department before the statutory authorities must anticipate, prevent and attack the by the public over ‘falling’ trees. body section, ‘Destruction of conveying decision to Zonal causes of environmental degradation. A consequence has been much Public Properties’. Officer. Two, where there are threats of serious and irreversible dam- unnecessary cutting of beauti- 4) The Zonal Officer conveys age, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for Official permission means ful old avenue trees on the decision to the applicant and postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. And, and involves the following pro- Three, the onus of proof is on the actor or the developer/ grounds of ensuring safety to takes necessary steps. cedure: industrialist to show that his action is environmentally benign. human life and property. Members of the public who A landmark decision, that was:

Where there is a definite 1) An application to be made are concerned about wanton l Protection of the environment, open spaces for recreation and need to prune, transplant or to the concerned Zonal Of- tree-felling in their locality, or fresh air, playgrounds for children, promenade for the residents, even remove a tree, it has to be ficer, Corporation of who wish to seek advice and other conveniences or amenities are matters of great public done. However, members of the Chennai. regarding avenue trees, can concern and of vital interest to be taken care of in any develop- public need to be aware of the 2) The Zonal Officer passes on contact the following numbers ment scheme. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But that thought following facts, states NIZHAL, the petition to the Commis- at the Corporation of Chennai: is from the apex court’s decision in Bangalore Medical Trust vs a resource group that speaks for 25384530, 25384670. In case of B.S. Muddappa (1991). sioner, Corporation of “Its importance has multiplied with emphasis on environ- Trees. Chennai. emergencies, the Tree Helpline ment and pollution. In modern planning and development it Cutting an avenue tree 3) The Commissioner peruses of the Corporation can be (Continued on Page 8) without official permission is a the application and checks reached at 98403 50000. November 1-15, 2005 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

Chawla; Galaxy Commercial; Canara Bank; IDBI Bank; United Insurance Company; Accel Frontline; Hutch; Beardsell; TIDCO and Omni Agate. Altogether the number of employees will be about 2,000. From 10 a.m. upto 5.30 or 6.00 p.m. it is very difficult to get into my office and get out of this road on account of the haphazard way of parking of cars, vans, 2-wheelers, autorickshaws Of Chennai’s origins? George Town areas were very and other vehicles. The road is further blocked by likely unoccupied at the time egarding the article in and the migrant Telugus from RMadras Musings (October southern Andhra must have 1st) on Madras and Chennai, occupied the area and created the word Chennai is, for sure, ‘The crush on my road’ the ‘new’ handsome pattana (I not of Tamil language origin, al- refer to the photographs published in MM, roadside vendors selling their wares, seven tea recognise that Elambore (= though it was, and is being, used ISeptember 16th issue. The photographs are of shops etc. Purasawalkam), Triplicane, as a vernacular equivalent of the extreme end of the small road leading from The width of the road is only 22' and length is Mylapore and Tiruvottriyur ex- ‘Madras’ by everyone (irrespec- Greams Road between IDBI and Canara Bank. 720'. Vehicles are parked on both sides of the isted at that time as isolated vil- tive of being Tamil or Telugu- I am working in one of the companies in the road and in case of any emergency, for anyone lages, with their own temples complex. The offices working in this area are: having to go to hospital, it will be difficult to get speakers). and temple tanks, with Tamils Tata Infocom; HCL in the same building as out of the complex on account of such parking As far as I can recall, with my inhabiting them). Tata Infocom – Unit I; Lokavani Hall Mark and the constant traffic. limited Tamil language profi- It would be interesting to hear Press P. Ltd.; Food Corporation of India; IDBI The concerned authorities need to take im- ciency, I cannot think of chennai from Tamil scholars whether ‘Home Loan’ Department; New India Insurance mediate action to help the occupiers of the build- as a Tamil word. There is, in Co. Ltd.; HCL Infotech; Unitech; Magus Cus- ings on this road. any Tamil words similar to Malayalam, a word chenna tomer Data Log; HCL BPO; HiTech Share Reg- O.K. Mohandas ‘chennai’ or ‘chenna’ exist! (NOT chennai); it refers to the istry; Royal Xerox; Sumathi Enterprises; Hotel Chennai 600 006 massive wooden block used for Anantanarayanan Raman Senior Lecture stopping a temple car, i.e., ther late Rajaji unfortunately fell on deaf Ecological Agriculture & strong enough to implement the The same principle applies to or radham (something equal to ears at the time, triggering a chain Sustainable Land Management project. Given a chance, some the remaining 38 temple tanks. of tragic events and deteriorating an externally applied brake). A Program Leader (Honours) people will lobby for the conver- M. Susikaran values. person would walk along the The University of Sydney sion of the tank into a commer- 14/8, First Street ther carrying the chenna and as Faculty of Rural PO Box 883 cial area! Nandanam Extension D.V. Subramanian and when people call ‘halt’ this Orange NSW 2800 Australia Metrowater officials, unfortu- 6, Sri Ram Colony person would place the chenna Chennai 600 035 An engineering problem nately, did not realise that wa- Theosophical Society (block of wood) in front of the ter in a tank filled with water Towering threat Chennai 600 020 wheel. I refer to Malayalam be- eader S. Madhavan’s letter from lorries will percolate into cause several chaste and classi- R(MM, October 1st) high- was appalled to recently see With head bowed ... the ground. Afterwards, they Ian advertisement about the cal Tamil words exist and re- lights the deterioration in the came to the conclusion that do not agree with reader C.G. main in use even today in storage of water in the Kapali coming up of an 18-storey only copious rain and prudent building with 54 apartments on IPrasad’s contention (MM, Malayalam (e.g. thaakkol tank since the 1970s. The fill- rainwater harvesting would do September 16th) that it is wrong (thaazh-kol) for chaavi, a Per- ing of water in the tank is an the Quibble Island. How come the trick. In fact, Metrowater the CMDA thought it fit to to say that one “bows one’s head sian word which came into engineering problem. Some- officials should have investi- in shame.” Tamil usage with the body should investigate, design grant a licence to such a gated how they ware to solve highrise building on the banks While it is true that an ex- Hindustani brought in by the and construct a system which the problem, considered the pression that is widely used is “to Muslims. Another example will will fill the tank with water. It is of Adyar and very close to the several alternatives, arrived at coast in the face of sunamis and hang one’s head in shame”, be padignaru (padi-gnaayiru) re- as simple or as complicated as the best solution, got proper fi- there is absolutely no solecism ferring to west, the direction that. tremors threatening the city. nancial approval, and then Did they consult ecological involved in the use of the verb where the sun (gnaayiru) sets Reader Madhavan reports that completed the work. “bow” in a discomfiting context. (padithal). the water channels laid near and environmental experts on The capacity of the tank is ap- the feasibility of such a mam- Bow (v.) means “to bend The city name Chennai very the Sai Baba Temple, Adam proximately 8,00,000 cubic feet one’s neck so that you are look- likely has Telugu roots (chana, Street and Mada Street to har- moth construction? (22,000 cubic metre) or the All concerned in this ill-advised ing at the ground, especially be- chenna in Telugu and Kannada vest the rainwater to the tank equivalent of 2,000 lorryloads. cause you want to show respect mean beautiful/handsome; got clogged due to mindless step owe an explanation to the Nothing much if you consider public. for God, or because you are em- and in the Chennakesava construction activities. Only re- the rainfall in the area. A 10 cm barrassed or upset”, to quote temple (George Town), cently, they have been laid run off from an area 500 m x M.R. Pillai Longman’s Dictionary of Con- ‘Chennakesava’ means ‘hand- again, as a fillip to rainwater 500 m around the tank or a 2.5 H 64/5, Central Avenue temporary English, which gives some Kesava’. I am of the opin- harvesting. Meanwhile, efforts cm run off from an area of 1000 Korattur, Chennai 600 080 this example. ion that the early Telugu set- have been made to fill the tank m x 1000 m is all that would be Reason for action C.G. Rishikesh tlers (late 1500s and early with water from lorries, but this required to fill the tank. 1600s) must have named their water only percolated into the beg to disagree with Reader A-5 Madhurima The water from the catchment 32 (Old 20-21) ‘new’ habitat (Park Town, ground and filled the pockets area of the Thirumylai railway IC.G. Prasad (MM, October of lorry-owners. Conran Smith Road George Town areas) as ‘chenna station is flowing into the 16th). Even if unpalatable, the Gopalapuram pattana’ (handsome/beautiful In the past, concreting the floor Buckingham Canal. No one is action of the Commissioner of Chennai 600 086 town), similar to naming of the of the tank to prevent percola- bothered about it. The el- Police in attempting to enforce suburb ‘New Town’ in Sydney. tion of water was suggested. evated railway line has a catch- some order and discipline in the The present Park Town– Perhaps, the lobbyists were not ment area exceeding 15,000 bars of star hotels cannot be said READABILITY PLEASE sq.m. for every kilometre of the to be an excess. We should not Dear Readers, forget the present younger gen- railway line. Water collected As letters from readers increase, eration, blessed with well-paid OUR ADDRESSES... from 2 km of the railway line on we are receiving more and more either side of the Thirumylai jobs, is already falling fast as handwritten letters, many of them in prey to the temptations of drink a hand so small and illegible or large For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts railway station (total 4 km, with a catchment area of 60,000 and other accompanying evils. and scrawled as to be unreadable. etc.: Chennai Heritage, 260-A, TTK Road, Chennai 600 018. Restrictions are a must when Often this leads to our discarding a sq.m) is all that is necessary to letter, particularly if some part of it is For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation fill the Kapali tank with a copi- they concern liquor and other matters: MADRAS MUSINGS, C/o Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd., unreadable. ous supply of water. The water undesirable activities resorted If you wish us to consider your let- 122, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. could be easily conveyed by to indiscriminately in the name ter for publication, please type it with On editorial matters: The Editor, MADRAS MUSINGS, pipeline under the elevated of relaxation. enough space between lines or write C/o Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai track and discharged into the The recent death of a young woman it using a medium hand, clearly dot- on Radhakrishnan Salai, allegedly ting the ‘i-s’ and crossing the ‘t-s’. 600 006. stormwater drain near the Sai Many readers also try to fill every Baba temple. a victim of inerbriated rash drivers, No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent should have been an eye-opener. square centimetre of a postcard from these addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and you There may be other ways of Yet young people continue to drive space, making reading or editing im- will get an answer from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as achieving the same objective. after liquor. possible. Somebody should be given the Since 1971, when prohibition was Please help us to consider your let- it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you ters more favourably by making them faster and disappoint you less. responsibility to study the relaxed, a new generation is dete- project in all its aspects. Then, riorating fast after falling prey to more legible for us. THE EDITOR we will have the results. drink. The wise personal appeal of THE EDITOR 4 MADRAS MUSINGS November 1-15, 2005 November 1-15, 2005 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

To get a feel of the tour – and New Survey No.3204’, it goes on particular the homes – I asked to add, and you reflect that the Preserving heritage offers Suri to give me a ‘preview’. As we ‘old number – new number’ con- set out, he tells me that the fusion appears to have existed houses on Namma Mylapore’s list even then! are today owned by temples in N.K. Natarajan’s home at no easy solution the area. In the past, the houses No.27, East Mada Street, is next. belonged to the residents of the He is a house-proud owner, hav- agraharam. When they decided ing lived “in this house for 58 hough we might like to imagine that there is such a thing as the War Memorial. It was first built to remind people about the two to move into the city for reasons years”. The house has been with Theritage that we can all identify with, that will give us a national World Wars, then the wars fought in Independent India. Then came of work, they preferred to hand the family since 1919 – “no identity as Indians living in the 21st Century, who are bound by vari- the statue culture. As we all know, one of them was of Gandhiji on their homes over to temples like change at all”, he says. You climb ous noble ideas, the fact is that it’s all very fluid and arbitrary. This is his Dandi March, the other was the Triumph of Labour. These could the Adi Keshava Perumal temple up a narrow, but darkly gleaming why it is so difficult to get a consensus on any given issue. Do we save be said to represent a national identity, soon after Independence, a rather than rent them out per- staircase of Burma teak, its ban- tigers by keeping them in tiger sanctuaries, or do we save the tribals homage to the Father of the Nation and one that glorified the struggle sonally. isters polished smooth by genera- who live there? Are some people like the Nawab of Pataudi allowed of the Common Man. They are now raising a large stone, but this We start the tour at House tions of human hands supporting to hunt wild deer because this is what he must do as a Nawab – that’s could stand for the burden of colonial history. No.11, Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi themselves while going about the a part of his identity – or do we put the Nawab into jail? Do we clean The next step was the installation of statues that glorified Tamil Street, now the Kalyan Vidya daily business of living. You up the Cooum or do we let the people who live by its side remain culture that were put there during the DMK regime. Even this was Mandir Nursery School. “We emerge on to a lovely balcony, The pictures on this page are of four of the heritage houses on the Namma have to get an early start... it gets protected by a grille of wrought there, because that’s part of their heritage? Do we restore a temple not without controversy. The statue of Kannagi throwing her anklet Mylapore walking trail. (Pictures courtesy: K.J. SURIYANARAYANAN.) tank or provide more water lorries? facing the City was said to have led to a widespread drought in the iron and wood. “So many people, To give you an idea of how we now live in an era of confusing area and, finally, she had to be removed from her place on the beach. including foreign tourists, come signals, let me describe to you a recent event when I had to open an Some people felt that she was too dangerous to be left standing there. and ask us about his balcony.” art show. It was a solo show by a young girl who was a Tamil Muslim. By this time, there were also the famous Mausoleums that were Of homes and The red oxide floor glows with Her family had obviously not been to such an exhibition and they erected on the Beach. Whatever some of us may feel about them, ruby-light, and a hearth in the stood around very silently in the margins. At the centre of the hall these memorials actually provided a good outing for the common kitchen, decorated with a bright was a brass lamp, with flowers, kolam and so forth. Now just before we people. For not only do they get a dose of heritage Tamil style, they red kolam pattern running cheer- all came forward to light the lamp, the girl asked me whether her two can also have a dip in the water and enjoy the food stalls. It is a mix of fully round its semi-circle edge, aunts could say a prayer and I said, of course, how nice that would history and entertainment. a City’s soul smiles at you, conjuring up be. They came forward. They bent their heads down and the prayer As against this very tangible experience, I have to admit that the memories of summer visits to that they recited was “Our Father who are in heaven” – the Lord’s nearby Museum to Vivekananda is completely dead. It’s clean, it’s grand-aunts’ homes. You notice Prayer! This was followed by two little girls who were dressed in shiny well maintained but it has very little to say to the local Tamil person. n assignment that requires Mylapore, a “voluntary and loose too uncomfortably hot other- that the house is filled with pretty pink nylon frocks who came forward and presented me with floral The latest addition to the Marina Beach beautification programme Ayou to stroll in and out of group” of committed enthusiasts, wise,” Suri has warned you... but little kolams. You look at the lady bouquets. What made it even more amusing was that they picked up is the addition of little plaster birds and animals. You could call it a other people's homes with an air according to Vincent D’Souza, this means that your visits clash of the house, and tentatively ask their frocks and made little gestures to me, as if I were the Queen of Singapore-isation of the environment. You may have noticed how of assumed nonchalance has a Editor, Mylapore Times, and a with morning chores in homes whether she, as chief home- England. Now, obviously, only I thought this was a strange ritual. For the medians on the main roads now have small gardens. They could distinct downside. You are con- Trustee. The other Trustees in- preparing for the day. Being a maker, ever thought about mov- the others mixing all these different customs was part of being a ‘mod- be called miniature Zen Gardens. What is funny is though they have stantly beset with an uncomfort- clude K.J. Suriyanarayanan home-maker yourself, you avoid ing, getting herself easier-to- ern’ Indian, may be something they put in rocks in the midst of the able sense of being where you (Suri), C S Raghuram and handle, modern surroundings, have no real business to be, Kavitha Selvaraj. making life smoother for herself. The homes are naturally cool, One street housed the origi- had watched on TV. plants, the rocks have been painted l by When I see an artificial palm tree in bright patterns. Anywhere else in rather like a gatecrasher who has Namma Mylapore, a little over She smiles at your question and ideally suited to the climate and nal Karpagambal Mess, Suri tells made out of plastic and electrical the world, a rock would be left as a the misfortune of possessing a a year old, focusses on civic heri- RANJITHA ASHOK shakes her head: “We are com- environment, with little water you. In the old days, food was l by GEETHA DOCTOR light fittings standing outside the rock, but here in Tamil Nadu, we particularly censorious, hard-to- tage, on preserving the soul of fortable... we never felt the need tanks and wells inside, in the served directly on to the palm of airport, I cannot help but feel very have to paint the rock. So, now, may please conscience. Chennai, and the devising and the eyes of the lady of the house to change anything.” main courtyards, many open to your hand as you stood on the irritated. Because in a tropical land- be this will be called Tamil Zen. You try to make yourself as implementation of measures re- who, in spite of being harassed, It is the same answer every- the sky. (What an effective road, he informs you. You ate, scape, the easiest thing to do is to The other great symbol that inconspicuous as possible, but quired to make life easier in the welcomes you with a smile and where. “My house has always method of rainwater harvesting... washed your hands and moved have a whole line of real palm trees, but I realise that in today’s world popular Tamil culture has provided to us is something much more don’t really succeed. city. It is a registered charitable an offer of coffee. An embedded been like a banyan tree,” one oc- before the world even came up on – how brisk and hygienic is the idea of having an artificial palm tree outside our malls and air- humble. It’s the plastic water pot. I know it’s a bit cruel to talk about After all, you are exactly what Trust. plaque on a wall bears the name cupant tells you. At one time, 9 with the term.) Wooden rafters, that, he laughs. ports is a way of telling people that we have arrived. It’s part of the a feature of our daily life that means so much hardship to the thou- you suspect you have become – Traditional homes are a part ‘Amudha Thadavalli Ammal’, or 10 children ran riot through carved doors and pillars are com- You walk on, the sun getting identity of the global Indian. It’s part of a new art form whereby at sands of women who have to wait in a line for water, but even here an intruder. of its focus. Namma Mylapore and a date: 1838-1843. these warren-like rooms, they tell mon to all the homes. Some en- steadily more aggressive. You are every street corner during a temple festival or an election rally, you you can see the love of colour that is so typically Tamilian. As though What is so unique about these hopes to preserve and conserve ‘Collector’s certificate No.83, you, with pride. trances, strangely, sport Grecian now in Chithrakulam. find these giant bamboo cutouts of politicians or gods and goddesses to underline this, one of the hotels in the city, The Park, has made homes, anyway... that could pos- these sites by drawing attention pillars. Several rooms display You walk into yet another that have been outlined with tiny light bulbs. Now what I find fasci- the plastic water pot part of its display, right at the entrance. When- sibly excuse your inquisitive to them, creating an awareness carving on walls near ceilings. home. Suri exchanges banter nating about these cutouts is that the colours that are used for these ever there is a danger sign on the highway at night, what do we find behaviour? and interest not just among citi- You peer into kitchens, and no- with the occupant, obviously an images are very traditional. Wherever they cannot represent the but a red plastic pot that has been turned upside down and fitted with In a word, they are special. zens, but among the house- tice that chimneys are now inac- old friend, who tells me, “He’s actual images in green, blue or red, outlined in pink or gold, they a light and a sign saying ‘Danger’. And they also find uses as coloured They are old, they are classic – owners and residents themselves, tive as gas stoves are used. doing a form of social service, have small cutouts of the party symbols, the rising sun in the case of hanging lamps in garden restaurants with the lettering of the restau- and they have not been subjected ensuring an all-round effort to Sudden corners reflect trea- taking people like you around, the DMK and the two green leaves in the case of the AIADMK. rant painted on each one of the pots. to much change for several de- save these homes for posterity. sures in the dim light. You giving you a glimpse of heritage.” Again, the use of symbols is very much a part of our artistic tradition. I will return to the subject of plastic a little later, but for now let’s cades. Namma Mylapore has identi- stumble across pieces of furniture You stroll through the cool As you know, the Buddha has most often been symbolised by an move further down the Coastal Road, all the way to Mahabalipuram. They are a precious compo- fied ten heritage homes in the – old chests, safes with emblems dark interior of the house, with umbrella, a Bodhi tree, or a stupa. So now I tell myself that perhaps Very exciting things are happening, because now they have large nent of the city’s collective heri- vicinity of the Mylapore Temple and seals more than 100 years its wooden pillars, through a puja the artificial palm trees are a part of our urban landscape. It tells us granite slabs with paintings of the flora and fauna of the area. This is tage. and include a few of them in each old. room occupied by an awe-inspir- that we are now in the electronic age and are part of the whole IT just to remind us about the birds and animal life that used to live Located around the Kapalees- of the walking tours it now con- Some homes have terraces, ing idol of Hanuman. You listen revolution. there before the human encroachments scared them into oblivion. warar Temple, these homes have ducts in the Mylapore and San scorching as the day gets warmer, to the story behind the idol, one Now, turning to the architectural heritage of our City, certain So, now you don’t see the seagulls, but you can look at paintings of been identified by Namma Thomé areas. These tours, lim- but obviously cool and breezy in of faith, of belief in its capacity to things stand out. Having been involved with the attempt to ‘Save the seagulls. ited to around 15 people per the evening. solve problems, offer protection Moore Market’ and watched the attemps to restore the Town Hall There are also various types of entertainment arcades that have group and lasting no more than The four Mada Streets form a and success. Your eyes briefly building, certain things become clear. One is that when an old build- come up in the area. There’s the VGP Golden Beach, there’s MGM The heritage housesthree hours, are charged at square round the Kapaleeswarar wander to a corner occupied by ing falls into disuse, it has also something to do with the degeneration Grand and there’s DakshinaChitra. Now all three are selling Tamil identified by Rs.150 per person, which helps Temple. But new buildings now computers. of the entire area. This is called in the West the decay of Inner Cities. culture and heritage in some sort of a way. At VGP you have your ‘Namma Mylapore’to meet the Trust’s expenses. disrupt a once-clear view of the And you reflect on the magi- Unless something is done to rejuvenate the area, just restoring the Chola King live, your longest dosai in the world, and all the filmi type Those interested participants gopuram of the temple, some resi- cal manner in which the tradi- building is of little use. On the other hand, by renovating the entire of culture. At MGM it’s pure filmi entertainment to appeal to a Tamil 17/27 East Mada Street can also avail of Namma dents complain. tional and the contemporary ac- 23/4 Pichu Pillai Street Mylapore brochures and explore You walk a little further, and cept one another’s presence, area, sometimes it is possible to bring new economic life to the place audience with global aspirations. There were supposed to be a bird 11/11 Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi and then hope for the place to have a new lease of life. This is the park, like the Singapore-Malaysian-Indonesian models, an ocean- Street Mylapore on their own, stopping turn down tiny, narrow little finding it so easy to co-exist, in a kind of experiment that is now taking place in the Mill Areas of arium and a zoo, but I don’t think these things have materialised. 13/8 Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi by the houses that have been streets that branch off from the manner uniquely Indian. Mumbai. People just find it easier to go to Singapore. At DakshinaChitra, it’s Street clearly identified. The residents main Mada Streets, with little You note the number of On the other hand, the way the Ice House has been restored at the heritage with a big ‘H’ because it’s meant to remind people what their 14/6 Kapaleeswarar Sannadhi in these homes give visitors a temples at each corner. You walk people who seem to effortlessly Marina Beach is an example of how a building can be renovated for a traditional houses and lifestyles used to be, without actually having Street friendly welcome, just as they into homes whose cement thinnais occupy these homes. What about 16/35 South Mada Street would any guest. Residents are shine a smooth grey-brown, testi- privacy? Personal space? useful purpose. It is now being used to showcase the life and thoughts to live a traditional way of life. So, you have all the beautiful bits, 32/66 Nadu Street of Swami Vevekananda. It’s beautifully maintained and you come without the pain of actually drawing water from a well, grinding rice 35/60Nadu Street informed of visits by Namma mony to many gatherings of “Isn’t that just a state of out of the place feeling elevated. However, it has to be said, even between two stones and so forth. Now you can pay to see some vol- 1/1 Venkatachalam Lane Mylapore’s groups. Some families friends and family on cool eve- mind?” They counter. “Every- though the building has been re-done, the area itself remains ne- unteer do this for you at DakshinaChitra and, hopefully, she also 13/25 Chitrakulam South specify when/which days of the nings after lamps have been lit. thing is such a problem for every- glected. It has not led to an upgrading of the area. enjoys doing these things, because usually she had to grind her rice Street week they’d be prepared to en- Plants and creepers grow inside, one these days... the fuss made to The Marina Beach is a good example of how heritage can be used The list includes the house of tertain visitors. in the open courtyards, giving the get one or two children married. S. Rajam on Nadu Street. by the powers that be, in this case the State. To begin with, there is (Continued on Page 7) interior a cool, green glow. (Continued on Page 7) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS November 1-15, 2005

n spite the fact that South clear soup? And why should IIndian cuisine is regarded as The flavours dosais have only potato, that balanced in dietary content it is conventional filling, be served tasty, less spicy than most In- only with chutney?” Having dian food, and non-greasy, lived in the US and been com- there has long been a of missioned by international patronising attitude towards it magazines like Time, Newsweek in the rest of the country. More and Gourmet to write on food recently, our idlis and dosais trends, Shoba stresses the need with sambhar and chutneys South India to move with the times and al- (Quizmaster V.V. Ramanan’s have become hot favourites, low Indian food to evolve and, current affairs questions are never mind if dosai is pro- where necessary, be part of fu- from the period October 1st to that South Indian cuisine has and chutney; steamed idiap- nounced dosa and sambaar as been acknowledged even by pam (soft rice vermicelli) can sion experiments without loss of 15th. Questions 11 to 20 pertain sambur. But we appear to have identity. to Tamil Nadu and Chennai.) those within India, according to hold its own without innova- now moved even beyond that, Chef Natarajan, Corporate tion. Nicely packaged, each While I appreciate her view- and there was a whole session point and agree that evolving is 1. With which American air- Chef, Taj Leisure Hotels. The could be a stand-alone dish devoted to the flavours of only natural and you should not line has Air Sahara announced challenge is to popularise South without any frills. Many times, South India at the 2nd National resist change if it is for the bet- a code-share agreement? Indian regional cuisine through it is the hole-in-the-wall restau- Culinary Conference held re- ter, I cannot for the life of me 2. After which Bharat Ratna is food festivals and specialised rant serving traditional food cently in Chennai. I was de- cookbooks. “The Southern which is quite tasty, of course imagine serving a crisp dosai the Nagpur International Air- lighted to chair it. smeared with butter and lay- port renamed? States are veritable gold mines minus the ambience. As far as P. Soundararajan, Corporate of recipes. The most basics of the South is concerned, restau- ered with walnuts and cream! 3. Who is the new men’s World Executive Chef, Club these are sophisticated enough rants like Saravana Bhavan, To me it would not be a dosai at chess champion? Mahindra, opened in the ses- to be showcased anywhere in Sangeetha and Annapurna all; the label would have to 4. Name the latest and 33rd sion speaking about the char- the world, says Alfred Prasad, provide enough vegetarian va- change and it would be safer to Asterix adventure launched acteristics and the constituents former Sheraton chef and now riety where Woodlands and call it flavoured crepes! And recently. of the ingredients that contrib- running ‘Tamarind’ in London. Dasaprakash once held the when it is essentially a vegetar- 5. Who is the Nobel Prize for uted to the flavours of South Sabrina Hougaard, who monopoly. ian dish, to have a fish or prawn Literature winner this year? India. When hot food is served along with her husband Jesper For those mired in tradition, filling does not appeal to my on a banana leaf, does it not pro- culinary sensitivity. 6. Why was the Irish author manages spas across South Asia, the gentle aromas of South In- vide a distinct flavour? When Is five-star packaging impor- John Banville in the news? takes much interest in spa cui- dian food, be it a sambar or a sesame oil is gently heated and sine. According to her, South vegetably gravy, are released tant in restaurants? If it is tour- 7. Who shared the ICC Player tempering agents like with mus- ist-oriented, then, yes, packag- of the Year Award? tard seeds, urad dhal and curry ing and bastardisation can take 8. Name the music promoter, leaves burst their flavour into l Sabitha Radhakrishnan in two articles take a look place, but to a hidebound In- who introduced Bob Dylan to the oil, does it not change the at the highlights of the 2nd National Culinary dian traditionalist might seem the world and Pt. Ravi Shankar taste subtly? Coconuts are used Conference. offensive. There are numerous to American audiences, who extensively in the South, more visiting tourists who enjoy tra- passed away recently. so in coastal areas like Kerala Indian cuisine is the best in the only when the spices are indi- dition and who want to eat the 9. Where was the epicentre of and Mangalore, and to some world, Ayurveda vouches for vidually roasted and pounded South Indian way. Why not of- the killer quake that rocked extent Chennai. The use of co- the fact. An expert on coarsely to release their essen- fer them what they want, in- Pakistan and Kashmir located? conut oil in dishes for temper- Mangalorean cuisine, Sabrina tial oils, and others ground to a stead of packaged fusions, I talked about the subtle nu- fine paste on a grinding stone. 10. Name the former Union ing or for frying gives it an wonder. ances in cuisine culture even No one smothers the main in- Minister and BJP MP who was unmistakeable Kerala stamp. Recently, we entertained an among the Mangaloreans. For gredients (which might be veg- shot at during a rally in Bihar on Rice, the staple food of the all-American group who instance, a Christian would etables or meat) with strong October 6th. South, can be presented in a wanted the feel of South In- variety of ways – from the interpret a fish curry very dif- masala; you add just enough to dian culture based on cuisine. * * * gentle flavours of tangy lemon ferently from a Hindu Mangal- gently coax out the taste. The They wanted to eat along with 11. Which player based in rice to the fiery puliyodarai (or orean. Coconut is liberally used tomatoes arrived in India only the family members, and in- Chennai completed a rare four- tamarind rice), the rich coco- and the Mangalorean fish 100-200 years ago. But even sisted on banana leaves and title sweep at the National table nut rice or pulaos, or the pongal. curry, a lip-smacking red in after that our grandmothers used their fingers! They loved tennis championships recently? The range is unbeatable. colour, has no tomatoes, only cooked wonderful food with the crisp poriyals, the rice and 12. Name the latest offering I asked Chef Praveen onion, red chillies and tama- only tamarind to contribute sambar, the rasam mixed with from Vikram Seth that was first Anand of Welcome group rind. The Mangalore chillies that touch of sourness. mashed rice and a dollop of launched in the State Capital Sheraton’s Dakshin chain impart their own flavour and Shoba Narayan, interna- ghee, and curd! They were de- recently. whether he used vadagam. are as different to other chillies tional food writer, presented her lighted, and enjoyed the expe- Small compressed sun-dried as chalk is to cheese. The tradi- views on granting Indian food rience, and it would not have 13. If Kushboo has ‘Jackpot’, balls of tempering ingredients tional crops of coastal Konkan, global status. Being a staunch been the same had I brought what does Meena have on Jaya like mustard seeds, cumin and like coconut, mangoes, rice, South Indian vegetarian her- out my best table linen, crock- TV? fenugreek, held together with pulses, cashew and kokum, nur- self, Shoba emphasised the ery and cutlery. 14. ‘XIVA’, a software/algo- castor oil, onion and plenty of ture the distinctive cuisine of value of packaging Indian food So the question remains. rithm developed by two IIT garlic, it is the backbone of the region. differently. “Indian food has an Should we or should we not Madras students, is considered some of the most delicious non- Kerala too boasts of exciting image problem, so why don’t we translate our cuisine into “glo- an aid to diagnose which Brahmin dishes. Using vada- rice-based dishes. The milk turn tradition on its head? Why bally recognised require- cricketing problem? gams to temper brinjal curries, white puttu, steamed in bamboo should rasam at the table have ments?” Food like everything 15. Who is to be Rajinikanth’s fish curries and tamarind sauces cases, and laced with grated co- all those garnishes of coriander has to evolve, but we would be heroine in his next flick Sivaji? imparted flavours truly South conut and served with kadalai leaves, curry leaves and much better off if the packag- 16. Where in Chennai has the Indian. curry; fluffy, lacy aapams crushed garlic? Why cannot it ing was innovative rather than Indian Institute of Medical It is only in the past decade served with sweet coconut milk be strained and served like a resort to fusion food and lose out Music Therapy been opened traditional identity. recently? Can South Indian food play 17. After whom is the recently Multi-level parking planned a role in the tourism destination inaugurated National Institute image of the country or will it just hold on to its newly ac- of Siddha in Tambaram Sana- (By A Correspondent) torium proposed to be named? quired national identity? The eginning with a highrise The successful bidder is ex- feet of space in its two-level fact that tourism has to grow has 18. The Virtual University Bparking complex near pected to execute the Rs. 47- basement and ground plus four led to tastes becoming more Programme, which was inaugu- Panagal Park, the Chennai crore project on a ‘Build, Oper- floors. Elevators, fire fighting mobile across national bound- rated by the President, has been Metropolitan Development ate and Transfer’ (BOT) basis equipment and public address aries and the process has led to jointly promoted by University Authority is planning similar fa- and complete it in 24 months. systems will be provided. globalisation of national cuisine. of Madras along with which two cilities in six other major shop- The selected architect/con- There will be parking space The world will undoubtedly varsities? ping areas in the city. sultant firm will prepare a de- for 450 cars and 750 two-wheel- catch up with South Indian 19. Who is the new holder of It has already invited bids for tailed project report for the ers. cuisine. But, as in any kind of the Irani Trophy? constructing a multi-level park- parking facility based on a de- Similar parking complexes business, marketing is important 20. In Chennai, what was ing complex planned for a site sign provided by CMDA. are to be built in six other shop- and for it to succeed, the right Moore Street previously called? adjacent to Panagal Park. The proposed complex will ping areas in the city. — (Cour- balance and vision is what will (Answers on page 7) have about 1.60 lakh square tesy: Mambalam Times.) ultimately count. November 1-15, 2005 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

Homes & a City’s soul Subscriptions and contributions l As readers are already aware — and hundreds have responded (Continued from Page 5) termite problems abound Soon, the walk comes to an positively — we have no other alternative but to price Madras amidst the serene tulsi madams. end, and you are on your way Musings. From April 16th (Volume XIV, No.1), Madras Musings has Look how we all lived. Our Some houses do not have the home. been priced at Rs.5 a copy, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: Rs.100/-. Please make out your cheque only to ‘Chennai Heritage’ and send it, together homes reflect a sense of calm- central miththum, so the roofs You admit to yourself that at ness... that’s because of a ca- are filled with skylights, many with the COUPON BELOW, to CHENNAI HERITAGE, 260-A, TTK the beginning of the walk you ROAD, CHENNAI 600 018 or C/O LOKAVANI-HALL MARK PRESS pacity to be content with what broken ones letting in not only had the mental attitude of a PVT. LTD., 122, GREAMES ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006. you have. That’s a learned sunlight, but also a generous tourist... someone who comes to An ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION of just Rs.100 covers only a part of skill, one you have to nurture, amount of rainwater, complain see, express wonder, then move develop.” our costs. Corporate support and YOUR support will continue to be the occupants. Sometimes, chil- on. Was there also a touch of essential for Chennai Heritage and Madras Musings to play a greater Generations were born here; dren playing in adjoining streets patronising “Oh-how-sweet” role in creating awareness about the city, its heritage and its environ- they stay here till the end of break them, requiring that the about your attitude? ment. We therefore look forward to your sending us your contribu- their lives. All phases of their glass be constantly replaced. If you are honest, yes, there tions IN ADDITION TO your subscriptions. lives, with the ceremonies that Some tenants have re-done, in was. If in the coming year Chennai Heritage receives repeated support announce the arrival of each certain places even recon- At the end of the walk, you from those of you who have already made contributions, and if many new one, have been performed structed, toilets and have have lost that attitude. You are more supporters join the bandwagon, we will not only be able to keep here. white-washed walls. A few humbled. Madras Musings going, but also be able to continue awareness-build- These homes re-define the have re-modified kitchens. This is a living tradition; this ing exercises on on-going projects as well as undertake one or two term ‘extended families’. Some Attitudes vary. There runs a is real. This isn’t a piece of the more such exercises. point out parts of these little thread of awareness through past captured, forever stilled, Therefore, please keep your contributions coming IN ADDITION homes that have been allotted some conversations – of the pos- transplanted to the artificial TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. If, say, you send in a cheque for Rs.500, to indigent members, not only sibility of some traditional prac- environ of a museum, a mere we will treat Rs.100 of it towards subscription to Madras Musings for of their own families, but of tices being considered obsolete display for your benefit. 2004-5 and the remaining Rs.400 as contribution towards the causes friends’ families fallen on hard these days, displaying a wistful- Chennai Heritage espouses. No, this is real. times. The little homes have ex- ness for days gone by combined We look forward to all readers of Madras Musings, and those panded to give shelter to them with a sturdy determination to These people are real. newcomers who want to receive copies, sending in their subscrip- all. accept change; others do not These houses are real. They tions. We are indeed sorry we can no longer remain a free mailer. But it would be dishonest to seem to see any need to do so. are not just carved doors and — The Editor paint a superficially pretty, ro- Tradition must be protected, as wooden pillars for you to coo mantic picture. All the houses also the continuity of age-old over. have been taken on rent. The practices and rituals, while out- They symbolise a mindset, a CHENNAI HERITAGE tenants are solely responsible for side, groups walk down the philosophy, and a way of life. maintenance. Dust, broken Mada streets, singing bhajans The day has taught you 260-A T.T.K. ROAD, ALWARPET, CHENNAI 600 018. skylights, peeling plaster, and during Margali Maasam. many lessons. I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. PRESERVING HERITAGE l I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as sub- (Continued from Page 4) What we have to ask is this: Is What I think we should scription to Madras Musings for the year 2004-05. and draw her water for free, to banning of plastics the answer, realise is that there are no easy l As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment and a feed her family, but now some- or educating people to use plas- solutions. Just as there are many better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an one pays her to do this. tic in a responsible manner? Is layers to our culture and our additional Rs ...... (Rupees Now, the question is which beautifying the banks of the heritage, there have to be many ...... ) Cooum more important, or do layers to the solutions that we one of these resorts would you Please keep/put me on your mailing list. think as being more representa- we have to take a holistic view find to solve these problems. tive of Tamil heritage? Obvi- of the situation. Is it tigers or Looking at them is just the be- Name : ...... ously this will depend on the so- tribals? ginning. Address: ...... cial strata of the person. I don’t ...... think we can really say which Note: Overseas postage Rs. 550/year extra. Cheques for overseas post- one is more authentic, or which age alone payable to M/s. Lokavani Hall-Mark Press Pvt. Ltd.. All other one is better. In some way or the cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. other, each one has packaged what we call as heritage in a manner that is easily Till November 12: Tartan and the The workshop will also prepare recognisable to a particular seg- Turban, a photo exhibition by the staging of a contemporary Senate House Conservation Fund ment of society. As our lives be- Herman Rodrigues, presented as German play in Spring 2006. (For come more and more mechani- part of the Seeing Frames Series. details: Max Mueller Bhavan.) cal, each one is packaging the (At the British Council). November 17, 18, 19: A conference l The Senate House Restoration and Management Trust appeals to past in a way that appeals to our November 4, 11, 18, 25: ‘Cathar- on the challenges facing in all alumni of the University of Madras and heritage lovers every- idea of what we think as au- sis’, with Axel Wagener, theatre Chennai, whose rapid expansion where to contribute to the Senate House Conservation Fund which thentic. There’s a great nostal- artiste and director. The work- triggered by enormous economic the Trust is managing for the purpose of restoring Senate House to gia for the simple way of life of shop introduces the epochs of growth attracts emigrants from its old glory by December 2005 and maintaining it thereafter in the our grandparents, or a return to German and European threatre rural areas and elevates the same condition. Cheques should be made out to the Senate House lifestyle of an emerging ‘Middle our roots. These places provide and explains the backgrounds. Conservation Account and sent to the Registrar, University of Ma- Video examples of exemplary the- Class’. Problems such as water dras, Chennai 600 005. Contributions are eligible for benefits under just a flavour of that way of life. atre performances will illustrate scarcity, lack of proper sanitation Section 80-G of the Income Tax Act. I had said that I would touch the stage phenomenon. The work- and waste management, and pol- upon the question of plastic. shop intends to make contempo- lution due to increasing traffic will Dear Registrar, This is the direct result of what rary plays understandabe by be discussed by Indian and Ger- I am pleased to enclose a cheque for Rs...... took place in Mumbai during discussing their methods, man/European experts. (Organ- as my contribution to the restoration and maintenance of the recent floods and which techniques and backgrounds. ised by the Max Mueller Bhavan.) Senate House. Kindly acknowledge receipt. could well happen in Chennai Name: ...... also. One of the main causes of the flooding was the choking of Answers to Quiz Address: ...... the Mithi river. It’s no different ...... from the Cooum. The same cir- 1. American Airlines; 2. Dr. Ambedkar International Airport; 3. Veselin cumstances prevail here, there Topalov; 4. ‘Asterix and the Falling Sky’; 5. Harold Pinter; 6. He is the ...... are people living along its banks, winner of the Man Booker Prize for 2005 for The Sea; 7. Jacques Kallis and ...... there are industrial wastes be- Andrew Flintoff; 8. Harold Leventhal; 9. Near Muzaffarabad, the capital of ing poured into the river but, PoK; 10. Ravi Shankar Prasad. I am an alumnus/alumna/heritage lover and wish the project all more than anything else, the * * * success. My college was ...... river is choked with plastic. You 11. A. Sharath Kamal; 12. ‘Two Lives’; l3. ‘House Full’; 14. ‘Chucking’; Date: ...... Signature: ...... can see this wherever you stop 15. Shreya; 16. Apollo Hospitals; 17. Ayothee Dasar; 18. Mumbai and and catch a glimpse of the river. Calcutta; 19. Railways; 20. Second Line Beach. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS November 1-15, 2005

Twenty-years-old Kaar- December, has always struck l Among Tamil Nadu players... thick’s place in the Test side is me as a fine prospect. by no means secure. This is Vidyut played in only one brought home by his figures – match, the final against India 245 runs from ten matches at B, and he really grabbed the op- Only one grabbed an average of 18.84, with the portunity with both hands, hit- highest of 93, and 29 catches ting 87 off 107 balls with 15 and four stumpings. He has also fours. He opened the innings played in a couple of ODIs be- with Sachin Tendulkar and, fore losing his place to Dhoni, even as wickets fell at regular the opportunity who with his breezy batting has intervals, with India Seniors stolen a march over him. making heavy weather of their modest target of 178, Vidyut There is very little to choose hen an opportunity dated his position, as his career ures of 94 runs at an average of stood firm, playing with the au- between the two when it comes W comes, it must be figures will indicate. They have 15.66, with the highest score of thority of a veteran. He guided to work behind the stumps. But grabbed with both hands. Just been 81 runs at an average of 38. the innings admirably, and Kaarthick did not exactly en- as Kerals’s unheralded medium 13.50, with one half century, In the Challenger Series, he when he was sixth out India hance his reputation in the pacer Sreesanth did recently and nine wickets at just over 30 batted only once, making 46 for Seniors were only five runs from Challenger Series when play- and received due reward. But apiece at an economy rate of a India A against India Seniors — victory. ing for India A, getting scores apart from Vidyut Sivarama- little over five runs. neither here nor there, really. Vidyut has always given the of 26 and 11. His keeping was krishnan, none of the other It certainly isn’t easy for any Balaji who turned 24 last impression that he should be adequate. Tamil Nadu cricketers did full player to get into the middle or- month has fared slightly better playing at a higher level and it is justice to the chances they got der of the Indian team, in the last couple of years that Apart from this quartet, to be hoped that this knock will while playing for the various whether in Tests or ODIs and he has been part of the interna- Tamil Nadu had another rep- see the selectors give him his teams in the recently con- Sriram, for all his excellent tional scene. That he has played resentative in the Challenger due. His impressive first class cluded Challenger Series in Series in Vidyut, who was a figures – 1547 runs at an aver- Mohali. member of the India Seniors age of just over 35, with three Of late, the State’s represen- l by PARTAB RAMCHAND team. The son of former State hundreds and nine fifties, and tation in the national team has and South Zone opening bats- 67 wickets at 31.74 apiece with been restricted. Ever since man V. Sivaramakrishnan, best figures of six for 24 – mark Sadagoppan Ramesh played record in first class cricket, 29 ODIs since he made his de- Vidyut, who bats and bowls left- him out as an allrounder of con- the last of his 19 Tests in Sri where he averages over 55, has but in 2002 and eight Tests handed, has been around the siderable promise. Lanka in September 2001, just not been able to make a since he played the first game first class scene since 1999-2000 One of the few to get a hun- Tamil Nadu has struggled to mark at the international level. against New Zealand two years and has played for junior Indian dred in first class cricket batting have a representative in the In- The Challenger did, however, ago is testimony to this. teams against foreign sides. Tal- at No. 11, Vidyut is long over- dian team. present him with a chance to But despite stout-hearted ented and temperamentally due for a leg up. — (Courtesy: The situation has been a bit further his cause, but with performances – most notably in strong, Vidyut, who turns 24 in Straight Bat.) better in one-day internationals, scores of 45 not out, 44 and 8 Pakistan last year – he too has with, in the last four years, while playing for India B, he did not exactly established himself Hemang Badani, Sridharan not exactly cement his claims. as a regular in the national team Nuggets of judicial wisdom Sriram, Dinesh Kaarthick and The same can be said about due to the factors already men- (Continued from Page 2) Lakshmipathy Balaji all being in Badani who turns 29 next tioned. But in the opportunities and out of the Indian team. month. Over a four-year period, he has got, he has done reason- occupies an important place in social ecology. A park is a neces- sity, not a mere amenity.” However, only Balaji and he has played in 40 ODIs, has ably well, as brought home by l While thinking of the present, the future should not be forgot- scored 867 runs with one cen- figures – 27 wickets from eight Kaarthick have been in the ten, said the apex court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad vs Test squad. But even here tury and four half centuries. Tests at an average of just over Union of India (2002). We owe a duty to future generations, Balaji, because of injuries and But despite his polished stroke 37 apiece with one five-wicket and for a bright today, a bleak tomorrow cannot be counte- intense competition, has been play in the middle order, he too haul, and 34 wickets from 29 nanced, the court observed. in an out of the squad, while has found it difficult to estab- ODIs at an average of 38.58 at a “We must learn from our experiences of the past to make Kaarthick has been under pres- lish himself in the middle order rather high economy rate of both the present and the future brighter. We learn from our sure to perform, with M.S. against tough competition. 5.55. experiences, mistakes from the past, so that they can be rectified Dhoni breathing down his Badani has also played four In the Challenger Series, for a better present and the future. It cannot be lost sight of that neck. Tests, the last being the same playing for India A, he had the while today is yesterday’s tomorrow, it is tomorrow’s yesterday.” game that Ramesh played in Sri rather unimpressive return of Tomorrow may decide what happens when the parties ag- Twentynine-years-old grieved by the Bombay High Court’s decision go on appeal be- lefthander Sriram has played in Lanka four years ago. Here too, two for 76 from ten overs and fore the apex court. — (Courtesy: Business Line.) eight ODIs over a four-year pe- he has not exactly consolidated no wicket for 48 off nine overs riod and has really not consoli- his place as underscored by fig- in the two matches. D.M.

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