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Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/12-14 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/12-14 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • Drawing with Mano - I • Anglo-Indians bond • History written in gold • The Chitales of Chennai - II

Vol. XXIII No. 23 MUSINGS March 16-31, 2014 People’s Marina Madras Landmarks – Under – 50 years ago threat again the Island Grounds and offered recreations such as reverse bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, paint ball, dart board, net cricket, grease pole climb- Must the people lose even a bit of this space that is theirs? ing, squad bike and archery. This came a cropper following (By The Editor) ties for yachts and small sail very poor public patronage. The boats so that regattas can be other scheme was at Mudaliar- G t was too good to last. Given held. There is also an idea that kuppam near the city where Serendipitously there arrived on my desk recently a Madras guide book of the pressure that land faces in boat services can be provided para-sailing and water-skiing the 1950s, with a heap of pictures of the landmarks of that era. Some of them I survive as they were, others survive in a re-constructed form, and many have a city like ours, it was only a from the Marina to Puducherry were offered at exorbitant rates, vanished. From this issue onwards, we will publish a picture of one of them every question of time before some- and . ostensibly to lure up-market cli- fortnight, as they were 50 years ago and more ago. We start with Dasaprakash one or the other began eyeing There are several objections entele. This too failed. As of Hotel, an Udipi icon of that era, on High Road. A wonderful art the largest open lung of the city to all this, no matter how good date, both the facilities at Island deco building, it was part of a chain built up by Kuttethoor Seetharama Rao who – the . In what they sound on paper. In the first Grounds and Mudaliarkuppam gave up a lowly Government job in 1921 to join his brothers in running a restau- can only be termed as a mis- place, we have already sacri- stand withdrawn. What is the rant in . It later established others in Madras and Ootacamund, then in guided attempt to provide rec- ficed enough of the Marina for guarantee that the proposed the 1970s, moved to North India and, thereafter, to the USA. reation facilities, the Govern- all kinds of construction. Sec- Marina scheme for the will fare The Poonamallee High Road flagship hotel was inaugurated in 1954, as was ment aims to take over thirty ondly, it was and should remain any better? its twin kalyana mandapam, Dharmaprakash. The hotel was known for its acres of land on the Marina to Lastly, it appears that those good Udipi fare, ice creams and comfortable rooms. In its time, its restaurants a place for the common folk of had seen visitors ranging from Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to J.K. Galbraith. create an adventure water the city to take the air. The who came up with this idea Differences in the family and the five-star culture saw the closure of sports arena. ideas that the TTDC has now Dasaprakash in the 1990s. The building was demolished in 2010 to make way The plan, mooted by the aired are all elitist and aim to (Continued on page 5) for highrise after the property changed hands. Tourism Develop- cater to foreign tourists (who ment Corporation (TTDC), is are likely to find such facilities now under the consideration of no better than from wherever Work on elevated expressway again the Public Works Department they came). The beach is com- (PWD). The TTDC, it is mon property to all Chennai – but hopefully not at Cooum’s expense learnt, wants to have a place on citizens and cannot be con- and the National Highways Au- State Coastal Management the beach with facilities such as trolled by a few. ork is expected soon to resume on the elevated thority of India (NHAI). The Zone Authority (TNSCZMA), hot-air balloon rides, scuba div- Thirdly, the TTDC’s own W expressway connecting the Port project, initially estimated to which claimed that the proposal ing and water-kite flying. Also record of providing such facili- to . This is follow- cost Rs.1500 crore, had its foun- to build the road along the on the anvil are berthing facili- ties is rather poor. One was on ing the High Court of Madras dation stone laid by the Prime Cooum violated Coastal Regu- setting aside the 2012 order of Minister in 2007. Work then lation Zone (CRZ) clearance. the Public Works Department began on the road and pro- Surprisingly, the TNSCZMA to stop all work on the project. gressed rapidly in the next few later reversed its stance and said While there is no denying that years. that the proposed road would the elevated road was a neces- not affect the free flow of water sity for the free movement of G by A Special in the riverbed. This despite the cargo to and from the port, it is fact that around 34.58 hectare unclear as to what will be the Correspondent of the road fell within the CRZ fate of the in Originally planned as a cor- and, more importantly, 35 foun- whose dry bed several pillars for ridor running over Poonamallee dation pits were to be in the ri- the elevated road have been High Road, its alignment un- verbed. To all intents and pur- erected. derwent a couple of changes poses this meant that the road Envisaged as a 19-km el- since. Those in charge had would effectively be built on the evated corridor, the project was voiced the view that land acqui- riverbed, leading to obstruction mooted by the sition in Poonamallee High of water flow. “I’m going to vote for the party that that will push up India's GDP, bring Trust. Clearance was given by Road would be an issue and the In 2011, with the change in down the rate of inflation, manage the macro-economic performance, in- the State Government in con- expressway was then planned to regime in the State, the el- crease exports, and, most importantly, promises to build a new platform for sultation with the Ministry of run along the Cooum. This was evated road was among the first you and me to live comfortably!" Shipping, Government of India, resisted by the Tamil Nadu (Continued on page 7) CMYK 2 March 16-31, 2014

The evolution of wedding gifts

he Man from Madras throughout the year. invite came from the other T Musings is breathing easy, Far worse than the milk side. Some families had long now that the wedding season is cookers were the glowing memories and the same over. His good lady, also lamps. MMM is fairly certain amounts used to be given, known as She Who Must Be that the younger generation chiefly in retaliation, genera- Obeyed, has now gone on to among his faithful readers will tion after generation, with not other things to expend her sur- not know about these. They a care about inflation. MMM plus energy leaving MMM were hideous, comprising two has known of guests who gave alone and free from the care of metal florets, which held a crossed cheques for rupees fif- attending weddings. But the coloured, transparent plastic teen! By the time it travelled The Prison Bazaar in – and the ‘Freedom’ vermicompost it sells (inset). spate of marriages had MMM cylinder between them. This between bank accounts, it musing on the way wedding cylinder contained water would have cost everyone in- gifts have changed over the within. All simple and inno- volved a pretty penny, barring years. cent you may imagine. The the giver. Now, shop at MMM is aware of a dim lamp was however a nasty bag The notebook was usually past when diamond necklaces, of tricks that revealed itself entrusted to a sharp-eyed silverware and other such gifts only when connected to elec- cousin who was also good at Prison Bazaar were de rigueur but he was tric power. The water inside mathematics. As MMM failed born in a more prosaic age. began to glow and, what was on both accounts, he was ormally, only anxious family members and friends frequent Among MMM’s earliest worse, revealed several tape- never ordered to report for Nthe outside of the grim Puzhal prison complex in the suburbs memories is of a doctor aunt worm-like floaters that shone duty. At one wedding none of of Chennai, as they wait to meet their loved ones. Of late, there getting married. A patient of and darted about hither and the sharp-eyed cousins was hers gifted her with a ghastly thither. This was bad enough available and having lightly has been a new flurry of activity, more smiles and light exchanges. steel cup (or was it a set MMM but some others had music in passed MMM over, the family And the recently opened Prisons Bazaar of the Prisons Depart- forgets). The aunt having put them as well. The only good zeroed in on a newly married ment of Tamil Nadu Police is the reason! it away, rather absentmindedly thing was that the whole en- American aunt. It was the The 600 sq ft outlet on the periphery of the Puzhal prison cam- gifted it back to the same pa- semble lasted a week or ten considered view of some of the pus, on the Grand North Trunk Road, has no hoardings to attract people and looks like a typical government-run super- market. “However, once you step in, you can get anything you want, from sweet Mysore Paks to delicious vegetable fried rice, vermicompost SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY for your garden or even organic keerai for the kitchen!” says an official. The ‘prison bazaar’ at the Central Prison was launched by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, through video conferencing, on De- cember 9, 2013. tient when the patient got days at most at the end of senior ladies that it would give Mooted sometime in May 2013, the idea was to set up separate married. A couple of years which the water drained out. A HER something to do and help bazaars for products from the nine central prisons in the State – in later, the cup (or was it a set) rather cynical uncle told MMM HER understand our customs. Chennai, Salem, Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Madurai, Vellore, came right back, when a sec- that the lamp was popular as a The aunt took the notebook ond aunt got married. That wedding gift as it symbolised with enthusiasm, mounted the Palayamkottai and Coimbatore. Chennai has three campuses – aunt migrated to another city marital bliss and only lasted stage and seated herself behind Puzhal Central Prison No.1 and No. 2, and the Women’s Prison. where no doubt the cup (or that long. But that, as MMM the newly weds. She collected Earlier, inmates of these prisons had been involved in making a the set) was launched once hastens to add, was his, the the cash but noting down our variety of products, that were used so far only by government de- again onto the gift circuit uncle’s, view and not MMM’s. many syllabled, tongue-twist- partments and not sold to the public. Now products such as where it probably still orbits. One excrescence that is still ing names was an impossible readymade garments, confectionery items, footwear, detergent Mind you, a steel cup (or going strong is the statuette of task. By the time she had soap/powder, candles, mosquito nets, raincoats, masala powder, set), though hideous, was still white metal. Nothing can be ug- noted one name several others vermicompost packets and vegetables are available to the public better than the plastic ones lier than this, no matter what had gone by. So practical too at nominal rates. A bakery unit at Puzhal Central Prison-I was that began doing the rounds a shape it takes – a Venus, the el- American that she was, she recently opened. And as prisoners bustle around making delicious decade later. The era of the ephant-headed God or a horse. kept collecting the cash and plastics was generally the There were some thrifty souls skipping the names. smelling breads and cakes, there is not even a minute to spare, worst for gifts and has merci- who got away with the simple After the flood had abated with products being lapped up as fast as they are made!. “People fully got over. There are days expedient of sending a greetings to an extent, she set about tal- are now flocking to the store to buy goods because they are im- when the mood is despondent telegram. These used to be cer- lying each guest with the cash pressed with the quality of the products displayed,” an official says. and MMM can recall those emoniously read out as well. they had given. This was done Meanwhile, as part of the Green Prisons Programme facilitated cream coloured melamine by going around the crowd, by Nizhal (a Trust involved in sensitive greening) across all the cups with printed floral de- In cash we trust seeking out familiar faces and central prison campuses, organic vegetable patches are being signs that were the most then having fixed them with a tended, nurtured and harvested enthusiastically under the guid- favoured gifts, at least from the ontinuing in the same steady smile, asking them in a vein, The Man from Ma- ance of organic farming experts. Also, plastic litter is consciously giver’s point of view. If you got C stentorian voice as to how plenty of those, there were dras Musings remembers cash much they had given. Several reduced and leaf and kitchen waste converted into beneficial, heal- other excrescences as well. gifts – most of them of a value guests who had given nothing ing compost! All these are now being sold in the prison bazaar. Who could forget the milk that probably just about cov- began to beat a hasty retreat at The Puzhal outlet was initiated with a State Government grant cookers – those aluminium ered the cost of meals for two. the approach of the aunt. It of Rs.10 lakh. “Now that it is doing well, we have instructed Super- creations in which water cir- That mention of cash gifts re- was a laugh riot for the intendents of the prisons in Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, culated and boiled in a cham- minds The Man from Madras younger and irreverent ones Cuddalore, Salem, Vellore and Palayamkottai to start similar out- ber that surrounded the one in Musings of, no, not politics, but such as MMM but the senior lets,” a senior official confirms.The bazaars on the prison campuses which the milk was poured. of the practice of a notebook members of the family were have entrances opening out on to the road for easier access. “The The water boiled first and the being opened at each wedding not amused. The notebook exclusive products manufactured in each prison will be sent to cooker whistled to warn you for meticulously listing what was quickly taken away from each person gave by way of outlets in other prisons, too. The bazaars will work from 9 a.m. to that the milk was next in line. the aunt and handed over to a It all worked well for the first cash. This would in some com- sharp-eyed cousin who tallied 9 p.m. every day,” a prison official says. month or so after which the munities be read out to the gen- books of accounts for a living. Following the launch of the first outlet and gratified by its popu- whistle got choked with what- eral public over a broadcasting larity, another counter was opened outside the prison headquar- ever whistles get choked with. system. Those who gave nig- Tailpiece ters in the CMDA building in January. All items sold – leather The consequence was that the gardly amounts would writhe in goods, bakery items, readymade clothes, mats, footwear, handi- milk boiled over, the water agony, as the value of their cash oday most of all this is crafts and paintings by prisoners – come under the brand name having evaporated by then. gift was made known to all. Tgone. Wedding gifts are ‘Freedom’, and are displayed for sale on the ground floor of the But you did not have to worry, MMM in all his innocence as- usually flowers, and here too prison headquarters. for you had at least half-a- sumed that the notebook was there are some ugly bouquets. maintained to tally receipts. Many invites sternly forbid Senior officials say that they are also looking for options be- dozen milk cookers on standby – all from your wedding – if But that it had a second and gifts. But when The Man from yond prison complexes and prison offices to sell these products us- you had not gifted them to more sinister purpose was re- Madras Musings received one ing efficient marketing strategies and best commercial practices to others by then that is. If you vealed much later to him. It that said Mr & Mrs XYZ re- ensure that pricing is on a par with other retail outlets. The system were married in the 1970s or served as an aide memoire for quest your presents on the oc- is aimed at creating skilled manpower in the prisons that will en- 1980s, milk cookers were the the bride and groom’s families casion of the marriage of … able prisoners to lead a life of dignity after their release, but also standard gifts, closely followed as to who gave what. That in etc, it made him wonder if it assures them of an income from the sale of products while serving by electric irons. A close third turn helped in deciding what was a typographical error or a their sentences. was the ice bucket, perhaps amounts needed to be given in Freudian slip. because our city’s hot weather reciprocation as and when an – MMM (Continued on page 3) March 16-31, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

Gender confused n T.K. Srinivasa Chari’s I write-up about Nirmala Lakshman’s book Degree Coffee (MM, February 16th), after the first mention of her as Nirmala Lakshman, the authoress is sub- sequently referred to as ‘Laksh- man’. Surely it is Nirmala’s father’s name or husband’s name. Referring to her again and again as ‘Lakshman’ is irri- tating. Let the surnames be there for the rest of the world. In Chennai, let us refer to the person by his or her own name because that is how it should be. If the author of Degree Coffee is addressed with a man’s name, it particulary irritates an old Ma- dras hand like me because it confuses the gender. C. G. Prasad 9, C.S. Mudali Street Kondithope, Chennai 600 079 Curative culture

egarding the article ‘Be- A spectacular view of the Pamban Bridge reader Sudha Umashankar spotted on the Internet. Ryond Botany to Medicare’ (MM, March 1st), which stated that smoking ‘stramonium’ cured asthma, I was reminded The India-Sri Lanka Bridge that decades ago an MBBS medical practitioner cured asthma with an injection of – a new initiative needed one-day culture of the patient’s blood and urine. The procedure n June 30th/July 1st, the visual and print media announced itself was a sequel to the interest evinced and the initiative taken cured me of my chronic allergic the inauguration of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) in by the then Prime Minster of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, in rhinitis. O Mumbai as the first bridge built in India across the sea. Almost a land bridge. He visited India 2-3 times and persuaded his Indian S.N. Mahalingam exactly a century earlier, to be more specific in 1914, the Pamban counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee to agree to carry out a joint fea- 64-A, Kalamegam Street Extn. viaduct, the first bridge in the open sea, connecting Rameswaram sibility study on such a bridge. In fact, the Sri Lankan Board of SBI Colony II Street Island with the mainland, was commissioned by the South Indian Investments had already carried out a preliminary pre-feasibility Kamarajapuram, Chennai 600 073 Railway. Though the 2-km (6776 feet) length project now appears conceptual study. A Chitale theatre to be a pilot project or a toy bridge, it was an engineering marvel at On August 23, 2003, while delivering the millennium lecture that time. Much later, in 1988, a road bridge was built parallel to it for Media Research Centre for Sustainable Develop- y father P.C.Subba Raju in the open sea. ment and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Ranil Mbuilt a cinema theatre in On October 2, 1988, the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, Wickremesinghe stated: “A land bridge between Rameswaram in Tenkasi. The architect was dedicated to the nation the Pamban road bridge named after his Tamil Nadu and Talaimanar in Sri Lanka would be a major step none other than L.M.Chitale mother, Indira Gandhi, as Annai Indira Gandhi Palam (AIGP). towards sub-regional economic integration and would offer both (MM, March 1st). The project The event took place in the remote village of Mantapam from sides of the Palk Strait huge economic benefits.” was started in 1947 and com- where the bridge starts to reach Pamban village on Rameswaram But soon political shadows and renewed armed conflict loomed pleted in1952. Following dis- Island. Media announced the event as “Poet Bharati’s dream come over the atmosphere. But when the guns became silent the present cussions, two black granite pil- true” little realising what the poet had dreamt. His vision was the Sri Lankan Government and President Mahinda Rajapakse com- lars were added to support the mammoth bridge to Singala Thivu (Sri Lanka), something akin to mitted themselves to reconciliation and development in the North. balcony which gave an impos- mythological Rama Sethu. Pamban Bridge was only a first step in As such it is time to revisit the bridge project. Geographers call the ing look to the theatre. The the- the long hop, step and jump. At a special media meet it was ex- stretch of land/sea between Pamban Island in India and Mannar atre was named Bharathan plained that, compared to what the poet dreamed, the present Island in Sri Lanka as Adam’s Bridge. It is a narrow ridge of sand Talkies by none other than achievement was just like a prologue to a great epic. At best we and rock, mostly dry, which connects Dhanushkodi and Rajaji and Kalki. It was opened could say the completion of the Pamban Bridge brought the poet’s Talaimannar. It is about 30 km running east of southeast from in 1952 by K.V.L.RM. dream into the realm of the possible. Dhanushkodi. It is mostly composed of shifting sandbanks with Ramanathan Chettiar with a Since then I have been crusading the cause of a causeway or intricate channels in between, in which the depth of water varies musical concert by the great bridge between India and Sri Lanka. In the conference on ‘Our from .6 m to 20 m. Waves cover nearly 20 km of the 30 km during M.S. World in Concrete Structures’ held in Singapore in1995 a paper monsoon periods and about 17 km during non-monsoon periods, Dr. P. S. Venkateswaran on the need for this bridge was presented. Then in the booklet the rest of the distance being sandy islands. [email protected] Bridge Building – A Way of Life – The Story of Pambam Bridge, This topography attracted many people much before poet brought out by the Indian Concrete Institute in 1996, there was an Bharati dreamt of a bridge to Singala Thivu (Sri Lanka). In the Prison Bazaar epilogue which outlined the feasibility of this bridge. Thereafter in late 19th Century, Edward J. Young studied the possibility of es- (Continued from page 2) many international fora the importance of this structure was tablishing a rail link between the and Ceylon. As I noticed the neat pack- brought out. But the cry fell on ears deafened by the roar of guns in Of course his objective was to make the journey for labour to and ets of Freedom vermicompost the island nation. fro as easy, cheap and attractive as possible. After interacting with available in the prison bazaar Then, at the beginning of this century, a ray of hope was seen. various officials in Madras Presidency and South Indian Railway outlets, at Rs.10 per kilo, and There was a peace accord in Sri Lanka and the guns went silent. he was able to get a commitment from William S. Betts, Managing the organic keerai, thakkali and The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, which is older than the Agent, South Indian Railway, at Trichnolopoly on March 4, 1892 vazhakkai stacked neatly on Institution of Engineers, India, joined hands with Tamil Nadu cen- as under: counters, I wondered, “Will the tre of the IEI and organised an event on India-Sri Lanka Coopera- “I believe there would be no difficulty in raising the capital re- prisons across Tamil Nadu be tion in Technologies for Development held in Chennai in 2001. quired for the construction of the railway upon the united guaran- soon initiating trends for the At that meet I explained how a bridge between India and Sri Lanka tee of the governments of Ceylon and Madras to pay four per cent nation toward greener, more would facilitate economic development much faster. interest thereon and South Indian Railway would be willing to organic lifestyles?” A distinct A year later, in 2002, IESL invited the Tamil Nadu centre of IEI undertake the work.” possibility – and the time is just to organise a joint seminar on an India-Sri Lanka Land Bridge. right! The event was held on August 31, 2002 in Colombo. The event – Shobha Menon (Continued on page 7) 4 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2014 March 16-31, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

munity went up by leaps and Drawing with Mano – I MANOHAR DEVADOSS, bounds. Anglo-Indians bond Meanwhile, another meeting that brilliant near- to induce the Eurasians in Ma- blind artist who dras to form themselves into an produces meticulous Association was held at the New Learning from in Southern India Town Prayer Hall on June 5, drawings of people 1879. New Town was wisely cho- and places, tells you in sen by D.E.S. White, the this series how he earing a revolt by Indians in sed by the community itself to “H.E. the Governor, Stephen organiser, as the venue, the area the 18th Century, led by obtain relief from these disabili- Lushington, while sending a do- being a stronghold of the Eur- From John Ricketts to David White. began drawing and F trains British-trained East Indians (as ties. nation of Rs.500/-, said in a letter asian community in those days. sociation of Southern India, tion, on his return from England erspective in art is some erful horns. All these fascinated and partly out of curiosity, continued to do so Anglo-Indians were then Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, to the Private Secretary, pub- The now defunct Madras Gun White obtained the consent of where he had acquainted the Pthing I began unravelling me. opened – not Pandora’s box – even as his sight called), inspired by mulattos-led the Anglo-Indian poet (1809- lished in the Gazette, that the Carriage factory was in exist- 400 members of the Eurasian English public of India’s wants well before I even knew the Our family always went from but the magic box of perspective. revolts in Haiti and San Dom- 1831) with a deep passion for In- Eurasians had a good cause and ence then on Naval Hospital community and submitted their and aspirations. The Association word ‘perspective’. Madurai to Madras by steam-en- From this humble discovery, I deteriorated. These ing, the English East India Com- dia and a patriotic zeal, was that they were bound to get a Road (the site now occupied by names to the authorities to con- office and a small industrial I have drawn pictures ever gine train, which would invari- figured out that what applies to a excerpts are from his pany passed several restrictive equally passionate in uplifting his hearing in Parliament without the Government Medical stitute the First Volunteer Corps school were then established by Stores) manned by skilled Eur- since I can remember. Even in ably reach early in severely simple object like a recently released orders. community. His house in the expenditure of much in India that is still known as the White at No.1 Mint Street. On those days, my parents – who the morning. This is where the commuter train would apply The first, in 1786, was that the Calcutta became the rendez- money.” asian artisan soldiers known as Madras Guards. He was also ac- February 1, 1889, White were artistic-minded themselves electric commuter trains started equally well for complex build- book, From an Artist's wards of the Upper Orphanage vous for members of the commu- John Ricketts took the Peti- the Carnatic Ordinance Artifi- tively involved in raising funds breathed his last at his residence – recognised that the quality of their day. Our steam-engine ings. I pulled out photographs of Perspective, which nity, like John William Ricketts, tion from Calcutta, arrived in cer Corps, most of whose mem- for the construction of the at Moore’s Garden, my drawings was better than train would leave Tambaram buildings and lightly stuck them G by Geoffrey who wanted to discuss the politi- London in 1829, and sought bers with their families resided in in Madras. , and was bur- those of other children of my age only to stop at the terminus, on to foolscap sheets and ex- tells a human story as cal, social and economic diffi- the vicinity. One of White’s achievements ied at St. Andrew’s Church known to us. The school teach- . The electric trains, of trapolated converging lines that well as offers advice K. Francis culties of the East Indians. In A second meeting was con- was his recommendation to Cemetery in Madras. ers too saw that I had artistic po- course, stopped at each and ev- were not parallel in the photo- November 1825, they resolved to The plaque in vened at Victoria Memorial Hall organise an annual conference Since his death, the Anglo- to all who draw. Schools in Calcutta were in fu- under the Chairmanship of the tential. ery station in between. The elec- graphs but which were parallel ture to be prohibited from pro- present a petition to the House of all East Indian Associations in Indian Association has made tre- During my boyhood (1940s), tric train would start from one of of Commons. By March 1892, New Town Honourable Sir Charles Turner, India to discuss policies to be mendous progress under the ceeding to England to complete The site now occupied Chief Justice of Madras, on Oc- drawing classes were compulsory these stations, and with high ac- their education and thus qualify the petition was placed in the pursued by the community on leadership of great Anglo-Indian in schools up to the secondary celeration would soon catch up Town Hall for signature and was by the Government Medical tober 7, 1879 at which the Asso- important matters affecting the stalwarts, including W.S. Gantz, for the Covenanted Services. ciation was formed, having as its level. When I was in the Fifth with our speeding, smoke-belch- The second, in 1791, stated that published in all the leading news- Store was originally a Naval interests of Domiciled Anglo-In- Bar-at-Law, who was an active Standard, we were taught how ing express train and begin to papers. Hospital before it was object the promotion of the so- dians and Eurasians scattered all member of the Indian National the sons born of Britishers were cial, moral and intellectual ad- to draw a rectangular slab. Here, overtake it, only to decelerate Meanwhile, in Madras, the taken over by the Gun Car- over the country. As a result of Congress, and T. Richmond, an prohibited from being employed vancement of the European and lines AB, DC and HG are equal suddenly as it apporached the in the Civil, Military and Marine Government Gazette of October riage Factory. A stone tab- this, the first annual conference outstanding Anglo-Indian in length and parallel to one an- next commuter station, while 8, 1829 had the following report: Eurasians permanently settled in was held in Jabalpur on Septem- leader and Barrister in Bangalore Services of the Company. And let still in it bears the fol- India. White was elected the other. So is the case with lines our express train pressed on. The the third, in 1795, prevented the “Madras is soon to have an ber 26 and 27, 1885. White was (he was President of the Asso- AD, EH and BC. However, the electric train going in the oppo- lowing inscription: Founder-President, A newspa- in the actual buildings. It was 1000 units to fit in. It really both- employment in the Army, ex- East Indian Association. Ar- asked to take the Chair. ciation for 12 years). Gantz, in electric commuter trains of Ma- site direction would appear and “This Hospital was per named the European Anglo- sheer delight for me to find two ered me. I had no answer. cept as musicians, of all persons rangements are being made to White was also a great envi- 1890, was nominated for the dras taught me that – unlike in disappear like a flash. A unit of Indian Advocate was started, the vanishing points – one each for One day, when I was in Sev- not descending from European establish one and a Committee erected during the com- ronmentalist and induced mem- Presidentship of the indian Na- the drawing – parallel lines in a the electric train had only three title of which was a short time two sets of lines that were per- enth Standard, our family went parents on both sides. has been appointed to frame mand of His Excellency bers of the community to ac- tional Congress. B. Lovery, an- real object seen at an angle will carriages, the traction motor be- afterwards changed to Eastern pendicular to each other in the by car on a highway. The rail- The object of these standing rules for its institution. At a Gen- Vice-Admiral Sir Edward quire Roof Trees, to which they other East Indian stalwart in not appear parallel in a drawing ing located in the centre of the Guardian. Over a thousand ‘real building’. This exercise also way level-crossing gate was orders was to reduce East Indi- eral Meeting of Eurasians, it was Pellow-Bar – Commander- could turn their thoughts and Madras, was the Headmaster of and their lengths would seldom middle carriage. During peak resolved: members were enrolled in due their steps after wandering. He Pachaiyappa’s School from 1877, reaffirmed in my mind that an closed and a steam-engine train ans to a condition of social deg- in-Chief – in the year 1808, course and 16 branches were hours, they coupled two units object in a perspective drawing stood still nearby. I got out of the radation and political impo- 1. That a Petition to Parliament set an example by securing the was a Municipal Commissioner together. by Lieutenant Thomas formed in the districts. usually has two or more vanish- car, climbed over the gate and tency. For nearly half a century, be prepared as soon as practi- lease of a plot of land at from 1867, and was twice ap- Back in Madurai, I learnt that Fraser, Superintending En- ing points. stood in the middle of the rails Eurasians were ineligible to serve cable to be presented in * * * Puttundur, adjoining Whitefield pointed . none of my classmates had ever A couple of years later, when and looked at the steam-engine. on juries and, as if this disability conjuction with and for the gineer, Fort St. George.” David Emmanuel Starken- near Bangalore, where he built a The Association has estab- been to Madras – they simply we were again in Madras, I saw a It was a forbidding sight. At the were not enough, they were ac- support of the specific object burg White, measured by any lovely country house and lished a Computer Centre, a called it (the city) in pattanam new photograph of an electric same time, for a little boy it was tually debarred from specific ap- of the Calcutta East Indian yardstick, was a multidimen- brought in many Eurasians to Nursery School, and a Special those days. They had not heard train taken at an angle. I ex- also a new vision. I had never pointments open to the natives Petition. fairer and more liberal treatment sional visionary who combined settle in the area. Training Centre for graduate of electric trains. I shared my trapolated the power line, the top seen a railway engine’s face un- of the country. They were un- 2. That the Petition be for- of the East Indian community. vision with dedicated hard work. In 1888, White was given the courses and there are plans and knowledge about the electric able to take part in the adminis- warded to the East Indian On March 29, 1830, Lord He was born in 1832, the son of unique honour of presiding over proposals to set up an Industrial be equal in the drawing, even if train with them, talking about its tration of the country, the ser- Committee at Calcutta with a Carlisle presented the petition in an Apothecary of the Madras a meeting of the Madras Con- Training Institute and to provide they were so in the real object. power, the sound it made, speed, vices were closed to them, and solicitation that it may accom- the House of Lords, and on May Medical Department, and was gress Committee at Pachai- more modern facilities for How did I learn this from elec- horn and all these through the they were excluded from admis- pany theirs and be put into the 4, 1830 a Mr. Wynn presented educated at St. Andrew’s Paro- yappa’s Hall to accord a rousing Anglo-Indian youth. (Excerpted tric trains? current it drew from a wire sus- sion to colleges in which Indians hands of some agent em- the petition in the House of Com- chial School. He started his ca- welcome to Eardbey Norton, an from Contemporary Facets of the When I was in secondary pended above. I tried to draw a had free access. ployed by them. mons. reer as a clerk in the Education outstanding Barrister-at-Law Anglo-Indian Community by Dr. school, in the mid-1940s, I be- picture of an electric train – the 3. That a public subscription be and Life Member of the Associa- Geoffrey K. Francis.) In about 1825, there began a * * * Department of the Government came totally immersed in draw- drawing did not show what I movement in Calcutta organi- solicited in this Presidency in of Madras and rose to the posi- ing steam road-rollers, fire en- wanted to convey. support of our undertaking. Ricketts sailed from England tion of Personal Assistant to the gines, those gawky World War During my next summer va- line, the window lines and the til then. By this time, I knew that on July 8, 1830 on the Tam O’ Director of Public Instruction. People’s Marina II planes and, above all, steam- cation, I saw with my uncle, bottom line to the vanishing the tracks woujld ‘appear’ to Shanter and arrived in Madras on Before his retirement in 1888, he (Continued from page 1) wanted to revive the idea in the engine trains. Many boys of my Babu, a photograph of a single point. The gap between the end broaden towards me. The car- a stop-over. The East Indian was appointed the Registrar of have forgotten that the sea here 1980s until better counsel pre- age group at that time too were electric traction engine de- of the last carriage and the van- riages stood on a curved track. I CHENNAI HERITAGE community, in spite of short no- Assurance. has had a history of tragedies vailed though the Buckingham interested in them. But the dif- signed to pull a large number of ishing point was not at all that was able to see some of the tice, gave him a rousing recep- ranging from drowning incidents Canal ultimately had to fall vic- No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014 Apart from his professional ference was that I could draw – goods wagons. While in Madras, much. A rudimentary ink draw- rectanglular (lengthwise) rear tion. Governor Lushington re- life, he will go down in history as to the massive tsunami that hit tim to that piece of development. ing of a unit of a an electric train carriages, which did not quite somewhat clumsily, but, of I studied this photograph, I stuck I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / ceived him in audience and in- the person who urged the then the coast ten years ago. Profes- Then came the scheme of the course, far better than my class- it gently on a foolscap sheet and that I did years later shows this appear rectangular. I have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. vited him to a State Ball and Din- Eurasians of Madras to constitute sional swimmers and divers 1990s when it was envisaged that mates. extrapolated the traction line, aspect. speak of a deadly current that a series of high-rise constructions (To be continued) G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Rs. 100 ner. Peter Carstairs, the leader of an Association. I grew up in Madurai. My pa- the top and the bottom lines of If the train had another unit (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, the East Indians in Madras, on The Eurasian and Anglo-In- runs all along the shore. How would come up a la Shanghai, ternal grandparents lived in Ma- the engine, and the line of the of three carriages, that too MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings for the year behalf of himself and the com- dian Association of Southern In- safe will it be to have water-sport- catering to a well-heeled expa- dras. I spent many summer and rail. To my utter astonishment would fit in without crossing the 2014-15. munity, gave him, first, a public dia was incorporated under the ing facilities here? triate clientele. That idea was vanishing point, would it not? Christmas vacations with them. all these lines merged into a G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, environment dinner and then, a reception ball Indian Companies Act VI of While details of the scheme dropped once the tsunami hit From their house in Thirumalai single point. I had only com- What about 100 units next to one and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, I send Chennai and supper, where they thanked 1882 on March 30, 1882. Its are still awaited, it is clear that the coast. We wonder what will Pillai Road, T’ Nagar, we trav- pleted my Sixth Standard (1st another? How about 1000 units? Heritage an additional Rs...... him for his achievement both in name was subsequently this is yet another instance of save the Marina this time. Public elled to the heart of the city us- Form) and I had unwittingly, It seemed irrational to expect (Rupees ...... ) Please keep/put me India and in England. He then changed to The Anglo-Indian wanting to take over the Marina. outcry is the only hope, if we are ing the commuter electric trains. on your mailing list. left for Calcutta. Association of Southern India on This is not the first time and it to save this common recreational I loved these trains, not so much Name : ...... The appeals to Parliament January 17, 1908. It was further certainly will not be the last. The facility from encroachment in from an artistic point of view but Address: ...... were, in time, to prove success- changed to the Anglo-Indian earliest instance was 110 years the name of development. The rather as something representing ago when a railway line was citizens of Bangalore have ...... ful, in that most of the relics of Association of Southern India on power, speed and action. I im- exclusiveness and opposition to August 27, 1994, the name by planned across the sea front, shown that they were capable of mensely enjoyed hearing the ...... progress were removed by the which it still goes. connecting George Town with this when Cubbon Park was simi- saxophone roar of their traction All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by Charter of 1833. In the fifty years Apart from constituting and . That was abandoned larly threatened. Can Chennai- motors, as the trains accelerated, Speed Post only. that followed the Charter of being the first President of the following public protest. The ites prove that they are of the and the bugle calls of their pow- 1833, the prosperity of the com- Eurasians and Anglo-Indian As- Mass Rapid Transport System same mettle? 6 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2014 Our own

(Current Affairs questions are Rajam’s from the period February 16th to dream 28th. Questions 11 to 20 pertain MIT to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. What is so special about zircon hennai should feel a sense of pride that the Madras Institute crystal found in sandstone in the of Technology (MIT) was established in 1949, a little earlier Jack Hills region of Western Austra- C lia recently? than the first IIT set up in West Bengal’s Kharagpur in May 1950, 2. On February 19th, Brian Acton and a decade before IIT Madras in 1959. MIT, established by an and Jan Koum made global head- industrialist, Chinnaswamy Rajam, opened in July 1949 with 96 lines thanks to Facebook. Explain. students from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari” who would specialise in From India House to hangars. 3. In which State capital was the automobile engineering, aeronautical engineering, electronics en- country’s longest free Wi-Fi zone, gineering and instrumentation technology. stretching nearly 20 km, unveiled recently? The campus had readymade hangars, as the 27 acres of land in 4. On February 20th, which lan- on which MIT was set up, had been used as an airfield guage attained the sixth “classical during World War II. The hangars became workshops for the stu- language’’ status in the country? dents. The seed capital for buying the land on which MIT now 5. Name the Government of India’s functions was Rs. 5 lakh that Rajam mobilised by selling India recently launched new online infor- House, his handsome bungalow across the road from the Music mation guide for social sectors and Academy. software tools to develop Internet- based content in local languages. The story of the founder and founding of the institution’s 6. On February 26th, who became growth are only too briefly told in a small coffee table-type book, A the first chief of a defence force to Visionary’s Reach, which was released at a recent function. resign in independent India? To help him set up the College, Rajam formed a core commit- 7. The oldest parliamentarian of In- tee which comprised lawyer and philanthropist M. Subbaraya Iyer, dia, aged 94, announced on Febru- ary 21st his decision to call it a day. who was also instrumental in founding Vivekananda College and He joined politics and became a Vidya Mandir; M.K. Ranganthan, the first Director of MIT (1949- member of the first Lok Sabha in 54); K. Srinivasan, Editor, The Hindu; C.R. Srinivasan, Editor, 1952. Name this Manipuri. Swadesamitran; philosopher and statesman S. Radhakrishnan; and 8. In the world of medicine, what is retired PWD engineer L. Venkatakrishna Iyer. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam sitting with his classmates and Professors the newly discovered ‘Dua’s Layer’ Repen- thin, Sponder and Pandalai. named after its discoverer, Professor Demonstrating that the institute enjoyed plenty of goodwill, Dr. Kalam, recalling the life of Rajam, writes: “He (Rajam) sold Harminder Singh Dua? students of the first batch, on the last day of the first term exam, his bungalow…What for? Shri Rajam found when he was starting 9. Which Union Minister has writ- went to Coimbatore to train in the G.D. Naidu Industrial Training an industry, he had to install a lot of equipment. After installation, ten the lyrics for the music album some had to be repaired. Every time Shri Rajam found he had to Raunaq that has music by A.R. invite foreign technologists and technicians for setting right the Rahman and singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghosal? equipment either in steel rolling mills, power stations or electrical 10. Name the space telescope that mill companies. Rajam felt that Indian engineers could design and has just discovered 715 planets be- build equipment and plants and also maintain them. He visualised yond our solar system. that the design, development, maintenance and operation of engi- * * * neering systems should be integrated in the technological field. 11. In 1668, who was the first to be That is how he worked towards founding MIT. This process has designated Governor of Madras? become an integrated part of education at MIT. In addition, the 12. What grand edifice on the Ma- visionary Rajam also foresaw the requirements of the Indian De- rina was built in the gardens of fence Services. He wanted to see the Defence Services employ en- Palace, occupying what had been the Nawab's Artillery? gineers and scientists. This integrated vision gave birth to the MIT 13. Alphabetically arranged (in En- we see today.” glish), which constituencies would Nehru’s words in his address at the first Convocation (October be the first and the last of the present 9, 1952) drew attention to the initiatives taken by the founder and 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in his associates: “Anyhow, the most impressive fact of this young Tamil Nadu? and growing institute is that you, having started from small begin- 14. Where in Chennai can you find nings, are making good progress more with your own efforts, than the original registers detailing the what you could have if you had an easier time, having all things marriage of Robert Clive and Elihu Yale and the baptism of the children put before you.” Part of the progress was the number of expatriate of the founder of modern Calcutta, academics Rajam recruited for MIT. Job Charnock? Well after its silver jubilee celebrations in 1975, MIT and three 15. Where did the Corporation of sister colleges, the College of Engineering, Alagappa College of Madras meet before it moved to Technology and the School of Architecture and Planning, all in in 1913? , merged to form the Perarignar of Tech- 16. In which city temple would you nology, now the unitary Anna University. MIT has its own website see the unique ‘Aadhi Amdha- (http://www.mitindia.edu/) with its original insignia ‘In the service prabhu’ idol? Also name the two dei- ties that make up the idol. of India’ emblazoned alongside Anna University’s. 17. In which educational institution Apart from his industrial and educational interests, Rajam was in Madras can you see a statue of a music aficionado. It was he who introduced the legendary singer Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de M.S. Subbulakshmi to Madras by sponsoring a lecture and vocal- Montfort on a pedestal? veena-violin concert on December 28, 1933. MS was accompanied 18. Which institution, synonymous Centre. G.D. Naidu also donated the college its first clock tower. by her mother Shanmuga Vadivoo on the veena. with Chennai and popularly known When the first year classes in Applied Mathematics, Physics and Of Rajam’s six children, three sons and three daughters, C.R. by a four-lettered abbreviation, was Chemistry began, till MIT’s laboratories were adequately equipped, Ramaswamy gave up a career in the Indian Army to help his father founded by V.R. Singaravelar and Physics and Chemistry practicals were conducted in the Madras Ambat Sivarama Menon with V.S. in the family business when his elder brother C.R. Vishwanthan Christian College campus in Tambaram between 6 and 9 a.m. passed away suddenly. It was Ramaswamy who took on Rajam’s Srinivasa Sastri becoming its first according to the schedule. president? mantle after his death in July 1955. 19. What is the signature drink for Dr. Prema Srinivasan, who put together the book, is a grand- One of the alumni, Dr K. B. Chandrasekhar, who passed his which people flock to the Kalathy daughter of C. Rajam. She writes that the idea of writing a biogra- DMIT (Electronics) in 1983, helped to set up the AU-KBC re- Store in Mylapore? phy came when MIT students and professors were searching for search centre in his alma mater in 1999 with generous funding and 20. Fill in the blank in this state- photographs of Rajam and details of his activities from his collec- mentoring support. Other notable alumni are Prof. K.V. ment made by Governor Mount- tion for the MIT Museum which was inaugurated in 2011. Four Narayanan, who went on to work at MIT for 37 years, and T.A.S. stuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff about alumni of MIT, Vijayalakshmi, Karthika Kumarasamy, Sameer one of his own initiatives: “From old Balagopal, formerly Director (Exports), Tata Motors, and Chair- Sicilian recollections I gave in 1884 Nizamuddin and Balamurugan Ponnusamy, helped compile the man, Engineering Export Promotion Council. Maya and Lakshmi to our new creation the name of book. Menon (1964) were the first women graduates of the Institute. ______”.? Among the many pictures in the book is one of the sixth batch (Answers on page 8) of Aeronautics students (1954-57) with former President of India, – T. K. Srinivasa Chari March 16-31, 2014 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

t the recent Prof. Anan- The Tarangampadi gold foil 19,1620. One copy of the treaty A thakrishnan Endowment written on parchment in Portu- Lecture at the Roja Muthiah guese, which was then the main Research Library, Prof. P.S. History written language for trade, is in the Na- Ramanujam, a professor in op- tional Archives in Copenhagen. tics at the Technical University This treaty bears the original of Denmark, spoke on his pas- signature of Raghunatha sion, the history of Tarangam- in gold (which can be compared with padi (Tranquebar) during Dan- the gold foil). After Ove Gedde ish rule. He particularly fo- named Tarangampadi here and ralum, Rulangkalappai karpitha- Ramanujam explains the came home, the treaty was rati- cussed on the Gold Leaf Agree- allow the export of pepper to that rum..”; Rulangkalappai refers to way the Danes entered the area. fied by Christian IV; however, ment between the Danes and country as it is not available there. Roeland Crappé and karpithar is In December 1619, Roeland the ratification was never sent the ruling Nayak, dated 1620. We have given appropriate warn- Captain. Ulandeesu Chennaral Crappé of Denmark captured a back to Tanjore. It is also be- While researching into ing to the Portuguese against the refers to a General from Hol- few small Portuguese vessels lieved that there was a treaty in archival material regarding the trouble they caused to Roeland land. Who this General was, we carrying arecanuts and rice in “Mallabarisk” (Tamil) too. Danish East Indian colonies of Crape, fined them 12,000 pon and do not know. Walther trans- the seas north of Sri Lanka. The Ramanujam does not believe Tranquebar and Serampore, have issued orders to them not to lated the date as “Raudra 2nd Portuguese, however, lay in this to be true; he thinks that and palm leaf collections in interfere with your ships. We have April”. Later citations claim wait, and wrecked his ship. this is a misunderstanding Denmark, he found this April sent back the general. Since we this date to be “2nd April Crappé, along with 12 others, caused by those who mistook 1620 letter written on a gold have ordered that this place should 1621”. These dates, according managed to swim ashore and the letter on the gold foil to be a foil, 40 cm long and 25 mm be made suitable for the residence to Ramanujam, could not be were given asylum by Raghu- treaty. wide, which invited the Danes of Captain Roeland Crape, he is correct. It is obvious from the natha Nayak in April 1620. Ramanujam says that there to trade from there. The foil was now residing there. text that Tranquebar was given Ove Gedde, who was com- are two more letters on gold foil, signed by Raghunatha Nayak in “As it has been resolved that to the Danes, but through Roe- manding a Danish fleet, con- but these were written much Telugu, though the text itself we should not entertain distinction land Crappé. The text states tacted Roeland Crappé, who in- later, between 1620 and 1636. was in Tamil. The text was later between our country and yours, that a port called Tharangam- vited him to visit the Nayak at According to Ramanujam, translated into Danish and Ger- we order that the people from your padi has been established with Tanjore. This resulted in a approximately 60 documents in man by C. T. Walther in 1741. country could come and settle in a view to the Danes setting up a treaty between Raghunatha Modi (Marathi) script are there Ramanujam read out the this place. Please arrange fre- trade centre there. Nayak and Christian IV. Gedde in the Danish National Ar- text in the gold leaf which is a quently to send us rare objects left Tranquebar on February 13, chives. These are documents prized possession of the from that country. We are sending 1621 and reached Copenhagen written by the Maratha rulers at G National Archives in Copenha- with this garments two big by on March 4, 1622. Roeland Tanjore to the Government in gen. It stated, pitambarams (silk garments), a K.R.A. Narasiah Crappé became the first ‘Gov- Tranquebar. All these docu- “We, the Royal Highness hanging carpet, two upper gar- ernor’ of Tranquebar. ments have been translated. Srimad Raghunatha Nayak: send ments, four painted carpets, two Ramanujam explains that A dubash who was promi- this message to the ambassador of jamutad swords, a dagger with According to history, Taran- historians of a later period have nent at one time, Daniel Pullei the King of Denmark, on the 22nd lion-handle, another dagger and gampadi is a port town estab- misinterpreted the contents of (Pillai), wrote more than a hun- day of Chitrai in the year Raudri. four Singaram bows.” lished by Kulasekhara Pandian the golden foil as THE treaty dred letters in Tamil addressed We are prospering here. Kindly The signature of the Nayak in the 14th Century on the written in Tamil. It is not – it is to one Piragasam Pullei. These despatch the news about Your is on the lower right hand side Coromandel coast. After agree- a letter of friendship written by are in the Copenhagen Ar- Highness’ prosperity. We are of the foil and sprawls across ment between Raghunatha the Nayak. In the Danish Na- chives as are letters from one pleased to learn the news of that several text lines which sur- Nayak and the Danish king, tional Archives, there is an- Viraraghava Ayyangar and a place brought to us by Captain round it. This seems to indicate Christian IV, the town became other translation of the gold foil Gulam Muhammad, who Roeland Crape and the Holland that Raghunatha Nayak had a trading post of the Danes and dating to 1791, which has been served as intermediaries be- General. Since we have agreed signed first, and the text was remained in their hands until overlooked by all historians. tween the Raja of Tanjore and that we should not draw a distinc- filled up later. The text of the 1845, when it was sold to the This translation corresponds to the Danish Government and tion between Your Highness and foil starts with “Raudra year, English. Ramanujam’s with the excep- also as asses-sors at the Black ours and have agreed to live as Chittirai month, 20th”; this will When Kulasekhara Pandian tion of the year which is men- Court. Their letters document one, we have honoured the Hol- correspond to the current established the port town in the tioned as Nala. Nala corre- local history, such as the inva- land General and Captain Gregorian date of April 16, 14th Century, it was called sponds to 1616! sion by Tippu Sultan. Roeland Crape with palanquins 1620 (Indian Chronology, L. D. Shadanganpadi. Ramanujam Ramanujam concludes that (More details about the and permitted the subjects of that Swamikannu Pillai). says that this can be seen from the main treaty between documents at the National Ar- country to come and settle here. The second line of the text an inscription in the Masila- Raghunatha Nayak and Ove chives can be seen on We order the creation of a port starts with “ulandeesu chenne- manai Temple there. Gedde was signed on November www.tharangampadi.dk) Work on elevated expressway INDIA-SRI LANKA BRIDGE (Continued from page 1) the riverbed. If it continues to projects to be stalled. The Chief build the corridor with the river (Continued from page 3) bridge in both the countries. rich”. Let us build this friend- Engineer of the PWD issued as its base, we are in for trouble. Media has a large role to play in ship bridge at this opportune notice to stop work on the To those who have seen Edward J. Young, however, this direction. The completion moment. ground that the road was being what happened to the could not succeed in getting of BWSL provides proof to our D. Srinivasan constructed directly over the , all this is clearance for this project as Sir technical competence and ca- 39 (T13/A) Sixth Avenue river and had therefore devi- not new. The MRTS was built A.E. Havelock, the then Gov- pability. While the sea link in Besant Nagar ated from its original alignment. on the canal bed and this per- ernor of Ceylon, was personally Mumbai eases the trarffic con- Chennai 600 090 The Port Trust challenged this manently destroyed that water averse to the scheme and con- gestion on a specific route in order in Court. With the NHAI body, at least within the city. sidered that its completion that city, this bridge will facili- MADRAS MUSINGS ON also filing a writ requesting or- Since then, all announcements might lead to the annexation of tate two nations becoming ders to resume work, the Court to the effect that the canal Ceylon to India. more prosperous. THE WEB has permitted this, with the pro- would be revived as a navigable In spite of this setback South President Mahinda Raja- To reach out to as many read- viso that the PWD must be waterway have remained hol- Indian Railway continued its ef- pakse of Sri Lanka has repeat- ers as possible who share our taken into confidence and care low promises. The sinking of forts to make Ceylon as easily edly reiterated his personal keen interest in Madras that is must be taken that there is no pillars into the canal has only reachable as possible. And it did commitment to project of rec- Chennai, and in response to obstruction to the Cooum. It is ensured that the waterway is no so with the Pamban Bridge. onciliation and development. requests from many well-wish- to be hoped that this will be ad- longer an effective stormwater Now it is time to take Bharati’s This bridge should form part of ers – especially from outside hered to. drain system and also causing dream further. the development project. Chennai and abroad who It must be pointed out, how- flooding in neighbouring areas. The civil war in Sri Lanka “Let’s build a common fu- receive their postal copies very ever, that the NHAI has not yet The same method, if adopted that lasted a generation has ture, from our common past. late – for an online edition. given any commitment to re- with the Cooum, can spell a big- now come to an end. There is All it requires is imagination, Madras Musings is now on the move the pillars in the river or ger disaster as the river flows no hurdle to pursuing the leadership and the commitment web at www. madras to change the alignment again through several crowded locali- project. Public opinion has to be to break off the shackles of the musings.com to prevent any construction on ties within the city. mobilised in favour of this past…. To make our people – THE EDITOR 8 MADRAS MUSINGS March 16-31, 2014

The Chitales of Chennai – Part II No Chitale stamp – Each different (Continued from last fortnight) nlike his father, the leg-endary L.M. Chitale, who was born in a family of lim Uited means, Krish Chitale was born to parents who had prospered and had an easier life. But he lost his mother when he was only 8 years old and had a difficult childhood thereafter, as he was The Kothari Building by Krish Chitale. brought up by friends and rela- Immediately after passing out of tives since his father was away the JJ School he joined his father’s time the emphasis was to its specific functions and reputation as a social activist most of the time. When his fa- father’s firm in Madras. It was on symmetry and grandeur. But location,” says Krish Chitale. with a difference. Working with ther passed away in 1960, Krish not long before he married the buildings that I have de- Since Krish Chitale took Round Table and Rotary, he Chitale had to step into the Sushila, a qualified architect signed are all different because over the mantle, Chitale & Son contributed significantly to larger-than-life shoes of his fa- herself, who also joined the firm I believe good design implies has been involved in designing Family Planning programme of ther. He was only 28 years old and was with it till the arrival of change. You cannot see a and building scores of buildings. the Corporation of Madras, the at the time. their son in 1960. Chitale stamp in my buildings. The list of clients of Chitale & establishment of Child Trust’s Born in Tarapore, Maha- Between 1952 and 2003, the Each one will be different. Be- Son reads like a “who’s who” of Hospital in Nungambakkam, rashtra, in 1932 Krish Chitale year Krish Chitale handed over the country. the successful implementation had his schooling in Madras at the mantle to his son Kapil Krish Chitale is also known of the Red Measles immuni- P S Senior Secondary School Chitale, he was actively in- G by R.V. Rajan for his interest in preserving sation programme, and the mas- and volved in designing landmark heritage in the city. “I am a die- sive polio eradication program- School. He got his degree in ar- buildings in South India. When hard believer in conserving me which was later adopted by chitecture from Sir JJ School of I asked him about the difference sides, I pay a lot of attention to heritage buildings. I have made Rotary International. “Doing Architecture, Bombay, where between the style of designing wind direction and how to sure that whenever we renovate social service is my hobby,” he he met his future wife Sushila, buildings during his and his make the best use of natural such buildings, we respect them says. a Gujarati girl from Bombay. father’s time, he said, “In my light.” for what they are because they As for the legacy he will be According to him, the are our history.” He recalls his leaving behind, he quips, “Well, Kothari Building on Nun- efforts in renovating the Library I have managed to keep the Answers to Quiz gambakkam High Road is one and District Boardroom of the name of ‘Chitale & Son’ going of the first buildings in Madras Free Masons Grand Lodge of for 81 years. I hope Kapil, who 1. The 4.4-billion-year-old crystal has been confirmed as the oldest Madras District, located in the is already heading the business, fragment of Earth’s crust; 2. Their popular creation WhatsApp was to use sun control louvres. In Tarapore Tower, another land- campus of the Free Masons will take it forward, with its bought by the online giant for a staggering $19 billion; 3. Patna; 4. Hall, off Ethiraj Salai, Chennai. reputation intact, to reach the Odia; 5. Vikaspedia; 6. Indian Navy chief Admiral Devendra Kumar mark building on that Chitale designed, he used A small building but an eye- milestone of 100 years!” Joshi; 7. Manipur’s Rishang Keishing; 8. At 15 microns thick, it is a catching one after restoration. new layer in the eye located at the back of the cornea between the solid fire-proof walls between While he and his son have corneal stroma and Descemet’s membrane; 9. Kapil Sibal; 10. Kepler. the individual shops, so that in kept the flag of Chitale & Son (Concluded) *** case of a fire in one shop it will be contained in that area. “I flying high as a leading architect 11. George Foxcroft; 12. Senate House; 13. and firm in South India, it is Krish Virudhunagar; 14. St. Mary’s Church in the Fort and the Fort Mu- believe that every building should have its own identity Chitale's total involvement in seum; 15. Errabalu Chetty Street; 16. . The idol is an several voluntary organisations (Feedback welcome on amalgam of Anjaneya and Lord Ganesha; 17. Higher Sec- created by a simple and expres- that have helped him get a [email protected]) ondary School; 18. TUCS; 19. Rose milk; 20. Marina. sive architecture corresponding

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