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 Short ‘N’ Snappy  Joseph Hooker in Madras  Preparing for Antarctica  Madras Girl for the US President  Anonymous callers

WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXVIII No. 24 April 1-15, 2019 Discipline needed at Kapali

As summer dawns, the search for water begins and the tanneer pandals also come up. (Courtesy: Mylapore festival Times. Photograph by Ganesh Natarajan.) move, ­mobile tanneer pandals With so much of food being refreshments such as panakam  by The Editor as they were. All of these, in made available, it naturally (a sweet drink) yes, but since the name of charity, cause lost its value as well. Several when did biscuits and aerated huge problems of waste, clean- well-to-do people had evidently drinks become part of our cul- he ten-day annual festival that tanneer pandals are put up liness and garbage disposal. decided that this was the day to ture? And why do these have to Tof the Kapaliswarar Tem- all around Chennai on the 8th The Police, to be fair to them, dine out. Many of these moved be distributed? ple has just got over. As in all day of the Kapali festival when have been very strict this year around the peripheral streets Lastly, does any category of its previous editions, this year the 63 Nayanmars come out in in issuing permissions for the in two-wheelers and sampled people in Chennai, other than too saw a grand spectacle un- procession with the Lord. setting up of tanneer pandals. food at the various kiosks. They those below the poverty line folding, with the deities being Except for a few historic ones, ate what they liked, packed really need food for free? In a brought out twice daily on The question is one of pro- no other kiosk was permitted up some for those at home no prosperous city like ours, surely various mounts. The temple portion. How many tanneer to be put up on the four Mada doubt and as for what they did there cannot be so many people authorities, the volunteers and pandals make for adequate streets proper. While this did not like, that was simply thrown desperate for a free meal. It is the police have more or less numbers and how many cause have a salutary effect, the down and ground underfoot by time those who organise such perfected the routine and it was an overdose? Currently we problem merely shifted to the the thousands who walked by. kiosks think twice before they a pleasure to see the way the en- appear to be veering sharply side streets. These narrow Add to this the plastic waste set out. It is best that the pan- tire event was rolled out. Thou- towards the latter. Anybody lanes, which are unable to even of cups, plates and bags and dals are reduced in number. If sands thronged the Mylapore and everybody puts up these handle routine traffic, became you have quite a monumental the urge to give food is still too area to witness the processions. kiosks and there are several hard-pressed for space when problem. There is yet another strong then it ought to be done It is these ­people who now need others who distribute food, these pandals began blocking question that begs an answer at old age homes and hospices to improve on their behaviour if water and cold drinks on the them off. – buttermilk, water, traditional that shelter the homeless. this celebration is to be really fit for the Gods. There was a time when tan- neer pandals would be set up at various places for the benefit of pilgrims coming in from afar. Can MPLAD not be revamped? What with the weather just beginning to hot up in March, he Members of Parliament diligence, approval, selection 4,11,612 works were sanctioned organisations­ give a contra­ these kiosks are necessary for TLocal Area Development of implementation agency and and 3,84,260 works completed. rian picture. Serious doubts they also dispense cooling (MPLAD) scheme was intro- execution. The Government Overall, Tamil Nadu and West of corruption, nepotism and ­refreshments such as water and duced in 1993 to enable MPs of India releases directly to the Bengal are the best perform- collusion prevail over statistical buttermilk besides offering the to create useful community district authority the annual ing States. Both have average reports based on completion weary a place to rest. Such tan- assets in their constituencies. entitlement of Rs. 5 crores in proposal sizes of Rs. 3.5 crores. certificates. Gross violation neer pandals are also an integral Currently, each MP is allotted Across the nation the util- of the scheme’s guidelines in Rs. 5 crores per year, that is, part of Tamil culture, receiving  by A Special isation to fund released per identification of “projects” that mention in the 12th Century Rs. 25 crores per term which is a centage is over 90 per cent and yield personal benefits or of Periya Puranam itself. It is said substantial sum of public money ­Correspondent almost all States have used the those that exist only on pa- that Appoothi Adigal, one of to be placed at the disposal of funds. That is the statistical per but have been certified as the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite an individual. two equal instalments of Rs. 2.5 picture of the MPLAD scheme ­completed and irregularities in saints), put up such pandals MPs are expected to recom- crores. performance. the selection “suitable” con- wherever Appar, one of the mend projects, based on local From April 2014 to end Findings of misuse and tractors for execution have senior most in the same canon, needs and the district author- of July 2018, out of 4,67,144 unfavourable reviews of the went. It is therefore no surprise ity is made responsible for due works recommended by MPs, scheme by government’s own (Continued on page 2) C M Y K 2 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2019 MPLAD REVAMP? (Continued from page 1) over five years is susceptible to misuse. Stones in Books been cited. District Authorities Lack of fund provision for he Man from Madras Mus- be kept small, and the weight ous engineering colleges that do not inspect the required maintaining and operating Tings thinks it was Shake- just about enough for a Chief dot the State. These have of the assets created under the speare who said that there Guest to hold on with one course been using the original number of sanctioned works were sermons in stones and hand. ­Unfortunately, what document (which is now help- and do not render regular mon- scheme and absence of inde- pendent verification of project books in running brooks. That with leather covers, dust jack- fully on the web) and cribbed itoring reports. When sent, was the first quote that came to ets, gold trimming and art all of its contents for their own the reliability of the reports is ­completion are defects in the mind when MMM was asked paper, coffee table books end reporting. The only surprising questionable in the absence system that are repairable but recently to release a book up weighing quite a bit. There element is that while the orig- of verification by independent not the high susceptibility of the commemorating 90 years of was an event where a book of inal committee put together agencies. scheme in its present form for the oldest Rotary Club in the MMM’s was being released by a list of 468 buildings in a These shortcomings are misuse. The earmarking of close city. MMM, while preparing the highest in the land. The few months, the various stu- ­substantiated by reports of the to Rs. 4,000 crores of MPLAD for the speech, had a whale work commemorated the cen- dents of the numerous colleges in the annual Budgets, that is, of a time putting together the tenary of a bank and it did not have, even with the original Central Information Commis- various experiences he has had help that Chief Guest, owing report in their possession, sion. Lack of transparency and Rs. 20,000 crores per Parlia- ment duration of five years has in bringing out books and the to being rather dialectic in his managed to list just 60 build- accountability in the operation words of encouragement he English kept referring to the ings or so in the past 13 years. of this scheme have come in assumed the nature of a fixed has received at the end of each. institution as wank and con- Last week, a couple of for adverse comment also from perk. The longer it continues, Years ago, MMM sweat- gratulated it on its centenary young things called MMM. the National Commission to the harder will it become inde- ed himself to the bone and in wanking. The time came They had, they said, a few ­Review the Working of the structible, as it is voted upon by produced a tome of a book, for the book launch and two questions on two heritage Constitution (NCRWC), the the MPs themselves. his first. At the end of the people arrived on stage laden structures. They had originally Second Administrative ­Reforms The options are: either abol- book release event, the per- with MMM’s weighty work. called on the Chief and he had Commission, the Comptroller ish the scheme or give it one son who had commissioned They dumped it in on Chief directed them to MMM. It did more chance by revamping MMM patted MMM on the Guest, who being completely strike MMM in passing that a and Auditor-General of India back and whispered, “Don’t unprepared for it, staggered all wonderful photo opportunity and the Central Information and decentralising it to see if its potential benefits are realised in worry, nobody will read it around in an effort to regain was missed, due to the absence Commission. anyway.” MMM was quite ­balance. A brace of security of a photographer, in catching larger measure with lesser risk The high degree of fund nonplussed but, later, on pon- commandos restored order. the Chief’s expression when of misuse. The scheme connects dering over it, came to the Dust jackets can be quite the two young things asked utilisation, over 90 per cent the people’s representative with across all states – could be conclusion that this too was devious too. On one ­occasion him about the two heritage the constituents to understand all to the good. After all, if the Chief Guest held on to structures. Be that as it may, too good to be true – and the their needs. It helps citizens there is a voluminous book it while the book happily the two young things were unsatisfactory outcome reports assess the representative’s com- with MMM’s name on the slid out and landed with a now supplicating MMM for in- are contradictory and disturb- mitment to serve the commu- cover that should be enough thud at the Chief Guest’s formation. The two spots, one ing. As post-implementation nity and therefore decide on to establish MMM as a man of toes. The public address sys- a long-vanished viaduct (only verification is weak there is no eligibility for re-election. It may letters. Forget what is inside. tem resounded with strange you could have played such a assurance that all that is said to Over the years, MMM has oaths in a native language. trick, Chief) and another an generate a healthy competition arrived at certain fixed con- obscure park had MMM scur- have been accomplished has in among political parties to show fact happened or served public good results. It creates a mean- purpose. ingful and specific performance Reports suggest that there indicator as there is no other SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY is hardly any participation of way of measuring the elected the local people to voice their representatives’ commitment. rying for information himself. needs. Small groups, having If the scheme is not to be easy access to the MPs, tend clusions on books, especially It then dawned on MMM that abolished, it should be de- of the coffee-table variety in Merry Go Round the these two young things could to get clearance for works to centralised to give it a higher the production of which he, Heritage Bush get information on the two serve their own needs. By rule, chance of success. It is reported MMM, has been particularly old things by simply accessing in Government schemes, a that many MPs are not close fecund. Around 90 per cent he High Court of Madras the original report. He asked project is proposed, its viability of those who get these books Tgave the Government of them to do that whereupon enough to the constituen- Tamil Nadu a list of heritage assessed, funds allocated for cy to be able to understand run their hands over the cover he was supplied with the most and then consign the book buildings in the city that it original answer – the relevant viable proposals and released as ­diverse needs spread over a felt ought to be protected. it progresses. large area compared to the to some coffee table or the pages were missing in the other. MMM is quite happy This listing was put together copy that is doing the rounds. But, in MPLADS, the pro- compact area of an MLA’s if they don’t consign them by a committee formed by MMM recollects that a cess is reversed. Funds are constituency.­ MLAs are more to dust bins. Of the remain- the High Court especially for popular Tamil film in re- first allocated, after which the likely to ­remain in contact ing, around five per cent go this purpose. The listing had cent years had the title Some works are recommended and with their constituencies with- through the pages, glancing copious notes on the history Pages Missing in the Mid- of each structure, its state of the district administration, out having to make a special at the pictures. We now come dle. That would be a good effort. They are, therefore, to the last five per cent and preservation and also a sug- title for this column too. after assessing viability, imple- gested category of grading into ments them. MPLAD involves more likely to be familiar with here is where the writer is on slippery ice. Two per cent which each edifice could be about Rs. 20,000 crores over a local problems and be more ac- placed. The Chief was part Tailpiece countable to people they face look into the index and scan Parliamentary term that is, by of this committee and when ho says Chennai Police every day. It may be worthwhile to see how many times their and large discretionary, free of name appears in the book. If you read the report, which Wlack a sense of humour? effective post verification and for the Centre to try it out in a it is there a sufficient number runs into several hundred pag- The Man from Madras Mus- prone to serious misuse. The decentralised format allocat- of times, all is well and they es and weighs a tonne, you ings chuckled at this poster facility for an individual to ing Rs. 1 crore per MLA per write letters praising the work. can hear his voice coming that is now at various intersec- have an almost exclusive say year, entrusting the supervision If not, all hell can break loose. through, loud and clear. This tions. The genre is somewhat and monitoring to the State Of the remaining, two per document was given to the noir, but then you cannot deny on ­expenditure of public money Government 13 years ago. of as much as Rs. 25 crores ­Government. cent is really tricky for this is that the message is quite clear. the kind that after searching Considering that it had For those who cannot read for its name will scan the come from the High Court and Tamil it says Wear Seat Belts list for its enemies and see if was part of a judgement, you While Travelling and Pre- Thank you, Donors they are also featured. If not, would think that the document vent Your Journey to Heaven. all is well. If they are, then a would have been accepted in We today, publish donations received with thanks for the period toto. But this is a democracy January-February 2019. rapid count is made as to the number of times they feature and how can any Government accept blindly what the Judicia- Rs. 100: R.M. Veerappan, Dr. D.B. James, S. Surya Narayanan vis a vis themselves. If the enemy count is higher, the ry hands out? And so the Gov- Rs. 200: Krishnamoorthy Subbarathinam, M. Fazal, Jennifer Gwynue, ernment decided that it had to R. Rajan book is trashed. If not, there is scope for some backhanded independently list out the heri- Rs. 400: Mrs. N. Ramanujan, M.P. Ponnuswamy, T. tage buildings. And to do this it Ananthanarayanan, M.M. Rajendran, K.S. Srinivasan, N. compliment. The last one per cent is the kind that will actu- decided that it would rather not Vittal trust the historians and archi- Rs. 600: G. Ravindran ally read the book line by line and send you a list of errata. tects who worked in the High Rs. 900: Dr. P. Sakthi, Mary Alexander, M.V.S. Appa Rao, Court committee but instead Vijayalakshmi Varadarajan Next we come to size and weight of book. MMM strong- place its confidence in under- Rs. 1000: P.S. Seshadri, A.V. Rangam, K. Sivaraman, V. Shankar graduate students in the vari- Rs. 2400: N.S. Parthasarathy ly recommends that the size –MMM Rs. 2900: A. Jawahar Palaniappan April 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Is matrimony a ­monotony? near him, adjacent to his seat at the entrance Queries to red brigade uring early sixties, the private buses I Dcommuted from Poonamallee to Guin- and regaled me with his ­rustic witticisms. He ith reference to the letter titled red brigade in the last issue dy where I boarded the electric train to my was particular about not overloading. The bus ­college opposite the Madras aerodrome were had a permitted pay load of 38 (36 passengers W(MM, March 1st), I record my complaints to Swiggy and + driver + conductor) and never should or Zomato. I do not expect much action though, because their busi- on the dot. They seldom broke down en route. Only flaw was they raced with one another, as would such number exceed. Venkoba Rao, an ness model is such that they have little or no control over their competition was the mantra of free enterprise. acerbic checking inspector, who looked like delivery persons. The 9.05 bus I caught daily was driven by an alter ego of Shakespearean Cassius, would I have the following complaints against the delivery persons. Palani. He was a jovial man who would chit board the bus at Porur or Butt Road will re- 1) None of them ever follow any traffic rules. chat, cutting risqué jokes with his conductor port to the owner if the number ­exceeded the They never wear helmet. or the time-keeper. But the moment the Palani­ cap. This lapse will entail suspension for a few Even if they wear a helmet, it’s never buckled. sat behind the wheel, a metamorphosis would days. No wonder, Loghu will always be doing They over speed. come over him. He would look grim. One a head count. There were occasions when he They never halt at signals when it shows red lights. Instead, admirable thing was he will not start the bus, had refused admittance to the third family member, if only two empty seats were available. they zig zag their way and disobey signals. the moment the conductor Loghu blew the whistle, or shouted Po, Rights, but wait for few Most of the days, a lady, having a child They drive sometimes against the traffic in the wrong direction. vital seconds, so the lady with a child at the hip at the hip and a boy with no coverage at the 2) Hygiene: Less said the better. They look so dirty, sweaty. may settle down or an old man deposit himself bottom will be waiting near Retteri. Palani 3) Balancing the haversack like bag, which mostly hangs out, on the seat without falling. Loghu, made me sit will stop the bus for Loghu to collect the there is a chance that they might loose their balance and even brass tiffin carrier that had a neatly rolled fall down. banana leaf stuck on top. A pleased Loghu, I am certain that this mail will only fetch a standard “copy-paste”­ after a brief exchange with the lady will reply. shout ‘Double Rights’ for the bus to move. With the management least bothered to ensure that laws are Chari my college and bus mate, who had an ear to the ground told me one day in a adhered to, one can conclude that the management will not hesi- hushed whisper, that the Retteri lady was tate to follow unethical practices in business as well. Loghus’s second wife, the first one ensconced Perhaps the management is only keen to fill in the coffers with at Saidapet. ‘My god! Anyone at Chetpat or venture capital funds and only the valuation bothers them. Teynampet for good measure?’ I asked him?’ He smiled wolfishly, shrugging his shoulders. C.S. Ananth I realised the sailors may not be the only ones ‘Sai Villa’ who had a wife at every port. Chari said, ‘The Plot No. 500, 4th South Main Road romantic males who have a spacious heart Kapaleeswara Nagar go for more. But is not Loghu applying two Neelankarai, Chennai 600 115 different yardsticks, one for the bus and one for the family by overloading more than the prescribed number?’ I reflected over that nugget. ‘Well, every rule, including this one, has an exception,’ I said, in a double-speak. J.S. Raghavan [email protected]

Date corrected A.V. Raman and was organised and MGR) in attendance. by Mohan’s father, the leading The picture shows them with ith reference to last fort- lawyer V.P. Raman, at Abbots- V.P. Raman and Mohan (both Wnight’s article on Ab- bury on January 30, 1968. The standing extreme right) botsbury, Mohan V. Raman has event witnessed Rajaji (past Sriram V sent in a correction – the event CM), Anna (then CM) and two referred to was the 10th death future CMs (M. Karunanidhi anniversary of his grandfather

Hooker and his party – which included Lord Dalhou- Hooker’s brief sojourn in Madras sie, the then Governor-General of India, and Lady Dalhousie – arrived in Madras from Kandy (Sri Lanka) at about 11 pm on – an ignored page in history January 5, 1848. In his words: “We arrived in Madras roads …. There is neither bay nor uring his stay in India, l Even today Joseph­ torian, who spent considerable restrict myself to referring to DHooker spent his time in ­Dalton Hooker’s time in India, I cannot but his short stop in Madras, an el- harbour, only a wide expanse Calcutta and neighbourhood, ­monumental 7-volume avoid mentioning Mea Allen’s ement which has been ignored of anchoring ground, like ­Yarmouth2 roads, but wanting mostly travelling further north Flora of British India volume the Hookers of the Kew by professional historians. into the Himalaya and its foot- 1 (1967) (borrowed a long time Hooker touched Madras en all protection to seaward in (1875-1897) remains the shape of sands; so that a hills. He explored these natural ­valid and is referred ago from the British Council route to Calcutta. His Madras areas for botanical novelties, Library in Madras), which in- stop is verbalised in the Notes ­constant rolling sea renders to extensively­ not since right from a young age troduced me to this enchanting of a tour in the plains of India, landing very difficult. he was inspired by his equal- only within­ the Indian personality in a formal manner. the Himala (Himalaya?), and “Madras, as seen from the ly remarkable botanist-father ­subcontinent, but also Borneo; being the extracts of pri- roads, is a long city on an William Jackson Hooker. ­Joseph throughout the world. vate letters of Dr Hooker written ­extensive flat, without a rise Hooker’s versatility in the world  by during a government botanical of ten feet on any part, and of natural materials was so Murray, London) are indeed Dr. A. Raman mission to those countries (1848, profound that he powerfully academic treats to anyone in- [email protected] Reeve, Bentham, & Reeve, 1 Hooker indicates in the cover extends his brilliance in the terested in India’s fascinating London). Since this document pages of Flora of British India knowledge of animals and land- natural history for the details is litle known, I share here some volumes that he has been as- scapes and geomorphology, fur- they provide and for the lucid of the more relevant details. I was a student of biology at sisted by various botanists. ther to plants. The Himalayan prose in which the entire vol- In the last few pages of this Presidency College, then. 2 Yarmouth is a coastal town in Journals, subtitled the Notes of a ume is presented. slim volume, which is an edited As the life and work of Norfolk, at the mouth of the Naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim, Although innumerable vol- text from Hooker’s personal ­Joseph Hooker in the subcon- River Yare, east of Norwich. the Nepal Himalaya, and the umes refer to the life and work tinent has been spoken about journal, he speaks of his rather Khasia Mountains, (1855, John of this remarkable natural his- extensively and plentifully, I will quick impressions of Madras. (Continued on page 7) 4 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2019 April 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 A paragon of Preparing for Antarctica n 1981, Kerala newspapers took over management of the Ihailed that it was a Malayalee, well known and much sought Dr Salim Thomas, Indian Naval after Sishya School in Chennai Officer Surgeon, that was se- upon his father’s demise in 1993. a theatre lected as doctor-member of the Dr Thomas is a senior consulting historic first Indian Antarctic oncologist, consultant doctor rihant Narayana Ocean first trustees was Narayana Ethi- This was another homegrown Expedition. serving on the Boards of medical Thomas studied in Lawrence institutions. He has taught sur- Towers is a tall building by rajamma and it is after her that entrepreneur, who having made A School, Ooty, stood first, com- gery for several years. Chennai standards. It sticks out, the Ethiraj Kalyana Mandapam his fortune with the eponymous pleted his medical degree and Doctor, Naval officer, Antarc- all 18 storeys of it, from the still on TTK Road is named. coffee brand, branched out into joined the Navy. He had lived tic expeditioner, teacher of sur- rather low skyline of Triplicane. As per film historian Stephen cinema. He formed the Narasu all his life in Madras, that is gery, school administrator - with The ocean or for that matter the P. Hughes, there was a theatre Picture Circuit for distributing Chennai, and continues to do such a formidable background, sea is some distance away and I functioning briefly on this site films. Later, he would purchase so. His father, Kit Thomas, dis- there is much he can speak on. presume that from the 18th floor even in the 1920s. This was the Vel Studios in Guindy and name tinguished educationist, lived What fires one’s imagination, you do get a good view of the Empire and it folded up after it after himself. Today, after hav- twenty years in Ooty as Principal however, is his experience in water. Standing at the entrance a couple of years. It is proba- ing changed hands in the interim of the Lawrence School and rest the three-month Antarctic mis- to this building it is difficult to ble that this was a temporary to become a soft drink plant, it is of his life in Chennai till his de- sion. A brief background of the imagine that once this was a ­structure for the story of Paragon the ITC Grand Chola. mise in 1993. Considering these, Expedition is needed before we cinema theatre and resounded to begins with one Mr. Kamath Narasu acquired Presidency Tamil Nadu claims that it is a question him on details. music, dialogue, fight sequenc- leasing an empty plot of land on Talkies Limited in 1945, be- resident of this state that had the The National Centre for Polar es, the claps and hoots of the April 7, 1932. A couple of years coming its Managing Director distinction of being a member of and Ocean Research, Ministry audience, the muted sales pitch later he built a theatre on it and and running Paragon Theatre the first Arctic Expedition. of Earth Sciences, Government of touts selling tickets in black, named it Paragon. The name was thereafter. A year later, disaster This article is not to adjudi- of India initiated polar research cate on competing claims but in 1981 with the first Indian Ex- to show that we have in our pedition to Antarctica. This was midst an interesting, many-sided an initial scouting team that was LOST LANDMARKS OF CHENNAI personality who people want to followed, perhaps based on its claim as their own. We spent a recommendations, by the con- – SRIRAM V morning with him to hear his struction of the Dakshin Gan- thoughts on two areas of his gotri Antarctic Research Base in intimate knowledge. 1983. As demand for equipment and the steady hum of the old-­ probably inspired by the Paragon struck. Narasu was contracted After his medical degree, and facilities for the research fashioned reel projectors. Theatre and Music Hall in Lon- to screen Ayyar Productions’ Thomas served in the Indian mounted and as technology Dr. Salim Thomas with Indira Gandhi. This spot, which is on don, in which Charlie Chaplin Rukmangadan starring the famed Navy from 1971 to 1986. He was advanced, Maitri Base was built ­Wallajah Road, was once Par- acted in his early years. The Carnatic singer G.N. Balasubra- selected by the Navy for a fully superseding Gangotri and still military activity on the continent going into the unknown vast many expeditions to the North agon Talkies. The land itself Paragon in Madras soon saw the maniam in the title role. The film paid scholarship for studying sur- later by Bharti base in 2015, for and territorial ownership. icy expanse where several, from and South Poles. belonged to Narayana Gurviah Kv.Al.Rm. Alagappa Chettiar opened on October 23, 1946 and gery in the Armed Forces Med- research of atmospheric, biologi- We asked Dr. Thomas how he many countries, have died in ear- It was interesting to listen to Charities, one of the older Arya owned Presidency Talkies Limit- ran successfully. Early in Decem- ical College in Pune which he cal, earth, chemical and medical managed to win a place in this lier expeditions, unable to cope him reminiscing the two-week Vysya trusts of the city. The ed taking an interest in it and by ber, Madras witnessed torrential completed in 1979. Dr Thomas sciences. The Antarctic Treaty historic assignment, perhaps, with the extraordinary stresses voyage. The Indian team left institution by itself has its share 1936 had the lease of the land rains and on the 5th, even while was chosen as a member of the was signed by India in 1983 leaving behind many other aspi- of the environment. There was from the port of Goa on Dec. 6, rants. It was the Prime Minster no rush to the nearest phone to 1981 by a chartered Norwegian of history, for Narayana Guru- transferred to its name. Under the film was running, a part of site and found that the entire six years with the appellate court first Indian Antarctic Expedition committing to protect the Ant- in 1981. For his participation, arctic environment. The Treaty Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s pet project. break the big news of selection ship, the 600-ton ice-strength- viah Chetty’s was one of the Alagappa Chettiar, the theatre the Paragon Theatre wall col- building was structurally unsta- ruling that Narasu was under no he was awarded the Nao Sena established freedom of scientific When he could have explained as a member of the historic first ened Polar Star. The ship was most comprehensive wills of its prospered and Vauhini Studios lapsed, killing three people. The ble. Paragon closed pending a obligation to pay any damages to Medal for Gallantry in 1982. He investigation and prohibited his own special qualifications expedition to the Antarctic nor equipped as an ice breaker and time, made out in 1915. He had released several of their films Police ordered the suspension complete overhaul. If this was Ayyar Productions. as having won this recognition, taking leave to go back home to carried a crew of six and the team made his fortune in deal wood here. But as was typical of this of all screening and asked the not enough, the owners of Ayyar Paragon in the meanwhile the answer he gave us was re- celebrate it. It evoked just an of twenty-one of the Expedition. crating and piece goods trading magnate, his interests in cinema Corporation to investigate the Productions sued Paragon for was pulled down and a new freshingly honest. He joined the inland letter by post “to keep The journey from Goa was rout- and being childless, left behind distribution soon waned and condition of the theatre. M. not fulfilling their contracted theatre rose on its site, opening Vazhkai, starring Vyjayanthimala that a Sivaji film did not screen Navy in 1971 and was posted his father informed”. All that he ed through Mauritius to pick up his wealth for good causes. His he sold his shares in the Pres- Meeran, City Engineer, Corpo- number of screenings of Rukman- for business under the old name and the film was a silver jubilee in a Mount Road theatre on for Bangla Desh Operations. In equipment and other requisites. second wife, who was among the idency Talkies to V.L. Narasu.­ ration of Madras inspected the gadan. The case dragged on for in 1948. It first screened AVM’s hit. Being just off Mount Road, release and so the hunt for other September 1981, he was just The duration of voyage helped close to Government Estate and venues began. Unfortunately all  by ordered to report to Operation N.S. Parthasarathy gradual acclimatisation as the opposite Kalaivanar Arangam, the others were running success- Dakshin Gangotri in Delhi. He vessel slowly moved towards the theatre proved to be quite ful films and Paragon was the did not have the slightest idea the colder latitudes. Reacclima- in Dublin. He joined the Civil popular. According to actor Mo- only one available. Its shabby of what it was all about till he remembers is his father pointing tisation on the return journey Services on passing the exams han Raman, it became closely as- interiors made Sivaji baulk at was told in Delhi that he had out the misspelling of the word was similarly a smooth natural Supplying in 1899 and came to Madras in From India’s Digital Archives sociated with the movies of M.G. a premiere here but there was been selected as medical mem- “Antarctic” omitting the letter process. December 1900. His appoint- – Karthik Bhatt Ramachandran from the 1950s. no other option. He funded the ber of the 21-person expedition “c” after “r”! The last three days of the ment as Assistant Collector and team. It came to him unsought. Explaining the preparatory voyage were very difficult as District Magistrate in Trichinop- Somewhere in the interim, it also clean up and had new seats in- Before he could recover, he was training for team members, Dr the vessel entered the “roaring chlorinated water oly was the first in a tenure that Government announcing its changed hands, being acquired stalled. Puthiya Paravai screened put through a medical examina- Thomas recalls how they were latitudes”, as the 40-50 degree lasted for a quarter of a century. takeover of the State’s adminis- by M.L. Mahalingam Chettiar. here and became a great hit.” tion, which he passed without sent for a week to the High-Alti- latitudes were known for strong He retired from the Secretariat tration aside and forgot all about By the 1960s, Paragon was By the mid 1970s Paragon was any hitch. While there was no tude Warfare School in Gulmarg winds and choppy seas. The in 1925 and on his return to Ire- it until a few days later, when once again quite decrepit. This no longer a theatre of choice. to the City psychiatry test to see if the can- established by the Indian Army vessel pitched and rolled making land authored several books, the he summoned the interpreter was when Sivaji Ganesan was Labour trouble was frequent. It didate was mentally equipped specialising in winter warfare. things acutely uncomfortable. first of which forms the subject who conveyed the sad tidings! getting into film production, regularly screened re-runs and l The Digital Library of India ife in the ICS (and later the to withstand the most exacting It was one of the highly rated The first sight of towering ice- of this piece. His pithy observation at the his first venture being Puthiya this trend continued through the (DLI) project, an initiative of LIAS) has formed the back- living conditions on earth, dental warfare academies of the world. bergs on either side was a relief the Central Government, aims Molony’s career took him to State’s financial muddle which Paravai, starring himself, Sowcar 1980s. By then the video revo- drop of several interesting mem- test and removal of the appendix The team had to camp for the from the turbulent latitudes. We at digitising significant artistic, various places such as Trichy, he attributed to the inability of oirs written by bureaucrats over Janaki, B. Saroja Devi and M.R. lution had begun to sound the were accorded priority! And that week on a glacier to understand were overwhelmed and awe- literary and scientific works Ooty, Tirunelveli and the Ceded the rulers to recognise that their the years. The book featured Radha among others. The film death knell of theatres and many because there was no facility at the way to cope with “conditions struck, he says. The vessel had and making them available over Districts. His account of each personal and the State’s proper- the Internet for education and in this issue is one of the best was due for release in 1964. “The on Mount Road began closing the site for treating these prob- somewhat similar to Antarctic to find its way through floating of these places contains several ty were separate entities holds research. Begun in 2000 by the known in the context of Madras, first choice of theatre on Mount down. Paragon was no excep- lems. He did not have to undergo conditions”. The training was sheets of ice breaking them at interesting and hilarious anec- true for many a kingdom in the Office of the Principal Scientific The Book of South India by J.C. Road was Sivaji’s Shanti,” says tion. Upon expiry of the lease, operation for appendix as it had for survival, environment ethics, many places to create passage Advisor to the Government of dotes. For instance, he notes country. Molony, ics (1926). Mohan Raman. “But Raj Ka- the land reverted to Narayana been removed even when he was handling emergencies and oper- and cruising deftly between the India and later taken over by that at Banganapalle (where he Molony was appointed Presi- Born in 1877 at Ennis in poor’s Sangam was running to full Guruviah Charities who opt- in school. ating in a group. The team was towering ice shelves on either the Ministry of Electronics and was appointed Assistant Political dent of the Madras Corporation Ireland, Molony had his early houses there. Sivaji was reluctant ed for development. Arihant From his response it seemed equipped with gear from Norway side. A helicopter guided the Information Technology, it has Agent), the Nawab, Fateh Ali in 1914, a position he held till to date scanned nearly 5.5 lakh education at the Portora Royal to stop that, as he was also a good Builders were roped in and the that he was not unduly elated as that country made the best vessel to its destination. who did not understand English his transfer to the Secretariat in books, predominantly in Indian School before graduating with friend of Raj Kapoor’s. At the Ocean Towers rose up in place over the distinction nor dis- equipment for polar conditions (to be concluded laid the letter from the Madras 1920. The chapters dealing with languages. a BA from the Trinity College (Continued on page 8) same time it was unthinkable of ­Paragon. turbed by the fact that he was having the experience of sending next fortnight) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2019 Madras girl (Quizmaster V.V. Ramanan’s questions are from March 1st to 15th. Questions 11 to 20 relate to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) for the 1. On March 13, which enterprise became the third Indian company to achieve a market value of more than Rs.6 trillion? 2. On March 6, which famous US President cultivar from the State was given a Geographical Indication (GI) few weeks ago, when Kamala Harris, an African-American tag after a process spread over ­announced her entry into the 2020 US presidential race, there was 8 years? A a lot of excitement in India, because of her India/Chennai connection. 3. What is the five-volume com- pilation of selected speeches of When she was first sworn in as a Democratic senator from Califor- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nia in 2017, she became only the second African-American woman to released in early March, called? serve in the Senate. Kamala was also the first woman elected as District 4. Of the recently released visu- Attorney of San Francisco and the first person of South Asian descent ally impaired friendly coins in the to become Attorney General of California. Those are just a few of her denominations of Re. 1, Rs. 2, inspiring firsts. But this article is not about her achievements but about Rs. 5, Rs. 10 and Rs. 20, which is her India/Chennai connection. polygon-shaped and has 12 sides? Kamala’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was the daughter of P.V. Gopa- 5. Which Indian has been ap- lan, who was active in the Indian independence movement and then pointed Chief Scientist of the became a high-ranking civil servant who fought against corruption. World Health Organisation (WHO)? Later he acted as an adviser to newly independent nations, including 6. According to the Forbes Zambia. His wife Rajam, who married him when she was 16, grew into World’s Billionaires list, which a self-assured woman who used her position in society for the benefit of Indian, apart from Mukesh Am- less advantaged women. During the 1940s, Rajam would drive around in bani (13th), is in the top 50 at her Volkswagen Beetle with a bullhorn, telling poor women how to access 34th place? birth control. “My grandfather 7. According to a report released It seems Kamala’s mother USA to pursue a career in can- was there to celebrate the day. would joke that his wife’s com- was a very strong woman, very cer research. As she got married to a Jewish by IQAir AirVisual and Green- munity activism would be the peace on March 5, which region hardworking, very intelligent. Kamala graduated from American who is also a lawyer, in North India topped the 2018 end of his career,” Kamala wrote After doing her graduation in Montreal’s Westmount High there was a Jewish ceremony report for the most polluted city in her book, Smart on Crime. No home science in Delhi, she School in Québec after which as well as an Indian ceremony in the world? wonder Kamala has activism in went to America for higher she attended Howard Uni- with mangalsutra etc. The 8. Which former India skipper her genes. Her mother liked to studies in 1957-58. She got her versity in Washington, D.C., wedding was a family affair has been reappointed as the recount the time when Kamala, Masters and a Ph.D. Later she where she majored in political with her close family and chairman of the ICC Cricket then a toddler, was fussing and, became a scientist who worked science and economics. At friends attending it. There was Committee? when asked what she wanted, special vegetarian food for the 9. Name the Indian-American cried out, “Freedom!” television personality and food guests from India at the feast As a child, Kamala frequent- as Kamala knew that her family expert, one-time married to a ly visited her extended family Booker Prize-winning author,  by R.V. Rajan members from India ate only who has been appointed by the in the Besant Nagar neigh- [email protected] vegetarian food. United Nations Development bourhood of Chennai, where Kamala has another connec- Programme as its new Goodwill her grandfather had settled tion with Chennai; with Lord Ambassador? down post retirement.. Ka- on breast cancer. She met Dr. Howard, Kamala was elected to Ganesha at a temple in Adyar. 10. Which city won the prize for mala grew up going to both Donald Harris, a Jamaican the liberal arts student council Before the primary a few years the ‘cleanest Indian city’ for the a black Baptist church and American and married him as freshman class representative third time at Swachh Survekshan ago, she had called her aunt a Hindu temple.[She has one in 1963. Kamala was born in and was also a member of the and said, ‘Chithi, please pray 2019 Awards on March 6? younger sister, Maya, a former 1964, the first grandchild in debate team. She returned to * * * for me, break coconuts at the Vice-President at Ford Founda- the family. California, where she earned temple.’ 11. The Srivilliputhur Wildlife tion who was a part of Hillary Sanctuary was established in Kamala’s parents divorced her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from So Dr. Sarala Gopalan, her 1988 to protect a particular ani- Clinton’s election campaign. when she was seven, and her the University of California, mother’s younger sister who is a mal of the Order Rodentia which Kamala and Maya, were mother was granted custody of Hastings College of the Law, consultant at Voluntary Health also lends its name to the sanctu- raised by their Indian mother, in the children by court-ordered in 1989. She was admitted to Services in Chennai, broke ary. Which animal? a black neighbourhood during settlement. (After the divorce, the State Bar of California in 108 coconuts at the Ganesha 12. Who is the Commissioner of the Civil Rights movement, her mother moved with the 1990. Thus began a legal career temple where Kamala’s mother Police, Greater Chennai? which helped shape Kamala’s children to Montreal, Québec, in which she was to excel in had once been a committee 13. What is the Tamil name for African American identity. Canada before returning to whatever job she undertook member when it was first set up. the herb Sarsaparilla? and become a trailblazer. 14. Thiruchengodu Ramalingam After she was elected Sundaram is synonymous with Though Kamala was born ­attorney general, Kamala which film outfit? and brought up in America, called her aunt and said, ‘Your 15. Which edifice is located at her mother Shyamala had coconuts worked, Chithi. For 1131, EVR Periyar Salai, Park ­inculcated in her South Indian every ­coconut you broke, I got Town? culture and values. Shyamala 1,000 votes.’ 16. What was the birth name of was a true South Indian in all Dubbed as the “female Appar or Tirunavukkarasar? aspects and loved South Indian Obama”, the press is already 17. Name the author of the five food. That is why her daughters touting her as the potential well-researched works on Car- also like South Indian food. first woman President for the natic music, namely A Garland, Kamala believes in going to 2020 election. If she becomes Another Garland, Yet Another Garland, Fragrant Garland and the temple because her mother a leading contender for Dem- Melodic Garland, who passed believed in it. According to her ocrat presidential nominee away recently. extended family in Chennai, she may once again choose to 18. At Thirumogur, the utsavar Kamala is what she is today foreground her black identity has a ‘friendly’ name. What is the because of her mother. to appeal to the coalition that name of the moolavar? Kamala married Douglas voted Obama to power. 19. Which pharmaceutical house Emhoff, a Jewish attorney from Let us wish Kamala Harris,­ of yore in the city was founded with her family’s roots in and run by Dr. Vurdappah Naidu? Los Angeles, a few years ago at the age of 49. This was her first ­Chennai, all the best in her 20. Expand VM as in the name of dream of becoming the First the street stretching from Tripli- marriage while he has two kids cane to Mylapore? from his previous marriage. The ­‘Indian-African-American’ (Answers on page 8) Kamala during one of her campaigns. extended family from Chennai Woman President of USA. April 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

more unsuccessful attempts phone board in the Telephone were made in the course of House which was duly filed the next ten days. Lack of during the trial and was admit- Anonymous success was due to the fact that ted as evidence. Incidentally, the conversation engaged in this perverted young man was by the anonymous caller was dismissed from service after his very brief. The lady doctor was conviction. telephone callers therefore contacted and briefed Some six months later there that she should draw the anony- was another complaint from mous caller into a conversation one Mr. Zinna that an unknown  by F. V. Arul, I.P., Deputy Inspector General of Police, C.I.D. & Railways even though her interlocutor person was frequently telephon- (later IG of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu). used the most filthy language ing his residence during the so that the police could have a hours he was away in office and ust as there are Peeping Toms her sister who is a lecturer in number of Sakuntala particu- minute or two to rush up to the was insulting his wife by making Jthere is also a class of being, the Queen Mary’s College, larly during the hours 7-8 a.m. spot and catch her tormentor the most indecent suggestions happily too rare, who apparently Madras. As it was clear that the and 9-10 p.m. to find out from red-handed. Accordingly, the to her. lady doctor feigned interest in finds a certain amount of gratifi- only offence that could be made which telephone number such With the co-operation of the conversation the next time, cation by indulging in lewd talk out was one under section 509 calls were received. By such the telephone department, it the anonymous caller rang her with members of the opposite I.P.C., which is non-cognisable, watch it was soon ascertained was soon ascertained that the number and this time the “Q” sex taking cowardly refuge be- no case was actually registered that the anonymous caller was anonymous caller was using car got up to the telephone hind a telephone. These per- on receipt of the complaint. using the public telephone the telephone of the Madras booth on receiving the wire- verted people apparently think However, steps were taken by booth located in front of the Medical College Hostel. On less message from the Control that by taking advantage of this the police to detect the of- High Court buildings, Espla- further watch, it was found that Room. The Police Sergeant of modern means of communica- fender while in the very act of nade, Madras. A parallel con- this caller was annoying several the “Q” car gently opened the tion they can escape detection. committing the offence so that nection to the lady doctor’s ladies whose names were found door of the telephone booth so They are, however, unaware of advantage could be taken of telephone was then drawn to in the Telephone Directory. as not to disturb the miscreant, the advance of science which section 155 (2) of the Criminal an ex-directory telephone in Similar technical arrangements snatched the receiver from him now makes it possible for them Procedure Code, the Commis- the Police Control Room at as in the previous case were and announced his identity to to be apprehended flagrante Egmore, Madras. The control made and with the cooperation the lady doctor who was still on delicto. The scientific means of room is the nerve centre of a of Mrs. Zinna, who was asked the line. The latter was natu- such detection are the police system of telephone as well as a to prolong the conversation  rally overjoyed at the success of control room and the two-way Some famous two-way radio communication however distasteful it was, the the operation and expressed her radio communication system crimes recorded in which controls the operation anonymous caller was soon thanks profusely. installed in Police patrol cars. various Tamil Nadu in various parts of Madras City apprehended. Let us take a look at two of a fleet of wireless patrol cars. The accused was one K.P. police journals. The accused in this case was cases of such anonymous tele- For the purpose of this case one Rajaram, aged 22, who was em- one T. Lawrence, a telephone phone callers who persistently patrol car was disguised in the ployed as clerk in the Govern- boy of the Medical College rang up lady subscribers and nature of a “Q” car, as used by ment Co-operative Engineering Hostel. He was prosecuted in outraged their modesty by their Scotland Yard and ordered to Workshop, Madras. He was the Court of the VII Presidency indecent talk. In the first case, a sioner of Police, Madras, being patrol in the vicinity of the pub- prosecuted under section 509 Magistrate. He was duly con- Dr. (Miss) Sakuntala of Madras competent to issue orders to lic telephone booth opposite I.P.C., in the Court of the IV victed and sentenced to four City lodged a complaint that a register and investigate such the High Court buildings during Presidency Magistrate, who in months R.I. certain person, who refused to cases. the hours referred to above. convicting and sentencing him divulge his telephone number The steps that were taken After a week or so the to pay a fine of Rs. 200 observed Wide publicity was given to or his real identity but whose to achieve this result were as anonymous caller resumed that the accused had doubtless these cases in the press which voice she could recognise, was follows: his cowardly­ activities and a committed an anti-social act apparently had a salutary effect repeatedly telephoning her at The Executive Engineer ­radio message was immediately and that the police had act- for there have been no such intervals of four to five days in of the Madras Telephone flashed from the Control Room ed cleverly in detecting him. complaints since. the mornings between 7-8 a.m. ­Department was contacted and to the “Q” car which rushed A record of the conversation and in the evenings between apprised of the situation. He to the spot but found that the between the accused and the 9-10 p.m. making indecent was asked to instruct his staff to anonymous caller had rung off lady doctor was made by the This article was written in overtures to her as well as to keep a watch on the telephone and had left the booth. Two telephone operator at the tele- 1955.

CHENNAI HERITAGE HOOKER’S SOJOURN IN MADRAS No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, (Continued from page 3) flat-bottomed,­ wall-sided, and cultural Society’s garden and Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 formed of planks of soft (man- saw Elliott’s bird and animal go-tree) wood, sewed together collections. I am already on your mailing list ­(Mailing List No...... ) the ranges of houses appear with cord. They are pulled by scattered and disjointed, from Please refer to the previous / I have just seen ­Madras Musings and would like to receive about twenty … paddlers, who story Specimens from Madras it ­hereafter. the number of trees planted keep up a most discordant ditty amongst them. The amount of sent to Darwin (Madras Musings,  I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for by way of keeping time with the 16-30 September 2009) for Rs. 100 (Rupees­ One hundred)­ ­payable to CHENNAI ­HERITAGE, inhabitants is not less than 5 or paddles, which are poles of some 600,000, a very large propor- Walter Elliott’s interest in birds ­MADRAS, as subscription­ to Madras­ Musings for the year twenty feet in length, having a and plants of the Coromandel. 2019‑20. tion of whom had assembled small round blade at the end.” to witness the landing of the Hooker concludes his im-  As token of my support for the causes of heritage,­ ­environment Governor-General.” At Government House the pressions with a short, crisp and a ­better city that Madras­ Musings espouses,­ I send Governor of Madras (George note written in Calcutta on Chennai Heritage­ an additional­ Rs...... Hooker then talks of their Hay, the eighth Marquess of January 20, 1848: (Rupees ...... ) Please landing on the shores of Madras Tweeddale), received Hooker keep/put me on your ­mailing list. using the local masula boats, and others. Hooker remarks “Here I am on the banks which could ride the rolling that trees of mango, date, of the Hoogly at last, with our Name : ...... waves characteristic of the ­‘cocoa-nut’, peepul, tamarind, excellent friend Wallich’s pet, the H.E.I.C. Botanic Garden, ...... ­Madras coast line. and Thespesia populnea were “We had anchored at a numerous in the garden. looking me full in the face from the side of the river opposite to Address: ...... ­distance of two miles from the During his stay, Hooker shore, and at 4 o’clock in the met with Walter Elliott, who where I now am.” ...... afternoon, a very large boat is remembered as a notable It will be interesting to know All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’.­ DD/Cheque should be sent by came alongside, of the only orientalist, linguist, zoologist, if Hooker had signed in the Speed Post only. kind fit for landing through the and ethnologist of Madras. visitors’ book at the Madras surf. These are about forty feet During his short stay in Madras, Agri-Horticultural Society and long, very high out of the water, Hooker visited the Agri-Horti- if that has been preserved. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2019

l Pavithra’s Perspective Supplying chlorinated water

A very colourful Pongal President of the Madras Cor- with Annie Besant, he says that to the City poration make for delight- liked her, for “no one could help ful reading. Calling him the liking an old lady so vivacious, “Nestor amongst his fellow so witty, so good humoured and (Continued from page 4) Councillors”, Molony says that so obviously sincere” but goes Theagaraya “opposed every- on to add that she never looked his tenure in the Corporation thing that was new, for at the before she leaped and that “not and short accounts of his inter- bottom of his soul there was, I only did she leap into trouble actions with various influential think, a suspicion that nothing herself, but she occasionally personalities of his times are the less than 200 years old could dragged others after her”. best ones in the book. possibly be safe or praisewor- The book is a must read as Madras, he writes was a thy”. He however accords him a fascinating account of life in “costly city to administer, its great respect as an absolutely South India in the early years of size out of proportion to all honest man who loved the hon- the twentieth century, written population”. The Madras Cor- our and dignity of the Corpora- with a healthy dose of humour poration, he says “was poor with tion. Writing of his encounters and a great eye for detail. an income of about 280000 pounds per annum” and that it It is one of the busiest thoroughfares of Chennai – this junction had to “sit dharna at the gates which leads to Kodambakkam, while roads to the right and left lead of the Government for grant-in to the Lake area, Nungambakkam, and T. Nagar respectively. It aid”. The revenues were de- is the focal-point where residents split off to several of Chennai’s rived mainly from a house-tax nerve-centres. Cars, bikes and buses blast by in a haze of smoke, of 18% on rental values and included taxes for water and while autos and cycles power on precariously amidst automobile drainage services. The licence giants. A motoring hotspot, a literal traffic circus where insane department was yet another Till April 28: Exhibition of paint- driving skills have to be juggled (despite the ubiquitous traffic-lights) source of income, where money ings by R. Rajenthran titled with barely-restrained road-rage, interspersed with expert telepathic was raised by “sale of permission Nature Dwellers. knowledge about who is going to turn where, why and precisely when. to break the law”. Reading his Rajenthran is an alumnus of the Government College of Arts Despite the beautiful Valluvar Kottam looming just to the side, not a accounts of street encroach- ments, it is striking to see how and Crafts. He joined as Head moment can be spent in its contemplation – lest you be run over by of Dept. in MGR University and little things have changed over an irate auto, its driver spluttering in righteous indignation. served as Principal of the Grand the years! ­Institute of Fashion Technology But here again, you’ll find another of Chennai’s hallmarks: where It was during Molony’s ten- for visual arts and also taught art co-exists with autos; where pots jostle in friendly fashion with ure as President of the Cor- at SRM University. His painting pedestrians, plodding bullock-carts and fashion-forward vehicles. poration that the residents of themes include animal kingdom, a series on mythological icons. the city were supplied with the flora and fauna in realistic He has a few exhibitions to his Come Pongal season (and even otherwise), you’ll find sudden shops chlorinated water for the first style. He has also been painting credit – (at DakshinaChitra). erupting along the platform, full of bright white pots painted with time. This was essential as fil- the most colourful patterns. Men and women engaged in beautifying tered and unfiltered water were this most necessary element of the Harvest Festival. Adding a dash mixed to cater to the growing Answers to Quiz needs of the population. The re- of gaiety to an established custom; their own unique, modern spin on 1. HDFC Bank, 2. Erode turmeric, 3. Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, 4. tradition. New ways to keep the old, relevant. In a way, that almost sultant mixture was christened Rs. 20, 5. Soumya Swaminathan, 6. Wipro’s Azim Premji, 7. Gurugram in epitomizes us, doesn’t it? by Sir P Rajagopalachariar, the NCR, 8. Anil Kumble, 9. Padma Lakshmi, the former spouse of Salman Member of Government in Rishdie, 10. Indore. Description: 3.5” by 5” approximately charge of Local Administration * * * Medium: Steadtler Fineliners, colour. as the “Molony’s Mixture”. 11. Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, 12. Dr. A.K. Viswanathan, ips, His encounters with Sir Pitty 13. Nannari, 14. Modern Theatres, Salem, 15. Ripon Building, 16. Marul- l Pavithra Srinivasan is a writer, journalist, artist, translator, Theyagaroya Chetty, who in neekkiyar, 17. N. Rajagopalan (IAS retd), 18. Kaalameghan, 19. Allbutt’s, ­columnist and an editor and is fascinated with History. 1921 became the first ­Indian 20. Venkatachala Mudali.

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