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Vol. XXVI No. 20 MUSINGS February 1-15, 2017 Leading India in protest – But why?

(By The Editor)

t could have been a model Iprotest were it not for the miscreants who queered the pitch on the final day. It was an expression of resentment that was a model to follow in many ways – no violence, no harass- ment of women, minimum dis- ruption to traffic and, above all, the political elements kept at bay. The rest of the country watched in amazement, until it broke up in predictable fashion. As to who was responsible for the chaos that followed, that merits investigation. Mean- while, the Marina is clear, for A Gandhian peace the nonce. We add that qualifier chiefly on the Marina because of some statistics that have emerged concerning our (By A Staff Reporter)

State. Apparently, G It was an amazing experience at the Marina on the night of is the most restive among all the January 22nd. The protest was entirely peaceful and people from States of India. It witnessed a all walks of life were present. Volunteers ensured that traffic staggering 20,450 protests in moved, albeit slowly. The police were there as a token presence, the last one year. The closest but had nothing much to do. Needless to say there were plenty of that others have managed are women and children and, unlike other cities, they were absolutely 13,089 (Punjab) and 10,477 safe. Whether you support Jallikattu or not, we all have to be proud (Uttarakhand). That notches of the manner in which the youth went about this protest. Hope- fully this will herald a new beginning for our State, writes VIJAY up another first to our tally, SRIRAM who took these pictures. EDITOR’S NOTE: Then, though it is not certain whether WHY did a Gandhian type of protest turned violent on the 23rd? we ought to be celebrating it. But that used to happen in those days in the 1940s, too, didn’t What is also amazing is the dif- they? ference between the State and the rest of the country. When we thought all along that our State is one of the peaceful How do we build pride in our City? backwaters where people go ride in my city’ is the very tect it, but the same measure of about their routine activities, ‘Pbasic mind-set that needs to By A Staff Reporter enthusiasm and commitment not giving much thought to be created, if heritage is to be has not been much in evidence public expression of inner preserved in Madras that is It was felt that a collective many fold. There is a perception for the preserving of Built and angst. Chennai. This was emphasised feeling of “possessiveness” for that heritage activity is a “pet Natural Heritage, according to Angst it certainly appears to at a recent meeting the community assets and treasures hobby” confined to elders, the a senior activist associated with be, for how else can we explain Chennai Chapter of INTACH has to be created and sustained affluent and the elitist. This the movement since its pioneer- this statistic? It points to a held with NGOs, activists and by a powerful campaign through perception needs to be removed ing years. Seminars involving deeper malaise and the sooner professionals dedicated to the classrooms, heritage clubs, by reaching out to the younger senior officials and Ministers, those in power address this, the preservation of heritage. Ways group meetings, mass media generation and the middle class, peaceful demonstrations for better. Youth roused to protest and means of strengthening ef- and other measures. Commu- making participation an inter- specific action/inaction are nec- is a dangerous thing and does forts towards creating aware- nity-wide commitment, and esting experience for them. essary to get more serious atten- not indicate a society where all ness of the value of heritage and watchfulness against vandalism Government is focused on tion paid by Government in is well. As to the reasons for ensuring its maintenance and and neglect, requires widening Cultural Heritage and puts in Built and Natural Heritage. (Continued on page 3) preservation were suggested. the present involvement base considerable resources to pro- (Continued on page 2) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2017 How do we build pride in our City? Protests over Protests he Man from Madras MMM was hovering around Mariana of the Moated T Musings missed it all, just the baggage carousel (and let Grange, MMM heard plenty (Continued from page 1) Corporate Social Responsibility as he did the floods of 2015. him tell you that you need to more curses about our city. (CSR) funding, the former with While securing greater com- Well not entirely. He was in hover for long in Madras to get But what tickled him most MLAs and MPs and the latter our Madras that is Chennai any of your baggage), when he was a man who obviously mitment to heritage conserva- with corporates. CII and other during the peaceful and digni- heard an obviously-from-the- tired of waiting for his car, tion is the aim, if it is to be sus- industry and trade bodies could fied part of the Jallikattu pro- north lady cursing our city and took offence at everyone else tained it should be ensured that possibly help the movement by tests but was away when the saying that ‘olways some whose conveyance had made it is institutionalised and does suggesting restoration projects peaceful sit in became a fairly probelem in this Medrose.’ it to the airport. He muttered not become dependent on the to their members for utilising chaotic break out. He will thus imprecations under his generosity and concern of indi- have a couple of chapters less breath and, finally, unable to funds earmarked for CSR. Heri- SHORT ’N’ viduals. There is a possibility of tage enthusiasts should keep when he pens his book titled handle his frustration any Religious and Chari- The Various Challenges, that SNAPPY longer, dialled his driver and “ready on a platter” projects of- Chennai Faced in 2015/16, but asked him as to why he was table Endowments Department fering a wide choice in terms of starting a conservation cell very he cannot help it. Talking so slow when everyone else content, costs and locations, he about book titles, MMM hears had managed to break soon. From the initial stages, said. Preparing such a portfolio that these days you can con- MMM could have chal- through the protestors and close rapport should be built of project profiles should be vert the most banal of books lenged that, for he too had the barricades! resided up North and could with this cell to safeguard taken up on a priority basis. into a bestseller if you include All said and done, our city against the cell remaining only a numeral in the title and, so, count among his memories has had a bad press in the Advocacy through corporates several violent clashes that in name; at least, upkeep of one has yielded encouraging results he perhaps ought to title his as past many months and it The Five Challenges of Chen- disrupted life no end whilst needs a quick clean up act, major segment of heritage could in other areas, such as he lived there. But he chose thus get institutionalised. nai. Three are the floods, the rather in the manner of the popularisation of traditional cyclone and the protests. The to keep quiet. Marina from which MMM Citing the delay in restoring games and anti-tobacco cam- Emerging eventually with the heritage building of the other two MMM leaves it to understands, several thou- paigns, according to another you, dear reader (as Charlotte his baggage and scanning the sand tonnes of garbage was Bharat Insurance Company, de- participant. Why not heritage? Bronte would have said), to horizon anxiously for his car, removed post the protests. spite legal pressure upon LIC to rather in the manner of Teaching young children at identify. institute restoration, it was sug- MMM understands that the gested that there should be school to appreciate the beauty and value of heritage objects for city ran riot for the best of a more stringent legal enforce- day and that temper ran high. ment, be it in the case of a pub- their own sake and not for ex- He was, as he said, not around Littered with Lit Fests lic or a private institution. Si- aminations and marks, supple- and returned only at the tail multaneously, the three-year- mented by excursions to heri- end, when the all clear had our absence was noticed Chief and the Good Lady of the Lit Fest expressed her disappointment that you did not attend old Heritage Act needs imme- tage sites, would lead to a more been more or less blown. But Y even one event in the celebration of books and authors that took diate implementation and en- natural commitment to the he did get to experience the cause than during adulthood. ripple effects of the trouble place recently in our city. She took The Man from Madras Musings forcement. even in the not-so-distant aside and asked him if you, Chief, have taken umbrage over some- Once a heritage structure is The subject should be intro- duced in the school curriculum, place that he had gone to. thing. MMM, you will be glad to note, assured her that such was demolished it cannot be re- not the case. He is also glad that this was indeed so, for he under- but ways must be found of mak- It all started at the airport called or reversed, observed one where MMM was, all ready to stands that you had intended to attend at least one of the gala of the participants. Therefore, ing the knowledge interesting. get back to his beloved Chen- dinners after you had dropped in at a wedding reception on one of anticipatory action is necessary Poorly printed books with nai. The first sounds he heard the evenings. But what, he understand, shot your time schedule to avoid irreversible damage by smudged black and white pic- on entering the place was a to pieces was the non-appearance of the bride and groom till well bureaucratic indifference. tures of beautiful buildings are man loudly thundering on his past everyone’s bed time and there you were, along with several others, clutching your gift and wondering as to what had hap- PWD being the main actor in enough to turn off young minds. phone that he did not care that Chennai was burning or what- pened. And so all is forgiven, Chief, and the Good Lady of the Lit the repair and maintenance of So are dull teachers, contests and competitions for schools ever it was, but he wanted his Fest is happy and reassured. But you did miss something spec- public buildings, the potential sales targets to be achieved. tacular, Chief, for this year, in MMM’s view, the Lit Fest attained to cause such damage is enor- and activating heritage clubs in educational institutions were The other end was obviously what is often referred to as a critical mass in numbers. mous if it does not fulfil its role Talking about Lit Fests, they are breaking out everywhere like other ideas suggested for not interested so much in the of caretaking. sales target as it was in getting a rash. In the days of the Empire, no Indian city was a city unless Sensitisation and training mobilising the involvement of back home and, so, must have it had a municipal market, a station, a college, a club and a law programmes both for the public the younger generation. said something fairly truculent court, all looking rather like each other, apart from the Jubilee and private sectors should be an At a higher level, for civil for this immediately heated up Memorial Watering Trough and statue to Lord Something-Or- Other. Now, our cities are incomplete if they do not host a Lit important part of the conserva- engineering and architecture the man on the phone at classes, conservation must be MMM’s end. His voice rose Fest. It is the next ticket to social standing among metros. While tion strategy. Even a well-inten- the one in Chennai is definitely a cut above in terms of its made an integral part of the several decibels and he said tioned restoration or repair that with Chennai always fac- organisation, punctuality and the profile of speakers, it too has work is often done in a manner curriculum – not an elective. ing some issue of this kind – the same oddballs in the audience who appear to have nothing that it becomes a threat to the Conservation alone as an elec- floods, cyclones, state funerals, more to do in life than flit from Lit Fest to Lit Fest. It sometimes structure or disturbs the charac- tive may not have many takers strikes, protests – how could occurs to MMM that Lit Fests are nothing more than a national ter-defining elements of the due to its relatively limited any sane person do business in version of our city’s music festival where the same faces follow original architecture. Lack of scope as a source of income. the city. He then looked at the same performers from venue to venue. training is the cause of such di- Every civil engineer and every MMM for sympathy, of which The cities that do not have Lit Fests are an insecure lot and sasters. Expanding on this, an architect must learn conserva- he got none. Nobody messes efforts are on to get them on to the bandwagon. Anybody who is considered to be somebody is being roped in to organise one. Even experienced construction spe- tion as part of the B.E., B.Tech., around with Madras when B.Arch. syllabus, equipping him MMM is around. MMM, Chief, (and don’t laugh at this), has been receiving re- cialist, suggested periodic quests. The other day, MMM was called to the telephone and the or her to take on restoration Arriving in Chennai (sorry, sensitisation and training ses- Chief, MMM meant Madras), voice at the other end asked MMM to stand by to receive another sions, calling them “workshops” projects and look for such op- call from a poet residing in the erstwhile capital of a princely state to avoid causing offence in us- portunities. known for its culture, arts and, most importantly, the festival of ing the word “training”. In such On the intangible side, while nine nights. MMM stood by and was rewarded by a call from the sessions, modern methods of dance and art forms receive at- given new life adapting them to rhymester. His city, announced the man, had no lit fest and could conservation adopted by devel- tention, not enough effort is de- contemporary designs. MMM help. He, the poet, was interested in meeting up with a software oped countries could be im- voted to reviving beautiful tra- The symposium threw up parted besides identifying the billionaire from the same town, who in MMM’s view is a dreadful ditional forms like therukkoothu, several ideas and identified bore and a prat, who just because of his success in his business immense potential in adaptive sindu-kavadi, silambattam etc. weaknesses and gaps in the thinks he has a solution for everyone of our country’s problems re-use of the original material Several other cultural skills are present activists’ scenario. though it must be said to his credit that of late he is rather silent. for the restoration, not for mere not sufficiently recognised – Many existing practices may His wife writes books or, at least, thinks she does. MMM has read cost effectiveness but, more im- shadow puppetry, garland-mak- need to be improved. There one and came away realising that he had till then thought other- portantly, for keeping the char- ing (different garlands for each should also be a teaming up of wise about her writing abilities but was now wiser. And so, MMM acter of the restored structure as day at the Kapali Temple festi- NGOs involved in all aspects of had to disappoint the poet. The poet was somewhat sore about close to the original as possible. val), basket making –particu- heritage and frequent discus- his town not being able to soar in literary lore. But then MMM One of the participants sug- larly as they also serve a socio- sions among them, like the one could do no more. gested taking the initiative to economic purpose in providing recently held, to at least assess – MMM link local restoration needs with a source of income to women. whether any progress is made MP Local Area Development or Traditional products could be on the suggestions given. February 1-15, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

Suryanagar, . The ferry fare was 10 paise per per- son. The ferry boatman, Perumal, used to pole the boat DONATE in a leisurely, laid-back manner. On a recent visit to this spot, I saw a variety of colourful wa- So you may live forever ter-birds: Little and Cattle Egrets, Little terns, Small Blue (By A Special Correspondent) Kingfishers (Alcedo athis), Pond recent newsreport stated that 3000 persons in Tamil Nadu Time for a push The leadership keeps away Herons (Ardeola grayii): and, to are waiting for kidney transplant at the transplant registry. It from business leaders and shuns A he piece W(h)ither Tamil top it all, a magnificent Spot- is estimated that, each year, hundreds of people die for want of an travel to keep updated on glo- Nadu? (MM, January ted-bill Pelican gliding in to organ for transplant. A study by MOHAN (Multi Organ Harvest- T bal practices. From the days of 16th) poignantly describes the land on the surface of the river ing Network) reveals that the organ donation rate in India C N Annadurai as Chief Minis- quality of leadership. The con- where rose-ringed parakeets compares poorly with that of other countries – 0.26 per million in ter, it had not bothered to trast is provided by neigh- screeched overhead: This India, compared to America’s 26, Spain’s 35.3, and Croatia’s 36.5. travel to other countries or bouring Andhra Pradesh and brought back to me, memories Tamil Nadu is the first State in the country that started a living even across the country to at- Telengana. These states have of my schooldays: when the kidney transplant programme. It is also the first State to introduce tract investments. In my visits been aggressive in focusing on ferry crossing was serene and the cadaver programme after the passing of the Transplantation of to Delhi and I notice a development in contrast to the blue. This ferry was smashed by Human Organ Act of 1994. In the last few years, a network between poor presence of Tamil Nadu in focus on emotive issues and floods in 2001, by the river’s hospitals for organ sharing has been formed national and international freebies by Tamil Nadu. force: The ancient oarsman Advancement in medical science has blessed us with the ability meets. I am glad you have fo- Remember the predilection died in his nearby hut of sheer to save lives by donating organs for transplant. Awareness of this cused on this serious lacuna and of Tamilians for emotive issues old age. life-saving power is not widely realised. hope it will be a call to wake up. like anti-Hindi, Tamil Eelam There is a 50ft bund adja- A more moving a plea for organ donation could not have been and now Jallikattu. In contrast, S. Viswanathan cent to the Adyar now. The made than in the form of a beautiful poem that Nani Palkhivala, you see opposition to any aspect Editor spot could have been, with the country’s eminent jurist and humanist, chose as embodying his of development from laying gas Industrial Economist some foresight, be declared a own dying wish, sometime before his passing. The poem is by pipeline, coal-bed methane and Chennai Ramsor site: but now too many Robert N. Test, an American Poet and written in 1976. concrete constructions, vehicu- shale gas, the nutrino project, Unrivalled to an elevated corridor con- lar traffic and people have To Remember Me… moved in. Water buffaloes wal- necting Chennai and ho Ramaswamy’s rivals Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face, or low in the water – where the ports. C once made concerted ef- love in the eyes of a woman ferry boat was tethered. forts to debunk his publication Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but I wish the , in it’s Thuglak and brought out endless days of pain. oxbow curve around Kicklak, a fortnightly. But the Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his Kotturpuram, is given the care rivals could not sustain with car, so that he might live to see his grand children play. Wordless and attention it deserves by the their publication, and had to Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from Gopulu authorities. close down no sooner it was week to week. launched. Even today, Thuglak K.Karunanidhi Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find G The late Gopulu during his remains in top position. It is [email protected] a way to make a crippled child walk. Ananda Vikatan days had a hoped that the team under the Explore every corner of my brain. Take my cells, if necessary, and let series of wordless jokes that new Editor, S Gurumurthy, will That proofing devil them grow so that some day, a speechless boy will shout at the brought about loud laughter. maintain that record. crack of a bat, and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against These were brought out as a book, in 2005, and a copy was V.S. Jayaraman proof-reading devil has her window. recently sent to me by 31, Motilal Street Abeen at work with the Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the Charukesi. We are pleased to T Nagar, Chennai 600 017 typesetters of Madras Musings. flowers grow. publish these cartoons for a In the issue dated January 1st, If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all new generation of Madrasis. Adyar at Kotturpuram he had Montfort as Montford prejudice against my fellow man. – THE EDITOR have been a resident of and on page 4 in the issue dated Give my sins to the devil, give my soul to God. I Kotturpuram for the last January 16th, he had, on page 4 If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word 41yrs. As a student of Madras again, Thomas Pycroft as Tho- to someone who needs you. Christian College High School, mas Bycrafts. We hope he stops If you do all I have asked, I will live forever. nodding in future. I used to cross the river Adyar – N.S. Parthasarathy by means of a wooden ferry, at – The Editor Chennai 600 041 LEADING INDIA IN PROTESTS today and they all suffer from a and second, by getting more (Continued from page 1) there are some key issues that huge disconnect from industry. industries to invest here. There such discontent, those are not need to be addressed. For years In addition, there is a new has been little thrust on the far to seek – those who gathered now, ours has been a Welfare fallout, owing to increased latter for years now. The end at the Marina ostensibly for State, with many measures such automation – the number of result? A discontented youth Jallikattu also expressed their as the noon meal scheme, many jobs going around is far fewer seeking high-profile causes of anger at farmer suicides, lack of concessions in education, and a than what it was ten years ago. protest. The Marina may fill up, effective governance and stag- host of freebies for the less privi- The State has to address these yet again. Section 144 is not a nation of the State. A Govern- leged. These are all to the good issues – first by getting its edu- permanent solution. ment official has dismissed the as they have helped create up- cation system more up to date contention that this is an ward mobility. Tamil Nadu is alarming situation. He has today one of the most urbanised stated that all agitations in States in India. A host of col- OUR ADDRESSES Tamil Nadu have to seek police leges and polytechnics, both For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of receipts etc.: CHENNAI permission and since the system Government-run and private, HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 14. is foolproof, each and every pro- have proliferated. All of these Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor can be sent via email test has been recorded, which are bringing out educated youth to editor@madras musings.com. Those who wish to intimate change of address can may not be the case with other in the thousands each year. All also do so provided the subscription number is quoted. States. This may be a correct as- of them need gainful employ- For non-receipt of copies, change of address, and all other circulation matters: Madras sessment, but is the figure not ment. Unfortunately that is just Musings, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 122, Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. On editorial matters: The Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, alarmingly high? That is some- not happening. 30, Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. thing the Government may One of the key reasons for No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will be sent from these want to ponder over rather than this is that many of our gradu- addresses every couple of days to the persons concerned and you will get an answer waving it away as a mere num- ates and diploma-holders are from them to your queries reasonably quickly. Strange as it may seem, if you adopt ber. unemployable. Skills develop- the ‘snail mail’ approach, we will be able to help you faster and disappoint you less. ment is given short shrift in We at Madras Musings are ñ THE EDITOR no analysts, but we do feel that most educational institutions 4 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2017 The South Indian and typing An ad in a Bombay newspaper he Stenographers’ Guild is budget of some. “Many students Tlocated in T. Nagar, one of like me used to opt for learning no school education worth the Madras was depicted with the commercial typing and training the busiest parts of Chennai, typewriting and shorthand to name, accepted the ‘challenge’ image of a south Indian man institute in 1901. The profes- just a stone’s throw from a ma- get jobs quicker,” he says. and became a passably good clicking away at a typewriter. sion was clearly established and jor bus depot and Mambalam “Those days stenographers were typist within a short time.” he Bobby Kocka, Air India’s leg- in demand by then, since Miss Railway Station, from which in great demand in government wrote in his book Rajagopala- endary commercial director, Muthukrishna’s institute was shoppers continually spill out, offices in metros.” The two chari: A Biography (1993). who in 1946 had devised the an immediate success: “a large heading for the huge jewellery skills went together – steno-typ- Narasimhan’s typing skills Maharajah mascot, told Anvar number of youths and fair pro- and sari shops nearby. Yet down ists, as they were called, took were to lead to a thrilling, if oc- Alikhan, who passed this anec- portion of girls, noting the the dead-end lane on which the dictation in shorthand and con- casionally unnerving, experi- dote on, that there was such handsome prospects to be af- Guild is located there is a sense verted it directly into typewrit- ence. In 1927, Mahatma outrage at this stereotyping that forded by this line of business, of stasis and even decay, though ten copy. It was a skill whose Gandhi used his services as Air India had to change the car- at once light and lucrative, that may come from the rubbish value was noted by C. steno-typist, a job that he dis- toon. But Prakash Tandon, the availed themselves of the dump that the municipal corpo- Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), the covered was quite hard because first Indian to be taken in at opportunity of qualifying as ration has allowed to come up south Indian nationalist leader, Gandhi, due to loss of teeth, management level in Unilever – shorthand-typists.” on the opposite side. But this who was enthusiastically sup- was unclear in his dictation. and later its first Indian chair- The early institution of picture-and smell-may be de- portive when the idea of start- Narasimhan, afraid of asking man – would have confirmed “convent” schools in south In- ceptive. According to Dr. S. ing the Stenographer’s Guild to him to clarify, left blank spaces the stereotype; he recalls in his dia resulted in large numbers of Sekar, honorary principal of the teach shorthand and typing, in the letters, but Gandhi would memoirs that when he walked young people looking for such Guild, which was founded to came up around 1936. sign without filling them in. in on his first day: “The clerks “light and lucrative” work. promote clerical skills, their When Narasimhan pointed this were all men: South lndians, if Since there were more appli- courses are still in demand (he cants than jobs in government is also waging a furious battle or company offices in the south, with the municipality to move the men started travelling the dump). Between 500-600 north. For the businessmen students still come down the there, “Madrasi” clerks filled a lane, named Guild Street, every real need, helping them com- month to learn typing on a municate in English with the bunch of battered Facit and British, in the typewritten let- Godrej machines. “Now that ters that were soon de rigueur. you can’t buy new typewriters The fact that these “Madrasis” any more, there are mechanics had little entrepreneurial spirit who specialise in keeping these themselves and were happy to going; says Dr. Sekar. “They remain with salaried jobs, was buy old machines at auctions to something the northern busi- make sure they have parts.” Dr. nessmen might have felt con- Sekar says that some students tempt for – as in the “doesn’t come for a specific reason: “Ev- have the guts” comment of ery six months the government Ezekiel’s narrator – yet could conducts an exam on typewrit- The Stenographers’ Guild, T’ Nagar. value, since it meant the south ers. You have to learn how to Indians could be trusted with type perfectly, because a mis- According to Chennai histo- out, Gandhi told him he had a they were stenographers, Chris- company secrets. take cannot be erased and rian, S. Muthiah – himself a problem when the typists substi- tians and Parsis, if they did gen- This attitude of mixed re- changed.” Some come to im- great typewriting loyalist, using tuted their own words, but eral work.” spect and disdain was, in fact, prove their English since the an Olivetti, only his third ma- “omission is harmless’’. Gandhi Nissim Ezekiel depicted one how northern mercantile com- practice of typing from English chine since he became faithful was to have many typists, start- in his poem “Occasion”, a munities had always held texts may help language skills to the brand in 1954 – the ini- ing with Sonia Schlesin in rather grim picture of “a South- priests, and since many of those (the Guild also teaches Tamil tiative came from N. South Africa; while some were Indian middle-aged balding early educated south Indians typewriting). But while Dr. Subramania Iyer, who had pio- from places like Bengal man/ without a face or figure/ were Brahmins, they slipped Sekar admits that nearly all neered the development of (Krishnadas) or Sindh (N.R. His name: Ramanathan or into the same role. They too must anticipate using comput- Tamil shorthand and was then Malkani), the majority were Krishnaswamy.” He does typing knew arcane scripts like short- ers, not typewriters, he says that working with the Corporation from south India with names work for the poet’s friend: “He hand, took down oracular state- training on manual machines is of Madras, and S. like Nair, Parasram, Raghava- works all day in a bank/ then ments as dictation and used still useful: “You truly learn how Sivaramakrishna Iyer and P. chari, Ramanathan, Shastri and comes to me,/ for another hun- special tools of trade, with their to position and use all your fin- Ramanuja Iyer, both “short- of course, Rajaji’s Subiah as dred rupees a month/Three typewriters as lovingly cleaned gers better.” hand writers” with the Madras well. children, a mother to support,/ and tended as a shrine. Shetty Kids in south India have rou- High Court. Journalists also Once Subiah left to serve invalid wife…”.’ Ezekiel de- recalled the worshipful way in tinely been sent to learn typing supported the idea, with K. Gandhi, Narasimhan took over scribes the typist’s daily routine: which the head typist at one using some variation of this ar- Ramachandra Iyer of The Mail, his role with Rajaji, in particu- “Half an hour in a queue,/ fif- company where he worked gument. “In the summer holi- and S. Srinivasan and N. lar after Rajaji became head of teen minutes in a bus,/ forty treated his machine: “He didn’t days after our Board exams, the Rangarao of The Hindu serving the provincial government in minutes in a train,) a long walk speak much with people in the first thing that was done was to on the first executive commit- Madras (1937-39) in one of the from the station to a slum./ Poor office, but he spent a lot of time send us to typing school,” says tee of the Stenographers’ Guild, first experiences the Congress fellow, what a life/He ought to taking care of his typewriter. one family friend who grew up which was launched on 26 Sep- Party would have in actual gov- be a smuggler/ but doesn’t have Every morning when he came, in Kumbakonam. Dejappa tember 1937, with Rajaji presid- ernance. Late into the night, the guts.” he would spend the first 10-15 Shetty, who until he retired, ing over the opening meeting. Rajaji would dictate ground- Yet for many south Indians, minutes carefully cleaning and was an executive assistant to Rajaji did not just advocate breaking ordinances on subjects when they took to learning typ- taking care of it.” When he re- the editor of the Mumbai-based the learning of typewriting for like opening temple entry. “I ing, soon after the machines tired, Shetty inherited the ma- newspaper I work for – essen- the public but made sure his would come out with the typed came into the country, the pro- chine. “It felt very good, actu- tially the person who keeps the family followed this too. A matter in the night itself,” wrote fession seemed more promising. ally getting to use such a well- office functioning – told me young man named A. Subiah Narasimhan proudly. “It was Arnold Wright’s Twentieth Cen- kept machine!” he says. how he was sent to Mallyanager had joined him as an all-round also equally thrilling. It is a tury Impressions of Ceylon: Its Typing School in Kinnigoli, a personal assistant, which in- wonder how technical skill, History, People, Commerce, In- (To be concluded) town near Mangalore which at- cluded doing his typing. Rajaji’s duly employed, ennobles a dustries, and Resources, a guide – Vikram Doctor tracted students from all the son C.R. Narasimhan recalled person’s spirit.” published in 1907, records how smaller towns around. how one fine morning in Salem South Indian typists were to a Miss Violet Muthukrishna From: With Great Truth & Colleges were too few and in 1922, Subiah called and told become so ubiquitous across In- went to Madras to learn stenog- Regards by Sidharth Bhatia and faraway at that time, Shetty him he had to learn touch typ- dia that when Air India did a raphy and typing and returned published by Roli Books for tells me, and also beyond the ing. “I, who was 13 then, with cartoon map of the country, to Colombo to open her first Godrej. February 1-15, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

Rambling in West Mambalam (3) ... with Janaki Venkataraman A harmonious life of co-existence

utside Ravi’s house I meet several types of betel leaves and ing the Sahasranamam, standing O‘King’ Bala. Bala is prob- betelnut, and things like honey, in knee deep water,” recalls ably thirty, is almost six feet tall, rosewater, incense sticks, san- S.Thiagarajan, a long time has a velvety black complexion dalwood powder, turmeric pow- member of the Sri Rama Samaj and the largest eyes I have ever der and everything else that is that runs the Mandapam. “ seen on a man- the whites of required for puja and anoint- Even the man who works the those thickly fringed eyes seem ment in a Hindu temple. We mike knows the Sahasranamam to stretch back to the Milky supply all the puja items for the by heart now!” Way. After Ravi introduces us, Murugan temple around the People are drifting in by ones I ask Bala, “Why are you called corner,” Malik says. “My father and twos now, taking their King?” used to be here before me and places in the rows of seats, “Every thug needs a moni- there has never been an in- bringing out their prayer books ker, and since I am big and was stance of violence here in the from their bags, chanting with Chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam every evening at the Sri Ram Samaj in generally lording it over every- name of religion.” West their neighbours. Thiagarajan West Mambalam. one in my area, people began to Mambalam has a church and a observes, “You will notice they call me ‘King’. It sounded nice. mosque but these seem to co- are all middle aged. It is as much collect donations to finance the idols are now kept,” says So I stuck with it.” exist peacefully with the myriad a social activity for them as a celebration and the Samaj Thiagarajan. “This piece of land “So you are a proper rowdy?” temples in the area. religious one. When the chil- members went from door to augurs well for your Society”, “Not any more,” Bala says Across the street from dren come back from work, the door collecting even the small- said the seer after his medita- hastily.”I used to be a tough in Malik’s shop, one can see the parents leave for the est donation (Rs.1) and issuing tion. In fact, he returned for my teens. We lived in the Hous- several visits over the next few ing Board colony around here years, each time suggesting and I was sort of bossing over fresh activities and improve- people there. When I turned ments. “It was Periyaval who eighteen I became an auto named the place Ayodhya driver. One day Ravi saar got Ashwamedha Maha Manda- into my auto. He was arranging pam,” Samaj members say. for a funeral and we had to go When the shed-like structure to a lot of places, arranging a lot was built on this ground the of things. I was very impressed Rama Navami celebrations with the way he did things and took off on a big scale. Perhaps the way he spoke. Then, on the because of the Samaj’s associa- trip back, he talked to me and tion with the Kanchi seer, the suggested that I drive for him on best musicians and musical a regular basis. It seemed a good discourse orators performed in idea and that is what I have the Mandapam.“M.S has sung been doing ever since. He made here, Sembai, MLV, you name me see how I was wasting my it, they have all performed life. So I gave up all the stuff I here,” says Thiagarajan. It was was doing earlier and found that also the seer who suggested, I was perfectly happy without it! after some years, that the Samaj I make a lot of trips to get all build Gnana Vapi, a place the goods he needs from outside where, for very little cost, Chennai. But I’d be willing to people could conduct their do anything he asks me to. I see funerary rites and obsequies, how he helps people. I never The late Kanchi Periyavar Chandrasekharendra Saraswathy taken out in procession on Arya Gowda Road in especially those who could not mind when I have to suddenly West Mambalam. afford to do them at home. pitch in as a pallbearer at a fu- ornamental stone facade of the mandapam. They stay on for a receipts for them (This practice The Samaj acquired land neral.” Ayodhya Ashwamedha Maha- little while after the chanting, continues even today. Just be- from the Sarada Vidyalaya, be- A DMK fan, Bala says he has mandapam. Inside, one finds discussing their personal prob- fore Sri Rama Navami, the hind T.Nagar police station and no interest in politics as such. “I cement flooring and an asbestos lems with their friends. The members hit the streets handing Gnana vapi was opened in used to love the way Kalaignar roof. Like elsewhere in Samaj provides prasadam every out invitations for the wedding 1983. The Samaj also runs a and all the other big orators Mambalam, here too the inte- evening and the people wait to of Rama and Seetha and col- wedding hall, Mithilapuri spoke.” rior is stark. The Tanjore paint- taste that as well.” lecting anything people are able Kalyana Mandapam and a Ma- Does he see a lot of violence ing of Rama Pattabhishekam The Sri Rama Samaj was to give them.) In 1958 the triculation school, Sri Sita Ram in West Mambalam? “There that is worshipped here, along started in 1954 by K.Subra- Samaj was registered. Much Vidyalaya. These are said to be used to be a lot of thieving and with bronze idols, is placed on a maniam, a long time resident of later, Srinivasa Iyer, a real es- run on a non-profitable basis a bit of violence many years ago. dais behind iron grill doors. Mambalam and a staunch tate man, found the four ground and collect low fees. All that has come down now. Steel foldable chairs have been Rama bhakta. The Samaj was plot on Arya Gowda Road and Murmurs about the Samaj’s It’s actually one of the safest placed in neat rows to seat all begun mainly to celebrate Sri it was bought for Rs 5400. At finances led to the HR& CE places in Chennai. And one those who come every evening Rama Navami (March-April) this point, the late seer of the department of the state govern- other thing—there is hardly any at five to chant Vishnu as a ten day festival with pujas, Kanchi Mutt, Chandra- ment making a bid to bring the friction between people here on Sahasranamam. This chanting homams, discourses and sekharendra Saraswathy, while Samaj and its properties under the basis of caste or religion. has been going on every cutcheries. Originally it func- on a visit to the Public Health its governance in 2014. There People live quite harmoni- evening without fail for very tioned from a thatch roofed Centre, was persuaded to visit was some minor chest thumping ously.” many years. “Even during last place on Bhaktavatsalam the Samaj. He walked up and by RSS volunteers and Samaj “That’s actually true,” says year’s floods when West Street, right across the road down the newly purchased plot members outside the Manda- Mohammed Malik of Malik Be- Mambalam was badly affected from where the Mandapam is and then sat down at one spot pam. But being a pacific lot on tel Stores, opposite Ayodhya and water came up to the dais now. Srinivasa Rao, a reporter and began to meditate. “It is on the whole they chose to take Mandapam on Arya Gowda here, at least four or five of us for The Hindu and K.S’s this spot that we built the dais the legal route and the bid by Road. It’s a tiny shop selling were here every evening chant- neighbour suggested that they where the Rama picture and the HR&CE was stayed. 6 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2017

G Australia Day was on January 26th. A look at some...

(Current Affairs questions are from the period December 1st to 15th.(Quizmaster Questions V.V. 11 toRamanan’s 20 pertain toquestions Chennai areand fromTamil JanuaryNadu.) 1 Madras-Australia links 1.to The15. QuestionsUnion Government’s 11 to 20 award-basedrelate to Chennai scheme andto encour- Tamil s colonies of Britain, another £17/10/- to be paid lier system used in the West The arrangement was that for ageNadu.) consumers for transition to AAustralia and India have once she had discharged her Indies, where captured Spanish every accepted horse Collins digital payments is called…? shared many links in the past. duty to the girls on arrival dollars were cut and counter- would be paid Rs. 590, whereas 2.1. WhoIn which is the Capitalonly Indian city in wasthe For example, convicts from In- India’s first international in Sydney. stamped, so they could not be every rejected animal was his Top 10 of Forbes’ ‘World’s Most dia were deported to New re-exported. By having the cen- problem. Physical specifications exchange India INX, a wholly * * * Powerful People’? South Wales and Tasmania. tres cut out of the Madras- were stringent: “The horse to be owned subsidiary of Bombay A re- 3. On December 13th, who was But there were many of the minted coins entire, and at least half-bred, Stock Exchange, inaugurated by markable sworn in as the nineth UN Secre- links I talk of just a few of them for use in sound in wind and limb, compact, the PM recently? story of In- tary-General? here. NSW, better active and capable of carrying 17 2. Which European country dian mi- 4. Who won the coveted Ballon People from the Madras re- known as the stone, not under 3, nor above 7 recently became the first one to grants be- d'Or recently? gion had moved to Australia, ‘holey dollars’. years old, nor under 14 hands ban FM broadcasting? longing to 5. President Pranab Mukherjee long before formal migration Macquarie high. Horses above 15 hands are 3. Who was the first recipient of th the early recently launched the ‘100 Mil- started, at least from the 18 made them identifiable as be- neither desired …”. the FIFA Best Men’s Player 19th Cen- Ted Ramsamy. lion for 100 Million’ Campaign Century. longing from New South Wales. Collins travelled around recently? tury were the ancestors of Ram that aims to mobilise 100 million An early migration of a more In doing so, he created the first NSW accompanied by a local 4. Name the latest and 79th Chandra (also known as Ed- youth and children for 100 mil- formal nature took place in formal coins of Australia, which veterinarian Lindesay and ar- lionorgan underprivileged in the human body children whose ward [Ted] Royce Ramsamy, 1838 when the Government of were later minted locally. ranged to ship to Madras 32 acrossdiscovery the world.was Whoannounced is behind b.1921), who settled in Grafton New South Wales agreed to horses on the City of Edinburgh therecently. initiative? (north of Sydney). The Internet * * * take seven boys, not less than on July 2, 1834, 30 on the Henry 6.5. TheName Food the Safety new Chief and Standards Justice of 12 years of age, and of ‘pure Eu- AuthorityIndia. of India (FSSAI) re- Tanner on January 2, 1835, and ropean descent’, from the Ma- 32 on the Duchess of cently6. According banned to the a newuse ofresearch, which dras Military Male Asylum. commonlywhich much usedappreciated material Shake- for Northumberland on June 12, These boys arrived on the G by Dr. A. Raman 1835. Collins’s shipments in- wrappingspeare tragedy and waspacking not written of food in Sesostris in February 1841, their 1601 but 1603? cluded a few geldings. But as the items? passage arranged and paid for by [email protected] 7. NameIn which the South legenary Indian astronaut, city is story goes the Madras horsemen the East India Company’s Ma- preferred riding colts to geld- theApple first setAmerican to manufacture to orbit the rine Board. The seven boys iPhones in collaboration with ings, because it challenged their Earth and the last surviving mem- were Samuel Hobart, James Taiwanese company Wistron? masculinity! Sydney merchants ber of the famed Mercury 7 mis- Marlow, John Harris, Christo- files on Ted Ramsamy indicate One Captain J.G. Collins of calculated getting Rs. 590 (= sion,8. Which who passed bank awayrecently recently. show- pher Connor, William Bird, cased its human-sized robot Ira that his grandparents came to the 13th Light Dragoons, Ma- £49) per horse. Although not 8. Which is the most powerful James Barry and James MacKin. that will be deployed in the Australia from Bombay. Con- dras Artillery, sought permis- profitable, the way NSW horses language in the world according The girls came a litte later. todomestic the 2016 banking World space? Power Lan- sidering his last name sion from Henry Chamier (Walers) were received in Ma- guage9. Which Index team published won its by maiden World Sydney Orphan School ‘Ramsamy’, it is highly likely [Chamier’s Road fame?], Chief dras encouraged Sydney breed- EconomicRanji Trophy Forum recently (WEF? besting Records name the following: that Ted’s ancestors came to Secretary of Madras Govern- ers to think of continuing the 9.defending Which championBharat Ratna-awar- Mumbai in G Mary Ann Cardwell (age Sydney from the Madras region ment on June 1, 1833 to pro- trade. dee’sthe final? birth anniversary will 16), from Madras Military and not from the Bombay re- By early 1836, the superior- henceforth10. Which Indianbe also pair observed won the as Girls Asylum arrived in gion. Honoured by the Govern- ity of NSW horses compared ‘Waterdoubles Day’? title at the Aircel Sydney on 7 January 1843 ment of Australia for his gener- with the local breeds and Capers 10.Chennai UNESCO Open recently?has formally in- and left Sydney Orphan osity and philanthropy, Ted (d. (from the Cape of Good Hope) scribed which* traditional * * Indian School on 18 July 1843, 1998, Brisbane) is remembered was established in Madras. 11.practice Which in itsinstitution representative in greater list marrying one Philip Gun- even today for his remarkable Collins returned to London, but Chennaiof Intangible was Cultural first named Heritage ‘Sheep of ning skill in handling the tai pans, in 1836 he sought permission Farm’Humanity? and then ‘Livestock the deadly brown snakes of from the Colonial Secretary in G Caroline Davey (age 14), Research Station’* * before * getting also from the Madras Mili- Australia. Sydney for him to lease a large 11.its present Of the name?12 Major Ports in In- tract of land on the Kangaroo tary Girls Asylum, arrived in * * * 12.dia, threeMuhammad are in Tamil Ismail Nadu. had Onerep- Sydney on 7 January 1843 Valley (Southern Highlands of resented the State in Rajya Sabha British, Dutch, Indian, Por- is Chennai/Madras. Name the and left Sydney Orphan NSW) to set up a colt trade andother been two. elected to the Lok tuguese coins and currencies School on 7 August 1843, with Madras. Sabha12. How from did Manjeria red rose in prove Kerala to were commonly circulated dur- By 1837, however, interest marrying one Thomas Walers on duty. thrice.be dangerous He is famousto Chennai in Chennai in De- ing the early years of formation Collins in 1846 in Madras in the Walers dimin- becausecember? of his title. What was it? of the colony of New South ished and Collins also changed G cure horses for the Madras 13. WhichWhose churchmemoirs dedicated was titled in Caroline Smith (age 14) Wales. Governor Philip Gidley his business interest to setting Army from New South Wales. JanuaryAthirshtam 1899 Thantha and designedAnubavangal by also from the Madras Mili- King issued a proclamation fix- up flour and timber mills in Collins sailed from Madras to W.N.(Experiences Baakson Given in a byGothic Fortune)? style tary Girls Asylum, arrived in ing specific values to those NSW! prides14. What itself was in havingthe given no namewood inof Sydney on 1 July 1843 and widely used coins in circulation Australia (then van Diemen’s itsJ. Jayalalithaaconstruction? who passed away left Sydney Orphan School in New South Wales in 1800. Land) via Mauritius in Septem- * * * 14.recently? What is the actual name of marrying one Evan This helped to ensure a ready ber 1833. Collins’s knowledge William Denison was ap- pointed the Governor of Ma- the15. Whatauditorium promise that made is commonly by Andal Richards in 1851 supply of coinage for local trad- on the suitability of horses from called Narada Gana Sabha? ing and stabilised the value of the Colony of New South dras, succeeding William to Kallazhagar did Sri Ramanu- G Ellen Tooner (age 14), also Morehead in 1861 (till 1906), 15.jacharya At thefulfil? entrance of which from the Madras Military each coin used. King fixed the Wales was from Robert Dawson after his ser- Mylapore16. How schoolmany gopuram-sdoes one find does a Girls Asylum, arrived in Spanish dollar at 5 shillings (former commissioner of the vice as the statuethe of Saint Meenakshi Louis-Marie temple Sydney on 7 July 1843, ap- value, yet confusion prevailed Australian Agricultural Com- Lieutenant Grignionhave and dewhich Montfort? is considered the prenticed Rev. D. because of goods arriving from pany) in London and Charles Governor of 16.oldest? In which Armenian Street MacKenzie of Albury, and the Americas, Asia, and the Frazer, the colonial botanist. Tasmania in temple17. The istwo Shiva species also of calledwhich married Walter J Pearce in Cape of Good Hope. Collins was authorised by 1847 and ‘Panchaaquatic bird Vaahana are called Sivan’? ‘Poo narai’ 1854 Lachlan Macquarie, Gover- the Government of Madras to 17.and ‘SiriyaUnder poo what narai’ category in Tamil? has nor of New South Wales, keen import 200 horses every year for Governor of Jaggi Vasudev been given the G Mary Watts (age 15), also on ensuring a reliable supply of the following four years, but re- New South 18. After which doyen of Carna- from the Madras Military Padmatic music Vibhushan? is the road formerly coins for the colony, arranged ceived no financial guarantee Wales in 18. Which eminent Chennai- Girls Asylum, arrived in for the minting of 40,000 coins for it. Either he had to take the William Denison. 1855. called Palace Road now named? Sydney on 7 July 1843, mar- based19. What musicians is now are located behind in the in Madras for use in New South risk of selling them or the NSW Denison publishing house ‘Matrka’? ried three times in 1850, Wales. Then arrived in Sydney horse breeders had to ship the settled at Park, but he Mysore royalty’s Chamundeshwari 1851, 1852 19.Gardens Which in Saninstitution Thomé? is chroni- aboard the Samarang on No- animals to Madras on consign- frequently moved to cled20. Whichin the bookpopular ‘Down restaurant By The G One Mrs Wooller, em- vember 26, 1812. These coins ment. The risks were that the Ootacamund. While in Adyar’chain isby named S. Muthiah? after an artiste ployed in Madras as the were Spanish silver eight reale animals had to survive the ex- Ootacamund, he took an active 20.who Whichshowed Chennai kindness suburb to its is Matron to accompany girls coins, known as ‘pieces of hausting sea voyage and that part in the development of cin- namedfounder after Muthukrishna the adopted name Reddy of to Sydney, arrived in eight’. the Madras Remount Commit- chona plantations for the ex- thewhen Tamil he was scholar a child? Vedachalam? Sydney. She was paid £17/ It is likely that Governor tee would accept the emaciated traction of quinine for malaria (Answers(Answers on pagepage 8) 8) 10/- before departure with Macquarie was aware of an ear- animals on arrival in Madras. management. February 1-15, 2017 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 Sixty years on the stage

umbakonam born ‘Kath- Doordharshan several times but Kadi’ Ramamurthy is 78 now the audience lapped it up every but no one will believe he is past – and fifty years of time it was telecast. 70. He is ever a bundle of en- It is a wonder how he ergy both on stage and off it. his theatre group memorises the lengthy dia- Since the day he acted in Cho’s logues and delivers them with play, If I get it, the prefix punch, without faltering even ‘Kathadi’ stuck to this simple As a former manager of Pillayar Pidikka and Neeya once. His method of acting is so person, but versatile stage actor, Jenson & Nicholson’s, Kathadi Naana gave ample scope to natural that even if the Ramamurthy. sold emulsion paints to indi- Kathadi to display his histrionic scriptwriter had written a con- Even ‘Sambu’ Natarajan, the vidual customers and contrac- ability on the stage and evoke trived dialogue, it would sound theatre artist who had played tors in a 9-to-5 job, but used laughter in the audience. so natural when it is delivered ‘Kathadi’ Ramamurthy. Devan’s Thuppariyum Sambu grease paint in the green room In the play Ayya, Amma, by Kathadi. That was the ad- wright takes a little liberty with earlier, congratulated Kathadi in the evenings to regale audi- Ammamma specially written for vantage of having Kathadi in the theme, as the rasika looks when he acted as the character ences with his typical comedy his troupe Stage Creations, the any play. forward to only laughter. Nor- later and told him he fitted the and delivery of dialogues. He Recently, he acted in the ev- mally, Tamil sabha dramas are role best. Kathadi’s make-up for would never fail to get applause ergreen play Dowry Kalyana G criticised as a string of jokes, or the character, with a prominent from the audience in almost all by Vaibogamey a play by Visu, thunukku thoranam but it is this nose, ankle-length dhoti and a the scenes that he appeared in. Charukesi which was very popular in the kind of ordinary day-to-day coat, brought out exactly what It is a mystery whether the 1960s. Prior to the start of the humour that is welcomed by Raju, the artist of Ananda script writer wrote the dialogues play he appealed to the audi- sabha audiences. Vikatan, drew in the beginning, to suit Kathadi’s style or playwright Crazy Mohan ex- ence in his own inimitable style, When the Shraddha team which the legendary Gopulu Kathadi converted it to suit his ploited the full potential of that he should be accepted as a came up with the revolutionary continued to portray later in his style of delivery to make it natu- Kathadi. Madras rasika-s would 38 year old husband when the idea of’ ‘mega set-unique play’, illustrations for the successful ral. never forget his role as a lazy audience viewed his character. for four continuous days in one serial. S.L. Naanu, the Tamil stage hero, who has to pass the de- His Padi Thaandiya Pathi and theatre, Kathadi played a piv- “I have played in all the playwright, always keeps a role partmental test for promotion. Honeymoon Couple (by Crazy otal role in their maiden at- seven plays of Cho, starting for Kathadi, whenever he If the play was simply a laugh Mohan) are unforgettable for tempt, Dhanushkodi. His style of from If I Get It up to Sambha- scripted a play for sabha-s in riot, it was mainly because of their terrific humour. If humour delivery of dialogue and his vami Yuge Yuge! says Kathadi. Madras and its suburbs. His Kathadi. This was shown on is the basic element, the play- body language helped enor- mously in the success of the play. Kathadi is a lover of not only plays, but also Carnatic music Chennai Newsreel and Bharata Natyam (His granddaughter is a Bharata booms grated township with a mix of The main reasons for noise Till February 22: Exhibition of Natyam artiste.). He is often residential and commercial were found to be vehicular traf- flowers by Mi Yeon Kim who seen in the front row, keenly Thanks to the IT boom, the space. The project is valued at fic, construction work, indus- practises the art of Oriental observing what goes on the south of Chennai had a total around Rs.5000 crore. Sugal trial activity, generator sets and painting and sketching. (At stage in the plays of others. If makeover of a posh upscale and Damani Foundation has loud speakers… These high lev- InKo Centre, Boat Club you ask him for his frank opin- metro, leaving behind its image purchased 8.6 acres of land in els of noise cause hypertension, area.) ion, he would be fair in his com- of a fishing harbour to North Padi from biscuit maker Britan- stress, hearing impairment, February 15-March 15: Em- ment. In private, he would even Chennai alone. With property nia for Rs. 172 crore for prop- sleep disturbance and heart ail- brace our Rivers – Public. Art. suggest modifications that prices skyrocketing in south erty development. ments. Awareness programme initi- would enhance the value of the Chennai, several IT offices and * * * ated by the Goethe Institut, play in terms of audience inter- mass upscale housing projects * * * Realty bytes Chennai, in association with est. When Devan Endowments have made North Chennai Recent study by a web-based several partners to establish an Chennai, the noisiest city emotional and techno-social began honouring humourists, their hub. Along with these financial company, Artha Chennai is often portrayed connects between the Cooum cartoonists and playwrights and have come large retail stores Yantra Corporation, states that to be the most reticent of all the and the people, the abiotic and actors specialising in comedy and other services that were Chennai will be the third most metros. But a recent study by biotic stakeholders, through from 1997 every year till 2013 once only available in south expensive city in the country. the Central Pollution Control the medium of art and technol- with the Devan Memorial Chennai. Hence, with the ex- The survey of 12 cities found Board tells a different tale. The ogy. Medal, Kathadi was chosen to tension of phase II of Chennai that the prices of residential city is the noisiest in the coun- Its single objective is to reju- be honoured on the Devan Me- Metro Rail, the planned smart properties as well as rent per try, followed by Hyderabad and venate the river Cooum and in- morial Day in 2001. Although city in and the comple- square feet have risen in Mumbai. tegrate it in the larger canvas of the Managing Trustee was tion of the Outer Ring Road, Chennai. Compared to last the City’s eco-scape. The hospitalised, the function was the North Chennai will get a big Locations in Chennai were year, residential property prices programme aims to achieve the conducted in the midst of a play boost. The next generation in selected under four categories shot up by 9 per cent and rents objective through various activi- in which Kathadi and the cen- all these regions are educated for the study. was rose by 3.1 per cent. Kolathur, ties involving different sections tenarian ‘Kalanilayam’ Naga- and earn Rs.15,000 per month under the silence zone. T’ and of society. rajan (another awardee) were on an average per month. Mov- Nagar, Perambur, Washerman- are the most affordable locali- The innovative focus will be acting. Poornam Viswanathan, ing away from industrial work, pet and under the ties for renting a house. The on contemporary art forms and the veteran stage and screen this generation is employed commercial zone, Guindy under most expensive location for displays created by more than actor was on hand to congratu- mostly in the services sector the industrial zone and buying or renting houses are 20 artists of eminence from In- late both. which naturally brings in de- , and Adyar, , , dia and abroad, including Ger- Kathadi Ramamurthy mi- mand for better social infra- under the residential and . many, France, Korea, and grated to Chennai and did his structure. zones. The noise levels recorded The report estimates that it will Netherlands. Each of the ar- graduation in Vivekananda The 71-acre Binny Mills is at these zones were double the take 5.8 years of savings for a tistic exhibits will connect, College, in 1958. He being developed into an inte- permissible limits. middle-class family in Chennai convey and demonstrate the has acted in many television se- (Rs.8 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh) to social, technological or engi- neering principle related to one rials and over fifty films. While generate the corpus for an ini- or more aspects of water and his debut film was Maanavan, tial down payment, assuming a MADRAS MUSINGS ON THE WEB the river Cooum. Other activi- his roles in Parikshaikku Nera- savings rate of 10 per cent. ties will include performances, machu and Kalyana Samayal To reach out to as many readers as possible who share our keen With the demonetisation in school and college outreach Sadham are memorable. In his interest in Madras that is Chennai, and in response to requests from effect, property prices are ex- programmes, eco-walks, guided stage career spanning six de- many well-wishers – especially from outside Chennai and abroad pected to crash but rentals are who receive their postal copies very late – for an online edition. tours to temples and cultural cades, Kathadi had staged more still seen to be on an increasing Madras Musings is now on the web at www. madrasmusings.com sites along the Cooum. than 5000 shows, of which 32 trend. – (Courtesy: Industrial (Venue: Cooum Estuary, Ma- plays were by his Stage Cre- Economist.) rina Beach, and ations, which is celebrating its – THE EDITOR Periyar Bridge. – Jayanthi Raghunathan golden jubilee this year. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2017 South Asia’s lone ATP event nother edition of the of Tamil Nadu and a consor- host the prestigious event, ATP A Chennai Open has gone tium of sponsors. Tour organisers asked local re- by and going by the participa- It has been a permanent fea- porters and officials all sorts of tion of some of the leading play- ture of the city’s sporting ethos questions regarding the ers in the world, the intensive and is so indissolubly linked weather, the city’s cul- media coverage and the encour- with Chennai that it is some- ture, the facilities at the venue aging attendance at the times forgotten that the inaugu- and if the matches would draw Patrick Rafter. Stan Wawrinka. Nungambakkam stadium ral competition was held in a sizeable crowd. Impressed by through the week, it is clear New Delhi in 1996. The ATP what they saw and heard the Mikhail Tillstrom of Sweden that the only ATP event in Tour organisers, however, were officials gave the go-ahead to and Alex Radulescu of Roma- South Asia continues to remain not very happy with the con- Chennai to host the event. nia which went to three sets be- popular. duct of the tournament and the The tournament was held fore the former emerged cham- It is now 20 years since the lacklustre crowd response in from April 7 to 13, 1997 and by pion. Tillstrom, in fact, entered Chennai Open was first con- Delhi. Chennai was always go- the final the following year too ducted in the city. In 1997, it ing to be the alternative choice, but went down to reigning US was known as the Gold Flake given the city’s status as the G by Open champion Patrick Rafter Open, after the sponsors. Sub- tennis capital of the country, Partab Ramchand of Australia. sequently, it was known for being the home of the After being held in April for Boris Becker. some time as the Tata Open. Krishnans and the Amritrajs the first few years, the tourna- But for over a decade now it has and having a ready world class the end of the week there was ment was shifted to the more Slam champions and reigning been supported by the Tamil facility in the Nungambakkam little doubt that it was here to pleasant weather of January. Wimbledon champions have Nadu Government and con- stadium. Still, at the prelimi- stay – and, in fact, it has stayed This also meant that as one of taken part in the competition, ducted with the support of the nary press conference held to the course for 20 years. The the season openers it gained in giving it a significant status Sports Development Authority assess the city’s readiness to ATP Tour officials were very importance and attracted sev- among ATP Tour events. In happy with the co-operation eral leading players who saw it 1997 the reigning Wimbledon they received from the local of- as ideal preparation for the Aus- champion and runner-up Rich- ficials and everything went as tralian Open. In fact, in 2014 ard Krajicek and Malivai Wash- CHENNAI HERITAGE smooth as silk. when he won the Australian ington headed the list of partici- No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road As has been the trend over Open for his first pants. Some of the leading play- Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 the last two decades the atten- singles title, Stan Wawrinka ers of the last 20 years, like dance was thin on the first two made a special mention of his Carlos Moya, Marin Cilic, Mi- I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List No...... ) / I or three days but picked up victory at the Chennai Open los Raonic, Janko Tipsarevic have just seen Madras Musings and would like to receive it hereafter. thereafter and on the final day and how it gave him the confi- and, of course, Rafter and the stadium was packed. The dence to do well. Wawrinka, have gone on to win G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for capacity crowd also saw a clas- Over the last two decades, the title. But perhaps the most Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras Musings sic duel for supremacy between several top-ten stars, Grand memorable scene would still be for the year 2015-16. the chorus of “Boris, Boris’’ that echoed through the stadium as G As token of my support for the causes of heritage, Becker made his way to the environment and a better city that Madras Musings espouses, Answers to Quiz court in 1998. Nine years after I send Chennai Heritage an additional the legendary German had won Rs...... 1. Gandhinagar; 2. Norway; 3. Cristiano Ronaldo; 4. Mesentery; (Rupees ...... ) Please 5. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar; 6. Hamlet; 7. Bengaluru; 8. HDFC; 9. the last of three Wimbledon keep/put me on your mailing list. Gujarat; 10. and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan. singles titles he remained as * * * popular as ever and the atmo- Name : ...... sphere when he played was elec- ...... 11. Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences at ; 12. Quaid-e-millat; 13. Church of the Good Shepherd tric. Unfortunately his chal- Address: ...... on Radhakrishnan Salai; 14. Sathguru Gnanananda Hall; 15. lenge did not last very long as ...... ; 16. Kachhaleeswarar temple; 17. ‘Other-Spiritualism’; 18. he lost his second match, much All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be sent by T.M. Krishna and Bombay Jayshri; 19. ; 20. Speed Post only. to the disappointment of his le- Maramalai Nagar. gion of admirers in the city.

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