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 Short ‘N’ Snappy  Museum Theatre gate  Mesmerism in Madras  Tamil Journalism  Thrilling finale

www.madrasmusings.com WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXIX No. 8 August 1-15, 2019 Why celebrate Chennai?

every three minutes that places  by The Editor us ahead of Detroit? When it comes to leather exports did we Our THEN is a sketch by artiste Vijaykumar of old Woodlands here we go again, ask- other to the problems it faces. know that Chennai and Kan- hotel, Westcott Road, where Krishna Rao began the first of his ing ­everyone to celebrate This is where we ply our trade, pur are forever neck-to-neck T restaurant chain in the 1930s. Our NOW is Saravana Bhavan Chennai, for Madras Week is educate our children, practise for reaching the top slot? And (Courtesy: The Hindu) also equally significant in Chennai’s food just around the corner. The our customs, celebrate our our record in IT is certainly history but whose owner died earlier this month being in the news cynics we are sure, must be individuality and much else. impressive. If all this was not till the end for wrong reasons. already practising their count- Chennai has given us space for enough, our achievements in er chorus beginning with the all this and we must be thankful enrolment for school education usual litany – Chennai was not for that. And when it comes to and higher education, and our founded in 1639, the weather civic issues, which city is wholly performance on public health here is uniformly bad, there immune to them? Chennai has are the envy of most other is a perennial water crisis, the many achievements to its cred- cities of India. It is just that in roads are terrible, the civic body it. While its many firsts have our characteristic understated inactive and the traffic chaotic. been documented sufficiently fashion we prefer not to talk To all of this we agree in toto in MM and elsewhere, we need about any of this. but these in our view do not in to also look at the many ways Madras Week is not just any way detract from the fact it contributes to the nation. about celebrating a colonial that there are several aspects Chennai being the medicare past as many have unfortunate- to Chennai that are sufficient capital of India is well-known, ly depicted it. It is all about reasons to rejoice. but how many of us know that cherishing what is good in Firstly, it is home to so many it accounts for 40 per cent of our city and making it known of us. And despite its lack of the medical tourism inflows to everyone. Are any of the roads, water and much else, let into India? achievements listed above from us remember that we continue We always knew that Chen- our colonial times? Hardly. to live here, call it home and nai is referred to as the Detroit All of them are peaks that we also, it must be admitted, have of India, but how many of know contributed in some way or the that we produce one vehicle (Continued on page 2)

Per a longstanding tradition, point and people, including the Better facilities needed the Athi Varadar idol is kept elderly, often have to struggle immersed in the temple’s Anan- to make their way to the tem- thasaras tank and brought out ple entrances. Darshan queues for public worship only once ev- snake around the temple for for the darshan ery 40 years. On July 1 this year, kilometres, with devotees often Lord Athi Varadar was raised waiting for six hours or more haipoosam arrangements again and the elusive idol is on to catch a momentary glimpse Tat Palani were reportedly  by A Special ­Correspondent display until mid-August. Ex- of Athi Varadar. Devotees also exemplary, with the district tensive media coverage spread complain that they don’t have administration working closely the word far & wide, attracting access to basic facilities like with the HR & CE, police, fire temple, Kanchipuram, came as Tens of thousands of devotees millions of devotees - numbers water, toilets or food; for in- and rescue, health & other a nasty shock to devoteeTamil flock to these festivals, and unlike anything the temple has stance, just six bio-toilets have departments to ensure that pil- Nadu is known as the Land of while they brace themselves to seen before. However, ground been installed for their use, grims have a memorable spiritu- Temples for a reason; the state is negotiate uncomfortably large reports point to a lack of plan- and they’re not properly main- al experience. So, the fatal lack dotted with temples and hardly crowds, safety or access to basic ning & arrangement to safely tained. Things took a sombre of planning for the Athi Varadar a fortnight goes by without a facilities have never been a ma- manage the crowds. Vehicles Darshan at Varadaraja Perumal temple festivity taking place. jor concern. Indeed, this year’s. are not allowed access beyond a (Continued on page 2) C M Y K 2 MADRAS MUSINGS August 1-15, 2019

WHY CELEBRATE The Tower of Babel

he Man from Madras buried into the wall rather ­CHENNAI? TMusings was quiet for in the manner of Mughal-era a change. All around him a courtesans, could be inspect- perfect Babel of voices rose ed. What was not mentioned terprise? Think of how you can (Continued from page 1) and fell, each in its own was that MMM, who had paid join in. If you live in an apart- cadence, pitch and punc- for the original work, would have scaled as an independent ment complex, see if you can tuation. We were all stand- now do so for the taking apart people. Is it not necessary to organise a celebration. There ing in a newly-constructed and reassembly. Not that take some time off and look is no one way to commemorate toilet, of 4’x4’ dimension, MMM had a choice anyway back at what we have attained? Chennai – you can cut a cake, the temperature was at an but he did reflect on how And please let us not waste our clean your neighbourhood, help all-time high and there was inconvenient these modern time on debating if Madras was the deserving, man the traffic, dust all around. Before you conveniences were. In the founded in 1639 or not. There promote water conservation – run away with the idea that old days, the flush tank was are many answers to that and all of these can be celebrations a group of men had met in outside and you could even there is no point in splitting of Chennai. Do it your way, but a loo for some nefarious ac- lift the lid and check if there tivity let MMM dispel such was water before you went on hairs. If you are not comfortable do share what you did with us. notions. This was a toilet in with your business. But now about August as a choice for The administration also per- the new chez MMM and his there is no way you can do celebrating the city then let us haps needs to take a line or two good lady, also known as She that, unless you have X-ray blank kiosk, as can seen in select some other time of the from Uttar Pradesh, not a State Who Must Be Obeyed and it vision of course. the adjoining photograph. year. But let us celebrate, that known for its administrative was not working. A gathering The dismantling was duly It is quite amazing that is what matters. capabilities, on how it handled of experts had been called done and the culprit it was this State of all places could We at Madras Musings have the Sangam at Allahabad for in and discussions were in discovered, was a tonne not come up with a 100 chosen August for our annual Which there was praise. Per- progress. or so of white cement that words or so on the man for thanksgiving for the city and we haps it is also time for India to It was as MMM said earli- had made its way into the whom a statue of several intend to abide by that. If others evolve some kind of a guide to er, something out of Babel for tank. Once again everyone hundred feet was erected off can come up with celebrations be shared across States on how several native languages were blamed everyone else, each the sea at the tip of India. heard. The marble layer was in his own language. MMM in other times of the year, we to handle events of this kind. And what is even more sur- from Rajasthan, the plumber suggested in the Queen’s will join them then also. But With time, our population is prising is that nobody has as from Kerala, the supervisor tongue that they better get yet noticed. It is of course celebrate we will. And so must only on the increase and events a Telugu and the person on with it. They did, and you. Do you work in a school or like this, owing to social media quite likely that there was no who supplied the porcelain when finished it was found consensus on what to write. a college or a commercial en- are likely to see greater crowds. fixtures a dignified Muslim that someone had managed Or it could be that this being who no doubt swore into his to leave a gaping hole above a Central Government proj- beard in Urdu. Add a couple the commode. This it was ect someone from Delhi has of labourers from Orissa decided, needed to be fixed to do the writing. In which Hoping for better and you have the complete with white cement, but then case, why don’t they consult picture. MMM’s cook, from Young Victor of Saffron Par- Bihar stood respectfully at ty who till not so long ago the door – it was he who had was perpetually spouting ­facilities pointed out that the flush SHORT ’N’ Thiruvalluvar to those in received copious amounts of SNAPPY the cow belt? He is of course (Continued from page 1) dent could see only a couple, at water but when the lever was turn when reports emerged of 4 the entrance). Temporary struc- not so popular here ever pulled did not give of its plen- that meant we ran the risk of since he said that the white persons losing their lives due to tures could have been put up for ty. It was he said, in a flight it getting into the flush tank skins of cow belt tolerate us breathlessness while waiting in the comfort of the devotees – a of imagery that was worthy of again. The cook felt another people in the south despite the queue. roof to protect them from the his master, as though a giant meeting was in order. MMM our dark complexions but Even as the state govern- rain and sun, and sturdy queue sponge somewhere inside has wisely decided to abstain. surely his knowledge cannot ment works to make amends & stanchions, for instance. That that absorbed all the water be allowed to go waste. fix issues, one wonders where there simply needs to be more that fell into the tunkee (as Tabula Rasa they dropped the ball, despite portable toilets and drinking he referred to tank). Of Tam- Tailpiece having sufficient funds to make water stations goes without il there was none, barring lease don’t even imag- MMM of course. ine that The Man from here is clearly no stan- the necessary arrangements. saying. P And that made MMM Madras Musings is showing Tdardisation when it The slip-ups point to a grave A couple of solutions are wonder. Where are our Tamil off his (non-existent) Latin comes to the word crescent, underestimation of the number already reportedly underway, brethren? Is it really true that skills. But then, it occurred at least as far as our sign- of expected visitors – after all, which will hopefully fix a few Tamil Nadu is so industrially to him that there could be no boards are concerned. The the event has never received so problems. The administration developed that everyone is better heading for this section Man from Madras Musings much media coverage before, is considering shifting the idol employed in some high-pay- than that expression, which presents both options – one traditional or social. It also to a more spacious venue, and ing job thereby leaving aside means clean slate or scraped where the silent letters are looks like the administration ticket slabs might be expanded. all menial chores to people tablet. MMM has if you rec- omitted and the other where was caught off-guard by the There are reports that a new from other States? MMM ollect from the last issue of they thought crescent was scale of planning involved; Athi queue has been added for senior somehow has his doubts, his MM, been of late walking by the adjective of crease. Varadar this year attracted dev- citizens and devotees requiring view being that the bulk of the beach and pausing to read the brothers are even now at all the explanatory kiosks otees from all over the country, the use of a wheelchair – where some Tasmac outlet or the that have been fixed by the not just Tamil Nadu. The basic there are no attendants to push other, lifting their elbows side of our statues. He has two-system darshan in place – a the wheelchair, the organisers ever so often. But then, if since been making progress free darshan queue and a single are stepping in to help. The they are able to afford it or and covering greater distanc- paid darshan queue for donor authorities are also proactively if the Government is able to es, taking in more statues as pass and ticket holders alike – urging vulnerable persons such make it affordable, who is he goes along. was not effective in rallying the as the very elderly, pregnant MMM to complain? Even as he approached crowds, either. women or parents with infants, Anyway, there we were, Thiruvalluvar, MMM won- A few checks could have to avoid the Athi Varadar dar- the brothers across India, dered as to what could have greatly improved the experi- shan. It might be well to con- unable to settle the matter been written. Something ence for devotees. A multi-tier sider expanding the appeal to of this mysterious toilet. on his immortal kural, that Each blamed the other and wonderful compilation of ticketing solution would have VIP pilgrims from out-of-state, for a moment it appeared maxims, all of them more or helped organize and mobilize who, with their special needs, that blood would be shed. less in Twitter format maybe? crowds in an orderly fashion. contribute additional stress The cook magically weighed Some story of his concerning Special arrangements ought to and disruption on an already in with tea and that calmed the chastity of his wife? Some have been made for the elderly strained infrastructure. things down. It was decided speculation on his actual time and parents with infants – for Here’s hoping that the rest that the marble needs to period and the likelihood of instance, the number of wheel- of the Athi Varadar fest sees be broken open so that the being a Jain? Whatever it was, chairs at the venue seemed better days, for devotees and flush tank, which had been MMM was not prepared for a –MMM hardly enough (this correspon- administration alike. August 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Annachi – humble beginnings, global presence & ignominous end

few years back, I was at Saravana Bhavan’s roar- welfare perspective, these were nearby office in Guindy. It was AHotel Saravana Bhavan, ing success with its restaurant path-breaking commitments at customary for our president to Ashok Nagar. Without looking chains was so inspiring that that point of time. have Saravana Bhavan’s ma- at the menu card, I asked, “Do many smaller players in little I’ve enjoyed Sarvana Bha- sala dosa whenever he visited you have kuzhaaputtu and kada- towns plagiarised its logo and van service in almost every Chennai, but with rain playing lai curry?” The server gave me a named their own restaurants part of the world, be it New spoilsport, we had to ask our strange look and immediately with variations such as OM Jersey, London or Southeast cafeteria to make him one in- went to his boss. The supervisor Saravana Bhava. Perhaps this Asian countries like Singapore, stead. As our president was en- came over and asked, “Are you could be an interesting paper for Malaysia and of course, India joying his lunch, he said ‘When Annachi with his two sons. coming to Saravana Bhavan marketing students to research. too. Today, it has more than 40 it comes to Dosa, no one can Management graduates of our after a very long time? We It would not be an exag- outlets outside the country, and beat Saravana Bhavan.’ The country would do well to study stopped serving this particular geration to say that Saravana many more across various states naïve executive that I was, I was Saravana Bhavan and its legacy dish many years back.” Bhavan made hygiene and in India. For a typical Chen- about to tell him the truth when alongside their case studies of Before Saravana Bhavan’s cleanliness an important stan- naite, Kapaleeswarar temple, my boss signalled me to remain western business models. mini tiffin became the de-facto dard in the restaurant business. Rajinikanth movies, Idli-sam- silent. After the president left, Every successful man has standard for breakfast in Chen- The brand introduced the use baar and Marina Beach are my boss exclaimed, “What sort a dark side... so did Annachi. nai, kuzhaputtu and kadalai of sterilized spoons, paper hats icons of Tamil identity.. Sarava- of a person are you! That man His personal weakness landed curry was a very popular item for chefs, and RO-powered, na Bhavan has also joined this is enjoying his lunch thinking it him in jail and he was in the on their menu. It was so filling clean drinking water. Their staff illustrious list. is from Saravana Bhavan and news for all the wrong reasons. that people used to forget about was courteous, and big mous- you almost went and spoilt his What happened in Annaachi’s lunch till 3pm. Whether it tachioed supervisors in green  by happiness!” I learnt a lesson personal life is strongly con- was Tirunelveli,Tanjore or the uniforms were strategically ap- Swaminathan in corporate dharma that day. demnable and there cannot be rich legacy of Chettinad, the pointed to ensure order while Ramasubramanian Though its been many years any second opinion about it. hallmark of Saravana Bhavan dining at the premises. since that incident, we still Even during those trying cir- was its ability to bring together How many of us would have laugh about it – that is the im- cumstances, the brand he built traditional recipes from various ever thought that soups could pact that Saravana Bhavan can never took a beating – though parts of Tamil Nadu on its be made from drumsticks and I was working for one of have on a person. it must be acknowledged that menu. cucumber as early as the eight- India’s leading IT company a Saravana Bhavan’s found- Saravana Bhavan is no lon- From trendsetters like 14 ies? Such was Saravana Bha- few years back. Our president, er P. Rajagopal (also fondly ger what it was. But there are mini idli sambars and the 7 taste van’s passion for experimenting a Bengali, was a great foodie. known as Annaachi) was from plently of lessons to be learned oothappam, to comfort fare like with new recipes. During all our customer dinners a small village in the district from him, especially for aspiring aappam with kuruma and idiyap- In the nineties, I used to at the Taj or Oberoi. he took of Tirunelveli. For an illiterate entrepreneurs. It may be true pam soaked in coconut milk, interact with some of their pride in choosing signature person of humble origin, An- that today, Saravana Bhavan’s Saravana Bhavan was all about employees and it was so im- dishes for our clients. Once, naachi’s business acumen and quality is not what it used to variety and innovation. As they pressive to learn that the owner Chennai welcomed him with historic success in a challenging be. But Annaachi has left be- became a household name, they contributed to not just their a unprecedented downpour consumer business is the stuff of hind such a legacy by way of did not restrict themselves to Provident Fund, but also Life because of which we could not legend. There is a saying in the long-lasting impact on every South Indian fare and added and Accident Insurance cover drive down to our main office village, “People do not under- Chennai foodie. to their signature buffet dishes and their children’s educational in OMR – we had to change stand the value of herbs grown from Gujarat and Himachal expenses. From an employee the venue of our meeting to a in the backyard of the house”. Goodbye, Annaachi. Pradesh. Their dessert varieties became equally sumptuous, with western fare like eggless cakes and bread varieties. scale capabilities coupled with Saravana Bhavan’s tradi- enterprise-level security of the tional full course meal served The Other Chennai Google Kubernetes Engine, on banana leaves was synon- which is flexible enough to ymous with Tamil pride and enable a perfect orchestration provided value for money too. issflow, a leader in business who will be the first customer scape? “It is a cloud-based between various microservices Many foodies who stepped in- Kprocess and workflow man- of the Kissflow platform; Vani workflow automation platform of Kissflow,”says Suresh. side their restaurants not only agement software used by orga- Kola, Founder and Managing for small and midsize business- The audio visual on the enjoyed their meals but were nizations in over 160 countries, Director of Kalaari Capital, one es, that helps create highly company screened at the launch also entertained by the sight recently announced its expan- of India’s leading early stage customised apps instantly. It was full of exuberance. The of expert chefs deftly making sion into the digital workplace venture capital firms; and San- meets the workflow automation background music was most fresh, hot jilebis. segment. It has come up with tosh Babu, IT Secretary, Tamil needs of every team, depart- appropriate. It was not rock Scenes from the 1990s, of a first-of-its-kind platform for Nadu, who spearheaded digital ment and organisation, and or rap, but A R Rahman’s first North Indian families flocking fast-scaling enterprises. The transformation in government deploys the most intelligent­ super hit ‘chinna chinna aasai’. to the Peters Road branch in launch was not happening in departments. Spotting Girish business process management The young staff however, are not their Maruti cars to enjoy eating Silicon Valley, but in one of the Mathrubhutham, Founder of tools to ‘reduce­ chaos’ and dreaming small, nor is Suresh. medu vadas are still fresh in my conference rooms at the Leela Freshworks, the first Unicorn Two other speakers were memory. Palace in Chennai. from Chennai (a company val- Ayee Goundan and Girish The USP of Saravana Bha- There was an air of palpable ued at over $1 billion) from  by Mathrubhutham. Ayee Goun- van was that, whichever branch excitement and anticipation. Chennai, the IT Secretary said, “ Sushila dan gave Suresh a leg up in his you had a meal or tiffin at, the The room was full of Kissflow I know you. We haven’t met. We Ravindranath early days and is now his mentor taste and quality of their dishes staff and their families (includ- will meet soon”. Life is changing. and investor. Girish Math- were always consistent, with ing toddlers running here and Suresh Sambandam from rubhutham was given a rock unparalleled precision. The there), CEOs of leading IT Cuddalore discovered com- star welcome when he entered bring in more efficiency, control uniformity of service would companies, and friends of the puters after he finished his the auditorium, greeted with and accountability,”­ Suresh make even a six sigma black founder, Suresh Sambandam. schooling. He taught himself whistles and loud claps. The IT says. Kissflow has had a five-star belt engineer proud. There Suresh is a true blue, home- computing and coding while he crowd knows its heroes. rating, excels in user experi- were many urban legends about grown IT entrepreneur, and one was pursuing a B.Com course at Girish, a good friend of ence and is ranked number 1 how Sarvana Bhavan man- of the frontrunners in the fast college. He went to Bangalore Suresh, indulged in a lot of on the Google Apps market- aged to achieve this. One such growing SaaS (Software As A in search of an IT job and land- friendly leg pulling. “ “Do you place. “We’ve now embarked story claimed that they had a Service) sector in India. ed one at Hewlett-Packard. He know why we call Suresh the on a greater mission of provid- dedicated tasting team whose Despite the informality, it did very well there and even- Kamal Haasan of the IT in- ing an intuitive product that primary job was to visit all was a formal function as well. tually struck out on his own in dustry? Because his product is unifies the entire spectrum restaurant outlets first thing in The chief guests were our very 2003 to set up OrangeScape. Kissflow.” What is Kissflow an of work. Our new no-code the morning, to taste and certify own local success story, C.K. What is Kissflow, the prod- acronym of ? Keep It Simple, platform is built on consumer the dishes. Ranganathan of CavinKare, uct developed by Orange­ Stupid and go with the Flow! 4 MADRAS MUSINGS August 1-15, 2019 August 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

on two occasions before a Magis­ for the remittance of money to trate at Bombay on commission. the credit of the High Court for An Ayurvedic health farm Three cases of cheating illustrative It was found during the course of ‘incidental proceedings’ were investigation that, prior to these produced by the first accused to two instances, the three accused satisfy the complainant. The ac­ of ‘White Collar Crime’ had similarly cheated several cused went to the extent of pre­ in Avadi other parties and collected huge paring bogus High Court orders amounts from them. Further showing that cheque books and  by J. Lakshmikanthan, Asst. Prosecutor, II President Magistrate Court, Madras 1 activities of the broker and the pass books for drawing amounts (Contd. from his next venture – an Ayurvedic bogus financier and his lawyer ordered in favour of Md. Ismail last fortnight) Health Farm in Avadi. an, with his selfishness, The Managing Director of of repayment etc., the financier made accordingly, but nothing were effectively put to an end in Lubbai and ‘poundage’ to be This had come about in 1919, greed and egoism, on the Modern Motors (Private) Ltd., referred them to the lawyer, who resulted thereafter. The parties the year 1959 and 1960. paid. All these bogus documents he death of Pundit Gopala­ M by when Dr. Lakshmipathi was one side commits crimes because of Tanjore and the proprietor of discussed the matter with the asked for the return of the cash In the third case the com­ and false representations were charyulu on September 29, T a busy Ayurvedic practitioner. of his wants, avarice, aspirations, Krishna Talkies of Tanjore were parties in a professional way re­ taken from them by the financier, plainant was a retired civil sur­ made by the accused so as to dis­ 1920 threw the Ayurvedic Col­ Patients came from all parts fear, self-respect etc., and on in need of funds to develop their garding the title to the properties but nothing was returned, and geon who was residing at San­ honestly induce the complainant lege into turmoil. It was closed of India and it became his re­ the other, is a victim. Greedy respective businesses. They both and preparation to be made for the three accused did not express thome, Madras. Four persons to make not less than fifty one the same day, with 50 students sponsibility to find lodgings for facing an uncertain future. The and cunning persons prey upon were friends. The first wanted drafting the deeds, and advised any intention of making good the joined together and cheated payments to one or other of the them. He managed initially by the gullible and unsophisticated Rs. 50,000 on the assets of his them to get ready the amount amounts collected. Several trunk him. The first was an Honorary accused between the period 30- next afternoon a meeting was renting houses along Harris Road held at the SKPD Ayurvedic members of the society, and upon business, and another Rs. 50,000 required for stamp duty, regis­ calls, letters, and advocates’ no­ Presidency Magistrate of Madras. 10-56 to 24-7-57 amounting to but soon ran out of options. It persons placed under difficult cir­ on his personal properties, and tration charges and incidental tices were sent by and on behalf The second was his son. The Rs. 48,390. The first accused Hospital under the auspices of became clear that he needed a the Madras Ayurvedic Propaga­ cumstances and subject to finan­ the second wanted a sum of Rs. expenses, and also fixed the date of the parties to the financier third was an associate of the first requisitioned the services of a large swathe of land where he cial strain. The former dupe the 1,25,000 on his theatre. Simi­ for registration of the documents demanding repayment of the and he belonged to the same tout by name Imamuddin alias tion Sabha and discussions were could put up a guesthouse of latter, who part with considerable larly, the Managing Director of at Bombay. After a full discussion money that they were dishon­ locality as the complainant, and Basha, examined as prosecution initiated on the possibility of a some kind. He initially settled sums as a consequence. Methods Bhagya Lakshmi Mills of Pollachi and settling even the details, the estly induced to part with, but the fourth was also an associate witness No. 10 during the trial, revival. The teaching faculty on four acres at Guindy but the in commission of crime vary and wanted a loan of Rs. 6,00,000 parties were asked to meet the all were in vain. The amounts of the first and third. They can and who became almost blind was willing to continue without Race Course was expanding and salary but the rent and adminis­ began eyeing the space. Having subtlety develops according to (six lakhs) on the security of the financier. When the parties again were lost. Apart from the cash be called as the first, second, by then. He was an expert in trative expense proved prohibi­ embarked on a property hunt social and economic progress. So properties, assets and machin­ contacted him, he asked for the lost, to and for, inspection and third, and the fourth accused drafting and concocting all sorts tive. There was no option but to once again, Dr. Lakshmipathi much so, that ‘white collar crime’ ery of the mills for discharging stamp and registration charges other incidental expenses in­ respectively. of bogus court orders freely using close. It was at this juncture that found what he wanted at Avadi. has come into prominence, mani­ some old outstandings and for etc., as the lawyers had informed curred by the parties, the waste In the middle of October legal terms and phrases. The Dr. A. Lakshmipathi stepped in, As to how he chanced upon it is Dr. Lakshmipathi and his wife Rukmini. festing itself mostly in the offence expanding the mills. The period him through the phone, and of time, the exertion made and 1956, the third accused and an complainant also got exhausted filling out a cheque for Rs. 1,000 an interesting story and speaks of cheating. of cheating in the ‘Tanjore inci­ the party paid the amount men­ worries suffered by them and the old man named Mohammad by making these heavy payments as indication of his seriousness in The following cases of cheat­ dent’ was from 11-8-1951 till the tioned on the clear and definite effect of utter disappointment Ismail Labbai approached the till at last he thought, better late the matter. ing are illustrative of this type end of 1951, and in the ‘Pollachi statement made by the financier, in the transaction could be well complainant, representing that than never, that he should ask The College was shifted close of crime. incident’ it was from 9-4-1952 to that the mortgage deeds would estimated and imagined. Com­ the latter had obtained a decree for a consolidated acknowledge­ to his Andhra Ayurvedic Phar­ The facts relating to the first 15-11-1952. be prepared, registration effect­ plaints about these criminals for 96 crores of rupees payable ment from Md. Ismail Lubbai macy, which he had begun just a LOST LANDMARKS OF CHENNAI and second cases transpired be­ The modus operandi of the ed, loan amount paid to parties, were made by the parties to the by the State Bank, and they and three of the accused ie., the few months earlier with a capital tween the years 1951 and 1952. three accused who acted jointly and the entire transaction would Government of Madras and they requested the complainant to first, third, and the fourth. From outlay of Rs 50,000 largely bank­ – SRIRAM V There were two incidents, and was similar in both the inci­ be completed in a couple of days. were forwarded to the police for advance a loan of Rs. 1000 ie., that time, all the accused began rolled by the Raja of Mungala, a they may be called the “Tanjore dents. As a consequence of Thus, the Tanjore parties were investigation. These two cases Rs. 640 as the ‘chamber sitting to disappear. So much so that, wealthy Telugu landowner. This incident” and the “Pollachi in­ advertisements made by him in deceived, dishonestly induced were investigated by Mr. T. S. fee’ of the Chief Justice High the complainant guessed that he was according to Dr. Lakshmip­ cident” respectively, with refer­ ‘The Hindu’, a daily of Madras, to part with a total of Rs. 8,750 Vivekanandhan, then Inspector, Court, Madras, for passing nec­ was defrauded by them. When athi located on Tramcar Road, much about the Avadi of 1919. needed for a health farm, leased M.M. Kaviraj Gananath Sen ence to the places to which the the finance broker of Bombay between 19-11-1951 and the end Crime Branch, C.I.D., Madras, essary orders in execution and he found that there was no pros­ which research reveals was close He had gone there to treat a 112 acres at Rs 400 per year for of Calcutta says: to Harris Road (present day parties who were cheated be­ was contacted through corre­ of 1951, and the Pollachi party who is now Deputy Superinten­ the balance for other incidental pect of getting back the moneys patient on a Sunday and by the a period of 11 years. Eventually, I not only visited but enjoyed longed. The accused were three spondence by the parties. The parted with Rs. 21,863 between dent of Police. expenses in The High Court of lent by them, the complainant Adithanar Salai). He was des­ time he could leave it was 7.30 Dr. Lakshmipathi acquired this the fresh air and idyllic sur- ignated Principal and several roundings of this Ashram for in number, who formed a group, respective advertisements made 29-10-1952 and 4-11-1952. Charge sheets under Sections Madras. The complainant nat­ reported the matter to the police pm. Having reached the station and more and by the late 1930s and they were charged in both on 11-8-1951 and 9-4-1952, The anxiety of the both par­ 420 I.P.C., read with Section 34 urally asked for the decree and on 11-5-1958. pundits were brought on board he found that the last train had owned 300 acres in the area. He five days and was much the better for it. The charming at- the incidents. They belonged to announced temptingly to the ties to obtain huge amounts as I.P.C. i.e., cheating with common the relevant papers. A couple of The crime was investigated as faculty. Largely at Lakshmip­ left and he had no option but to named it Hakim Nagar after the mosphere and the excellent Bombay. A Finance broker, the effect that huge loans up to loans were fully exploited by intention, were filed against all days later, the third accused and by Sri. P.K. Varadachari, the athi’s prodding, several District eat and sleep at the residence of businessman-philanthropist who arrangements would attract any financier and his lawyer were several lakhs of rupees would be these three cunning accused, the three accused before the Md. Ismail Lubbai came with then Administrative Inspector Boards and Municipalities came the person he had gone to treat. first leased the land to him. townsman here, particularly if the three involved. The three arranged and advanced on the and from the moment the par­ Third Presidency Magistrate, the first and the fourth accused, of Crime Branch, Madras City, forward with scholarships for the Waking up next morning, Dr. On January 13, 1926, Dr. his nerves cry for rest and tone. were well educated and by all security of mills, theatres, and ties arrived at Bombay, they Madras on the ground of juris­ who were introduced to the who retired as an Assistant Com­ students and its future appeared Lakshmipathi went for a walk Jacob Aron Chowry Muthu, The plan of having units of fam- secure. and found the place charming: the noted tuberculosis specialist ily wards at long distances from appearances, they were cultured. other big running concerns and were subjected to psychological diction that the advertisements complainant. The first accused missioner of Police, Madras. The The Government at this time valuable immovable properties. tension. After the amounts were were made in ‘The Hindu’ at explained to the complainant charge sheet was filed on 4-11- “I saw a beautiful lotus tank and owner of the sanatorium in one ­another is far superior to appointed a Committee led by which was known as Antharadi Tambaram, laid the foundation the usual hospital­ crammed with After an on-the-spot inspection collected by the financier from Madras. All the accused could that the originals were all with 1958 against all the four accused Sir Mohammend Usman to study patients living in the midst of Kolam. Due to the green paddy stone of the Arogya Ashrama athi. Several other health facil­ made by the broker of the respec­ the parties, the three accused not be secured together. The the Chief Justice, High Court, in C.C. No. 6442/58 before the the various schools of Indian agony and death occurring here fields in the area it was a very at Avadi. The first kuteer or hut ities and annual orations in his tive properties and businesses began to adopt a docile attitude. cases against each of the accused but showed some typed copies third Presidency Magistrate, medicine in practise. The report and there. Dr. Lakshmi Pathi has pleasant sight in the month of was declared open a year later memory came up with the rest of the parties, he expressed his No stamps or papers for mort­ were split up and each was tried so as to induce the complainant Saidapet, Madras, for offences of was published in 1923 and as undoubtedly conferred a boon December. Yagna was per- by A. Kaleswara Rao, freedom of the money. Not forgotten was initial satisfaction as to the value gage deeds were ever purchased separately. to make a payment of Rs. 1000 criminal conspiracy to cheat and per the recommendations of formed at this site in the olden on his countrymen. I believe that fighter and later first Speaker of the Venkataramana Ayurveda and worth of the properties on by the financier or the lawyer. The charges framed against cash to the first accused. This cheating him to part with a total the same, the then Premier, P days. There were huge peepul this Ashram has a great future. the Andhra Pradesh Legislative It should be a model for other College, Mylapore, which got Rs. which loans were sought by the The parties were shown some the lawyer in the ‘Tanjore case’ was the beginning of a series sum of Rs. 48,390 (Section 120 Ramarayaningar, the Rajah of and neem trees. The actual Assembly. The Arogya Ashrama ­Ashramams, which must be 50,000. The man who made all parties, and also his readiness bogus deeds typed on plain sheet were quashed by the High Court of cash payments made by the B. I. P. C. and 420 I.P.C.). All the Panagal came forward to set up name of the tank was Anantha flourished with visitors describ­ founded and worked on similar this possible died in 1962. to arrange for the loans on his of paper on which the accused of Madras in Cr. M.P. 1002/58 complainant to one or other of accused pleaded ‘not guilty’ to an Indian School of Medicine Narayana Deekshitulu Koneru. It seemed he had performed a yag- ing it as a paradise on earth. lines in all parts of India. In 1946, his wife and freedom return to Bombay. The parties stated that necessary stamp duty on 3-10-58 and in the ‘Pollachi the four accused who, jointly and the charges made against them. (ISM), offering his property Hyde na here in ancient times. There The All India Ayurvedic Di­ fighter Rukmini, became Min­ were practically decoyed to Bom­ would be engrossed by them at case’ in C.C. 1663/58, he was in pursuance of a criminal con­ The trial went on from 30-1-59 Park Gardens in Kilpauk for the During the Second World was forest all around.” rectory of 1938 had this to say War, the Government planned ister for Public Health in the T. bay by the broker and the parties the time of registration of the acquitted on 8-5-59 after a full spiracy, cheated the complainant to 11-5-59 and fourteen prose­ same. The institution, founded about the place –This Health All of this in Avadi! It must several defence establishments at Prakasam Ministry at Madras. It went with thousands of rupees deed. The broker began to drop trial. The financier was tried through the medium of Md. cution witnesses, including the in 1925, struggled for three years Resort is situated within easy however be remembered that Avadi and acquired the Arogya was at her initiative that the ISM cash for stamp duty charges, out. The financier who referred and convicted and sentenced Ismail Lubbai. They also, par­ officer who investigated, were in the face of a strict Congress reach of Madras on an elevated there is still an area named Ashrama for it. Dr. Lakshmipathi in Kilpauk was upgraded to a col­ registration and other incidental the parties to the lawyers began to four months S.I. in each of ticularly the first accused, falsely examined. On 14-5-1959, judg­ diktat that students ought not to plain of about 200 acres at a Thamarai Kulam here. On com­ was compensated and some of lege. Rukmini Lakshmipathi died expenses in connection with to find out for the first time, de­ the two cases in C.C. 3393 and represented to the complainant ment was delivered by the court join any Government-sponsored height of over 140 feet above ing to know that the land cost this money came in for use when in 1951 and Marshall’s Road in the execution of the mortgage fects in the title to the properties 3394/59 in December 1959. The that if he pays off the creditors of convicting the 1st accused and college. Moreover, students pre­ sea level. Its elevation its cool was Rs 100 per acre here (!!), his son-in-law, Dr. B. Ramamur­ Egmore is now named after her. deeds. At Bombay, the parties which needed rectification. The broker was subsequently arrested Md. Ismail Lubbai, he would get sentencing him to nine months ferred the College run by Dr. shades, its green pastures and its Dr. Lakshmipathi began buying. thy, the father of neurology in were introduced to the financier. parties were thrown from pillar and he pleaded guilty for the back the total amount with great R.I. The second accused was Lakshmipathi. Feeling that it loose sandy soil amidst the forest His initial purchase was four India, set up the first department He was really worth nothing. to post and from post to pillar charges in C.C. Nos. 1535 and pecuniary advantage to himself. acquitted for want of criminal was not correct to compete with surroundings make it an ideal The author thanks Karthik acres. He then acquired a neigh­ in the country for this disci­ While he gave the impression till they could no longer afford 1536/60 on 31-3-1960, and he Sometimes the first accused also intention on his part. The third the Government, he decided to place for a sanatorium. Numer­ Bhatt for giving him the idea for bouring property containing pline at the General Hospital. of a millionaire, he was actually to waste further time and money was convicted and sentenced to represented that he was going and fourth were released under wind up his institution and en­ ous patients have been treated this story and also providing the 500 mango trees, all planted by Much of the remainder went into link to the All India Ayurveda living in a palatial building which by remaining at Bombay and 4 months S.I. and fined Rs. 500 to see the finance minister at Section 4 (1) Madras Probation couraged the students to move in the Health Resort for various Nawab Humayun Jah Bahadur the establishment of the Dr. A. Directory, 1938. Many thanks to belonged to his mother-in-law at they had to leave. Talks about in each of the two cases. It may Delhi to expedite the payment of Offenders Act on their own to the ISM. The Madras Ayurve­ ailments by having recourse and then owned by the leather Lakshmi­pathi Neurological Cen­ Rukmini Amirapu, granddaughter dic College therefore closed in mainly to Nature’s methods and Parel, Bombay. After ostensibly reinspection of properties and also be mentioned that during of the amount payable under the bond and one surety for Rs. 1000 baron and philanthropist Nawab tre at the VHS, Taramani. Both of Dr. A. Lakshmipathi, for sharing 1928. But by then, its indefati­ very satisfactory results have discussing about the amount of documents relating thereto by the course of the trial in C.C. ‘decree’ in favour of Md. Ismail for a period of one year. gable Principal had already been C. Abdul Hakim. The latter on the GH and VHS have buildings a copy of his biography. loans sought for by the parties, the agent of the financier took 1663/58, 3393/59 and 3394/59, Lubbai. Several bogus orders been obtained. commemorating Dr. Lakshmip­ spending considerable time on coming to know that space was (Concluded) settling the rate of interest, terms place. Reinspection also was several witnesses were examined of High Court, bogus chalans (Continued on page 8) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS August 1-15, 2019

(Quizmaster V.V. Ramanan’s questions Tamil Journalism are from June 16th to 30th. Questions 11 to 20 relate to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. What colour coding will be required on the front side label of – Post-Independence and its progress Indian packaged foods to repre- sent high fat, sugar and salt con- tent levels as per Food Safety and and he took it upon himself to The path shown by Dina founded by a cooperative soci- Standards Authority(FSSAI) ? (Continued from carry out the movement started Thanthi has been followed by ety, which got into trouble with 2. As per the Motor Vehicles last fortnight) by the Congress. many other Tamil dailies. The the DMK Government and had (Amendment) Bill, how much hen Dinamani, sponsored fine will be imposed for blocking Although he discontinued most common features have finally to close down. One of its Wby the Express Group, college education, Sivara- been a) wide coverage of polit- leading journalists, Shanmuga ambulances? made its appearance in 1934, 3. Name the head of the Indian man began educating himself ical warfare in Tamil Nadu, b) Vel, floated Newsmen Associ- it electrified the atmosphere of through wide and purposive dominance of crime, sex and ates in 1972 and Makkal Kural Olympic Association and the Tamil journalism. It was a low- world hockey body FIH who has reading. Reading at all hours cinema, and c) multiple edi- came into being the next year. become a member of the Interna- priced newspaper (six paise), and far into the night became tions. Dinakaran followed this It had an able and experienced tional Olympic Committee. but it was different from its his habit. He was a promi- path and added better inves- editor in T.R. Ramaswami, who 4. According to the UN report, rivals in presentation of news nent Congress volunteer in tigative stories. It is published was formerly connected with ‘The World Population Prospects and views. Within a month of the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 from multiple centres. Unlike Patriot and Link of New Delhi 2019: Highlights’, in which year its publication, its circulation and went to prison. He strayed Dina Thanthi, it has an editorial. and with the Federation of will India surpass China as the shot up and it was more than into journalism when he joined It has a good circulation and Working Journalists. TRR, as world’s most populous country: the combined circulation of all 2022, 2025, 2027? Chockalingam in producing the one reason for its popularity is he was known to his readers, other Tamil papers. tri-weekly Gandhi. After joining said to be its anti-establishment had a powerful pen and a head 5. The new Lok Sabha speaker Dinamani had originally been Om Birla is an MP from which Dinamani, he switched over to posture. for facts and figures. In 1982, he started by S. Sadanand, who its sister paper, Indian Express, Another daily which has started an evening English daily, State? purchased the Indian Express 6. On June 17, which Asian nation for some years. He covered the made its mark is Dinamalar, News Today. from Varadarajulu Naidu. Both San Francisco Conference for established by T.V. Rama- Tamil language newspa- launched its first satellite ‘Rava- the papers later came into the na-1’ into orbit from the ISS? his paper and remained in the subba Aiyer, a Congressman pers have been published from possession of Ramnath Goenka. US for some years as its corre- of Tirunelveli. It was started outside the country from the 7. On which peninsular river is The first editor of Dinamani was the world’s largest multi-stage, spondent. He wrote articles on in 1951 in Trivandrum and pre-Independence era. There multi-purpose Kaleshwaram Lift T.S. Chockalingam, an ardent subjects like science and tech- played an active role in the ag- was a Tamil newspaper titled Irrigation Project built? Congressman and a powerful nology, agriculture and industry, itation for the merger of Tamil Tamil Nesan in Kuala Lumpur, 8. On June 23, which famous writer. With him as joint editor political science and economics areas in Travancore with Tamil Malaysia since 1924. It was the sporting body celebrated its 125th was A.N. Sivaraman, who later in a way which the common Nadu, and was very popular lone Tamil newspaper in Malay- year of founding with the inaugu- notched new records in Tamil man could easily follow and for that reason. At one stage, sia till Tamil Osai was launched ration of a new HQ building? Journalism. understand. He was a teacher the paper’s office was raided by in 1981. Later, it was rechris- 9. Which Indian cueist recently Both Chockalingam and and guide for his readers and the police and its copies were tened Makkal Osai, which in became the only player to win Sivaraman were close asso- seized. This happened when English means People’s Voice. Asian and World championships ciates even before they came in all formats in both billiards and Pattom Thanu Pillai was the Thamizhavel G. Sarangapani to Dinamani. They had joint-  by Chief Minister of the state. launched Tamil Murasu in Sin- snooker? ly produced a quarter anna Mrinal Chatterjee 10. According to a recent reve- After the success of the ag- gapore on 1935. By mid-2012, tri-weekly, with news and views itation, when Nagercoil and it was the only Tamil language lation the air strike by the IAF on the Satyagraha Movement, on a terrorist training camp in newspaper in Singapore. Balakot, Pakistan, was code- apart from trenchant criticism his mission was to educate his Several Tamil language named…? of the Government. Along readers to be good citizens and newspapers have been pub- * * * with Swatantra Sanghu, another educated patriots. lished from Sri Lanka, the best quarter-anna weekly edited by 11. Which Chennai resident won In 1942, S.B. Adityan, a bar- known being Virakesari. It was the National squash title for a Sangu Ganesan, it became a rister and a staunch Congress- first published on August 6, record 17th time recently? rage at the height of the Sa- man, started a daily, Dina Than- 1930 by P. P. R. Subramanian, 12. On June 20, which bank tyagraha movement and sold thi, in Madurai, deliberately an entrepreneur and journalist founded in the State got the like hot cakes. Chockalingam aimed at the lower class and the from Avanipatti Village in Tam- approval from the Competition left Dinamani in 1943 and start- semi-literate population. The il Nadu. Subramanian guided Commission of India to merge ed a daily of his own, Dinasari, paper indulged in sensational- the publication for over 20 with Indiabulls Housing Finance? in 1944. The burden of running ism and its four pages were filled years, during which it focused 13. Name the entity started by M. Dinamani fell on Sivaraman. with stories of crime, violence on the rights and grievanc- Soundrapandian in 1972 that has Sivaraman, a distinguished and cinema, written in an easy been translating and publishing T.V. Ramasubba Aiyer. es of the plantation workers, Tamil journalist often referred style and language. He provided capturing the attention of the comics from around the world to as the Bhishma of Tamil Jour- into Tamil. readers what they liked to be fed Kanyakumari were merged with Tamil-speaking population. By nalism, did not have much of an and they lapped it up. Tamil Nadu, Ramasubba Aiyer mid-2012, it was the most wide- 14. Name the Sangam era poem education in the conventional from which the FM Nirmala The paper’s circulation in- moved to Tirunelveli in 1960 ly circulated and read newspa- Sitharaman quoted to explain the sense. He passed the secondary creased manifold and Adityan where Dinamalar concentrated per among the Tamil-speaking govt-taxpayer relationship in her school course and joined a brought out editions from Ma- on the problems of the local population in Sri Lanka. In budget speech. college in Tirunelveli but left dras and other centres. As the people, and in getting the peo- 15. Who preceded Udayanidhi it after barely six months. He Dravidian parties, the Dravida ple’s grievances redressed. Its Stalin as the DMK Youth Wing was attracted by the Congress Kazhagam (under E.V. Ra- circulation went up and an president? movement, especially by the maswami Naicker) and the edition was started at Tiruchi 16. Which institution, offering ideals of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dravida Munnetra Kazahgag- in 1966, followed by one in Ma- unconditional emotional support am (under C.N. Annadurai) dras in 1979 and Erode in 1984. to people who are feeling upset, began to dominate the political Dinamalar introduced offset distressed, depressed and suicid- scene in post-Independence al, was started by Dr. Lakshmi printing in 1981 and adopted ­Vijayakumar in April 1986? Madras state (before it was other modern techniques of 17. Name the State’s new Chief renamed Tamil Nadu), Adityan printing. A feature of the paper Secretary and Director General resigned from the Congress and is its photographic coverage, of Police. joined the Dravidian move- which gives it a unique place 18. Which respected Chennai ment. His contribution to Tamil in Tamil journalism. During the institution’s in-house magazine is journalism was that he took Pope’s visit to Madras in 1986, called ‘Eyelights’? the newspaper to the doorstep it came out with a four-page 19. What is the height of ‘Aththi of the poor and downtrodden. photo feature of the Pope’s Varathar’ and how long will the Over the years, Dina Thanthi engagements in the city. idol be in the reclining position? and its sister publications have A Tamil daily which was the 20. Name the town where Dr. U. not changed much in the type The first copy of Virakesari pub- result of cooperative efforts is lished on August 6, 1930. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer was born, of journalism they began with. Makkal Kural, which appeared represented by the U in his name. Neither has their popularity in Madras in 1973. It emerged (Answers on page 8) A.N. Sivaraman waned. from the ashes of Navamani, (Continued on page 7) August 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 Tamil lessons in Tharamani (Continued from Advanced lessons in the cupied might have been small, soda with liquor and cleaning hues, just as Anna Nagar, Be- last fortnight) sociology and history of Madras but the parties had the who’s ashtrays, to a twenty-four hour sant Nagar and other Nagars are (it was not Chennai yet), came who of IIT-M on the guest nurse, sister, mother, priest for Delhi-centric bureaucrats, rumugam had a flair for from Mrs. Junie McMurray, list. Ribbons, festoons, flags, and provider, wiping her eyes businessmen and politicians. Alanguages. Besides Tamil, Technician Grade II. Junie balloons and some recorded at times, at others, his lips None of my colleagues at IIT-M he spoke Bengali, Telugu, Hindi was 46 years old on Feb 25, hymns, both Tamil and English, and bottom, until he was low- was happy that I was quitting and some English. He became 1980, when she joined I.I.T repeated themselves every year ered into the grave one day. IIT Campus for Taramani. ‘For my self-appointed Tamil teacher – not very young, nor fat (she with the same colours and Loyal to his memory, she didn’t Taramani?’, they screamed. It and with the philosophy of one could be called ‘full’ in English), cadence without losing their allow even death to part her had no sewage, no piped water teaching a foreign language, he fair, tall, charming, single, En- attraction. The insides of the from him. Her ‘No!’ to all the supply, no telephone lines, not focussed on what I would need glish-speaking, unattached. home got a new coat of paint, star-studded rings proffered to even reliable electricity supply. in daily life. So he included Some called her Venus, some some new wallpapers and little her was firm and final. But Junie ‘Your neighbours would be numbers, asking and answer- Durga. Some men, as they bulbs that glowed for a week, responded to the call of duty, jealous, you would be robbed! ing polite social questions like sometimes do, had other ideas. non-stop. She brought Christ- and joined the D.H.S.S as Peon Taramani?’ Yes, I said! soukhyma, enna samaachaaram, But she told them where they mas to IIT-M campus and kept Grade – III, and, like Cleopatra, Four out of ten there spoke enna vishayam, etc., followed by belonged: tail between legs, it aglow, brighter than anywhere turned the stool she sat upon Telugu, but all spoke Tamil. objects like tanni, uppu, chakka- they made an immediate exit, else! She introduced guests to into an object of the burnished Tamil here is at once rooted rai, chaavi, puutu. He explained never to risk their lives again. her cat, chicken and parrot, gold and kept it so until she left in tradition – nii akkaa lo, nii the difference between yaarume In most, she inspired respect. recounting their feats with the about sixteen years later, as if amma lo – just as it is modern illa and onnume illa, pesha and “My grandfather was an army kind of glint that parents with a saying dignity was not exclusive – bastard, bloody etc, besides solle and soon followed adverbs major,” she would say. Her JEE rank in their families have. to a class. a lot else that even Rajnikanth like sheeghram and medhue– grandfather lived in Bangalore, Proud, yes; arrogant, no way! Advanced lessons in Tamil, can use. The economics of medhue. Meaning, he said, was as most ‘class’ Anglo-Indians Junie had the world on her of course, came from the hostel Taramani is never disturbed by not a property of words, it was did. Once, as he was speeding finger tips. Her albums con- workers. The dean asked me if I its sociology, but politics here is in the context. Do not foreclose on his motorbike, he sighted a tained rhinos from Assam, knew Tamil. I said yes and no. I part and parcel of life. The area your options by saying illai and camel up ahead. But he did not boatmen from Bangladesh, took the keys and learnt. I told is vertically divided between aama at once. It is best to say panic. He just jumped off his elephants from Congo and tiger a worker accused of stealing, A.I.A.D.M.K & D.M.K – two paakalaam (we’ll see), even if bike and over the camel, hump moths from Venezuela. She was “onne ke talkaai thengaa maari leaves, irettai ilai, and the rising you have made up your mind. and all, landing right back on a passionate philatelist. ‘She break pandre”. Both Arumugam sun, suuryan. There is enough Make the visitor wait while you the saddle of his bike on the shared her space and whatever and Junie McMurray, for differ- work here for many to be full- can. You rise in the hierarchy other side, like the British Army else she had with birds, beasts ent reasons of course, would time salesmen for two bamboos of power, more people wait for Major in Ruskin Bond’s story. and all else,’ said Sister Valsam- have felt proud of me! of the same ditch, as Kamraj you. They will never take you Her grandfather had been a part But my Tamil would have allegedly said once. The divide for granted. G.B. Shaw would of the musical band of the Brit- remained pathetic without my is so sharp and discourse so have hired Arumugam to train ish Army in India and had led  by Shreesh Chaudhary lessons in Taramani. Taramani passionate that a men’s hair government officers. the band in playing God Save GLA University was almost reserved for drivers, cutting saloon here forbids Arumugam had an original The King. ‘Precision and econ- [email protected] tailors, plumbers, electricians, and practical mind. He taught omy make you great, Junie!’, construction workers and daily me enough in a few months to he would say. Did she go to wage-labour of many other (Continued on page 8) help me make friends among college? ‘Come on! Why would peons, drivers, cooks, waiters, a girl want to waste her precious ma, her companion at Aasha guards etc. When interviewed years poring over books! A Bhawan, the home for the aged for the position of a warden at girl needs to be smart so that in Upper Gudalur, near Ooty, IIT-M, I had the cheek to tell she runs her home, makes her where Junie spent her final the Dean Tamil teryum, I knew folk leave every morning and days. Generous she had always Tamil journalism Tamil. The British hardly knew return every evening.’ Perhaps been. Even in the pre-bottled Tamil and ruled the presidency old-fashioned, but not boring! and pre-water-and-coffee-dis- post-Independece of Madras for centuries, I sug- Her Christmas parties were pensing-machine age at IIT, no gested. fabulous. The quarters she oc- one stayed thirsty within walk- (Continued from page 6) Tamil Nadu. According to the ing distance of her water-bottle Indian Readership Survey Q-4 or tea-flask. Her gold chain 2005, Virakesari’s e-paper was 2012, it occupies the seventh often rested in the vaults of the launched, which is said to be position among the top ten pawn broker, but her neigh- the world’s first in Tamil. publications of the country. CHENNAI HERITAGE bours, on or off-campus, did Among other Tamil language The Hindi daily Dainik Jagran not suffer so long as Junie had newspapers published from tops the list. Daily Thanthi is No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, any metal on her body. ‘How Sri Lanka were Eelamurasu, followed by Dinakaran and Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 will you manage in your old Eeelanadu and Uthayan. All the Dinamalar. Among the Tamil age?’, her friends asked. ‘The three papers were published magazines, Kumudam is the I am already on your mailing list (Mailing­ List Lord will take care of me!’ Her from Jaffna, a Tamil majority largest circulated. It occupies No...... ) / I have just seen ­Madras Mus- faith was infectious. Bhogwan area. Uthayan was founded in sixth position in the list of top ings and would like to receive it ­hereafter. aachhen, God is still there, like 1985 by journalist Nadesapillai ten language magazines of the Vithayatharan. Thinakkural was  I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for Mother Teresa used to say in country. Malayalam periodical Rs. 100 ­(Rupees One ­hundred) ­payable to CHENNAI Calcutta. Did she have a foe? founded by Pon Rajagobal, for- Vanitha tops the list. ­HERITAGE, ­MADRAS, as ­subscription to Madras­ Musings Not really, though at times, mer editor of Virakesari in 1977, Newspapers across India and for the year 2019‑20. she resented the trips from the and Sudar Oli was founded in languages have had political tappal to the Ad Block, while Colombo on 10 September leanings, some overtly, some  As token of my support for the causes of ­heritage, others tired their legs trekking 2000 as a weekly newspaper. covertly. But an interesting ­environment and a ­better city that ­Madras Mus- to the canteen. But the work It became a newspaper on 29 feature of Tamil journalism ings ­espouses, I send Chennai ­Heritage an did not suffer, not while Junie October 2001. Nadesapillai Vi- is that it has had distinct, in- ­additional Rs...... was around. thayatharan became the paper’s your-face political leanings. (Rupees ...... ) Junie had always told her editor in 2002. Several newspapers were open Please keep/put me on your ­mailing list. husband, a security sergeant Almost all Tamil language and vocal about their leanings. newspapers in Sri Lanka suf- Name : ...... at IIT, to cut down on liquor In the pre-Independence era, and cigarettes, but, as an En- fered heavily during the conflict it could be divided into three ...... glish poet said, ‘No use to talk beginning early 1980s. Besides groups: the Dravidian Press, the to him, he was but one and Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Tamil Nationalist Press, the Muslim Address: ...... twenty, or only a little older’. newspapers are also published Press. Post-Independence, the So finally, when the lump in from countries like Singapore, trend continues; albeit with dif- ...... his throat turned malignant, the UK, Canada, Australia and ferent rallying points (Courtesy: All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’.­ DD/Cheque should be as, in Junie’s words, ‘it had to’, several countries in West Asia. RIND Survey, March 2019). sent by Speed Post only. Junie changed from a shy and By end-2012, Daily Thanthi obliging young bride mixing was the largest-read daily in (Concluded) 8 MADRAS MUSINGS August 1-15, 2019

me to a hospital. We do not know who they were! Prover- MOVING FROM IIT TO THARAMANI bial exceptions, of course, were there! Like a drunk auto-rick- (Continued from page 7) and litter near my house! I put officer came home and advised literally! Past midnight once, shaw driver who insisted on up posters on my compound me to solve this problem ‘so- when I was unconscious due to over-charging and thought that political conversation, arasiyal wall saying I would break any cially’. Then one day, somebody some food poisoning caused by I should use no language other pesa kudaadu! litterers’ or sticklers’ or scrib- told me that I should stick a a stale samosa, resulting in fever, than Tamil while I was in ‘his But even Taramani had no blers’ heads like a coconut, Ganesha or a Shiva tile on diarrhoea and dehydration, my state’, or a drunken neighbour regional bias! They accepted us ‘thengaa-maari!’, but they did our compound-wall! With due niece went to the bus depot who assaulted a visitor from my as one of their own. Whenever not mind and continued as apologies, we decorated our at Taramani to bring home an village because my guest did not I joined the queue near the wa- usual. I went to the police; an compound wall with tiles show- ambulance. Two policemen speak Tamil. Police had to step ter-tankers with my vessel, they inspector came and asked me to ing nearly all members of the followed her into our flat and in saying they would ‘give better often let me have my fill first. give him either the name or the Shiva family. And litter at my eventually helped her bring me training’ in Tamil teaching! They put up with me when I photo of any litterer. I wished doorstep disappeared. God is down from our second floor flat Like Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar protested against loud-speakers I could. Then a senior police a policeman in Chennai – yes, into the ambulance which took said, anyone in India can speak about education. But Taramani in general was pretty tolerant. Our Tamil Cheating white collar crimes was accepted, our Hindi was respected. Some members of my (Continued from page 5) ready to be realised. But certain There was another prosecu- of their own before or at the family even made some money it was, that the fourth accused tion witness by the name of Ra- time of parting with money and giving Hindi tuitions. Chennai The question may arise as was probably the first victim of machandra Naidu, examined as took advice. Probably, the same today is the most cosmopol- to whether Md. Ismail Lubbai, this hoax and he was so ruined No.4 in the case. He was also a persons would have sought itan city in Asia. Go to any who was examined as prosecu- that he adopted the same tac- victim of this gang and he was careful legal advice if a really restaurant in Thiruvanmiyur tion witness No.3, should have tics for realising at least some similarly cheated between May needy person sought from them and you will hear a Bengali also been included as one of the portion of the money lost by 1956 to April 1958 to the tune a mortgage loan on the security manager welcoming you and accused. From his evidence, it him by taking the first and the of Rs. 650 on the same basis. of his property. But the bogus an Assamese, Nepali, Bihari or was clear that he filed C. S. third accused as his partner, us- His evidence also revealed the financier, the fake financier Oriya waiter serving you aaluu 173 of 1938 against the Impe- ing the same Md. Ismail Lubbai leading role played by the first broker, the degenerate Honor- parathaa or chicken biriyani to rial Bank of India as a pauper as the medium, and Imamuddin accused. This witness contact- ary Presidency Magistrate and the tune of a new rendering suit; the same was dismissed by as their technical adviser, to ed the Registrar, High Court of his detestable companions, all of jiiyaa bekaraar hai, a Hindi the High Court on 12-9-1940. cheat the complainant and Madras and verified the bogus these people obviously invoked super-hit of the 1960s. It comes Thereafter, there was no further draw cash as heavily as possible decree and the huge, imaginary so much confidence in the through Radio Mirchi, not Ra- proceedings by, or in favour from him. amount to be immediately paid. minds of their victims that they, dio Pacche Mulgai. of, Md. Ismail Lubbai in the The intervention of the first Thereupon, the Registrar, High the victims, had no time even High Court, Madras. The evi- accused through the fourth ac- Court, Madras, sent a report to to think about a lawyer. This is dence of Md. Ismail Lubbai and cused in this affair was certainly the Commissioner of Police on the fundamental implication of (To be continued Imamuddin Basha were to some a turning point. From that mo- 10-4-1958 about Ramachandra ‘white collar crime’. next fortnight) extent divergent. The former ment, the first accused played Naidu’s incident. stated that the latter made him the leading role in this game In the above said two cases, believe that further proceedings of cheating. In fact, the first one common significant factor were going on, and the latter accused overdid his part to such can be found, i.e., in the first Answers to Quiz said that the former brought an extent that at one stage Md. case, the Tanjore parties and 1. Red, 2. Rs. 10,000, 3. Narinder Batra, 4. 2027, 5. Rajasthan, 6. Sri the fourth accused and asked Ismail Lubbai sent on 2-5-58 a the Pollachi parties, and in the Lanka, 7. Godavari, 8. International Olympic Committee, 9. Pankaj Ad- the latter i.e., Imamuddin, to complaint to the Commissioner second case, both the doctor vani, 10. Operation Bandar. represent that the proceedings of Police against the 1st and the complainant and Ramachandra * * * were being continued, and fourth accused for cheating him Naidu - all these were intelli- that the money due under the 11. Joshna Chinnappa, 12. Lakshmi Vilas Bank, 13. Muthu Comics i.e., Md. Ismail Lubbai and for gent, influential persons but (now Lion-Muthu Comics), 14. Purananooru penned by Pisirandaiyaar, decree passed in favour of Md. not accounting for collections were duped just the same. It is Ismail Labbai for huge amounts 15. Vellakkoil M.P. Saminathan, 16. Sneha, 17. K. Shanmugam ias and made by the first and the fourth surprising that none of them J.K. Tripathy ias, 18. Sankara Nethralaya, 19. The 12-feet idol will be in against State Bank, and was accused on his behalf. contacted the legal adviser that position for 40 days, 20. Uthamadhanapuram in Thanjavur district.

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