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Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/15-17 Publication: 15th & 28th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • What’s OSR? • Lakes of Madras – 4 • 60 years a bilingual writer • Farewell, Anandan

Vol. XXV No. 24 MUSINGS April 1-15, 2016 25 years & still Know your Fort going strong better

(By The Editor) ime for us to pat ourselves stepped in just as the going ap- Ton the back. Madras that is peared to be tough and prom- Chennai turned 375 a couple of ised to get us enough sponsors years ago. Fort St. George at- to ensure our continuity. tained that venerable age last Where would we be without year. We ’t know how old our dedicated band of writers, , Tiruvallikeni and photographers, cartoonists, re- Tiruvottriyur are. We do know searchers and heritage enthusi- that the High Court of Madras asts, all of whom saw Madras turned 150 in 2012, the as the perfect medium Chamber of Commerce & In- for their thoughts, findings and dustry is 180 this year and that expression? And what about the Corporation of Madras Pace Systems, now Mot Juste, completed 325 in 2013. Com- that does our layouts and main- pared to all that, we are small tains our website or for that The state Wellesley House is in today. fry, but when we look below our matter Lokavani Southern masthead and discover Madras Printers who initiated Madras Musings has completed 25 years, Musings and has printed it since A last and lingering look we do feel a particular sense of Our first issue, April 16-30, 1991. inception? And we cannot for- satisfaction and happiness. get Broadgate Technical Ser- G Stepping out of Fort Museum into the sunshine and humidity This landmark would not vices, which handles our ac- that our is known for, we return to the 21st Century. Our tour have been possible without the Chennai Heritage – that dedi- counts and mailing lists. of the Fort is done and it is time to go home. We walk back through support of all you readers. Your cated band of corporate houses Over the years we have high- the narrow pedestrian bridge over the moat on to the steps and encouragement, feedback, con- that has seen value in what we lighted several issues concern- the main road, where a pedestrian signal light, the only one tributions by way of stories, are doing and has generously ing our city’s heritage, both working in the whole of the city, helps you to cross the road to the ideas and donations is what has kept us financially solvent. On built and natural. We cannot parking lot. kept us buoyed up all these this occasion, we also look back claim to have made much of an There is lots more to see in the Fort – the Garrison Theatre in years. At the same time, we with happiness on the day when which the army staged its plays and invited outside troupes to thank our principal sponsors, N. Sankar of the Sanmar Group (Continued on page 7) perform for their entertainment, there is a building rather intrigu- ingly called Clive’s Library with which he had nothing to do, and there are the Navy’s offices. All of these are no doubt wonderful buildings but none of these is open to the public, which is all rather sad. For that matter, there is a lot more to be seen in the Fort that Waiting for the link, we cannot really access. To get an idea of the acreage that is out of bounds you need to view a rather ugly but functional model of Fort St George made Metro and MRTS out of wood, which is on display in the Fort Museum. Nobody is clear as to when this was made, not even D M Reid who in his t long last those in control by private vehicles. However, between. Today, it runs be- Story of Fort St George merely speculates that it could have been Aof our public transport sys- all of this may take quite a while tween Velacheri and Beach commissioned sometime late in the 19th Century. This was till the tems appear to be waking up to before becoming reality. Stations, the fate of the exten- 1940s in a room beside St Mary’s together with the display of the the possibilities. Five years after The MRTS, originally sion to St Thomas Mount being church’s plate. When the museum was commissioned in 1946, it it was proposed by the Tamil planned to link Beach Station, uncertain owing to land acqui- was moved there. Viewing this model you come to realise that Nadu State Government, the sition issues and the rest of it almost 50 per cent of the Fort cannot be accessed, which means we Indian Railways has given an in- abandoned owing to the Metro G also do not know what has happened to the historic buildings that principle nod to the merger of by A Special Rail project. When planned it Correspondent stood/stand there. We do know that Clive’s Library is in a precari- its Mass Rapid Transport Sys- was estimated to carry 6 lakh ous state and may crumble at any time. Proposals for its restoration tem (MRTS) with Chennai passengers a day but at present move forward at a snail’s pace. Its owner, the Navy, cannot seem Metro Rail (CMRL). This, as Velacheri, St Thomas’ Mount, handles around 1 lakh chiefly to make up its mind. and when it takes place, will and , was because of several deficiencies mean greater connectivity and conceptualised in the 1970s. in its execution – the most im- Which brings us to the core problem of Fort St George – it optimal utilisation of both sys- Work however did not begin till portant being the lack of last suffers from multiple ownership. The Army, the Navy, the Legisla- tems of public transport, 1984 and proceeded thereafter mile connectivity with other ture, the Government and the Archaeological Survey thereby taking pressure off the at a leisurely pace till 2007 with forms of transport. It is also an all occupy parts of it and claim complete suzerainty over the areas roads that are at present choked much escalation of cost in (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 8) CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2016 GWhat you need to know about: Carnatic in any other place Open space hose of you who follow the moneyed monarchs. Or so opened, however, MMM was Tmusings in Madras of The MMM thought. All these no- transported to Mylapore. The Man from Madras Musings tions were dashed to the queue was abandoned and ev- (MMM) do know that if at all ground when last fortnight eryone rushed in. Around ten reservation he has a weakness (and here MMM travelled to a faraway minutes later peace of a kind amoogam, Samudhayam, powered to issue demolition no- people like the Chief and land where the temperatures was established. The curtains S Aanmeegam are the three tice under Section 56 along with MMM’s good lady, who is also were frigid. Carnatic music was went up and the artistes re- main concerns in life for S. Sri- Section 85 of Town and Country known as She Who Must Be the last thing he had in mind, ceived thunderous applause. nivasan of . He is Planning Act 1971, requiring Obeyed, can no doubt list but sure enough it flourished But if MMM thought the con- a retired Gazetted Officer from demolition of unauthorised con- several), it is for good Carnatic there as well. On a performing cert was about to begin, he was the . He struction put up without ap- music. MMM frequents places tour was a diva who is a close much mistaken. The sabha started independent practice proval of the Planning Commis- where ye goode South Indian friend of MMM’s and she was Secretary who had earlier been classical art is performed. kind enough to invite him to in jeans and T-shirt and who from 2011. He does free legal sion and restore the OSR land to Sometimes he goes to spots her concert. And so MMM had now changed into a bro- counselling services for needy its original position. where not so goode South went. caded Indian suit came on to people and also conducts free Is there any penalising of the en- Indian classical art is also The programme was sche- stage to read out the curricu- medical camps for the economi- croachers home owners / viola- performed but that is neither duled to begin at 7.00pm. A lum vitae of the artistes. This cally weaker section. He talks to tors? here nor there. mini blizzard was blowing out- was of course largely down- M. Rajini and R. , and Yes. The Tamil Nadu Town Most of these performances side the venue, but in the audi- loaded from the internet and enlightens readers on OSR, the and Country Planning Act follow a standard pattern and torium foyer all was warmth to it was added some extem- rights of residents in a colony, 1971 contemplates restoration by that MMM does not refer to and gaiety. The best and bright- pore material from the and the norms to fight against of OSR land to the original the concert format, which is est in computer land were Secretary’s fertile imagination. encroachment. state. If the illegal occupants fail pretty much a given. He al- present. You could not have All this lasted ten minutes and What is OSR? to comply within the period ludes to the way such program- moved a bit without running the concert then began. OSR stands for Open Space specified in the demolition or- mes are conducted. In most into an emperor/empress of The music was fine for the Reservation. According to der, the Appropriate Planning places, barring a few locations embedded software or a mobile first ten minutes. But it was such as the Music Academy, technology maharajah/maha- too good to last. The violinist CMDA’s development and Authority may itself take such they rarely begin on time. The rani. Conversation varied – the was the first off the mark in control rules, 10 per cent of an measures and recover the cost audience will be made to wait humblest were discussing making eye contact with the area should be reserved as com- thereof from the offenders as at the entrance of the hall or sound technician. He wanted munal and recreational open arrears of Land Revenue. Fur- on occasion be allowed to take SHORT his mic volume to be incre- space before the actual approval ther, the offence committed is its seats and then while away ased. The chief percussionist of any layout under the provi- to be treated as a continuing time for ages before the artiste ’N’ was next. The singer contin- sions of Town and Country one, till the offending structure of the day makes his/her ap- ued singing – but only till the Planning Act. is demolished. pearance and begins the con- SNAPPY end of the first piece. At the What is the significance of this? What is the ruling of the Courts cert. Once the music starts, a end of it, the sound man, who With large scale rural exodus on the inaction of the Public Au- sideshow of sorts will also com- about how they fixed a bug in a had no doubt fiddled with and rapid urbanization, open thority? mence – this being a running code even as the middle rung some controls, managed to battle between the artistes on talked of stock options. In a shut off all the feedback moni- spaces become a necessity not a G The Chennai Corporation stage and the man who is in refined corner were a few who tors and so the chief performer mere amenity. It not only serves and The Chennai Metropolitan chatted about multiple levels of as lung space but also meets the Development Authority charge of the sound. Every ar- could not hear a word of what tiste, including the person funding and IPOs. In short, the she was singing. The necessary commercial and recreational re- (CMDA) have failed to take strumming the pitch, will be- atmosphere was far removed adjustments took another 15 quirements of the inhabitants. proper and effective steps to halt gin gesticulating and demand- from our own December sea- minutes. The music resumed In modern planning and devel- such unauthorised develop- ing through signs and gestures son sabha-s. but even after that the inter- opment, it occupies an impor- ments and no follow-up action that the mic closest to them be actions with the mic man tant place in social ecology. No was taken. The Government, increased in volume while that The Carnatic code continued. town planner would prepare a which has administrative con- of all other artistes be brought If you took heart at the fact blueprint without resourcing trol over these authorities, is ac- down as far as possible. In fact ut how strongly adhering that the person strumming the open space. Town planning de- tually aiding and abetting the if each of the performers had Bto tradition we are as a pitch had remained silent after velopment acts of different violators. The Supreme Court of his/her way, everyone else on people became more than all, it was because there was no States require even private India has directed the Govern- stage would at best be a mime manifest within a few minutes. person strumming the pitch. artiste. This ongoing battle for Seven o’clock came and went This being the software capi- house owners to have open ment of Tamil Nadu and other and there was no sign of the spaces in front and back for authorities to take effective supremacy usually subsides by tal, a gadget was assigned the around half time. concert beginning. The crowd task. The sound man was spa- lawn and fresh air. measures to check at the root milled around the auditorium level. But hold it just there. In red of at least one more level Can land specified for public pur- case you thought this is when door and some enthusiasts of interaction that way. Half- pose be used for any other pur- G This mess is due to the in effi- people like MMM sit back, re- formed a queue. At around way through the concert, pose? ciency, callousness and the fai- lax and enjoy the music you 7.15 a rather hassled volunteer which by the way was of a high The Apex Court and the lure of the statutory functionar- are much mistaken. For mid- announced that all was well standard, peace was esta- Madras High Court, in numer- ies to perform their obligation way through the concert is and that the concert would be- blished with the sound man ous cases, has held that the under the Act; it is high time when the Sabha secretary will gin in five minutes. The reason and everyone focused on the open space earmarked for pub- that remedial measure was waddle on to stage, grab a mic for the delay he said was the music. But not for long. lic purpose cannot be altered. taken up by the State. and begin giving a speech. This late handing over of the hall to the organisers and so the Can the Corporation claim G The number of unauthorised will usually have two parts – Tailpiece ownership of the OSR land constructions increase manifold the first being a wholly unnec- artistes needed time for doing essary reading of the artiste’s their sound checks. ust as the concert reached a gifted to them for development primarily due to lack of respon- This pleased MMM no end. cruising stage the Secretary of a park or play ground? sibility shown by statutory au- profile, normally cribbed from J some completely erroneous Such wonderful professional- was back. He had some an- As held by the Supreme thorities, who deliberately turn ism he thought to himself. The nouncements to make, he Court Directive, the answer is a blind eye to such violators, source on the world wide web. The second half will be an ap- concert was going to be a plea- said, and went on to make ‘No’. The space transferred to even though they are vested peal on behalf of the sabha and sure he reflected. No battles them. The performance, he the local body, through a gift with sufficient powers to launch how it would be able to build with sound technicians during said, was organised in aid of a deed, shall be used for beneficial criminal prosecution against an auditorium for itself if only the performance, he thought. temple fund. It was the dear- and enjoyment of the residents the violators. audiences could see their way MMM also mentally congratu- est wish of the organisers, he said, that a temple be built in of the colony. The local body G The State Government and to loosening their purse lated the musically inclined for would only be the custodian of the concerned authorities are strings. MMM has often won- forming a queue so that they this computer-loka and if only the land and cannot claim to be required to act diligently and dered whether it would not be could enter the venue in an the audience would loosen its the owner. prevent recurrence of such kind a more befitting ambition for organised fashion. Back in In- purse strings… these sabha-s to get a good dia, reflected MMM, all hell MMM came away with a What are the duties of the custo- of unlawful activity in future feeling that all that was miss- dian of the OSR land? and deal with the violators with sound technician on board. would break lose the moment the doors opened. ing was a sabha canteen. But The mandatory duty of the an iron hand. Be that as it may. Nothing is really going to change these The five minutes stretched he need not have worried. In public authority is to maintain G In the landmark T’Nagar sabha-s and the way they oper- to another 15 and it was only the foyer was a man selling the open space and to put it to Usman Road’ case, the Madras at around 7.35 that the doors pre-packed dinners in plastic use for the purpose for which it High Court directed the Gov- ate, at least not in India. MMM being aware of such organisa- were opened. This was pre- trays. MMM’s good lady was earmarked and for the ben- ernment and authorities con- tions now existing overseas ceded by a couple of the volun- bought one and later declared efit of the residents of the colony cerned to file an affidavit justify- hoped that these were run on teers giving each other high that, like the music, it was top only. If the OSR land is en- ing their inaction all these years. better lines. After all, sitting on fives – these being for the suc- class. The Carnatic tradition croached in and developed with S. Srinivasan can be con- their boards would be software cessful completion of the lives on. illegal construction etc., the tacted at 97910 19450 – (Cour- czars, technical potentates and sound tests. Once the door – MMM public authority has been em- tesy: Adyar Times.) April 1-15, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 3

help of “helpful labourers” is a moot question. For example, the stretch from AVM Avenue 2nd Main Road via St John’s School up to Flood learning Bone-rattlers through - krishnan Salai has about 12 t was good to be back to get down to processing the 250 per day as parking charges he Mylapore walkway I home after The Flood. The claim for the car insurance for cars towed away. But why speed breakers of various levels electricity had been restored first. On informing the garage, did they tow them away when T (MM, March 16th) is not and at very short to medium dis- the only problem created by the and the phones were working. the tow truck came promptly. there were not enough me- tances (particularly at the en- We even had someone come The two front tyres were mer- chanics to work on them and so-called authorities who trance to the school men- should be maintaining and and collect our names for cilessly immobilised with locks why did they not inform car tioned) with sewage water ooz- compensation from the gov- and the huge fork lifted only owners before towing their monitoring our roads and side- ing out from a broken crevice ernment for the loss suffered, the front half of the car to tow cars away? I wondered to walks to ensure the comfort of on the road that adds to the which of course never came! it away. I objected, on behalf whom I should address these the public. misery of users. Everybody was feeling good. of the car, to this mistreat- questions – neither the car Instead of looking the other Chennai is famous for its “Chennaiites had handled the ment. I asked why the car dealer nor the insurance com- way, they should be looking at roads without pavements; now crisis in an exemplary fash- could not be taken atop the pany personnel picked up the ion,” “see the spirit of tow truck, which was empty. I phone! Slowly it sank in – it the speed-breakers that come it is gaining the status of a city up at random overnight at a dis- Chennai,” etc. You had to ad- was told that space was re- was not going to be easy and a with roads which are them- mit the public had done a great served only for the VIP cat- long, difficult road lay ahead. tance of five to ten steps! They selves like speed-breakers with only end up breaking and rat- job of rescuing people, provid- egory of cars – Mercedes, The employees of the car additional bumps called speed ing food, water, shelter and BMW, Audi, etc. I had to dealer and the insurance com- tling the bones of the two- breakers on which the leaders’ other essentials. swallow the implied insult. panies were overworked and wheeler riders. Whether they posters and banners stand with It was now time to assess After a week the newspa- drowning in a sea of claims. serve the purpose for which benign smiles on their faces! the damage and take action. A pers broke the news that com- They themselves were not they were created overnight major inconvenience was panies were charging any- sure how to handle a crisis of (mostly by the locals with the Kanchana Ravi damage to the car; so I decided where between Rupees 150 to this magnitude. kanchanarravi2372gmail.com The estimate for repair was almost equal to insured value, with no guarantee that it would be restored to its origi- Autonomy before monotony nal condition – a not-so-subtle pressure to go for total loss. I recently read an article wherein Rev. Xavier Alphonse, former lenge of the Autonomous College (1976). Obviously this idea had was told very casually that de- IPrincipal of Loyola College (Madras) and now in retirement in been fermenting in John’s mind for many years and he could possi- claring the car a total loss St Joseph’s College (Tiruchi), lamented that no significant progress bly share this with another equally liberated thinker, the late would get me about 60 per- cent of the insured value. I just has been made on the front of autonomous colleges in the last few Malcolm S. Adiseshiah, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Univer- did not understand the logic. years. I have not been following this aspect of Indian education for sity of Madras. It so happened that Adiseshiah could suggest that Then why state the insured several years now, since I no more belong to the system. Neverthe- idea to the managements of Loyola and Madras Christian Colleges value in the document? I was less, the lament of Rev. Alphonse brought a few aspects of college in Madras, and Lady Doak and American College in in desperately looking for some- autonomy to my mind, since I was one of those young lecturers the mid-1970s*, which were convinced to take up the challenge one to educate me on the nu- who was excitedly involved in the planning of autonomy for Loyola and work towards it earlier than John could promote the concept ances of negotiating with the College in the mid-1970s, under the leadership of the late Joseph in or elsewhere in Northern India. Malcolm Adiseshiah insurance company. Kuriakose, S.J., the then Principal. gets the full credit for bringing the concept to fruition, by convinc- A month went by and I was I had the good fortune of being in the close company of the late ing the principals of these institutions in Tamil Nadu, under the still clueless. I could not reach anyone from the insurance D. Shankar Narayan for several years, until I moved to Australia aegis of the . company. Then the break- for good. Shankar Narayan was the Additional Secretary of the The University Grants Commission, convinced of the concept, through happened – my sister- University Grants Commission in the 1970s. He officiated as the entrusted the responsibility to Shankar Narayan to develop it fur- in-law said that a relative of relieving Secretary of the UGC in the 1980s. After retiring from ther for launch. Shankar Narayan developed the blueprint (the my husband’s cousin is a sur- the UGC, he worked as Professor of Higher Education and Educa- guidelines) for the early experimenters: Loyola, Madras Christian, veyor. I clutched on to this tional Planning, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, until Lady Doak, and the American College*. What needs to be fac- piece of information like a his end. tored in is that the blueprint developed by Shankar Narayan in the drowning person clutching a Considerable confusion prevails today while referring to the ar- 1970s, the actual launch year being 1978, was just one-and-a-half straw. I called him and broke chitect of college autonomy. The concept in its entirety belongs to pages long, with a few generic points. When I had the opportunity the ice by explaining how I the late Vadekedath Varkey John (V. V. John, 1910-1991), who to interact with him closely, when he chaired a review committee was related to him. He was a surveyor for major projects was a Professor of English in the early years of his career and later a to assess Loyola’s performance as an autonomous college in 1988- and not for automobiles. My dynamic Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jodhpur (now 1989, I asked him how come the set of guidelines developed by him heart sank but I quickly recov- Narain Vyas University). For his brilliant, original thinking on this in 1970s was so very brief, whereas the one introduced by the UGC ered and requested if there concept, please read his vibrant book Freedom to Learn: The Chal- in 1988-1989 ran to several pages, with hair-splitting details simi- was any way he could help. He lar to the Indian Penal Code! Shankar Narayan answered me with was very courteous and prom- a smile and said: “The intent was to give freedom and not to cur- ised to find out through his tail.” That meant volumes to me then. I have no clue how these contacts how I could speed up CHENNAI HERITAGE guidelines are today; maybe they have become worse than a legal the claim process. By now it was over two months since No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, , Chennai 600 014 document. The Floods. When Rev. Nicholas Casimir Raj, S.J., was the Principal of I am already on your mailing list (Mailing List At last there seemed some Loyola, we convened in 1983 a five-day workshop inviting princi- hope of claim papers moving. No...... ) / I have just seen Madras Musings and pals and teachers from various operational autonomous colleges The signs came when my calls would like to receive it hereafter. (then only in the State of Tamil Nadu). At the workshop we were picked up by the Claims G I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for thrashed out significant outcomes; we disinterestedly analysed our Department. At the time of failures and successes. Close to 100 participants attended the work- writing this – that is three and Rs. 100 (Rupees One hundred) payable to CHENNAI shop, which included many discussion forums. General lectures in- half months after the floods – I HERITAGE, MADRAS, as subscription to Madras cluded inspirational presentations by V.V. John and Malcolm managed to get the full insured Musings for the year 2015-16. Adiseshiah. Casimir Raj brought out the proceedings as Five Years value. After this experience, I G of Autonomy (1984). As token of my support for the causes of heritage, now have my own four Maha- environment and a better city that Madras Musings I need to confess that by the time I left Loyola, in the late 1990s, vakyas: I could see that the spirit of innovation – the backbone of college espouses, I send Chennai Heritage an additional 1. Life is like Chennai roads – autonomy – was dwindling. People were becoming uninterested. you don’t know when you Rs...... (Rupees ...... ) Please In fact, Xavier Alphonse as the Principal of Loyola, playing on will hit a speed breaker. keep/put me on your mailing list. words remarked, “Autonomy has turned into monotony.” 2. Never take anything at Name : ...... It would indeed be good if a comprehensive evaluation of this face-value – even legal concept is done, given that many institutions across the nation documents. Address: ...... have taken this challenge on. Has any progress been achieved? If 3. In modern times, family is ...... yes, how, and what mechanisms have been used? John dreamt that those who are there for you during a crisis...... autonomous colleges will one day become universities by their own 4. Finally and most impor- rights. Is this still a possibility? tantly – remember, this too ...... Anantanarayanan Raman will pass. All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’. DD/Cheque should be ([email protected]) * – Lalitha Ramachander sent by Speed Post only. I may have missed a few other names; I seek readers’ generosity of forgiveness at this instance. [email protected] 4 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2016 April 1-15, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 5

take a window seat and track the Lakes of Madras – 4 lakes (Hopefully they won’t dry up too fast). Lakes, I discovered, while Some rare working on this article can also be used to settle scores. As we More lakes were driving around in search of the Ayanambakkam tank I saw sightings a steadily growing landfill with pigs, cows and even a little girl astern Marsh Harrier at scrounging around in the muck. E Nayapakkam Grasslands, than thought of As we clicked a picture, ,a local Chennai, on February 13 by joined us and filled us in on the Gnanaskandan. and Team – the ur last trip in search of the story of two landowners who Olakes of Chennai, took us to first ever confirmed record for owned neighbouring plots with a !! eri in Iyyappan Nagar, right waterbody in between. The game in the middle of a residential area bor- plan of the usurper was to eri. eri. dered by Karthikeyapuram Third Street/ annexe (“lock”) the neighbour’s Erikkarai Street on the other side. The croachment when compared to like. We wound our way along taken on such picnics any kekkurengala, illai en peyar plot by converting the waterbody on February 20 by Vikas Madhav water has the usual suspects – mineral the Periathopu Lake which is fur- Manali and Ennore and finally more?). Sholavaram eri (located kekkurengala?” Are you asking for into a landfill. water bottles ( they are really the bane of ther down the road. An over- reached the point where the on Bungalow Road in the name of the eri or my name?) and team – first ever record for I set out wanting to cover ev- Chennai City. our environment) and plastic carry bags – growth of weeds and a border at flows into Taluk, District) is a helped me put a name to. It is ery single lake in the city but as I floating it That said, there is a decent the far end, provided in keeping the and the Bay of rainfed reservoir from where wa- also in the Villivakkam area that got on I realised that was a tad Backyard bird count walkway and park benches courtesy the with current trends by vaastu- Bengal. ter is drawn for supply to we found the largish Thazham- too ambitious, given constraints Lions Club of Madipakkam. coloured buildings in blue, I would never have forgiven Chennai city via Lake bakkam eri where work was go- During the great Backyard of time, distance and space. So I Bird Count and Campus, Bird eri, which can be ac- Madipakkam eri. mauve, mango yellow, pista myself if I had not visited the through canals. The reservoir ing on – huge pipes et al. It was had to content myself with the cessed from the Third Main Road, is a vi- green etc, makes you want to Sholavaram or Chozhavaram eri. dates to the 1800’s. probably a sweet-smelling lake Count during February the fol- ones that I saw and even if each lowing sightings were made. tal water body in the neighbourhood. It turn away. The area is known also for an Ever since I started looking (hence the name), I mused. reader discovers one new lake measures around 46 acres (down from 86 Other water bodies like the erstwhile race track which had for the city’s lakes, I have becom- Again, as I was returning from A bulky harrier very close in Overall, 339 species sighted: through this series it would have size to the Western Marsh fe- 1486 checklists were submitted acres in the past). Like many other parts Vattaamani Kulam, also over- been levelled from a World War ing a changed person. The slight- Pune by air recently, I looked been worth the effort. In my of Chennai, this was once an important grown with weeds, and the II air strip. Beautiful, serene and est hint of water sets me off and specifically for waterbodies as male. Got the ID confirmed by a from Tamil Nadu, second only to opinion, ours was a lake city once few other birders as well. When . agricultural area and the water from the water-logged banana plantations vast, Sholavaram eri is one of the that is how I discovered the the plane began its descent into upon a time. Time we saved lake (Pachamalai hill serves as a source in give you an idea of largest lakes in Chennai and Satyanagar Lake in Villivakkam Chennai and, believe you me, I we had ticked Montagu’s, Pallid, 104 species were sighted in what’s left of it and treated it Western Marsh and Pied Harri- Chennai, mainly in Na- for the lake) was used for irrigation. Back what Madhavaram and its would make for a perfect picnic which an amused policeman counted six. So the next time with the respect that it deserves. neighbourhood must have been spot (Why aren’t schoolchildren (who queried “Eri peyar you are flying in to Chennai do ers from Chennai, Hen Harrier tional Park (71), Vedanthangal (Concluded) was the only one left that we (70), (40), G by Sudha Umashanker could expect. But from nowhere, (55) and Adyar an Eastern Marsh Harrier male Estuary (25). Chitlapakkam eri. landed up here. As it matched then, groundwater could be when you get on to the main Getting to Madhavaram past closely an immature Pied Harrier Campus bird count tapped at a depth of five to ten road and clamber up the slope the Shoe House and all the (m) / adult Pied Harrier (f), we 50 Tamil Nadu registered of feet. The ready availability of you realise it has narrowed down Christian institutions (schools had to carefully look at each of which 20 were from Chennai. water, growth in housing and in parts and only deceptively and hospitals started by mission- the identification pointers to The participating campuses from lack of underground drainage in looks small. aries) you come to Kamarajar eliminate the rest and confirm it Chennai were Loyola College, some areas around the lake have While in we Salai, MMDA 2nd Main, as an Eastern Marsh Harrier. Queen Mary’s College, Madras contributed to its degradation. found the South Madras Periya Mathur. The Madhavaram eri Tickell’s Thrush at Guindy Veterinary College, University of Even so, grey herons and other eri. One part of it is known as the which can be seen from here is a National Park, Chennai, on Madras – Guindy Campus, IIT- migratory winged visitors, like Chitteri, south of Thiruneer- fairly large eri fringed with palm January 30, by Vikas Madhav Madras, Dharmambal Polytech- pelicans, can be spotted here. malai. We caught a glimpse of trees and not too much of en- and Team – first ever record for nic, SRM University, Anna Uni- The Chitlapakkam eri has a few this waterbody from the Vilinjambakkam Lake. Periathopu Lake. Sholavaram eri. Chennai. versity, Stella Maris College, social activists working for its Thiruneermalai Main Road, Theosophical Society (TS), The protection. What is sad is that Nagalkeni, a few kilometres not. How lucky! cyclewallah did not know that the School-KFI, Good Earth School, It is common in any slim man’s wife belonging to the there is a humongous landfill short of the Thiruneermalai city – be it Chennai, Post Graduate Institute in Ani- bang next to it, a major source of temple. Brimming with water, it ‘Gunduthva’ is not ‘gunduthva’ brigade was just be- mal Sciences, Women’s Chris- or Madurai hind him. In a fleeting moment, concern. The activists are taking is one of the larger lakes of – for women to lose she caught hold of him and began tian College, Madras Christian this up with the National Green Chennai . weight. Yes, the weight beating him black and blue. The College, Sri Ramachandra Medi- Tribunal. A newspaper reading I was reminded of the young of the chain they wear. fortunate or unfortunate husband cal College, Sri Venkateswara room in memory of former Presi- man who took a selfie on a rail- State Policy Either in the morning College of Engineering (SVCE), started shouting, “Leave him, dent of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam way track when I got near the hen I saw actress Sha- about obesity all over the world. I Obesity is bad for health, they while drawing kolam in poor man. The chain is safe on Al-Qamar Academy, Kalak- and a convenient walkway make Vilinjambakkam Lake, for it can Wbana Azmi and other know, however, obese people are say, particularly for the heart and front of the house or in my neck. Let go of the poor fel- shetra and Sishya. this lake a social hub. be viewed from the Madras- celebrities who appeared on my not worried about this. Only those the kidneys. Then why should one the evening while return- low!” The first-time offender col- The top 5 sightings of species television screen the other day to who are slim as a gourd be obese? ing from office or shop- lected his cycle and ran. I do not “I saw a bird which caught my Lakes come in all sizes. Look- Tiruttani High Road close to the ping. When the chain were IIT-Madras (70), The ing at the Kizhkattalai lake, off railway line. You have to crane speak on Anti-Obesity Day, I worry about obese people. The national family health sur- know whether the poor husband eye. It was an unusually School-KFI (30), Kalakshetra snatcher takes away only received the rest of the blows af- Erikkarai Main Road, Rajendra your neck and peer over the thought it was also some kind of I read somewhere, sometime vey done recently shows that coloured, Mynah-sized bird on (38), Sishya (38) and Theo- intolerance. Intolerance towards ago, that an Indian doctor in the Punjab is the first in the country the gold, he does not take famine in this country is because ter reaching home for being care- Nagar, from the Perumal temple track to catch a glimpse of the away the extra pound of flesh in of people like you.” We do not less. the track at Guindy National sophical Society (38). some people being obese. In my U.S., Dr. Ruchi Mathur in his re- in obesity. I thought Tamil Nadu Park. The bird looked grey from end might give you the impres- lake. It does not have much wa- wild imagination, it sounded search found out whether one would be second. No. It is hiding the neck region. If the loser chases know whether the slim man got a There are, therefore, advan- * * * sion that it is a small lake but ter at present. something like ‘Gunduthva’. ‘Be- would become obese or not. When in fourth place in the list, which the snatcher for about two kilome- reply or a kick. tages in having an obese wife in afar and had a yellow bill. On As part of the Asian Water- come slim or else…!’ both hydrogen and methane gas anyone, including this CBI, could ters or more, she may lose some They say it is hereditary to be instances like this. Bridegrooms closer approach, the bird dashed bird Census 2016, a Madras Let me, at the outset, clarify leave the body, it will indicate the easily find out. But a piece of con- weight. But running one day alone obese. Grandfather, father and in search of suitable girls should into the thickets. I thought it was Naturalists’ Society team visited that ‘Gunduthva’ has nothing to fat content through the body mass solation to Tamil Nadu is that will not help. It is not advisable to son. In of the 1950s not, therefore, reject obese girls the Eurasian Black Bird. Later I Lake (SHAR Road) in do with Hinduthva; it is only a index. The right place for genera- only 20 per cent of them are wear a new chain every day and and 60s, there was one Tun Tun, outright. They may become sav- got the identification confirmed January. The sightings included new word I coined for obesity. tion of methane is the gastro-in- obese; 25 per cent of Tamil Nadu lose it the same day to prove chas- a huge woman who was a comedi- iours when men are in danger. ing helps reduce body weight. It is from my grandfather and men- Spot-billed ducks, Common This is not against any religion, testinal path. The micro mecha- women are obese. enne. Viewers would laugh at the Election year is fast approach- tor, Prof. Reginald Victor of Teals, Northern Shovellers, caste or creed. This is meant to nism in the digestive path converts Obesity clinics advise men and not economically viable and is cer- very sight of the actress. ing. Whatever the voters de- tainly a costly proposition. I do not know whether being mand, they will get from the gov- Oman, as a Tickell’s Thrush. Garganeys, Little Ringed Plovers, help those who are obese and of- the food into energy needed for women belonging to the “The Tickell’s Thrush is a Kentish Plovers, Black-winged fer them advice not to carry so the body, says Dr. Ruchi Mathur. ‘Gunduthva’ brigade what they A new gym has been opened in obese is good or bad from the ernment. People belonging to much weight throughout their When M. Smithil increases enor- should observe or do. One our locality. It has advertised that health point of view. But in one Gunduthva – I mean people who wintering specie that has been Stilts, Wood Sandpipers, Marsh lives. mously, the level goes above the woman, who was originally 90 ki- there will be 25 per cent and 50 way, it helps. Let me narrate an are obese – can form an associa- recorded in Bangalore and Rishi Sandpipers, a lone Temminck’s “What if I am obese? How average and causes obesity, los, lost 35 kilos through bariatric percent discount for those who incident I witnessed. tion, a kind of vote bank, and de- Valley. Stint, Little Stints, Coots, Pheas- does it bother you?” may be ques- according to this Los Angeles surgery! join the gym. It was not clear A slim man was walking in the mand several concessions like “Its Behaviour: it was shy and ant-tailed Jacanas and Streaked tions large-sized people may ask. based doctor. Like the alcohol test Everybody knows how the whether if the person loses 25 per- morning with his ‘Minor’ chain free bariatric surgeries, double stayed on the path for a very Baya. The highlight of the survey I am not prepared to engage in a done by the traffic police at nights, singer looked a cent weight, he would be given 25 glittering between his neck and the quantity of ration articles, etc. short interval. Then disappeared percent discount. was the sighting of a group of 7- fight with them. I care for my the person has to blow into an couple of years ago. Now he looks the shirt collar. A tempted cyclist The rulers will definitely grant into dense bushes and was not 10 Asian Pied Starlings from a There is a story. Once, a slim rider went past him and snatched these boons. bones and do not indulge in un- instrument and the result is slim and handsome. Because of traceable.” distance of about 250 metres man looking at an obese man said, at his gold chain. The slim man Charukesi necessary bones of contention. known instantly, whether he will this, he gets the advantage of free Crested Serpent Eagle at from the SHAR Road. – (Cour- There is serious concern become obese or not! publicity, whether he performs or “People will think the reason for shouted and caught him. The Kizhkattalai eri. , Chennai tesy: MNS Bulletin.) 6 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2016 Sixty years

(Current Affairs questions are from the period March 1st to 15th. Questions 11 to 20 per- a bilingual writer tain to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.) 1. Which Hindi actor, known for harukesi is the name of a knowledge and began writing ous short story collection titled Viswanathan Subramanian his patriotic films, has been con- Cbeautiful ragam in Carna- reviews.” Nagai. This is being translated (Charukesi). ferred the Dadasaheb Phalke tic music. It is also the pen When did this Tamil writer into English by C.G. Rishikesh profusely apologise for a missed Award for 2015? name of Viswanathan Subra- switch to writing in English as and is being released at a func- appointment the previous day 2. In Forbes magazine’s 30th annual manian, the well-known, bilin- well? tion to be held on April 16th in but also walked with him up to list of the world’s richest people, gual author, music/dance critic, “During my stint with Pfizer Chennai. His recent book who is the richest Indian? the door to see him off, the end translator and columnist. in Ahmadabad between 1965 Mudhal Manmohan The United Nations Develop- of the interview. 3. This multi-dimensional wri- and ’70, I contributed a few ar- Singh Varai of collection of ar- ment Programme (UNDP) has sus- Born into a big family, ter who is in his 60th year of ticles to the Company’s house ticles from different Deepavali pended which high-profile, glamor- Charukesi was the second son writing had his first article pub- magazine Crucible and they malar-s and other special issues ous sportswoman as a goodwill am- in the family. After schooling in lished in the then popular were well received. That gave was released in February in Ma- bassador after she tested positive Salem, he got a D.Com from the children‘s magazine Kannan in me the confidence to write in laysia by Kalaignan Pathippa- for a banned substance in January? Indian Merchants Chamber the issue dated April 15, 1955, English. When I returned to kam, Chennai. Among the 4. Htin Kyaw has become the first and in 1960 joined Pfizer Ltd, civilian president of which of when he was just 17 years old. Madras, I tried my hand at writ- books published by Vikatan the multinational pharmaceuti- India’s neighbours which has had The favourable response and ing for the Sunday supplement Publications, his book on cal company, in Chennai. He 53 years of military rule? the princely sum of Rs. 5/- he re- of . Two of my ar- Kanchi Mahaswami, based on retired as the Officer-in-Charge 5. Which team won the latest edi- ceived for the one-page article, ticles got published. Later, the the actual experiences of devo- of the Chennai Depot of the tion of the Santosh Trophy, the besides the encouragement he editor of Weekend Express, S. tees, is in its sixth edition. His Company in 1998. All through symbol of national supremacy in got from the editor, ‘Aarvi’, Viswanathan, gave me an op- travelogue Cheena Anubhavan- his working career he wrote as a football? motivated him to continue portunity to review Tamil books gal was for serialised in Kalki and hobby. He became a full-time 6. Ray Tomlinson, a legend in the writing articles and stories then brought out as a book. world of the Internet, passed away writer after his retirement. A aimed at children. In his early G Among the unforgettable recently. What is his most impor- by R.V. Rajan prolific writer, he continues to years, he specialised in writing experiences he encountered in tant contribution to the digital pound away on his PC, both in humour-based articles on a va- life as a writer, Charukesi recalls world? English and Tamil, for at least 4 riety of topics, which were pub- in English. I was also encour- his visit to UP along with pho- 7. What are the International Fi- to 6 hours every day, churning lished by Kannan and Kalkandu. aged to do interviews. Then tographer Yoga to do features nance Corporation’s bonds, out articles/stories. At present Charukesi fondly remembers K.S. of the Economic for Kalki on the elections in launched recently to mobilise Rs. he contributes a weekly column 30 crore from Japanese retail inves- the encouragement he received Times offered me opportunities 1984. On the way to Delhi, to Dinamani, apart from writing tors to promote private sector de- from the legendary Tamilva- to write about the events and when the train stopped at for other publications. He velopment in India, called? nan, editor of Kalkandu, that personalities every week. The Bhopal station, Yoga felt a writes more than a dozen ar- 8. The Setu Bharatam project has popular youth-centric weekly. Hindu’s Friday Review Editor, burning sensation in his eyes. ticles/stories every month. been launched for which purpose? Once, when Charukesi at- Geetha Venkatramanan, also They also found a lot of passen- Charukesi, a septuagenarian 9. Which team won the third edi- tended a meeting in Salem at asked me to write not only mu- gers getting into the train with (he is 78), looks a serious per- tion of the Pro Kabaddi League re- which Tamilvanan was the sic reviews but also on other bandaged eyes. It was then that son, but his sense of humour in cently? speaker, he found that after the topics. Another editor who en- he learnt first-hand about the his writings is palpable. He also 10. In a major boost for AI, which meeting Tamilvanan had to couraged me was V. Ramna- Bhopal gas tragedy from the af- computer programme developed by packs a lot of energy in his thin, jump out of a rear window in rayan of Sruti. So while I was fected people and did a special Google DeepMind beat a human lean frame. A prolific writer, he the hall to escape the over-en- continuing to write stories and story for Kalki. champion in the ancient Chinese has written over 8000 articles thusiastic young persons who essays in Tamil, I wrote in En- Once, when he went to in- game Go? and a couple of hundred short were trying to mob him! glish as well. terview E.M.S. Namboodiripad, *** stories in the last six decades. A writer who was known for Charukesi‘s reputation as an the well-known Marxist leader, 11. Which political organisation “Walking keeps me his humorous essays in Tamil, able translator of books started he was told an anecdote about body’s daily is Viduthalai, estab- healthy,” says Charukesi. Charukesi had his first short with an assignment to translate him to illustrate his sense of lished in the 1930s? Tamizh Puthaga Nanbargal story published in Kalki weekly Sudha Murty’s three books from humour. EMS was known to 12. The first city to benefit from (Tamil Book Reader’s Forum) is in March 1960. Kalki’s editor K. English to Tamil. This was fol- stammer while speaking, When these conveniences, how many self- organising a function at TAG cleaning, smart e-toilets have been Rajendran encouraged him to lowed by many other assign- somebody asked EMS whether Centre in Chennai on April installed in Chennai recently? write on a variety of subjects, ments: the diplomat R. he always stammered, he 16th to felicitate Charukesi on 13. Which European country will including medicine, literature, Kannan’s voluminous book on quipped, “No, I only stammer completing 60 years as a writer. partner with India to develop painting, politics, theatre, ad- C.N. Annadurai which he whenever I speak.” Two of his recent books will be Coimbatore as a ‘smart city’? ministration, industry, etc. Not- found challenging as original Charukesi also remembers formally released at the func- 14. 22-year-old M. Swetha made ing his penchant for humour, quotations in Tamil from 112 the humility of Manmohan tion. news for becoming the State’s first Rajendran also encouraged him books had to be inserted in ap- Singh, the newly appointed Fi- engineering graduate from which to write political satire. While propriate passages! Equally nance Minister, in 1991, whom Feedback welcome on community? contributing to Kalki, he also challenging was Sathyamurti’s he had gone to interview for [email protected] or 15. Name the widow of the king of write short stories for other Letters in two volumes. Many Kalki. Not only did the Minister 9840391082 Sivaganga, Muthuvaduganatha other English to Tamil transla- Periyaudaiyathevar, who is now be- leading Tamil journals. To my question about why tions followed. He has also ing regarded as the first queen of translated eight books from OUR ADDRESSES Tamil origin to fight against the he chose ‘Charukesi‘ as his pen For matters regarding subscriptions, donations, non-receipt of British in India. name, he explained, “Initially I Tamil to English, including receipts etc.: CHENNAI HERITAGE, 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, 16. K. Ayyappan established which was writing in my given name, Guru Bhakti; Guru & the Dis- Westcott Road, Royapettah, Chennai 14. brand, synonymous with an accom- but my good friend ‘Vadoolan’ ciple and a few biographies. He paniment to a South Indian meal, said Viswanathan was a very won the ‘The Best Translator Madras Musings now has its own email ID. Letters to the editor in the 1920s? common name and suggested Award’ presented by Kalaimagal can be sent via email to [email protected]. Those 17. Which former Collector of Ma- the pen name. I was not even magazine and instituted by the who wish to intimate change of address can also do so provided dras, an Englishman buried in aware at the time that it was the Ka Sri Sri family, Ka Sri Sri him- the subscription number is quoted. For non-receipt of copies, Dindigul, founded the College of name of a popular raga!” Charu- self being an outstanding trans- change of address, and all other circulation matters: Madras Fort St. George in 1812? kesi never for a moment at the lator. Musings, C/o Lokavani Southern Printers Pvt. Ltd., 122, 18. What do the initials in Periyar’s time thought that one day he Charukesi’s own titles that Greames Road, Chennai 600 006. On editorial matters: The name stand for? would be asked to write music have been published, includes Editor, Madras Musings, No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott 19. In the 1860s, what cargo did reviews! Though he had no for- three collections of short stories Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014. ships like Arabella and Young Me- for children – Kakitha Padagu, No personal visits or telephone calls, please. Letters received will chanic carry from the USA to Ma- mal training in music, he picked Natpu Valarga and Oru Kilai be sent from these addresses every couple of days to the persons dras? up the knowledge over the Paravaigal, two collections of concerned and you will get an answer from them to your queries 20. On January 12, 1967, a shoot- years. “I used to attend three or humorous short stories, Thum- reasonably quickly. Strange as it may seem, if you adopt the ‘snail ing incident rocked Madras and the four concerts of Carnatic and country. Who shot whom? Hindustani music every week. malukku Kai Koduppom Iruma- mail’ approach, we will be able to help you faster and disappoint With the help of reference lukku Kural Koduppom and Oru you less. (Answers on page 8) books, I slowly picked up the Nayamaana Kadhal, and a seri- – THE EDITOR April 1-15, 2016 MADRAS MUSINGS 7 Valè, the news

t was Randor Guy who first Iput me in touch with ‘Film News’ (PG) Anandan in 2001. archivist I was then running a website – www.sangeetham.com – along number. He has all the photo- However, he was most happy to with classical singer Sanjay graphs ever taken in Tamil cin- help and said that if I gave him Subrahmanyan. This was dedi- ema, said Randor, and would be a fortnight’s notice each time I cated to Carnatic music and a one-stop solution to our prob- wanted a picture, he would among its many features was a lems. It was a landline and it trace it for me. serial by Randor Guy titled was next to impossible to get It was only after I came away ‘Classical Musicians in Tamil through to him as he was always that I realised I had not dis- Cinema’. The stories arrived ev- busy. I finally discovered that he cussed commercials with him. I ery fortnight from Randor with lived on Peter’s Road, just be- sent him a note a week later giv- regularity and were fascinating hind my office and so by the ing details of the picture I but we felt that visuals would simple expedient of camping at wanted and in it asked him make the impact even better. his doorstep, managed to meet about what he would charge. Those were days when the up with him. He was among the Sangeetham was run on a very world wide web had not yet be- pleasantest people I have ever tight budget and I hoped that come what it is today and we met. Ever affable, with his he would not be exorbitant. needed pictures desperately. trademark features – his red dot The reply came a week later. ‘Film News’ (PG) Anandan. Unfortunately, not many visu- of kumkumam, his round- The picture was ready, said als of people like Musiri Subra- necked shirt that was more like Anandan and rang off before I only to be told that the picture collection is and as to whether mania Iyer and Maharajapuram a kurta and his ever present could ask any questions. I sent was for free. Did I not know that it is at all catalogued. Only Viswanatha Iyer in films were in smile. He would be most happy my man to pick it up hoping he never charged magazines for Anandan would have known the public domain. to help with pictures, he said. that there would be an invoice his services, he asked? He in- which picture was from which For a while we used the stock But his collection was then in along with it. There was none. I cluded Sangeetham in the same film or who were the people in of the late T.V. Rangaswami the process of being acquired by made one more journey to category. I was really moved. It it. (Ragami) but this was soon ex- the Government and so he was Peter’s Road and waited for an was only much later that In today’s world of the hausted and it was then that not certain as to which photo- hour before he came. I asked Anandan gave much of his in- internet, with digital archives Randor gave me Anandan’s graphs still remained with him. him the all-important question formation and collection for available on the web and chan- free to whoever asked for it. He nels such as YouTube, a collec- also published statistics of tion such as that of Anandan each year and has diminished in value. But distributed them for free. still, most of what is up on these I lost touch with Anandan sites is thanks to him and most MM – 25 years & still after Sangeetham wound up of those uploading these pic- sometime in 2005. But I did tures rarely acknowledge him. hear that the Government ac- But we owe it to him that his going strong quired his collection of pictures collection is neatly catalogued for some figure and after much and is made available on display delay helped him in bringing and for use. He wanted it that out a compilation of his statis- way. (Continued from page 1) ter city and lamented about this occasion, we rededicate tics and visuals. This was, sadly, For the record, P.G. Anan- hundreds of civic issues – pot- ourselves to this city that we like any Government produc- dan acquired the prefix of ‘Film holes, drains, pavements, water care for, we are happy to live in impact on the Government, tion, a maze of data brought News’ as that was the publi- supply, power, traffic, pollution and are proud to take our name which continues to remain forth with no care or concern cation for which he worked for and environment. We do flat- after. True, our city may have oblivious of the need to protect for the way any interested long. Considered a walking ter ourselves in thinking that at changed its name but we are, these. But we do know that we reader could go through it. encyclopaedia of Tamil Cin- least some of our pleas have after all, proponents of heritage. have influenced thousands of There was some talk of how an ema, he was much sought been heard – that has been ac- And as long as the causes we residents of Chennai and made entire wing of the Film Cham- after by people associated with knowledged privately – and espouse remain, we will be them espouse these causes. ber building would be dedicated the . He passed some action has resulted. around to fight for them. Yes, sir How else can we explain the to his collection but that never away on March 21st, at the age Overall, it has been an ex- (and madam), we are in for the overwhelming number of materialised. He however never of 89. tremely satisfying 25 years. On long haul. Facebook groups dedicated to lost hope. I wonder where the – Sriram V Chennai’s heritage, the number of heritage walks that are hap- pening all the time, and the number of articles that appear in the daily media? Just twenty WAITING FOR THE RAIL LINK years back little of this existed. And thanks to our columns, several forgotten personalities (Continued from page 1) run chiefly along Whatever be the troubles of – would the upmarket office go- of our city have been brought to before moving into North connecting up, this merger is a ing commuter want to travel in light and their contributions re- environmental disaster, for it Chennai while the second will welcome move. This will ensure the battered MRTS coaches? membered. effectively occupies much of the be along High and that a form of integrated pas- The Metro wagons, on the Madras Week is another bed of the the Inner Ring Roads. It is senger transport exists along other hand, are the latest in happening that we can take within the city, thereby cutting therefore evident that if the the east coast, the centre (Anna technology. some credit for. Today, this is a off all chances of that water MRTS and Metro lines are to Salai) and the west Ultimately, both will need to month-long festival with hun- body being revived. It however, link up, they need to do so at St (Poonamallee High Road), the address issues of last mile con- dreds of events taking place enjoys the distinction of being Thomas Mount alone and three arterial routes along nectivity – the MRTS is an ab- across several parts of the city. India’s first elevated rail net- therefore much will depend on which there is much movement ject failure on this front while The Madras Musings lecture se- work. how the MRTS completes the of traffic. the Metro has held out a num- ries and the walks Chennai The Metro Rail, which is final phase of its planned route. Much will, however, depend ber of assurances that have not Heritage conducts have been partly operational, though There is no talk as yet of a link- on how soon we get the com- yet become reality. The inte- received extremely well and we much of it is still under execu- age at the northern end. This mon services going. There will grated system will succeed only are certain that they will con- tion, will when complete, it is will become essential and per- need to be integration of ticket- if it ensures a hassle-free ride for tinue and that Madras Week is envisaged, have five operational haps the best option would be a ing and, more importantly, its customers. It is to be hoped here to stay. lines. At present, work is ongo- feeder service between Chennai rationalisation of fares – Metro that the consultant who is be- It is not as though heritage is ing on two lines only – Beach and Fort Stations – the Rail is considered to be costly as ing appointed to study the the only aspect of our city that to the Airport former being on the MRTS compared to the subsidised merger will make this the most we have campaigned for. Over and St Thomas Mount to route while the latter is on the fares on MRTS. There is also a important aspect for consider- the years we have sought a bet- Chennai Central. The first will Metro route. wide difference in rolling stock ation. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS April 1-15, 2016

Know your Fort better G by Sriram V (Continued from page 1) is enough and more space opposite the Fort and cars can all be asked to move there after they have dropped off their important Till April 30: Stories of Architec- ture, an exhibition of paintings under their control. Some buildings under the ASI are perhaps the occupants. In these days of cell phones, summoning a chauffeur- driven car is not a difficult task. Those without drivers can walk inspired by architecture featur- best maintained and remain true to their historicity, but that can- ing Dhanushkodi, Ritendra Roy, not be said of all. Certainly most of the structures in St Thomas across the road to the Fort after they park their cars and, in the Anjali Reddy, Chelapathi Rao Street, including Last House, are in a shocking state of disrepair process, become aware of the difficulties the average pedestrian and Lalit Sharma. This collec- while some such as Arthur Wellesley’s house and the Chaplain’s faces when coming in. The Army and Navy for their part can paint tion has been edited giving the house, have collapsed altogether. What makes the loss doubly sad their buildings and take up some basic maintenance on them. As curation a direction of ‘The is that many of these edifices were standing till a couple of decades for the ASI, it can move faster – clearing the vegetation, taking up Structure’ as the primary focus urgent repair work, and restoring what has collapsed. It can also (at Sandy’s, & ago, when technology to save them certainly existed. It is sheer Sandy’s, ) inaction that caused their decay and ultimate fall. keep the moat clear of all the debris that is currently making its way into it. Till April 25: Colour-Space- Elsewhere, those in charge of what they own continue to make Action, an exhibition of paint- ings by John Tun Sein. (at changes in whatever fashion they feel is right. The ASI is rarely What can the general public do? For a start they can begin visiting the Fort more frequently and in larger numbers. There is, Apparao Galleries, The Leela consulted. We have already seen the story behind the Namakkal Palace) Kavignar Maligai’s construction. But that was not the first in- unfortunately, a misconception that the place is out of bounds for visitors. This is not true. Anyone, and this includes people of all Till April 10: Distant Views- stance. Even in the 1950s, the State Government had thought it Vibrant Hues by Madhukar fit to build a new secretariat that completely blocked off the rather nationalities, can walk in after signing in the register kept at the Maithani. Landscapes in vivid magnificent rear view of the old Assembly building. The construc- entrance and being checked by a metal detector and a bag scan. jewel-like colours in semi tion had one redeeming feature that the Namakkal Kavignar There is no entrance fee for the Fort at large’ the Museum alone abstract forms on large dramatic canvases. (at Apparao Galleries) Maligai did not – it was of the same height and width as the older requires tickets which can be bought at the counter. It must be building fronting it and so did not stick out like a sore thumb. A kept in mind that the museum is closed on Fridays and that the Workshops couple of years ago, the Army began a lot of civil work in the church cannot be visited during service, especially on Sunday April 2 & 3: Photography mornings. Otherwise, the Fort is open on all days. A large number April 9 & 10: Watercolour tech- neighbourhood of the King’s Barracks, using heavy-duty equip- niques ment to drill the ground. The ASI protested mildly and the matter of footfalls in the Fort will ensure that the Government becomes more aware about the necessity to maintain the place. It will also April 16 & 17: Kalamkari block- was reported widely in the press after which the work appeared to printing on stoles mean that we as a people care for our heritage. have been suspended. The Army has also declared its intention to April 16: Printmaking (age 8 to 13 move out of the Fort, but at present it is being remarkably slow The Fort may have started out as a colonial enterprise but let us years) about it. not forget that our elected Governments have been functioning (at DakshinaChitra Art Gallery, for from here since 1947 and even prior to that, since 1921, we have details: 9841436149) Not that any move from the Fort is essentially to its good. We had provincial governments run by Indians in place here. Many have the not so long past instance of the State Government build- landmark legislations have been enacted in this precinct and ing itself a swank new secretariat on Anna Salai/Mount Road and that by itself is sufficient reason for ensuring its maintenance and moving over. It was then widely perceived that the parts of the continuity. Ultimately, it depends on we, the people. Let us strive MADRAS MUSINGS Fort it occupied would be handed over to the ASI but that was not to preserve our heritage and make it available for future genera- ON THE WEB to be. The Institute of Tamil Studies moved in and during the brief tions. To reach out to as many period that it was in occupation did untold damage by dragging Concluded steel cupboards that it had brought all along the wooden floor of readers as possible who the erstwhile Assembly building. Soon thereafter the Government share our keen interest in changed and the party that came to power moved back into Fort Madras that is Chennai, St George. The new Government made a half-hearted attempt at Answers to Quiz and in response to requests trying to get World Heritage status for the Fort but this failed from many well-wishers – chiefly because the place is in no position to conform to the strin- 1. Manoj Kumar; 2. Mukesh Ambani; 3. Maria Sharapova; 4. Myanmar; 5. Services; 6. Inventor of E-mail and who picked @ sym- especially from outside gent norms that are stipulated for such accreditation. bol for addresses; 7. Uridashi Masala Bonds (Japanese bonds); 8. To Chennai and abroad who It is not really necessary that the Fort has to become a ghostly make all National highways free of railway crossings by 2019; 9. Patna receive their postal copies museum. It is perhaps better off being occupied and being treated Pirates; 10. AlphaGo. very late – for an online as a living entity. But what is necessary is that those in occupation * * * edition. Madras Musings is recognise the historic value of where they work from and take pride 11. Dravidar Kazhagam; 12. 183; 13. Germany; 14. Narikuravars; now on the web at in it. Certainly, the State Government can impose a blanket ban 15. Rani Velu Nachiyar; 16. Ambika appalams; 17. Francis Whyte www.madrasmusings.com on pasting posters, tying banners and rampantly littering the Fort. Ellis; 18. Erode Venkata; 19. Ice, on behalf of the Tudor Company; It can impose discipline in the matter of car parking – there 20. M.R. Radha shot MGR. THE EDITOR

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