Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/18-20 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India under R.N.I. 53640/91 Licence No. TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-506/18-20 Publication: 1st & 16th of every month Rs. 5 per copy (Annual Subscription: Rs. 100/-) INSIDE  Short ‘N’ Snappy  A retail chain different  A political shootout  The Indo-Anglians  All about Jallikattu

WE CARE FOR MADRAS THAT IS CHENNAI Vol. XXVIII No. 20 February 1-15, 2019 Why can’t ASI tend the Fort better?

 by The Editor

oing to Fort St. George has tained area. The space is not the side of each building and as Gbecome an increasingly only walker-friendly but also for the museum that occupies depressing experience. The has wheelchair facility, albeit the Residency building itself, it maintenance of the place leaves just one, for those who cannot is a model of what such a facility much to be desired and it is move around by themselves. ought to be – in terms of clean- The Baillie Ground Gate to The Residency, Lucknow, demonstrates the care the really a surprise that the various The toilets are extremely clean liness, the courtesy of the staff ASI had taken with preservation of heritage here. Government departments that and there is not a single scrap and the information provided. have – they are solely under well. The shrine is one that sees operate from here should be so of paper lying around. A group And all of this provided by the the control of the ASI and so active worship and is therefore blind to their shabby surround- of sweepers and gardeners is ASI! the organisation does not have subject to massive numbers of ings. Paper cups (we are now forever on the move, clearing There are, of course, certain to contend with conflicting pilgrim footfalls. Yet is main- a no-plastics State) abound, up whatever little makes its advantages that locations such interests. But what holds good tained very well indeed and is as does general litter. Several way into the place. There are as Mamallapuram, the Resi- for Fort St George is true for a joy to go around. The Fort heritage buildings that are now explanatory plaques put up by dency and the Karnataka sites the Big Temple at Thanjavur as (Continued on page 3) mere hollow shells, serve as convenient places to throw garbage into and it is also a fa- miliar sight to see men zipping their trousers and emerging from these hallowed structures. And so they double up as toilets Issues to resolve in war against as well. The Archaeological Survey of India, which, ideally he Tamil Nadu Govern- It is estimated that nearly speaking, ought to be maintain- Tment which did not even plastics 50 per cent of plastic usage ing much of the space remains provide information to the Cen- is for single use or disposable content with taking care of tral Pollution Control Board, for ­balance helps to uncover the ered an over-estimate. What products – plastic bags, plates, its headquarters, located at the latter’s Annual Report for dimensions of the problem is uncollected­ is what we see throw-away cutlery, bottles. the Great House aka Admiralty 2017-18, on the action taken and indicate­ areas critical for ­everywhere, including sew- This presents the opportunity House on Charles Street in the to implement the provisions of success. Plastic waste can be age and drainage lines and to reduce usage substantially, Fort. Why is it not able to take the Plastic Waste Management contained by a combination of ­overflowing bins. From the within a very short time, by care of the rest of the precinct? Rules of 2016, has jumped into the following measures – reduce collected waste, registered recy- switching to substitutes and Elsewhere in the country, it action. usage by finding substitutes, cling units in Chennai get only repeatedly usable cotton/jute is quite evident that the ASI The ­features are: ban on bags. The waste could come does a perfectly good job of forms of plastic that are not down to half of 430 tpd i.e. 215 maintaining heritage precincts. easy to dispose, punitive mea-  by A Special Correspondent tpd. Time taken to enforce this The Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar sures to deal with non-com- practice is short – say, a month Temple, the Mamallapuram pliance, and charging local or two. This is the second chal- complex, Badami, Aihole, Pa- bodies with responsibility for recycle the waste of the rest so about 50 tpd whereas they need lenge. that fresh production is corre- a minimum 100 tpd, according tadakkal and Hampi are all collection, appropriate disposal If most of the 215 tpd is spondingly reduced, wherever to the Tamil Nadu Pondy Plastic instances of very clean spaces and law enforcement. collected, the recycling units possible put waste to alternate Association. If there is as much that are welcoming to visitors. The definition of “waste could have the full 100 tpd that use (in road construction and as 430 tpd of scrap, why are Of course, it may be argued that generator” includes individu- they have been denied all along. as alternate fuel/raw material the recycling units not getting all of these are monuments that als, groups, residential estab- Recycling would be important (AFR) in cement units) and, all they want? Therefore, it fall under UNESCO’s world lishments, etc., punishable for for plastic waste management failing these, burn or dump. is doubtful if collection ratio heritage sites and so there has failure to comply and “extended for quite some time to come The last one is not environmen- is the claimed 40 per cent. It to be maintenance of a high producer responsibility” (EPR) and therefore, it is necessary tally desirable and, hopefully, is probably much less. The standard. How then are we to making producers responsi- that policies are conducive to the quantity would be nil or surrounding omnipresence of explain the fact that the Res- ble for environmentally sound sustain the operation of these negligible. plastic waste also lends basis idency complex in Lucknow management of their plastic units. They are allies in the The quantity of plastic waste to doubt the 40 per cent. The too is kept in the best possible products till the end of their life. fight against plastic and not to be managed in Chennai foremost challenge, therefore, condition? These arrangements, presently intruders. A recent visit to Lucknow on paper, will be put to severe is about 430 tpd. Collection is to raise the present abysmal by our Associate Editor had test in practice. efficiency is claimed to be 40 collection efficiency to 90 per revealed a beautifully main- A simplified material per cent but that is consid- cent or more. (Continued on page 2) C M Y K 2 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2019

War against The National Awards plastics Up North, in the capital, the hopes till the day he died, well then it was the duty of the Beating the Retreat ceremony into his nineties. Two others, citizenry to go and collect (Continued from page 1) to virgin raw material. When oil has just concluded and, along now also with the morning it. Which is why, on the day prices fall, virgin material cost with it, the dust settles over stars, one singing and the oth- the money was distributed, The next question is whether falls making recycled material the Republic Day celebra- er playing on an instrument, serpentine queues were to be road construction and cement unattractive, as, after all, plas- tions. It is with considerable practically camped in Delhi seen at all the ration shops. units can absorb the remaining tic is derived from petroleum. amusement that The Man in the hope of achieving Gem MMM, realising that this 115 tpd. Taking road construc- Making recyclers viable enough from Madras Musings notes status but that was not to be. was where he could get some tion first, 2 tons can be used for to absorb the scrap is the third that denizens of Chennai’s In the past lobbying too easy grist for this column’s one km of road. So, to absorb, issue to be tackled in the plastic art world have also beaten had its hierarchy, from Gov- mill, decided to drive by a say, 100 tons, 50 km of roads in war. the retreat from the capital. ernment officials to ministers. few of these outlets and he Chennai should be constructed While resorting to recycling In the past few months, so These are tougher times and did note that while several of per day or in a 250 working day and usage of waste to its extinc- MMM learns, many of them the fastest route appears to be those who had turned up were year 12,500 km of roads need tion, the problem of the already had practically laid siege to using the social media. Come clearly in need of the money, to be constructed, which is accumulated landfill and dumps that seat of seven (or was it November and MMM notices several more clearly were not outright unrealistic. Therefore, must be resolved. Experts have ten?) great empires of the that the number of laudatory in need of it. Prosperity was road construction cannot be a suggested gasification as an ef- past. This was not with any posts from artistes on any- writ large on their visage, dress significant option. Can cement fective way of converting waste desire to conquer, plunder and thing and everything that the and deportment and you could units absorb the ­remaining 115 into energy. Such possibilities pillage as many invaders did powers-that-be do in Delhi, see from a mile away that in the past to that great metro ranging from complex eco- they were doing their best to tpd? The remaining 115 tpd is should be explored. Within the but mainly to lobby hard for nomic issues to defence deals, make it clear to onlookers that about 42,000 tons per year of next few weeks the aim must be plastic scrap (115x365). Based one of the National Awards. increases exponentially, reach- ration shops were not places to avoid further accumulation When our beloved first ing a climax of sorts a week they visited on a regular basis. on the successful experience at the landfill/dump. Prime Minister came up with before R(ewards) Day. And Several others had been of Ambuja Cements and oth- The proposed arrangement these awards, he had cautioned then there is the breathless cleverer. They had got maids er ­cement units in Gujarat, under clause 15 of PWM Rules, against their misuse. He could wait till the actual announce- and chauffeurs to stand in it seems possible for cement for funding the cost of collec- not have foreseen that several ment, followed by howls of for them in these queues. A plants to take 20-30,000 tons of tion and disposal, provides for of his family would precisely do disappointment, gnashing of phone call was made even as plastic scrap each. In summary, a minimum fee of Rs. 4000 per that. He also expressed the fear teeth at those awarded, and the the stand-in inched closer to recycling and cement units month from registered deal- that hierarchy in the awards – going away with a deep resolve the counter and the actual have a very useful role to play ers authorised to sell recycled Lotus Wealth, Lotus Jewelled, to try better the next year. cardholder then turned up, in plastic waste management. carry bags which would be sold Lotus Bejewelled and National This year, the Dispensers in signed for the cash and walked It is necessary to place the to customers, the proceeds Gem – would give rise to a Delhi gave short shrift to the away with it. Some pocketed recycling units in a position to going to the local body. Rule caste system of sorts, leaving lobbyers from the music world, the money while others dis- take 100 tpd or even more, if 8(3) of Plastic Waste Man- to an environment of one-up- awarded one dancer, a drum- tributed it as charity. Very few necessary. Recyclers and plastic agement Rules 2016 says that manship. This apart, our first mer of the non-classical variety actually spurned the offer. article manufacturing units “waste generators” shall pay a have greeted the new discipline fee. These provisions are still on plastic use with protests. unclear. Fee collection from Confusion prevails on the defi- thousands would add to the nition of what plastic articles administrative burden of the SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY are allowed and what are not. local bodies. They feel that indiscriminate A New Zealand practice, ban on articles would adversely with appropriate adapta- affect their production range tion, may be considered. In and, consequently, viability. In that country, local authori- the GST regime, these units ties make multiply large paper Prime Minister also said these and a film actor who is better MMM made bold to ask an have been denied the advan- bags stamped with the official titles ought not to be used as known for his terpsichorean elderly lady of a prosperous tage they had over virgin plastic logo available to retail outlets. prefixes to names by the recip- abilities. Clearly making eyes family and who was not very raw material. Before GST, VAT Households and complexes ients. All of these wise maxims at the powers-that-be via social steady on her feet as to why was 5 per cent on recycled buy as many bags as they need have been given the go by. media has come a cropper. she took the trouble to stand granules and the same on vir- for the volume of waste they The art world lives in a in line and collect the cash. gin granules, but the latter generate. The price of the bag state of perpetual upward The answer was most impres- mobility, or at least hopes Money for the masses sive in terms of logic – she had had to pay, additionally, an is equivalent to the cost of col- of it. Early in their careers, Time was when rulers, when always seen situations when excise duty of 12.5 per cent. lection and disposal of waste. they felt like it, would set forth This differential advantage has singers, dancers, writers and the Government took money Waste is collected only if it is painters begin to lobby hard in procession, throwing fistfuls from her under various guises, been removed with the 18 per in the bags carrying the official for the National Awards. of gold and silver coins to the such as penalties, taxes, statu- cent GST equally on both and logo. Incidentally, should we Thereafter, once one has been assembled crowds. In yonder tory deductions and the like, the abolition of excise duty. not experiment with weekly received, lobbying begins for capital city of a State that has apart from bribes she said. Although this problem is not a or bi-weekly collection of solid the next stages. It has come since become two States, the She had never ever envisaged repercussion of the plastic war, waste to make collection more to be firmly established that erstwhile ruler would do this a time would come when the it has affected the viability of thorough and effective with Lotus Wealth is but a step- and his canny citizenry armed Government would shower recycling units at a time when available staff? Till the turn ping-stone and none in their itself with upturned umbrellas actual cash on the citizenry. their full operation is essential comes, the material can be right senses ought to stop until so as to catch as much as it And now that it had happened, to absorb a substantial portion held with the waste generators. Bejewelled status is achieved. could of this money from up she wanted to be a part of the of the daily collection of waste. ­Effective collection methods MMM is aware of two bit- above. Now, our State too has celebration. Why not, MMM Admittedly, it is difficult to levy and easy way of charging for the ter rivals where the one who is done the same by distributing wondered. After all it is a different GST rates of recycled cost of collection and disposal is Jewelled has crowed over the Rs. 1,000 to all ration card- poor heart that never rejoices. holders. Clearly our State must and virgin material because of the fourth issue. fact that the other is a mere be doing well and since we are risk of tax evasion – one can be The goal, within the next Wealth. He also understands easily passed off for the other – that the latter takes umbrage a democracy, by inference, Tailpiece twelve months, should be to we too must be doing well. some other way must be found attain total control on plastic if the term Lotus Wealth is not prefixed to the name in all me- The Man from Madras Mus- The following advertisement to restore the advantage to disposal, create a much cleaner ings is well aware that it was these units which they rightly dia announcements. And ever was noticed by The Man from environment and release the only in the last issue that our Madras Musings and he passes had in the pre-GST era. One since Melody Sublime got the capacity of clogged sewerage beloved Chief had written it on with no comments: 76 suggestion is that the price of National Gem, everyone as- and storm water drains. It is sumes that this too is available a piece lamenting over this years pensioner own house plastic waste to recyclers should in our larger interest to partici- for the asking, or at least for largesse. Clearly the citizenry middle class Indpt. seeks be subsidised to the extent of pate pro-actively in this move- the lobbying. The Methuselah disagreed with the Chief and Chennai and around Educated the 12.5 per cent advantage ment and watch its progress of Carnatic Music, brilliant decided that if the Govern- Service Minded Problemless they enjoyed earlier. Recycling if Government would publish singer that he was and God ment was foolish enough to Women to look after with him. units are already exposed to an- every month the score card of bless his memory, harboured easily part with its money, –MMM other disadvantage compared progress. February 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 3 Improving quality of nursing welcome timely article by T. Rajagopalan Regarding the training of students taking I (MM, January 1st). There is mixed appreci- up nursing as a profession, it is necessary they ation from a particular section of the public as should be taught hospital rules, technicalities well as complaints made in several instances by in the procedures adopted in the hospital and senior citizens on the nursing services provided other methods on attending to ­patients. I was in the ordinary as well as speciality hospitals in Vellore with my family for a long period. I in Chennai and other places in Tamil Nadu. was life member of the Vellore branch of In- The faces that sing It is pointed out pertinently that in the case of dian Red Cross Society and also served as the 100-bed teaching hospitals, there should be a Honorary Secretary for three different terms. et another Music Season heavy scheduling of concerts minimum of 20 nurses. This is not only in the The Dean of the College of Nursing of Chris- Yhas gone by giving ample already takes a toll on their vo- case of nurse-teaching hospitals attached to a tian Medical College Hospital (CMC Hospital), indication of the fact that the cal chords (you can see artistes medical college but generally applicable to all Mrs Achamma John, was the Joint Honorary Bhakthi-drenched tradition of attending other concerts with functioning hospitals. The low ratio of nurses Secretary serving with me and she told me that Carnatic music is fully alive and woollen scarves fully protecting attending on patients in several hospitals is there were 420 beds in the hospital­ and nearly kicking. While many of the vet- their throat!). The inadequacy seen in Chennai as well as in other districts 300 nurses were students of the Nursing Col- erans were seen fading into the in certain vocal exercises is I have a personal experience. When I was lege attached to the hospital. She said lectures attending on an advanced aged relative, who relating to laws on adoption, marriage, road ac- sunset, a rich crop of youngsters made up through humming, falsetto and wistful glances into needed to be looked after during nights also, I cidents claims, rehabilitation of the discharged from both within the country admitted him in one of the renowned hospitals patients who needed further care and attention and from the USA has proved the heavens! in Trichy. I noticed there was no nurse to at- were arranged once in ten days by inviting beyond doubt that they are here In earlier times, the main tend on him after 9 at night. When I brought senor lawyers to the college. Apart from this to carry the torch left behind by artiste alone gesticulated to this to the notice of the chief doctor, he said refresher courses were arranged making them their illustrious past masters. the sound engineer to adjust there was shortage of nurses and this was visit different wards with the senior nurses. While music itself has the errant mikes; today every the case in all other hospitals in Trichy and accompanist is seen desperately I should admit him in a hospital in Chennai. P.S. Subrahmanian been carefully packaged and [email protected] ­expressed with great enthusi- pointing out to his mike and asm, risible nerves have been monitors for redressal, leaving continuously tickled by a whole the confused engineer in a spectrum of gesticulations, quandary! The result? A whis- ­calisthenics, acrobatics and tling piccolo sound pierces the at times wry humour. No other ventor of Ashoka Halwa mired (MM, January 16th) took me mimic gestures to accentuate system, indicating flaws in the reported incident than that in controversy, is a blessing in back to the free cycle scheme the vocal effect. Where they balancing of the console!! of Ariyakudi’s repartee would disguise. Served in a circular launched by the then Chief have failed to translate their It is hoped that soon enough serve as a shining example. stainless steel plate, it includes Minister Jayalalitha. I wrote a vivid imagination into music, the Seniors will wake up and At the conclusion of one such Rava Kesari or Pineapple/chikku letter to her pointing out that the artistes have tended to draw exhort their disciples to give up scintillating concert of his, his pudding, rice pongal, a small cycles were being given even graphic designs in the air, cup the “Punch and Judy show” and host proffering a salver heaped medhu vada, a companion of to those who had no need for the mike and do a Tai ichi act concentrate their energies on with gifts said, “Sami sang very pongal, one piece of idli, a mini cycles. As I found that it was to virtually sustain the momen- delivering good music. well today. In fact it was better rava dosa in the shape of a cres- not well-received, I again wrote tum. Sometimes arms are wildly V. Kalidas than last year’s.” The razor cent, coconut, onion chutney to her how the scheme could swung flail-like, left and right, [email protected] sharp Ariyakudi, ostensibly and sambar as accompaniments be a job-providing one. As one and the artiste almost jumps out cut to the quick, shot back that give outside support. Last million cycles were being given of his seat! Concerts and combos tongue in cheek, “I am singing but not the least filter coffee every year, I suggested that ten The contemporary and up- et another lively music as usual every year. May be served in a mini tumbler-dabara assembly units might be started coming artistes are to be richly Ysea-son has come to an your appreciating faculty has set. in districts, each of them man- commended for their musical end, with moments of ecstasy increased since then.” (Naan Will the sabha canteens go ufacturing about 400 cycle a abilities, but they need to see and disappointment depend- eppodhum polaththan padindu for such convenient combos day. We could get the frames their own video recordings to ing on a discerning listener’s irukken. Avvidaththile dhan or others of futuristic innova- from Madras’s T.I.Cycles, the realise how their miming ges- expectations, mood and form rasanai adhigamyirukku or words tion so that customers coming premier manufacturer of cycle tures distract audience who had of the musician, ambience, be- to that effect.) from the auditorium will have frames. (Now, most of the free- come to appreciate their music havioural pattern of the sound Doyen Ariyakkudi is referred something of many things, like bies are obtained from other and not to gaze with amusement system, active support of the to as the formulator of the pres- they have in a present concert, States at exorbitant costs.) In at their exaggerated contortions accompanists and so forth. In ent kutcheri pattern, harness- unlike their counterparts of the every school, a service centre and facial angularities which as much as one felt elated after ing the unbridled enthusiasm distant past who had an earful could have been opened to are made even more grotesque the conclusion of the season, of the performer, having no of only a select few? ­attend to minor repairs. Sim- by unimaginative lensmen with ilarly other freebies also can drawing up a balance sheet of concern for time or the taste J.S. Raghavan highly sensitive lenses doing result in some production and the plus and minuses in the of the listeners. And so, as per [email protected] unnecessary close-ups! concerts, the epicurean among his design, we have a lightning service centres. If such ac- Advances in sound tech- them also would have done a fast varnam and a quickie to Freebie suggestion tions are taken, no fault can be nology and sophisticated voice ­attributed to freebie schemes. similar exercise of his experi- begin with – both meant for he reference to freebies amplification systems have al- ences in the canteens attached the accompanists to interface offered to the public by ready caused musicians not T S.S. Rajagopalan to almost all sabhas. and coalesce, then an alapana, the Tamil Nadu Government 30,Kamarajar Street to tax their lazy vocal chords Talking concerts and can- a kriti with the concomitant Chennai 600093 these days! Moreover, the teens as two sides of the same trimmings like swaraprasthara, coin, you would recall the good niraval and so forth, a ragam old days when Carnatic music thanam and pallavi, that may was patronised by bigwigs like include a ragamalika towards Relief for zamindars, miradsars and such the end, a thani to showcase Why can’t ASI tend who organised grand music the virtuosity of the percussion- the dog concerts of the vidwans in the ists, and one or two thukkadas the Fort better? limelight in those days, before a from his repertoire. tidbit for typewrit- select, invited audience. Such Like the music concerts its upkeep and collectively er enthsiasts from (Continued from page 1) A katcheris had no rigid rules or which have come into a pattern there appears to be none. But Deepak Mukerjee (deep- format, a musician who had long back, the sabha canteens [email protected]) even locations that the ASI is specialised in a particular raga are yet to catch up with the similarly sees numerous people solely in charge of, such as the ­forwarded by Geeta Doctor other eateries. The combo has ­(geeta.doctor@ gmail.com): would render it, with such coming and going and you just Last House on Snob’s Alley and The quick brown fox jumps elaboration as far as upto his come into vogue. One who has need to see what filth is gener- the ruin that was Wellesley’s over the lazy dog – has for manodharma would permit him taken idlis and vada, may not go ated on a daily basis. The ASI House, are in a sorry state. long been the sentence with to. This would go for seemingly in for dosa or pongal, unless they here appears to have simply There is an enormous amount all 26 letters of the alphabet. interminable long periods, at are very young and are blessed given up. of vegetation where the Post No longer. Here’s the new times deep into the night. with zinc-lined stomachs that It is true that the Fort suffers Office Square was till recently. replacement; and it is shorter Many musicians, who permit trouble-free digestion. from multiple ownership – the Can the organisation at least (dipsomaniac’s delight too!): were blessed with a sense of The combo, invented by the Pack my box with Legislature, the TN Govern- pay attention to these pockets ­humour embellished their culinary craftsman whose name ment, the Army, the Navy and and make them more present- five dozen liquor jugs. is not surfacing, like the true in- What a relief for the dog ! conversations with puckish wit, the ASI are all responsible for able? 4 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2019 February 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 5 A pharmacy that helped A retail chain found a Society that’s different

harmacies are now dime a doz- Thimmappa, the dubash who not far from where the other big K. Venkatapathi Naidu, ylapore is home to many a building close to Kapaliswarar different languages, again in- Pen in Madras that is Chennai accompanied Francis Day when names were located. Councillor of the Madras Miconic shops. One of them temple in Mylapore, where the house. While Meenakshi, one but in the early years of the last he came to Madras in 1639. The In 1925, three years after Corporation and later a Mayor. near the main entrance to the shop is even today. A few years of the sisters based in Chennai, century that was not so. The trade company does not exist but the founding the firm, Wilfred Pereira Pereira did not neglect his Kapaliswarar Temple is the after the start of the Madras looks after the printing aspect, was restricted to a few very well family now runs Narayanappah was instrumental in getting fellow business and it prospered. Giri Trading Agency, popularly shop, Giri moved his wife and Raman, elder to Ranganathan known names of the city. Mount Pharmacy in Anna Nagar. members of his profession to form Realising that if he had to expand known as Giri Stores – a “one stop younger children to Madras takes care of the entire publish- Road had an enclave of sorts Wilfred Pereira & Co, a representative body. Attempts he needed capital, he approached shop for all religious products”. leaving behind his elder children ing business. In 1990, the shop where no fewer than four leading Chemists and Druggists, is of a had been made earlier to get this the well-known business family of Interestingly, Giri Stores had its to look after the Bombay shop. had already started bringing out members of the trade functioned later vintage when compared to going and one of several such was the Dadhas, who were also into origins not in Chennai but in Giri was a great believer a monthly religious magazine in from. This was near the entrance most of the above. The name in 1923 when the Pharmaceutical the same business. Founded by Matunga, known in the past as in Ayyappa (one of his sons Tamil called Kamakoti with the to Ritchie Street, close to where does not feature in trade journals Association was formed. In 1925, the brothers Lakshmi Chand, the ‘Little Madras’ of Bombay, was called Ayyappan) and blessings of Kanchi Paramacha- the Madras Mahajana Sabha is. before 1925. There is not much Wilfred Pereira, along with Sobhag Mull and Lal Chand where Maamis in madisar (9 never failed to make the trip rya. It continues to be published. These were R. Maclure’s (1894), information available on the another qualified pharmacist – in 1914, the store of Dadha & yard) sarees and Maamas in to Sabarimala every year. He Giri passed away in 1998 fol- J.F. Letoille’s (1928) and Allbutt’s founder beyond the fact that he A.N. Lazarus of Spencer& Co – Co in George Town had built their veshtis were a common decided to sell items required lowed by his elder son Ayyappan (1881). There is no information was a qualified chemist, the son took over this body and renamed up a steady clientele and also sight. One such Tam Brahm by pilgrims visiting Sabarimala, in 1999. Ayyappan was a driving on what happened to Maclure’s a powerful set of international from Tirupunithura in Kerala, like the black dhoti and other force and considered a man of but Letoille’s, now under Indian pharmaceutical brands. The V.K. Swarna Gireeshwaran alias related ritual paraphernalia. ideas in the family. Though the management, survives after a LOST LANDMARKS OF CHENNAI two senior partners passed away Giri, an employee in a business Simultaneously, the shop also double loss did affect the group, fashion. The third, contrary to soon thereafter leaving it to Lal house, decided to quit a well- began stocking items required the surviving children of Giri, its Western-sounding name, was – SRIRAM V Chand to take the business to paying job in 1951 to start a for various other South Indian who were already involved in founded and run by Dr. Vurdap- new heights. In 1926, he joined shop near Matunga Central festivals, besides a whole range the business took charge and pah Naidu, scion of a prominent the Pharmaceutical Association Station using a bakda (push of traditional gift items, curios, ­decided to take the legacy of family of Madras. Founded in of Joseph Alexander Pereira and it The Pharmaceutical Society too. cart) to sell religious books. As handicrafts, temple jewellery their father forward. Broadway, it later functioned born on July 23, 1896 in Bombay. of India. He remained its Vice It was in 1934 that Wilfred a spokesman for the Giri family, and dance jewellery. Today, the In 2000, the company con- from G. Venkatapathi Naidu The family was of Anglo-Indian President till the organisation Pereira approached the Dadhas T.S. Ranganathan, the youngest shop inventory covers 1,50,000 verted itself into a private limited Building on Mount Road, once descent. Wilfred Pereira studied was dissolved in 1949. In the with an invitation to invest and son of Giri, whom I interviewed products. company, known as Giri Trading the offices of the photographers at the St Joseph’s College, interim, with membership they did so gladly. The firm Shemar (Family Cough Remedy). for this article told me, “There In 1986, the group estab- Agency P.Ltd., with all the sib- Wiele and Klein, and now de- Coonoor. Thereafter, it is quite never going beyond 60 or so, it became Wilfred Pereira & Co A chain of outlets and a manufac- is a story behind why my father lished an audio recording studio lings owning shares and each in Giri stores, Mylapore. molished. A fourth company to likely that he enrolled in the manfully did much for the cause Pvt Limited and with the money turing facility meant a head office chose to sell religious books. to produce religious and Bhakthi charge of specific area of activity. occupy this area was E.C. Barnes, Chemists and Druggists course of the pharmaceutical industry. the new investors brought in, was needed and this was at 2, Early in his life he was invited to music, in-house. Ayappan was in Mrs Sharada Prakash, the eldest the Giri shops where customers encouraging first-time singers in opticians. The founder drowned at the Madras Medical College, Members of the Indian Medical soon had branches in Coim- Hunters Road, Vepery. Business an Upanayanam (Sacred Thread) daughter of Giri, is now the Man- can do this and get the collec- classical and devotional music himself in the sea following busi- then the only institution in India Service served as its Presidents, batore, Kotagiri, Ootacamund, prospered through the 1940s and ceremony of a friend’s son. He aging Director of the company. tion transferred to their thumb and dance. The Trust also sup- 1950s. In 1950, the firm acquired drives, for a fee. We have ag- ports a few Veda Patashalas in ness losses post-Independence. to offer this discipline. Having as did leading doctors such as Bangalore and Secunderabad. wanted to present the boy with  R.V. Rajan One of the most popular land near Ayanavaram for grow- by gregated over 5,00,000 songs in the city. Another hallowed name in the qualified, he set up business as Dr. Sir A. Lakshmanaswami The company had also branched a book on Sandhyavandanam (a [email protected] items marketed by the group pharma trade was Appah & Co, Wilfred Pereira & Co, at No. Mudaliar and Dr. P.V. Cherian. out into manufacturing and had ing medicinal plants and herbs, Brahmin ritual). He could not is the ‘KOLUPADI’ – specially our portfolio, covering religious, Very recently, the Company founded in 1894 by the brothers 25 Mount Road, Madras 2. The The Society also briefly several in-house brands such as and also building a godown. The find a copy anywhere in Bombay. assembled racks looking like Carnatic and even film music. As acquired the rear portion of Bhashyam and Narayanappah pin code indicates that this was brought out a journal – The Gripend, Phelex, Malto Bitters, Government however nixed the The non-availability of such charge of the unit. Ranganathan steps on which idols of various a content aggregator, we are also the building where the shop is Naidus, descendants of Beri near Chintadripet and therefore Pharmacist. This was published by Glow Liniment, Phelobalm and plan, acquiring the property for religious books in the City gave says, “I used to sing inside Kapal- gods and goddesses are displayed available on other platforms like currently located in Mylapore – the Integral Coach Factory. This him the idea to start a business iswarar temple and sell cassettes. during the Navaratri festival in Youtube, I Tunes, Saavn, Spo- increasing the floor space from setback does not appear to have selling religious books.” Then, I sang on All India Radio. Tamil Nadu. Kasi Viswanathan, tify etc., besides providing the 6,000 sq ft to 11,000 sq ft. A big impacted the business. Through Within a couple of years, My family thought it was a good the only non-graduate in the ‘ringtone‘ facility. Though our leap forward! Giri Stores has now l The Digital Library of India From India’s Digital Archives the 1950s Wilfred Pereira & Co the shop moved from push cart idea for me to record for our family but who is an engineer by products are available through entrances to the shop from both (DLI) project, an initiative of Limited was a frequent advertiser to a small 200 sq.ft. space op- own business. My first recording, instinct, designed a multipurpose online sites like Amazon, Flip the Kapaliswarar Temple side the Central Government, aims The diaries – Karthik Bhatt in all the leading magazines in posite the Matunga Post Office a Shiva Stuti, was released on product made of plastic which Kart or Big Basket, they account and from North Mada Street. at digitising significant artistic, India. Shivratri day. From then till now for only five per cent of our sales. Though it has taken over literary and scientific works near an Irani restaurant. In can be assembled as Kolupadis P. Anantanarayanan, father of we must have sold about 50,000 or as storage racks. This popular “Our major business con- six decades for Giri Stores to and making them available over his personal adviser. In addition 1990, when the owner of the of a Dr. A. Raman, a frequent contrib- copies.” item accounts for almost five per tinues to be at our retail stores. reach the enviable position the Internet for education and to assisting the French with their restaurant decided to close shop, utor to Madras Musings, was for The shop was by now on a cent of the total sales of the shop. Though there are web portals it has reached today, the Giri research. Begun in 2000 by the trade, he carried on private trade he sold the 500 sq.ft space to Office of the Principal Scientific long manager of the outlet at Ve- fast growth track. Luckily an- Ranganathan says, “Earlier trying to sell similar religious family is confident that the long himself and became extremely Giri. Subsequently, Giri Trading Advisor to the Government of dubash pery where according to his son, other 2500 square feet in the we were known for selling only products, the Giri brand has the process has only helped to lay a wealthy, becoming master of sev- Agency began selling puja items, India and later taken over by he “established himself as one of same building became available religious stotra books and now credibility in the market.” solid foundation for the business eral villages, such as Acharapak- curios, handicrafts, temple jew- the Ministry of Electronics and where he was to make his name the few pharmaceutical chemists in 1991 and was acquired. A we are a brand – Giri – iden- The company started using because, ‘We are not here to kam, Tindivanam, Bhuvanagiri ellery, and CDs of religious songs Information Technology, it has was a familial one, for his uncle of Madras, who could correctly besides religious, spiritual and small shop had transformed into tified with Hindu culture and computerised billing from as just make money. The whole to date scanned nearly 5.5 lakh etc. That he wielded tremendous Nainiya Pillai had been appointed read the other otherwise unde- self-help books in a number of a big “organised religious retail tradition.” early as 2000 and a few years ago family believes in carrying the books, predominantly in Indian power was evidenced by the fact the Chief Agent of the French cipherable handwritten scripts store”, paving the way for many How is the company facing it also introduced ‘bar coding’ of message of Sanathana Dharma languages. that he was the pivot of all nego- languages. East India Company in 1704. His of Madras doctors.” In 1962, more such stores in India. Today, the impact of technology on both its products for better inventory to the people. We also believe in tiations between the French and Right from the beginning, Giri father, Tiruvenkata Pillai, settled Anantanarayanan was transferred Giri Stores has six branches in their publishing and audio /video control. The Company has giving a contemporary outlook Indian princes. Today, he is chief- decided to take the help of his nanda Ranga Vijaya Champu in Pondicherry along with several to Kotagiri. More details are avail- Mumbai, seven in Chennai and business? Ranganathan, who regular training programmes for to our culture and tradition. I ly remembered for his seminal family in running the shop. Not Aby Srinivasa Kavi is a other merchants at the behest able in Dr. Raman’s article on a branch each in Kancheepuram, has a flair for technology, has an not only the staff at all levels am sure that this steadfast belief work, the diaries he maintained only his wife Lakshmi who was a work in Sanskrit composed in of Nainiya Pillai and became a his father in Madras Musings Vol Madurai, Coimbatore, Secun- answer “Yes, when the digital but also the family members will help us to take the Company which chronicle the political and pillar of strength, but his growing 1752 on the life of one of the successful businessman. While XXVIII, No 2, May 1-15, 2018. derabad, Bangalore and Delhi. technology came in, our remu- who attend special programmes to greater heights in the years to other developments that shaped children were also encouraged to greatest chroniclers of South Nainiya Pillai fell out of favour Ananda Ranga Pillai. Wilfred Pereira’s son, Wilfred There is a dealer representing nerative audio-cassette business to keep pace with the latest come. “We are not a fly-by-night the history of South India in help out during their spare time. India, Ananda Ranga Pillai, with the French and died a E. Pereira Jr, in a letter to Madras the group in Australia and an collapsed and we were in trouble. developments. operation. It has taken us many the 18th Century. These were Like several other dubashes, This exposure would ensure that the noted dubash. In 1937, Dr. prisoner, Tiruvenkata Pillai went Musings in 2009 remembered that office in Texas, U.S.A. There We took an early decision to go Srinivasan, another sibling, years to set here. We are looking translated from Tamil in the ear- Ananda Ranga Pillai was a pa- all his nine children were total- V. Raghavan, the well-known from strength to strength and the family initially lived at En- are over 400 employees working digital with our audio business is in charge of the sales of the at expanding, but spiritualism is ly 20th Century and published tron of several musicians, danc- ly committed to their father‘s scholar embarked on a project earned himself a respectable nore and later moved to Peram- in these units. It also has a big by taking a number of initiatives. entire group. Every year, he takes not the place where you say he as the Private Diaries of Ananda ers and poets. Dr. V. Raghavan dream of taking the Sanathana to edit this work and provide position. On his death in 1726, bur and Kilpauk where they resid- warehouse occupying 15,000 One of them is the concept of a group of selected staff on a trip made more money than me. We Ranga Pillai in several volumes. says that he possessed some mu- Dharma idea forward. additional material by way of Ananda Ranga Pillai joined ed at Rao Bahadur Venkatapathy sq.ft area in Mangadu, on the aggregating music and offering abroad to participate in a festival don’t sell something just for the He was, however, not a pioneer sical knowledge too, which Fran- Giri, however, knew the real notes and Sanskrit commentary. the government and in a span Naidu Street. He studied at the outskirts of Chennai. it to customers through an app. at the Kamakshi Temple in Hum, sake of selling. We are serving in this regard, for he had only in- cois Dupleix seems to have noted big market was in Madras. So, This was published in 1948 and of a decade rose to become its Madras Christian College and As a step towards backward This allows them to download Germany. He was instrumental God here.” herited the habit from his cousin, when informed by Pillai that his in 1971, even while running the is the subject of this piece. Dubash. later graduated with a B Pharm integration, the group started a any song of their choice classified in installing in this temple a 15 While many multinational Chevalier Guruva Pillai, the son (Dupleix’s) glories had been shop in Bombay, he decided to Ananda Ranga Pillai was As Dubash, he was a close degree from the Madras Medical publication division with a print- under a singer, music director, ft high statue of Lord Krishna. retail groups are biting the dust of Nainiya Pillai. Guruva Pillai’s open Giri Stores, occupying 300 born in 1709 in Perambur. His confidant of Francois Dupleix, College. Having done his masters ing press attached, to produce raga or even thalam. Special ki- The group runs a family in India, it is good to see a local, diaries have not been recovered. sq ft space on the ground floor of connection with Pondicherry, the Governor General, and often (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 7) a number of religious books in osks have been established in all trust called ‘Lakshmi Giri Trust’ religious retail chain doing well. 6 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2019 The shootout with political recoil n several superhit Tamil mov- started pelting stones at the er, the prosecution witnesses, Iies of the 1960s, M.G. Ram- policemen on crowd control including C.K. Ranganathan, achandran, or MGR as the 50- duty, besides damaging street DSP, CB-CID and A.V. Sub- year old matinee idol was pop- lights and public properties. ramaniam, firearms expert, ularly known, played the role of The unruly mob also barged convinced the court that the the hero, and M.R. Radha, aged into the garden of M.R. Radha allegation of the accused was 57, acted as the villain. (MGR at St. Thomas’ Mount and set a false and that the crime bul- later became the Chief Minister shed on fire. To bring the situ- lets had come only from M.R. of Tamil Nadu in 1977 and ation under control, the police Radha’s revolver. There was headed the government till his had to ­resort to a lathi charge no evidence against MGR and The injured MGR signing his nomination papers for elections from his hospital bed. death in 1987.) Unfortunately, followed by teargas to chase the the report of the Director, State their real life started imitating crowd away. In the melee, many Forensic Science Laboratory, the reel one and they developed ­policemen sustained injuries. clearly stated that the bullets serious differences. Their Tamil A case in connection with this removed from Radha’s neck The judge sums up movie Petral Than Pillaiya, pro- use of a firearm was registered in and head had been fired from hile finding Radha guilty of all abuses, the judge duced by Vasu, was a superhit the St. Thomas’ Mount Police Radha’s own revolver. The fire- W­Lakshmanan stated: in which MGR was the hero Station. Subsequently, this was arms expert deposed that the The accused, though not a member of DK, was an ardent­ and M.R. Radha was the villain. transferred to the Crime Branch revolver used in the shooting supporter of that Party and a follower of the Party leader, However, by this time, the rift CID and the investigation incident on January belonged E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker. Before the last general elections, between them on several issues was entrusted to G.K. to Radha. The revolver was in the DK supported the Congress Party in Madras State. had further widened. Ranganathan, DSP, CB-CID. good condition and had a 25- Professional jealousy had been proved by evidence that This was the time when the The investigation revealed that yard effective lethal range. The MGR was a well-known film star and a matinee idol and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam both MGR and M.R. Radha expert also found three unused drama actor. Radha was also a prominent film and drama (DMK) was seriously challeng- were each in possession of a 420 British-made cartridges of 420 actor, but his ‘market’ was falling, according to evidence. ing the supremacy of the Con- calibre Webley & Scott revolver gauge with the “Kynoch” trade The prosecution had also proved that Radha was “fi- gress Party that had been ruling and both had purchased these mark in the revolver. The three nancially frustrated” at the time of the shooting incident by the State since Independence. revolvers on the same day from cartridges were shaky, indicat- showing that he was indebted to the tune of about Rs. 7 lakh. MGR was the star campaign- P.Orr and Sons, Madras, in the ing a loose fit due to defective If it was true that Radha earned about Rs. 50,000 a month er for the DMK Party during ammunition. The expert also by acting in dramas alone, as claimed by him, he could not the 1967 General Elections to  opined that this revolver could The first in some have incurred so much debts. the State Legislature. He also be concealed in the waist by a famous crimes In a case depending on contested as a DMK candidate recorded in various person wearing a dhoti. from the St. Thomas’ Mount Vasu had stated that he and circumstantial evidence, the question of motive was of great Assembly Constituency. Tamil Nadu police Radha visited MGR on Janu- journals. importance. If no motive was On January 12, 1967, M.R. ary 12 because a “party” from adduced, it was a circumstance Radha, at around 4.00 p.m. went Coimbatore that was staying in favour of the accused. But to MGR’s house at St. Thomas’ early 1950s. Both weapons had at Hotel Ashok was keen on where there was direct testi- Mount accompanied by Vasu. cylinders that were identical. producing a film, with MGR mony of the evidence of an They were warmly received by The seven broad grooves and playing the title role. How- eye-witness, it was well settled MGR. However, soon after the seven narrow ‘lands’ inside ever, the investigating officer that it was needless to adduce exchange of pleasantries, a heat- their barrels had a right-hand checked with the hotel register motive. Radha harboured a ed argument broke out between twist and their triggers needed and found that no one from grudge against MGR because Radha and MGR over some a 15-to-20-pound pressure. Coimbatore connected with the he was under the impression M.R. Radha. film-related matters. Accusing MGR renewed his revolver film business had stayed at the that MGR was conspiring to murder the Congress leader Kamaraj by engaging ‘goondas’ MGR of deliberately destroying licence periodically, whereas hotel during that period. Radha failed to do so, and offering them Rs. 2 lakh from his “superfluous money” and his acting career, Radha got On completion of the trial, his earnings. This impression was entirely wrong as MGR had up angrily and walked towards his arm licence had expired the accused Radha was convict- participated in the birthday celebrations of Kamaraj and he the exit. Suddenly, he turned in 1964 itself. He had even ed by P. Lakshmanan, Sessions was in fact taken to task by his Party (DMK) for praising an around, whipped out a revolver failed to deposit the revolver Judge, Madras on November opposition party leader. He was therefore satisfied that there tucked into his dhoti and fired with the authority concerned 4, 1967, and sentenced to 7 was ample proof of motive for the accused to murder MGR. at MGR at point-blank range. after expiry of his licence and, years’ RI for having attempted He did not rely on the defence theory that the two cartridges MGR sustained a bullet injury thus, he was in possession of a to murder MGR. In addition, found in Radha’s bag were planted there by MGR’s men. If there on his neck and lower portion revolver without a valid licence he was sentenced 2 years’ RI was really a struggle between MGR and Radha for the gun and of his left ear. Shocked by this on that fateful day. each for keeping an unlicenced if Radha had wrested it from MGR, MGR should have attempt- sudden incident, Vasu pounced As per the sequence of revolver without surrendering it ed to get hold of the accused once again to wrest the revolver on Radha and restrained him events that unfolded during to the police after expiry of the from him or run away a considerable distance from Radha or from shooting again. However, the CB-CID probe, Radha had licenced period and using it to at any rate could have ducked; and if he had done so, he would M.R. Radha wriggled out and gone to MGR’s house at Nan- commit an offence. He was also not have been injured near the ear by a gun held at point blank shot at himself. dambakkam, near St. Thomas’ awarded 6 months’ simple im- range. The version of the accused did not fit in with the na- Mount, on January 12, 1967, ture of the injury on MGR. He also accepted the prosecution Both the actors were rushed prisonment for attempt to com- theory that the two injuries on Radha were self inflicted. It was to the Government Hospi- with the intention of com- mit suicide. All the sentences impossible for any third party to cause such a wound where, tal, Royapettah, for immediate mitting murder and fired one were to run concurrently. according to his (Radha’s) own version, he fell face down. round with his revolver at him treatment for their bleeding Many people, including Referring to “severe criticisms” about the washing of MGR’s injuries and later to the General from a close range. The bullet MGR himself, were curious clothes before they were handed over to the police, he said Hospital, Madras. The doctors pierced through MGR’s left ear to know as to why the shot that as there was no struggle between the accused and MGR, performed emergency opera- and lodged in the pre-vertebral from a powerful 420 Webley it would follow that there was no scope for MGR’s clothes tions, and both were reported region. MGR had a miraculous & Scott revolver at a close being stained with Radha’s blood. Referring to the defence out of danger. escape. Thereafter, Radha at- range did not prove a fatal one. arguments on Vasu, Chakkrapani and others seeking legal On hearing this news, a tempted to commit suicide by In an article for a newspaper, advice before handing over Radha’s revolver to the police, big crowd gathered in no time shooting at himself twice with Dr. P. Chandrasekaran, a not- he said that it was quite understandable for Vasu to do so near the hospital, anxious to the same revolver, once in the ed forensic expert, explained: because he was the only eye-witness of the incident and being know the health condition of temporal region and then on “There could be only one rea- in possession of the crime revolver, he was in a ‘fix’ and was their popular hero. Very soon, his neck. son for both having escaped nervous and feared that he would be implicated in the crime. the crowd became massive M.R. Radha was arrested on from death. I guessed the bul- He had come to the conclusion that the accused had and violent. Some of them January 12, 1967, and remand- lets emanated from the revolver personal jealousy and political animosity and had the inten- ed. He was charge sheeted did not have enough muscle tion to kill MGR and become a ‘martyr’ of the DK. MGR’s injury was not due to an accident, not was there any scope l Our Quiz Master V.V. Ra- by the CB-CID for several velocity to cause lethal dam- offences. But during the trial, for Radha’s plea for self-defence. It was a well planned plot manan is on a quizzing age”. (Source: Crime Branch to commit a dastardly crime in a sneaky manner and which, round and his column will he alleged that it was MGR CID, Tamil Nadu, A Retrospect but for his old age 57, would call for severe punishment. ­resume on his return. who had shot at him! Howev- (1906-2010). February 1-15, 2019 MADRAS MUSINGS 7

see marriages between members Members of Indo-Anglian of different communities (and households will happily marry castes). On the basis of anecdata members from non-Indo-An- I would hazard that a majority glian households, provided Indo-Anglians of the Indo-Anglian marriages the potential partner speaks are between the traditional good English and can fit into upper castes. But they also have Indo-Anglian circles. Seen – The newest and fastest growing members from some dominant/ in this light, Indo-Anglians upwardly mobile but historically are India’s newest and fastest Indian community lower castes. Once accepted growing caste; and the only one into the Indo-Anglian fold, where birth is not a necessary ometime around 2012 or I have been looking for a as Aryan, Kabir, Kyra, Shanaya, members fold their traditional condition for inclusion. This is, S2013, my daughters stopped term, an acronym or a phrase Tia. caste identity into Indo-Anglian in my view, hugely important, speaking in Konkani, our that describes these families I estimate the number of culture. Caste is rarely discussed for this keeps the Indo-Anglian mother tongue. It isn’t entirely who speak English predomi- Indo-Anglian households in amongst Indo-Anglians and few caste open to expansion from clear what provoked it. Perhaps nantly at home. These consti- India at about 400,000. This caste or religious conventions traditionally oppressed com- it was a teacher at their Mumbai tute an influential demograph- is of course a guesstimate. No are followed. munities – OBCs, Dalits who school encouraging students to ic, or rather a psychographic, in studies exist; the closest we Let us take vegetarianism, have benefited from English speak more English at home. India – affluent, urban, highly come to official data is the 2001 a core caste precept for most education and exposure to Or perhaps it was something educated, usually in intercaste census which says 226,000 Indi- Brahmins and Banias. There Westernised culture. else. It didn’t matter. What or inter-religious unions. I pro- ans speak English as their first are a substantial number of Are Indo-Anglian religious? did matter was that our home pose to call them Indo-Angli- language. Indo-Anglians who are vege- In the traditional sense, no. became an almost exclusively ans. These 400,000 Indo-Angli- tarian, but they are not opposed They are not frequenters of English-speaking household, Unlike Anglo-Indians, one an households account for ~1.4 to marrying a partner who eats temples, nor do they perform with the occasional Konkani of the original English-speak- meat, even beef. They are also religious ceremonies. That said, conversation. ing communities in India, who not opposed to the partner they are what I call “FabIndia were Christians, Indo-Anglians There are two distinct cooking meat at home or or- religious”, following soft comprise all religions, though  by ways to look at Indo-­ dering it in. It is also unlikely cultural traditions, such as Sajith Pai Hindus dominate. Indo-Angli- Anglians. One is to see that different vessels are used dressing up on occasions. They ans are also a highly urban lot; them as casteless, or for non-vegetarian cooking at do have spiritual needs though, concentrated in the top seven even as an example their home. In fact, in one such for they are a far lonelier and large cities of India (Mumbai, of a post-caste We were not alone. Clus- household, I have even seen the more emotionally overwrought Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, community, where the tered throughout the affluent vegetarian partner occasionally community than many other Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata) ­traditional caste identity sections of urban India are digging into the gravy, avoiding Indian communities, thanks with a smattering across the is subsumed under many families such as ours, the meat. The concept of ritual to their rootlessness, limited smaller towns in the hills and the new Indo-Anglian predominantly speaking English pollution, manifested in sepa- interaction with relatives, and in Goa. identity. The alternate and not the tongues they grew rate utensils for vegetarian and dependence on their careers to Within these cities, they are approach, which I prefer, up with. non-veg food rarely holds for derive their identity. clustered in certain pockets: is to look at them as a Some of these families, such Indo-Anglian households. To meet these needs they Gurgaon and parts of South distinct ‘caste’ parallel or at least parents in these Vegetarianism is a moral choice turn to new-age gurus of the Delhi; South Bombay and to the upper castes, with ­English-speaking households, for Indo-Anglians and not a likes of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar western suburbs from Bandra its own unique cultural do make an attempt to speak religious norm. and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev – to Andheri; Indiranagar and norms and practices. their mother tongue as much as This leads me to think of whose rise has paralleled the Koramangala and gated com- The key criteria for caste they speak in English. But even two distinct ways to look at emergence of Indo-Anglians munities in Bengaluru’s Outer inclusion and endogamy in these bilingual households, Indo-Anglians. One is to see (and the English First segment) Ring Road – Sarjapur, Koregaon being advanced English English still dominates. It takes them as casteless, or even as an – or even take to practices Park – Kalyaninagar, Gachi- language skills. an effort for the children to example of a post-caste commu- outside the Hindu fold such bowli and HiTech City, etc. speak in the Indian tongues, nity, where the traditional caste as Soka Gakkai. And as their They fall well within the top beyond a few simple phrases. identity is subsumed under the numbers grow, we are likely to one per cent of India econom- million people (400,000x3.5, as English, on the other hand, new Indo-Anglian identity. see more new-age gurus and ically, and have a consumption family sizes are smaller in these comes naturally to them; the The alternate approach, which practices emerge to tap these basket that is comparable to households). This is about one larger vocabulary they possess I prefer, is to look at them as affluent spiritual consumers. – their middle class counterparts per cent or so of the 130-140 in English helping them express a distinct ‘caste’ parallel to (Courtesy: scroll.in). abroad. Their children go to million that claims to speak complex thoughts and proposi- the upper castes, with its own international schools and have English as a second language tions far more easily. unique cultural norms and “first-world yoga names” such in India – who I refer to as the practices. The key criteria for This article first appeared on the English Comfortables, and caste inclusion and endogamy writer’s Medium page. His Twitter handle is @sajithpai. about ~5 per cent of the 25- being advanced English lan- 30 million for whom I reckon guage skills. (To be concluded) English is a primary language, CHENNAI HERITAGE whom I term English First. No. 5, Bhattad Tower, 30, Westcott Road, A large majority of these A pharmacy that helped Royapettah, Chennai 600 014 Indo-Anglian households have emerged over the past decade, I am already on your mailing list (Mailing­ List such as in my case. And over found a Society No...... ) / I have just seen ­Madras Mus- the next 5-7 years, we are likely (Continued from page 4) ings and would like to receive it ­hereafter. to see a spike, perhaps even a They then focused on setting up a manufacturing facility and  I/We enclose cheque/demand draft/money order for doubling in these numbers as in pharmacology from the in 1973 invited the Tamil Nadu Rs. 100 ­(Rupees One ­hundred) ­payable to CHENNAI well, on the back of growing Saugar University in MP, Government to invest in it. The ­HERITAGE, ­MADRAS, as ­subscription to Madras­ Musings Westernisation, demand for he went to the University of new entity thus became Tamil for the year 2019‑20. English education and more California for his PhD. Perhaps Nadu Dadha Pharmaceuticals  critically, rising intercaste or it was his decision not to return As token of my support for the causes of ­heritage, Limited. In the 1990s, the Tamil intercommunity marriages, the that prompted his father to sell ­environment and a ­better city that ­Madras Mus- Nadu Government opted to single biggest cause of Indo- the business. He approached ings ­espouses, I send Chennai ­Heritage an divest its stake. The Company Anglian households (when the Dadhas once again and they ­additional Rs...... flourished under the Dadhas parents have different mother agreed to buy him over. (Rupees ...... ) thereafter and in 2013, at a tongues the child usually ends Mohanchand Dadha, Please keep/put me on your ­mailing list. turnover of Rs 60 crores, merged up speaking English). The rapid who today is the head of the with the Baroda-based Sun Name : ...... emergence and continuing eponymous business house, Pharmaceuticals India Limited. growth of Indo-Anglian recalls that with this takeover, the ...... households has important company became Dadha Drugs implications for society, business & Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited. Footnote: Your Editor learnt his Address: ...... and governance. Let us traverse The new owners were, however, Three R’s and how to use a fork and ...... through these. more keen on manufacturing spoon from Mrs. Smith who was the * * * than retailing medicines and mother-in-law of Wilfred Pereira. She All cheques to ‘Chennai Heritage’.­ DD/Cheque should be A considerable proportion so decided to close down the later was at the Vepery headquarters for many years. sent by Speed Post only. of Indo-Anglians households outlets in 1967 or thereabouts. 8 MADRAS MUSINGS February 1-15, 2019

catching the bull. But this rule being strictly enforced depends Introduction on the village where the event is conducted and, more impor- tantly, the bull itself. Some bulls acquire a reputation that to classical alone is enough for them to be given an unhindered passage out of the enclosure and arena. Jallikattu Vaeli Virattu This version is more popular allikattu, or Eruthazhuvuth- swim for exercise. The calves, in the districts of Sivagangai, Jal, the traditional bull taming once they reach adolescence, Manamadurai, and Madurai. event, dates back to the Tamil are taken to small Jallikattu The bulls are released into open Classic period (400-100 CE). events to familiarise them with ground without any restrictions Jallikattu is an annual event the atmosphere. Specific train- (no rope or determined path). will “play” for some time, pro- The bull is tied to a 50 ft long where men try to tame and hug ing is given to vadam manju The bulls once released run in viding a spectacle for viewers, rope and is free to move within the bull and has been a part of virattu bulls to understand the any direction. Most don’t even players and owners alike. The this space. A team of 7 or 9 the traditional celebrations of restraints of the rope. Apart come close to any human. But magnificence of such bulls can- members attempt to subdue the the four-day Tamil Nadu har- from this, no other training there are a few bulls that don’t not be described. bull within 30 minutes. This vest festival, Pongal. is provided to Jallikattu bulls. run but stand their ground and version is very safe for spectators The word Jallikattu has two Once the bulls are released, attack anyone who tries to Vadam Manju Virattu as the bull is tied and specta- components, Jalli also known then instinct takes over. come near them. These bulls Vadam means rope in Tamil. tors are shielded by barricades. as salli or kasu, which translates There are three versions of (Courtesy: Heritage Madurai.) into coins, and kattu which Jallikattu: means bundle or pouch. This is a reference to a yellow pouch of Manju Virattu coins, which is tied to the bull’s This version takes place form of Chennakesavapura). horns. The sport is also called mostly in the districts of Dr Raghavan notes that the as Eruthazhuvuthal, which Madurai, Pudukottai, Theni, The diaries of a pages mentioning the battles means ‘hugging the bull’. which were missing in the diaries were later recovered and The sport, which is played  by A Special published and were found to on the third day of Pongal ­Correspondent dubash (Maattu Pongal), has a natively corroborate the Champu, which reared bull being left free in attests to its veracity. Thanjavur and Salem and has (Continued from page 4) Kavi, the author of this work. an arena. Groups of people It is interesting to note that been popularised by television Nothing much is known about enter this arena and try to the Vijaya Champu is only one and movies. It involves the composed into songs. The di- Kavi except that he was from tame the bull with their bare of works in three different lan- bull being released from an aries also record that, at the the North Arcot district. hands. The participants try to guages dedicated to Pillai, Kavi enclosure with an opening. specific request of Dupleix, an In his preface to the book, do this by holding the bull by Kasturi Rangayya’s Ananda As the bull comes out of the enactment of French exploits Dr V Raghavan explains the its tail and horns. The bulls are Rangaratchandamu in Telugu enclosure, one person clings to with songs composed by Kavi significance of this work on two specially prepared for this event (published by Vavilla Ramaswa- the hump of the bull. The bull in Kasturi Rangayya, one of the specific counts. One, it describes by various farmers. Various mi Sastrulu and Sons (in 1922) its attempt to shake him off will poets patronised by Pillai, was the battle of Ambur in 1749 measures are taken to make and Sadasiva Desikar’s Anan- bolt (in most cases), but some performed when the English (led by Chanda Sahib in a bid to the bull strong and healthy. darangak-kovai in Tamil being will hook the man with their withdrew from the siege of capture power at Arcot, backed Bulls are bred specifically for the other two. With small stray horns and throw him off. The Pondicherry. Some of the Tamil by Dupleix) and the murder the event. verses dedicated to him in rules specify that the person has poets who sought Pillai’s pa- of Nasir Jung in 1750 (son of The calves chosen to be- various Tamil anthologies by to hold on to the running bull tronage were Sadasiva Desikar, Nizam-Ul-Mulk of Hyderabad) come Jallikattu bulls are fed some poets in addition to the for a predetermined distance to Madhurakavi, Namachivayap- and secondly, for the fact a nutritious diet so that they full-fledged eulogies, Ananda win a prize. pulavar and Javvadhuppulavar. that it explains the origins develop into strong, sturdy Ranga Pillai certainly is one of In this version, only one A Sanskrit poet who was pa- of the name Chennapatnam animals. The bulls are made to the most feted dubashes in the person is supposed to attempt tronised by him was Srinivasa (held to be an abbreviated history of South India.

Madras Musings is supported as a public service by the following organisations

Amalgamations Group Bata India Limited

The Hindu F.L. Smidth Limited Group of Publications

Rane Group RAYALA GROUP

Since 1856, Sundram Fasteners Hotels Resorts patently leaders — A WELLWISHER Limited and Palaces TVS MOTOR COMPANY

PublishedPublished by S. byMuthiah S. Muthiah for Chennai for ‘Chennai Heritage, Heritage’, No. 9, Cathedral 260-A, Road,TTK Road, Chennai Chennai 600 086, 600 printed 018 and by Anuprinted Varghese by T Jat George Lokavani at SouthLokavani-Hallmarkern Printers Pvt. Press Ltd., Pvt.122, Ltd.,Greames 122, Road, Greams Chennai Road, 600 Chennai 006, edited 600 006.by S. Edited Muthiah, by 2-F,S. MUTHIAH. 1st Cross Street, Vijayaraghava Road, T’Nagar, Chennai 600 017, and owned by Chennai Heritage, Regd. Office No. 9, Cathedral Road, Chennai 600 086.