Registered with the Reg. No. TN/CH(C)/374/15-17 Registrar of Newspapers Licenced to post without prepayment for India 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 CHENNAI INSIDE • Short ‘N’ Snappy • Karthik and CGK • The Subbudu story • The Academy’s rival • A Season of frenzy Vol. XXVII No. 18 MUSINGS January 1-15, 2018 Will appreciation of this be taught in syllabus... Humanities still get short shrift (By Our Education Correspondent) Painted Stork (above), Cormorants (below left) and Pelicans (below right) arrive for the Season at Sholinganallur marshland. tatistical indicators of the Sphysical and quantitative aspects of the education system show Tamil Nadu in good light in comparison with other States. Sufficiency of infrastruc- ture, however, does not by itself ensure efficacy. Syllabus content and teaching method- ologies produce the final im- pact. The growing number of (Continued on page 10) ... as well as how to care for this ? Whither heritage conservation? (By The Editor) 017 is drawing to a close. the Chepauk Palace campus, a 2We must be thankful that section of the Government no major heritage structure Press located in George Town, caught fire or mysteriously col- and the office of the Deputy lapsed this year. What was on Inspector General, Registration the verge of collapse in Decem- Department. All three struc- ber 2016 remains in the same tures are now in a state of ruin state a year later. But we have and the Government has had acts of wanton demolition, announced that it is allocating as happened with Binny’s head funds for their restoration. The office. But there is a glimmer of projects, it is understood, may hope and this has manifested take over three years before itself by way of a Government they reach completion. announcement, earlier this This is, however, the same month. And so we end 2017 on Government that suddenly an- a positive note. nounced that at Madrasa-e- Apparently, there is now a Azam would make way for a Building Centre and Conserva- wedding hall, thereby clearly tion Department within the indicating it has no consistent Public Works Department. policy when it comes to heritage And this entity has been en- conservation. It also established trusted the task of restoring one fact – any act of protection three heritage structures in the city – the Humayun Mahal in (Continued on page 2) The rusted Munro statue (see page 3). All pictures by Shantanu Krishnan. CMYK 2 MADRAS MUSINGS January 1-15, 2018 Whither Once upon a glorious hall heritage? espite having the reputa- Inside were a set of other bore fruit and the monsoons Dtion of having been to all invitees, all of them with a left after giving us only a (Continued from page 1) there is clear evidence that a nooks and crannies of our city, resigned air that suggested that portion of their promised The Man from Madras they had been around since bounty. For people like The private entity or a quasi govern- or, conversely, demolition, de- Musings, who was once fa- time began. When MMM en- Man from Madras Musings mental body (like LIC) can get mously introduced as a street- tered they all looked up with who rejoice in the rain, this pends of the man/woman on the away with whatever it wants to spot – be it a minister or a bu- walker of the city, had some- hope as if expecting a rescue was a disappointment. And do. When the Government can how never been to the famed party and when they realised it now Chennai has settled down reaucrat. If the person favours on occasion protect buildings auditorium named after the was only MMM they all went to its winter, which is around protection, the structure will be that it owns, why cannot it Congress stalwart and Chief back to staring at the ceiling. one week of mild weather fol- protected. If not, no. Madrasa- make the private sector do so? Minister who put our State on The only animated personality lowed by a couple of months e-Azam has, however, tempo- Are there other commercial the industrial map of India. was a photographer who relent- of a reasonable climate. rarily been granted a reprieve, interests involved? The opportunity never arose lessly had every one of the But the average Chennai- by the only arm of the State that Harking back to the decision and MMM, while passing by invitees pose for pictures ite, or so MMM realises, takes the place on numerous occa- against a blank white wall has so far championed the cause to conserve the three buildings his cold weather seriously. of heritage – the judiciary. A sions, had often wondered as rather in the manner of a firing How else do you explain this listed in the beginning of this to how it looked inside. squad positioning a sentenced stay has been issued, following article, we would also like to proliferation of monkey caps, Last week, during the thick person. And when this was mufflers, shawls and, above a petition challenging the know the modalities of how it is done, he had the invitees demolition. of the Music Season, MMM all, earmuffs inspired by wild- proposed to be done. Will the was invited to participate in an grouped in pairs, triads and life? All of these and more the It now appears that the guidelines be the same as they pentads. Government’s track record on event connected with the re- average Chennai-ite has taken are for new constructions? Or lease of a book on how Celtic Having waited for more to sporting and MMM will not conservation is better than has the PWD now staff who are Music had influenced its South than an hour, MMM decided be surprised if many wear what it is when it comes to qualified to restore heritage private properties. And this is structures? If it is the former, it where lack of a clear policy or is a cause for concern. Conser- guidelines is hurting. How can vation architects have repeat- SHORT ’N’ SNAPPY a building like Binny’s be demo- edly raised doubts over the way lished when Court orders the Government clubs restora- prevent such an occurrence? tion with modern structures. How can Leith Castle be sold to The two cannot be equated and Indian classical equivalent. to explore the rest of the audi- thick woolly underclothing or developers as has recently been we need distinct guidelines for alleged? How can the Young This was held in the venue torium and found it to be in a flannel. It may not be long be- each. Does the proposed Build- named after ye olde Chief shocking state. He was eventu- fore houses in Chennai have a Men’s Indian Association and ing Centre and Conservation Minister. MMM was asked by ally summoned to appear on fireplace or two. the Life Insurance Corporation Department have the necessary the host, the proud father of stage and when he did, he The weather may not be of India cock a snook at the law skills? If that is so, we look the two children who had writ- found that the chairs were rick- by not restoring Gokhale Hall cold, but most of Chennai forward to some really good ten the book, to come straight ety and wobbled even as MMM appears to have caught the and Bharat Insurance (Kardyll) conservation exercises of which to the green room. It was only and other guests positioned affliction that goes by the same Building respectively when we can justifiably be proud. If on reaching the place that themselves. The event, badly name. All around the city you there is a clear directive from MMM discovered that this organised, in keeping with the hear nothing but sniffles, not we will have botched space was quite some distance rest of the hall, was mercifully the Court? It is because the attempts as was done in the case coughs and sneezes. And Government does not imple- inside the building. A volun- brief and MMM came away when you are in a music of the GPO. Let us, however, teer met MMM at the gate and clutching a shawl, a bouquet ment the law. In all these cases, hope for the best. concert, you hear all of these said he had been deputed to and a couple of books that later around you, in addition to the take MMM to the green room. proved to be full of howlers. main musician who, too, He then asked MMM if he, MMM was supposed to invariably has a sore throat MMM, knew where the green speak for a few minutes and owing to over-exposure and THANK YOU, DONORS room was. When MMM re- was dreading the prospect, strain, what with having to plied in the negative, this man what with the venue and the sing multiple concerts in the We today, publish donations received with thanks for was nonplussed. He muttered audience proving most season. something under his breath as the period from 01.12.17 till date uninspiring. It was just as The Chennai-ite is also to how MMM, who claimed to MMM was bracing himself for – The Editor forever be associated with the proud of his winter. Try a summons to the mike that the making fun of it by stating that Rs. 50: Fazal, M. arts, did not know a simple host came huffing and puffing matter like that.