The semblance to Tamil

I refer to the subject of words used in one or more dialects in Papua New Guinea (PNG) (MM, December 1st).

Whereas the listed words used in PNG may have a Tamil semblance (possibly even links), my guess is that they should be of recent introduction. By stating recent, I refer to the labour migration to work in sugarcane plantations in this part of the world in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Of course, we know that the later Cholas were seafarers and the ‘Hindu’ influence in Bali is an outcome of the conquest of Bali and nearby islands (now part of Indonesia) by them. (In this context, I would be contented in using the term ‘Hindu’ rather than Tamil, because the present Bali, more strikingly, displays features resembling Malayali traditions rather than those of the Tamil people.) However, we have no records of conquest of lands by the Cholas beyond modern Indonesia. Under such a circumstance, my thinking is that the words akin to Tamil used in the islands of the Pacific should be of recent origin.

I have heard the late M.R. Adaikkalasamy (Lecturer in Tamil), when I was studying in Loyala College (Madras), saying that one key factor that dictates the choice and use of words by common people – especially those who are at ease with more than one language – is brevity, meaning that less the syllables to say, the more preferred they were. Adaikkalasamy used to cite the use of ‘chair’ for narkali and poo for ‘flower’ in Madras. The logic behind this, Adaikalasamy used to argue, is the innate laziness of humans.

Applying this logic, I infer that the listed words could have been picked up by residents of PNG and elsewhere in the Pacific from migrants in recent times.

Dr. A. Raman
Charles Sturt University
Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
(Editor’s Note: This correspondence is now closed.)

Anna’s view

The late lamented Anna in one of his broadcasts over All India Radio in 1948 stressed the need for library in every home. In his address while participating in the 2nd anniversary celebrations of Pothigai in Madras on 23.1.1950 under the veteran Tamil scholar Thiru Vi Ka, he laid emphasis on the imperative need for libraries to understand men and matters around the globe and stated that intensive reading is an integral part of the development of the human personality. It is unfortunate that a political party bearing Anna’s name and his picture on its flag plans such a controversial step in the “Knowledge Capital” of India.

S. Masilamani
174/5, Kurinji Colony
Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar Chennai 600 040

International centre?

While paeans are sung for the Anna Library (MM, November 16th) it also has its shortcomings. I went to the Library about seven or eight months ago looking for a consolidated computerised catalogue but I was told that it would take a few months more. Ironically, on the day the Government took the decision to shift the Library, I was again there looking for the same catalogue. I was again told that it was still under preparation and would take a few more months!

Having said that, I feel that, from what Madras Musings has detailed, it could be converted with the library into an India International Centre as in Delhi, with a food court (already available, I believe), high-tech conference rooms where associations like the Book Club and Indo-American Centre could meet, a few rooms for visiting scholars to stay in, etc.

It could expand vertically or horizontally and the membership could be free or against a nominal amount so that students could come.

In fact, I once wrote to former President R. Venkataraman that such a facility was a long-felt need of Chennai. However, I hasten to add that the need for a paediatric hospital cannot be gainsaid.

Dr. G. Sundaram, ias (rtd)
A-601, ‘Dugar Apartments’
Keshavperumal Puram
Greenways Road
Chennai 600 028

The frequent write-ups on wedding receptions published earlier and the ones on the quality of Grand Sweets (MM, November 1st) do not deserve the precious space of Madras Musings, a journal devoted to the heritage and culture of Madras, that is Chennai.

S. Krishna
81/2, Fourth Main Road
Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Chennai 600 020

Editor’s Note: Weddings, food, etc. are all part of social and cultural history as well as of our heritage. A little attention paid to recording them might prove its worth to a social history enthusiast searching the archives decades later.

Quick operations

Regarding the surgical skill of Dr. Rangachari, I recall that, when I was working at the Ordnance Factory, Varangaon (Maharashtra), there was mention of a Dr. Bhirud sprinkling chloroform on a clean handkerchief, throwing it on the face of a poor rickshaw puller who met with an accident near his Nursing Home at Bhusawal, and operating on him as the services of an anaesthetist were not available, while time was the essence!

N. Dharmeshwaran
21, Kumaran Nagar
Guduvancherry 603 202

It is reported that Madras has been identified as the noisiest city. That every five years there is an incremental noise load of 10 decibels and that the present level is 85 decibels! So says an Anna University study.

The reasons are not far to seek. For example:

1. Every auto in the city plys with impunity after removing the silencer.

2. Though there is a High Court ban prohibiting air horn use in the city, all educational institutions’ yellow buses speed using air horns nonchalantly (schools are supposed to teach students to reduce decibel levels). Private sector company buses (including IT companies) do exactly the same (a good example of corporate social responsibilty). Even two-wheelers are using air and musical horns, and these air horns are also used in congested and service roads, greatly disturbing the peace of students and elders.

No wonder Madras road fatalities are the highest in the country, nay, in the world!

Instead of routinely sanctioning solatiums to the victims with sympathetic words, the government would do better to use the funds to take preventive measures. Many precious lives could be saved.

Stricter enforcement of existing laws will suffice. No great big study is required!

N.P. Andavan
Audconp@yahoo.co.uk

The article ‘Heritage Desti-nation – Pulicat’ and the pictures that appeared with it in Madras Musings, December 1st were by Karthik Bhatt. We regret inadvertently leaving out his name.

– The Editor