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VOL. XXIII NO. 22, March 1-15, 2014
Our Readers write

The brewers

In one of my very early responses to V. Sriram's well-informed notes on Madras street names recently, I had mentioned Thomas Honeywell, a pioneer brewer in the Madras Presidency. Most probably he did own a brewery in Madras prior to the 1900s. In 1872, he wanted to open a brewery in Madras. But the Board of ­Revenue did not encourage the proposal due to difficulties in sorting out customs tariff and excise levies on its production. Though what happened sub­sequently is not known, a ­further probe may yield more details.

Honeywell ran a very successful brewery business in the Nilgiris from as early as 1857, as referred to by Dr. A. Raman (MM, February 1st). However, the history of beer in the Nilgiris goes back to 1826 and its excellent malt was a 'hot' favourite of the European troops. Seven brewery companies once existed in the Nilgiris. The Badagas of the Nilgiris, however, made a huge success out of the English-introduced potato, cabbage, etc. (which propelled them into the economic enterprises of modern times). Casks of beer offered them no temptation.

Apropos Yeldham's Road in the same issue, the following information may be of some interest. According to church burial records, Yeldham's Road is said to be named after one Captain Richard Yeldham. He was Commissary of Musters, King's Troops, in Madras in 1800. In later years, he rose to become the Treasurer and Secretary to the Government Bank and died aged 68 years (1820). He lies buried in St. Geogre's Cathedral Cemetery.

Yeldham was a great friend of Col. J.G. Scott, Commandant, Seringapatnam Garrison. Col. Scott's highly esteemed wife Caroline Isabella died in childbirth on April 19, 1817. The mother and child lie buried in Seringapatnam cemetery. After their death, Col. Scott deserted his bungalow (with its famous piano) on the banks of the Kaveri. The story of the deserted house formed the subject of a poignant poem penned by Capt. Yeldham. Col. Scott was a fellow officer with Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) and died as a Major-General in 1833 in London.

Rev. Philip K.Mulley
Anaihatti Road
Kotagiri 643 217
The Nilgiris

Humour in S & S

In the past few issues Short ‘N’ Snappy column has become more enjoyable. MMM’s sense of humour is more evident and it has invariably brought a smile to my weary face. But the February 16th issue really made me laugh aloud when MMM had to enter in the application form his ‘correct father’s name.’ Please keep it up.

Dr. P.S. Venkateswaran
surgeonvenkat@yahoo.com

* * *

I really loved the article by MMM in Short ‘N’ Snappy column of MM, February 16th. I had a very good laugh and the article reminded me of the now forgotten magazine of Madras, Aside. Can’t someone bring it out again?

C. B. Rameshkumaar
rameshkumaar57@yahoo.co.in

Editor’s Note: Aren’t we enough?

Smile awhile

Although telegrams no longer exist, I wish they did. But they did cause poignant situations as in this instance. In 1965 when an Army officer was serving in the North, he was asked by his relatives wishing to visit him in winter how many blankets they should bring with them. He sent a telegram 'EIGHT'. His relatives received the telegram reading “Best Wishes for a Happy Married Life”.

Dr. S.R. Kaushik (Rtd) DRDO Scientist
108, Clasic Kudumbam
Sholinganallur, Chennai 600 119

An Indo-Ceylon dream of the 20th Century

The inauguration of the Pamban Bridge Indo-Ceylon rail connection on February 24, 1914 (MM, February 16th) served the Island nation well. By 1911, the plantation companies had 530,000 South Indian Tamil workers working in Ceylon. They had travelled from Tuticorin to Colombo and, earlier, from Thondi to the north Ceylon coast. The rail-ship link made possible easier travel for this labour, and for the development of more Rubber and Tea plantations. By 1963, Ceylon had a population of 1,123,000 South Indian Tamil workers, or 10.6% of the Island’s population.

* * *

The cyclone of December 22, 1964 lashed the entire sea facing side of Pamban Island which bore the brunt of the furious cyclone from the Gulf of Mannar. That the Rameswaram Temple complex, which faces the Palk Bay, was saved was a miracle. However, the good job done by the Indian Railways within three months enabled pilgrims and tourists to reach the temple and the lovely beach walking knee-deep in the still waters of the Bay.

Geological evidence suggests that Adam’s Bridge connected Pamban Island to Mannar Island in Ceylon. Pamban Island is 61.8 sq.km in extent and is about 70 to 80 km long and satellite images make it look like the head of a crane with its long beak, at the tip of which is located Dhanushkodi and the steamer pier, while the Pamban Bridge is located at the bird’s neck connecting it to the mainland, and Rameswaram town is located at the eye of this bird’s head. Rameswaram has a population of about 40,000 engaged in fishing and tourism.

The Tourism Development Corporation of India estimates 3000 tourists a day visit Rameswaram and on important festive occasions some 7,000 to 10,000 a day. This works out to more than a million a year, perhaps a record for a place with a 40,000 population.

About 75 per cent of Pamban Island is made up of white sand, 1-2 metres above sea level and the high ground is not more than 12 metres above sea level. I wonder if any effort has been made by the Forest Department to grow trees like casuarinas, which can tolerate such sandy tracts.

* * *

With Dhanushkodi off the map of India, the steamer service connecting India to Ceylon has also come to an end. But the Pamban Bridge now promotes pilgrimage and tourism to the world famous temple dedicated to Shiva and is associated with Lord Rama. Wikipedia says, “Temple records show that Rama’s Bridge or Rama Setu was completely above sea level until it broke down due to an immense ­cyclone in 1480 CE,” and adds, “the temple was built by the Pandyan Dynasty in 12th Century, but was quite ancient and Tamil saints have worshipped from the 7th Century.” ­Earlier to that it was housed in a hut. The ruler of Sri Lanka, Parakrama Bahu (1153-1186), contributed to the temple and was involved in the construction of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and at a later date the King of Jaffna Jayaveera (1380-1410) shipped stone blocks, from Trincomalee’s famous temple region to renovate the Rameswaram temple.

* * *

A tectonic map shows two submerged volcanoes. One of them is at 2000 m depth, some 200 km south of Kanniyakumari, and the other at 3000 m depth, 300 to 400 km east of Galle, Sri Lanka. The one near India erupted in 1938 and the one near Galle erupted in 1993.

How frequently do these volcanoes erupt? I do not know the situation at present, but the fact that pumice stones that float are even now found near Rameswaram indicates that they have been erupting for over thousands of years and this is also mentioned in the Ramayana. The cyclone may also have had an earthquake origin along with a volcanic one.

K.V.S. Krishna
kvskrishna@gmail.com

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In this issue

Better times for Chepauk Palace?
Legalising the Illegal will Court ruling Stop it
What's Needed for Urban renewal here
Beyond Botany to Medicare
Koothu P-Pattarai's First on poster culture
Designing Landmarks pre Independence
Following Medical trails tigers' too
Nights out by Pulicat backwaters

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Short 'N' Snappy
Readers Write
Quizzin' With Ram'nan
Madras Eye

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