Then and now

I refer to MMM’s take on libraries (MM, June 1st).

He is spot on when he says that libraries are not what they used to be.

The British Council Library, Mount Road, used to be my second home in the 1960s notwithstanding getting chased out once by the librarian there for the simple fun of using the mobile bench (meant for reaching the upper shelves) as roller skates.

Recently a friend of mine invited me for high tea and video show organized by him at the Library. After I attended the function as a guest, the parking attendant asked me to pay the parking charges for my vehicle! This only goes to show that things are not what they used to be!

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Satisfaction delightful

Reference the testimonials of Ramachandra Rao, the first Indian ACP of Madras Police, the diction is quaint and delightful to read. T. G. Taylor, Hon’ble Company’s Astronomer, says that Rao’s conduct and attention to duties gave entire satisfaction. W. Shelley, Captain, Secretary of Military Fund, writes, “Rao as Accountant and Writer gave every satisfaction.”

In the 1960s there used to be the famous Scissors cigarette ad, “For men of action, satisfaction.” Nowadays, this descriptions is found only in the massage ads, “We guarantee satisfaction from head to foot”! The original and still relevant satisfaction remains the satisfaction of mind.

C. G. Prasad
9, C. S. Mudali Street
Kondithope, Chennai 600 079

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Colourful look

Apropos my write-up in the recent issue of Madras Musings (June 1st) about the upkeep of flyovers, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the flyover near Koyambedu Bus Terminus has since been painted blue in its belly. I was happy Chennai Corporation has acted on our good suggestion immediately. The city will look colourful in future. Thanks to Chennai Corporation.

M Fazal
11, Mosque Street
Hasthinapuram
Chennai 600 064

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Jolly Rovers

In the MM’s issue dated May 1st, there was an article regarding Jolly Rovers Cricket Club. Now, it is being managed by Sanmar group. In the article, it was mentioned that the club was founded by Rangarajan of The Hindu and taken over by K.S. Narayanan of Sanmar.

In this connection, I would like to mention that the club was started by a group of college students in 1947 and it was helped to join the league by R. Srinivasan, who was with K. S. Ranga Rao, the then Secretary of Madras Criket Association. The name ‘Jolly Rovers Cricket Club’ was suggested by K.K. Shanmuganathan who was one amongst us and the name was finalised. Shanmuganathan could not play for Jolly Rovers Cricket Club as he was successful in the All India Forest Services exams and had to leave Madras for the Officers’ training.

The students had no sponsors to run the club and it was run with the pocket money of the students who started it.

The club won the III Division ‘B’ Zone Championship in the very first year of entering the league.

In this regard, in fact, an article appeared in one of your issues a few years ago written by a retired IAS Officer, Prabhakar, who was a founder member of Jolly Rovers Cricket Club.

The students who started the club slowly moved out seeking careers as they were not professionsal cricketers and the club changed hands. The club was finally taken over by Sanmar group, running it successfully.

M. Ekambaram
Maadhu Nivas
7, Sixth Cross Street
Shastri Nagar
Chennai 600 020