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Memories kindled
When I saw and read about the Madras landmarks in MM, August 16th, I remembered the days I worked in the Madras Public Service Commission in the early 1950s. The office functioned in the Bosotto Hotel buildings just after shifting from the Victory House.
My colleagues used to tell about the office at Victory House. The tram to Parry’s from Mylapore used to run on Mount Road, stopping at Swadesamitran (Victory House), Round Tana, Elphinstone theatre, etc.
The MPSC office later shifted to Rutland Gate and from there to its own building at Government Estate, near the Kalaivanar Arangam.
Victory House, after it was purchased by VGP, had a showroom for Murphy Radios with a banner showing the famous Murphy Baby.
Thank you for kindling my memories.
L. Chandrasekaran
B17/11
TNHB Flats Bagalur Road
Hosur 635 109
Toilets, now & then
The assertion of reader T. Santhanam (MM, August 1st) that Indian civilisation never had a toilet culture is not quite correct. There is recorded archaeological evidence that pre-Aryan people living along the Indus had public baths, covered drains that most Tamil Nadu towns lack even today, solid waste removal by carts, and piped public water supply.
In the same vein, since toilets are in the news now, highlighted by PM and down, shouldn't organisers of big events such as political party meets, as well as assembles at large religious functions, where lakhs gather, be mandatorily made to provide an adequate number of toilets, even temporary chemical ones? You can’t only blame the citizenry for lack of civic sense, if adequate and quickly accessible facilities are not available.
Thousands of Dalit houses across the State have no provision for toilets.
Economists have quantified that India loses billions of dollars each year due to the lack of sanitary facilities, resulting in illnesses, water-borne diseases, loss of workdays etc., not counting our global image.
Dr. Prem Chandran John
prem_john@vsnl.net
Brew & litter
I simply loved Sriram V’s boxed item, ‘What’s brewing for Madras Week?’ (MM, July 16th). Exactly. Nothing of note is brewing here. In neighbouring Bangalore, a father and his sons have brewed a single malt whisky called Amruth which has been rated above the best Scotch brands of Scotland! In Chennai, you can come away only with some sub-standard tipple from Tasmac outlets.
Sriram further says, “We still don’t find any excitement in North Chennai.” But I do. Every time I step on C.S. Mudali Street, I am pleased and excited at the relative cleanliness. In 1961 when I moved into this ancestral house of mine (built in 1931), both sides of the street used to be lined with excrement. Over the years, the heads of the Corporation and our local councillors have ensured that the street is clean and litter-free. Still, I wish the old ‘Kuppa thotties’ come back so that through the day people dump their rubhish into them and not on the street.
C. G. Prasad
9, C.S. Mudali Street
Kondithope
Chennai 600 079
Right tree, right name
In my article on the Gangadeeshwarar temple (MM, June 1st), I had mentioned that the ‘Purasai’ tree is the sacred tree of this temple. Dr. Raman has responded that he is not sure about this and mentions that it could be the ‘Vasantakala Mallikai’. The booklet about this temple sold at the office in the temple premises clearly states that the ‘Purasai’ is the sacred tree. I verified this with the priest of the temple too.
Regarding the name of the temple, Dr. Raman and reader P.S. Ramamurti (MM, July 16th) have mentioned that it should be Gangadhareshwara and not Gangadheeshwara. While Gangadhareshwara is the correct Sanskrit name, it is called by the locals, and known to most in Chennai, as the Gangadheeshwara temple, which is the name I chose to use in the article as it is the more familiar one.
Dr. Chithra Madhavan
drchithra@gmail.com
The law of life
I was born and brought up in Kerala. My first contact with Madras was at age 21 when I came here to take the Combined Civil Services Examination of 1951, held by the UPSC. With little cash on hand, I had to take a room in one of the shady lodges in George Town area. After the exam, I moved in to the city which, for a village boy like me, was intimidatingly big. Tramcars were my favourite means of transport. For a few annas, you could travel long distances.
My next brush with the venerable city was the next year when I was called for interview in the magnificent University building on the Marina. I stayed at the Everest Hotel and had a very disturbed night due to the constant rumbling of the suburban trains, the vibrations of which could be felt in my room.
In 1976, during my posting here, I was alloted a Housing Board flat in Besant Nagar which, at that point of time, was considered a place in 'the back of the beyond'. Well-meaning friends advised me against taking the flat. “Ange Yaraavathu povaala?” was their refrain. It was considered a suburb and only those desperately looking for inexpensive accommodation. In the event, I took the flat and have never once regretted the choice.
Back then, we could hear the roar of the waves sitting at home which was about half a kilometre from the sea. In the afternoon, when the sea breeze set in, the ceiling fans were propelled by the breeze breezing its way through our house. A magnificent view of the sea could be had from the terrace. It was true, in some senses, that Besant Nagar was, indeed, a ‘forsaken’ suburb. Therefore there were very few houses around. Only a solitary branch of a bank served the area. There were just two bus routes – 21D and 23A. For any shopping other than daily necessities, you had to go to Adyar. But life was unhurried, peaceful, almost bucolic. My suburb was part of Tiruvanmiyur Panchayat where you had to go to deal with government agencies.
Cut to the present times. What a contrast! Besant Nagar is now one of the choicest localities and property prices and rentals are in the top slots in Madras (now Chennai). Traffic is heavy, it is served by many bus routes, there are many banks, ATMs, eateries and what have you. Despite these inroads of 'progress', Besant Nagar continues to be one of the more liveable parts of the city. With a beach attached! Blissfully, there are hardly any highrise buildings. There is a definitive limit beyond which it cannot expand, as it is bounded by sea on one side, and the vast grounds of Kalakshetra and the Theosophical Society on two other sides.
But there is a lamentable downside. I miss the quiet nights when I used to be lulled to sleep, now by the sound of gentle waves, now by the waves roaring in rage. Now, I am jolted out of sleep by the 'vroom' of bikes by insensitive riders and tooting of horns. Also, for most of the day, the thrill of leisurely walks has disappeared and you step out of your house at your risk. But then, again, there still is blissful Elliot’s Beach for bracing early morning walks.
You have to take the rough with the smooth. That’s the law of life.
G. Sankaran
T 43A, Seventh Avenue
Besant Nagar
Chennai 600 090
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