Marina Blue Flag
As an old timer I also recall that in the past, the Marina beach was clean, free of vending stalls, and was as natural as a beach could be. In fact it was acclaimed as one of the best beaches in the world. Overcrowding without proportionate improvements in the infrastructural facilities has been a major reason for the deterioration of the quality of the beach area. As you have rightly pointed out, the proliferation of temporary food stalls is yet another major reason for the beach getting dirty. Sustained effort of the civic administration is called for to keep the beach clean.
There is also an urgent need to regulate the food stalls on the beach to reduce littering, and to eradicate the stray dog menace and the beggar nuisance. Public cooperation is also paramount in keeping the beach clean. It is good to remember that beaches are a shared public property and it is our duty to protect and maintain them while enjoying their immense benefits. Lastly, as hinted by you, proper maintenance of the beach is more important than getting obsessed with winning laurels.
N Rama Rao
Retired Deputy Registrar General (Census) GOI and UN Census Adviser
1A, Sri Kripa Apartments RA Puram, Chennai 600028
Tamil translation
Apropos your tailpiece on crazily worded signboards,I would like to add a few which I noticed in Colombo.Tamil is also an official language in Sri Lanka. But the translation may sound funny:
This will not be understood in Chennai!
Dr G Sundaram, IAS (R)
A601, Keshav Dugar
Apartments, Greenways Rd.,Chennai 600028
Distortion of a Street Name
I would like to bring to your attention an instance of street name distortion in our city — one that warrants documentation and rectification.
The street originally known as Rajachar Street has been subjected to inconsistent and erroneous naming even across its short stretch: At the intersection with Raghaviah Road, the signboard reads ‘Raja Sir Street’, even though the older, painted board on the compound wall clearly says ‘Rajachar Street’! At Ramarao Street, it is labelled Rajachari Street, and at Hanumanthan Road, it reverts to Rajachar Street.
At the intersection with Raghavia Road.
At the intersection with Hanumanthan Road.
At the intersection with Ramarao Street.
It appears that the original name was first misread as Raja Char, then transliterated into Tamil and reinterpreted as Raja Sir during the signboard installation. This is not just a typographical oversight — it reflects a systemic lapse in preserving nomenclature integrity. What is more a matter of concern is that these boards were erected around the same time, yet show no consistency, even within a few metres of one another.
Such distortions erode the historical and cultural identity of our streets, confuse residents and visitors, and compromise the accuracy of public records. I urge Madras Musings to feature this issue — not only to document the anomaly but to advocate for corrective action by the civic authorities.
Thank you for your continued commitment to heritage and civic clarity.
Ramesh C. Kumar
ramesh.kumar@icico.in