Feedback on ‘The last flight home’
It was refreshing to learn that WMM had witnessed two acts of kindness by fellow passengers during her travel (Short ‘N’ Snappy, MM, April 1st, 2025). It is not quite often that one comes across people who are considerate and willing to help or cooperate with those who travel with them, be it in a flight or in a bus. In the first instance mentioned by WMM, the young man quickly understood the predicament of the couple who were allotted two separate seats and lost no time in sportively obliging the couple by exchanging seats. More often than not, such a smooth settlement does not take place. In the second instance, the girl seated next to WMM in the airline bus had the broad-mindedness to voluntarily share with her the live IPL match on cell phone. The two acts emphasise that the core human desire to help others remains universal, though there are exceptions due to selfishness, pride and prejudices of the persons concerned. The article will go a long way in motivating travellers to be helpful and kind to co-passengers.
N. Rama Rao
1A, Sri Kripa Building
44,Third Main Road, R.A.Puram
Chennai 600 028
Feedback on Tamil Nadu Through My Lens – A Phot Exhibition
I was simply delighted to read the write-up Tamil Nadu Through My Lens – A Photo Exhibition (MM April 1st, 2025) for a reason that many may find odd, peculiar or even strongly condemnable. The article mentions ‘twenty talented deaf artists’ and repeatedly uses the word ‘deaf’ as opposed to ‘hearing impaired.’
‘Deaf,’ dumb,’ and ‘blind’ are simple one-syllable words that have since been replaced with cumbersome expressions. Ignoramus that I am, I cannot fathom why. The only reason that I can think of is that these words are used in a derogatory manner: “Didn’t you hear what I said? Are you deaf?” “Didn’t you see the circular on the notice board? Are you blind?”
A day will come when these simple words fade into oblivion. Can you then imagine the scenario? Easy! “Didn’t you hear me? Are you hearing impaired?” “Didn’t you see the circular on the notice board? Are you visually handicapped?” What then? Are we going to replace these expressions with a new set? And what would that be? Any guesses? And when the new set begins to be used in a derogatory manner, then what happens? Where will all this lead to?
While on the subject, I must commend the Editor. It is well within his editorial power and privilege to replace ‘deaf’ with ‘hearing impaired’ in keeping with the times. But he thought it fit not to do so, displaying some guts.
Let us revert to the simple ‘deaf,’ dumb,’ and ‘blind.’ Do we have the courage? (Note I said ‘revert’ and not ‘revert back.’)
B. Gautham
137 Wallajah Road
Chennai 600 002
Deputy Editor’s Note: We thank Mr. Gautham for his letter, which allows us to share our learnings concerning inclusive vocabulary. The language in this particular article was a conscious choice by the author as it aligned with the wishes of Mr. Srivatsan, who belongs to the community himself. However, this may not be the case for everyone. A good rule of thumb is to understand individual preferences so that respectful dialogue can be fostered. It may also be noted that ‘mute’ is the mot juste.
Name of the upcoming metro station at Anna Flyover/Gemini
I’m writing to you as a life-long resident of Madras that is Chennai and a commuter who traverses Gemini. I wanted to share a small request I had to the CMRL, to consider adding “Gemini” to the provisionally named Anna Flyover metro station.
As an avid-reader and lover of Madras, I am well aware that Madras Musings has done quite a lot in documenting and preserving our beloved memories of names such as Gemini itself.
I am very sure that my request resonates with you and would be grateful as a resident of Chennai if the idea could be picked up and shared in your pages. I strongly believe that a note on your letterhead would carry much more weight than any number of scattered messages from individual commuters.
It would truly be a grand sight to see Gemini on an official map, after all, our collective memory as a cinephile town deserves it. Thank you for all that you do in the conservation of our city and community.
Shravan Muthukumar
Mylapore
Know your neighbourhood
It is that time of the year when I launch our Journalism Training programme for neighbourhood teens. The Mylapore Times has hosted it for over 25 years now and its contours have changed. With each school education Board having its own examinations and study schedule, hosting a proper ‘Basics of Journalism & Writing’ camp at our office has been frustrating; so I dropped the plan earlier this year and wanted to sit back and dig into mangoes and jackfruit.
Then came a call from a teen and I revived the programme; hosting it online and over phone, one-on-one, for just 10 days. The first of the eight who have signed up checked in one recent morning, saying it was an auspicious day!
My focus is sharing tips on the basics. Basics which serve everybody well in any academic and professional path. We started with ‘Mapping The Neighbourhood’ exercise that morning. And I assigned the young girl from a Mylapore school a soft assignment – New Year celebrations at homes in her backyard.
It will get challenging ahead – tag the local MLA and observe what he does day in and day out, jump into the police inspector’s jeep on Kutchery Road and chat with him as he does the local rounds, walk with the Urbaser Sumeet staff as they clean our streets and understand their lives and write on the patterns of urban waste and behaviour… and yes, do take a close look at the jackfruits from Panruti sold in the hawker markets of Mylapore and Mandaveli!
Knowing your neighbourhood has to be one of the subjects that schools must include as part of even an extra-curricular calendar.
Our backyards are ‘live labs’ where the old and the modern co-exists, where real life of all kinds can be felt, observed and recorded.
Walking in public spaces, recording sights, sounds and words, observing and interviewing people, and negotiating tough or trying circumstances are some of the essential and key skills that young people need to learn. I believe journalism offers all this and much more.
There are times when I imagine a scenario where a dozen young people of Mylapore, who study in schools and colleges, take time out and record neighbourhood events and life. Be it on and off the Marina, in the narrow lanes of Mandavelipakkam or inside Pallakumaniyam nagar.
These stories and pictures would present different facets of life which often go unrecorded, un-reported. Like this story that one of our passionate readers shared – of a family of girls who took over the idiyappam business that was managed by their father who passed away. Girls who balance this food business as well as studies.
Vincent D’ Souza
Mylapore Times
Power & Glory of Madras
On July 25, 1989, Dr. Raja Ramanna, eminent scientist addressed the Rotary Club of Madras on the Power and Glory of Madras. This tongue-in-cheek talk was reported in the Lighthouse, the bulletin of the Rotary Club and we reproduce it here.
“You would have expected an erudite talk on why we should have nuclear power,” said Dr. Raja Ramanna, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies and former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission. Although such an oration did not materialise Dr. Ramanna, reminiscing on the ‘Power of Madras,’ proved that he was as adept a humorist-philosopher as he was a scientist.
“Madras was a City I greatly admired,” said Dr. Ramanna especially the city of yester years. “For us, Marina, Mylapore, Mowbray’s Road, Mambalam meant that we were in a different state of intellectual and financial existence.”
And so naturally, said Dr. Ramanna, Madras developed a little arrogance due to its predominance. “And I was surprised when the north showed a contempt for the Madrasi… I don’t know why we were never given the pride of place by the north.”
The Tamil Language too, felt Dr. Ramanna, occupied a distinct position then. “Now one is hesitant to say one can speak Tamil.”
So much for the power of the Madras Presidency. And the glory? Dr. Ramanna reminisced fondly about the great stalwarts – well – known heroes like C. Rajagopalachari and unsung ones like C.R. Reddy.
So where have all the power and glory gone? And why? The main reason, pointed out Dr. Ramanna was our apathy and cruelty to our own people. Citing the case of Dr. C.V. Raman, the Nobel Laureate he said, “Our ill treatment of a brilliant Scientist made him difficult and schizophrenic.”
“I keep asking this question,” said Dr. Ramanna, “Why must we be so rude and harsh?” Even telephone instruments (the ones with pre-recorded wait messages), he felt, sounded rude. Dr. Ramanna also made a mention of the declining education system, which defies the laws of Thermodynamics to allow the students to score 101 out of 100!
It requires a messiah, nay more than one, said Dr. Ramanna, to change such apathetic attitudes. And that is the reason, he said, why he chose not to speak about nuclear power. “For even if I’m supplying nuclear power, I wonder if it’ll reach you!