Madras Week is here again. The excitement is slowly building up as the city’s enthusiasts begin planning the next edition of what has become an annual celebration of Madras that is Chennai. We at Madras Musings have put together a set of nine programmes as part of our offering this year. The details are given alongside. We welcome you to these events and request that while planning your attendance, you may please also note which events require prior registration.
At this point of time, Chennai or Madras remains probably the only city in the country to have such a festival, organised only by private initiative. True, the Government has in the past few years done its bit, but these are events that are put together by departments and undertakings. It is to be noted that no financial support is expected by the private organisers of Madras Week and it is unique in its conceptualisation. The idea of the founders of the event was that it had to be a spontaneous celebration of the city. And that is how it has come to be.
Certain misconceptions still abound and at times media plays a role in this. The foremost is that August 22 was the birthdate of Madras. This, as we have often hastened to correct, may not be true at all. Madraspatnam was in all probability, a hamlet that already existed, and this view has been buttressed by the discovery of an inscription bearing the name in Vijayanagar times. So the British may at most have begun a colonial version of Madras in 1639 in August. Or maybe July. We cannot say for sure. But what is certain is that in recent years this has become the date on which the city celebrates itself. As we often say, there is no need to be apologetic about Madras Day- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have no historic basis and yet are celebrated are they not?
The other is that the concept only promotes colonial heritage. Nothing could be farther than the truth than this notion. Madras Week looks at every aspect of the city -past, present and future. Would you consider chess a part of colonial legacy? What about equal rights for everyone? And sanitation and hygiene? Madras Week is not just about celebration. Over time it has also emerged as a serious forum for raising questions and concerns about where the city is headed. Some of the best minds in the city have used this to express their views and vision for the city. And so, Madras Week also emerges as a catalyst for change and progress.
And so, are you part of an organisation of any kind – a business house, a corporate entity, a school, a college, a consulate, a hotel or even a residents’ association? And would you like to celebrate Madras or Chennai? Put on your thinking caps and come up with ideas. If you cannot think of anything, do join some of the events that others are putting together. You can volunteer too and do your bit for the city.
If you are raring to go in any one of the ways above, do drop an email to themadrasday@gmail.com and we will make sure that the event you are helming or are a part of is up on the website www.themadrasday.in
Remember, there are no hard and fast rules on how to celebrate Madras Day. You can do it your way. But do celebrate – that is important for it spreads positivity and cheer, something we can always do with in our lives.