Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Centuries-old moats getting a facelift

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Thanjavur :

Efforts are being taken to renovate the moats (agazhi) surrounding the entire Brahadeeshwara temple for a 2.5 km stretch and also the big fort in the city that span for 4 km. The moats that were built during the Chola period used to be completely filled with water and were intended to defend against any attack from the enemies. Once the moats are cleared, the administration is planning to operate boats between the small and big forts to promote tourism.

For long, the moats have been a subject of issue and several organisations voiced concerns over the protection of the structures, which have now been taken up for renovation. The big fort moat that surrounds the city spans for 4 km in which about 3.4 km have been cleared of the thorny bushes and other establishments that were obstructing the flow of water, while work on the small fort protecting the temple for 2.5 km has been taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

According to officials from Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), the mission is to clean the entire premises and to allow operation of boats in the river from the big fort to the small fort, which in turn would boost tourism. Muthukumar Sathyamurthy, honorary secretary, Intach said, “The clearing works began six months ago and has been moving at a tremendous pace and we are expecting the first boat to be operated on September 27.” The entire moat surrounding the city was completely occupied by agricultural land and encroachments, which delayed the project.

He further added that the moats are weak as they were built 1,000 years ago during the Chola period and the water is now freely flowing into the passages nearby. The water is currently flowing from Pudhu Aaru into the passages, which is an advantage for the tourism department to operate the boats. Since the entire project is gigantic, several departments like the public works department, tourism, ASI and the district administration have come together.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / September 21st, 2014

Where kings and traders paused to nap

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy

Over 60 inscriptions immortalize history on the stone walls of a 1000-year-old Shiva temple in Sivapuripatti

“When Kulothunga Chola-I subjugated the Pandya kings in the 11th Century A.D., Jainism had taken roots in the Pandya country. A staunch saivaite, Kulothunga decided to resurrect the lost religion and constructed Shiva temples and mutts across the region,” narrates art historian Dr. R. Venkatraman. “Most of these places functioned as centres propagating Saivism and were situated along the major trade routes. These were also the places for the monarchs to rest.”

One such Shiva temple was built at Sivapuripatti, a village situated on the legendary trade route connecting two ancient ports — Muziris on the west coast and Thondi on the east. “The Chinese traders landed in Thondi port, while the Romans used Muziris,” says Venkatraman. “The route which was later maintained by Rani Mangammal, exists till date and passes through a number of villages.”

Today, Sivapuripatti in the present Sivaganga district is much like any other village with tiled-roof houses, dry ponds, barren fields and tall trees under which men play Dhayam and Kattam. Probably, this was how the kings and traders also played in leisure when they stopped at the mutts in the village en route to business and wars.

Not a single mutt said to be built by the Cholas is seen today. Only the temple of Suyamprakasham stands intact, bearing a slew of 60 inscriptions on its stone walls.

Each inscription tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. “These inscriptions in Tamil script belong to different time periods starting from 11th to 17th Century A.D., showing that the village was inhabited continuously and a number of kings passed through this place,” says Dr. V. Vedachalam, Retd. Archaeological Officer.

A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu

Apart from four inscriptions by Kulothunga-I, few date to the reigns of medieval Pandya kings Srivallaba, Parakrama, Kulsekara, Sundara and Vikrama Pandya. Some also refer to Vijayanagara kings like Achutharaya and NagamaNayaka and the much later Polygars such as Vijaya Ragunatha Setupati of Ramnad and the Marudu Brothers of Sivaganga.

One of the inscriptions records the existence of 10 dancers in the temple and a nattuvangar who choreographed the performances during festivals. Another refers to a peace treaty signed between two clans that ruled the region – Nishada Rajans of Pon Amaravathy and Dwarapati Velans. It elaborates on the practice of giving lands in charity to families of martyrs.

Yet another inscription talks about how King Maravarman Sundara Pandya installed an idol of his predecessor Moothanayagan in the temple premises.

“The Inscriptions state that Sivapuripatti was called Nirubasekara Chaturvedi Mangalam and Chola Marthanda Chaturvedi Mangalam during various eras,” says Vedachalam, who also postulates that the village could have been among the 300 hamlets that constituted the kingdom of Pari.

“The Sangam literature sings the glory of Piranmalai which is close by and Sivapuripatti could have very well been a part of Pari nadu.”

“A Panchaloha Nataraja idol was apparently consecrated here, though we don’t find it now,” says Vedachalam. The village people say that the idol was taken to the Archaeological research centre in Chennai, a few years back.

Another rare idol found in the temple is that of Jyeshta Devi, along with Nandikeshwara and Agni.

“This can only be found in Pandya period temples. Jyeshta Devi was the clan-deity of Pandyas and symbolizes fertility,” says Venkatraman. “The temple reflects both Pandya and Chola architectural elements. The short vimana is a trademark style of the medieval Pandyas.”

Sivapuripatti is two kilometres from Singampunari and can be reached via Kottampatti.

The heritage walk was jointly organized by DHAN Foundation, INTACH and Travel Club.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Shrikumar / Madurai – September 19th, 2014

‘Anna Popularised Tamil Language Once the preserve of Poets, Pandits’

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Chancellor G Viswanathan giving away a prize to a winner of a contest held under ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ function at VIT on Tuesday | express
Chancellor G Viswanathan giving away a prize to a winner of a contest held under ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ function at VIT on Tuesday | express

Vellore :

VIT chancellor  G Viswanathan while presiding over a function, to mark the birth anniversary of Anna on VIT campus on Tuesday said that the former CM Annadurai was the first man to make Tamil language accessible to the common man.

The programme was billed as ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ and was conducted under the aegis of the Tamil Literary Association of the university. Viswanathan, in his address, said that Tamil was once only in the realm of poets and pandits and added that Anna was an ideal leader who had a flair for writing and speaking Tamil.

Mannarmannan, son of the great Tamil Poet Bharathidasan, who was a special invitee on the occasion, lamented that people of this State were losing interest in the Tamil language. Quoting his father Bharathidasan, he said, the Tamilians here could do well only if their language was protected and nurtured. He said, while Anna was able to nurture Tamil through his fiery speeches, Bharathidasan did the same through writings.

The grandson of Bharathidasan, Bharathi, was also invited and in his address, wanted people of the State to work hard to realise the dreams of great leaders like Anna and Bharathidasan. Students should develop the habit of reading books written by great leaders. “Aim for the Nobel prize”, he told the young audience.

Prizes were distributed to winners of competitions conducted on the occasion, in which over 100 students from 50 colleges and universities participated.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / September 17th, 2014

Four ‘narikurava’ children enter school for first time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Madurai :

Four narikurava children in Devakottai are among the first from the community to enter the stream of formal education, thanks to the efforts put in by teachers and students of a school.

L Chokkalingam, the headmaster of Chairman Manickavasagam Middle School in Devakottai in Sivaganga district, says that he used to find narikurava children loitering around near their school during school hours. “These children were just wasting their time and following their parents around and hence we decided to sensitize the parents on the importance of education,” he said.

The teachers accompanied by many eager students took up the challenge of visiting the narikurava colony which was near to their school at 6am. They had to go at that time so they could talk to the narikurava parents who would leave for work early. The narikurava parents were at first not receptive to the idea of sending their children to school. Undeterred, the students staged plays at the colony to explain the importance of education. The narikurava parents came to watch these plays.

It was Pandimeenal, a narikurava mother, who stepped forward. “We are nomads and migrate often. It was not a problem till we moved around by foot. Now we travel by bus and none of us knows how to read the name of the destination written on the bus. We often end up going to the wrong place, hence we want our children to be educated,” she said.

Pandimeenal had taken it upon herself to ensure that the narikurava children come to school. Today, Simbu, 5, a class 1 student, comes to the school every day along with Packialakshmi , 8, Kartheeswari, 8, and Santosh, 7. Teachers say that the regular students are welcoming of their nomadic peers.

The narikurava children were given new uniforms. As these students were admitted to the classes based on their age, they do have problems with writing skills but all of them excel in sports. “But, they are learning fast,” says Chokkalingam, who has been assured by the leader of the narikuravas that they will not take their children when they move around. Someone would be there at the colony to take care of the children so that they can come to school, says Chokkalingam.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Padmini Sivarajah, TNN / September 20th, 2014

MADRAS 375 – When Madras marked Independence

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
As the sun set on August 15, 1947, public landmarks like Central station were lit up with coloured bulbs — Photo: The Hindu Archives
As the sun set on August 15, 1947, public landmarks like Central station were lit up with coloured bulbs — Photo: The Hindu Archives

67 years ago, celebrations took on various hues as the city rose to the dawn of the country’s Independence

As the clock struck twelve on Friday the 15, 67 years ago, the air in the Old Congress House Grounds in Royapettah resounded with the jubilant cheers of a thronging crowd.

The Congress Party flag bearing the charkha was being lowered, just as the new flag of the Indian Dominion was unfurled to its newly sovereign people. Meanwhile, thousands in other pockets of the city frantically tuned into community radio sets to follow the proceedings of the transfer of power taking place in New Delhi.

Amidst an electric refrain of ‘Vande mataram’, Madras ushered in the dawn of the country’s independence.

People flooded the streets across the city, participating enthusiastically in elaborate processions heralding a new era. Long parades bearing photos of Gandhi, Nehru and Bose, and accompanied by chariots, triumphantly powered through alleys in People’s Park, George Town and High Court Beach, where a public meeting was observed.

Triplicane beach welcomed another procession bedecked with elephants and camels, and led by K. Kamaraj, under the auspices of the Madras District Congress Committee.

Interestingly, celebrations appropriated varied tones as varied stakeholders of the city made it their own. The mill workers of the B&C mills of the Perambur Barracks celebrated in the hope that ‘freedom’ would also propel independence for labourers.

For the Muslim community in the city, the revelry was marked by the need to pronounce allegiance to the Indian nation at a time when the memory of Partition was still fresh.

The city had transformed into an arena of carnivalesque festivity. The tricolour and festoons competed against each other in leaving every façade adorned.

The merchant communities in the Kotwal Bazaar, Bunder Street and Park Town areas distributedpayasam and cooked rice to the needy. Banners reading ‘Long live India’, plastered across roads in Pondy Bazaar and T. Nagar, screamed for attention.

Celebrations, as it were, were not merely land-bound. In Madras Harbour, the sirens of docked ships pierced the air soon after the chairman of the Port Trust, M.S. Venkatraman, hoisted the national flag.

At Meenambakkam, an aircraft of the Madras Flying club piloted by Mr. Tyndale Biscoe wowed audiences by flying low over a flag mast and tipping its wing in salute.

As the sun set on August 15, 1947, public landmarks like Ripon Buildings were lit up with coloured bulbs — Photo: The Hindu Archives
As the sun set on August 15, 1947, public landmarks like Ripon Buildings were lit up with coloured bulbs — Photo: The Hindu Archives

As the sun set, the city was illuminated with a sea of lamps. Public landmarks like Ripon building and Central and Egmore stations were lit up with coloured bulbs.

Madras celebrated the nation’s independence in style. While it may have been one of the first bases to be subsumed by colonial dominion, it sure did pull out all stops to rejoice in its liberation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras 375 / by Nitya Menon / Chennai – August 15th, 2014

MADRAS 375 – From a Royapettah mess to a global chain

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, World Opinion
From 1954, when it was begun as a small mess in Royapettah, to its present form with over a dozen branches in India and four abroad, the restaurant has come a long way -- Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu
From 1954, when it was begun as a small mess in Royapettah, to its present form with over a dozen branches in India and four abroad, the restaurant has come a long way — Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Every well-known film personality in Chennai has, at some point, eaten at or gotten food from Ponnusamy Hotel, says V. Ganesan, son of A.R. Velupillai, founder of the iconic non-vegetarian restaurant.

He recalls S.S. Rajendran, T.S. Balaiah and K.R. Ramasamy, among others.

There’s even a story about lyricist ‘Pattukottai’ Kalyanasundaram’s dedication to the food. When he was struggling to enter the film world and was advised by late comedian N.S. Krishnan to leave Chennai, he said in a song: ‘Puzhal eri neer irukka, poga vara car irukka, Ponnusamy soru irukka, poveyno Chennaiai vittu thangamey thangam’ (There is water from Puzhal lake, there is adequate transport, food can be taken care of by Ponnusamy hotel. Will I ever leave Chennai?)

From 1954, when it was begun as a small mess in Royapettah by a teenager from Ramanathapuram district, to its present form, with over a dozen branches in India and four abroad, the restaurant has come a long way.

“When my father first came here with his brother, they rented this tiny, sloped-roof place. One cooked, one served and that’s how they began. Non-vegetarian was the only fare — spicy fish, prawns, chicken, mutton and all their parts — liver, kidney and brain. It was a mix of Chettinad-style cuisine and what they were used to from their village,” says Mr. Ganesan

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Dates in History
1954 
Ponnusamy Hotel started off as a small mess on Gowdia Mutt Road, Royapettah
1981 
The land the restaurant stood on was bought
1986
First phase of renovation took place
1989 
Founder A.R. Vellupillai dies
1990 
The hotel began serving Chinese fare
1992 
It expanded with several more branches across the city
2005 
began its first international branch in Dubai
Did you know ! 

The hotel serves japanese quail as a fried dish

____________________________________________________________________________________

Growing up practically at the restaurant meant Mr. Ganesan always knew how to cook. In a pinch, he says, he can handle all the Chettinad food.

“But not the Chinese,” he laughs. Cooks at the restaurant still come from the State’s southern districts and are trained in the specialties.

Over the years, while the dominant cuisine has remained what they began with, the restaurant has expanded to Chinese, other kinds of Indian food, and tandoori items, too.

While this did not go over too well with the old-timers, Mr. Ganesan says it was necessary to get families and the youth interested. “The younger crowd does not like very spicy food. Also, there’s also a lot of competition now,” he says.

The building, bought by the family in 1981, is now being renovated for a more modern ambience. Meanwhile, the next generation has entered the business — Mr. Ganesan’s son, Gowri Shankar, joined in 2000 and has several ideas for the restaurant’s new look. “The idea,” he says, “is to keep our old traditions but in a modern way.”

Over the years, while the dominant fare at Ponnusamy Hotel has remained Chettinad cuisine, the restaurant has expanded to Chinese, other kinds of Indian food, and tandoori items, too -- Photo: M. Vedhan. / The Hindu
Over the years, while the dominant fare at Ponnusamy Hotel has remained Chettinad cuisine, the restaurant has expanded to Chinese, other kinds of Indian food, and tandoori items, too — Photo: M. Vedhan. / The Hindu

Upstairs, in the airconditioned dining hall, apart from the regulars completely focussed on their meals, there’s a mix of faces and accents.

A non-resident Indian family samples fried chicken, while across from them a southeast Asian couple studies the menu.

Dozens of trays of ‘meals’, biryanis and side dishes are set out on table after table. Home delivery too, continues to be a popular option.

The restaurant’s next phase is on and ideas may change, but, as Mr. Ganesan says, “Whatever happens, Ponnusamy will be there.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai>Madras 375 / by Zubeda Hamid / Chennai – August 13th, 2014

Madras 375 – A gastronomic journey with biryani

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All
The Anna Salai branch of Buhari Hotel is its most famous -- Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu
The Anna Salai branch of Buhari Hotel is its most famous — Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu

When Buhari hotel on Anna Salai threw its gates open to the public in 1951, it ushered in a number of firsts: espresso machines making cup after cup of steaming coffee, a jukebox playing tunes of the times, and cutlery and crockery brought from London to give a “fine-dining experience to Madras’ foodies.”

A.M. Buhari, who brought the mildly spiced, fragrant biryani from Colombo, was a pioneer of sorts. Whether it was a boiled egg nestled in a bed of saffron-infused rice or Chicken 65 fried to perfection —called thus after the year it was created in, he set himself apart in the restaurant business early on.

Buhari Hotel's Anna Salai branch is its most famous -- Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu
Buhari Hotel’s Anna Salai branch is its most famous — Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu

The brand Buhari that has now become synonymous with biryani in the city emerged out of 200 different blends Mr. Buhari experimented with.

As a ten-year-old, Mr. Buhari had to leave his village in Tirunelveli district and go to Sri Lanka. After a self-sponsored education, it just took a few years to figure out his calling. Starting with trading in food and groceries, he finally set up Hotel De Buhari in Colombo and introduced the brand’s eponymous dish.

“My grandfather then wanted to return to India and came to Madras to set up Buhari,” says Nawaz Buhari, who currently heads the original branch. Today, the brand has proliferated with nine branches in the city and is looking to set up four more in the near future

___________________________________________________________________________________

Dates in History
1956
A.M. Buhari introduced a jukebox and a espresso coffee machine at the Anna Salai branch
1965
Chicken 65, a deep fired chicken dish with telltale red colouring, was introduced at the hotel
1996
The one-man show by A.M. Buhari ended, after a 45 year period with his death
Did you know !

Actor M.G. Ramachandran loved the special almond chicken soup and the cassata icecream from buhari so much that a parcel of both was frequently requested to be delivered to his house

___________________________________________________________________________

While the Anna Salai branch is its most famous, the one at Marina, set up in 1956, became the popular hangout of the 60s and 70s.

Seventy-year-old A.H. Lathif, as famous as the restaurant, has worked in the restaurant for 54 years. “I have served actors Raj Kapoor, Sivaji Ganesan and Sridevi,” he says.

Having lost the branch at Marina beach in the 80s, and the one opposite Central station very recently, the brand, headed by the patriarch till the time of his death in 1996, is now run by the family’s third generation.

With the increase in the number of branches, there are, predictably, differences in the quality and taste of the biryani. “The family has taken a decision to never go for the franchise model of business, because we cannot compromise on the brand image my grandfather worked so hard to build,” says Mr. Nawaz Buhari.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras 375 / by Evelyn Ratnakumar / Chennai – August 13th, 2014

The postman knocked

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Reader Sriram Venkatakrishnan tells me that the wives of two judges I recently mentioned in this column (Sir C. Sankaran Nair, Miscellany, April 23, and Sir T. Sadasiva Aiyar, Miscellany April 16) founded the Egmore Ladies’ Recreation Club (does it exist today, I wonder) which provided one of the first platforms for women outside the Devadasi community to demonstrate their talents. The first person to use this stage was C. Saraswathi Bai, “the first Lady Bhagavatar”, who gave a Harikatha recital. It was her first public performance – and she was all of 11. The Sankaran Nairs were taken to task by many eminent citizens of Madras for encouraging her, but they ignored the protests and continued to champion the unconventional. Many years later, adds reader Venkatakrishnan, D. K. Pattammal too gave her first performance at the Club. By then “Society’s attitude to women had changed considerably for the better.”

* With Gokhale Hall being much in the news these days, it would only be meet to remember Sir Sankaran Nair’s connection with the Young Men’s Indian Association, whose home the Hall was to become, writes a reader who prefers anonymity. The Hindu which was for long at loggerheads with Annie Besant did not take too kindly to the founding of the YMIA in January 1914. It wrote, “The manner in which she has lately figured in the civil and criminal courts in Madras, the heated controversy in which she has embroiled herself with the Christian Missionaries of Madras, and what is far more important than all, the proceedings now actually pending in the High Court against her for committal of contempt – ought to make responsible members of the community, Indian and European, feel very reluctant in the manner of associating with her for any common and ostensibly good purpose. It seems to us…there is the want of a sense of propriety in judges of the High Court and others holding high official and unofficial positions giving countenance to Mrs. Besant’s public activities in the present stage of her litigation.” Sir Sankaran Nair, who had agreed to be the Chairman of the YMIA, promptly resigned – stating that he had accepted Mrs. Besant’s invitation “on certain conditions” and since these had not been met, he did not consider himself a member of the Association.

* Reader M. Narayanan writes apropos the mention of Dr. S. Rangachary (Miscellany, April 23) that the doctor owned Ranga Nursing Home on Mowbray’s Road (now TTK Road) and loved cars and aircraft. One of the first Indians to get a pilot’s licence, he often flew the Puss Moth he owned to visit patients in the mofussil areas, landing on non-existent airstrips that were barren fields. He also owned a Rolls Royce and a Lanchester – which as early as the 1930s had pre-selector gears. (A Lanchester 1950 model was once my pride – and spoilt me for driving any other type of car. Karumuthu Thyagaraja Chettiar was another who mollycoddled a Lanchester of the same vintage.) Dr. Rangachary once drove his Rolls Royce all the way from Madras to Mettur, about 200 miles, treated a patient there and drove back – a 14-hour day – to treat patients waiting in Madras.

* Reader P.K. Belliappa writes that his father P.K. Monappa (Miscellany, May 7), probably held a record of sorts, nine years as an Inspector General of Police, heading the Police in three States: in Hyderabad after the Police Action, in newly formed Andhra Pradesh, and in Karnataka, where he retired in 1958. Rao Bahadur Monappa had an exemplary career in the Public Service, reflected duly by his titles and medals. That career of service in Madras State of his father is what made Belliappa opt for Madras and not his home State, Karnataka, when he joined the IAS.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / May 14th, 2007

When the Queen of Song captured the West

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
M.S. Subbulakshmi and her husband, T. Sadasivam (third from left), are greeted by the Duke of Edinburgh at the International Music Festival. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
M.S. Subbulakshmi and her husband, T. Sadasivam (third from left), are greeted by the Duke of Edinburgh at the International Music Festival. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

In 1963, M.S. Subbulakshmi enthralled audiences at the International Music Festival in Edinburgh

M.S. Subbulakshmi, the ‘queen of song’ would have turned 98 on September 16. While she continues to be celebrated as a legend of Indian classical music around the globe, not many are aware that up until 1963, the Western world knew little of her or her music.

It was only with the International Music Festival held in Edinburgh in September that year that things changed. The West finally discovered Carnatic music as it were, and the voice that rendered it best.

The Carnatic musician and her husband, T. Sadasivam, received Lord Harewood, the president of the festival, at their home in Madras. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
The Carnatic musician and her husband, T. Sadasivam, received Lord Harewood, the president of the festival, at their home in Madras. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Lord Harewood, the president of the festival and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, however, had the good fortune of hearing M.S. five years prior to his fellow countrymen. It was in October 1958, in Delhi, that Lord Harewood and his Countess found themselves enthralled by one of M.S.’ many national broadcasts.

T. Sadasivam, the icon’s husband, writes in M.S: The Queen of Song (1987): “Evidently they were taken up by her music and later gave us the pleasure of receiving them in our home in Madras. They invited us to Edinburgh in order that Subbulakshmi could participate in the International Music Festival.”

The show, conceived as an opportunity to initiate Western audiences to the riches of India’s performing arts, also featured sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, violinist Yehudi Menuhin and dancer Balasaraswati, among others.

For M.S., this was a first on many accounts. Not only was it her first overseas performance, but also her very first trip abroad.

On August 21, she left Madras by train to Bombay, from where she flew to London four days later. During her two-hour-long recitals on August 30 and September 2, she was accompanied by R.S. Gopalakrishnan on the violin, T.K. Murthy on the mridangam, and Alangudi Ramachandran on the ghatam.

Narayana Menon, secretary of the Sangeet Natak Academy, also educated the unfamiliar audience in the history, dynamics and nuances of the Carnatic music system, with special reference to the songs being performed.

M.S.’ concerts ran to packed houses in the Freemason Hall. A jubilant headline on the front page of The Hindu on September 4 read ‘M.S In Top Form at Edinburgh’.

The artist exhilarated crowds with her performance of compositions by Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Swathi Thirunal, Papanasam Sivan, Panchanadeeswarar Aiyar and Tagore. It was Hari tuma haro, a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, with which she chose to conclude.

Soon after, M.S. was invited to Europe and then America to perform.

This was the landmark which enabled Carnatic music to be unveiled to the West and find a truly international audience. For that, and much more, we have M.S. Subbulakshmi to thank.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Nitya Menon / Chennai – September 18th, 2014

Last chance to breathe life into 140-year-old trust

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

Chennai :

Academics and jurists are waiting with bated breath, even as Madras high court is busy finalizing the list of trustees to run the 140 year old P T Lee Chengalvaraya Naicker Trust, which has institutions and properties valued at more than Rs 1,000 crore in Chennai and Kancheepuram districts. To this day, the HSBC Bank is sending dividend amount ranging from Rs 51 lakh to Rs 1.1 crore to the trust every year. Such was the vision of the man.

At the time of his death, philanthropist Chengalvaraya Naicker was barely 45 years old. But he had bequeathed all his wealth with an intention to establish educational institutions and orphanages. As on date, the trust runs at least a dozen institutions and has properties on Anna Salai, Vepery, Royapettah, Choolai and Kancheepuram district.

A division bench of Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice K Ravichandrabaabu is slated to pass orders in the matter in a day or two.

Though more than five teams of trustees have had their full tenures in the past, the quality and volume of activities at the trust-run institutions have been steadily declining, say academics. “This year only a handful of students have joined our engineering college near Kancheepuram though we do not collect any capitation and we have good facilities,” he said, blaming the trustees’ misplaced priorities for the poor condition of the institutions. A former chairman suggested that the trust donate Rs 51 lakh to a city temple, while another wanted to sell a trust property at Mint street for a throwaway price, he rued. Another chairman appropriated all powers of all trustees, resulting in an internal revolt, while a chairman diverted all fixed deposit funds of the trust to a bank and branch of his personal choice.

“Malgovernance, rampant corruption and favouritism, besides discrimination of non-Vanniar staff members and employees at the trust and the trust-run institutions are causes of concern,” a jurist associated with the trust proceedings for a long time told The Times of India. Though the decree nowhere states that the retired HC judge who would head the team of trustees should be only from Vanniar community, for the past few terms only such candidates are being considered, resulting in the contraction of choices, he said.

Precious pieces of land such as the one in Royapettah are under illegal encroachment, and the trustees have not taken steps to get back Rs 2 crore from Pachaiyappa’s trust, a lawyer said, adding that the engineering college is deliberately being pushed into oblivion.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by A. Subramani,  TNN / September 18th, 2014