Situated between commercial establishments on Armenian Street, opposite the Madras high court, is the Armenian Church. One of the oldest churches in India, tombs of about 350 Armenians can be found there. But, according to Satenig Batwagan, researcher and historian at the Society for Armenian Studies, Paris, that number actually pales in comparison when one considers the ‘countless Armenians’, who led a happy and prosperous life in old Madras.
Currently in Chennai to organise ‘Armenians in Madras’, an exhibition at Armenian Church as part of the Madras Week celebrations, Ms Batwagan says, “a lot of Armenian school children, today, are aware of the role played by Armenians in Madras. They are curious to know about their past and Madras, especially, played a significant role.” Tracing the movement of Armenians to modern day Chennai, Ms. Batwagan says, “Unlike other Europeans, like the Portuguese, Dutch and French, who also came during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Armenians were primarily merchants and had no colonial intentions. Thus, they were well regarded by locals.”
Giving a measure of the prominent connection between Madras and Armenia, she says it was here in the year 1780, that Shahamir Shahamirian wrote the first constitution for the Armenian state. Another person, Haruthyun Shmavonian, priest at the local St. Mary’s Church brought out Azdarar (The Monitor), the first ever Armenian periodical, in 1794. Quite appropriately, he is referred to as the founder of the Armenian Press. Besides, an altar curtain made in Madras in 1789 can be found at the treasury in Edjmiadzin, holy city of Armenia.
Sadly though, not many among the residents of the city are aware that the Armenians were also benefactors of the city. Khodja Petrus Uscan, a prosperous merchant, originally constructed the Maraimalai Adigal Bridge or Marmalong Bridge, across the Adayar River, in 1728. In addition, he was also instrumental in facilitating access to St. Thomas Mount by building the steps leading up to the church.
“When I mention the contributions to our people, they express surprise. It has taken a lady from Paris to highlight the rich Armenian heritage of Chennai, when ideally, citizens here should have been made aware of much earlier,” Trevor Alexander, caretaker of the Armenian Church says.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / by Venkatesan Parthasarthy / August 19th, 2014
Over the last decade or so, as the city has grown as a business and corporate hub, people from other countries have begun to set up base here — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu
A number of people from Belgium, Spain, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, South Korea and several other countries call the city ‘home’
In 2004, when Lydie Vranken Abdulla, a native of Belgium, first came to Chennai, there were only about five buildings from Sholinganallur to Kelambakkam.
In the 10 years since, the city has grown along with her restaurant on ECR.
Mrs. Abdulla is part of a small community of Belgians who call Chennai home. As do a number of people from Spain, France, Russia, Germany, UK, USA, Japan, South Korea and several other countries.
“There is this perceived idea about Chennai — that it is a closed city. But for newcomers who have no existing network here, Chennai is both generous and easy to live in. If you interact with people here on a mutually respectful basis, they are more than interested in what you have to say,” says Bart De Groof, consul general, Consulate General of Belgium in Chennai.
The city has a long history of association with other countries — cultural organisations such as Alliance Francaise of Madras have been here since 1953, while the Goethe Institut was set up in 1960.
British Council too has been here for several decades, while the American Library opened here in 1947.
Over the last decade or so, as the city has grown as a business and corporate hub, people from other countries have begun to set up base here — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu
Over the last decade or so, however, as the city has grown as a business and corporate hub, people from several other countries too, have begun arriving — with some staying here for brief periods and others deciding to settle.
And it’s not just big businesses sending in their representatives — several foreigners have their own enterprises here too. Earlier this year, for instance, Serbian Bogdan set up a restaurant in T. Nagar, with chefs Jovan and Goran.
InterNations — an international community for people living and working abroad — in Chennai, has close to 3,000 members, from dozens of countries.
South Korean Sang-woo Alex Kim has spent almost four years in the city. Though he hates the mosquitoes and the weather, he is a fan of Indian food.
His colleague, Andrew Jung Min Pak, says that despite skin infections, water problems and food issues, he likes the city. “In Chennai, you can see the 1950s, the 60s, the 70s, and all the way up, until the present,” he says.
For American Cailin O’Connor, a teaching artist, it is the people here who have led her to love the city. She says something that is echoed by almost every expatriate — the people here are warm and welcoming, much more so than those in other cities.
And while for German Melanie B., the city may not be ideal, she says, “It always surprises me.”
While expatriates from each country have their own little communities and keep in touch, there’s also a lot of inter-mingling.
The food in Chennai calls out to some, while for others, it’s the history. But for almost all, the charm lies in what Mrs. Abdulla calls a variety of opposites — a combination of the traditional and the modern.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / Madras 375 / by Zubeda Hamid / Chennai – August 21st, 2014
Branching off from both sides of D B Road is a little known street called Sambandhan Road. You have West Sambandhan Road which leads to Thadagam Road and East Sambandhan Road which leads to Mettupalayam Road. The road is believed to have been named as a tribute to former municipal chairman M Sambandhan in the 1930s when the legendary Rathna Sabapathy Mudaliar drew the layout of R S Puram.
However, like almost all roads in R S Puram the road has seen a lot of changes in the demography of its residents over the past few decades and only a handful of original inhabitants can still be found. So, it is not surprising that not many people know who Sambandan was or why the road was named after him. M Sambandhan was born in 1869 and passed his Class 10 in 1885. Then he moved to erstwhile Madras for further studies. The MCC graduate got his degree in 1891 and got a degree in law from Presidency College in 1894.
Being the son of former tahsildar and Tamil literature expert Muthukrishna Mudaliyar, he moved back to the city in 1894 and took up a job as a secretary of a sugar manufacturing company. In 1901, he began his legal career. However, in 1906 he decided to enter public life. “He became a municipal councillor in 1906 and went on to become a municipal chairman in 1916,” say INTACH members and historians Perur K Jayaraman and Rajesh Govindarajulu.
The man is believed to have greatly contributed to the city infrastructure creation in the early 20th century. “He was awarded a certificate of merit and a silver medal as a councillor,” says Govindarajulu. He then grew in society by becoming the director of Janopakara Needhi, becoming committee members of the Cosmopolitan Clubs of Coimbatore and Chennai, becoming a part of the Madras legislative council, Theasophical Society, becoming a Free Mason and being a part of the Madras Mahajana Sabha, known to be instrumental in forming a congress chapter in the state, says Govindarajulu.
The street, which now has cars parked on both sides and is dotted with apartment complexes and a range of commercial establishments like a bakery, coffee shop, an art gallery, clinics, Aavin outlet and eateries, has managed to retain a bit of its past. There still exist a few two-storey independent houses, painted in peach, blue and pink with terraces and flat window sills. The street’s oldest resident 78-year-old S S Seshadri gave a glimpse of the street’s past.
“I was born in this house on this street in 1936. My parents had moved here in 1933,” he recalls. “Then it was just a gravel and mud road. We just had horse carriages. It became a tar road in 1952. “The Chandrika soap manufacturing unit was based in East Sambandhan Road,” says Jayaraman.
“The whole road used to be filled with fragrance when they processed their solution,” he adds. The road also used to have a few well-known residents like surgeon T S Sivanandham and former movie actor T S Baliah. Seshadri says the road for decades used to have only independent limestone houses with tiled roofs. “It changed about 40 years back when people began to use cement to renovate them. Many sold off their property and left the area. Now it has become more of a commercial street with more shops and apartments than houses,” he says. He gets nostalgic as he talks about those “good old days” when he used to spin tops on this very street. He knows those days will not come back again.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Pratiksha Ramkumar, TNN / August 17th, 2014
The impressive mandapam of Sri Thyagaraja Swami Vadivudaiamman temple at Tiruvottiyur. (Photo: DC)
Chennai:
Tiruvottiyur, a busy northern suburb has its due share of pristine beaches, but it is steeped in the city’s religion, accommodating a 1,500-year-old temple although it became part of Madras city (now Chennai) much later.
The Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Vadivudai Amman temple at Tiruvottiyur with its impressive seven-storeyed raja gopuram – a masterpiece in south Indian temple architecture- is about 1,500 years old.
The presiding deity is Thyagaraja Swamy and the sthalapuranam claims that this is the first temple in the world to this deity. It is also known as Tiruvotreeswaran, after whom the town came to be known. Goddess Vadivudai Amman, who is among the three Shakthis in and around the city , represents Jnana Sakthi (power of knowledge) and special prayers are offered to the Devi, offering a red saree and jackfruit for neivaedhiyam.
There are 27 lingams in a row, one for each of the 27 stars, and in the inner prakaaram are situated the sannadhis of the 63 Saivaite saints. This temple has attracted numerous saints and poets like Appar, Sundarar, Gnana Sambandhar, Vallalar, Valmiki, Kambar, Adi Shankara. The Kamba Ramayanam was composed here before it was recited at Srirangam, Tiruchy.
There is also the samdhi of saint Pattinathar in Tiruvottiyur.
Tiruvottiyur is a developing northern residential suburb with a population of 2,49,446 and has a heavy concentration of industries. It has good road and rail connectivity, fishing hamlets besides a good number of educational institutions, restaurants and malls.
Other attractions here include the Srinivasa Perumal temple, Ramakrishna Nagar beach, Shanmuganar park, Sri Muthu Krishna Swami Madam, Varadharaja Perumal temple, Kattu Ponaimman temple. This state Assembly constituency is one of the biggest areas in the Chennai-North Lok Sabha constituency.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar / August 17th, 2014
When G Mariammal, 60, hoisted the Tricolour on Friday, it was one of the most unforgettable moments in her life. Tears rolled down the eyes of Mariammal, the only woman undertaker in the district after hoisting the flag at the Sellur night shelter, even as she was surrounded by a group of people.
Thanks to the efforts of social workers and members of Padikattugal, a youth volunteer forum, Mariammal was bestowed with the honour of hoisting the Tricolour. “I have never participated in a flag-hoisting ceremony before and I used to watch it from a distance when I was a child. I never imagined that I will touch the Tricolour with my hands and hoist it,” said Mariammal, an undertaker at the Pasumalai crematorium.
The occasion also fulfilled a distant dream of 52 destitutes of the corporation night shelter at Sellur as they were provided with sweets and gifts. Two of the staff, Sundara Vadivu and Shanmugam, were honoured by the volunteers for serving the poor with dedication. The youth forum members mobilized funds through social networking sites and bought rice bags, sweets, clothes and two plastic water drums for night shelter.
Children homes, orphanages and old age homes were provided rice and provisions during the event.
Moved by the gesture of youngsters, one of the inmates, G Murugesan announced his wish to donate his organs after his death.
V P Sundara Subramanian, a city-based social worker said they did not expect this from the elderly man. “We will get him the necessary forms and help him out with the documentation work,” he said. M Kishore, who led Padikattugal volunteers said they wanted to celebrate Independence Day with the less privileged people. “We mobilized money and resources through social networking sites and our volunteers contributed generously. With success of this programme, we are planning a massive Diwali celebration for members of children and old age homes,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / S. Lenin, TNN / August 16th, 2014
The flag made of silk, which was part of the museum’s reserve collection, has been on display since Republic Day last year — Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu
The national flag gallery at the Fort Museum, among other exhibits, traces the evolution of the Indian flag
As the nation marks its 67th Independence Day, tucked away in the second floor of the quaint Fort Museum is the first Indian national flag hoisted from Fort St. George.
“The Indian national flag that was hoisted on the morning of 15 August, 1947, at Fort St. George is made of silk and measures eight feet by twelve feet,” said an official.
The flag, which was part of the museum’s reserve collection, has been on display since Republic Day last year, the official said. The response has been very encouraging, he added.
“The flag is an important part of our history and we wanted the public to see it. Several school students and families have visited the museum and this particular gallery,” the official said.
On the morning of August 15, 1947, the then Chief Justice of Madras administered the oath to Archibald Edwards Nye, Governor of Madras, at the Secretariat in Fort St. George — Photo: The Hindu Archives
The Fort Museum, which comes under the Archaeological Survey of India, has galleries that display arms, medals, portraits and coins, among several other exhibits, primarily from the colonial period.
The national flag gallery and the adjacent freedom fighters gallery, among other exhibits, trace the evolution of the Indian flag and the earliest postal stamps of independent India.
The freedom fighters gallery has a list of over 1,000 freedom fighters, apart from photos and copies of some documents given to the museum by freedom fighters’ families.
“We request families of freedom fighters to come forward and share photos, documents or any information about them so that we can display it at the museum,” the official said.
The period museum has been functioning from what is called the Exchange Building at Fort St. George, since 1948.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras 375 / by Asha Sridhar / Chennai – August 15th, 2014
The Madurai Jogging Club celebrated its 30th anniversary at its club premises in Madurai Race Course Stadium, on Sunday.
“The club was started with five members by Venkatavaradhan, Narayana Chettiar and S T Nova three decades ago. Over the years, its members’ strength increased gradually. At present it has 750 members,” said joint secretary L Sekar.
Ahead of 30th anniversary, the club conducted various games among themselves. The state’s sports minister S Sundararajan and co-operative minister Sellur K Raju distributed the prizes to the winners during the function. In his speech, the sports minister Sundararajan pointed out various measures that have been taken by the present AIADMK government to develop sports in the state.
“Earlier, only a sum of Rs 30 crore was allotted for the development of sports in Tamil Nadu. But, now it has touched Rs 210 crore,” he said. Besides, steps have been taken to build indoor, outdoor stadiums and hostels in each district. Old stadiums throughout the state would also be renovated at a cost of Rs1 crore, the sports minister said. Meanwhile, the club representatives wanted the sports minister to take steps to make toilet facilities and give concession to members of the jogging club to use the indoor stadium. They told the minister that the sports development authority demanded Rs 500 per month for their entry. However, the members said they played a major role in the construction of indoor stadium and also donated money for the same. And hence, it would be just giving 50 percent concession to the members, they said. State’s sports minister S Sundararajan, co-operative minister Sellur K Raju, Madurai mayor V V Rajan Chellappa and member of parliament R Gopalakrishnan, MLA A K Bose, sports development authority regional senior manager R K Durai Singh, district sports officer S Murugan also participated. Club’s president S Kathiresan welcomed the gathering and K Alagu delivered vote of thanks.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / July 28th, 2014
Phasing out of film projectors has altered cinema-going experience of the younger generation. (Above) The projector room at Batcha theatre (formerly Minerva theatre) in Broadway. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
As digital projectors slowly replace traditional, analog ones, film projectionists have become obsolete
There was a time when a film projectionist could make or break the fortune of a cinema theatre.
While the hallowed grounds of projection rooms were where celluloid film rolls whirred into action, bringing to the screens movie magic, the projectionist was the gatekeeper who ensured the show went on without a hitch.
But not anymore.
As digital projectors continue to replace the traditional, analog ones in most theatres across the world, film projectionists have simply been made obsolete.
The few, remaining ones in the city, such as 63-year-old P.S. Mohamad Mohideen Khan who has been projecting images for the past 44 years, feel the death of film projection will diminish the awe and magic of cinema.
Mr. Khan, who now works at the second-tier Srinivasa theatre in West Mambalam, developed an interest in the projected image as a child. He says, “As a young boy, I used to pass light through the film and project the image on to a screen.”
He then went on to work at several theatres, most of which, he says, have been turned into ‘car sheds or garages’.
The phasing-out of film projectors altered the cinema-going experience of the younger generation.
“The big bulky projectors could kindle the curiosity of the audience when they entered a cinema hall. Visiting the so-called projector room was a part of the movie-going experience. It is not there anymore,” says Mr. Khan.
He says it was no easy job: a projectionist had to be alert all the time and it involved hard labour.
“It was a tough job, no doubt about that. One had to monitor how the images were projected on the screen all the time. If the carbon arc burnt too close to the film, it could make the images on the screen dark,” he says.
These days, Mr. Khan operates both digital projectors and the analog, British-made Westrex that uses a Zenon bulb.
What does he think of the future of cinema projection? “Where should it go further? It has already come down to pushing a button to play the film,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Udhav Nag / August 13th, 2014
A trip to Mylapore is not considered complete without a pit stop at Mylai Karpagambal Mess. / Photo: S.S. Kumar / The Hindu
Right from the banana leaf to the hot kaapi, everything about this place screams Madras.
If you guessed Mylai Karpagambal Mess, then you are bang on target. A trip to Mylapore is never complete if you have not stepped into this modest restaurant for a bite or a cup of degree coffee.
When the mess was started 65 years ago, it was a place which served meals for 50 people. People used to come here for our potato podimas, beans usili, avial, amd lemon and pineapple rasam
“Young or old, they still prefer filter coffee to cold coffee and pongal to pizzas,” says S. Prabhu Das, who has taken over the responsibility of the restaurant from his father, R. Soundarajan. The eat-out has something old and something new to attract new customers, and yet retains its original flavour.
Reminiscing about the beginnings, Mr. Prabhu said, “When the mess was started 65 years ago, it was a place which served meals for 50 people. My grandfather used to procure vegetables from the market and serve customers personally. People used to come here for our potato podimas, beans usili, avial, and lemon and pineapple rasam.”
As people who came after 1 p.m. missed lunch, Mr. Soundararajan did away with the meals and the present menu of variety rice and light tiffin was introduced in 1989.
“My father concentrated on the taste but I want to combine it with health as well,” says Prabhu.
Now, Prabhu and his wife, Prema, have introduced a variety of dishes such as murungakeerai adai avial, modakathan pickle,nellaikkaipodi and pavakkai podi. Other new launches include the kalyana gothsu, a variety of vadais — cabbage, parappu,vazhapu, keerai (available between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) — pineapple pudding, and kasi and wheat halwas.
A major attraction in one corner of the 1500-sq. ft. hall is a counter which sells milagai podi, paruppu podi, karuveppilai podi, vazhapoo pickle and pudhina podi. Many of them are made of herbs which help reduce BP, sugar, purify blood and soothe the nerves, Prabhu says.
He maintains that their recipe for success lies in the painstakingly written recipes that his mother had inherited from his grandmother. His wife has them now.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras 375 / by Lalitha Sai / August 08th, 2014
A foreigner taking photograph at Aadi Perukku festivel in Tiruchi on Sunday. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam / The Hindu
Celebrations on dry riverbed at many places in Delta region
A large number of men and women offered worship to the Cauvery at the various bathing ghats in various parts of the district on Sunday on the occasion of Aadi Perukku. They took a holy dip in the river and performed a special puja as a mark of thanksgiving to the river which ensures their prosperity.
At the Ammamandapam bathing ghat, people started taking the holy dip even as early as 4 p.m. and performed their puja to the river. Newly married couple offered their marriage garlands as part of their prayer.
The lively current in the river delighted the devotees, particularly those who had come from adjoining districts of Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Pudukottai.
They lit camphor and offered coconuts after the holy dip.
A coordinated and comprehensive arrangement by various government departments and service organisations facilitated the smooth conduct of the festival. A team of 12 Fire and Rescue Services personnel, led by M. Melchioraja, Station Officer, Srirangam, said that a close vigil was kept on the safety of the devotees and youths as the water level was on the rise.
Police personnel, led by Kabilan, Assistant Commissioner, Srirangam, regulated the queues at the bathing ghat. Divers were drafted to duty to meet any emergency.
The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation made adequate arrangements for the immediate collection of clothes and saris and immediately cleared it from the spot. A large number of men and women were seen offering the clothes shortly after the holy dip.
In Thiruvayaru
With no water in the Cauvery, people celebrated Aadi Perukku festival in the dry riverbed at Thiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur.
A borewell was drilled by local authorities and people used the water coming out of it. But most of the people offered the worship in dry sand and a fleet of steps of the river. Although the Public Works Department released 2,500 cusecs of water into the Cauvery from the Grand Anicut, it did not reach Thiruvaiyaru and other places. Water was not released into the Grand Anicut canal as construction work is going on at many places. People celebrated the festival with stagnant water in Vennar near drinking water pumping station near Thanjavur.
But lack of water had not dampened the spirit of people. They gathered at bathing ghats and offered worship. Children pulled toy cars.
Veerasenan, a farmer of Pattukottai, said that the PWD should have completed the construction work ahead of Aadi Perukku festival. “Now people have no water in most of the rivers to celebrated Aadi Perukku festival. This is condemnable,” he said.
Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of Tamil month of Aadi to welcome fresh water in the river. It is an irony that people had to celebrate the festival in dry sand.
In Karur
Thousands of devotees thronged along the Cauvery bed in different parts of the Karur district to celebrate the annual festival of Aadi Perukku.
Heavy crowd was seen in Mayanur, Lalapet, Kulithalai, Vangal, Nerur, and Thirumukkudal to perform special puja. Besides taking a holy dip, the newly wedded brides’ took the opportunity to replace the “mangalsutra” with new one. They distributed “prasadams” to each others.
(With inputs from M. Balaganessin in Tiruchi, G. Srinivasan in Thanjavur and C. Jaisankar in Karur)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Tiruchi Bureau / Tiruchi – August 03rd, 2014
