Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Madras chunam and other finds

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

        The mussoolah boats of old Madras. 

Known better as the ‘Blind Traveller’, James Holman is a 19th Century writer whose travelogues offer fascinating details about southern India and Ceylon: e.g. ‘Panvarypank tank, one of the largest in the Carnatic’, ‘the dilapidated palace of Nabob of Arcot’, ‘a tour of Vollore Fort which housed the King of Kandy’, ‘the remaining relatives of Tippoo Saib, consisting of one of his wives, and several children’, ‘oranging gardens at Laulpett’, ‘detailed record of the Moharram festivities running into many pages with a bit of history outlining the origins of Moharram’, etc.

Holman was born in Exeter, England, in 1786 and volunteered to serve in the Royal Navy in 1798. Although he turned fully blind by 1811, due to an illness affecting his joints first and, later, his vision, Holman disliked leading an inactive life. He toured on the pretext of health and higher studies between 1819 and 1832. It is said that Holman’s notes inspired Charles Darwin to study the flora of the Indian Ocean region. Holman was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He died on July 29, 1857.

The following jottings are from one of four volumes that were intended for publication as a series. Holman’s travels to and in Madras are described in Volume III: Travels in Madras, Ceylon, Mauritius, Cormoro Islands, Zanzibar, Calcutta, etc. etc. (1840; George Routledge, London).

Holman in this volume provides “a most accurate and complete description of the whole process of making the chunam“, which Madras has been famed for. Much of what Holman has published is based on hearsay, as his vision was impaired; however, he neither permits this disability to impede his travel nor his experiences. Chunam is a mixture of burnt-lime and river sand with sufficient quantity of water. Burnt-lime is derived from sea-shells that are well washed and cleansed, after which their sulphur compounds are removed using charcoal.

Writing about the chunam production methods for single and multiple wall coatings, Holman explains it all in detail: process of preparing chunam with river sand and water, “wooden stick shod with iron” (similar to the ulakkai used in separating rice from husk) to beat this mixture, flat wooden rule to level the coating, crystal or smooth stone rubber to smoothen the surface, Bellapum powder (soapstone or steatite, the mineral lapis ollaris, popularly known as the talc) sprinkled “to increase . . . whiteness and lustre.” We come across the traditional curd [tayir], while he lists the ingredients for the three coats: a mixture of four parts of lime with one part of white sand and “white eggs, tayir, and ghee (butter)…”.

Speaking highly of the chunam produced in Madras, Dr. James Anderson, founder of the Saidapet Nopalry and Anderson’s Garden in Nungambakam, claims, in a series of letters to the Editor of Recreations in Agriculture, Natural History, Arts and Miscellaneous Literature (1799), that “… it is universally admitted the chunam of Madras is of a superior quality to any other in India.” Running to 12 pages, Dr. Anderson responds to several questions, raised by one Dr. Scott of Bombay, on Madras chunam. In one explanation, Anderson refers to talc material as “balpum of the Tamuls” – balpum or bellapum – a term very much in vogue among primary school children of rural Tamil Nadu.

No wonder Holman was so fascinated, amongst other things, with Madras chunam. Long famed for its marble-like finish, chunam plaster (made from either limestone or sea shells), preferred for its durability, was used to whitewash the house walls. With the arrival of modern paints and painting methods, this long tradition has lost many ardent supporters as the preparation of chunam, depending on the application, is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process.

Holman’s voyage to Madras recorded in Volume III starts with his setting sail from Trincomalee, Ceylon, on May 13, 1830, crossing Negapatam and Cuddalore before anchoring in Pondicherry on May 15th. On the merchandise exported, he notes: “The principal articles are … indigo and blue cotton cloth …, the latter is sent in great quantities to Bordeaux, from where it is taken to Senegal, and the West Indies islands for the use of the negroes.” He goes on to outline the “native mode of dyeing blue cloth as practised at Pondicherry,” and the “several sugar plantations,” which were laid out about three years before his visit and which “have proved very successful.”

Having reached Madras by the Brigate Margaret, to get to the shore he had to take amussoolah boat that is used for landing on the beach. “These boats possess a flat bottom, sewn together with coir-yarns, and the seams are crossed with a wadding of coir.” He mentions that he was pursued by the boatmen shouting “boxis sahib” (boxis =baksheesh).

On June 2, 1830, he travels to Bangalore in a palanquin lent by Mr. Dunlop, a Madras Magistrate. On his way to Bangalore, near Conjeevaram, Holman and the Collector (of Conjeevaram?) Mr. Cotton join the “grand procession from the great pagoda in Little Conjeevaram to the resting place for the idol at the further end of Great Conjeevaram.” Greeted with a “chaplet of flowers”, Holman was permitted to “examine their musical instruments, as well as the costume of one of the young dancing girls”. A week’s sojourn in Bangalore proved a relief to Holman because of the salubrious climate: “[the climate] was so like that of our own country that with closed curtain (it was easy) to believe ourselves at home in ‘merry’ England.”

Back in Madras, Holman comes under the magical spell of “fine Mulligatawny soup for the internal coat of the stomach”, but regrets that he could not get its recipe. Holman’s itinerary is such that he finds himself in Madras in peak summer and the sweltering heat does not escape his attention either. In his journal, dated June 30, 1830, Holman states: “Weather was so hot that no one thought of going out of doors except upon urgent business… apartments were spacious and kept cool with tatties (possibly made from vetiver roots and hung along windows as curtains), so that a very comfortable temperature was maintained within doors during the heat of the day…”

He writes of the introduction of punkahs to Madras: “… said to be the invention of Mr. Speke, a Bengal civilian, about fifty years ago, and was first introduced at Madras in 1803 by two gentlemen from Calcutta.”

On Fort St.George and its neighbourhood, Holman refers to Black Town, known to the natives as ‘Motel Pettah‘ (Muthialpet), Thieving Bazaar (Holman refers to it so because“every article that is stolen in Madras being brought here for sale… any particular robbery takes place, the government peons are sent there…”), two ‘respectable hotels’ (TheReston’s on the Esplanade, and the Nirden), the three gates leading out of the Fort, the ‘delightful village’ of Ennore, public establishments, and government buildings on First Line Beach; also, the numerous churches of established religions, and pagodas. He concludes his tour of Madras with a note on how one Colonel Boardman, in 1827, with Munro’s permission, built a bazaar near Palavarum and “the subsequent event of this market and surrounding area being known after this colonel.” I wonder whether this area is still known after Boardman!

source: http://www.MadrasMusings.com / by M. Ramanathan / Vol. xx11, no.13 / October 16-31, 2012

Looking back in time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Science & Technologies

Government Ophthalmic Hospital / Photo: R. Shivaji Rao / The Hindu

ANUSHA PARTHASARATHY scans through the records of the Regional Institute of Opthamology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, the second oldest eye hospital in the world

he sheltered verandahs and roofed passages that connect an entire campus of red-brick buildings echo the story behind the second oldest eye hospital in the world. Started in 1819, many pieces of the Regional Institute of Opthamology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital’s history lie in the arched corridors of Elliot’s Museum and a black plaque outside its Egmore premises; ‘Government Infirmary for gratuitous treatment of diseases of the eye’.

A board in the garden at the entrance of the hospital clearly mentions the year of founding, second only to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London (established in 1818). On the other side of the road, in the newer campus is director Dr. K. Vasantha’s office. A long wooden board with a list of the names of the hospital’s directors and superintendents hangs on the wall next to her chair.

Dr. Travers, a surgeon in London with the East India Company, was one of the reasons for the setting up of the Madras Eye Infirmary. And Dr. Robert Richardson, another surgeon, came to Madras to establish it in July 1819. It began in Royapettah, on the grounds where the Wesley Church now stands. “It was later somewhere near the Dina Thanthi office, after which it was shifted here,” says Dr. Vasantha. It was a tram shed that it occupied in Egmore from 1820 onwards. The infirmary came to its present location in 1884. In 1888, the infirmary came to be the Government Ophthalmic Hospital.

Lieutenant Colonel R.H. Elliot, who was the superintendent between 1904 and 1913 is a rather popular figure even today. He is credited for the ‘Elliot’s Trephine’, an instrument used in glaucoma surgery. The hospital too was expanded during his tenure, with the Lawley Ward coming into place at its centre. “The hospital started with a couple of buildings and now we have a department for everything related to the eye. The Lawley Ward has been declared a Heritage Building by the Archaeological Department of India,” she says.

Lieutenant Colonel Kirkpatric succeeded Elliot and a school was opened inside the premises in 1919. This block was then called ‘Elliot’s School of Ophthamology’. The ‘Museum of Elliot’ was conceived and opened by Kirkpatric’s successor, Lieutenant Colonel R.E. Wright and has manuscripts dating back to 1819. There are specimens, different models of diseases of the eye and sketches of tropical eye diseases by earlier doctors. These sketches were drawn by a professional artist in a time when cameras were unknown, to document the various symptoms and effects.

“Doctors at this hospital were performing all the surgeries we do today even in those days but only their methods were different,” says Dr. Vasantha, “What has changed is that our incisions are smaller and methods have advanced with better technology.”

The first Indian superintendent, Dr. K. Koman Nayar, assumed charge in 1940. In 1942, the school started offering a Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthamology. Koman Nayar is also remembered for the Iris Repositor that he built.

Dr. R.E.S. Muthayya, the next superintendent, opened the first ‘Eye Bank’ within the premises in 1948. “We now have an entire block that’s just the eye bank,” says Dr. Vasantha. “And the last 30 years has seen a partnership between the Lion’s Club and our hospital, with reference to the eye bank. They maintain the vans which we take around to collect eyes. Dr. Muthayya was also the first to perform a keratoplasty but for some reason, this went unrecorded.”

In 1960, the premises opposite the old campus were acquired for expansion. “It was a garden house which was used as the nurses’ quarter,” Dr. Vasantha explains. In 1962, the School of Optometry was started inside this campus.

The next in line was Dr. E.T. Selvam, who bought the hospital’s first microscope. “We now use these microscopes for all surgeries,” she adds. In 1985, the hospital became a Regional Institute under the National Programme for Control of Blindness. “It was recognised by the Central Government as a centre of excellence. Government Ophthalmologists from all over the country are sent here for training.”

The maze-like passages in the old campus lead to the grand old staircase of the Elliot Building. Beside it is a room from which muffled voices escape through the gaps in the doors. Open them, and the school’s old classroom is still in use but with hand-held microphones and air conditioners. “We’re trying to make sure even the older parts of the building are still in use so that they are maintained and continue to be a part of this hospital,” says a doctor on duty.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Arts> History / by Anusha Parthasarathy / October 16th, 2012

The Bulkley tomb resurfaces

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

“Have you been able to locate Dr. Edward Bulkley’s tomb?” was a frequent query raised by the Chief. “In its time it was a landmark of Madras, and a point of reference for surveyors.” He had written about it in October 2004 in The Hindu, and wondered about its whereabouts. A correspondent had replied that it had vanished after Independence when the Army began construction on the western glacis of the Fort. There matters lay.

Early in August, Karthik Bhatt and I embarked on the search. Vestiges of Old Madras by Love located it opposite the Madras Medical College, in the Ordnance Lines. But we drew a blank despite repeated searches. I wrote about the same in my Hidden Histories column for The Hindu on September 25th.

Capt. Harold Barnes, Security Officer of the Department of Archaeology, then called. He took us to the tomb, which is located inside the premises of the Shaurya Army School, at the intersection of Poonamallee High and Evening Bazaar Roads. The tomb lies exactly where Love found it.

Bulkley, one of the early medical reformers of Madras, presided from the 1690s till 1708 over what was to later become General Hospital. He was buried in his own garden in 1714.

The tomb, given its size, has survived the travails of nearly 300 years. Not so its railings, which have partially vanished. Certainly, the place could do with some maintenance. But it is good to see that the good Doctor still rests in peace.

Bulkley was the doctor who issued India’s first medical certificate which cited illness as a cause for inability to work and the first injury certificate. On August 28, 1693 he performed the first medico-legal autopsy in India. He is certainly someone to be remembered as part of the medical history of not only Madras but also the country as a whole. Will the General Hospital authorities and the Army team together to maintain the site?

source: http://www.madrasmusings.com / Home / by Sriram. V / Vol.xx11, No.12, October 1-15th, 2012

Jewel on the Marina

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

he Senate House is one of the most beautiful structures on the Marina. It is part of the University of Madras, one of the three oldest surviving universities in India, the other two being Bombay and Calcutta.

These universities were established by the British in the mid-19th century to provide modern scientific knowledge through the English language to Indians.

Soon after the establishment of Madras University, the Senate House was conceived as a grand auditorium for public functions, mainly the University’s annual Convocation.

In 1864, the government announced a competition for the design of this building in which British architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm’s design was adjudged the best.

He supervised the construction of the building that was completed in 1879 at a cost of Rs 2,89,000.

The Senate House is a unique building with certain artistic and architectural features unknown in any other edifice in the city.

Inspired by the Byzantine style of the Middle Ages, it was built basically in the Indo-Saracenic style, which is a combination of the Hindu, Islamic and British styles.

It has a large Central Hall, measuring 50m by 15m and is around 16m in height. It can accommodate over 1600 persons.

The hall is flanked, on the east and west, by long verandahs, lined by sturdy stone columns with capitals bearing sculptures displaying Hindu and European motifs.

Some of the interior walls feature rare paintings of the style that prevailed in medieval Europe. The richly ornamented domes and stained glass windows make the building stand out.

The author is an archaeologist and Tamil Nadu State Convenor, INTACH

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Others / by Dr. S. Suresh, DC, Chennai / October 08th, 2012

A locomotive marvel

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

Scenic Ride

Few trains offer the type of excitement that the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) does. The leisurely journey it takes is best suited for nature lovers, as it offers a view of the mountain flora, and life in the hill at close quarters.

It was the British who, in the year 1908, planned and built the railway line, in order to reach hill stations such as Coonoor and Ooty. The NMR covers a distance of 41.8 km between Mettupalayam and Ooty, at an altitude of 2600 m, spanning 208 curves, 250 bridges, and 16 tunnels. It has a unique narrow gauge of 1,000 mm and rack pinion arrangement to negotiate the climbs and steep descents. It has one of the steepest gradients to climb during its journey.

The once popular steam locomotives have now been replaced by diesel engines between Ooty and Coonoor. The upward journey takes about five hours while the descent takes about four hours. A daily passenger train runs between Mettupalayam and Ooty.

However, four shuttle trains ply daily between Ooty and Coonoor and back.

In 2005, UNESCO designated NMR as a World Heritage Site, as part of the Mountain Railways of India. The NMR has hosted the filming of a few Indian as well foreign films.

The NMR is an engineering marvel, which must have been tough to build on a difficult terrain a century ago. It is still a challenge to run the train during rainy months.

I was impressed by the fact that tickets are issued as per the capacity of the compartment, with no standees allowed. However, if seats are available in the reserved coaches, then these are filled up at a higher rate, that includes reservation charges. The large windows facilitate easy viewing of the passing scenery of verdant forests, hills, dales, towns and villages. Tea estates fill up the gentle hill slopes. We pass through quaint stations with romantic names like Arvunkadu, Lovedale, Glendale and Wellington.

The diesel engine hoots constantly to keep away stray animals and people who might be caught unawares by the rushing train, though at 10.4 kmph, it might be the slowest in the country!

The manner in which the driver and the station staff communicate might appear amusing in this day of technological advancement. If there is a problem, such as a failed signal, the only way around it is to send a messenger on foot to the stranded train with a note stating that the driver is authorised to drive the train to the station.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> Supplements> Sunday Herald Travel / by DBN Murthy / October 06th, 2012

Prime Minister’s daughter in Trichy to explore temple heritage

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

Trichy:

Upinder Singh, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and her husband Vijay Tankha came to Trichy on Saturday morning and visited the three famous temples and the Grand Anaicut, Kallanai. They will continue to Thanjavur from Trichy on Sunday morning.

The couple landed in Trichy railway junction around 6.30 am on Saturday by a Madurai Express train. They drove straightaway to Circuit House in Trichy amid security from the Special Protection Group (SPG) and the local police. Following a brief stay at Circuit House, their trip started with a visit at the Rockfort temple around 8.30 am. They climbed the steps and reached atop the hill, capturing scenes all along with their camera. They worshipped Sri Uchipillaiyar and Sri Thayumanaswamy on the hill. After finishing their visit in Rockfort temple, they descended after more than one-and-a-half hours. Then they proceeded to the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple around 11 am.

Srirangam temple executive officer (EO) S Kalyani and other officials welcomed the guests of honour and arranged for a special darshan. “Both of them were inquisitive about the sculptures and structures of the temple, which dates back many eras. They enjoyed visiting the ‘Thousand Pillar hall’. We arranged for a translator to explain the features of the temple in Hindi. They had already done research on this subject before coming here,” Kalyani told TOI.

Their next trip was to Thiruvanaikaval Sri Jambukeshwarar temple. They had darshan in the temple and left for Circuit House around 12.30 pm. After a short stay there, they visited Grand Anaicut in Kallanai around 5 pm.

They will visit Thanjavur on Sunday morning and reach Chennai by October 5 after visiting Chidambaram, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram, said the police.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.com / Home> City> Madurai / TNN, September 30th, 2012

‘Western Ghats: Hidden Treasures’ photo expo from October 1

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

To mark the World Wildlife Week celebrations, a month-long photo exhibition and series of events titled ‘The Western Ghats: Hidden Treasures’ will be held at Siruthuli’s Noyyal Life Centre on the Valankulam – Sungam Bypass Road from October 1.

According to Siruthuli, an NGO involved in conservation of water bodies and ecology, the Green NGOs of Coimbatore are taking steps to create awareness about the rich bio-diversity of Western Ghats as part of World Wildlife Week celebrations.

Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) from Valparai, a non-profit organisation involved in science-based and socially responsible conservation of India’s wildlife and natural eco-systems, is joining hands with the Green NGOs of Coimbatore to celebrate the green wealth of Western Ghats through the exhibition.

The objective of the expo is to make people realise that they are on a green terrain with around 5,000 species of lowers, 500 species of birds, 130 species of mammals and 170 species of amphibians. It unveils the best vista of a life-time and is a sure soul-soothe, Siruthuli said in a release. The majestic Western Ghats that abuts Coimbatore is a home to this rich bio-diversity, which contains more than 30 per cent of all species found in India. But, urbanisation and human influence is putting a check on this treasure.

The expo will be open at the Noyyal Life Centre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all working days and more than 5,000 people are expected to visit the expo.

It will be inaugurated by S. Balaji, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Director of Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, in the presence of wildlife photographer and film maker Kalyan Varma. District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu will honour the forest heroes who had done exemplary service in protecting bio-diversity.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Special Correspondent / September 29th, 2012

Axe falls on Tamil Thaatha’s house

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

ERASING HISTORY: Demolition work in progress at U.V. Swaminatha Iyer’s house at Triplicane in Chennai on Saturday. / Photo R. Ravindran / The Hindu

It was here that Rabindranath Tagore called on Swaminatha Iyer in 1926

Thyagaraja Vilas, the house of the grand old man of Tamil literature (Tamil Thaatha), U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, and one of the city’s landmarks, will soon disappear.

The descendants of Iyer have reportedly sold the property at Thiruvatteeswaranpet and the buyer is demolishing the house. The inner walls have been brought down. Nameboards bearing the titles ‘Thyagaraja Vilas’ and ‘U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer Illam’ have been removed.

The man overseeing the demolition said that he worked for the buyer.

“It is really sad because it is from this house he edited and published many ancient literary works such as Silapathikaram, Patthupaatu and Ettuthogai after collecting palmleaf manuscripts from every nook and corner of the country. Even a university cannot match his efforts,” says writer Indira Parthasarathy.

When Rabindranath Tagore visited Chennai in 1926, he called on Iyer at this house and even penned a poem in praise of Iyer’s contribution.

Iyer came to this house as a tenant in 1904 following his appointment as a Tamil teacher of the Presidency College in 1903. The monthly rent was Rs. 20. Subsequently, he bought the house and named it after Thyagaraja Chettiayar, who was instrumental in getting him the post of Tamil teacher of the Kumbakonam Arts College in the wake of his retirement in 1880.

Parthasarathy, an alumnus of the Kumbakonam College, says the demolition will not only remove the memories of Iyer but also those of Thyagaraja Chettiyar, an eminent scholar, after whom the house was named.

“Chettiyar’s contribution to Tamil is explained by the fact that the principal of the Kumbakonam College, an English man, had his image engraved on one of the pillars of the college,” says Prof. Parthasarathy.

Iyer had explained why he named the house after Chettiyar. “It is a gesture to express my gratitude; even atonement, as I had failed to acknowledge Chettiyar’s name in my edition of the ‘Seevaka Chinthamani,’ one of the five great epics in Tamil,” he stated in his biography of Thyagaraja Chettiyar.

Ki. Va. Jagannathan, one of the students of Iyer, had recalled in his book ‘Yenathu Aasiriyarpiran’ that the owner of the house happily sold the house to Iyer though he had taken advance from another person.

Swaminatha Iyer worked in Presidency College till 1919. Later, he was the principal of the Meenakshi Tamil College from 1924 to 1927. He left the house only in 1942 along with many Chennai residents, fearing aerial bombardment during the Second World War.

As the former ‘asthana vidwan’ of the Thiruvavaduthurai Mutt, he was allowed to stay in a house of the Mutt at Thirukazhukundram. He died there on April 28, 1942 following a brief illness.

“The government should intervene and secure the house of Swaminatha Iyer as it did in the case of the house where Subramania Bharati resided. Iyer, Bharathi and Pudumaipithan form the Trinity of the Tamil language and cultural awakening. We cannot afford to ignore the fact,” says Prof. Parthasarathy.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> States> TamilNadu / by B. Kolappan / Chennai, September 16th, 2012

Devotees throng Shrine Basilica at Velankanni

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Uncategorized

Nagapattinam (TN), Sep 7 (PTI)

Thousands of devotees from various parts of the country today thronged Velankanni in this district to witness the illuminated Grand Car Procession at the Shrine Basilica.

Prior to the car festival, the holy flag was hoisted. After special prayers on the theme “Mary -refuge of Sinners” conducted by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio and Bishop of Thanjavur Devdoss Ambrose, seven illuminated cars in various sizes were taken in a procession.

source: http://www.ptinews.com  / Home> National / by Staff Reporter / September 08th, 2012

Vintage beauties ring in old times

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

A 1970 model of a Mercedes Benz and 1951 model of Chevrolet Style Line were among those that bagged awards. /  Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu

Looks of excitement mixed with a feeling of nostalgia for the yesteryears was common among the onlookers as several vintage cars and motorbikes made their way through the city roads on Sunday. The event was part of the 8 edition of the My TVS Rally organised by the Madras Heritage Motoring Club in the Don Bosco School. Showcasing their collections, owners of the vintage cars and motorbikes went for a drive to the Spencer Plaza and back to the venue.

While a few of those present had acquired an interest from a family member, others had picked it up as a hobby later in life. Ranjit Pratap, the owner of 30 such vintage cars had participated in the rally with 18 cars from his collection. “Though I loved cars as a kid, I never had the time while I was working. But now is the time to indulge.” His 1970 model of a Mercedes Benz ad 1951 model of Chevrolet Style Line bagged two awards at the event.

Steve Borgia, the owner of the oldest car- a 1929 model of the Chrysler, said, “It’s a thrill, but also an expensive hobby.”

Bikes, though only few in number, made quite an impressive show. There were the likes of MV Augusta from 1967, Lambretta LD from 1958 and Ideal Jawa from 1969. Cyrus Varun Kontath, the owner of a 1955 model of Royal Enfield and a 1960 model of Jawa along with three other bikes, keeps a close eye on them and takes them for a ride at least once a week.

Based on the parameters of aesthetics, originality, mechanical and coach work, several awards were given to the owners of the best maintained vintage car or bike and the oldest car, among others.

Though the designs are by Italians and Germans, it is the Indian mechanics who have maintained these cars for decades, said V.S. Kylas, the founder secretary of the Madras Heritage Motoring Club. “It was because of the colonial rule that we never got a chance to design cars. But now it is very heartening and gratifying to see that the cars are still in great condition.”

When asked about the turnout at the rally, he said, “Every year the size of the display keeps on increasing. These cars from the 1920s and the 1930s give us an insight into how cars were designed back then even without the use of computers.” Emphasizing on the cars being a form of heritage, he added that they would be passed on to future generations.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Arita Sarkar / July 31st, 2012