Madras to me is…..
Madras
to me is a home for ever…as a child who was born outside Madras and used to
frequently visit the city for all vacations was a place of excitement all the
time. As I grew up to a teen, my dreams
weaved around the city that I loved watching, especially for the serene beauty
of the marina beach, eating sundal and muruku along with sipping hot ginger
tea. The waves aroused the lyrics of my
heart to write verses that would jump between the beauty of the Bay of Bengal, the long shore line and music in the
air. One day, I thought, I should make
it to the city to live in it for ever.
I wanted to dream big, make it big and grow with my Madras and its lovely dreams.
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The
love for the city only grew stronger over the years as I started exploring the ancient
temples with great historic values and lessons.
The architecture and the significant beliefs blended so well, that they
mesmerize you when you enter the temple sanatoriums. The smell of the jasmine flowers swaying on
the neatly plaited hair of the women clad in beautiful madisaru (Brahmin way of
wearing sarees) made me feel the fragrances around me. The smell of filter coffee made my every
morning in Madras
a delight, especially when I could get a chance to have it at Madras Café or
Eshwaran coffee. From the big Solidaire
TV advertisements in the Mount
Road, to the War
Cemetery near Ramapuram, Madras gave its share of
stories to a writer in me.
Namma
Madras, later Singara Chennai, what ever it may be called as the time goes…to
me it reminds me of the stories of Madras Presidency that my grand mother
happily shared with me of those days of freedom struggle. Her memory of running to the Marina
beach from the Wellington
College for Women’s
hostel to see the great revolutionary freedom fighter Netaji is
unforgettable. The pain she shared on
the Madras Presidency being divided as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in early
1960’s reminded me of the governance of the land, and how much people of Madras
loved being in its arms.
The
lush greens Guindy National Park was such an excitement to us a
children, and seeing the creepy snakes beside in the Snake Park
made me jump in fear, joy and screams.
The ecological balance of the city remained undisturbed for several decades,
with all types of birds still flocking to Vedantangal and Pulicat lakes which
are within an hours drive from my beloved city.
The
streets of the city are decorated with the kolams, the ancient art form that is
drawn with rice powder by hands, early in the morning; on the roads even today
welcome the Sun God to our homes with pleasure. Girls going to schools and colleges in half
sarees and boys in their traditional white dhoties are always a dressing
delight thought it lost its zeal along with the time.
The
pleasure of Kutcheries – hearing carnatic demi-gods ring the bells of the
heaven on earth during Margazhi month can be found no where else in this
world. Madras to me is the god’s chosen place for
those who want to emulate themselves with divinity, tranquility and inner
beauty.
The
day beginning with the filter coffee in the traditional tumbler-dabbara
combination, with the boy on the cycle throwing the early morning news paper is
the right way to begin a day. Watching
the ladies praying to the Tulsi plants in their backyards, happily drawing
designs of kolams (which actually have a scientific pattern and also act as
feeding insects in the ground) makes you feel warm. What else can you ask for breakfast than a
streaming Sambar with Hot Idlies or Ghee Pongal with Vada’s.? Mouth-waters as I write about it...and feel
like going to the nearest Ratna Café or Saravana Bhavan.
The
aroma of traditional Chennai chettinadu samayal (cooking) with a right blend of
spices and rice’s makes your lunch exotic.
Finishing it with Pal Payasam (Sweet Milk Porridge) and Vettalapakku
makes you feel good for an afternoon nap.
An
evening pleasant walk in the beach or a long drive across the East Coast Road is
only a pleasure to experience.
Madras to me signifies the old British architecture…reminiscences
of the past and beauty of our land. The
Napier Bridge, Eliot’s Beach Symbol, the
Central Station, Kalas Mahal, Rippon
Building, Museum Theatre, The Dutch Cemetery
and the World War II memorial, the St. Thomas Mount Church, Connemara Library,
Mount Road Higginbotham’s, Police
station, and Egmore Museum. Icehouse today stands as a symbol of visit
of Swami Vivekananda who stayed for 9 days in Chennai and spread the message of
universal brotherhood and all religions leads towards on Supreme God.
The
transformation of Madras
to Chennai, also symbolically represented the growth markets, emergence of the
industrialization, vast expansion of modernizations, growth in hospitality and
information technology sectors, and also provided world class education and
health care. This means that it gave us
an ample space to lead the life the way we want to live...with loads of
opportunities and choices. 
Despite
all the changes, the city went through and would go through in the near future;
to me this city remains my same old Madras,
nalla Madras. LIC building, Marina Beach, Idly-Sambar, Kapaleswar Temple,
Parthasarathy temple, Music
Academy, Mount Road, Gemini
Flyover, AVM Studios and watching the movie in IIT Open Air Theatre would
always be my favorites.
Madras to me is not just a
home, but a way of life.
I Love You Madras! I love you Chennai! Namma Madras- Nalla Madras....
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