Madras Memoirs

While Chennai floods have more or less receded, it has left behind in its wake muted celebrations that marked Christmas this year and countless memories. There are many highs and lows that defined the situation during and after the unprecedented floods. Here I share with you the top 5 that comes to my mind 5:  Ramanan:   The genial "Rain Ramanan" became quite popular - not for his ability to predict the highest rainfall of the century, but more so for the holidays for the schools and colleges that followed his every announcement.  4: Amma Stickers : Amma mania ruled as political bigots went overboard and pasted stickers of Amma on relief materials sent by fellow citizens. It provoked an expected backlash but an avalanche of memes that followed buried the real issues that led to such fanaticism.    3: Rumours: It rained rumours during the week and brought its own share of devastation to the already traumatized psyche of the people. Everything from...

Those who know Madras cannot forget Moore Market.  I too have fond memories of Moore Market. Here is a small tribute from me. I could not trace the original article, but I give below the link in Facebook, where I had published it. Moore Market - My article published in the Hindu

I was excited like a school boy on the prospect of meeting her for the first time. The moment I heard about her and saw her pictures in the newspapers I wanted to meet her and make her acquaintance. Yes, she is quite a celebrity in her own rights. Born in Brazil, she had travelled all the way to India to make Chennai her home. Her beauty and efficiency has evoked admiration and envy from old and young people respectively. I am quite familiar with her kind during my trips abroad...but to be actually meeting her right here in Chennai, is surely a dream come true. I dressed up in my best and took a wee longer than usual to set that single strand of hair. My wife Leela noticed all of this from the corner of her eye, “ where are you going so early?” she asked..I mumbled something, grinned sheepishly and avoided her eye. How could I tell her that I am going to meet the brazilian beauty ...will she approve? The rendezvous is for 08.01 am sharp...I know that she is punctual, ...