The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Reconstructing all Madrasi about the city

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Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reconstructing all Madrasi about the city

Staff Reporter

Cultural historian Randor Guy inaugurated the exhibition

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

Showing interest: Students of Asan Memorial School display a model of a temple at the ‘Madras Week’ exhibition on Monday.

Chennai: Models of the LIC Building, the Kapaleeswarar Temple, the Valluvar Kottam chariot and the Ripon Building made from thermocol and chart paper stood on display in the centre of the room.

The evergreen lyrics of ‘Madras Nalla Madras’ wafted from one corner.

The auditorium in Asan Memorial School, located off Greams Road, was filled with a potpourri of all things Madras on Monday.

Film and cultural historian Randor Guy inaugurated the exhibition organised by the students as part of the ‘Madras Week’ celebrations.

“The current generation know nothing about Madras… But they are showing interest now,” he said.

Mr. Randor Guy encouraged the students to visit old buildings in Madras.

He said he had recently discovered some information about the land where Asan Memorial School was located.

The buildings are now called ‘Cochin House’ as they were once owned by the Maharajah of Cochin.

“There are some old records in the Madras Seva Sadhan that refer to the place as Tullock’s Gardens. The Maharajah must have bought it from someone called Tullock,” he said.

Asan School principal Suma Padmanabhan said that students were enthusiastic about the ‘Madras Day’ celebrations.

“The excitement about the exhibition begins right from the time school starts. The students have a heritage club,” she said.

Students had picked up several historical facts about the city as they prepared their exhibits and mounted photographs of Madras through the ages. Pictures of Spencer Plaza and Citi Centre malls were displayed as the city’s new landmarks.

Students added a gourmet touch to the exhibition by offering sweet pongal in a traditional mud pot.

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