Regular Articles

• Vol. XXXIV No. 18, January 1-15, 2025

December Music Season needs structural changes

-- by Sriram V

It has been around for 97 years, for the first such season was in 1927. Since then, this annual fixture on Chennai’s social and cultural calendar has had its ups and downs, more ups than downs – that is until the COVID pandemic. Since then, technological leaps and drastic changes in the modes of offering […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 18, January 1-15, 2025

The POSH Act – Let down in spirit, Application reforms the need of the hour

-- by Varsha V.

The Anna University sexual assault case has demonstrated yet again that our city and State have a long way to go in creating truly safe, inclusive places of work and study. A brief review of the facts – in December, an Anna University student was sexually assaulted on campus. She had been in the company […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 18, January 1-15, 2025

Navigating a maze: Kindergarten admissions in Chennai

– Priyanka Soman

As the Margazhi season descends upon Chennai with kolams adorning doorsteps and kutcheris ringing through the air, my mind, instead of revelling in the festive rhythm, is caught in a different raga altogether – the overture to the great Chennai kindergarten admission drama. This isn’t your average Carnatic jugalbandi; it’s a nerve-wracking juggle of forms, […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 18, January 1-15, 2025

Short ‘N’ Snappy

– WMM

Red light, green light The Woman from Madras Musings was on the way to the airport. It was early evening, and the traffic was light; WMM was just beginning to think that she would have time enough to spare for the luggage drop when – to the driver’s great indignance – a pair of traffic […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 17, December 16-31, 2024

Fort St George to lose more heritage – The ASI is up to its usual denotification tactic

-- by Sriram V.

Reliable sources have it that Fort St George is to soon be freed up of valuable space, occupied hitherto by unwanted heritage buildings. That these structures were anyway in various stages of decay is another matter altogether. By the simple expedient of denying them even basic maintenance, they have been brought to a state where […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 17, December 16-31, 2024

The Marina Ropeway – Can we prioritise the basics instead?

-- by Varsha V.

Plans are afoot to establish a solar-powered ropeway along the Marina beach. The proposed project will stretch from Anna Square to the Lighthouse, with stations at Anna Square, Kannagi Statue, Vivekananda House and the Lighthouse. With the number of weekend visitors to the beach reportedly touching one lakh, the project is expected to help manage […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 17, December 16-31, 2024

Short ‘N’ Snappy

– MMM

Stand Aside MMM! The Man from Madras Musings is not sure about you lovely people out there but in matters of deadlines, MMM is of the kind who likes to plan well in advance and ensure everything is in order. In this he differs markedly from his good lady, also known as She Who Must […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 17, December 16-31, 2024

Our Readers Write

Stop it They start their rounds early in the morning, around 5 am. They appear every fifteen or twenty minutes, going round and round, one after the other; they make an unbearable noise and spew the air with dirt and gaseous pollutants. Many road rage deaths take place, to boot. We’re talking about the heavy-duty […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 16, December 1-15, 2024

WRD proposes flood alleviation measures — But much of the problem is man-made

-- by Sriram V.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has in the past one week come up with some flood-alleviation measures for the city. At long last, the schemes have taken into account the direction of flow of flood waters and also identified certain areas that are chronically prone to flooding during the rains. These schemes, if implemented well, […]

• Vol. XXXIV No. 16, December 1-15, 2024

Velachery Lake encroachment: Residents deserve a fair resolution

-- by Varsha V.

Following a directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Water Resources Department (WRD) has begun a survey of the Velachery Lake encroachments. According to the WRD, rainwater runoff from the Guindy National Park and IIT Madras flows into the lake before reaching the sea; but the lake has shrunk from 265 acres to a […]