GENRE: Features

The rich nectarine blooms hanging from indigenous trees adds to the beauty of several streets in Chennai. What often goes unnoticed, though, is the number of butterflies that are seen fluttering around the plants. Amid the hustle and bustle of a megacity like Chennai, it may be hard to believe that a sight like this is so common. Wherever there is lush canopy, we can see butterflies in the dozens. The city has lost acres of green cover to infrastructural projects and natural disasters. Yet, the urban jungle is home to about 150 species of butterflies.  Throughout the city, Common…

According to legend, King Solomon had a brief encounter with a “valley of ants” and his admiration for them led him to value all life forms. The resilience of ants is seen in the way they quickly adapt to changing conditions of the environment and their ability to colonise new habitats. It is further evident in the fact that there is practically no habitat, including the most developed cities, where there are no ants. Little is known about the diversity of ants in Chennai and there is a dearth of scientific studies on this. However, from what little is known,…

Children are often under-prioritized or even disregarded in urban planning and design. It’s estimated that up to 500 children die daily in road crashes around the world; thousands more incur injuries and psychological trauma from collisions with vehicles that can affect them for years. Whether on the streets or in public spaces, feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in outdoor spaces also discourages children from physical exercise at a time when 80% of children between ages 11-17 are not physically active, and 38 million children under age five are overweight or obese. The coronavirus pandemic has further highlighted the urgent need for safe outdoor areas for…

It is the morning jamming sessions that excites Srihari S Nair the most these days. Every morning, the 12-year-old gets ready, sits by the window and gently taps his fingers on the piano. Soon music fills the rooms, as his parents and piano master listen intently and Srihari's eyes sparkle with joy. His master even corrects some of the notes. In reality, though it is his sister, sitting next to him, who is creating the music under the guidance of their teacher, but the collaborative exercise brings great joy to the boy. More importantly though, these jamming sessions act as…

Along with its distinctive icons and landmarks, if there is another unique feature that sets Chennai apart, it is the use of Madras bashai (dialect).  Dai kasmalam, ootla soltu vantiya? Bejar pannama anthanda po! Familiar sounds, for anyone who has ventured on Chennai roads! Unique to the capital city, the dialect is believed to have evolved over several centuries, as Madras was a port city. Many people from other states travelled to the city, and as they assimilated with the population, the city absorbed many words from their languages into its lexicon. Historian Nivedita Louis Part of present-day Arani (about…

Among the many contributions the remarkable Annie Besant made to Indian nationalism was the establishing in 1914 of the Young Men's Indian Association - a challenge to the YMCA. The purpose of the YMIA was to serve as “a political gymnasium as it were, to equip the youth with a strong body, an informed mind and a noble character". The following year, the YMIA's HQ opened - Gokhale Hall, on Armenian Street in Madras. Annie Besant paid for the construction herself. It took the name of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a leader of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants…

Walking up CMH road, Indira Nagar, it is easy to miss the tiny momo outlets tucked away from the main road. Often made up of just a foldable table and a steaming vessel, these local haunts offer respite from cold evenings, hunger and a stressful day. Here, momos are served hot from the steaming vessel, accompanied by the trademark red chilli sauce. One of these stalls is run by the sharp, friendly Shubas. In a conversation, Shubas revealed that he was from Darjeeling. He had moved to Bengaluru with his brother in 1991, in search of work. After a series…

Like everything else, COVID-19 took the sheen off Maximum City during Ganesh Chaturthi as well. Celebrations, laughter and songs would have been in the air, if not for the lockdown.In Mumbai, usually the festivities go on for 11 days, when roads are blocked by massive pandals, music blares through loud speakers and groups of people dance their way to the beaches to immerse the elephant-headed God. Well before the festival, the government issued standard operating procedures, aiming to avoid crowds and the spread of the virus. They restricted the height of large idols that are generally housed in community pandals,…

In the aftermath of the devastating floods of 2015 and the drought that hit Chennai, the focus on conservation of water bodies has been amplified. The many lakes of Chennai that have suffered years of neglect have begun to get a fresh lease of life with restoration efforts taking place across the city. The Environmentalist Foundation of India is an NGO that has been playing an active role in the restoration of lakes along with other non-profits and civic agencies including the Greater Chennai Corproation and Chennai Smart Cities Limited. While lake restorations of this scale are multi-year, ongoing activities,…

Chennai has made global news over the past few years for its woes with water. First, it was the destructive floods of 2015 that saw most of the city under water for days, as a result of excessive rains and poor reservoir management. Then came the drought of 2019, where major parts of the city went without drinking water for weeks as deficit rainfall the previous year played havoc on water availability. Water has become a major talking point when it comes to discussing Chennai's livability. For a city with a storied history, could it be that the past offers…