Category: English

Seshadri Baskar

Dear Appa,

Do you remember the days when i caught hold of your fingers and walked on the road saying the rhymes? Do you recollect the efforts you have taken to teach me cycling? Do you remember the kind concern you had to press my clothes and make me wear to look smart with a tie? Do you remember the pain you took to take me the massive High court building? Do you remember the anxiety you had in showing me the stamatis ship which wrecked near Marina?

You will. But you can’t share now to anyone as you left close to thirteen years ago.  I remember you almost every day.

Somehow you flash in my mind in some context or the other. You taught me English with its style but i could not grab a bit from you on any aspect. Be it a mechanical mind or an innovative skill or your lovely handwriting i could not catch up with you in any manner.

Sad Isn’t so? How happy you were to see me in the college and how pride you were to tell the world that i was the first person to enter the college in the family? It was all the perfect love, care and concern which was purely unconditional.

You had high hopes on me in life but i could not fulfill a bit of your Dream. Fact is i was incapable.

I still remember the kindness you showed me in getting sweet and Karam in Udupi shanta Bhavan after admitting me in PS High School almost five decades ago.

You were there and now too in life in every sphere of my life. Because it was a Biksha to me to what i am today. Who can fondly call me as Ayya with all love other than you? And who can show the strict father in you with a belt on hand and the whippings ? It’s all My appa.

Now i realise what the love and life is? But it’s too late now.

I still remember the Joyous time when you took me to the Famous Hatari and the theme music is still lingering in Minds.

My memory is etched with you in every moment and movement of my life. What a lovely drawing you drew and plans for the erstwhile Madras Corporation? How many pats you had in life? You are an iyengar for office, Rajamani for relatives, Seshadri Mama for neighbours and Appa for me now and ever.

Today 21st January this Thai Amavasya marks your Hundredth Birthday.

I cannot speak to you and you cannot too. But if only you are capable enough to hear what i say and if only i could communicate to a departed soul all i can say is “Forgive me appa”.

With Tears on roll what i can say and how i can equate to all that you have done to me.

Appa, My fingers are ready to catch hold your hand now too. Where are you? Please touch me a moment and my life will see its fullest completion. My Namaskaram.

Baskar Seshadri

It’s time for Mylapore Festival.

This yearly treat has come to the same spots of Mada Veedhis and its a real attraction for many. Good crowd were there in sannathi street for the Villupattu and Dance Medley and Pichu Pillai Street was full of artificial jewellery, Cloth bags and Toys for Children (Picked one for my grandson).

As usual the biggest attraction is the Food Street in Sundareswarar Street. You have all kinds of foods except the South Indian. You have hot samosas soaked in Sauce and Green Chutney on one side. Masala French Fries, Cheese Balls, Smiley Fries and Kozhukattai on the other.

I was able to Spot Prashanth Bala The sundal man of CP Koil street in his Counter. Missed to eat over there as i was racing against time on some schedule.

If you plan to make it out over there please do park your vehicle elsewhere and take a walk to enjoy the Festival.

Its wallet Friendly, Tasty and Hot food is served on the spot which you will love to have. And eating on a street amid the traffic snarls and Noisy Market roads is an experience.

As usual i found two cars that were parked illegally and had one removed immediately and one to happen tomorrow. Traffic Sub inspector dropped there in just few minutes and made the road free for public movement.

The Festival is on till This Sunday and go there for a Break. And its only in the Evening. Miss Not.

Baskar Seshadri

When some plans go bit bad, the outcome of Tensive Moments Raise the Pressure Level. I had one such experience on the dawn of the New Year.

As per the plan a Genset should have reached the site yesterday evening around ten in the night. I was assured by my counterpart I need not have to worry and i tucked in my pills as usual with a hope that all will go well.

But some kind of intuition made me feel bit uncomfortable all along and as expected i got a call from the Customer early around 1.30 am. With no answer on hand i thought i should attempt to end this issue and started to Kottivakkam to oversee the unloading of the same in the Biting cold.

There was nothing in my mind except to complete the work and biked there to the spot in thirty minutes flat since there was no traffic issue all along.

But by the time i reached the concerned team had completed the work and i heaved a sigh of relief.

Moral – 1 We should not take things for granted just because it was Entrusted.

2 Ignore the thought “Should we Go” at this Late Hour from the Mind.

3 – Age is not even a number if only one is determined.

Back home around three i sipped my favourite tea on a road side shop and now preparing to go to Bed.

For me New Year is going to start only after a nap. May be after an hour or in the Noon. But I still Feel Driving.

Baskar Seshadri

Oldies of Mylapore may well remember the old heritage place that once housed the famous book house Meenakshi Puthaga Nilayam. Their one of the hit publication was “Samaithu Paar” is still a forerunner for cookery recipe booklet even today.

That old building was locked and unused for long years. Someone told it was because of a court case and some quipped it was a family issue that literally stalled any project over there.

Originally the place was owned by Alliance Publication (The building on the right side of the new project) and now it seems it had changed hands in Due Process – It was an old house that remained like a heritage of mylapore and as a small boy I remember having seen the name board over there.

Well, all those now had become a story.

The old building was demolished months back and Its Ramraj cotton House which is going to have its first showroom in Mylapore.

Due for Inauguration today (28th Wednesday) By Minister Mr. P. Sekar Babu (HR&CE) this place had come a long way in the history of Mylapore.

That tiled short house was a landmark building of those days and now it’s going to be a cotton emporium.

More the modification and modernity Mylapore turns it still remain Youngish and Primitive today, tomorrow and ever.

Because the glory of Mylapore is not just a Land or any space but it’s in the hearts and minds of people who  had been travelling with this town all along.

My Heart is in Mylapore and Mylapore is in my Heart.

Baskar Seshadri

Young Murugadoss who found few hours of time during his lunch break in his office never thought of a short nap in his house or did not plan a matinee show in the nearby Kamadhenu Theatre or Kapali. But he wanted to do an active business and what he thought was supply of half pant shots mainly a sportswear of those days especially for badminton game to readymade garment stores of Mylapore and adjoining areas. And he was successful too when he was in his mid-twenties. The challenge was not over. Then he thought of a small place in Luz and asked his father who owns it to give it to him on Rental. He readily agreed and he started his first venture in 1986 with just twenty square feet area.

So what the business was? It was a re-stitching or alteration Point in the colloquial language.

Murugadas says “When I started this venture I used to ask the customer to stand out and i will personally take the measurement because the space inside the shop can accommodate only one person and a tailoring machine”.

Now he had grown much better where he owns two portions one for the workshop and for the tailoring unit. Sheer hard work pays is a proof in the case Of Murugadoss.

Now you could have guessed that Murugadoss is the son of Namdev Rao popularly known as GN Rao.

Restitch point was born in 1989 and it was the first venture in the city to have an exclusive shop of restitching.

His father passed away in 1997 and his brothers all four are in the same textile area in various places like Madipakkam Nanganallur and one in Luz near Rangaswamy Studio is the most famous point among others and this is a total tailoring unit for only new garments.

His wife Sasikala is also a tailor of fashions and she supports her husband a lot.

Initially Dass was handling men garments but later in 2001 he started venturing into women garments too. Alterations of any kind are accepted here for a nominal rate. If you want to alter a BIG Shirt to your lean size of body he is ready to do it or if you have a torn collar and need a replacement you can head on to him.

He had his units in various places but finally settled in Luz (oldies may remember the shanti VIhar Hotel). He has his regular customers who reach him even today for their requirements. Many Tamil magazines and The Hindu (Liffy thomas did a story) had carried reports about his ventures those days and Mylapore times (Janaki did this) had done a story too in mid of nineties. He is to complete his thirty first year this coming December of his unit and if you have a triple XL shirt take it to him to get it fixed to your size.

Murugadas can be reached at 98402 95552. Restitch point has five full time tailors though he had eight last year pre covid. Now amid the corona impact he is able to manage after the relaxation.

Novel ideas always pay and Murugadas of Restitch point is a classic example. Keep up.

Baskar Seshadri 

Shree Jain Medical Relief society is a known medical centre to those who reside in and around Mylapore. It was Initially a general clinic taking care of general ailments and it was fondly known to many old people as “Jain Aaspathiri” those days.

In fact as a young boy i have gone there several times for treatment in late sixties.

It’s a boon to poor people to get such treatment at an affordable cost even in those days and of course now too. They have opened eye clinic in the same Premises and Dr Suganya is handling the patients who comes for eye treatment. Whether its a eye Power check up, Pressure check or cataract you all have there in the same place in Arundale Street.

What more, you have a spec’s shop too to choose your glasses there.

The consultation fee is Rs 150/ for the eye check up and they are open every day between 10.30 am to 1. 00 pm.

Instead of spending huge money on corporate hospital i suggest this hospital to all my friends and contacts. if anybody is looking for a good ophthalmology please suggest this centre for a better medical assistance.

If you wish to reach them for any appointment kindly contact the phone number 044 – 2498 2497 and the address is No 48, Arundale street near Kutchery road Post office. They are closed on Sundays. Please share this in the interest of Public Good.