Let me start off with a bit of a disclaimer. I live in Chennai, but I doubt that most would qualify me as a native of this place – but then again, that has been the case with most chennai-ites. We all have come here in search of something – jobs, opportunities, essentially a way to make a new beginning and to break new grounds. Most of us are dreamers, and I am probably no different.

When I moved back from Canada about two and a half years ago, my first reaction to this place was “Wow”. Not “wow” as in “Oh Dear God, what did I get myself into?”, but more of “There is so much that can be done here..” since the ambience and the potential is right in front of us. I have to say that I havent been the least bit disappointed with that initial assessment.

Being an entrepreneur, I guess my mind is wired to see beyond what is right in front of me. But perhaps that’s a good thing. Then again, in a city which can be improved in many ways, most of us are entrepreneurs in our own right, in chasing after what we came here for in the first place. But I certainly do digress.

I often do sit back and wonder what I do recollect of this city. Most of the time its the food, the buzzing noise of the traffic, the auto-drivers who seem to have a way of reducing prices if they near a Tirunelveli accent (a mystery I still need to decipher), the beach… T.Nagar and the crowds that serve as a human train that you barely need to make any effort to move once you are in it..the list goes on. What’s fantastic about this place is also the cultural exquisite choices that are offered, and lets face it, this place does have very strong cultural groundings. In other words, lets face it. Most of us aren’t planning to run away, we do plan to be here for sometime to come, and perhaps our generation to follow will also be living here. Shouldn’t we do something for change now, and invest in the future of our generations, for life in this city?

I believe we should. That’s what I want to talk about in the upcoming days here. Feel free to write, comment and raise your views. I do want to hear perspectives so that we can align, work together and make this city a better place. I can’t think of any other city here in India that has this blend of cultural bondage and freedom tied in the right balance, of young and old, of vibrancy and of much that requires to be changed. There is much to celebrate and be part of.

As part of one such hope, there is a community driven initiative put together named The Chennai Tribe. The aim of this initiative is to bring out the musical talent of the public out. The concept is very simple. Every Saturday at 5pm at the Besant Nagar beach, a group of people, whoever is good with percussion instruments come together and they play together. What comes out is a musical evening, of the community, for the community, and completely by the community. Everyone who can keep a beat is welcome to join. Perhaps its democracy at its best.

We are hoping that we can kickstart this on the 15th of December- Yep, that’s next week. I do require your help in passing this news to your circle. Radiocity had expressed some interest in promoting and helping with this. If any other groups wants to help out, do let me know. As I mentioned, I would like this to be a community initiative.

My belief is that, if we are open to bringing out the best of things, and are willing to flaunt those things rightfully in public, perhaps we will also be open to bringing out the things that need to change, and put our hands together to make a change. Here’s me hoping that you’d agree.

The Author is one of the co-founders of the “I Fix Chennai” initiative.