Hope the next Gandhi Jayanthi changes the scene in picture below …

Every year starting April 16^th, there is a ban on fishing in the Tamilnadu Coast from Thiruvallur to Kanyakumari Districts. Since scientists found fish breeding to be active in the eastern coastal belt during April and May, fishing by mechanised boats from Thiruvallur to Kanyakumari districts is prohibited between April 15 and May 29. The ban excludes fishing by country boats and catamarans.

The ban has come at a time when the heat was on the rise in Chennai. The sea food is an alternative to those who cannot consume meat during the Chennai heat. Because of the ban, the fish prices have gone through the roof. According to “The Hindu” retail plus of May 25,2008, seer fish is priced at Rs 300 to Rs 420 a kilo, Squids can range from Rs.80 to Rs.100 a kilo. Mackeral should be around Rs.100 a kilo while pomfret would range from Rs.200 to Rs.280 depending on size and colour. Crabs in season would cost Rs.160 per kilo but the price is dependent on the variety – like mud crabs, spotted ones,

If one is an early riser and visits the nearest beach, the day’s catch can be bought from the fisherman at a decent price. On this day, the fisherman was trying to sell the prawns  at Rs 8/- a piece. A morning walker in the beach was negotiating forRs 6/- a piece and settled for Rs 7/- a piece.

With the ban on fishing by mechanized boats ended on May 29, 2008 the supply of fish has increased and there are reports that the prices have started coming down.

(During a visit to Thiruvanmiyur beach on June 8, 2008, the visuals of the fishermen coming to the shore with their catch were shot and these images are posted here.)

I recently met with a chennai veteran who told me this interesting backdrop to the Burma Bazaar of Chennai, which accounts for most of our media hightlights, that I thought I’d share it with y’all.

So, here’s how the story apparently goes. Back in the days, around the time when we had just gotten our independence, there were quite a few people from the region who were working in plantations in Burma. There was a sizeable working population that was from India, and life went on. When a new emperor/king took over Burma, as a means of doing what Srilanka started off to do as well, the government wanted to increase the chances of locals getting employed, so kicked out all the non-burmese population out of the country. Quite a few countries interfered and so did India, especially TamilNadu.

Out of humanitarian concern, the govt of tamilnadu setup a strip of land, where the refugees could sell whatever posessions they had – most of them were plantation equipment, so that with that money they could start a living. This was around 1962. The selling still goes on :)

How much of this is true, I am not sure, but it certainly rings true from whatever research I’ve done. Have you heard any other story? Can someone add to this, if they do more?

This city has such a rich heritage of the past. Would love to dig up more stories like this.

Photo Credit: The Hindu.

CHENNAI: The Corporation Council on Thursday approved rules setting down penalties for littering, spitting, bathing or urinating in public, besides fines for improper disposal of garbage or feeding animals in locations other than those set aside for such activity.

Heres a summarization of the news:

1. New rules and penalties in place for littering, spitting, bathing or urinating in public, besides fines for improper disposal of garbage or feeding animals in locations other than those set aside for such activity.
2. Those not segregating garbage can also be fined.
3. An intensive awareness campaign would be undertaken in February and March.
4. Once the system was running, the local body would take steps to reduce the number of public dustbins.
5. Effective from April 1.

We were discussing this over coffee today at my office and as usual like with any other discussion on anything on the topics of chennai, improvement, hope, government etc., the discussion soon evolved into hot debate!!! A few interesting points did come up and here they are….

• Some felt that the city’s infrastructure isn’t enough to take in these kind of laws.
• We need more public toilets/lavatories before enforcing the rule on public urination etc.
• We do not have enough dustbins on the streets to ensure that people do not throw garbage on the streets.
• We still do not have a really effective system to collect bio-degradable and non bio-degradable garbage from homes and offices.
• Either we should have more spittoons in the city or ban chewing tobacco.
• And more importantly I wonder how the authorities are going to impose this law on animals (specifically cattle and dogs) that have a free-roaming license in the city.

Should be interesting to watch the city authorities trying to impose these… Nevertheless, its a really good initiative. Atleast some people in the government are actually thinking of improving the city.

[ read original news post ]

While at a friendly get-together yesterday evening, it seemed like all the conversations revolved around the changing landscape of Chennai. I whispered under my breathe to a friend that it seems real-estate is the hot topic for the day, to which he made a public announcement that its always a topic, because either we bought it and are hoping the prices will remain this way (or better yet keep rising), or we cant afford and we are just jealous. I am wondering if there is truth to it – there might be.

So the truth of the matter is this. To buy a house or land in Chennai right now is more expensive that buying property in Dubai or singapore. You can buy a luxury condomonium in Malaysia for 40 lakhs. In chennai, for that same style and comfort, you will be spending atleast 2 crores and upwards. The funnier part was when a friend asked “So whats the fun in having a luxury condominium right in the middle of nowhere without any infrastructural amenities around?”. Well, I dont think we have options. We are all speculating and trusting the voices of the real estate agents and seeing their pretty visualizations that eventually, someday, this place too can be turned into a buzzing hub with a stone throw access to every amenity possible. Not every one of those wishes might come true, but most of them probably will.For example, I hear that there is a mega mall that is coming up on OMR road. And there was also talks that there is a new golf course which is either close to being opened or has already started in OMR.

But Lets get down to the dilemma of the common man. Most houses today are financed by banks. I don’t think people are sitting on ready cash piles of 40 – 60 lakhs for a good house. I am not sure people are in a hurry to buy houses. Then why are land prices escalating so much? There certainly must be hoards of people who are driving up the demand and prices right? For one, the culprit seems to be the land lords. If there is one such union which brings them all together, they need to be visited and looked after. Rental prices have gone up, that in my own case, the price will be jumping to 100% by the end of this year, compared to what i paid last year. It has left me sitting here and wondering that if I had paid all the money that I paid as rent as a down payment, the monthly mortgage that I have to pay the bank would be still lower than the rent that I am asked to pay. That is the main reason why most folks are looking to buy as of now.

The good news is that there are lessons to learn from around us. Mumbai used to be this way sometime back, followed by Bangalore. The landprices, I am told, have come down by 30% in bangalore in some pockets, especially now that there are major infrastructure overhauls happening, such as the moving away of the airport to some remote destination.Matters as such will eventually happen in Chennai as well, and will be followed by a drop in land prices.

I am sure most of you who are reading this and do have any interest in real estate have heard that MARG has announced apartments from 10 Lakhs and upwards. I am doing the math backwards and wondering if its a 20 year loan and they have to payback close to 50 thousand (without the interest) a year, there are going to be quite a lot of significant takers and it probably would also have the risk of being over-crowded. I also hear of a project by DLF where they are building 4000 apartments in a complex, with three layers of parking alone. Imagine that!

I am thinking that it is the twitchy middle class that is making most of the noise. Most of the folks on the lower spectrum, or lower middle class are happy living in not-so-hip places. The traditionally wealthy ones do own their bungalows in Adyar, Nungambakkam, Boat club area and the likes. Its the newly rich, as always, that is making a ruckus. There is no place to buy, that would suit “the lifestyle”, and OMR right now seems to be the haven for them.

OMR eventually does have the prospect of becoming the new and modern wing of Chennai, if the traffic on that road will remain sensible.

So to the question that is nagging all of us. The market is driven by speculation and ofcourse I plan to fuel and extinguish atleast a part of it. *drums roll* “Will the market prices for houses come down?” Most probably, Yes. But we dont know when and by the time the market prices do come down, your rent might have gone up by 500%. Time is running out, and that’s the problem. It’s this very dilemma which is driving prices through the roof. Can anyone do something about it?

This brilliant system works fine for everyone concerned, MK and PC, but not so for Chennai. MK can claim that he has coerced, armtwisted, bullied PC into allocating money for the plant, while PC can gloat over his magnanimity in allocating money. Since only allocations matter both benefit from electoral gains, but the plant does not progress. And of course the voters in Chennai are utter fools to be swayed by the spin machines of these two jokers and vote based on it. Yes, this clearly shows its an election budget.

And I am not surprised that the environmentalists don’t like it one bit. Because, once the car hits dealerships in Chennai, the following are very likely to happen.

1. Autorickshaws will become Nanorickshaws. They will even have (drum roll please) Nanometers. So they will probably be more precise (I mean 10 raised to the power -9 precise) than the current crop of meters, which are anything but.

2. Cyclerickshaws will also become Nanorickshaws.

3. Dominos, Pizza Hut, Pizza Corner and the rather yummy Pizzaurant will start to use Nanos for delivery. Today, with the exception of Pizzaurant, which has a sensible policy of not promising unrealistic delivery times, all the other pizza outlets hire accident causing road demons who drive two-wheelers at mach-12 to deliver my Veggie Supreme with extra olives.

4. The friendly neighbourhood vegetable seller will migrate to the Nanovandi.

5. The ubiquitous "Hot Soup" joints will become mobile on their spanking new Souper Nano.

6. The IT and BPO crowd that currently plagues the roads with two-wheels will start to plague the roads with 4-wheels.

7. Fishcarts will become Nanocarts.

8. Saravana Stores will introduce a new Nanoshop concept store where families in Nanos can drive through, pick up stuff they want and drive out. The business model will be built around the central fact that when people try to drive out into the maddening traffic at T-Nagar, they will change their minds and continue to shop a little bit more till the traffic outside lessens (by about 12 in the midnight)

9. Talking of traffic woes, the government is likely to introduce a new set of roads specially designed for Nanos. The gap in between railway tracks. Yes. A Nano will probably fit in. This should ease the burden on the roads.

10. Talking of railway tracks, given the pathetic frequency of MRTS trains, somebody is likely to hit upon the idea of stacking modified nanos (wheels modded to fit into broad gauge tracks) and starting a Nanopolitan Train Service that runs in between regular trains.

11. Since apartment builders rarely pay attention to the need for parking space, elevator companies like OTIS are likely to design a new, slightly larger elevator into which one can drive ones Nano and take it straight into ones home at the end of the day.

12. Small potti kadais will start to sell the Nano along with Panneer soda and murukku. "Thambi. Oru Nano, rendu tea, naalu murukku".

(Original Image credits – Jenskin Jeyamani [link])

While the car is actually designed to pollute less than a 2-wheeler, Chennaiites, don’t exactly have immaculate vehicle maintenance skills (involving once in a decade tuneups, Muthu Engine works and Ramar pillai fuel).

So I am not surprised that the environmentalists are worried.

I decided that I’d ask the GRT Thangamaligai store people to let me have a peek inside their machinery. After about a dozen phone calls and rescheduling of appointments, it finally did happen. I met the big guys. On their own turf, so to speak.

These gems have life in them: their colours speak, say what words fail of.

~George Eliot

It’s a woman’s dream.

Racks and racks of gold bangles hang on stands behind glass cases; gleaming strands of necklaces swing heavily from the hands of soft-spoken salespeople. Platinum earrings gleam palely, watched by the careful eyes of those in-charge, while diamonds sparkle from velvety soft busts.

I am within the sacred precincts of the GR Thangamaligai jewellery showroom, Chennai – and feel like a kid let loose in a candy store. Hundreds of customers mill about me, looking at every stand the sore has to offer, purchasing the requirements for weddings, births, special occasions, or even no-occasions. It’s a thiruvizha all hours of the day, and all days of the year.

I traipse up and down entire floors that are devoted to lovingly crafted gold, to mellifluously wrought silver, dazzling creations of platinum, brilliant confections of diamond that cost Lakhs of rupees and slither in your hand like the finest silk, and costume jewellery that seems to be a collection put together entirely of colours, light and stars. Established in 1963, GR Thangamaligai is among the largest of jewellery showrooms in South India – and they also hold the singular honour of being the largest Hallmark jewellers. “Purity without a Premium,” states their proud legend.

Not surprisingly, security people throng the halls too. When I tell one of them that I’m here to see the store’s high-ups, they’re suspicious. Notes after notes pass through their hand, and after three calls, I’m escorted to plush, AC-humming hallways, where I wait in a ochre-painted room. Finally, I’m met by the man behind GRT – who’s surprisingly down-to-earth and easy to talk to.

“I suppose, as we grew up, the store grew along with us,” says G R Radhakrishnan, Managing Director, of his father G Rajendran’s pioneering efforts in establishing the store. What was originally a small shop measuring around 500 – 600 sq ft, is now a gigantic enterprise standing four floors tall in its primary location on North Usman Road, T Nagar, along with another showroom of three floors, devoted entirely to silverware and other artefacts. The main showroom, in the meantime, houses every other metal and stone that adorns the best jewellery.

I’m captivated by the hustle and bustle on each floor, as I’m shown all the workings by a very nice young man called Thamizh. He walks barefoot, skipping nimbly though each floor, being accosted by people working there. Curious customers look at my camera questioningly. An asari works on jewelry in a corner, looking jaded, probably, with all the minute work.

One of the reasons for GRT’s immense popularity is its dual approach to the customer’s fashion sense: they cater both to the quintessentially traditionally inclined, as well as the needs of the modern woman. “We work on jewellery for Temples as well – ethnic work is our speciality,” asserts Radhakrishnan. “Name any of the large temples today: Thirupathi, the Thirumalai Thiruppathi Devasthanam on Venkatnarayana Road, and Lord Parthsararathy of Triplicane – all have jewel-work done by us. That, in fact, has acted a s assort of inspiration for our vintage collection: small sets of jewellery that costs anywhere from around Rs 30,000, and are intended to be worn for parties and marriage receptions.” Indeed, the collection is crafted in a stunning variety of designs that lean heavily towards traditional wear, but designed with a marvellous synchronicity: rubies and emeralds are in profusion, in collusion with modern conceptions of jewellery. There is also the completely bindaas costume jewellery collection that suits modern office-goers excellently.

The diamond collection occupies an entire section by itself, nestling with the Dewdrop Platinum Collection. Intricately woven strands of every girl’s delight dangle tantalizingly, wrought in intriguing designs. “We prize talent always,” says Radhakrishnan, as an employee handles the necklace with something very like devotion. “Our designers are not always in-house, neither are they restricted to well-known designing houses. In our opinion, creativity and originality come to the fore,” he says, displaying gleaming golden and silver pooja vessels that cost anywhere from 1 Lakh to 10 Lakhs. A ghee lamp alone, around 8 grams, is valued at Rs 8000.

The Fire and Earth Collection occupies another especial pride of place, along with the Featherlight Collection, composed of feathery chains and necklaces that almost float on thin air . “We believe in re-inventing ourselves – for this is a fluid world, and we need to stay on top of things.” Small wonder that the showroom has won the Best Diamond Showroom Award, and the Best Platinum Showroom Award recently, for their professionalism and creative approach.

On top of the list of achievements, however, is clearly the Silversmith showroom, containing the Natya Collection.

Designed especially keeping dancers and dance schools in mind, the collection features a mind-blowing collection of anklets, Muthumalas, headsets, bangles, maatal for the ears, necklaces, and rakodis. “Long ago, Temple dancers wore these jewels made of pure gold embroidered with precious stones. Today, Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers wear temple jewellery. Also known as the Kemp set, these ornaments are made of silver, dipped in gold with intricate stone gem-work adorning them. This form of jewellery is a favourite among South Indian Classical dancers, as it provides a very ethnic feel and makes the dancer look even more engaging,” says Radhakrishnan. “We brought the Natya Collection to the dancers and dance schools themselves, campaigning to them about its merits. I must say, the response has been wonderful. Our collections are handpicked designs inspired from the deities that adorn the South Indian temples. Our Natya Collection has the entire range to garb any professional dancer from head to toe.”

There’s also general artifacts, like Thanjavur paintngs and crystal showpieces.

How does he think jewellery trends have changed from the 60s to now?

“In those days, women were much more concerned with locking up their jewels in lockboxes – accumulation of wealth was the primary criterion,” smiled Radhakrishnan. “These days, a woman wants to use her jewellery. No more does a bride wish to lock up her jewels that she’s worn to her Reception – even her marriage jewels need to be usable in everyday life.” He pauses. “These days, women wish to make the best of everything, and jewellery is no exception.”

Spoken like a true jewelsmith.

We, here at Chennai Metblogs, have obsessively discussed how auto drivers rob passengers. Friend Sriram Srinivasan of Outlook Business discusses in a recent blog post how market design can be used to decide auto fares.

We are all familiar with the answer Sriram doesn’t come up with in the end, but the blog is definitely worth a dekko.

In an advertising world people say sex sells things much better.

I have been always wondering whether people at DC can make nice ads other than showing off skin (SEXY) to sell newspaper. Finally I see a good advertisement hoarding which is meant for common people.

Previous advertisement of DC, where I had written about them at my personal blog