CHENNAI: THE PEOPLE BEAUTIFUL

Chennai Central Railway Station

As you read this piece, the writer has lost the mission for which he travelled 2000 kilometres way back into the South. The journey though was full of heat waves but this never let down the hunger to explore the city's heritage by walking through the winding alleys, tasting the nukkad food joints & visiting the darker gullies where the Kollywood (Tamil Cinema) is said to be bloom. The journey commenced amidst spasm from Delhi heat & soon witnessed being air fried, as I moved towards an unknown city, among unknown people, to look for the unknown university, yet with HOPE!

The MGR memorial, where Amma was buried too

Undoubtedly, the voyage was full of diversity. Moving towards Chennai, every time when the train halted at the upcoming station, a new state & a new language sprung up. The night was bit cooler, thanks to Katra-like tunnels & dense forests of Madhya Pradesh. Fresh mangoes, each weighing 500 gm, from Vijayawada added tang to a much-deserved journey. Reaching Chennai was never easy, but the dual motive tended to expand the enthusiasm to a superior level. It was late evening ride when I reached the Chennai Central, the much cheaper local suburban railway turned out to be a bonus. This was the only mode of transport I used to travel around for my two days stay in the city; besides a frequent local bus journey. Suburban rail is just like Delhi Metro: elevated (some), escalators, a two-minute distance between stations & a scattered network. 

Had the much-needed dinner including first-timer meal: tomato rice at the hostel mess, once I reached the Asian College of Journalism. Humidity was taking over me, but a stint of coastal cool breeze worked as an antidote. A mixed bag of anxiety over interview next day & excitement for a local getaway made the night miserable. 

Inside one of the main hall,soon after aarti

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

An idea of shining more than the sun woke me up unusually prior than normal. But the sun isn't normal here! Planned to explore three locations before the day gets hotter, but failed. After walking across what the locals called the "heritage lane", all of a sudden I was filled with primary school G.K. book memories. Striking Dravidian architecture, captivating odour, joyful pilgrims, a couple of guides with a set of curious foreigners & positive vibes: welcomed to Kapaleeshwarar Temple. The whole zone around this 7th-century temple was filled with flower vendors, prasad outlets, fruit joints & devotees passing by. Thanks to some kind locals who helped me in reading Tamil written on the temple walls presenting the history of the temple. It was the Shiva temple which is worshipped as Kapaleeswarar here and is represented by the lingam.

The main hall with photo portraits of
Gandhi along with some freedom fighters  

 Roaming around the market, I found the intense coffee culture of the city. Every other shop sells filter coffee with dosa or uttapam. You won't find any lane without a coffee outlet in Chennai, no matter where you are. With some hours wasted in between due to wrong bus routes, I drop around to see the iconic Amir Mahal at the Royapetteh suburb in the city. Once constructed by the British East India Company, is now the official residence of Nawabs of the Carnatic, who ruled the Carnatic region of South India in the 17th century. Till then, the deadly sun was exactly over my head & a unique Nannari drink full of lemon turned out to be bounty at right time. While on the bus, I crossed the newly constructed metro stations, luxury car showrooms, busy markets & Anna University. Unlike DTC, these local MTC buses have normal speed, no swag & drivers without bidi. And then the final stopover, before my interview to admire the Gandhi Mandapam. Gandhi has always given me strength through his words, deeds, actions, truth & karma. 

Prayer hall at the Gandhi Mandapam 

The reason why I got to see places dedicated to him anywhere I go as a matter of chance. Patiently resting at a hall for the Jyoti, like at the India Gate, I wondered how a man with just his two terms, truth & ahimsa challenged the imperialists even in South Africa. The luncheon dish of unripe bananas at the mess cured my mood after facing the humiliating four-member panel interview. Subsequently, this didn't let me down & again I was out for the eventual getaway. The destination was the picturesque Marina Beach. The initial spark was on my face, stunned to watch brown sand stretching out onto the mist-topped waves on the horizon. 

A wide angle view of Marina Beach

Few couples, group of naked kids, photographers, jhalmuri vendors, fruit sellers & frequently approaching waves touching my feet, like in the middle urging me for a dip. 

Coming back on the fancy title I chose, is how my year-long perceptions ended once I was in the city. The beautiful kind hearted locals never let me believe that I'm in an unknown place. Language is a barrier but the love doesn't know any language. The disastrous north-south or black-white division is nothing but the dirty game of illusion, that should be avoided at every step of life. Perceptions tend to destroy static relationships, lively friendships & now even the communities. Let's choose love over fear & diversity over division.