Metamorphosis

I am always fascinated by the growth of cities.
What starts of as a group of dwellings, probably near a water-body like a lake or a river, grows into this monstrously large city with suburbs like tentacles that are mini-cities by themselves. It is amazing. I don't know much about the history of Besant Nagar but when I had visited it in the early 1980's, there was not much activity except for the Velankanni church and the beach.The beach itself was a quiet place, nothing like what it seems now. Besant Nagar has morphed from the sleepy retirement haven into a 'happening' place. I guess people moved here for peace and quiet, away from the bustling city. Not much peace and quiet now, except in pockets.

Thiruvanmiyur, where I live, has a history that pre-dates Chennai. This village, along with Mylapore and Tiruvottiyur, are ancient.The Marundeeswarar temple,once the focal point of the village, has lost much to development. The East Coast Road cuts through its property, leaving a rather lonely Valmiki shrine in the middle of the busy highway. The city has grown around, and eaten into, the village and the temple.

But once in a way, we are forced to step back. This Sivaratri (Mar.6) was one such day. Suddenly, barricades sprung up around the temple, and traffic was re-routed to allow devotees free access to the temple. We had to drive round and round in order to reach home from Besant Nagar,a journey that took me 40 minutes for a distance normally covered in 10 minutes!

Stuck in a traffic jam and unable to move, we were naturally angry and upset.But in a moment of clarity,I thought it was only right that at least once in a way, we stop to understand and appreciate the culture and heritage of our neighbourhood.In our mad rush towards "development",let us not forget the past.