Author-diplomat T.S. Tirumurti’s Chennaivaasi is a reminder that this city lets you be
“Did you get a chance to read the book?” asks author-diplomat T.S. Tirumurti, whose second novel Chennaivaasi is now on bookstore displays. Sitting at a window-side table at a café in the city, I tell him that a stranger aged 30-odd, spotting me reading it at the airport had said he bought a copy intrigued by the prologue, and that the novel lived up to that promise. He reacts with diplomatic restraint, but is clearly pleased. “Is that so? What did he like in the story?” he asks softly. A perfect opening for the conversation!
We begin with the setting (1990s) and style. “Some of my heroes are Ernest Hemingway and R.K. Narayan,” he says. They preferred short sentences. The short sentence at the end of chapters maximises the impact. It captures the imagery more than reinforce the image set earlier.
The story happens in a Tamil Brahmin (Tambram) milieu, again. The first book, Clive Avenue (2002) was autobiographical, he says. After the first book, the second was a given, he says. Chennaivasi is more of “what I’ve seen”.
Familiar ground
This is familiar ground, a natural choice when he had another story to tell. It is rich in Tambram idioms and expressions so much a part of our lives but not given much attention. “Couldn’t help including them.” He was struck by the way his grandmother — writing in English and Tamil — replied to letters, and it formed the basis for the letters in the novel.
A strong point in the novel is the direct speeches, I tell him. “I wanted to give each one a voice and stick to it.” These are characters who spoke in Tamil — in words and phrases peculiar to that language. “I had to preserve the charm of the Tamil phrase when the writing is in English. And take care of the Indian hyperbole and the Western understatement.”
We move to the substance. Including references to the anti-Brahmin agitation and the treatment of the Tambram community is a conscious decision, he says. “I have portrayed prejudices and stayed away from making a social commentary.”
The story is about the circumstances behind the break up of a joint family, he argues. “The conflict-resolution, the interaction-reaction will work in any milieu. A dominant father, the mother trying to speak for everyone — all these can happen anywhere, people will empathise with it. In English, I can’t think of too many fiction that bring out the contradictions in the way we live our history.” Chennaivaasi is a look at the evolution of the society with Tambrams as central characters. It’s written with pride, and with the reckoning that there is a slipping of standards. The question is, are we changing in the right direction?
So who is a Chennaivaasi? Anyone in the book, he says tentatively. The Jewish girl who embraces Chennai life qualifies too, albeit as an extreme example.
A Chennaivaasi’s simple-living-high-thinking days are not over, he insists, in defence of the metropolis. “Our level of ostentation is low. This simple way of life has to go with a certain higher way of thinking.”
Chennai is less material, offers innumerable opportunities, lets you lead a life of your own, does not judge you by what you can / cannot buy. We can walk around in everyday chappals, and not worry that people will mistake us, he says.
We are sure that with this book, Tirumurti finds a permanent place in the expanding group of professionals that manages to find the time for creative writing.
***
TS Tirumurti has served in Cairo, Geneva, Washington DC, Jakarta and as the Representative of India in Gaza
His writing draws sustenance from Chennai’s distinctive ambience, people and ethos that shaped his childhood
He is currently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in charge of UN affairs relating to economic and social issues
Keywords: T.S. Tirumurti, Chennaivaasi, fiction books
As an ex-'Chennaivaasi' currently abroad, I can definitely say that simple living has been unconsciously wired into my psyche. Even when I can afford something now, I'd first think whether it is my want or need. If it's just a want, I'd think twice before spending on it. For example, for the last few years, I have not spent money on any new dresses, except for using any new ones presented to me on occasions. I guess the Tamilian way of life (simple living, great thoughts) moulds one's character.
We have so many cities in India and places like Madras,Bombay and calcutta are different from all others including Delhi because they have been conquered in full by British starting from the East India company days.There was an article in Hindu about clive the man who stood between you and paris as other wise we would be Speaking and writing in French.The three cities have changed into chennai,Mumbai and Kulkatta and are representative of the people living now.Delhi is the mix of all these culture.The author speaks about Madras culture and language rather than chennai residents.Not only it is alien to Foreigners but also to most of the youngsters in chennai.They would enjoy reading Thirumurti's books ,ironically ,much more than the English readers.The author should write about Bombayvasi and culcuttavsai also next.
After having visited and / or briefly stayed in many of the major metropolises in India,
Chennai is far and away the best place where traditions are still surviving amidst
globalization. Chennai is the premier city among the four South Indian state capitals and
even though there are many pressing problems, they are at least being acknowledged and
addressed by a forward thinking state administration. Chennaites should take pride in their
traditions, their simple lifestyle, their striving for high values and resist the pressures to go
the route of other fast paced Indian cities to their detriment.
I greatly accept the facts of the writer and it is truely reflect the real life in chennai. The comments given by Miss.Priyanka is not true in any sense. Chennai has given august chance for many people from other states, other than their native people to develop esatablish and be successfull in all fields of life. There are quite number of examples to represent like few years back we have heard slogans that mumbai is only for mumbaikars and they have ransacked /attacked all beharis. Also there were many incidents in bangalore against tamilians. Therefore, Miss Priyanka you have to correct your thoughts. Thanks for it.
Chennai has never been globalized. The quoted "village charms" has been apealing only to the residents of Chennai, or at most people from the Southern States of India. Citizens from the non-southern India have always been treated as "foreigners", read - with contempt and unwelcome feelings. And who says high living cannot be coupled with high thinking! Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune have developed in the right sense for the very same reason, cosmopolitian nature - it welcomes all, with the same fanfare. Chennai can never become a great city in the minds of all Indians, purely because it doesn't treat everyone equally. And I am not speaking with any bitterness for any state, language or sector of people. I am a South Indian, brought up in Northern India and currently residing in Western India.
I agree with the author . Chennai still retains its pre-globalization , old world charm & values to some extent .Its true , unlike Delhi & Bangalore , most of its residents believe in simple living & high thinking ;do not believe in too much show and still value a family life . I only pray its standards dont slip ; & it remains this way always - honest , humble & ethical . And its upto its citizens entirely to keep it that way .More intellectuals should come forward in citizens forums, more social networking & interactions , more corporate social initiatives , all aided by the media like THE HINDU should help Chennaites THINK more deeply and LIVE BEAUTIFULLY in this city with its "village charms ". This would help to make & keep Chennai as a great city to live in always . Let us not go the way of other cities in India .
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