In the Nungambakkam of the 1960s and 1970s, people would hesitate to pass through Haddows Road and Sterling Road after night fall.
The cremation ground at the end of Sterling Road gave rise to many ghost stories. The only recreation for children was to play at the Corporation playground or in their houses, most of which had sufficient open space. Sridhar’s Typewriting Institute on Village Road was a popular institution. The Landmark shop on Nungambakkam High Road was a rage till shopping malls elsewhere became favourite places to hang out.
Pillaiyar Kovil and Perumal Kovil still remain the meeting place for old-timers. But, sadly, the famous Agraharam has totally lost its charm, colour and complexion.
‘Mada Street’ around the ancient Agastheewar Temple has changed beyond recognition. The most sought-after religious ‘family’ event being conducted here for the past 90 years is the Radha Kalyanam function. This celestial marriage still brings the people who have migrated to other areas back during February or March every year.
If development means just commercialisation of residential areas, then again Nungambakkam is ahead of many other localities. Today, except for the big names in jewellery and saris, every brand seems to have an outlet in Nungambakkam.
The presence of Hotel Taj Coromandel, Apollo Hospital and Sankara Nethralaya brings people from all over India to the locality. The hospitals paved way for the growth of service apartments that cater to the relatives of the patients. Today, many youngsters from North East find this area a safe place to live.
Despite its image as a posh locality, it received little attention from the Corporation.
What one finds here are bad roads, hawkers everywhere and traffic snarls on a daily basis. For the locality to hold on to its charm, further commercialisation of the area must be prohibited.
(T.K. Balakrishnan has been a resident of Nungambakkam for 60 years)
