Madras Week: Gandhi Nagar weighs in with a heritage walk

July 05, 2014 04:10 pm | Updated 08:33 pm IST - Chennai:

What's new for this edition: A snapshot of the second edition of the walk, near St. Patrick's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. Photo: Special Arrangement

What's new for this edition: A snapshot of the second edition of the walk, near St. Patrick's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. Photo: Special Arrangement

Heritage walks are a popular feature of Madras Week celebrations, held in August. Apart from chroniclers of Madras history such as S. Muthiah and V. Sriram, many members of resident groups have over the years come forward to lead heritage walks, mostly in their own neighbourhoods. Present and former residents of Gandhi Nagar leading a walk, named after the locality, are one such case.

The Gandhi Nagar Walk, as it is called, was initiated as part of the Madras Week celebrations in 2012 with the support of Adyar Times and the Gandhi Nagar Cricket and Sports Club. The walk led by Sekhar Raghavan, G. C. Shekar and Sukumar took the 35-odd residents to Third and Fourth Main Road, exploring old bungalows in the colony.

The second edition, conducted in December 2013, witnessed a participation of over 70 people and is said to have generated a wealth of information about Crescent Park Road and Second Main Road.

“We might conduct the third edition during the Madras Week. I will confirm it after discussing the idea with all our members,” says V.S. Sukumar, secretary of the club.

Organising a heritage walk is not an easy job for residents as they, unlike seasoned chroniclers of history, may not have the expertise and resources for the task.

Despite the difficulties involved, they have taken it up so that they could showcase the neighbour hood to the younger generation. “Organising a walk is no easy task. For the first edition, we started planning two months in advance. We have become better over the years. Enthusiastic people have been sharing photographs and the history behind various buildings,” says Sukumar, a long-time resident of the colony.

Like Gandhi Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Besant Nagar and Indira Nagar have a lot of history worth sharing. Each of these areas can have their own heritage walks by gathering information about old landmarks, institutions and personalities who lived in the area.

Or, if you need help, write to the Madras Week coordinators at editor@madrasmusings.com or themadrasday@gmail.com

Sukumar can be reached at 9840622611.

Adyar Times

Or, if you need help write to the Madras Week coordinators at editor@madrasmusings.com or themadrasday@gmail.com

Sukumar can be reached at 9840622611.

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