Does anyone know the real story why this historic building was sold? I have heard several rumors but really nothing convincing. Kalki Gardens was fit enough to be a national monument and it is really a pity it got sold and lost to modern generation.
It was sold by Sadasivam to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and group and demolished soon after. The demolition of Kalki Gardens tore apart the hearts of many sincere madrasis and some of whom even offered money to the extent the could. The government did close to nothing to stop the historical landmark from being demolished.
I brought that up in the context of the importance of living in tune with the times. Too much charity, that Sadasivam practiced even after the freedom struggle, brought down the family into debt and resulted in selling and demolition of historical landmarks.
This link has a beautiful summary of MSS life, with rare pictures and includes the Kalki Gardens Story.
. The government did close to nothing > > to stop the historical landmark from being demolished.
wasnt the egmore building that kalki was started in a better land mark?
Too much charity, that > > Sadasivam practiced even after the freedom struggle, > > brought down the family into debt and resulted in > > selling and demolition of historical landmarks.
the source of income was Ms's royalties, and revenue from kalki magazine. the latter's circulation dropped drastically and is low even still.
finally sadasivam handed over the shares of kalki magazine to rajndran who married his daughter.
As such MS is regarded as God send in the Music world and my devotion to her service is heart - soul and mind. This article (thanks to Malathi) is a great compilation, the last two - three para's made my heart weep truly for her loss and anguish at how cruel and impartial lord of death can be.
Souls such as MS, Kalki are not born but sent for a purpose.
When her soul mixes with the sound of music, it is what we can quote as Deva gaanam.
I do have a large MS collection MP3's with me and if any one may be interested, i am willing to share and spread the joy.
I disagree that the egmore building was a 'better landmark'. Kalki Gardens was the cradle of the freedom movement in southern India. If the government can preserve Jinnah's house they could not step in and save this building for the future generations of south indian art, music lovers and patriots? Generally though we rarely get government support, I know more people who were furious at Sadasivam's decision to sell/demolish the building than they were with the government.
Yes the revenue was kalki magazine which was down to nothing and MSS music royalties. But even during those times he had a compulsive need for charity ,would give away full concert amounts written away to charitable institutions. At one private concert the patron himself said he had to request them to accept airfare, or that would be donated too!!
There were any number of ways MSS's music talent alone could have saved the great building. Noone questioned her unwavering commitment to charity. But at that time many people were really questioning charity at what cost - she had little to say of course, she only followed him and she was the kindest, humblest, sweetest human being you ever wanted to meet. It was not the same of her counterpart.
Kalki > Gardens was the cradle of the freedom movement in southern India.
Hi malathi cradle is a bit too much. kalki gardens was acquired in 1942 because within the first year the egmore space wasnt enough. ms and sadasivam stayed upstairs. the press was below. of course a lot of who's who visited. i dont think gandhi did after this acquisition. the patriotic movie thyaga boomi was long finished. neither kalki nor sadasivam went to jail after they came to the house. on the contrary a congress government had been formed in madras state and the squabbling against rajaji had started. i guess in his editorials kalki wrote more about this squabbling than the fight against the british. ( was ss a take off from this squabbling between indian kings?) i guess people at the helm realised it was a matter of time that india got free ( whether britan lost or won in the world war 2) when kalki magazine was running here, there was a lot of vasan baiting, pro rajaji articles, scathing reviews on movies like nandanar and of course sivakamiyin sabtham, alaiyosai and PS. sometimes after the mayavaram arrest kalki had lost that firebrand nationalist tendencies. venketesh
If > the government can preserve Jinnah's house they could not step in > and save this building for the future generations of south indian > art, music lovers and patriots? Generally though we rarely get > government support, I know more people who were furious at > Sadasivam's decision to sell/demolish the building than they were > with the government. > > Yes the revenue was kalki magazine which was down to nothing and MSS > music royalties. But even during those times he had a compulsive > need for charity ,would give away full concert amounts written away > to charitable institutions. At one private concert the patron > himself said he had to request them to accept airfare, or that would > be donated too!! > > There were any number of ways MSS's music talent alone could have > saved the great building. Noone questioned her unwavering commitment > to charity. But at that time many people were really questioning > charity at what cost - she had little to say of course, she only > followed him and she was the kindest, humblest, sweetest human being > you ever wanted to meet. It was not the same of her counterpart. > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "R.venketesh"
Hi Malathi nice article by kalki's grand daughter gowri.
but i noted the main political activity that took place were after freedom. and perhaps even after kalki died. it was mainly the anti congress activity surrounding rajaji. historically yes. this place was responsible for the removal of the congress from fort st george but my humble point is hat those 5 years 42-47 the building had very little to do with freedom movement to warrant it becoming a memorial.