MAIL FROM MR. PRADEEP - so much familiar to our Group as Heritage enthusiast.
He writes::
Madras celebrates its 371st anniversary next month, I have two events planned out, please register for them on or before the 4th of August. I will send out confirmations by the 8th of August.
For the walk I can take 35 people. For the talk I can invite 20.
EVENT ONE 15 Aug 2010, Sunday 7AM to 8AM
"The Official Temples of Madras A tour of the Chenna Kesava and Chenna Malleswara temples in Town"
A tour of the Chenna Kesava and Malleswara temples on Devaraja Mudali St/NSC Bose Road , offer a fascinating glimpse of how the East India Company and their Indian representatives promoted and supported Hindu religion towards their economic and political ends. These temples can accurately be called the "official" temples of Modern Madras. They have no famous saints verses or inscriptions but find mention in several records and rather unusual sculptures. The 45 minute tour will cover their role in the development of Madras and recreate a mental image of the role of the temple in the social fabric of Madras during the early days of the Raj.
We start and finish outside the temples. They are a very short walk from the Flower Bazaar Police station Car park.
Rules for the walk
There is no charge, those interested must let me know on or before Aug 4th by sending an email to [email protected]
Participants make their own arrangements for transport and breakfast
The walk will not focus on religious aspects and will not budget for worship time, participants can of course stay back and after the walk and worship
No prior knowledge of history is required
The talk during the walk will be in English though if participants request, Tamil is also ok.
EVENT TWO 18th Aug 2010, Wednesday 7PM to 750. Venue GRT Grand Days
"Writing on the wall Life in ancient Madras gleaned from inscriptions"
The many temples in Madras have fascinating inscriptions that give us vital clues to the life and times of the many villages that constitute Madras today in the 9th to 13th Centuries. The politics of the villages, their economy, their layout, the now forgotten cults the people practiced, the taxes they paid and the occupations they had, all paint a mental image of daily life in the village. Surprisingly, many issues we fight with today were present in those days too, the 35min lecture will explore these themes and conclude with a 10min Q&A
The Talk is at GRT, Sir Thyagaraya Road ,. It starts at 7PM, please join us for tea at 630PM
There is no charge, those interested must let me know on or before Aug 4th by sending an email to [email protected]