Namma Chennai

The Hindu : Metro Plus Chennai : GEETA PADMANABHAN: "The sun sizzles, humidity saps. Traffic maddens, road rage erupts. Land shrinks, rents explode. Water gobbles — time. Politics wearies. The guinea pig status galls. Waiting inflames. Garbage stinks. Cheating annoys. Crowds crush. Noise pounds. And yet, and yet, more people get off at Central and Meenambakkam now than ever before. So what gives, Chennai? Why is G. Raghav, the guy from Bangalore, surprised to find you comfortable instead of "kucha"?

How, in just nano years, did "Chennai chalo" become cool?

Ask a gang that's preparing to court Law schools. Verdict 1 from Keshav Nair: "It doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to deduce it's liveable. It's a land of ops. Each breath you take is still not a fume. It's safer." Verdict 2, Varun Krishnan: "Be magnanimous, overlook the problems, yaar. You want it, Chennai has it! Theatres, concerts, gaming centres, entertainment parks. There are educational institutions for every need." Verdict 3, Sujith: "Lots of friendly smiles and waves. Willingness to help."

It's open to ideas — from bungee jumping to classical ghazals, says Krithika Sukumar. "Chennai-ites have not allowed modernisation to overtake their sense of culture. While some litter the road, others plant trees on the roadside. Orphans are adopted, students join campaign runs. Chennai can truly be called home." Elanthendral is happy that there are bus stops every kilometre, libraries in every Nagar, food, veggie and stationery shops every 10 houses. "Chennai," flashes S. Madhumitha, "is always on its wheels full of zest and zeal. Look at the jump in infrastructure. Velacherry and Tharamani have had a big makeover. Students are allowed to discover their inner self through competitions, seminars and camps. Our generation is optimistic enough to look at the proportionately high positives rather than the pull-downs."

"A city of contrasts," sums up Anushree Nekkant. "Status quo stands next to scorching life-styles. There's something for everyone. Eruption of fast-food joints and home delivery offers have made life easier." K. Nandini nods at the way the aged and orphans are taken care of by NGOs. Says Kalpana Kumar: "Chennai is ever ready to adopt new technology."

Chennaivasi of 17-days Abinava Sankar: "Is a stranger welcome here? Yes. And there's an attractive beach." Sameer Raichur: "There are more buildings, more crowds, more north Indian languages spoken around, the youth no longer snack on "sundal", but Chennai is still Madras. The green buses, occasional smell of filter coffee, the cursing in Tamil on the roads, and the roads themselves impart to Chennai a rare flavour. The youth are relatively uncorrupted. Branded clothes and video cameras are still not too visible. But Mylapore and Mandaveli — they are too ancient, dude!"

Time to climb the chronology ladder. For Dr. V. Mohan, M.V. Diabetes Speciality Centre, Chennai is sugar and spice, all that's nice. "It's peaceful, immune to gang wars. A poor man in the street will help in an emergency. People are affectionate and grateful. Visitors and friends from abroad often talk of the city's evolved culture. There's a lot of greenery and thank god, there aren't many of those skyscrapers blocking the skyline. There is always some effort to solve problems — parks are maintained, waterways are cleaned. And where else can you have day/night world-class medical facilities? We give free e-mail consultation and still visit homes. Unthinkable in other places!"

Ha, counters Vivek, our Chennai-baiting comedian. "I dare anyone to risk living here! "Remember my gags on blocked traffic, on the guy coming out of a manhole, constant road digging, metrowater, telephones and noise pollution? Did you watch the one about the patient in an ICU and his total discharge? It's a city with no water inside and excess outside. But amazingly, the crowds are getting thicker and I must admit the city offers much. There is great shopping, lots of entertainment and eat-outs. Have a home in the suburbs and roam in the city. You need more flyovers and choppers for shoppers."

"Talk to those in the congested by-lanes of Triplicane," smiles A.K. Venkatasubramaniam, former IAS officer. "How content you are depends on which stratum of society you belong to." While he gives an `A' to the well-spread bus system and the reasonable cost of living it's a low `F' for the intelligentsia that complains more and contributes less. "We distance ourselves from civic issues," he frowns. "We live in cocooned comfort with no contact with everyday society. Are we really part of it?"

"Most of us don't know which Corporation ward we belong to. We hardly vote. More than infrastructure, we need solidarity. Chennai is a city sans citizens." He'd like to see local urban bodies and residents making vibes to improve civic services. More of "It's my city" feeling among those who are better off. "Solon who wrote the constitution for Athens said: "Which is a liveable city? That city where those who are not wronged exert themselves equally with those who are wronged against the wrong-doers." "