Travails of Walking Tour Guides

I have just told myself that I should write to the police officer in charge of security at Fort St George. Write now.
For Madras Day, every year I make it a point to host a Walk inside the Fort. And these have been well attended - partly because people think we get easy access past the security here at this time of the year!

When Dr Suresh of INTACH is around ( am told he is currently on a study in the USA) I ask him to lead the group - Suresh would like to dress like a East India Company man if you invited him to do so.

It is never easy to convince the police to let us in on a holiday morning, as early as 7.30 am more so when the group is 50 strong - once the Inspector sent a policewoman to accompany us to make sure we did not stray from our professed plan.

They are happy if we keep off the CM's zone. We do.

But now that Jayalalithaa is back as CM and chosen to sit inside the Fort it will not be easy for us.
Jayalalithaa has been cool - time and again she has asked the police not to trouble people with overkill as far as security goes . . .

I hope to host this Walk on August 21, Sunday. So be in the loop to know more. I think we will have a Walk every day in some part of the city till Aug 28.
If you have a Walk idea put it through; host one!

Two Supporters!

Two great institutions of this city have come forward to support the Madras Week.

South Indian National Assn (SINA) which manages the Srinivasa Sastri Hall and Ranade Library in Luz and the P S Education Society which manages the group of P. S. schools and projects in Mylapore are early supporters.

Both have promised to provide their facilities/space freely for events.

We need more such support. 

Volunteers required! Sign up

We need a band of people to host an event or run it in your neighbourhood.
So if you are keen do contact us at - madrasday@yahoo.com

We may have people who are willing to give you materials to hold a small exhibition. Would you like to make best use of this and have a show for your area / campus?

We may have experts who are willing to take a group of 25/30 people on a heritage walk. But they want one or two people to be the host and organiser! Want to be one?

There are some people who hold contests and are looking for young people to help. Can you spare 2 hours that day? Come along!

Madras Day/Week is all about networking and joining hands . . .

Our email -themadrasday@gmail.com

Some confirmed events . . .

The annual Madras Quiz is on.
Should be on August 28, Sunday.
The extra good news is that there is going to be a Madras Quiz for schools too.
The Quiz in Thamizh for students is also on.

The annual Heritage Project for Schools which encourages teams to present a PP presentation on a specific theme on the city is also on. August 23 is the date.

The Chennai T Shirt contest will roll in a few days! The best design gets on the Tee for 2012.

Chennai Heritage will host a series of Talks every day, Aug 21 to 28. But more will be held at other venues. Expect at least 20 talks.

Plans for Madras Week 2011

On June 13, the core catalysts of Madras Day (it has become Madras Week over the years) met at the Madras Cricket Club to initiate the plans for the celebrations this year.

The Madras Week will be from August 21 to 28, 2011.

Heritage walks are planned on all the days of the week.
A Madras Quiz for school students is on cards.
Exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, docu film screening relating to Madras and its heritage will be part of the celebrations as in the past years.

If you have ideas, do share with the team. Mail to madrasday@yahoo.com