Features | Citizen Matters, Chennai

The silver lining in Chennai skies

January 24, 2020 Swati Amar

Age or illness has not dampened the zeal with which some of Chennai’s senior citizens are working to create a better life for others. Swati Amar meets a few such individuals in the city who are setting sterling examples in how to savour life to the fullest, through sharing and giving!

2020-ல் சென்னைக்கான எதிர்பார்ப்புகள் என்ன?

December 31, 2019 Sandhya Raju

What can we expect for Chennai in 2020? Will our public spaces be cleaner? Banner-free streets a reality? Can we conserve water effectively to avoid a repeat of the water crisis?

Photos: Can you guess what these sculptures have been made from?

December 21, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Tonnes of metal waste are being converted into beautiful pieces of art at the Government ITI, Guindy and Adyar zone of Chennai Corporation. These could also pave the way towards realisation of Chennai’s zero-waste goal.

Let’s go to Spring Potato beach; sorry, we mean Besant Nagar beach

December 8, 2019 Mahesh V

Besant Nagar beach is unrecognisable to old timers, thanks to over a hundred Spring Potato shops. What do they sell? Do they get any customers? Don’t they need permission to operate in a public space? What’s it doing to the beach? Many questions, few answers..

குப்பையான பாதையை மைதானமாக மாற்றிய கோட்டூர்புரம் குழந்தைகள்

November 22, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

A Tamil translation of our story describing the wonderful initiative of kids and youngsters at the Kotturpuram Housing Board, who transformed a littered pathway into a clean, colourful space for the community.

Why homestays in Chennai appear poised for a very bright future

November 21, 2019 Pushpendra Shukla

More and more tourists to Chennai, as in other cities, appear to be opting for homestays over hotels. A homestay provider looks at the range of reasons behind the promising trend.

How to turn a littered pathway into a playground: Kotturpuram children create an example

November 18, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

A week ago, the passageway near Block H of Kotturpuram Housing Board resembled a mini dump yard with bags full of domestic waste strewn all around. Today, it is a clean, colourful space, buzzing with kids and youngsters who have actually led this transformation.

Meet the men who satisfy your midnight hunger pangs

November 15, 2019 Mahesh V

Introducing our new series, “While the city sleeps”, where we talk to people who keep Chennai’s night life and economy rolling, and bring you snapshots of their nocturnal lives.

Parrots in Chennai? This man knows thousands of them…

November 14, 2019 Lata Ramaseshan

Meet the indefatigable Sekar, the birdman of Chennai, who feeds thousands of parrots on his rooftop. The birds keep their appointment with him every single day!

World’s first Indo-Saracenic building, right here in Chennai, set to regain old glory

November 7, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Constructed by Nawab Muhammad Ali Wallajah in 1768, Humayun Mahal is said to be the first construction in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. After years of neglect, this block of the Chepauk Palace is all set to be restored. Here’s more about the ongoing work.

A bangle for a dream: A tale of uncertain futures along the Buckingham canal

October 29, 2019 Sukriti Vats

A group of residents along the Buckingham Canal in R A Puram live under the imminent threat of eviction, worried about the loss of livelihood and the homes they have built over decades of hard work.

In photos: A walk through the once-bustling, now deserted Moore market

October 22, 2019 Mahesh V

Moore Market was once a thriving book bazaar, particularly famous for second-hand books and frequented by large numbers of students. But a couple of hours in the market on a Monday morning shows how business has collapsed, thanks to the popularity of online bookstores.

Meet the mridangam makers of Mylapore

September 17, 2019 Ashna Butani/PARI

Jesudas and his son Edwin are skilled craftsmen, known in the Carnatic music universe of Chennai and elsewhere for the mridangams they give life to, though they still face occasional communal bias.

On thriving ECR, a family left behind relates its story

September 16, 2019 Mahesh V

Paul Rajapandian, or Raja, lives with his two daughters and a granddaughter in a small shack alongside ECR road. His family has been in the cane weaving business for over two generations. In the buzzing suburbs of our metropolis, lives such as Raja’s remain invisible.

In photos: How temple tanks are helping the city conserve rain water

August 13, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Most temples in Chennai and suburbs were designed to include tanks, that help to collect rainwater and recharge the groundwater in neighbouring areas. Take a look at some of these tanks today to see how they are preparing to catch and save water as the rains arrive.

A day spent with cops in one of Chennai’s all women police stations

August 6, 2019 M Varsha

Marked by long work hours, lack of support system and complex roles, what is life like for female police personnel in Chennai? We spent a day at the D1 All Women Police Station to learn more about the many challenges faced by these women in khaki.

Nagpur, Kolkata or Panruti — where do the veggies you cook everyday come from?

August 1, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Every vegetable has a fascinating journey before it reaches the Koyambedu market and from there to your kitchen. See what sellers have to say about where the different kinds and varieties are actually grown.

Rivers remember, but why don’t we?

July 19, 2019 Himanshu Upadhyaya

‘Rivers Remember: #ChennaiRains and the Shocking Truth of a Manmade Flood’ by Krupa Ge is a stark pointer towards consequences of ignoring and abusing the rivers and wetlands in our cities, and also the breakdown of the administrative machinery in times of disaster.

“Rethink urban development”: Author of new book on 2015 Chennai floods

July 19, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Krupa Ge, author of Rivers Remember, speaks about the research that went into writing the book and key learnings for Chennai and other cities from the floods of 2015.

Why are so many refugees leaving Chennai’s Kelambakkam camp?

July 4, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Statistics from the UNHCR indicate that at least 11 Rohingyas have migrated from the camp at Kelambakkam over the past eight months. This video looks into what is driving them away from Chennai, a city where they feel safe and at home.