Features | Citizen Matters, Chennai

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.