The Coimbatore Vizha is a time to celebrate the entrepreneurial and do gooder ethos of the city. Many accolades to YI ( Young Indians ) for leading the initiative. More than 120 events are part of this wonderful jamboree. The TOWN HALL walk was a hit in terms of numbers and healthy interactions. About 40 plus people turned up for the walk which began at the Koniamman Temple. The conductor, Rajesh Govindarajulu spent nearly 2 hours and gave a number of nuggets connected with the city. This event was organised by INDICA, Coimbatore Chapter. INDICA is founded by Harikiran Vadlamani ad the local convenor happens to be Dr.Pramod.
The Coimbatore Vizha is a time to celebrate the entrepreneurial and do gooder ethos of the city. Many accolades to YI ( Young Indians ) for leading the initiative. More than 120 events are part of this wonderful jamboree. The TOWN HALL walk was a hit in terms of numbers and healthy interactions. About 40 plus people turned up for the walk which began at the Koniamman Temple. The conductor, Rajesh Govindarajulu spent nearly 2 hours and gave a number of nuggets connected with the city. This event was organised by INDICA, Coimbatore Chapter. INDICA is founded by Harikiran Vadlamani and the local convenor happens to be Dr Pramod.
Rajesh spoke about the history of the Koniamman Temple, the fort and the two agraharams of the region. He spoke about the ' Uma Parameswari Chaturvedi Mangalam ' of the yonder era. Rajesh shared snippets about Rao Sahib M. G.Arogyaswamy Pillai who had given away his bungalow for the first Eye Hospital in Coimbatore ( Moses Gnanabaranam ). He added inputs about the St.Josephs ITI, Royal Theatre, Carnatic Theatre, Fathima Convent, St.Michaels School and Presentation Convent. A number of European nuns had served the region by teaching crochet, stitching and sewing to women those days. He spoke about the TELC Church, Guru Hotel, the fort, Durgalal Pickles, Balaji Bakery, Athar Jama Masjid, stories connected with the fort, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The Roman connect was also brought out. Rajesh gave details about the rule of the various dynasties and the three tier monarchy which existed at the time of the Vijayanagar rulers.
People were surprised to see the residence of Rao Bahadur A.T.Thiruvengadaswami Mudaliar ( 18855 - 1923 ). They were happy to learn about his three sons who built the tower clock in memory of their father. The sons lived in huge houses and they were very popular those days - A.T.Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar, Rao Bahadur A.T.Krishnaswamy Mudaliar & A.T.Devaraja Mudaliar. Rajesh spoke about Bombay Anand Bhavan and also about the textile showroom belonging to S.Bheemiah Chetty. Shobha Cloth Centre, Central Biriyani Hotel and Iranis were also part of the chat.
G.Kuppuswamy Naidu of Lakshmi Mills had a rice mundi in Big Bazaar Street and freedom fighter Kovai Subri had run the old Congress office from the same spot. The Victoria Town Hall story was also narrated. Rajesh spoke about the sturdy bus shelters that had been erected by the Rotary Club of Coimbatore those days. S.P.Narasimhalu Naidu, N.S.Ramaswamy Iyengar and Diwan Bahadur C.S.Rathinasabapathy Mudaliar were part of the discussions.
The group crisscrossed Oppanakkara Street and entered Vysial Street after learning more about the visit of M.G.Ramachandran to Raja Theatres nearly 60 years ago. People heard him in rapt attention when he spoke about the Vimalnath Jain Temple, Devdaman Sri Krishna Temple, Vasavi Kannika Parameswari Temple and the Kurangu Sait Family ( TV Brothers ). A brief mention of Ramanna and R.S.Gopal Chettiar, Vurakkarai Family, A.R.Pattabiraman Chettiar, B.R.Nataraja Chettiar, Kulur Family, A.Pattabhirama Chettiar who was known for his business acumen, wit and humour.
All the enthusiasts had settu villais at the Vasavi Kannika Parameswai Food Stall in Vysial Street. Rajesh regaled the audience with stories about the visits of freedom fighters and about his own old house ' Raju Bhavan '. A silver model of the same had been given to Gandhiji by Rajesh's great grand father P.A.Raju Chettiar in 1934 and it was taken in the auction by Abhaichand Vendravan of T.V Brothers. The walkers passed by the residence of the famous hardware merchant Ethiraj Naidu's residence, Bhajanai Koivil Street, Kovai Tamil Sangam among other places.
Rajesh spoke about his ancestral home and his talk was laced with humour. The visit to the Sivakavimani C.K.Subramania Mudaliar's ( 1878 - 1961 ) residence was the highlight in Vysial Street. This scholar advocate had written a treatise on ' Periya Puranam ' and it continues to be much sought after. The grandson Sivasubramaniam and his mother Mangaiyarkarasi shared some stories connected with the great man.
The group entered Karuppa Gounder Street after learning about the Gundam ( Firewalk place ) in the nearby Draupadi Amman Temple. They crossed the 60 year old Kandan Pani Poori Kadai and entered an ancient Akhada belonging to the Jetty community on Big Bazaar Street. The visit concluded at the Garadi Temple which is the home to the ancient bronze icon of Kasthuri Ranga from the Paramadhanadhar Sannidi in Srirangam. The huge group of walkers promised themselves to walk the heritage more often.
Simplicity News Team