Media, sensationalism and safety

With all the brouhaha over the Mullaperiyar Dam issue, the media is not helping ordinary people in any way. As a Malayali living in Chennai for the last 7 years, I have never faced (touchwood) any discrimination based on my mother tongue.
In the last couple of weeks I have had umpteen conversations with Malayalis in Kerala who ask questions like whether it is safe to speak Malayalam in Chennai openly - I am both amused and saddened by this. Media in Kerala are apparently highlighting attacks on businesses run by Keralites in Tamil Nadu, and here in Chennai I do hear a lot about alleged attacks on Tamilians in Kerala. While folks in Kerala assure me that the average Tamilian in Kerala is still not attacked, I am sure of the same in TN. This sensationalizing of the issue only leads to retaliatory attacks against (fictional?) attacks on either side.
My guess is that whichever businesses were attacked, may have been done by general anti-socials/rowdies/goons who are making best use of the situation to settle old scores, and may not have anything to do with the Mullaperiyar issue or the mother tongue.
I wish media on both sides become more responsible in their reporting and help Malayalis in TN and Tamilians in Kerala live a normal life.

Dakshina Chitra

This New Year I did something different - went with wife and a close friend to Dakshin Chitra, an art gallery on the East Coast Road, a few kilometres south of Chennai. I am not the usual 'arty' type, and had made the visit of the recommendation of the accompanying friend. Unfortunately we had gone to Mahabs first and dropped in at DC on our way back, reaching at around 4 pm.

There was a North Eastern dance festival going on, and the day featured a dance troupe from Manipur. A spring time dance by the young men with drums in their hands was a very amazing experience, even for me who doesn't have much sense for dance.

There is a lot to see at DC - they have showcased each of the four southern states' cultural heritage through real size exhibits - houses constructed in traditional style, including the interiors, for each region - for example, Chettinad, Trivandrum, Calicut, Ambur, etc.

The sections on Tamil Nadu and Kerala are complete, while the sections on Andhra and K'taka are being renovated.

We just had time to have a quick glance at TN and Kerala section before closing time. I have decided to make another visit, this time a full day trip, to this place, and I would recommend this to all my friends residing in or visiting Chennai.