To market, to market...Heritage enthusiast V. Sriram unearths the erstwhile shopping haven, Moore MarketTime was when Madras did its shopping on the fringes of George Town, and when Kotwal Chawadi was for vegetables. The need for an organised market in the city was a long felt one. In 1898, the foundation stone for a shopping area was laid by Sir George Moore, President of the Madras Corporation. The building, designed by RE Ellis and constructed by A. Subramania Aiyar, was completed in 1900. It was called Moore Market and it stood to the right of Central Station.Designed in the best Indo Saracenic tradition, the structure of exposed brickwork consisted of a series of shops around a central quadrangle. There were sections for meats, flowers and other food items. You could buy birds in cages and animals as pets. There were shops selling gramophone records and books.After Independence, Moore Market became better known for its old books, antique gramophone players and records. In addition, in an era when imported goods were frowned upon, this was where you got some fantastic toys of German make. The unwritten rule in the market was: don't touch anything. If you did, it was considered sold.Moore Market became an issue in the 1980s, when the Railways needed land for expansion. Then, one night in 1985, Moore Market mysteriously caught fire. The loss in terms of books and antiques was incalculable. Only a shell remained. The Government handed over the structure to the Railways, who demolished it to build their reservation office. The area in front became a car park and in the middle stood the scaled down Moore Market.The shopkeepers were moved to a new high-rise close by, but the charm had gone out of Moore Market. The only positive aspect of the entire episode was that it marked the beginning of heritage activism in the city.What the eye cannot seeAvisually-challenged doctor, a shy, blushing couple, both of whom are blind, an adorable trail of children at a school for the blind, each holding on to the shoulders of the child in front: these are just a few of the images that were on display at Sipra Das’s photographic exhibition, titled ‘Third Eye’. Her photographs, all of which have been shot in black and white, offer a previously unseen, and indepth glimpse into the world of the visually-challenged. If sight makes for 75 per cent of our sensory perceptions of the external world, then the loss of it can be near-impossible to grapple and come to terms with and, for those blessed with vision, very, very hard to understand. Das has tiptoed into the world of the visually-challenged, and captured them as they go about their normal—to them— lives. Her evocative photographs, made even more poignant by her conscious decision to not use colours, draw the viewer into the challenges they face, while also subtly and very effectively raising awareness of their plight.For Das, a news photographer with India Today, this exhibition has been the culmination of a lot of dedicated work. “I want to show how independent my subjects are,” says Das. “People don’t normally know how to react to a blind person. Families and society consider the blind as a burden. But, I’ve found that they’re extremely happy living their lives independently. They earn honestly, and are very peaceloving.”They seem to see something that we, with eyes, don’t seem to be able to. The exhibition, inaugurated by S. Sahithya, a visuallyimpaired young girl, was held at Lalit Kala Academi, from September 29 to October 5. The invitation card worked at highlighting another aspect of the visually-challenged— it was also written in the Braille systemMissing coloursNashtavarnnangal (Missing colours), the second short film by Prasanth Kanathur, is earning rave reviews at film festivals. The film, a story about a eunuch named Karthi, viewed through the eyes of a research student unfolds with a series of flashbacks. Kanathur, 34, is a journalist working for a Malayalam daily, Mathrubhoomi.Organic fareA unique not-forprofit collective, reStore began as a concept note circulated by Sangeetha Sriram. The group has since grown and now has 10 core members. reStore preferentially sources products made by marginalised sections of society, or organisations promoting their livelihoods— small organic farmers, NGOs and traditional artisans. It currently runs two weekly organic bazaars; what’s unique is, reStore has created a space for customers to become volunteers— weighing and cleaning vegetables, setting up the sale tables, billing, and also learning about the nutrition, taste, and politics of food. reStore is particular about avoiding plastic packaging. Their cool paper covers are made by the students of Vidyasagar, a school for individuals with special needs.Visit them online at http:restore.org.in.Calling all gluttonsIndulge your sweet tooth. Following the name of the restaurant— which in itself is enough reason to visit—Sin’s desserts are designed around the seven deadly sins. After you enjoy their options, you’re going to be visualising Envy as a fastmelting chocolate, Lust as chocolate cake held captive by hot chilly pepper, and Gluttony as cheesecake that seems as dense as a black hole. The photographs on the walls, by Sunder, add wonderfully to the ambience.SIN At: 1, Ramaswamy Naicker Street, Alwarpet. Tel: 9840772639.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Oct 10, 2008--- ENDS ---
