Vincent D'Souza on how Madras Day became Madras Week

Vincent D’Souza, veteran journalist and publisher, is part of the team that first started Madras Day. Having reported for The Week magazine and BBC Radio, he now edits weekly English newspapers Adyar Times and Mylapore Times, which have a combined circulation of 70,000 copies. He also promotes the Mylapore Festival held during Pongal in Chennai. He speaks to Nandini Krishnan about Madras Day.

How did Madras Day start off? Did you come up with the idea one fine day, or had it grown over some time?

It started off in 2004, when three of us – historian S. Muthiah, journalist Sashi Nayar and I – had got together for a cup of coffee. Now, we’ve been joined by three others – journalist and editor Sushila Ravindranath, web site entrepreneur Revathi R and writer-historian V. Sriram. Eventually, Madras Day became Madras Week.

Special: Madras Week

Over six years, Madras Day has grown from 5 events to 60 events. Do you have specific plans for next year?

There are no real plans. All that we do is catalyse people, and the growth shows exactly what happens when people are encouraged to do their own thing. You give them some ideas, and then it keeps spreading. If the community wants it to go ahead, then it’ll definitely grow.

Now, you celebrate it as Madras Week, but the events are spread over nearly a whole month.

That’s because different people want to do different things at different times. You can’t crowd a hundred events into a particular day, and therefore necessarily it will grow that way . Something that grows organically as a community event shouldn’t be restrained – that’s how we see it. People are already regretting that they’re missing out on several important events because they are all happening at the same time. Because there are so many events and they need to necessarily have time and space, it’ll run on that way.

And how do you fund events? Is it with corporate support?

We have never sought corporate support, but then certain organisations have stepped forward of their own accord. L&T is one example – they have supported the activities held at Sastri Hall in Mylapore. Otherwise, all work for Madras Week is voluntary.

If someone wants to participate in organising events, how do they go about it?

We ask people who would like to collaborate on or host an event to email us. The address is madrasday@yahoo.com. We’d be happy to provide whatever guidance and support they need.

Have people from other cities taken up similar celebrations since you started out?

As far as I know, Calcutta celebrates its city. They have a couple of events on a day, but that was on much before we started. But I think this is the city now that really celebrates itself. The government has picked up the thread, now corporates are picking up the thread. It’s already firmly established in the calendar.

You’ve focused on the changing landscape of Madras and how the architectural heritage has been lost over the years. So do you see a movement towards putting a stop to this?

It’s not about a movement. Movements don’t stop. Movements grow. These are processes, we definitely see a very positive awareness about the city, and there will be greater awareness about rights and privileges and what needs to be done. These are processes and it takes quite a bit of time. The fact that the wheels are rolling is a good thing.

If you have to choose one place you consider extremely special or that symbolises Madras to you, what would it be, personally?

Mount Road. I lived there for a long time. So I know every nook and corner of that place. That would be my favourite spot in Madras.

Finally, what message do you have for people on Madras Day?

Celebrate the city!