This city is many things to many people. The city that constantly keeps changing while somehow remaining just the same.
The nokia 1100 in the pocket may have changed to the 16 pro but there’s still peace to be found at marina.
The pookaara akka now send voice notes over whatsapp asking about the flowers for the day, but never fails to add “extra roses” with the mallipoo – a very madras thing to do.
We might be G-Paying the shopkeeper but the bargaining hasnt changed one bit.
Ola, Uber and Rapido have made life easy but there are still annas on every corner that ask “auto venum ah ma?” (do you want to take the autorickshaw?)
வந்தாரை வாழவைக்கும் மெட்ராஸ்
We have space for everyone. We make everyone feel at home. We are tolerant – much more than most.
Sometimes that doesnt work in our favour. We suffer with bad roads, poor drains and water logging every December.
We crib about migrants – hindi speaking and working everywhere. We are also the first ones to grin big when we hear their broken tamil. Contrary to popular belief, when not forced, we show our love back by conversing in broken hindi.
Everyday traffic is a menace – more so with diversions, potholes and metro work road blocks. but we still give way to the mother balancing both her children and their heavy school bags; wave at kids in a school bus, jam to the latest song from the auto-with-the-stereo-set at the never ending traffic stops.
There are a million comments from faceless keyboard warriors and paid bots on Instagram and YouTube but ultimately what wins in the theatres is if the movie is good. Even andavar cant change this!
No matter who you are, where you are from or what you are called, if you don yellow and play cricket – we love you unconditionally. Our love tolerates more than losses and bad decisions – we love emotionally and with vehemence.
Since the ruling and subsequent revoking of the Supreme Court order regarding indies/street dogs, we have seen many incidents of violence towards the voiceless and physical altercations with community feeders. I take great pride in reporting that there are no such incident from Tamil Nadu or Chennai.
It would take more than a verdict from some court that is miles away from us to separate us from the ones we take care of. Homeless feed half of their little to indies everyday. Thousands feed crows and birds on their terrace every morning. Every office doggo or atm bhairavan is known by the locals and cherished.
As a feeder myself, I have been apprehensive for the past few days as to if I would be stopped or questioned. I know the present laws don’t safeguard me and that my ID Card from the animal welfare board means nothing.
But nothing has changed with Madras or its people.
Even prior to the whole uproar, I have never come across community feeder problems from the tamil speaking community – never seen such videos on social media. It’s not us. It’s not who we are.
We care for everyone – the named and nameless; the ones who speak and the ones who dont.
வந்தாரை வாழவைக்கும் மெட்ராஸ் – now and always.
So grateful and proud to always call you mine.
happy birthday, madras!
Tags: madras, madras day, Madras Day 2025, Save Delhi Dogs, Save Indies, Save Street Dogs