1. In Madras baashai or Chennai Tamil slang, who is a ‘Peter’ or a ‘Mary’?
2. As per the Chennai Corporation, of all the statues that line the Marina Beach, which was the earliest statue?
3. BBQ (not referring to barbecue) is a railway station code for which station? One would normally pass through this station when entering or exiting Chennai Central.
4. Neelankarai, Foreshore Estate, Kasimedu Fishing Harbour, Thiruvottriyur, and Ennore — the City Police identified these five sea points for what purpose on the weekend?
5. What medical facility with 12 beds did Dr Chowry Muthu start in 1928 on the side of Pachamalai in Tambaram?
6. The Madras Day festival that started 11 years ago actually had as its prototype another festival in a Chennai locality that centred around a religious landmark. Which festival is this?
7. Established in 1774, Madras has the second oldest cantonment in India. Which two areas of Madras had cantonments that were merged into one by the government in 1905?
8. Brothers Peter and Alex arrived in Madras from England in 1843. The company they started initially made a certain product. They then expanded to making silver and gold jewellery, assembled bicycles, served as agents for Cadillac, ran an arms and ammunition section, made survey instruments etc. After Independence, their wide range of services shrunk back to what they initially started out making. Which product was this?
9. What stands today at Parktown that was built in 1873 in an open ground called John Pereira’s Gardens belonging to a Portuguese merchant?
10. According to Central Station authorities, the station was closed only thrice during its long and hallowed service since April 4, 1873. One occasion was on December 13, 2009 for work relating to extension of platforms. What were the other two occasions?
11. It was first known simply as ‘The house on the Choultry Plain’ and overlooked the Cooum. It then became The Imperial in 1854, and The Albany in 1860. Finally P Cumaraguru Mudelly and P Chokalinga Mudelly named it after Robert Bourke, while a more interesting story has it that they named it after Lady Bourke moved here because she was annoyed with her husband! What is its present name?
12. Which building will be restored on at least three sides by the Chennai Corporation by November 26 to commemorate its inauguration by Lord Hardinge about 100 years ago?
13. This complex that also has a road named after it is associated with five prominent people. Four of them are Rettamalai Srinivasan, Rajaji, Kamaraj and Minjur Bhaktavatsalam. Who is the fifth?
14. Maria Montessorie headquartered at the Theosophical Society when she arrived in India in 1939. She stayed in India between 1939-49 conducting training programmes. Why else did she stay in India during World War II?
15. Subramanya Bharathi wrote a play that used a scene from the Mahabharata comparing Pandavas to Indians, Kauravas to the British and the Kurukshetra War to the freedom struggle. Name the play. Who represented India?
answers
1. A guy or a girl showing off his/her English skills.
2. Triumph of Labour
3. Basin Bridge Junction
4. Ganesha idol immersion
5. TB Sanatorium
6. Mylapore Festival centred around the Kapaleeswar Koil.
7. St Thomas Mount and Pallavaram
8. Watches (P Orr and Sons)
9. Central Station
10. Death of Mahatma Gandhi and Queen Victoria’s visit.
11. Vivanta by Taj — Connemara Hotel
12. Ripon Building
13. Mahatma Gandhi. These are the memorials at Gandhi Mandapam
14. She was an enemy alien as Italy was an Axis Power.
15. Panchali Sapadham. Draupadi represented India.