AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 162 of 332 Not to be left behind are the vendors who sell tender coconuts (called Elaneer in Tamil) on the streets or those who load their tricycles with tender coconuts and go door to door for their sales call. They do a brisk business because for many in Chennai, a drink of tender coconut water is a must early in the morning. The never say die guys are the newspaper boys who go about their routine with a bundle of energy as well as newspapers and magazines, both in English and vernacular. This one field I find is male dominated (someone please correct me if I am wrong). Their memory is marvellous for they know which newspaper and magazine is required to be delivered at which doorstep. These folks are a databank by themselves on the subject of real estate and can be tapped for real time information on property available for rent or on sale. There are many more facets of Chennai at day break and to experience it one needs to be up and about. So get out of bed early and cherish the day break over Chennai. It is a great experience. Don’t miss it. Door Numbers The address lines in Chennai are not complicated compared to Hyderabad or Bangalore but in the same breath I will add here that, it is not that easy to find an address here. To locate your destination you must be armed with the Old Door No and New Door No. Either one of them will not do. I am told that the new numbering of doors was done a few decades back but till date each property is identified by its old and new number. This necessity is beyond my comprehension because if the old numbers are still relevant then why have the new numbers and if new numbers are applicable then why insist on the old numbers? Hoarding and Poster Culture The poster and banner culture has been in vogue in Chennai from times immemorial. Now with the advent of digital printing one gets to see hoardings coming up in a big way all over Chennai. Members of political parties adore their leaders and a visit to a locality in the city by a political big wig is enough for the party cadres to put up posters and hoardings in every conceivable street corner. Then there are occasions like the birthdays of political leaders, marriage of a member or siblings of a party cadre. A visit to the city by party leaders from the centre is enough for a sea of hoardings and banners to mushroom overnight. Not a lamp post or a road median is spared, unmindful of the traffic hazards. Wall Posters Most of the compound walls in Chennai are plastered with posters be it filmy or political. Then you have the ‘KANNEER ANJALI’ (literal translation means Tearful Homage) in memory of those who have passed away, which are put up by their near