Madras Miscellany

The child as a consumer

It was at a forum of Geography teachers a few years ago that I bemoaned the Indian preoccupation with Science in schools and colleges and the virtual neglect of the Humanities. I had pointed out that except for schools in certain educational streams, History, Geography and Civics were taught in most schools under the omnibus subject `Social Studies', that even this was taught for only three years and that I'd known cases where the subject was even taught by a Mathematics teacher! I had suggested that it was time to take a new look at the entire subject, particularly in the light of newly developing environmental, heritage and consumer concerns, that it was time that we looked at a new syllabus that would enable the child to take a closer look at its district one year, its State the next and the country in the third year, focussing on environmental and heritage concerns. The subject needed to further look at civic issues and governance in the fourth year and, in the fifth year, take a look at the rights and responsibilities of the citizen both as provider and consumer.

What was suggested was a whole new look at the traditional subjects of History, Geography and Civics in the light of modern developments in a changing world, in order to make children not only aware of the issues facing a deteriorating society but also of what they could do as they grew up to become caring citizens with a social (NOT political) commitment to their own district, State and country.

As I had expected, nothing came of it despite the presence of the State's Social Studies curriculum adviser, who apparently thought History, Geography and Civics as taught perfunctorily at present would make us all better citizens.

I was, therefore, pleased to hear of a couple of organisations, which in the last year or so having been making efforts to persuade a few schools to try something different.

INTACH Tamil Nadu is looking at developing a model text, guide- cum-workbook accompanied by a video that would enable students to become more conscious of places that are an important part of their heritage. This material, it was suggested, be used after a leisurely tour of the heritage site during which brief lectures would be given at points of particular historical or architectural interest along the route. A start is planned with Fort St. George, but if the package produced proves successful in schools where it will be tried out, then it is proposed to developed other packages like the Mahratta influence, the Chola country, Gingee fort, Pulicat, Tranquebar etc. As usual, it is lack of funds that is holding up the project.

More successful in getting off the mark has been the Centre for Consumer Education, Research, Teaching, Training and Testing (Concert), which recently released a workbook for school students on Consumer Responsibilities and Rights. Written by S. S. Nathan, Principal, Bala Vidya Mandir, Adyar, it is to be tested out in about a dozen schools in Class 7 and in another dozen schools in Class 9. Concert proposes to hold a workshop after the testing to examine the learning, improve the content from the findings and then recommend the book to the NCERT for use throughout the country. Concert's objective in getting the book introduced nationwide "is to convert irresponsible, unsustainable consumption leading to neglect of the environment into healthy consumption by responsible children who will also influence their parents to follow their example."

The workbook discusses various rights, such as the right to basic needs, safety, information, choice, redress and healthy environment. It looks at the rights to redress and consumer education and, most importantly, at "our responsibilities as consumers."

It offers questions and exercises and suggests role plays such as this one: If you find a product you have bought defective, find the RECEIPT, WRITE down when you bought it and WHAT is wrong, TAKE it back to the shop (including the packaging), ASK for the manager, TELL him what is wrong and SHOW him the problem. ASK politely for a replacement or your money back. If he refuses, REPEAT YOUR REQUEST (without getting angry) and if he does not act favourably, tell him you will be making a formal complaint to a consumer organisation or the relevant Government department. Then REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINT. The consumer organisation will help you get a fair deal.

Amusing illustrations by Sri Keshav enhance the book.

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Paranoid about security

Speaking of Fort St. George, I wonder whether the package being planned by INTACH will prove a worthwhile exercise, considering the kind of obstructions a visitor runs into at a historic destination that every tourist brochure recommends the visitor to wander through.

It happened a couple of weeks ago and it has happened several times in the past couple of years when visitors have been stopped with the words `Military area, "``Security,'' ``"Pass?''

On the latest occasion, a VIP and his escorts came out of St. Mary's Church, took a left and another left and planned to stroll down the road where there stand Admiralty House where Robert Clive lived, the Grand Arsenal, Wellesley House now in untended ruins, and the city's first Town Hall, now the Army's area headquarters, all heritage buildings.

All they planned to do was to admire the buildings from the road and hear their stories told.

But it was not to be; "Military area,'' said two unmilitary- looking persons rather diffidently, till the point was emphasised by a more military-like presence a few feet later who added, ``Can't look''!

Now, I don't know what secrets there are in the walls of four historic buildings I've mentioned that need to be kept secure and defended, but if heritage buildings like these are to be kept out of the sight of visitors and access to other historic areas are to be made difficult through the need for passes queued up for, it's then time to remove Fort St. George from tourist recommendations and forget the place where the city began.

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When the postman knocked

Randor Guy, who is another who keeps a close track on Madras, points out that at least one of the persons I had mentioned in this column on October 8 as not having been remembered in a road name, has indeed had a road named after him.

Charles Trevelyan, Randor jogged my memory, is recalled in Trevelyan Basin Street. Indeed it is, in the Elephant Gate area off Audiappa Naicken Street in West-Central George Town and not far from Wall Tax Road. The road remembers the Governor (1859-60) who developed People's Park and had the Basin built to augment Madras's water supply. That contribution is remembered in a little noticed fountain in the now abbreviated gardens of crumbling Victoria Public Hall (the Town Hall).

Trevelyan, who married Macaulay's sister Hannah, was a member of a redoubtable family that had served India for generations — and written much about the country and its history.

His stay in Madras was rudely cut short because he was considered guilty of "plain insubordination" when he minuted strong dissent to a proposal of increased taxation made by the Finance Member, Government of India. Trevelyan's contention that Madras would not levy the extra burden saw him being recalled to England.

Curiously, two years later, he was sent to Calcutta, the then seat of the GOI, as Finance Member! In between, while he was cooling off in England, he drafted the proposals for the formation of the Indian Civil Service, the forerunner of the IAS.

His proposal predated the setting up of the civil service in Britain.

Recalling Trevelyan Basin Street for different reasons is Randor Guy, who writes:

"As a college student many years ago, I frequented Trevelyan Basin Street where many of my cricket team-mates lived. It was a middle-class area and the street was quite broad at one end. We lads played cricket with a `cover ball' (tennis ball!). The street was near the famous `Vaikunta Vaadhiyar Street' named after an orthodox Brahmin who gave you a `visa' to Heaven (Vaikuntam!) for a modest gift in kind or cash. I wonder if life in both streets remains the same."

"1950s in Madras! How long ago it all seems now and yet how radiantly green it remains in my memory!''

S. MUTHIAH

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