Pulse

She is not a virgin nor is she a beauty, however she is the heartthrob of millions of people and has an iconic status never enjoyed by any of her namesakes the world over. She is to Chennai much more than what the Hyde Park is to London or the Central Park is to New York. She has in her the power to soothe and to heal and everyone who visits her comes back a more cheerful and rejuvenated person. She is a gift from the Gods to the city of Chennai and a perfect remedy to offset the otherwise harsh summer sun. Yes she is our very own Marina our Marina Beach.

During my childhood the Marina figured as the leading tourist attraction in Chennai. I am sure it must have had the same status earlier too and I believe it remains the same at present and I won’t be wrong if I say that it will continue to be the same in the future. Thus has been the power of this stretch of sun, sand and surf. It is a 12.5 kilometers stretch and this makes it the second longest beach in a city. There is no way that this record can be jeopardized. The beach begins from the Fort St. George and goes south up to Besant Nagar. It prides itself as a 24x7 zone with something or the other happening at all times. In the early hours of the morning or may be late night the fishermen venture out into the seas in their catamarans to get their catch. By the time the catch is brought to the shore, the beach welcomes with open arms the early morning walkers, joggers and runners. To complement the health freaks are a group of vendors who sell health food which includes Chlorophyll juice, fruits, fresh salads and tender coconut. This hour also sees the members of the Laughing Club, laughing their guts out. Once the walkers bid adieu, the beach is filled with little boys and young men with their cricket kits. On a Sunday one can see at least 100 groups of people playing cricket. Around mid morning is the time when visitors start trooping in. It is the most preferred meeting venue for young boys and girls and the sands have stood witness to innumerable Romeos and Juliets. Evening is the time for the mass exodus to arrive. With the increase in the temperature, the crowd at the Marina also increases. The Marina serves as a true respite for the stifling and harsh summer days. This is also the time for the vendors to exhibit their wares and they surely offer something to please everyone’s palate and purse. The evening also sees the Marina becoming a sporting arena what with a couple of horses offering rides, kite runners, balloon shooters and sometimes a carousel and merry go round. With darkness most activities come to an end and the beach again gets ready for the fishermen folk. It is amazing as to how the Marina accommodates the crowds and their innumerable activities.

The Marina plays host to all the major happenings in the city, be it a political meeting or an evangelist trying out his miracles or the annual marathon or a leader on his so called hunger strike or any mega event that the other venues in the city cannot contain. She is also home to a host of personalities who have left their imprints in the sands of time. As should be the norm, the statue of the Father of the Nation has the pride of place. Then there are the statues of Kannagi, Thiruvalluvar and Avvayyar to name a few. Recently added to this prestigious list is the statue of Nadigar Thilakam Shivaji Ganesan, an actor who held the audiences in his sway. Two Chief Ministers are laid to rest in a prominent place on the Marina and their memorials are a must visit. The buildings that adorn the road opposite the marina are all masterpieces dating back to over a hundred years. Most of them are built in the Indo Saracenic style of architecture. I would term the University of Madras to be the most imposing. The Senate Hall which was brought back to its old glory is truly an architectural wonder. As for the Presidency and Queen Mary’s college both are prestigious institutions and have produced some of the best brains of the country. The Ice House (named after the Tudor Ice Company) also called the Vivekananda House is attractive by its unique style and the Police Head Quarters stands out as one of the most elegant buildings in the city. The Fort Saint George is history by itself as it was the first British settlement in India. Walking down the beach is surely a treat to the eyes, what with the wonderful sea on one side and these spectacular facades on the other.

The Marina pulsates with energy and this energy is passed on to all who visit her. Her position as the most visited attraction is unrivalled and this makes her truly unique. Where else in the world would so much be offered for absolutely nothing. She is not only the pride of our city but is also its pulse. This pulse makes our hearts throb and she is turn becomes our Heartthrob.

I would like to end this article with a couplet by the famous Tamil Poet Kannadasan. It would convey to the reader the power of the Marina Beach.
“Kaatru Vaanga Ponein,
Oru kavithai Vaangi Vandhein”
Translated it would loosely mean: “I went to get some breeze but instead returned a poet”.