Chennai’s iconic annual fair at Island Grounds turns 50
The lights, colours and flavours of the India Tourism and Industrial Fair (Sutrula Porutkatchi) at Island Grounds in Chennai, are something that many 50-plus folks
The lights, colours and flavours of the India Tourism and Industrial Fair (Sutrula Porutkatchi) at Island Grounds in Chennai, are something that many 50-plus folks in the city remember with great happiness and warmth. A precursor to the malls, it used to be a place where families could spend time together, enjoying walking on the soft sand with the sea breeze from the nearby Bay of Bengal and munching on the big pappads and chilli bajjis. The 70-day-long India Tourism and Industrial Fair that began with great fanfare at the Island Grounds in the city recently turned 50 this year. It was conceived and named by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. K.C. Indhirani, a resident of Kotturpuram recalled the days when her family would go to buy kitchen appliances like gas lighters and vegetables cutters at the trade fair, as it is popularly called. “We would eagerly visit the exhibition to look at the new appliances launched that year. There used to be a toy train giving ticketed rides to children and adults. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments stall would serve yummy prasadam. The giant appalam stall from Delhi was a big attraction for children. When we used to buy unfried appalam for use at home, it would not come out as big or as tasty. It’s been a while since I went,” she said.
This fair began in the city in 1974 as the ‘Pongal Tourist Trade Fair.’ That year, according to The Hindu, the fair had featured a typical rural scene with a temple, huts and a meandering canal; an amusement park, a mini zoo, a shopping arcade; stalls by Central and State government departments, Air India, Coffee Board, Cooptex and Housing Board. At the valedictory event held in February, Karunanidhi had suggested that permanent tourist fairs be held in the city and the districts. In 1989, Karunanidhi gave the fair its present name. Speaking during the inauguration that year at Island Grounds, he said the fair has tourism and educational values and was a source of amusement for the poor. Tourism had a good potential for generating income to governments, and in other countries the income formed a large portion of the economy. That year, the theme of the fair was ‘350 years of Madras - its origin and growth’ and the Madras Corporation had put up a facade at the entrance to mark the occasion. Photographs depicting the growth of the city had been put up at the fair. There were 200 stalls including 23 government departments, five Central government organisations besides stalls representing Assam, Bihar, Kashmir, Gujarat, Orissa (now Odisha). Tourism department official N. Ravi, recalled how late Minister R.M. Veerappan would visit the fair at 2 a.m. and ensure that the work was progressing well.
The BriefWire