When the Nagarathar Chettiyar community left the region of Chettinadu in Tamil Nadu, they left a part of themselves behind—their palatial ancestral homes
“WE WERE LIKE fools who had discovered an incredible treasure,” said my host, an architect from France called Michel Adamant. “We went from village to village, discovering streets of decaying mansions with ornate facades and interiors, which left us to imagine the fascinating stories of their owners.”
I was in the small, obscure village of Kothamangalam, staying in a 108-year-old mansion called Saratha Vilas—the ancestral property of the wealthy merchant, Subramanya Chettiyar. As the morning light filtered through the stained-glass windows, it seemed like the entire world nestled in this sprawling mansion. There were pillars of Burmese teak, mirrors and chandeliers glistening with Belgian glass, tiles from Japan and the Netherlands, and Italian marble under my feet.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 29, 2018-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 29, 2018-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
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Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
