Did you know that the first drainage system in Chennai city was set up in 1860 at the behest of Florence Nightingale and Henry Nelson, the then director of Parry & Co?
Well, you can learn more of such interesting facts and titbits about our city at the Murugappa Madras Quotient Quiz 2012 edition to be held in connection with Madras Day Celebrations.
The one-day quiz affair, at its second edition, is open only for school students from Class 5-12 will held on Saturday 1, September at Vani Mahal in T Nagar.
“In 2011, when the chronicler of the city Mr S. Muthiah mooted the idea of re-starting the Madras 350 quiz, it was only natural for the Murugappa Group to be associated with it again,” said Mr Sridhar Ganesh, director – HR, Murugappa Group.
But why a quiz format to familiarise about the heritage of Madras? “Chennaiites are upbeat about quiz shows which is evident from their participation from other such events,” said well-known Quizmaster Dr Navin Jayakumar who will be conducting this year’s event too.
While hardly 100-200 people attend such quiz shows in other cities, about 700 of them land up for such events in Chennai, he added.
Following a written preliminary round will be the finals comprising three sections - ‘Madras Past’, ‘Madras Present’ and ‘Madras Forever’.
Last year about 96 three-member teams had participated. This year, the number is expected to touch 120 as there will be no cap on entry from the number of teams from about 76-odd schools.
Murugappa group was instrumental in creating the city’s industrial regions of Thiruvottiyur and Ambattur, said Chennai historian Mr V. Sriram.
And the company takes pride in preserving the city’s heritage., he said pointing out to Madras city’s oldest pillar in front of its corporate office in Parry’s Corner.