Book on Chennai’s ‘unique disposition’ launched

Journalist Bishwanath Ghosh’s second book,“Tamarind City: Where Modern India Began”, a city biography of Chennai, was launched by writer-journalist Naresh Fernandes at Title Waves bookstore in Bandra on Friday.

Journalist Bishwanath Ghosh’s second book,“Tamarind City: Where Modern India Began”, a city biography of Chennai, was launched by writer-journalist Naresh Fernandes at Title Waves bookstore in Bandra on Friday.

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Ghosh, the deputy editor of The Hindu, published his first book “Chai Chai: Travels in Places Where You Stop But Never Get Off” in 2009.

Tamarind City is a first person account that traces the Kanpur-bred Ghosh’s journey through Chennai, a city that he claims, “let him be, develop and innovate”.

The book attempts to reinvent Chennai’s ‘conservative, closed-minded’ image, through the writer’s experiences with people he encountered as well as through historical references of people who redefined the political skyline of Tamil Nadu.

“Chennai has always been a prisoner of perceptions. Considered to be the back of the beyond in terms of open-mindedness, it is actually bustling with colour, potential and advancement. Chennai embraces all while being strongly married to traditions,” Ghosh said.

Speaking at the launch, Naresh Fernandes shared his own experiences about Chennai and its unique disposition. “After many books on Mumbai, a book that gets people acquainted with Chennai’s culture and way of life, is a refreshing change,” he said.