Maambalam – A Beginning Filled with Memories
Maambalam — a small stretch in the vast city of Chennai, yet a place packed with memories for me.
It was the first place that welcomed me to Chennai.
Not just me — for thousands of youngsters from different corners of India, this was the first stop in their journey to build a life.
The mansions here were our first addresses.
In tiny 10x10 rooms, we lived close, built friendships, and sowed the seeds of hope for a better future.
Mansions, mess hotels, roadside shops —
each played a role in giving someone a start.
Like the migratory birds of Vedanthangal,
youngsters came here with dreams and flew forward, seeking their paths.
Maambalam too is an identity —
a symbol of where life began.
These days, it seems like very few youngsters choose to stay in mansions.
They go for flats, sharing apartments instead.
Memories of Kasi Vinayaka Mess in Triplicane come flooding in...
In one way, this shift reflects a form of economic growth.
This new generation that lives with greater comforts might not find mansions suitable anymore.
Because they’ve already experienced well-equipped college hostels,
and it’s human nature to always seek something a little more comfortable.
So many changes are happening.
Back in my time, shopping meant only one thing — T. Nagar.
Those streets would overflow with crowds.
One day, while speaking with a shopkeeper there, I realized how things have changed.
He said, “These days, even having the time to talk like this is rare. The crowd isn’t what it used to be.”
After talking with him, I headed to the always-busy Kanaka Durga Andhra Mess.
Even there, the tables were empty.
And it was a Sunday afternoon.
Even the staff echoed the same sentiment.
Often, I reflect on this —
We in IT earn monthly salaries and assume we're safe as long as we're "up to date".
But thinking that businesses will be fine just because they seem stable is a mistake.
They too are constantly evolving, adapting, and staying relevant.
Now, everything is accessible everywhere —
Urban life is built that way.
And industries are growing to match that lifestyle.
People mentioned the old mansions of Triplicane —
Back during the release of the film Kadhal Mannan, that area had a mansion in every corner.
Over time, that culture shifted toward Maambalam and T. Nagar.
Change is the only constant.
Let’s journey on.
By
Raja K. S
Maambalam #ChennaiStories #UrbanMemory #TamilNostalgia #CityDiaries #FromMessToMetro #LifeInChennai #HostelDays #SharedRooms #YouthJourney #ChangingCityscape #KadhalMannanEra
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