Chennai Sooper Beings!

I A N N E H C oper Beings!

So

A book by

DIVYA CHAND Urban Fellow IIHS

November 2017

For ages 8 and above

CHENNAI

Sooper Beings!

Not your average, run-of-the-mill super heroes, Chennai Sooper Beings are unique individuals doing extra-ordinary work and making Chennai a better place for all. The path is not easy and everyday is an adventure, but with resolve in their eyes and valor in their souls, they awake each day and tread ahead on the treacherous path of urban reform!

JShree and Dr. D head out on a scooter to map the precious marshy corners of Chennai. They use science and strategy to save the wildlife within, and human life around these wetlands from the ambiguous beast that is ‘development’.

Enraged by the excuses of ‘development’, Gritty Green has decided to speak up against the careless erections of the huffing, puffing, smoky and nasty plants of power that keep growing in mother natures delicate lap. Communication his weapon of choice, from fishermen to film stars, he makes sure everyone’s voice is heard!

As ‘development’ causes entire neighborhoods to be trampled and large masses of people are ousted from their hand-built homes, KC watches them haul their lives to far-flung edges of the city. She works for them and with them, helps make sense of the chaos and envisions better ways for the beast of ‘development’ to navigate.

The FORCE of TV (Turtle Vigilantes) awakens in the dark of the night and heads to the seashore. Here they procure the fresh eggs that visiting Mama turtles lay and relocate them safely into a secure egg-lair where baby turtles can peacefully brood and hatch out.

Once that happens, Vigilantes release the hatchlings into the sea, lest they be enticed by the dazzling lights of ‘development’.

R2E2 is a true lover of Chennai and its food. He will wade through narrow and swamped lanes through the city’s old and dense localities to share this love with people and have them a taste of the best Chats and Sweets: Samosas and Jalebees that have stood the test of time. ‘Development’ also seems to love these too much to let them go!

EcoDoc is a man of nature. His dream is to have Chennai be a paradise of biodiversity and ecology, a city where clean water flows in the rivers and birds sing songs, where flowers bloom and butterflies flutter merrily. All his efforts have been to urge city folk to love their land and nudge ‘development’ to be a greener, cleaner way of being. He creates spaces of healing for the ailing city.

The Angry Young Man has low temper when miscreants are let loose on the city, misusing resources and ‘development’. He appeals to the citizenry to stand up for themselves, to stand up for the city and to stand up for whats right. “Be fearless!” he says. He is willing to do whatever it takes to set things straight and acts with courage when the situation demands.

It is an enigma.

It is open to interpretations.

It is open to exploitations.

It can reach great heights.

It can easily slip away.

It has many faces, good and bad.

It can do many things, good or bad.

All Beings feel strongly for it and have their own separate ways of interacting with it.

All Beings root for ‘development’, but when it runs haywire, they take it in their hands to make sure the ship sails in peace.

The city requires strong steering.

It requires steering in the right direction.

Sooper Beings keep the city afloat. They all hold a different spoke of the helm. The city of Chennai can be steered in all directions and sometimes our Beings work together and sometimes against each other. They win some and they lose some, but all hail the common goal of a happy, peaceful urban voyage. The ship sails best when they communicate, cooperate and collaborate!

DEDICATED TO and INSPIRED BY -

Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan and Dr. R J Ranjit Daniels from Care Earth Trust Nityanand Jayaraman, Journalist, Activist and part of the Vettiver Collective Karen Coelho, Assistant Professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies V. Arun and Akila Balu from Chennai Students’ Sea Turtle Conservation Network Rakesh Raghunathan, food-blogger and food-walker, Puliyogare Travels Dr. Vishwanath who works with the Chennai River Restoration Trust Chandramohan, Social and Political activist working with Arappor Iyakkam and

TARA BOOKS, Chennai

There is an abstruse beast.

There is a ship to sail.

There is a risk of deluge.

There are our Sooper Beings!!