Madras's Historic Bungalow: 60 Years of Surprises

The C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, located on a green campus in Alwarpet, Madras, marks its 60th anniversary this year. This historic institution, housed in a 200-year-old bungalow that once featured the city's first flush toilets, offers well-stocked libraries and fosters a unique atmosphere with its ancient trees and resident Indie dogs. The foundation's various centers originated organically, responding to community needs. One such center evolved into the Saraswati Kendra, a pioneering school for children with learning disabilities, founded in 1985. It later inspired the Grove School for typically developing children, prioritizing siblings of Saraswathi Kendra students. The CP Art Centre was established in 1974, becoming a venue for craft bazaars and exhibitions. In 1978, the C P Ramaswami Aiyer Institute of Indological Research was founded, housing rare books and palm-leaf manuscripts, and affiliated with Madras University for doctoral degrees. The CPR Environmental Education Centre, started in 1989, has been instrumental in restoring 53 sacred groves across the state and documenting ecological traditions. A significant achievement is the cultivation of compassion among students through programs like Dr Dog at Saraswathi Kendra and by integrating special needs children with mainstream education, producing adults sensitive to both human and animal welfare.