Chennai is a combination of the ancient and modern, says Mohan Rajan

There are many ways to celebrate Chennai, and one of the best ways is to begin mornings with a filter coffee and The Hindu newspaper. Chennai is known for its combination of the ancient and the modern: beautiful temples, churches and mosques adorn the city, while it is also a hub for the IT and automobile sectors; it has some of the oldest hospitals in the country such as my alma maters Madras Medical College and the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology but is also a base for the best in modern healthcare and medical tourism. Doctors in Chennai are competent, ethical and compassionate and this is what attracts patients to our city. All of this is a reflection of Chennai’s fantastic past, its golden present and a successful future ahead.

Chennai also needs to be celebrated for its people, who make it what it is. People in Chennai are simple, straightforward and humble, but most of all, they show willingness to help other people, along with a quiet competence in whatever they do. The peace-loving nature of people here allows Chennai to thrive as a cosmopolitan city, one that welcomes people from all walks of life and from all parts of the country, embraces all religions and lets its people live in harmony. Its warmth, open-mindedness and hospitality are all reasons to celebrate our city.

(As told to Zubeda Hamid)