At 6am, when much of Chennai experiences its last few REM cycles, a handful of rowers at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) can be seen dragging their boats out of the dock and entering the Adyar river. In twos, fours, eights and sometimes the rare single scull, they splice through the ripples of the once-sedate waterbody with a gentle ease and unwavering focus. Everything is quiet except for the bird calls and the rippling water underneath. The only interruptions are the occasional instructions to steer the boat right; and the consistent thump of moving oars.
“When the boat cuts through the water, there is a beautiful, distinct sound. During such moments, when everyone is in sync and in the zone, it feels like we could all row forever — all the way to the mouth of the river near Broken Bridge. It is poetry in motion,” says Sumana Narayanan.
Chennai often experiences a paradox. It is home to several ponds, lakes, rivers and the endless sea. However, only a handful experience the world of water sports. Sumana, the vice captain of boats at the MBC, says that once someone is bitten by the rowing bug, it becomes hard to let go. “Senior members of the club, at 80, still come out every morning and take the boat for a spin between the Kotturpuram bridge and the Mandaveli railway overpass (about one kilometre). It keeps their fitness in check,” she says.
