Parantharami Mani

       The Marghazhi  bhajans  reverberating the  Mada  Veethis of Mylapore.  Devotion and Divinity visible on the  streets. House fronts  dotted with beautiful  Kolams with flowers in the  middle. One has to be present there to feel it.

     A high society woman of Madras in a studio portrait of late 19th century.  Jewellery personified.

       The Screw pile pier the  first harbour of Madras  constructed during the years 1858-61. Although proposal for a Harbour for Madras was mooted during the period of  Warren Hastings it took nearly 100 years to materialise. A description of the harbour in the Handbook for Madras published then.

      The Madras  Law College and the junction in front of it around  1960s

       A picture postcard photograph of Mount Road in early 1970s with Ambassador cars and Fiat cars plying  and Willys Jeep advertisement on Gove building.

A different view of Kapaliswarar Temple,  Mylapore in early 1940s.

      The  parade ground  Fort  St George  with the  Kings Barrack in the  background.  It was constructed in 1756 as a single  storeyed structure  and has been housing the Kings Regiment  for more than 200 years and hence the name. The  parade ground in its present shape took shape in 1825 after major  renovation to the Fort House.

It happened in 1830. A woman who committed  adultery was punished by a Kangaroo Caste court on the advice of Police  for conciliatory measures. The  Supreme  Court found the defendants guilty inspite of the court wanting to help them.  The police  superintendant   Mr. Elliot is the same on whom Edward Elliott road was named.  Supreme Court in 1828 by Gantz.

Queen  Victoria  and Mylapore  Connection.  This is a rare photo of  the Queen in 1854 when she was 35 yrs old with sharp  features.  The  triangle cupola  is the  one on the  corner of  North Mada  street  opposite Indian Bank. A close look at the  cupola reveals  an inscription  " Diamond Jubilee  Gift P. Subramania Iyer 22nd June  1897". The  person is none other than  Pennathur  Subramania  I yer on whose  endowment the  P.South. High School  was founded in 1904.

      Bentick  building  First  Line  Beach. This  building  was  constructed in  1793  intially  as a building  to accommodate the  merchants who were forced out of Fort St  George  due to space constraints.  It was named  after William  Bentick  who was  responsible  for  abolition of  Sati in India.  The Supreme  Court was shifted to this  building  in 1817 and continued there till the  High Court  was formed  in 1862. The  High  Court continued  here till the new premises  was constructed  in Esplanade in 1892.  It then was occupied by Chennai  Collectorate  till it was demolished in 1990s  inspite of opposition.

    The Kapaliswar Temple around 1930s.  A village like atmosphere. Love to go back to those days. No shops abetting the temple compound.