Parantharami Mani

A Victorian Era tank in Madras. At the  turn of 18th century Chinglepet district had more than 250 such small and big tanks. All now swallowed by real estate sharks.

      A description of  Sembarum Packum lake in the  year 1732 by German protestant  missionary  Sartorius. Even at that time there were seven  stone sluices. At that time it seems the area was 10.36 sq km. Now the surface area is 15 sq.km.

     The Banker and his wife in Madras presidency around 1830. Most of the money lenders in Madras belonged to the merchantile Chettiar community (before the marwaris came in ) who were mostly shaivites and worshipped Sivan and Murugan.

A description of Chingleput around 1828 AD      Chingleput which is around 50km from  Chennai  was a Jaghire obtained in 1750 and 1763 from the  Nawab of Arcot in return for the services rendered to him and to his father by the  EIC and was rented to the Nabob on renewed lease until 1780 when the Madras presidency assumed the direct management.  This district was twice invaded by Hyder Ali in 1768 and in 1780 when he ravaged it with fire and sword so effectively that at the termination of later war in 1784 hardly any other signs were left in many parts of the country of its ever having been inhabited than the bones of the massacred and the naked walls of the houses, choultries and temples that has been destroyed.        To the havoc of the war succeeded a destructive famine and the emigration from these combined causes nearly completed the depopulation of the country.  In 1790 the  Jaghire was divided into two  collectorships; but in 1794 was United again under the management of

A panoramic view of the  Vizianagaram  fountain  from north side in the  middle of  Mount  Road /Walajah  Road  junction. This  square  structure  was built  before  1895 by Vizianagaram  Raja  Ananda  Gajapathi  Raju and it had  a water  fountain  inside.  Must  have  served as a place of rest  and leisure  for the toiling  masses  in those  days. At the  far end of the  picture  one  can see the  old office of the "  Hindu ". The Art Deco  building of  the  'Curzons 'the  landmark  furniture  showroom established  by C.  Alavandar Chetty  is not  seen and yet  to  come. They were the leading  furniture  showroom  along  with  Wren & Bennett and specialised  in library furniture. The high and mighty of those days had their furniture from them.         The  water  fountain was demolished during second world war and an air  raid  shelter beneath it was  constructed.  In the  1950s  it became  a parking  lot for  Cars and in the  late sixties a 3 way subway  was

       A Dubash  with a  hat in his hand  and a French  Officer  in this drawing by an artist of  Tanjore  in 1785. This  is from the  Album  of  Frenchman John Peter Boileau who was in the  East  India  Civil  Service from 1765 to 1785. A pet Dog is sitting on the  floor. Courtesy : V & A

        Brahmins being feasted at a house in  Triplicane  in early 20th century.   See the copper vessel thaneer  sombu. Countesy :   bm archive

       A British Family with a Native Ayah perhaps  in Wellington , Madras Presidency. These Ayahs worked full time with their British families doing houseold chores and looking after their children.

       A peculiar street name which I found today in Mirsahibpet, Royapettah. Was the Begum  related to the Arcot  Nawabs ?  Why the adjective Gazettee .

        A suburban ticket dated 22/10/44  from Madras Fort to Egmore when it was South Indian Railway

      Working in Railways was a prestigious one and the most sought after job in second half of 19th century and first half of 20th century until the Airlines came in 1950s. The  employees were entitled to free passes and previlege ticket order. A free pass issued in 1895 for a year  by Madras  Railway  to its employee  W.H.Jackson along  with  one servant between  any station to any station. Must have been senior in the  hierarchy. I have seen attendars coming to spread beds in 1970s  to  senior railway  officers in First Class. A royal life.

        A Children's garden party in Madras in 1911 with a beautiful colonial bungalow in the  background  in this photo by a British Army Doctor.

      Marmelong  Bridge,  Madras in this painting by Justinian  Gantz around 1850s.  There is an interesting story about this bridge around first decade of 19th century.  Coja Petrus Uscan the Armenian who built the bridge left an amount of 1500 pagodas with the Vestry of St.Marys Church,  Fort St. George for the repairs to the bridge.  The interest earned from this amount is to be used for the repairs of the bridge. Any interest on the capital  over and above five per cent was considered to be the perquisite of the  charity fund and was given to the poor.      The  bridge was originally built for accommodation of foot passengers and small country cart. During the wars with  Tipoo Sultan the bridge was more used for the passage of troops and heavy artillery.  So it needed strengthening and widening around 1804. The  vestry was asked to do but refused on the  ground that the Trust said nothing about rebuilding but only  repairing. The  refusal was by a majority of trust members and

     When  Edward Clive Governor of Madras(1798-1803) and builder of Banqueting Hall   came to Madras to assume charge on 21st August 1798.  A first hand account :       " This evening arrived the Dover Castle,  Indiaman  having on board  the  Right Hon. Lord Clive , Lady Clive  family and suite. His lordship landed about 5 O' Clock under the salute due to his rank attended by the Secretary to  Government,  Town major and several other staff officers who had been deputed to congratulate his Lordship  on his  arrival. The  troops in garrison were drawn up in a street through which his Lordship passed to the Admiralty House  where he received the compliments of the Gentlemen of the settlement.          His Lordship afterwards proceeded to Fort Square where the commission appointing his Lordship Governor and President in council Fort St George and Commander in Chief of the forces in the  Presidency  were publicly read by Mr . Secretary Webbe  before the Hon. Company's

      Madras High Court parking lot in 1950s with the Law College towers and an Art Deco tower in Esplanade  (old Benfield Road)

      Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane  It is seen from the Epigraphical records of this temple in 16th century a major expansion of the temple took place.  An inscription on the  northern wall of the  temple dated 1564 AD during the reign of Sadasiva Raya of Vijayanagar dynasty mention about the following additions made by one Narasingha Dasan. 1. Installation of five kin deities in the  sanctum of Parthasarathy Sannidhi. 2. Construction of three new shrines of Palling Konda Perumal,  Krishnan and Vedavalli  Nachiyar. 3. Construction of  Front  Mandapam before main sannidhi,   Thiruvoimozhi Mandapam, Thirumadapalli,  Thirumadhil (Compound wall). 4. Vedavalli  Thayar Utsavar Idol. Courtesy : Worship and conflict under Colonial rule.

     A float  festival in a Temple in Chennai in this water colour painting by Gantz and sons dated 1834.  Any guess about the Temple.   Mandapam on the  opposite is the  clue.

     Rameswaram  Temple Western corridor built in 1740s by Sethupathi Maharaja.  The old one is dated 1868 taken by Edmund David Lyon ace British photographer.  The new is by me in 2017.

     A painting from a volume showing the caste, community and occupations of Madras Presidency in year 1830.    1 Toddy tapper couple with the man having his ladder and jar and his wife with a Pot.     2. Butter Milk selling couple with the women  having her pot and a measure and the man with Kambal which is normally wounded on the Pot.     3. Basket making couple with the man with his knife,  canes and a half finished  basket and the  women with a finished basket on her head.         Images drawn with life given to them       Pic:  V & A images

      The  Nayak Era Nandi with Mandapam at Peruvudaiyar Temple  in this photo by Edmund Lyon dated 1868

      Boom Boom  Boom Mattukaran Theruvil  Vanthandi.....😃😃. Our childhood  Mattukaran is no more seen on the  streets of Madras. Missing those days😣

      Colin Mackenzie(1754-1821)  a Scottish army officer of East India Company and a great  Indologist.  Here in this painting of 1816 he is seen with  his assistants Dhurmia a Kannada Jain Scholar, Kavali Venkata Lakshmniah and Kistnaji his peon with  Telescope.  In his thirst towards collection of various  manuscripts, literature and epigraphical details he was helped by Kavali  brothers  Boraiah, Lakshmanaiah and Ramaswami. They hailed from Eluru and were sons of Kavali Vencata Subbaiah. Of the  three Boraiah was very scholarly person and said to be father of Indian Paleography and Epigraphy. He was also a scholar in English  and wrote books in English.  He had a very short life and died around 1803.        There is a  Telugu Kavali Sastri  family in R A Puram who have built a Kamatchi Temple near  their house. Any connections.

       U Ve Saminatha Iyer. The doyen of Tamil Literature who spent his entire life scouting for old manuscipts, literature.  But for him many of the classical Tamil literature manuscripts would have been lost and we may not be aware of them.  He spent his last period of his life in Thrituveteeswarantpet, Triplicane.  His starting intial Uthamathanapuram stands for his native place. There is an interesting story as to how this place got this name:      "  Some two hundred years back  Tanjore king used to go around his princely state enjoying the countryside, visiting Temples  and  enquiring about the welfare of his subjects.  On one such occassion he stayed at a place 15 miles from Papanasam for rest. He had his lunch, had his Thamboolam and was taking rest. While casually discussing with his subordinates he came to knew that the day was Ekadesi.  The king takes his food only once on Ekadesi and never takes Tamboolam.  Had he been in his palace his asthana  priests would have

     The  Ananda Vikatan Office in Broadway around 1938 and the main building inside the  Gemini studio when it was at Mount Road were S S Vasan had his office.

       Women carrying Cow dung cakes for  selling. The  Cow dung cake or Varatti has been the traditional fuel  in villages because it is cheap and easily available.  The  Cow dung is moulded  in a  circular shape by hand and affixed on the  walls for  drying.  Normally it takes two to three days for drying and ready for use. It is used in earthen owens  (Munn Aduppu) for preparing food. The burnt ash is also used as a pesticide and smeared in the  fields. It is also used in religious Homams.

       Not in any western country.  It is our own DGP office with the horse mounted police guarding the gates. Photographed today morning during the wreath laying ceremony of police martyrs by Senior officers.   A tribute to the departed souls. The  building looks grand.

From  St.Thome to Triplicane:       It is said Elephants have strong memory and they take revenge even after a long  period if you play mischief with them. The  Parthasarathy Temple  Elephant  took revenge on a similar  looking man two years after a man teased it in St.Thome  Native  festival.  Read this interesting event that had happened on 28th June  1832 and reported in Madras Courier on 5th July. 😭😭

A first hand description of the Ther festival in Mylapore in 1855 AD from a American Missionary travelogue:           "Turning into the street upon the opposite side of the tank, we found ourselves before the temple. Here the mass centered and the religious beggars and devotees were most numerous. Near the temple gate sat some wearing the Cavi or yellow robe of their order, besmeared all over with ashes and with their filthy and uncombed hair hanging in clotted string to their shoulders. Others went through the crowd with wires run through their tongue or cheeks, mincing and dancing with a disgusting air.  Attendants carried small brass plates for alms, which they thrust into the faces of people. Here, too stood the Car the centre of attraction. It is a unwieldy structure square and pyramidal and resting upon four great solid wooden wheels, six feet in diameter. Above it consists of several stories growing smaller as they near the top and ending in small gilt umbrella. The who

       A photograph of Triplicane Pagoda  from Inside in the year 1906 during visit of Prince of Wales later King George V published in a London Magazine.

A Punkawallah, Cuban  Cigars, a Peg of malted whisky what else you want in life. Enjoying life to the core. Colonial privileges.

      The Portuguese colonised Santhome  around 1523. The population of the settlement increased from 60 families in 1538 to 100 in 1543. Around  1546 there were 500 Portuguese in Santhome with their slaves. In 1635 there were 120 white Casados (Portuguese families) and 200 black Casados  (Tamil  Christians). There were 600 Portuguese Mesticos(Children of Portuguese Men and Native  women ).        Mestico  women  were very little  seen in the  public and mostly they spent  their time within the house because of the domestic orientation in which they have lived for centuries in India  . These Mestico  women  went out  seldom unless  it be to Church or to  visit their  friends. Whenever they went  out they were well provided so as to not  to  be seen  for they were carried in Palanquin covered with a mat or cloth.  They  used to put on costly  dress with  bracelets of Gold, rings upon their fingers and arms beset with  costly gems and pearls. Their clothes were of damask, velvet and

     China Bazaar Road around 1950s with Trams moving up and down. The  statue of  Rev . Miller Principal of MCC can be  seen on the  left  platform. Leisurely pace of life.

An interior street of Black Town in this photograph by John Nicholas in 1865 AD. The beautiful tiled houses can be seen  with thinnais outside for chit chatting and an era when no electricity was there. The New             Black Town developed after 1760s was originally made up of Muthialpet where the Left hand castes lived ( Traders, Artisans, Oil mongers, Weavers and Leather workers ) and Peddanaickenpet where the Right hand castes lived ( Landowners, Accountants and Dubashes ) . The Telugu speaking Arya Vaishya  generally lived West of Pophams Broadway while Tamil speaking Sengunda Mudaliyars lived East of Pophams Broadway and Moors in the North. The black town was highly congested  over populated  and extended over 850 acres from Old jail road in the North to NSC Bose Road in South and Wall Tax Road in the West to North Beach Road in the  East.  The  business houses of Madras shifted to seashore abetting the Black  Town in first half of 19th century with  Madras terraced single a

     The Nawab of Arcot Mohammed  Ali Walajah  died on 13th October 1795 at the  age of 78 after reigning for 46 years.   The  Madras  Gazette published an eulogium on 18th  as follows :    " His Highness the Nabob Walajah was the firm and sincere friend and the faithful and zealous ally of the English nation to which he was strongly attached by esteem and affection. He shared in all the fortunes of the English in this country,  and always considered their interest and his own as one and the same. He was mild and affectionate towards his subjects polite and amiable in his manners  and no man better understood the art of conciliating mens minds than his Highness ".         He was buried at Santhome but three years later his remains were shifted to Tiruchi.

       Mylapore was acquisitioned by East India  Company  in 1749. The  Firman issued by Nabob  Mohamud Ally Cawn  dated the  2nd October  1749        " Whereas Milapore alias St.Thome belonging to the Pain Gaut Country under the Government of Golkonda  was delivered up to the English  at Madras and Fort St.David  on condition that they come and join us with a force and other necessary's whenever  they may be called for  upon  circars  business; they may therefore be perfectly easy  and continue in their duty and obedience and be ready  to serve the Circar.       Dasamokeys,  Dasapondeys and Mokkedems, inhabitants belonging to the said Town, are hereby required to pay due allegiance to the English  on whom the affairs of the said Town depend; and they are likewise required to look upon them as persons of such authority as what may be said by them  concerning them whether they be good or bad will be deemed by us authentic; and they are strictly to act Agreeable to this wri

Nattu Mara Chekku  in old Madras.  The  heatllth conscious people have now switched over to chekku groundnut oil leaving the refined one which have been dominating the market for more than 25 years. Pic:  Delcampe

A Garden  Party  in British India in the  year 1911 in this photograph by  a Army  Doctor

     Col.Colin Mackenzie a Scottish army officer of the East  India  Company  surveyed South India collecting important inscriptions,  palm leaf manuscripts on History and Religion  He was a great  orientalist.  He had his Indian assistants  one of whom was Babu Rao  a Mahratta  translator. In one of his visits he happen to visit  Kanchi Sankara Mutt at Kumbakonam  on 10th April 1817 which was their at that time in Kumbakonam . The pontiff was Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI(1813-1851).  A first hand account of his visit on that day as recorded by him. "  I visited the  Chief  priest of Sankar  Achari expending  four rupees on fruit to introduce myself  and requested  him to give  me a copy of  copper  inscriptions  he had in his  Mattham  but some of the  Karyesthalu  (Managers) of the Mattham directly denied that there were any inscriptions on copper plates being  afraid of losing their original  documents  which they had saved through many years  from the  destruction of  d

     East  Gopuram of Madurai  Meenakshi  Temple is 1880s.  This  temple which has been in existence for more than 1000 years was renovated  extensively during  Pandya,  Vijayanagara  and Naick  rulers. The  Mukkuruni  Vinayagar  inside the temple was found when a tank was dug during  Thirumalai  Nayak era. The  temple is one of the most visited  temple in India.

    Vara ha Caves of Mahabalipuram  a 8th century Pallava  Cave Temple  50kms from  Madras. Fascinating  stories sculpted on stone.

      The oldest  Anglican church in the  East Indies.  The first  chaplain who served the Company in the East  Indies  was John Cartwright of London  on a salary of 3 pounds a month.  15 pounds was given for outfit. Until  1668 there was only one chaplain  for the  East  Indies when it was made four and one was stationed in Fort St. George.  Edward  Terry was the first  chaplain in the  Coromandel  coast.  The  spire of the St . Marys was built in 1692 and quarters for the  chaplain was also built on the  west end of the  church.  This house of the  chaplain was demolished later and the present  tower of the  church is not the original one. The  tower was damaged  during the  siege of Lally in 1759 by gun shots and shelling of the French and it was damaged  beyond  repairs. The tower was entirely  rebuilt with some delay due to shortage of funds by the  East India  Company  under the direction of  Colonel  Gents. The new tower was considerably taller than the old one and finer.

       A Madras dancing girl in a postcard in the  year 1903. Pic: Delcampe