Parantharami Mani

        Weekend getaway to Bengaluru /Mysore. Tipus Palace at Chamarajpet, Bengaluru.  This palace made of Wood, Stone, Mortar and plaster was started by Hyder Ali in 1781AD and completed by Tipu in 1791 AD. Seems  to be of Burmah teak wood and an excellent craftsmanship of that part of the country.  Situated within Fort wall of Bangalore near Sri Venkatramana Temple. An inscription in Persian in the  walls say that it is " Abode of Happiness and envy of  Heaven".

     East Mada Street,  Mylapore around  1910 with  the  Temple  Ther and the  mandapam  for  ascending it. On the  right side can be seen the  Vanniyar Mandapam with old type houses in a row. The  innocence of the  people of that era can be seen on their faces.

      A view of Spencer Building  with its annexe building constructed around 1925. The  original building was built in 1896. At its heyday it was a renowned Super Market in Madras  Presidency  selling from  A to Z catering to  higher echelons of society PIC : alamy

     A view of Mount  Road from North side in late 1940s. Kardyl building can be seen in pristine beauty. Poompuhar show room is on the  right side with an advertisement for Cafiaspirin. A tram is  coming to Mount Road  from General Patters Road. Photo :  alamy

        Pantheon Road around last quarter of 19th century.  Pantheon Road was the  Central Business District and happening place of Madras in first half of 19th century.  The  Governors of the  EIC used to give grand balls to visiting dignitaries and on formal occasions in the  Pantheon which was a whole night affair. The offices of Collector of Madras and Superintendent of Police were situated in this road. Ellis was the  Collector around 1810 and Robertson ( may be of Robertsonpet, Mandaiveli) was Collector  and Francis Edward Elliott was Superintendent of Police around 1840s. An Indian  Raugavah Chaureur is also in high position of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The  road must have been a pleasure to walk with its greenery.

Shoeing the  Bullock used  for  pulling the  Cart. Liked the ornamental lamp on the  right  handle of the  Cart. Pic : bm archive

     A different view of Pulliyar Ratham in Mahabalipuram with a man posing for the photograph Pic : bm archives

     Kazhai Koothadi community  members performing on the  streets of  Madras. A man hanging upside down. Love the beautiful row of Madras terrace houses with children hanging around on the  Thinnais Pic: Delcampe

    Children  playing in Marina  beach in 1930s. A free entertainment place for Madrasis.

   The  Corporation  market for Vegetables and fruits  on the  west side of Panama Park being inaugurated by Sivaji Ganesan in April  1972. It was earlier a platform with  Kudisai. Saturday morning cycling find. Pic: A Tea shop in the  complex

       A  Bangle  seller with his young clients eagerly browsing their eyes on his collections in early Madras. Wearing of Bangles is part of the culture of  women of  South  Asian countries like  India, Pakistan,  Bangladesh Nepal and Sri Lanka. No marriage is complete without Bangles.  This  statue of Indus Valley Civilisation(2500 BC) girl  with Bangles  on her left hand   discovered in Mohenjadaro   indicates it's part of our 5000 year old inheritance. Pic : bm archives, National  Museum

      Temple  Girls or Devadasis taking rest. These class of women/girls were dedicated/married to the temple deities to which they are attached while being young. Since, they are married to God they cannot marry any mortals. They Sang/Danced in front of their deities and became expert in their singing/dancing. They had their own God fathers who were mainly from feudal/zamindars/mirasdars/high caste groups who patronised them. The  development of the  community of Devadasis gained momentum after the fall of Buddhism and ascendency of Hinduism in the  8th  century.  During the period of  Cholas  it was established and it is said Brahdeeswarar Temple at one time had hundred of Devadasis. The system was mostly present in South India especially in the  states of Maharastra, Karnataka, Andhra and Tamilnadu. The cruel system was abolished in Madras state  in 1947 and all over India in 1988. Pic  bm archives

     Found this  145 year old  Parangusa Dasar Madam/ Kannabiran  Bhaktha Jana Sabai established in 1872 at the  junction of Big Street/ Singarachari St Triplicane. The lamp post stem outside speaks of it antiquity.  Any info on the mutt and its founder.

      Lubbai Muslim students of Free Church of Scotland Mission School in 1860s. Pic: bl.uk

A description of  White Town  Fort St . George in the  year 1748 in a London  Magazine :      In the White Town where the  Europeans inhabit there are six principal streets three to the North and three to the South of the  Fort; and the houses are all of brick several of them two stories high, but all with flat roofs and covered with a plaster made of sea shells which no rain can penetrate. As these flat roofs are secured by battlements the inhabitants make use of them for walking to take fresh air Evening and Morning. There are in this town several magnificent buildings particularly the  Portuguese Church which stands on the north side of the Fort. The  English church which stands on the  south side and is a pretty elegant building with a handsome altar piece,  a gallery of fine carved wood,  an organ with which they salute  God and Governor. An Hospital  which stands on the  west side of the...

      South View of Old Mahabalipuram  Light House above  Olakkaneswara Temple. It was a three wick coconut oil lamp with a  parabolic mirror at the back for  reflection of light towards  sea. Red chimneys were placed on the lamp. The  light had a range of 10 miles and was commissioned in February 1887. The  new Light House opposite it with a cylindrical tower was inaugurated in 1901. Pic: bm archives

      Tamil  School  girls in early 20th century  Madras. Fully dressed up in Sarees with appropriate jewellery including Ottiyanam but without footwear. In the  early days the girls even among established well to do families were allowed to study maximum up to  III form Pic: bm archives

        Christchurch, Mount  Road.  This Church is on Mount  Road by the  side of Cosmopolitan Club. During the  middle of 19th  century the area around this place like Narsingpuram,  Chintadripet, Pudupet, Royapettah were inhabited by East Indians who were working in the  lower echelons of Administration of EIC.  Mount Road was also a fashionable  area of Madras at that time.  In order to satisfy the  spiritual needs of  these people the congregation first started in a place in 1842 given by T.P. Waller who had a horse stable there. A school was also started adjacent to the place. Waller gifted the entire land and the  work of construction of church started in 1850 and the  church with tall steeple was consecrated in 1852. The  famous furniture maker of that period in Madras Deschamps  made the  entire furniture for the church. The  Anglo Indians were referred as Indo Br...

      Group of Christian converts of the Free church of Scotland Mission at Madras around 1860s. The mission later became the Madras Christian College. Mission schools were important in those days especially for education of Girls and Women and for those from the underprivileged classes of society. Pic: ASI collections

     The interior of St.George Cathedral consecrated in 1815 with the beautiful manually operated Punkas at the beginning of 20th century. The Church constructed in the newly developing Choultry Plain  was designed by  Col.J.L.Caldwell and completed by Major Fiott de Havilland. Though the services were stated in April 1815 it was formally consecrated by Anglican Bishop of Calcutta  Thomas Fanshaw Middleton on 6th  January 1816. Unfortunately the first person to be buried in the cemetery of the church was De havillands wife.  The successive Governors of Fort St George have  attended service  here. The CSI was founded here in 1947.

        The  National  Bank  building  built in  1915 on North Beach  Road around 1940s. The  National  Bank was established in  1877 and moved in to its own  premises in 1915. This was a beautiful  Indo  Saracenic  building  built by Namberumal  Chetty which  was hit  by a shell  of " Emden" during  its  construction.  When  National  Bank was merged with  Grindlays Bank this building  was demolished  and a new  modern  building was constructed in 1981. Picture : Kings own  Museum

       This is the drawing  of the residence of first Chief  Justice  of the Supreme  court of Madras Presidency  Sir Thomas Andrew  Strange. The Supreme  Court was established  in December  1800. It intially  functioned inside  the Fort in Choultry  Gate Street. Due to shortage of space  inside  the Fort due to expanding administrative  set up many departments began to move out of the fort to the north of Esplanade  on North Beach Road . The first to move  was sea customs and the Supreme court  moved to Bentick Buildings in 1817. It functioned their until 1862 when the High Court  was established for the Presidency. Sir Tiruvarur  Muthusamy  Iyer was the first Indian Judge appointed  in 1878 whose statue  adorns the new High Court  buildings  inaugurated  in 1892.

      A horse drawn jutka with its passengers in 19th century. This photo must be on South Beach Road  before Marina was developed by Grant Duff in 1884 since you can see the sea touching the sky in the background. South Beach Road developed around 1845 and until that the Nawabs estate was extending upto seashore on the  East. The first building to come up on the road was Capper House inside present QMC in early 19th century. Then followed DGP office in 1840, Ice House in 1842, Presidency college in 1870, PWD building in 1871 and Senate House in 1879. Of course the Marine Villa  Nawabs bathing pavilion was already there. Capper House was a famous hotel  in Madras  mentioned in travel books of 19th century.  After  Marina promenade was developed  by 1884  South Beach Road  became a fashionable place  of Madras

                     Capper House,  Queen Marys college. This was the  house of Lt . Col Francis Capper of the Madras  Army  and  a Geographer. This was built in early decades of 19th century  and is perhaps the second building to come up of the  Beach road after Chepauk palace built in 1768. It is mentioned in the  1859 edition of Murrays Handbook of Madras Presidency as a Hotel.  When QMC was established in 1914 it was intially rented and later purchased for the college.  It was demolished in 2002 and a new building perhaps said to be a replica of the old building was constructed.

           A panoramic view of Black Town in the  year 1875-76 during the visit of  Prince of Wales to Madras. The  Bell fry towers of Armenian Church can be seen.  NSC Bose road is taking shape. Pic: Bourne and Shepherd

       British men outside the  moat of Fort St George in this photograph of 1930s

      A Royal marriage  stopped  for  small pox vaccination in 1806 Can't  believe  it. It did happen. As per the  notification  issued on 19th  June  1809 by  G.Buchan,  Chief Secretary  to Govt. Fort  St . George the marriage  between  Mysore  king Mummadi  Krishnaraja Wodiyar III (1794-1868) in May 1806 with  princess  Devajammani was postponed for the princess to get vaccinated..  The  vaccine against  small pox was invented in early 19th  century  and William  Bentick was interested  in spreading the  awareness about  new vaccine. The  vaccine  was introduced  in Mysore state  by Major Wilks Resident Commissioner  supported  by Diwan Purnaiya. She was administered the  vaccine  by a  resident Doctor  of Mysore  state before  she got  married. Really  so...