Parantharami Mani

      The Teppam festival of Parthasarathi Temple in the  year 1911 in this photograph  by a British  Army Doctor.  The  float  of more than 100 years before looks similar in dimensions as is now constructed. On the  other side of the tank in East Tank Square street you can see the more than 250 year old  Anjaneyar  Temple  and the  Vanamamalai  Mutt premises beside it. The  Vanamamalai mutt is more than 550 years old and was established  at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district by Ponnaddikal Jeeyar (1447-1482) who was the  primary  disciple of Manavala  Mamuni to  propagate  Sri Vaishnava  sampradayam.  See the beautiful row of tiled houses giving  a beautiful look.

        Yanai with  Pagan roaming the streets of Madras around the year 1920.

        East Mada  Street,  Mylapore  in the  year 1910 with its Ther, Theradi  Mandapam  and Vaniyar mandapam  in the  background.  Village  like atmosphere.  Love it.

          Gangai  Kondan Mandapam, Triplicane .  This Mandapam is situated on the northern end of T. P. Koil Street at the junction of  Singarachari  Street.  This  mandapam used to host the mandakapadi during the annual brahmotsavam of Parthasarathy  temple.  It was also witness to the fiery speeches made by Subramanya Bharathiyar  in the second decade of 20th century when he lived in  Triplicane .  When India won World Cup in 1983  Kris Srikanth  was facilitated here. The  mandapam was intially  a small one owned by the Yadavas of Triplicane. In August  1843 Vanamamalai  Satakopachariar  transfered the land in his favour  from one Thandalam  Venkatalakshmammah. The  old mandapam was demolished  by him and the present  mandapam was constructed. The  mandapam  has some shops on the  northern side of  it and from the rent receiv...

         Dera Venkataswamy  (Naidu) Street, Triplicane.  Found this  street connecting  Triplicane  High  Road and Big Street. He was a Dubash of Parry  & Co and built the  Luz House  in Mylapore around  1850s.  Must have had some properties in this street. He was also the  grand father of criketing  legend Buchi Babu under whose name  a memorial tournament is held. In the  70s famous teams like Nirlons of Bombay and famous players like Abid Ali, Jaisimha, Abbas Ali Big,  Gavaskar  used to participate in the tournament on the  Marina  grounds.  Now it has lost its sheen after advent  of IPL. The  Luz House has now been renovated with heritage consciousness and let out for small functions by the family.  Saturday morning find.

        The  Madras  city police constabulary  with their bosses in the  backdrop of their van in the year 1938. The  police force of Madras  started from Peddanaick  and his peons who were hereditary law enforcers of Black Town and were a legacy of  Vijayanagar era. In the  last quarter of 18th century Stephan Popham organised a police force with municipal and judicial powers. The Police Commissioner office was created in 1858 with its office in Pantheon Road and J. C.Boulderson was the first Commissioner of Police.  It has come a long way from then onwards. Pic:  Team BHP  "

      Edward  Clive son of Robert  Clive. He was Governor of Madras  during the years 1798-1803. He was the  man behind construction of Banqueting Hall and for the formation of the commercial stretch of First Line Beach since he ordered the merchants to vacate  Fort St . George in 1799 and go north. A first hand account of the farewell party given to him in the  Pantheon in October 1803 when he left Madras            "  On Monday  evening the Hon'ble Basil Cochrane gave a farewell ball and supper at the Pantheon to the right Hon'ble Lord  Clive.  The  rooms were filled with the Ladies and Gentlemen of the settlement before 10 O' clock about which hour the dances commenced  and continued with great vivacity until past one.   An elegant supper had been arranged in the large tents in the garden  but a sudden and unexpected fall of heavy rain made the ground so  wet ...

        A young girl standing in front of National Art Gallery at Pantheon  Road, Madras around 1930s. This was constructed during the period 1906-1909 and was inaugurated by Sir Arthur Lawley in 1909. It was in tilly called  Victoria Memorial Hall and renamed  National  Art Gallery  in 1951 and inaugurated by Pandit  Nehru  in 1951. Pic: Delcampe

       Dr.Annie Besant with  H.E.Lady Wiilingdon at Women'should Home of Service,  Madras in 1925. Pic : Period Paper

      A  beautiful British  colonial  farm house on the  outskirts of  Madras with  wooden thatties with their occupants and maidservant. Must have really enjoyed a royal life in India. Envy them for their stylish living. Pic : Worth point

         The  Eurasian/East Indian/Anglo  Indians of Madras. A community which dominated the  Railways upto 1950s. See the inverted beautiful which  identifies the  community. Many of them migrated to Australia/England after independence. Had a very good friend Mr.Danny who lived in a old  world house in Madha Church Road, Royapuram. Many times visited his house for  Christmas dinner and the  hospitality of his family beyond words.

      Chidambaram Temple  with  tank in 1903.

       Dr . Annie Besant  with Lady Willingdon  in this picture of  1925. What is Women's Home of Service. Is it latter day Avvai  Home.

       A Native giving pose outside Pancha  Pandava  cave in Mahabalipuram 155 years ago.

       The invitation for the opening of statue of Cornwallis on 15th May 1800 by the  Governor  Lord Clive published in Madras  Gazette    " The right Hon'ble Governor desires the attendance of  His Majesty's and Hon'ble company servants  and of the principal inhabitants of the settlement on the parade of Fort  St . George at a quarter before 6 o' clock on the morning of 15th instant being the anniversary of memorable victory gained under the walls of Seringapatnam in the year 1791 by the most noble  Marquis  Cornwallis whose statue voted as the testimony of the gratitude and respect of the settlement for his eminent public services and now erecting on the parade of  Fort St . George will on that day be completed. A breakfast will be prepared in the exchange at which the right Hon'ble Governor requests to be honoured with the company of Ladies and Gentlemen who may be present on the occasion ".   ...

      The  Governor of  Fort  St . George who was loved and kept in high pedestal by the inhabitants of Madras Presidency Sir Thomas  Munro. His statue standing on the middle of  Island for  178 years was erected by subscription  by inhabitants of  Madras  both White and Native. An eulogy of Munro  inscribed on the  tablet  at St.Mary Church,  Fort St. George  where he was re interred on 21st  April  1831.

        W.C.Bentick  Governor of Madras 1803-1807. Perhaps after  Sir Thomas Munro he was the most popular Governor among Natives. He involved natives in administration in Madras  and abolished Sati, improved Revenue  administration and introduced English education while he was Governor General (1828-1835). An address made by 3000 native inhabitants of Madras on 28th September 1807 when he left for  England after his term speaks volumes of it.

       Madras Street  in the year 1931. May be some approach road to a Temple with shops on both the sides Pic: Period paper

     Two women and little girl of Madras captured around 1867. This was exhibited in Paris Exhibition that year as part of a project commissioned by Government of India to show  different class of people . Photo taken by students of Madras school of Industrial Arts and part of ASI collections.

       Wallajah Gate, Fort  St . George. This is one of the seven gates of the  Fort on the South West side of the  Fort. After the completion of the Fort in 1780s it should have been given the name since it led to the Chepauk palace of Nabob Mohd.Ali Wallajah  constructed in 1768. Since the Nawab was an important ally of the British they must have honoured him by giving his name.  Any important dignity visiting the  Fort like the Governor or Commander in Chief to take charge of their position used to be honoured by the troops by forming a street from North gate to Wallajah gate. It happened when Sir George  Hilaro Barlow anchored on the Madras Roads in his ship ' Sceptre' on 24th December 1807. He landed at half past  five O'  clock at the watering face of North Gate where he was received by the outgoing  Governor Bentick, Commander in Chief, Chief Secretary and principal inhabitants of the settlement with a ninete...

    Young Tamil girls with all their ornaments. Must be from  well to do families.

       Last week  I had posted  a picture of 32 Kal mandapam  outside Parthasarathy  Temple, Triplicane and asked for any info about its construction.  On further research I found that Mannivakkam Somasundara Mudaliar by his will dated 7th March 1848 appointed  Pondicherry  Srinivasa Pillai  and Vannamamalai Satakopachariar as executors. Among the  wishes  expressed in the  will are the construction of 32 Kal mandapam outside  Parthasarathy Swamy  Pagoda. The  estimated cost was Rs.20000/-. The  mandapam was completed  after his  death.  These photographs  of Frederick  Fiebig taken in the  year 1851  must have been taken  during its construction as evident from the  granite  pillars, stones, sarams and workers.  The  flooring of the  mandapam  was done by one Vijayarangam Pillai in 1905. The  surprising element...

A different view of  St.Matthias  Church, Vepery.  This  was originally  a Catholic  church  built by Coja Petrus Uscan  Armenian merchant. After his death  in 1751 it was taken over by Danish  mission  SPCK. It later  became an Anglican Church and was extensively  renovated during the years 1823-1826. There is an interesting story behind the turret like sphire of Vepery church. Fiott  De Havilland  the  Superintending  Engineer of East  India  Company  gave a proposal for  renovation costing  around  Rs.85000 which was rejected by EIC due to its  high  cost. He felt humiliated. Then John law was  given the job to construct the  church.  De Havilland waited for the church to be  completed and consecrated. Then he made an objection to the  Government that the steeple of the  church commanded  interiors of Fort  St  Geo...

     Habits die hard. Things which have been inherited from our forefathers will never cease to exist.  This is a picture of a Madras street in 1960 wherein public place is used for tethering the  cows and bullocks against the wishes of house owners.  Even in the  year 1776 AD it was observed by Mr. Francis Jourdan,  Rental General and Scavenger  the  following practices were there in Black Town.    "   The Black  Town  inhabitants keep in the  streets before their houses  Hackeries, Carts, Horses, Bullocks and Cows which are a nuisance to their neighbours and to passengers.  It will be necessary to prohibit this publicly.  They  frequently  erect temporary buildings of Mud and afterwards pretend  long possession and Right. No Cadjan Hut or temporary buildings should be permitted  excepting  Pandalls on weddings.   Every  inhabitant has to  have a ce...

       This sculpture I found  on the 32 pillar mandapam outside Parthasarathy  Temple. It tells about the Kainkaryam made by Mannivakkam Somasundara  Mudaliar. Mudaliar with his wife is sculpted. It is not clear when this Mandapam was constructed. The  oldest  photograph of it is in the  year 1851. Mannivakkam is a place near Vandalur on the  Vandalur  Padapai route. There was one M.Somasundara  Mudaliar  in the  Pachaiyappas Trust in 1840s. Perhaps chances of  him being the same person are there. Any further info.

        The plan of Fort . St . George around  1680s with  its various  streets, St . Marys  Church  and the  Roman Catholic  St . Andrews Church.  The  Governors house in the  centre is in diagonal shape to the  inner  fort  walls.   It was rebuilt  in 1694 and contained  a Council  Chamber, Hall, Library, Record  room. It was a square building of 110 feet square  on the  east side of the  Fort and at equal  distance  from North  and South  walls.  Both  Fryer in 1673 and Lockyer in 1711 have described about it.

        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  Party's Corner junction in 1920s. The  tram line turning in to North  Beach Road is clearly  visible. The  sea used  to wash the  shores and come up to Parry & Co building  until the construction of  Madras  Harbour  in 1870s.

      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

        Mount Road near the Wellington junction fully flooded on a rainy monsoon day in 1910. The hand rickshaw and the horse carriage are struggling in knee deep water. Opposite is the Kardyl building built by W.R.Smith & Co.  They were druggist, opticians  and dealers  in medical equipment  it also had a cafe and a Beer bar. Must have been a good joint of the youngsters of those period

       The statue  of Cornwallis in Fort  Museum perhaps one of the oldest statue in Madras. This  9 feet high statue sculpted by Thomas Banks in 1799 was unveiled  by Lord Clive  Governor of  Madras on 15th May 1800 in parade grounds  Fort St. George.  The  inscription on the  pedestal  says,     " The statue was erected  by a general  vote at the  joint  expenditure  of the  principal  inhabitants of  Madras, and of the  Civil  and Military servants of the  East  India  Company belonging to the Presidency of Fort.St George as a grateful testimony of the high sense  they entertained of the conduct and action of the most Noble  Marquis Cornwallis during the time he held the high offices of the  Governor  General and the  Commander in Chief of all the  forces in India ".

        East Tank Square  Street, Mylapore  in 1851, 1956 and 2017. The  first is a Photo by Frederick  Fiebig  taken during  Festival  time. The  steps of the  tank are not  built  and a lot of greenery is their at the  far end  in South Mada  Street. In the  second  photo of  1956 the tank steps are constructed, the  two  shrines abetting the  back Gopuram  are in position. The  last is the  photo taken today morning.  The  back Gopuram is the older of the  two.

A letter written by German missionary  Mr. Sartorius  to his parents in Germany in the  year 1730 about White Town  and Black Town. He was assistant to missionary Schltuz. He says the Catholic patres are their bitterest persecutors and calumniators than the  heathens.

       The evolution of  Sannadhi  Street  mylapore in the last 170 years from the first photograph of Frederick  Fiebig  taken in 1851 and then on to 1920s, 1950s,  1970s to 2017.   From  a Village  scenario  to Megapolis.