Parantharami Mani

      Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer and Diwan Bahadur  Rettamalai  Srinivasan  at the time of  attending British  Imperial  Conference  at London  in the year 1930.

       Sir Thomas Munro  reached India at the  age of  18 in 1780 and was in India  up to his death in 1827 but for a period of 7 years from Oct 1807 to September 1814. In the  year 1826 he requested for his relief from the Governorship to EIC but they could not find a suitable successor. In May 1827 he left for a tour of ceded districts. On 6th July he reached Pattikonda. He was attacked by Cholera on the  morning of that day and by evening it got worse  and by half past nine in the night  he passed away.     Munro  had a boy child in September 1823 by name  Campbell Munro. Lady Munro  was forced to leave India for  Europe  in March 1826 due to  illness of the  child  never to see Munro alive  again.  On 9th July a Gazette extraordinary was published.  A public subscription was started for erecting a suitable statue for this pro native great man. This statue made in London by Sir Francis  Chantrey  was shipped through to  India  by " Asia " and erected on October 23rd 1839

       One of the rarest pictures I have ever seen of Mount Road so far. This should be in the 1960s and it seems that there was a traffic island at the Spencers junction. To my memory I have not seen it.  The nearly 100 years old Agurchand Mansion can be seen in the picture. What is the make of Black beauty car  going towards LIC. Greenery in the heart of Mount Road with a ornamental decorated lamp post in the  middle. Pic : eBay

        An enchanting view of First Line Beach, Madras around 1920s with the National Bank Building and GPO and a Train moving towards Beach station. The  National  Bank started at Calcutta opened its Madras Branch in 1877 and the  bank  moved to its own premises on First Line Beach in the  year 1915.          This building was constructed by the famous  contractor  Namberumal  Chetty At the  time of its construction in 1914 it suffered damage  from  Emden bombing. After its merger with Grindlays  Bank the beautiful building was demolished post  independence. In the  year 1981 a modern polished  Granite  Regional Office was constructed by Grindlays Bank on this site.

     A Madrasi  Girl with well oiled and plaited hair.

     Duraisanis decked up in their best  attire for a Garden Party.

     Pullaiyar ratham with the Gopuram and Dwajasthambam  of Sthalasayana Perumal temple in the background at Mahabalipuram.

      A first hand  British side account of the  Siege  of Madras  from 12th December 1758 to  16th  February  1759 by French  forces under Thomas  Arthur  Comte De Lally . On the  British  side the Fort was ably  defended  by Col. William  Draper and his men. A secret  letter by Comte  De Lally  which the  British happened to  capture  mentions that Comte De Lally had plans  to  burn the  entire  Black  Town  but for the timely  arrival of  British  reinforcements from  Cuddalore.         "  On the  12th  December  the  French  army moved from the Mount  and Marmalong; and ours cannonaded  them for about an hour as they  crossed  Choultry plain and killed  about  40 without  any loss from our  side as the  French  had little  artillery  and ill served.  They  marched  in three divisions;  one directly to wards our  people, one towards  Egmore, and the  other down St. Thome road. Colonel  Lawrence  and Draper  were afraid that this last might  get  possession of the  Isl

        Sir Arthur  Lawley( 1860-1932) Governor of  Madras(1906-1911) and Lady  Lawley  alighting out of the  Car  to inaugurate a block of  Women  and  Children  Hospital  in Oct 1911 in this photograph  by a British  Army Doctor. The Nurses quarter opposite was named  after Lady Lawley. Arthur  Lawley  was a reformist  and expanded railways and modernised Agriculture and Industry. He inaugurated  the  renovated  Museum  in 1906 and Victoria  Memorial  Hall in 1909. Indian  Council  Act was passed during  his period. He also attended the Annual function of Madras  sanskrit  college  in 1911. His brother  was also Governor of  Madras  during  1891-96. Any input  on the  Model of the Car?

       Bronze Statue of  James George  Smith  Neill on a stone  pedestal. The  Inscription  reads        "   James George  Smith  Neill C.B., Aide De Camp to the  Queen  Lieutenant Colonel of the Madras fusiliers, Brigadier  General in India A brave resolute self reliant soldier universally acknowledged as the first who stemmed the torrent of rebellion in Bengal. He fell gloriously at the relief of Lucknow, 25th September 1857, aged 47".

         As part of the  Madras Day celebrations 2017 a photo feature on Mylapore by me was published in Mylapore Times on 12th Aug  with titbits  about the Pictures .

       An interior view of Colonial era bungalow.  The Burmah teak wood ceiling with iron girders, the central table,  the glass show case abetting the wall, the glass tube decoration of the entrance gates , Persian carpets are a treat to watch and speaks volumes of the taste of the owner of the bungalow.  The old big sized Usha ceiling fan can still be found in many period buildings.

      A view of Madras skyline from Scre pile pier.  The Arbuthnot building and Bentick building can be seen.

      The beautiful building of Agra  Bank at the  junction of  Armenian Street and China Bazaar road in 1870s. See the lovely arched facade and a decorated street light in the  front.  The  Bank called as  Agra and United Services Bank was established in 1833 with  parental institution at Agra and branches at Bombay, Calcutta, Madras,London, Lahore and Canton. The  Madras branch was established in 1843 and intially it was at Amir Bagh  before shifting to this building.  The  bank in 1850s offered 6 percent interest for a  nine month deposit,  5 percent for six months,  4 percent for 3 months deposit.  Current account interest was 2 percent for a minimum balance of Rs.1000/-. The  Bank worked from 10 am to 4 pm on week days and 10am to 1 pm on Saturday. This beautiful building must have been demolished in the  later part of  19th century.

      Close up view of 19th century Madrasis on Mowbray Road. Innocent  peoples.

        Bishop George  Trevor  Spencer  (1799-1866). He was the  Bishop of  Madras during 1838-1849. He was more a Missionary and during his time the activities of Anglican church saw improvement.  Conversion of Natives to Christianity saw impetus during his Period. In one of his  Visitisation tours he confirmed 3308 Indian Converts. The Church was finding it to get young persons from England  to come to  India to act as Chaplains and Ministers. He suggested  Eurasians to be made  and ordained at least 25. The  establishment of  Civil Registrars  for  performing marriages  was established in 1842  during his time.  This is the precursor to present day marriage registrars office. The  St . Thomas  English church at Santhome was consecrated by him. He  resigned in 1849 and went to England.

          Full Moon Festival  (Chitra Pournami  Festival ) on the sands of  Marina in the  year 1911.

        The  Devadasis of another era taking rest. The  Devadasi system has been in existence right from Chola Era. It is said  Tanjore  Brahadeeswar temple had more than 400 Devadasis when  Raja Raja Chola was ruling

       A guard of honour at the  parade grounds of Fort St . George during the visit of important dignitary in early 20th century. The  more than 250 year old Kings Barracks in the background.

       A narrative about the attitude and character of Natives of Black Town,  Madras in the  year 1789 by Innes Munro  Captain of East  India  Company  Army in his book on operations in Madras.      "In passing through the streets of Black Town one is greatly astonished at the excessive laziness of the Natives. The  doors of their houses are constantly crowded with men, women and children sitting in a state of inactive stupidity; nor is their curiosity in the least aroused by any strange object that may pass even disdaining the trouble of turning their heads to look at it. Should themselves or  children be in danger of getting crushed by an horse or carriage they will not move nor put out their hands to draw back their infants until the very  moment of peril; nor do they retire an inch farther than is necessary, and even this is done with an  air of visible dissatisfaction. They consider ease as the chief luxury upon earth using  a maxim " That it is better to walk than

      Hazrat Dastagir  Sahib Dargah, Dr.Natesan Road in 1870s. He was descended  from a Turkish  family  and was a kin of Adil Shahi  dynasty of Bijapur where he was born. He settled in Madras after much travelling all over the  country. He predicted his death and asked his disciples not to do the funeral  prayer for him by a Imam. It is said he himself  appeared and did the Janana for himself.  He died in 1752 . The  Nawab of Arcot  Walajah   built a dargah in 1789 over his burial  site. A revered Sufi Saint.

        The  Kapaliswar Temple Ther in 1930s when it was covered with Koorai and workers are on to construct the saram for the same. That house in the  background was there till 10 years ago.

      A merry go round  (Ranga rattinam)  in a temple festival in Madras 100 years back in this photo taken by a British Army Doctor. Boys  are wearing only  Dhoties. Perhaps shorts became famous only after 1940s.

       The residence of US consul of Madras in the  year 1911 Jose de Olivares  (1867-1942). The  consul can be seen coming out in his horse carriage.  The US representative office in Madras was established in 1794 and in the  years  around 1910 they occupied the third floor of Lawyers building  owned by Parry & Co. They then moved to Dare house  and to their own building near Gemini flyover in 1967.

         A Tram moving in front of Dare House, Parry Corner with a Ovaltine  advertisement  around late 1940s. The  place were the house now  stands was originally the place were the  French placed their Cannons in their siege of Madras in 1758-59. After the wars a Garden House was built and it was owned by Arcot Nawabs daughter. Thomas Parry a free merchant came to India in 1788 and purchased this house around the first decade of 19th century  for starting his Factory. Parry was a  colourful personality who enjoyed his life fully. In 1818 John William Dare joined the company  and diversified the business.  He continued to lead the  company  after Parrys death in 1824  till 1838 when he died due to a fall from Horse. The old Garden  House along with  lawyers block building constructed during last decade of  19th  century were destroyed during  1940s and the  new Art Deco building was constructed and inaugurated in 1940 the  first multi  storey building of Madras.

        A so far unseen photograph of  Screw Pile  Pier, Madras by an unknown photographer. The  flag staff on the  left must be that of sea custom house. The  small building may be the office of Marine Police who had their jurisdiction from  Fort St . George to Royapuram.  Their main duty was to prevent any illegal activity in the harbour.  The  pier foundation was laid in 1959 by Charles  Travelyan and inaugurated on 16th December 1961.  It was destroyed by a major  cyclone on 2nd  May 1872 which tore down the pier in to two leaving a gap of 250 feet apart.

       The rates for Break fast in Madras Club the premier all white club in the  year 1857.  Bit costly 160 years before. There are some European luxuries for  dinner like Tongues (what is it?).  Whether vacuum packed (Hermetically sealed) fish is available in the  market.  Can anyone throw light.

         Pachaiyappas  School, Esplanade, Madras of Pachaiyappas Trust.  The school was established in 1842 and moved to its own building built like a Greek Parthenon  on 20th March 1850. The  Trustees and  faculty  members of the school in 1850s