Parantharami Mani

      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 ...

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 f...

       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...