Parantharami Mani

Flash Strike  by Boatmen 1829       The  Boatmen  of Madras suddenly went on a flash  strike  demanding  higher  wages  in June  1829. The  boatmen of Madras owners of Masoola  boats were  important  persons in the  development of  East India  company trade  in Madras and subsequent rule  by them. Since Madras did not have a  natural harbour  the ships were anchored 2kms from the  shores and the  men and goods were transferred in Masoola boats by these men. As early as 1709 when  Thomas Pitt left Madras there were around  200 boats each boat being sailed by 10 people.  They were paid 6 fanams per trip and a maximum of three trips can be done a day. So each person was earning around 55 fanams ( 12 fanams = 1 rupee) a month which was less when compared to the hard work put by them. In order to put pressure on company officials they frequently  went  on flash strikes. A first hand report of one  such flash strike in June 1829. Picture : J.B.East, London 1856

    There has always been a belief/ view that a temple was their before in the  place where the  Santhome Cathedral exists.  Some artefacts relating to that  are also found in the Museum of the Church.  In September 1942 when they were digging the ground for construction of a  Porch in the  south side of the  old Church (demolished in 1893)as per orders of the  Bishop two granite pillars of dimensions  12feet  length and 6 feet circumference  were found similar to those found in Hindu temples. The Bishop at that time was John Fennelly.   A first hand account of the  event as published then.         "The Catholic Bishop ordered a porch to be built at the  south door of St . Thoma's church at St.Thome. The  bricklayers having removed the earth to lay the foundation saw one end of a granite stone and continuing to remove the earth they discovered a solid stone pillar measuring twelve feet in length and six or seven feet in circumference. On this being communicated to the Bish

       How long the  Gujarathis are in Madras. An assessment made by the  Governor of  Madras for the amount to be paid by each caste group in July 1706 mentions about 500 pagodas to be paid by Guzaratts in Black  Town for construction of old Black Town wall. So you can conclude they are here for more than 300 years.

Masjid-O- Anwari Mosque,  Big Street,  Triplicane        This more than 270 year old mosque on Big Street  was built  by the  founder second  dynasty of Arcot Nawab Anwaruddin Khan. It is older than Wallajah  Mosque  which is always thought to be oldest one in Chennai.  It was built during the years 1744-1749 when he was the  Nawab. It was used for  Friday  prayers and is held in good condition even now  Anwaruddin Khan  was born in 1672 at Awadh  in Uttar Pradesh. He held high ranking position in Mogul empire  and with Deccan Nizams. He was appointed Nawab by the  Nizam in 1744. He sided with  British  in the  Carnatic Wars and died  in the  Battle of  Ambur on 3rd August 1749  at the age 77. He is  perhaps the oldest soldiers to die in a battle field.

St.Marys cemetery,  Island.      This is situated on the North West corner of Island near old jail. Originally the Cemetery for the English men  was situated in "Guava Garden " in the present High Court complex.  After the siege of Madras by  French in 1759 the  British razed to the ground old Black town north of the Fort and also this Cemetery since the tombstones provided cover for the guns of  French infantry. The cemetery of St.Marys Church was then established in North West portion of Island in the present place around  1763. Many of the East India Company Civilians and Soldiers are interned here.  There  are around  395 tombstones and those interned here are the  " who's who" of 18th  and 19th  century  Madras.  Important  among them are  Nicholas  Morse  Governor of  Madras in 1740s, Stephen  Popham  Solicitor of Madras in late  18th century  who developed many  civic infrastructure, William  Sydenham,  Major  General who is remembered by a road in Ve

     Lord Elphinstone  Governor of  Madras (1837-42) annointing young  Titular Arcot  Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Ghaus Khan in August 1842 at Chepauk Palace. It is said that he was appointed as Governor of  Madras since it was rumoured that young  Queen  Victoria had fallen in love with him.  During his period Elphinstone bridge on the Adyar was built.  A first hand account of the  annointing ceremony at Chepauk.     " The  ceremony of  the installation of the  Nawab  of Carnatic at Chepauk  Palace was performed on the  25th August with great splendour in the  presence of the  Governor,  Commander in Chief, Members of the  Council , Judges of  Supreme  Court with various heads of department. The  young Nawab was conducted to the musnud by Lord  Elphinstone who was supported on his left by the Naib -i- Mooktar  the  late regent. The  installation was announced to the multitude outside by a salute from the battery and an incessant fire of musketry. The  ceremony was performed in a

     The  British thought of  slum clearance even 177 years back. In 1840 they thought of clearing the fishermen huts on South Beach Road to replace  with Brick Cottages  to  make the drive on beach road more  pleasant. A precursor to Slum Clearance Board.    Perhaps this may be either Ayodhya kuppam  or Nochi  kuppam.  A first hand account of the  decision.

The story of Chintadripet 1734 AD         There was acute shortage of Calico in the  first half of 18th century in Madras and EIC under  Governor  Morton Pitt decided to  manufacture it in Madras. The  company merchants requisitioned spinners and merchants  from  Salem and wanted to provide a place with shady trees for them to work.  The  garden of  Sunca Rama  with  shady trees in the  peninsula formed by Triplicane river was found ideal for the same with plenty of water available.  This garden  the company found was granted to him by a Cowle by Governor Collet  in 1719  without council  approval and without  consideration.  The  company thiught it bad and possession was resumed by the company. Sunca Rama ceased to be  a merchant in 1731 which was taken  over  by Tambi Chetti. The  area was settled with weavers,  spinners,  painters, washers, dyers, priests and attendant for the temples. All settlers of the village were outsiders and the  inhabitants of  Madras and existing villag

     Col. Henry Davidson Love's bungalow on Victoria Hostel Road. Love was the  greatest historian of Madras and has chronicled the  history of the city from 1640 to 1800  in his  book  "Vestiges of Old Madras".  This bungalow was supposed to have been occupied by him when he was Principal of College of Engineering between 1880-1907 when the college was functioning in Chepauk  Palace.  But surprisingly neither this bungalow nor Victoria Hostel is marked in the map of Chepauk around 1893 although  Goshaw Hospital,  PWD office and Presidency college are clearly marked.  On the contrary some other house on the other side of Buckingam canal is marked as Principals House.  Was it constructed after 1893.  Mystery.

       The  story of Madras Museum :       The idea of opening a Museum in Madras was suggested to the Government in 1843 by the Madras Literary Society and the Auxiliary of the Royal  Asiatic Society.  Proposals were also submitted by General  Cullen for establishment of small museums in various collectorates to be placed under the care of Collector,  Medical Officer and Engineer. The  proposals were accepted by the Court of Directors in 1846 and the Literary  Society presented a small collection  of geological specimens to form the nucleus of proposed Central Museum.         The  Central Museum was not established until 1851 when a small general collection was brought together in the  College of Fort St . George  and the Government invited the cooperation of the public in the  development.  It was described as a Museum of practical or economic Geology and natural History and  Dr . Edward Balfour a Surgeon of Madras Army was put in  charge of it. In 1854 the  Central Museum w

        Can you  believe there was a Suspension bridge in Madras across Cooum at Chitandripet. This  was constructed in 1831 probably with imported materials. But  unfortunately this  bridge crashed  down in June 1840 when the  soldiers of 33rd Native Infantry were crossing the bridge on their way to  escort the  Nawab  Ghulam Mohd. Ghouse Khan in the customary procession to his father's tomb.   A first hand account of the incident.         " An accident occurred at Madras  attended with great  personal injury  to many individuals and loss of life. On the  1st  June  the 33rd N.I. were  crossing the  suspension bridge at Chindatripet on their way to escort the Nabob and take part in the customary procession to his father's tomb when one of the suspension chains at the eastern end of the bridge  gave way precipitating the roadway and about a company and a half of sepoys into the stream below. The  crash was tremendous one Subedar,  4 Havildars and twenty six men were se

        How much it costs to have a decent living in Madras in 1754. From a letter written by Thomas  Saunders  Governor of Madras to  top  Company bosses in England it  is 1098 Pagodas  ( 1 Pagoda = Rs.3.50) per annum  coming to around 90 pagodas per month.  The  break up of the expenses are:           Palankeen and Horse    -     132       Dhoby and Barber          -        36       Dubash and Cook           -       30       House expenses             -     480       Dress                                -     150       Liquor                               -       90       House rent                       -     180     Rupee must have had great  value  then.

        The Pachaiyappas Hall, Esplanade, Madras. This  grand edifice was built by the  Pachaiyappas Trust to house the Pachaiyappas High School which was started in 1842 to give English education to the poor boys of the  Hindu community to enlarge the opportunities of life for them. The  foundation stone was laid on 2nd October 1846 by Mr . George  Norton,  Advocate General. Underneath the  foundation was deposited according to custom  a parchment, and other articles usually deposited inscribing the date of the foundation in the ninth year of Sovereign Lady  Queen Victoria,  Viscount Hoarding being  Governor General. Shri C.Srinivasa Pillai was the President of the Charities at that time.       The opening ceremony of the Pachaiyappas Hall took place on 20th March 1850 under the distinguished presidency of Sir Henry Pottinger,  Governor. This Hall not only served as the  centre where thousands of Hindus got their liberal education  but also was a popular hall where all the great l

      Three  men of eminence whose name were found in the who's who of Madras in early 20th century and their profile.  They are remembered by important roads in Madras. Sir Sivaswami Ayyar,  O.Thanikachella Chettiar and Muhammad   Usman.

       This not so ornamental Cupola  erected around 1822 opposite to  St.Thomas Mount  metro station was erected in  memory of  Lt.Col.Sam Dalrymple of East  India  Company Army  belonging to Madras Artillery.  He died on 12th May 1821. He must have been a very popular officer since this is the only Cupola erected in memory of an officer  (other than Cornwallis Cupola ) in Madras. A first hand account of him and tribute paid to him at his funeral.         "  Lt.Col. Sam Dalrymple C.B. of Madras Artillery. Col.D. arrived in India in 1790 and had been actively and honourably employed on every service of importance in which the army of this Presidency was engaged during the last  30 years. He possessed all the  qualities of a gallant soldier and accomplished officer and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his superiors in the same degree in which he inspired  those under his command with veneration and attachment. He may just be ranked among the most distinguished of the compan

      Then and Now        Mylapore  Kapaliswar  Temple  Team in 1932  and now in 2018. Old Pic:  Bfi

      The  beginning of the formation of University of Madras. This was the  Education Committee Under Mr.Norton  formed by Governor of Madras Lord Elphinstone in February  1840 under the direction of  Court of Directors to collect information for the formation of University of Madras. It consisted of 7 Europeans and 7 Natives.  

       These  thirty six members of  Thiruvallikeni Sivanadiyar  Kootam inscribed on the walls of the Mylapore Temple tank must have played a dominant role in the construction of Tank steps in the first quarter of 20th century.

      Two interesting Tamil tombstones found in the Luz Church.  The  first is dated 17th Jan 1847 mentions about Selvanayakammal who died at the young age of 19 leaving behind her grieving parents and relatives. The  second mentions about death of wife of Mylapore Police Inspector Annaswami Mudaliar at the age of 49 in 1888. Quite interesting.  Loved the Tamil used in the first Tomb. A thriving Tamil congregation must have been there in 19th century in this Church.