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 ...