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 frequentl...

    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 ...

       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  ...

     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 ...

     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.