I have moved around a fair bit within India, but Chennai is definitely my hometown, and the city I have spent the most time in so far. Having said that, I don’t have a great deal of knowledge about the city’s history other than whatever I may have passively picked up during the years spent here. So it was nice to know that some proud Chennaiites have decided to put together a week of events that will promote citizens’ awareness of their own city, under the moniker “The Madras Day”.
Here’s a website with details on the events being organised: http://themadrasday.in. According to the website, “Madras Day was an idea that three people put together – the city’s famed historian, S. Muthiah, journalist Sashi Nair and publisher Vincent D’ Souza.” They’ve put together heritage walks, talks, exhibitions and contests. The idea is certainly commendable. I hope I’ll find the time to go and have a dekko.
If you’re interested in the historical details, some discussion on what Madras Day is. http://themadrasday.in has this to say:
“…a sliver of land, where Fort. St. George stands today, was transacted by the East India Company…
The deal was struck by Francis Day, his ‘dubash’ Beri Thimmappa, and their superior, Andrew Cogan, with the local Nayak rulers…It is believed that this deal was made on August 22, 1639.”
According to the World Book, the British rented a piece of land from the raja of Chandragiri near the village of Madraspatnam in 1639, and between 1640 and 1644, what we know as Fort St. George was built there.
Nothing Particular 