HISTORY OF CHENNAI CITY

Chennai is familiar to most of us as MADRAS, can best be described as a city with a unique and harmonious blend of Tradition and Modernity.

FRANCIS DAY, a BRITISH Merchant of the EAST INDIA COMPANY, acquired the village of MADRASPATTINAM from the Raja of Chandragiri in 1639 to found a factory, as the early English settlements were called. On 23rd April, 1640, St George’s Day, the UNION JACK started fluttering from Fort St GEORGE the first ENGLISH Settlement in south India. Thus emerged MADRAS on the World Map, taking its name from the village MADRASPATTINAM. Nearby was another settlement which the Tamils called Chennapatnam, after a King, CHENNAPPA NAYAKAR, to which the English gave the name, GEORGETOWN. Modern CHENNAI takes its name from this village. Today Georgetown is part of the ever-expanding metropolis that is modern Chennai. Elegant 19th century and early 20th century European Buildings co-exist uncomfortable here with unimaginative modern structures.

But the buildings that are its familiar landmarks like PARRY’s corner, hold on to their own unique identity. Over the Years, by grants and gifts to the Nayaks and Nawabs, the surrounding villages of TIRUVALLIKKENI, MYLAPORE, TIRUVANMIYUR and TIRUVOTTIYUR were acquired by the ENGLISH. These villages had a historical past dating back 2000 Years. Mylapore was the place where TIRUVALLUVAR the poet-saint lived and which is home to the 13th century Kapaleeswarar Temple. It was also at MYLAPORE where St THOMAS, one of the 12 apostles of Christ is said to have spent his last days.

One can trace the history of CHENNAI by touring the great buildings built to commemorate the landmark events. These monuments chronicle the spatial expansion of Chennai over the centuries. Fort St George, the centre of BRITISH power in MADRAS, today houses the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, STATE SECRETARIAT and the FORT MUSEUM. Just a stone’s throw away is the High Court an imposing Indo- Saracenic building, built in 1892.