Chennai honors its past with the Madras Day festivities
Celebrating Chennai's Rich History: Madras Day
Every year on August 22, the city of Chennai (formerly Madras), India, comes alive to celebrate its founding in 1639. This significant day marks the historic agreement between the British East India Company and local Nayak rulers, leading to the establishment of Fort St. George, the first major British settlement in India and the nucleus around which modern Chennai developed.
The significance of Madras Day lies in honoring the city's transformation from a small fishing village, Madraspatnam, into a major urban, cultural, and economic center. It highlights the blend of tradition and modernity—from Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam to contemporary IT parks and the film industry—while fostering civic pride and raising awareness about the city's rich heritage.
Madras Day was conceptualized in 2004 by historians and journalists including S. Muthiah, Vincent D’Souza, and Sashi Nair as an annual celebration to recognize Chennai's history. Since then, it has expanded into a month-long festival featuring heritage walks, lectures, exhibitions, storytelling sessions, food festivals, photography contests, and urban planning discussions. It brings together citizens, schools, historians, and cultural enthusiasts to engage deeply with the city’s past and present.
One of the key attractions during Madras Day is a visit to Fort St. George, built in 1644 by the British East India Company. Foreign visitors pay INR 100 to enter, while Indian nationals pay INR 5. The museum within the fort charges INR 15 for Indian adults and INR 200 for foreigners, with children under 15 able to enter for free. The Fort Museum within Fort St. George showcases colonial artifacts and portraits, offering a glimpse into the city's past.
Another iconic landmark in Chennai is the Victoria Public Hall, a colonial-era cultural venue. The city is also home to the University of Madras, established during British rule, which continues to thrive as a leading academic institution. The Indo-Saracenic Senate House of the University of Madras, designed by British architect Robert Chisholm, is a brilliant example of the hybrid design sensibility that defined much of Chennai’s colonial architecture.
The Madras High Court, an impressive Gothic structure, remains an iconic landmark in Chennai. The Royapuram Railway Station, India's oldest, showcases Renaissance-style architecture. The Ripon Building, a stately Neoclassical structure, has served as the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation since 1913 and features a 132-foot clock tower.
Chennai, formerly known as Madras or Madras Patnam, is a city with a rich history of maritime trade, colonial architecture, and layered cultural identities. Madras Day is a time to rediscover the connection between the past and present in Chennai, as the city evolves and changes. It is a celebration of the living heritage of communities who speak different languages, worship in temples, churches, and mosques, run Carnatic sabhas, street food stalls, film studios, and tech startups in Chennai.
In conclusion, Madras Day serves as a reminder of Chennai’s unique identity shaped by colonial history, local traditions, and its ongoing growth as a cosmopolitan city. It is a time to celebrate the city's rich history, culture, civic pride, and urban evolution.
