Hello Madras

Whenever a person asks me about my home town....Madras or is it Chennai ---I would proudly say ..."ethu Nama Ooru Madras.....!

"Hello Madras"!


What I love most about Madras is everything and what I dislike most is the name Chennai.  I love  the name “Madras” rather than Chennai. 


This Blog of mine is a thoughtful Reminiscence of the past.  It is sure to give one that  great feeling of satisfaction to see the old Madras photos in black and white. As rightly felt the old Madras city was untainted and that it still leaves behind a sense of richness and flavor.


In my website, you can find some vintage photographs of Chennai or Madras, as the older generations or many of the people, still like to call the city.
These photos have appeared elsewhere before and in my understanding the copyrights on some of them have expired. Quite nostalgic, you will find an "un-adultrated city"- [as I would call it] - that still lies beneath the modern high-rises, concrete flyovers and shopping malls.
Old photographs give a glimpse into the Madras that was and indulges one to take another look at the Chennai we are in today.    I bring before you  the past--  the City - non-corrupt and non-polluted!

As is evident in the present day Chennai....one feels Change is the only constant thing in life.  This holds good when one looks at the evolution and changes in several landmarks and lifestyle in the city that was once “Madras”.   While some places show great signs of having developed over 100 years, others have disintegrated into  Take the Madras High Court for example.  Not to mention, the famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore which also built in the early 19th century, still continues to be a major attraction for all the folks. Having a look at such old photos of important places in Chennai, shows how the transition of change has taken place over the years.


The city today has become a concrete jungle.  In those times/days,  one knew every one in the colony [ may be around 70 houses and around 120 families] , whereas -  today it is full of apartments and we  do not even  know our neighbours!  The high- rised buildings, overflowing garbages, satellite TV invasion, frequent cell phone calls, day to day politics in office, the thrills of  T-20 Cricket, our quest for privacy in the neighbourhood, our changed priorities and on the whole the mechanical life in this busy competitive world is redefining the meaning of happiness. 


Amidst this scenario, pictures/writings  like these, provide me an oppurtunity to turn and have and also give you a glance at [or] even re-visit those golden, olden moments.  


This Blog of mine  looks back at Chennai, in fact the Madras as it was known and existed....traces the city's life-scape at various points of time.

Landmarks


You will find that the Famous “Bata” store at Mount Road [now Anna Salai], which has been in existence for more than 80 odd years, has indeed stood the test of time and even till today, continues to be a crowd puller. 

The old photographs takes us down memory lane, to the good old days where there was no hike in fuel price or pollution problems, [an "undultrated city" as I refered to earlier],  with just about good old citizens riding their bicycles in the serene atmosphere..... The Memorial hall, NSC Bose Road [earlier Esplanade Road] and the popular Fort St George have all developed to some extent but more or less look the way they did in 1900. The Theosophical Society, the vastly popular “Burma Bazaar” also feature in the list of Chennai’s oldest landmarks. How many of us know that the M.A. Chidambaram stadium at Chepauk, whose name everyone in Chennai is familiar with, could once accommodate only a crowd of about few hundreds people!

Then there was the  ever popular and much utilized tram service daily, which attracted 1,10,000 to 1,25,000 passengers which ran for a few years in the 1940's/50's,  and finding a quick replacement for the discontinued service was quite a task.  The Tram facility service was run by the then  Madras Electric Tramway Company , which closed shop, citing recurring losses and labour trouble. This Tram service was indeed the vestige of a great transport service that was unrivalled in utility and beauty.

The other alternatives available for the commuters were the hand-drawn-rickshaws or the horse-drawn-cart popularly known as Maattu-vandis.


There were not many buses in those days in Chennai and even the buses that were plying were relatively smaller.  Even unbelievable  is the fact that most  people might not be aware of is that the earliest buses in Madras then,  could accommodate just about a handfull and this bears  a stunning resemblance to the heavy vehicular traffic- with the many cars, autos and other modes of transport, that we see in the busy life of today.  As the city expanded, mass transport evolved and the traffic of today's Chennai is definitely a cause for concern - and the air which is so full of pollution!  

The above/below photographs will give you a picture of the Madras Then  and the Chennai Now.

But I should emphasize here that there still stands a handful of the yesteryear's eminent monuments/ structures even till today. 


To name a few----Chennai continues to have in its proud possession the famous Munroe statue, the Senate House, the Secretariat [originally built in 1911], the “Chennai Harbour”, the Famous Hong Kong Bank on Rajaji Salai, known as the Mercantile Bank back in 1925, and the Fort St George monument. It may come as a shock to us that one of Chennai’s most famous landmarks, The Marina Beach now surrounded by several large buildings, earlier bore a deserted look. So too might the fact that another famous landmark, Spencer Plaza, earlier called “Spencer’s Madras” was just about the size of a four-storey building.

One should not forget the State Bank Of India which has a history of over 200 years, proudly stands even today and bears testimony to the rich heritage of this beautiful city "Madras--now called Chennai" ! 

The same First line beach road - now and Then [1915]


In the second old picture of First Line beach - The Tram lines and tracks are clearly visible. 


The SBI building [now] - Bank of Madras [Then] is clearly seen in both the old pics. 


Definitely a treat for one's eyes to see the pictures in same angle!


In the series of surprises, the famous Adyar River....the river which once upon a time had very pure water, now presents a miserable picture of a river filled with dirt and filth so revolting to the human eyes...!   


A look at these photographs of the past, is bound to make every Chennaite relish the city’s past glory, relate to present developments and contribute to future innovations!!


The old Madras is still present to a certain extent but for how long?  We are also aware of the demolition of some buildings of distinct heritage value.  This is rather saddening to hear and see such historic monuments being brought down to keep in pace with the modern times.


One definitely knows and is aware of the fact that development is essential, as is constant change, yet one still hopes for some restraint and patience so that Madras now called Chennai will continue to be the jewel among cities that it is,  if you have the eyes to see. 


On every Madras Day, Photo Exhibitions of old and new Madras are organised at various locations like the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyer Foundation, Gallery Sri Parvati on Eldams Road, the Forum Art Gallery in Adyar and at Gallery 4-Kilpauk Garden, the celebrations maring the founding of the city in 1639.


More of my anecdotes on Madras to follow...