The Memorial of Robert Ashe in Chennai

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Has this been documented already? I am not sure. At least, I have never heard before. I stumbled upon this memorial tablet during my visit to St. George's Cathedral. 

Robert William d'Escourt Ashe, popularly known as Ashe Durai, served as District Collector under the British Raj. Born in Ireland on 23rd November 1872 CE, Ashe came to India in 1895. He took charge as the District Collector and Magistrate of Tirunelveli District in 1908.




Ashe played a significant role in the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company's closure, which was run by the freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai. He was also responsible for imposing sedition charges against V.O.C and Subramanya Siva. He also gave a shooting order against the freedom fighters who protested against the national leaders' conviction.

Irked by Ashe's actions, an organization called Bharata Matha Sangam came up with plans to kill prominent British leaders. Vaanchinathan, a 25-year-old person from Senkottai, was a member of the organization. He got trained for three months in using pistols by VVS Aiyar in Pondicheri.

On 17th June 1911, Ashe, accompanied by his wife Mary Lillian Patterson, boarded Maniyachi Mail at Tirunelveli Junction. They were traveling in the first-class carriage and on their way to Kodaikanal. When the train halted in Maniychi train station, Vaanchi boarded the carriage. He pulled out his Belgian made pistol and shot at Ashe. After the shooting, Vaanchi locked himself in a restroom and committed suicide. 



Ashe was the only Britisher assassinated as part of the freedom movement in South India. The British Government built a memorial for him in Tuticorin. His tomb is located in a Church in Palayankottai.

St. George's Cathedral in Chennai is a famous Church where many memorial tablets and statues of those who served for the British Raj are found. Among those tablets, this historic tablet erected in memory of Ashe, by his friends, is one. 

Ashe's memorial stone in Madras - it remains an untold history.

Happy travelling. 




Location: Cathedral Rd, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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