Indian Columbus

Even those disinterested people who call museums dull and uninviting would die to visit Tamil Nadu Police Museum. It is stunningly vibrant and refreshing. Finally, Chennai has got a sought-after Police Museum. (Yes, there is already one near Vandalur, which hardly gets any footprint.) Located on Pantheon Road, this beautifully restored elegant Indo-Saracenic structure translocates us to the 19th century. Thanks to the Police Department and Reach Foundation, the gorgeous building, which was on the verge of getting demolished, survives and serves for good purpose.  The edifice was built in 1842. The first Commissioner of Madras Police, Lt. Col. J.C. Boulderson, bought the bungalow and its outlying 14 acres of land in 1856. Since then, it has been functioning as the Commissioner's Office. Over the years, the structure lost its aesthetic glory by sealing the windows, closing the balconies, and introducing the partition walls. We are fortunate to see a fully restored heritage structure,...

It was a promenade extended southwards from St. George Fort in Madras. And the pathway had a dead end at a roundabout. Nearby, the river Cooum met the Bay of Bengal. The poetic romance between the river and the ocean perhaps influenced the English officers to romance their sweethearts. It was not a secret, as everyone in the 1800s called this site "Cupid's Bow". Now, we have Victory War Memorial located here. To commemorate the victory of the Allied Armies during World War I, the Victory War Memorial was constructed in Cupid's Bow. Earlier, the site housed a coastal belfry. The memorial was erected in October 1933, and after four years, on 27th February 1937, the Corporation of Madras took control of the same.  The monument has a central memorial tower surrounded by four small pillars. The tower and the flag mast measuring 30.5 meters in height, proudly holding our National Flag is visible over a long distance. The vast site is surrounded by a circular wall.  After th...

All of us from Chennai know Vandalur Zoological Park. It remains a major attraction during the weekends for sure. However, I wonder how many of us realize there is a unique Tree Park next door. This lesser-known park has been one of the best-kept secrets of the city for the last four years. Inaugurated in August 2018, the "Forest Genetic Resources Tree Park" is spread over 20 acres. It is said to be the first taxonomically designed park. It has a collection of more than 300 rare species of flora, not only from Tamil Nadu but also from the neighboring states.  The park is a newly added site in the city, having only a handful of sites with flora and plantations. It is a haven for naturalists and even for regular travelers.  It is a gift from the Forest Department during the centenary celebration of its research wing. Let us reciprocate by visiting the site and recognizing its effort to save the unique flora of our region. Happy travelling.

I am standing in front of the narrow Road opposite Chennai High Court and wondering -  "Can I drive? No...not possible....ride? Not sure....forget it....I don't think I can even walk on this Road." "Who named it Broadway? Is it supposed to be a joke?" Certainly, the ultra-urban youth of today's Chennai who spends their time in ECRs and OMRs would never ever visit this place full of history, a part of the Original Madras. The southern end of Broadway reminds me a historical incident. It is the same site where Andhra Kesari Prakasam protested opposing the Simon Commission in 1928 CE. When a demonstrator was shot dead, unmindful of police warning, he did a heroic act. He undid his shirt buttons, bared his chest as a challenge, and moved forward to retrieve the martyr's body. Later, his statue was erected here to commemorate this incredible brave deed, and Broadway was named after him as Prakasam Road. Broadway never ceases to surprise. Almost 80% of heritag...

As I have written a few times in my blog, Broadway, one of the oldest parts of the Original Madras, has many surprises. Many stories were known well once and forgotten in recent times.  The first cinema theatre in Madras to get air-conditioned is located on Davidson Street, off-Broadway. It was started in 1916 CE. Unfortunately, the longest surviving cinema hall could not stay anymore. It was closed down last year (2021). We hardly recognize the early film industry in our flamboyant era of multiplexes located within the giant malls and OTTs. But, they are part of our heritage and history. A cinema hall completing one hundred years should ideally be celebrated by film enthusiasts and heritage enthusiasts alike. But....alas! it was let to die silently! W.H. Murch repurposed the first floor of a warehouse building into a small theatre. Although it could accommodate only 650 people, it gave a unique experience to the movie-goers with a spacious open-air roof garden. This theatre, with ...

The locality, Broadway, part of Old Madras, was planned and developed in the 1780s. Broadway, though it appears to be a misnomer today, was a prominent commercial thoroughfare in the 19th century. The area is full of surprises for heritage enthusiasts. Tucker Church is one such historical and heritage structure located here. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) founded Tucker Church in 1820. The beautiful church was named after its second missionary Rev. John Tucker. It originally had wooden shutter windows that got replaced with stained glass. The pipe organ, made in London, is still in use. Next to the church, there stands a damaged heritage structure, which would have looked majestic originally. On top, the engraving in black stone reveals that it is the Centenary Hall built by CMS in 1901 CE. The dilapidated structure was active with public gatherings till the 1980s. It is sad to find this once-beautiful heritage building getting neglected by the passersby. Happy travelling.

The first bicycle, without pedals, was invented by Karl Drais in Germany in 1817 CE. "The Daily News", a newspaper from England, used the word "bicycle" for the first time to define these two-wheeled vehicles in 1868 CE. Many developments and design changes were done on the bi-cycles in all these years.  When did India get its first bicycle? The Britishers brought bi-cycles in the 1880s. And, our Madras got its first bicycle shop in 1920s.  The English Cycle & Motor Importing Company was perhaps the first shop that got started in the 1920s.   C.T. Shah and N.D. Mehta, who belonged to the Gujarati families who migrated to Madras in the early 1900s, started the Popular Cycle Importing Company in Broadway in George Town locality in 1928.  The shop does not exist today. However, one of the founders, N.D. Mehta started another shop named "Best Cycle Importing Company" in the early 1930s, which still exists.  There is a similar story. Bhogilal M. Davey's...

The locality, Broadway, part of Old Madras, was planned and developed in the 1780s. Broadway, though it appears to be a misnomer today, was a prominent commercial thoroughfare in the 19th century.  The road has many heritage structures and historic churches. The most attractive structure is the Arcot Lutheran Church, built in the Gothic architectural style. The majestic-looking church, formerly known as the Danish Mission Church, was dedicated on 18th December 1892 CE.  The Danish Missionaries regularly conducted Sunday service in the 19th century on the site where the church stands today. Rev Herman Jensen of the Missionary was well versed in Tamil. He used Tamil proverbs to attract the locals during his preaching.  Jensen made John Lazarus, an Indian, the church's pastor in 1883 CE. Lazarus started a few Christian periodicals such as "Satya Doothan" in Tamil and Telugu and then a daily named "The Christian Patriot". In 1889, the renowned theologian L.P. Larsen...