It was in 1639 that the British East India Company bought a sliver of land - three square miles, to be precise -in the southernmost part of India from the local Nayak rulers. This piece of land came to be known as Madras Patnam. August 2014 marks 375 years of that historic transaction and the occasion is being celebrated with great gusto across Chennai. The idea of commemorating the event by exploring more about the city was initiated by S Muthiah, historian and editor of the fortnightly news magazine Madras Musings along with Vincent D'Souza, editor and publisher of the weekly local area newspaper Mylapore Times.
Though the occasion has been celebrated in Chennai since 2004, thanks to the efforts of D'Souza and Muthiah, this year the festivities promise to be grander to match the historical significance of the occasion. More than 150 events will be held through August and September. The celebrations have grown in scale with many organisations and individuals joining in. From photo exhibitions and discussions to cartoon exhibitions, food and heritage walks, cycling trails, film screenings and quiz contests, there is an eclectic range of activities to choose from. "People are presenting some very interesting papers and research material about the city. These have helped unearth unknown facts about Chennai," says D'Souza. "From simple events to the more significant ones like heritage walks and thematic tours, each of these is resulting in a serious study of Chennai."
The city lovers boast about Chennai being one of the oldest cities in India and are proud about their heritage that spans from the colonial times when the white-coloured building of Fort St George was the power centre of the East India Company to the post-Independence era when Madras became a significant art and culture hub to now, when it has transformed into a major Indian metropolis.
The historic event has allowed people to excavate the hidden layers of their city and embark on a journey into its glorious past. Some heritage lovers have, for instance, created a mobile application that provides information about Chennai's history.
"The media has played a major role in creating publicity around Madras Day. However, more local publications should also add to this to increase the involvement of the common people," says Ramanujar Moulana, founder of Cycling Yogi, a cycling group that conducts thematic city rides every year to celebrate this day. This year, they have already conducted a trip to Perambur, where the Indian Railways has its facilities. Another trip is planned today to the East Coast Road.
Corporations have pitched in as well. The Murugappa Group, apart from sponsoring quiz competitions, has also created a Madras Song in collaboration with The Hindu. Besides that, several hotels have agreed to be venue partners. "If you ask me, the 'feelings' for Chennai will come from the people in general rather, than from corporations," says D'Souza.
The occasion has found supporters overseas as well. The Facebook page of Madras Day is inundated with messages from those living in Malaysia, Australia and the US. "We have a group of Madras enthusiasts in SF Bay Area... We are interested in celebrating Madras Day in SF Bay area, California....please share ideas to make the event a success," says one post. A photograph exhibition is also being held in Malaysia.
Then there is 375 Wishes for Chennai, an installation that will feature people's wishes for the city collected by volunteers from across Chennai. And, Mylapore Times has come up with its annual offering of the Chennai Cap for Rs 80 and Chennai 375 T-shirt for Rs 220.
The doorway to south India, as Chennai is often called, clearly has packed days ahead.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/madrasday
