Victory War Memorial

Victory War Memorial is erected in the memory of those soldiers who gave their life for the country. The Victory War Memorial is also known as ‘Cupid Bow’ is located near the Fort St. George on the Beach Road on the starting point of Marina beach. This War Memorial was constructed to commemorate the victory of the Allied Armies during World War I (1914–1918) and later became the victory war memorial for World War II (1939–1945), erected in the memory of those from the Madras presidency who lost their lives in the wars. Later addition includes inscriptions of 1948 Kashmir Aggression, 1962 War with China and the Indo-Pakistan War.

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/cupids-bow-chennai/article6295482.ece

National Flag of 1947

The only surviving vintage national flag in India, hoisted at Fort St. George here on the first Independence day on August 15 1947, is being conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India through multi-pronged efforts. It is meticulously conserved by placing in an air tight wooden-glass showcase.

The 12ft by 8ft pure silk flag, was hoisted after lowering the British Union Jack on August 15, 1947 at 5.05 AM at Fort St. George and was witnessed by thousands of people.

This is the one and only national flag that has been conserved to this day and it is also the only flag that was hoisted on the first Independence day to survive till now.

Source:The Hindu.

st. Mary’s Church – 1680

The St. George fort is not just the seat of power in Tamilnadu. It is a historian’s paradise and the british era had it’s proper beginning here.

St. Mary’s church within the Fort St. George is the first church built by the Anglicans east of suez and the oldest british building in Madras. The excavation work for the church began on March 25, 1678 Lady’s day by Governor Stryensham master. Since the work commenced on annunciation day of the blessed virgin, the church was named St. Mary’s in her honour.

The St. mary’s church is located in a shaded corner in the south east part of the fort. The Building is a solid construction designed by Master Gunner and Bastion designer William Dixon to withstand sieges, cyclones and the ravages of time. The original building was a rectangular box, 60 feet by 90 feet with outer walls four feet thick and a bomb-proofed curve roof, two feet thick. The sanctuary, steeple, tower and vestry were later additions to the brick building that Dixon built. It’s carved teakwood balustrade dates to 1680. The tower detached from the church was built in 1701 and the steeple in 1710. The obelisk shaped spire was added in 1795 after the proposal to make it a lighthouse was turned down. Above the large open windows are lovely stained glass arches that filter a multi-coloured glow in to the church when the windows are closed.

Churches hold much more than biblical stories and legends. They have been the cornerstone in many a historical events. For more interesting stories keep watching this space.

Photo: Frederick Fiebig in c.1851 | BL
Source: Madras Rediscovered | S. Muthiah.

Sir Thomas Munro

As we remember madras and its glory, it is only appropriate that we also remember the people responsible for the magnificent city it was. Both Indian and British officials have a huge part in the administration during the colonial period but nobody is quite fondly remembered as Governor Thomas Munro. Yesterday was the birth anniversary for Sir Thomas Munro (27,may 1761) who was born 256 years ago in Scotland.

Initially he served the British forces that fought Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. He moved to administration and experimented with the ryotwary system, which he improved later in the Ceded Districts, now Rayalaseema. It was considered favourable to the peasants.
In the Rayalaseema area, where he spent some years as Collector, there are a number of temples with which his name is associated, such as in Kadiri, Mantralayam and Tirupati. Peasants even now, name their children ‘Munrolappa’.
After becoming the Governor of Madras in June 1820, Munro reversed the policy of his predecessors as far as relations with the native people were concerned. He wanted them entrusted with greater responsibilities in administration. Munro laid the foundations of a form of district administration that has survived to this day with few changes. Concrete steps were taken towards the formation of an education policy for Madras during his time.
To the commonly felt perception that Indians in administration were corrupt, Munro had this to say: “Their (Indians) place could never be supplied by a few foreigners imperfectly acquainted with their customs and language. I have never seen any European whom I thought competent, from his knowledge of the language and the people, to ascertain the value of the evidence given before him. He died of cholera in 1827 while touring the Northern Districts. Years later, Rajaji said “Whenever any young Civil Servant came to me for blessings or when I spoke to them in their training school, I advised them to read about Sir Thomas Munro, who was the ideal administrator.”
Thomas Munro may be remembered by his Majestic statue mounted on a horse in the heart of Madras but Munro’s best memorial lay in the hearts of the people.

Madras Exchange Lighthouse, 1796

In 1795, the Madras Presidency encompassed much of south India and also Ceylon. As its capital, Madras was the nerve centre of the sea trade controlled by the British East India Company. However, ships approaching Madras after nightfall faced the risk of running aground on the shoals of Kovalam in south. In the north, the sand-banks of Armagon and Pulicat were a menace.

In February 1795, maritime officials petitioned the government to build a lighthouse in Fort St. George that would serve as a navigational aid. The government approved the request and the steeple of St. Mary’s Church was considered as the site for the new lighthouse. However, the proposal did not materialise due to opposition from the chaplains. The first lighthouse of madras was constructed on the roof of the exchange building which is currently the Fort Museum using wooden frame in 1796. The tower was 99 metres high with a beam from 12 coconut oil lamps. This helped in signalling merchant ships as far as 17 miles from the shore. Since then the shining beacon has been passed on to many lighthouses and this building remains only in the memories of historians.

There is no photograph or drawings of the first lighthouse of madras and this sketch was drawn with the help of the description available in the archives.

Source: Madras Exchange Light House, Book by Hemchandra Rao. / S.Muthiah