Namma Madras - Rediscovered
Wall Tax
Today, I will tell you about one of the busiest localities of Madras (aka Chennai).
When one comes out of Central Railway station, on the left is the entry / exit point for taxis and cars. Recently in Aug 2017, the Police made it the nodal entry / exit points to and from Central Rly Station. The road is called Wall Tax Road (officially VOC street, but none knows this name!).
Stretching from Central Station, the road is about 5 km, is parallel to the railway tracks. There is a wall all along, and was built in 1772-73, as a protection from invaders like French and Mughals. The road has Muthialpet on one side. There were five gates for the people and the goods to move about. Now only one named Elephant Gate remains. At the end of the road there was a jail to imprison people ; though that road named Old Jail Road is still there, the prison is not there.
To construct the 50 feet wide road, the British planned to collect a Tax from people, but the people vehemently opposed this tax and the British abandoned the idea. But the name stuck and even today it is widely called "the Wall Tax" road.
Today (October 2017), this road is one of the busiest in the City - many streets/roads branch off from here. MINT Street housed the Mint in early 19th century, now the Govt printing press exists. Mint Street is very famous for its Bamboo products like baskets, mats ... plenty, at easy rates. Previously the inter-state buses to Andhra started from here only but now shifted to CMBT, Koyambedu.
This locality is generally known as George Town and it has the earliest temples of the City -
Kandaswami Temple, for instance, was built in 1670 (350 years ago) in Rasappa Chetty street. Elephant Gate street specialises in dress materials, Nainiappan Naicken street in jewellery, Kasi chetty street in Electronics, Rasappa chetty street in hardware. It is a heaven for buyers - you get anything and everything from here at very economical prices.
Earlier called the Black Town, very close to the Fort St George, the "capital" of the British, was renamed as George town in 1911. This area is also called "Broadway", and also "Parrys Corner". In 1733, the weaving community shifted as a whole to what is now known as "Chintathripet". "chinna" in Tamil is small; "thari" is the weavers' equipment. Thus Chintathripet ! The community of washers shifted to what is now called "Washermenpet". And Potters shifted to "Kosapet". Kuyavan in Tamil is a potter.
Many huge buildings came up in George Town, as the capital Fort was nearby. Parry constructed a huge building for his business and it became ( and still today it is) a landmark - Parry's Corner ! High court buildings, ( there was the Light House on top of the High court once, now shifted to Marina). Chenna Kesava Perumal, Chenna Malleswara Swami temple were also here. The famous Burmah Bazaar (by the Burmese refugees in 1969) is also here. Head quarters of many Banks are also here.
Madras City's first Jain temple, first mosque, the first synagogue, a great Armenian Church in the Armenian Street are all here. It is a historically highly rich place. I have not covered even 25% of its richness and heritage.
Come, lets see George Town in all its glory past.
Rajappa
13-10-2017
Wall Tax
Today, I will tell you about one of the busiest localities of Madras (aka Chennai).
When one comes out of Central Railway station, on the left is the entry / exit point for taxis and cars. Recently in Aug 2017, the Police made it the nodal entry / exit points to and from Central Rly Station. The road is called Wall Tax Road (officially VOC street, but none knows this name!).
Stretching from Central Station, the road is about 5 km, is parallel to the railway tracks. There is a wall all along, and was built in 1772-73, as a protection from invaders like French and Mughals. The road has Muthialpet on one side. There were five gates for the people and the goods to move about. Now only one named Elephant Gate remains. At the end of the road there was a jail to imprison people ; though that road named Old Jail Road is still there, the prison is not there.
To construct the 50 feet wide road, the British planned to collect a Tax from people, but the people vehemently opposed this tax and the British abandoned the idea. But the name stuck and even today it is widely called "the Wall Tax" road.
Today (October 2017), this road is one of the busiest in the City - many streets/roads branch off from here. MINT Street housed the Mint in early 19th century, now the Govt printing press exists. Mint Street is very famous for its Bamboo products like baskets, mats ... plenty, at easy rates. Previously the inter-state buses to Andhra started from here only but now shifted to CMBT, Koyambedu.
This locality is generally known as George Town and it has the earliest temples of the City -
Kandaswami Temple, for instance, was built in 1670 (350 years ago) in Rasappa Chetty street. Elephant Gate street specialises in dress materials, Nainiappan Naicken street in jewellery, Kasi chetty street in Electronics, Rasappa chetty street in hardware. It is a heaven for buyers - you get anything and everything from here at very economical prices.
Earlier called the Black Town, very close to the Fort St George, the "capital" of the British, was renamed as George town in 1911. This area is also called "Broadway", and also "Parrys Corner". In 1733, the weaving community shifted as a whole to what is now known as "Chintathripet". "chinna" in Tamil is small; "thari" is the weavers' equipment. Thus Chintathripet ! The community of washers shifted to what is now called "Washermenpet". And Potters shifted to "Kosapet". Kuyavan in Tamil is a potter.
Many huge buildings came up in George Town, as the capital Fort was nearby. Parry constructed a huge building for his business and it became ( and still today it is) a landmark - Parry's Corner ! High court buildings, ( there was the Light House on top of the High court once, now shifted to Marina). Chenna Kesava Perumal, Chenna Malleswara Swami temple were also here. The famous Burmah Bazaar (by the Burmese refugees in 1969) is also here. Head quarters of many Banks are also here.
Madras City's first Jain temple, first mosque, the first synagogue, a great Armenian Church in the Armenian Street are all here. It is a historically highly rich place. I have not covered even 25% of its richness and heritage.
Come, lets see George Town in all its glory past.
Rajappa
13-10-2017
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