History of Chennai

I have written about most of the places I have been to. But, how can I not write about Chennai, which is where I am from. On Lonely Aztec, I now wish to attempt to write about Chennai.

Being a person fascinated by history, I wish to write about the historic details about Chennai, georgraphy and every thing else.

In today’s post, it will just be a small introduction about the City. I remember, when I was in 6th standard or so, Madras was celebrating a centenary year. I participated in the essay writing competition on the topic “History of Chennai” and won the first prize for it. Now, I make another attempt to learn more about the history of the city and present to all those interested in reading it.

Chennai, was known as Madras earlier , and is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is the fourth largest metropolitan city. It is located on the Coromandal Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 7.45 million ( 2005 ), the 367-year-old city is the 31st largest metropolitan in the world.

The south has always been industrially ahead of the rest of the country. Chennai is a large commercial and industrial centre, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture. The city is the automobile capital of India, with around forty percent of the automobile industry having a base there. Ford and Hyundai motors have their manufacturing plants here. They have also started exporting cars. This industry has led to the rise of several car manufacturing related small scale industries for car spare parts and upholstery, leather etc.

The 12 kilometer long Marina Beach forms the city's east coast and is one of the longest beaches in the world.

The city is also known for its sport venues and hosts India's only ATP Tennis event, the Chennai Open.

The name Madras is derived from Madraspatnam, the site chosen by the British East India Company for a permanent settlement in 1639. Another small town, Chennapatnam, lay to the south of it. In due course the two towns were merged, and the term Madras was favoured over Chennai by the British. The city was renamed Chennai August 1996 as the name Madras was perceived to be of Portuguese origin. It is believed that the original portuguese name is Madre de Sois, named after a Portuguese high authority who was one among the early settlers in 1500. There have been suggestions that Chennai is not a Tamil name while Madras may be of Tamil origin.

I am sure Chennapatnam existed even before the British East India Company moved in, in 1639. I will explore that too and write about it, in the days to come.

Chennai was Tondaimandalam

The region of Chennai was called Tondaimandalam in those days and had its military headquarters at Puzhal, which is now a small and rather insignificant village on the outskirts of the city.
Chennai or Chennaipatnam or Madraspattnam was not a important town at all to start with. The Pallava’s who were ruling this part of India, had their capital at a place, way below the modern city of Chennai. Mahendra Verma Pallava commissioned the sea shore temples of Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram to be made, which are 53 kms south of Chennai. The Pallavas used the port at Mylapore to trade in cloth and spices. In fact Chennai, was the true last bastion of the Pallava Kings.
The Portuguese and the Dutch were very strong in those days, and very fighting for supremacy. Pondicherry was the headquarters of the French on the Coromandal coast of India.
The Portuguese East India Company built a fort called Sao Tome or San Thome in the Chennai area in 1522, pushing back the ancient Pallava port of Mylapore.
In 1612 the Dutch East India Company built a settlement in Pulicat further north. Pulicat Lake is a large brackish water lake in Tamilnadu. The place is about 25 miles north of Madras and its great backwater, the Pulicat Lake, afforded a safe shelter for the shipping of those days.
So, in the 16th Century, Chennaipattinam was a popular trading center of the Portuguese and Dutch. It was used as a trade center for spices and clothes for more than 2000 years.
And then around middle of 15th century, the British came to India, and visited Mughal Emperor Jahangir and requested if they could trade with India. Jehangir permitted them. In 1600, the British East India Company was started and began to flourish.
After Twelve years they built a Trading House or Factory at Surat on the West Coast under the protection of the Mughal Governor of Gujarat. Their, first attempt of landing at Pulicat Lake. But the Dutch, who were the bitter rivals of the English, had already settled at the place, hence it was difficult for the English to ply their trade from the same place. The Dutch were also close to the local Nayak, and hence it was difficult for the British to ply trade out of that port in Pulicat Lake.