This year, on 22nd August, our beloved Chennai will step into its 375th year. I can see Delhi, Madurai and other ancient towns scoffing at this juvenile age but then, Chennai is older than Kolkata and Mumbai, so there.
I am sure there will be enough and more celebrations as we go along. But my idea is to compile a list of 375 institutions, places, buildings, people and ideas from here that made an impact on the world/India. I allude to probables such as Rajaji, Indo-Saracenic style, Viswanathan Anand and the December Music Season.
I have already got a list of 100. I request bloggers, my FB friends and Twitter followers to add to it. Before you ask me to share my list, I would like you to send in your entries so that I can ensure that the list is not skewed, one way or the other.
Those that make it to the list will be profiled on the blog.
Kutchery season food, Chepauk test match, Central station at 6 AM, IIT-Madras and QFI.
Four are on my list. QFI – the quiz federation?
Yes, quiz foundation of India. Meet twice a month and some of the most stimulating moments of my life.
OTTOMH:
‘Madras’ cotton
Violin to Carnatic music
Kalakshetra
Rom Whittaker’s Crocodile Park and its associated herepetology centre
Negligence of civic responsibilities and indiscipline?
Srinivasa Ramanujan — or will we have to fight with Kumbaokkonam for him?
Madras Eye, just joking.
Swamy’s Handbook, ensuring Central govt. employees get their rightful due since more than 50 years. http://www.swamypublishers.com/
Dr. Mrs. YGP
The Landmark quiz, Ranganathan Street, Theosophical Society, Armenian Church, ICF (Perambur), Dakshinchitra, all the big temples, Royal Enfield factory…
Yale University
The city of Madras in Jefferson County, Oregon, US — named after the city of Madras in India — was incorporated in 1911.
Cooum
Sathyam Cinemas
Kodambakkam and Kollywood
Gemini Studios
Chennai Central
Basin Bridge
LIC Building
Mylapore
Kapaleeshwarar Koil
Napier Bridge
Spencer’s Plaza
Burma Bazaar
Ranganathan Street
MJ Gopalan (Double international – cricket, football)
Ramanathan Krishnan
Dosai
Woodlands Drive In
Midland Theatre
Great trains- Grand Trunk Express, Boat Mail
Mobile Post Office
Trans World Airlines (First international airline to come to Madras)
Mount Road
All 4 Mada streets
Aruvathimoovar festival
All the great justices – From Sit T. Muthuswami Iyer to Prabha Sridevan
MS
Bala
Sivaji
Alladi Ramachandra
All the chettiars – from RKShanmugham, Alagappa,, AVM, to MAC
Ellis R Duncan
Gymkhana club
World Tamil Conference
Dasaprakash and their masala dosai
Madras kadambham
Margazhi early morning music !
LR Eswari on air during Aadi maasam !
Dabba Chetty kadai
Ambika Appalam
AAvin !
T Nagar and Maavadu shopping !
Kollywood & Jayalalitha
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
P.S. High School
Broken Bridge
Valmiki temple (Tiruvanmiyur)
Adyar Cancer Institute & Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy
Ice House
Integral Coach Factory
MRTS (பறக்கும் ரயில்?)
San Thome cathedral
Ranganathan Street
Flyovers!
Vada Palani Temple
Santhome, Wesley Churches
1000 LIghts Mosque
Higgin Bothams
LIC
ICF, Loco Works
The Road from Royapuram Bridge Till Ennore
GPO
MMC, KMC, Stanley
Rayar Cafe, Karpagambal Mess
Nalli, Raasi, Kumaran
GRT
Panagal park
Play Grounds at Gopalapuram, Pachaiyappas, Guru Nanank, AM Jain
QMC, Lady Wellingdon,
Buharas, Amin,
I know this is very late but liked the idea 🙂
Alwar Kadai (Book shop) near Luz Amrutanjan
Rex Fashions
The Peacock’s in Kabaleeswarar Temple, which don’t exist any more
The Deer, Rabbits in Nageswara Rao park, which don’t exist any more
Asthalakshmi Temple
Paneer Soda
I know this will be a bit late, but here’s a list from my father:
* the tsunami and its devastations in the district of Chennai
* Anti-Hindi agitations spearheaded by the DMK and its fallouts in 1960s
* visit of the Royal couple of UK in 60s
* War efforts in 1962 and 1965 and 1971
* Black-out during the war periods
Hopefully, some of them will be interesting enough to make it to the list.
Thanks.
great additions. I am compiling a second list and will surely put them in