Dear Chief Minister,
At the outset, let me express my sincere congratulations on your being sworn in as Chief Minister of our state. I wish you every success during your tenure. Madras Musings is a fortnightly magazine dedicated to the built, natural, and cultural heritage of our city. It was founded in 1991 by S. Muthiah, the famed chronicler of Madras.
Since his passing in 2019, I have had the honour of helming this magazine. It continues to be supported as a public service by twenty-five corporate houses of the city.
Chief Minister’s Visit to Fort St George
It was with great delight that I read about your visit to Fort St George. To my knowledge, very few of your illustrious predecessors have taken the time to explore the precinct in this manner. I am sure you were impressed by historic landmarks such as the Church of St Mary’s, the oldest Anglican church east of the Suez Canal, and the Fort Museum.
Both stand close to your office, the core of which dates back to the 1690s. These structures are well maintained and remain important symbols of our city’s heritage. However, there are 23 other historic buildings within the Fort. They are described in the book enclosed with this letter. The publication is a compilation of 24 articles that appeared in our magazine in 2015, the year the Fort completed 350 years.
Why Fort St George Needs the Chief Minister’s Attention
Even during your visit, I am sure you realised what an extraordinary historic precinct the Fort is. Nevertheless, all is not well within its walls. Therefore, I take this opportunity to highlight a few concerns and seek your intervention.
Multiplicity Why the Chief Minister Must Address Multiple Ownership at Fort St Georgef Ownership at Fort St George
The first challenge is the issue of multiple ownership. Different parts of the Fort come under different authorities. The Assembly, Secretariat, and Namakkal Kavignar Maligai fall under the Tamil Nadu Government and Assembly.
Meanwhile, the ASI controls the Fort Museum, the Church, several buildings, the moat, and the gates. The Army manages the King’s Barracks and a number of other structures. The Navy also controls several properties.
Unfortunately, these bodies rarely coordinate on preservation, maintenance, or upkeep. As a result, each functions independently and often at cross purposes. Therefore, it is important to establish a Common Fort Authority that includes all stakeholders. Such a body could oversee the preservation of this shared heritage.
Better Signage for Fort St George Visitors
At present, the Fort has very few information markers. Apart from the Museum and the Church, visitors receive little guidance. On any given day, one can see tourists wandering around without knowing where to go or what to see.
Given the technology available today, a proper visitor orientation system is essential.
Public Conveniences Inside the Fort
Public conveniences are another area of concern. Today, even those working within the Fort often appear to use the King’s Barracks, the buildings on St Thomas Street, the gates, and the ruins of Wellesley’s House as urinals.
Clearly, this suggests a shortage of adequate facilities. If the Fort is to become a destination worthy of tourists, this issue requires urgent attention.
Litter and Maintenance at Fort St George
Equally worrying is the lack of cleanliness. Large quantities of litter can be found throughout the precinct. Historic buildings are often put to inappropriate use. Weeds choke the moat, while stagnant water creates an unpleasant stench.
Yet this was not always the case. Even in the 1970s, conditions were considerably better. Therefore, a strict code of maintenance, along with proper waste collection and disposal systems, must be introduced.
Surely, our most historic precinct should be the first place where such discipline is enforced.
Improving Access to Fort St George
Access to the Fort can also be difficult. Ideally, visiting hours should extend from dawn to dusk, as is the practice at most ASI-controlled monuments across India.
In addition, entry procedures should be simplified. Access should not depend on varying interpretations of security rules at the gates.
A Vision for the Future of Fort St George
I trust that, despite the many demands on your time, you will find an opportunity to reflect on these concerns. Ideally, Fort St George deserves World Heritage status. However, unless these issues are addressed, that goal will remain a distant dream.
Finally, I hope that the new beginning you have promised for the state will extend to the Fort as well.
This article appeared in Madras Musings-https://madrasmusings.com/vol-36-no-4/a-letter-to-our-chief-minister/
My book, Chennai, A Biography can be ordered–http://My book, Chennai, A Biography can be ordered-https://sriramv.com/2021/12/27/how-to-buy-autographed-copies-of-chennai-a-biography-from-outstation/20.ece
