For years, I intended to set down the many stories surrounding the origin of the name Madras, but I kept postponing the task. Last week, while preparing a lecture for the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), I finally decided to do it. The result was a fascinating exploration of competing theories, legends, and interpretations. Some are rooted in documentary evidence, while others rely on imagination. Together, they reveal how the history of Madras has inspired endless debate and speculation across generations.
Madras Before the English Arrived
The earliest evidence suggests that the name Madraspattinam existed long before the arrival of the English. The Penneswaramadam inscription of the 14th century records the name, and the Nayak grant of 1639 refers to it as an existing port. This means later attempts to derive the name from colonial events are unnecessary. Curiously, the people closest to the origins of the settlement showed little interest in explaining the name. Serious discussion appears only from the mid-19th century and has continued with increasing enthusiasm ever since.
The Madarasen Theory of Madras
H. D. Love, in Vestiges of Old Madras, records several explanations that circulated in his time. One came from B. Ramaswami Nayudu, a descendant of Beri Thimmappa. He claimed that Francis Day found a fishing settlement led by a Christian named Madarasen occupying the promised land. According to the story, Beri Thimmappa persuaded Madarasen to cooperate by promising that the new town would bear his name. Love firmly rejected this explanation, noting that Madras already existed as a name and describing Nayudu’s account as unreliable.
The Madrasa Theory of Madras
Another explanation appears in Hobson-Jobson, the famous glossary of Anglo-Indian terms compiled by Yule and Burnell. They suggested that the name Madras came from a madrasa, or Muslim college, in Triplicane. Their evidence was a domed building shown in Dr. Fryer’s 1673 map of Fort St. George. However, later research demonstrated that the structure was not a madrasa. It was originally a British hospital and later became a residence for Company servants. The mistaken identification weakened this theory considerably.
Mandarajya and Other Early Explanations
The Madras Manual of Administration offered yet another theory. It suggested that Madras derived from Mandarajya, supposedly meaning the kingdom of the dim-witted. According to this account, a ruler named Mandaraju once governed the region. Like many such explanations, it relied more on speculation than evidence. Nevertheless, it reflects the eagerness of nineteenth-century writers to provide a definitive origin for the city’s name. The lack of reliable records encouraged imaginative interpretations that often gained popularity despite limited historical support.
Portuguese Connections to Madras
Portuguese theories are particularly numerous. One of the earliest linked the name to the Church of Madre de Deus in Santhome. Yet the church was completed only in 1640, after Madraspatnam had already become a British settlement. This timing makes the explanation difficult to sustain. Despite its weakness, the theory persisted because of the strong Portuguese presence in the region. It also encouraged later writers to search for other Portuguese connections that might explain how the city acquired its distinctive name.
The Madra Family and the Madras Name
A more elaborate Portuguese theory emerged in 1939 during the Madras Tercentenary celebrations. It centred on a tombstone discovered at St. Lazarus Church in Santhome. The inscription commemorated Manuel Madra and his family and recorded their role in constructing an earlier church. Bishop A. M. Teixeira argued that this proved the existence of a wealthy Portuguese Madra family whose name became attached to the locality. Since the date appeared to predate British settlement, the theory seemed convincing and gained considerable attention at the time.
Fishermen, Boatmen and the Madras Debate
Other communities have contributed their own explanations. Fishermen point to old maps showing their settlement as Macquaskuppam and suggest that this evolved into Madras. Historians, however, note that Macquas is derived from *Macchua*, an Urdu word for fishermen. Boatmen offer another version, arguing that Marakkair traders from Kerala once lived here. According to them, Marakkairkuppam gradually transformed into Makhraskuppam and then Madras. These theories highlight how different groups have sought to connect the city’s name to their own history and identity.
Chennapatnam and the Simpler Story
In contrast to the many theories surrounding Madras, Chennapatnam has a remarkably straightforward origin story. It is generally linked to Chennappa Nayaka, whose name continues to attract attention every August. Tamil and Telugu groups alike celebrate his connection to the city and often display posters in his honour. While debates about Madras continue without resolution, Chennapatnam remains associated with a single historical figure. The contrast between the two names illustrates how some histories become complicated while others remain surprisingly simple
This article appeared in The Hindu–https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/madras-one-name-many-stories/article71388138.ece
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