Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

When Chennai’s own freedom fighter stood by Netaji

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders
Despite being captured by the British, Captain Lakshmi’s support and reflections on Bose’s dubious death reveals fascinating insights — Photo: The Hindu Archives / The Hindu
Despite being captured by the British, Captain Lakshmi’s support and reflections on Bose’s dubious death reveals fascinating insights — Photo: The Hindu Archives / The Hindu

The controversy of making public Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s classified files has yet again spawned speculation surrounding the freedom fighter’s last days.

This is not surprising considering the leader’s radical politics always invited polarised public opinion.

The city’s tryst with the Indian National Army’s (INA) fight for independence was best embodied by ‘Captain Laxmi’ or Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan, who hailed from then Madras. Having earned an MBBS and made Singapore her home, Dr. Swaminathan led the INA’s women-only ‘Rani of Jhansi’ regiment in 1942, under Bose’s command.

Despite being captured by the British in Burma soon after, Captain Lakshmi’s unwavering support and reflections on Bose’s dubious death, as recorded in The Hindu’s archives, reveals fascinating insights.

A rare interview given in the Burmese capital on November 15, 1945, to Douglas Lackerseen of Associated Press, unveils an intimate portrait of the trailblazer.

Dressed in a plain white sari with a green border, as Lackerseen described the 31-year-old national, she came across as being formidable, on the defensive, and often fronting an impervious silence to questions. When she was asked about her loyalties, given that she was offering medical aide to wounded civilians on the behest of the British military, she said, “Never – I shall never be pro-British. I still think of myself as a member of the INA. ”

Despite facing a precarious future with INA undergoing a trial in New Delhi for its ‘terrorist’ acts, Captain Laxmi held a dogged defence. She said, “I do not regard them (members of the INA) as war criminals. How can I? In that case even I am a criminal.”

Reiterating the dominant suspicions over Mr. Bose’s death, the leader confessed to believing there was a possibility of him being alive. “I sincerely hope he lives. Subhas Chandra Bose was never a traitor to India. What he did, he did for India,” she said.

The admiration was mutual.  The Hindu quotes Mr. S. A. Aiyer, a minister in Bose’s Azad Hind government, in a tribute offered to the leader in Madras on January 1, 1946: “Bose had a special relationship with Captain Lakshmi and wanted to appoint her as a minister in the provisional government.  I remember him once saying, ‘She is a wonderful child, God bless her’.”

With front men of INA refusing to accept their leader’s death even then, it is not surprising that decades after, the conspiracy theories continue to thrive.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Nitya Menon / Chennai – December 02nd, 2014

‘Sthala Vriksham’ to be preserved through cloning

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has asked the executive officers of temples and departmental inspectors to adopt cloning to preserve Sthala Vriksham or tree unique to each temple.

Describing every Sthala Vriksham as a unique germplasm, a recent communication of the department urges the officials to take the help of experts from the Agriculture Department or the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for the task.

Among the prominent examples of Sthala Vriksham are the Kadamba at the Meenkashi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai; the Vanni at the Magudeshwara Temple at Kodumudi and the mango tree at the Ekambershwara Temple at Kancheepuram, the last two being 3,000-3,500 years old.

The communication, issued by Additional Chief Secretary R. Kannan to HR&CE Commissioner P. Dhanapal, also asks the executive officers to ensure that enough clones are kept in carefully quarantined, separate places in nandavanam or flower garden. Even in private temples, the HR&CE inspectors should take steps to preserve Sthala Vriksham. The operation should be certified by an international body for its quality.

A notice board, giving the Tamil, English, Sanskrit and botanical names of each species with details of the legend, should be put up prominently. It should also give the details of the cloning operation, such as the method used and the persons involved, the letter says, citing the case studies of cloning carried out in the past 10 years, including those of the Vanni of Kodumudi and the mango tree of Kancheepuram.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by T Ramakrishnan / Chennai – December 03rd, 2014

A Trip down history lane for school students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Coimbatore :

R Rajeshwari, a Class 9 student from Selvapuram had never been on any trip, not even to VOC Park in the city. But all that changed on Wednesday, when she was taken to six places of historical importance in the city.

She was not alone. Sixty other children from various schools run by the city corporation also went on the trip. But what made the trip more memorable was the fact that Archana Patnaik, district collector, A K Vishwananath, commissioner of city police and K Vijayakarthikeyan, corporation commissioner accompanied them on the bus.

“We are not taken on trips like other private schools. I was surprised that Coimbatore had so many heritage buildings,” said Pandi Selvi, a Class 9 student. The trip was organised as part of the Coimbatore Day celebrations by the city corporation.

Students visited the Athar Jama Masjid that was built in 1904, Durglal Pickles which is an 80 year old shop, the clock tower built in 1928 on the big bazaar street, the residence of Rao bahadur and A T Venkataswamy Mudaliar which is now the Tamil Nadu Merchantile Bank on Big Bazaar Street, Delite Theatre on Variety Hall road and Coimbatore cloth merchants association training school on Raja street.

The bureaucrats seemed to have as much fun as the children as they interacted with them, cracked jokes and got to know more about the city. Many were surprised to know that south India’s first movie theatre was the variety hall theatre in the city. “It is now called the Delite theatre,” said C R Elangovan, city based historian and a writer, who was their tour guide.

For Madhan of Class 11, it was an experience of his life time, travelling with the top officials of the city and learning about its heritage and culture. “These officials are my inspiration. I have got their autographs and will definitely frame them,” said Madhan.

A photo exhibition aimed at recalling the city’s vivid 200 year history was also inaugurated at the corporation office. Industrialists, members of non-governmental organisations, government officials and the children visited the exhibition. The exhibition showcased pictures of Swamikannu Vincent who brought electricity to the city. He also built the Delite theatre.

Pictures of Rao Bahadur ATT Mudaliar, member of the first family of Coimbatore and municipaality chairman, M G Arogayaswamy Pillai, Coimbatore chairman from 1830 till 1891 and Moses Gnanabaranam Pillai, who built the first eye hospital in the city, were also displayed at the exhibition.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore /  TNN / November 27th, 2014

Plans afoot to regain Vaigai’s historical value

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature

Madurai :

City mayor V V Rajan Chellappa on Wednesday undertook an inspection of the Vaigai river where cleaning operation is being carried. Meanwhile, the Vaigai River Restoration Pageant has planned to recover the grand waterway by restoring its historic value.

The mayor has ordered cleaning operations of the Vaigai river after appointing 200 corporation workers. An initiative was also being taken to plant trees along the Vaigai to add beauty to its existence.

Chellappa said, “We have also planned for an eviction drive to remove all the encroachments along the Vaigai river and expand the roads along it to make it useful for commuters.”

Moreover, the Vaigai River Restoration Pageant in collaboration with Dhan Foundation, an NGO plans to recover the grand waterway by introducing various ideas like social credit to the public and assuring to keep the river clean.

The social credits shall help the public redeem them in the form of health insurance and enrolling themselves for English speaking classes. A Gurunathan, chief executive officer of Dhan Vayalagam (tank) Foundation said, “We are trying to restore the forgotten history of Vaigai river by introducing mythological aspects like that of Lord Shiva so that the people residing in Madurai understand the significance of the river.”

The project is more about making the people understand the importance of river for the farmers and potters. In its bid to sensitise the issue, the project also plans for a walk through the Vaigai river starting from Fathima College to Albert Victor Bridge.

Ahead of Chithirai festival, Dhan Foundation in collaboration with Earths Celebration, an US-based NGO has also planned for a series of 20 to 25 artisans who will be placed along the Vaigai river wearing kavadi dresses and people wearing paper masks showcasing the cultural aspects of the city. The preparations for the restoration pageant will start in the month of December ahead of Chithirai festival.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / November 27th, 2014

History stands tall on Madurai’s Palace Road

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Madurai :

Although the beautiful Thirumalai Nayak mahal, a palace built by the Nayak king Thirumalai Nayak (1623-1659) more than 400 years ago, is only one-fourth of its original structure now, it still attracts thousands of tourists every year. The road that hosts it does credit to the handsome structure, as British-era buildings, including a church, line the stretch.

The name Palace Road too is a British contribution, said V Vedachalam, an archeologist, explaining that the street came under the foreigners after they conquered Madurai by 1790. Many Nayak structures were converted to offices, and the district court was housed in Nayak mahal till the 1980s, assigning much prominence to the road, he said.

The east gate CSI church is another important structure here, established by American missionaries in 1845. T Chinnaraj, former principal of American college, said that it had been the first church of the American missionaries.

“It is believed that it was the most beautiful church at the time and British collectors had written back to England about this church coming up. The missionaries bought this piece of land outside palace entry and constructed a place of worship for themselves. Most of their constructions, like the mission hospital, came beyond this church,” he pointed out.

The palace, built in 1636, was dismantled by Thirumalai Nayak’s grandson, who shifted most of the materials to Thiruchirapalli to construct his own palace.

However, the hybrid Dravidian- Islamic style palace remains one of the prime attractions of city, drawing even foreign crowds.

Sixty-nine-year-old A K Venkatachalapathy, a resident of Palace Road, recalls it as one of the most beautiful streets he had ever seen. The road used to act a min-bus stand, and buses would start from here and go to the tail ends of the city.

The park in front of the palace used to be a hive of activity, he says, as people gathered there after their day’s work to listen to the radio. Televisions had not started to make an appearance, he recalls, and loud speakers used to blare out the radio for the residents. Over hot cups of coffee from the Saraswathy cafe opposite the palace, the residents used to meet and talk, and the memory of the good old days remains with Venkatachalapathy even as he admits that the face of the street has changed forever.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by J . Arockiaraj,  TNN / November 23rd, 2014

100 Years of German in India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

Chennai :

To commemorate the 100 years of German language teaching in India, the Indo-German Teachers’ Association (InDaF) and the Goethe-Institut Chennai are organising a conference for German teachers. The two-day conference, which is to be held on November 24 and 25, will be inaugurated on November 23 at Hotel Ramada, Egmore.

More than 100 German teachers from South India are expected to participate in the conference. The conference will have lectures, workshops, presentations by publishers and a discussion. Experts from India, Germany and Austria will offer presentations that will touch a variety of topics relevant to German teachers engaged in schools, language institutes and universities.For details, e-mail Susanna.Magesh@chennai.goethe.org

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / November 22nd, 2014

The street of coconut leaf weavers

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Madurai :

Thennolaikara Theru is a place of quietness and old-world charm, despite being nestled against chaotic city roads. The main road branches out into three lanes, which are immaculately kept. Instead of commercial buildings which have become the usual sight in many streets of the old city, residential buildings fill the place. Many of these houses are concrete structures. But during ancient times, when thatched roofs dominated the scene, Thennolaikara Theru used to be an important place of business. “Thennolai” means coconut leaves, and the street used to harbor workers and artisans who weaved coconut leaves for thatched houses.

92-year-old M V Mani who owns a utensils renting shop in adjacent Chinnakadai street narrates the legend. It is believed that during the Nayak era or earlier, there were many people living in Thennolaikara Theru who used to provide thatches of weaved coconut leaves. Besides the weavers, there were also people who were experts at thatching houses, he said.

“Most houses in those days were thatched houses in fringes of city areas and there was always demand for coconut leaf thatches. Even when I was young, many houses in city were either thatched ones or tiled houses”, he recalled.

However, he has not encountered anyone making thatched roofs in the Theru during his days. “But there were few people who used to take up ‘bhandal’ contracts who lived in the street,” he said. Most residents were from Thevar community in those days but street has a mixed population now, he commented. P M Muruganandam, 45, remarks that he may be the last one of bandhal contractors in that street. And the story is similar to that of many streets which have lost their unique flavour as history took its course. “Many migrated over the period and there are all sorts of communities living together here,” he said.

Although the coconut leaf weavers have vanished over time, the street still has its fair share of artisans. Instead of house builders, temple builders throng the place now as craftsmen specialized in creating stucco works are plenty available in the area. According to Muruganandam, there are at least 30 artisans in the street who make objects like the figures we see on temple towers. “They are always in demand as people are constantly building and renovating temples here,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / November 16th, 2014

The trailblazers who made a case for women in law

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All
In 1928, B. Ananda Bai was the first woman law graduate in then Madras Presidency. Photo: The Hindu Archives
In 1928, B. Ananda Bai was the first woman law graduate in then Madras Presidency. Photo: The Hindu Archives

B. Ananda Bai was the lone female law graduate in then Madras Presidency, which included parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Cornelia Sorabji, the first woman to practice law in India, was born on November 15, 148 years ago. She was only one among the many pioneers who worked long and hard to breach the glass ceiling for women in courtrooms across the country.

For the women of Madras, the foundations of this struggle were laid by B. Ananda Bai in August 1928. After graduating with a degree in law from Madras University, she became the lone female law graduate in then Madras Presidency, which included parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Bai’s original career path, however, did not involve becoming a lawyer. According to the Palaniappa Brothers’ book Madras: the Land, the People and their Governance, it was only after being rejected in the government services that Bai considered entering the chambers of law. Finally, after a rigorous apprenticeship under V.V. Srinivasa Iyengar, she enrolled in the Madras High Court on April 22, 1929, to become the first woman advocate trained and specialised in the city of Madras.

Hailing from the South Kanara region (present day districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi), Bai’s father, Dr. Krishna Rao, was particular that all female family members receive a ‘liberal and academic education’.

While admitting that Bai represented a privileged minority, historian V. Geeta points out the 1920s and 30s were a time of churning for women. “With the social reform movement gaining ground, law became central to a lot of the debates regarding women, which were governing civil discourse. Both Hindu and Muslim women with The All India Women’s Conferences, for instance, were very vocal about their aspirations for empowerment through social legislation,” she says.

However, as Rukmani Lakshmipathi, president of the League of Youth, said at a meeting to honour Bai in 1929, “Education and medicine are becoming more and more popular with girls. That is not the case with law. We are glad that a beginning has been made in this direction, and an impetus has been given.”

K. Shantakumari, president, Tamil Nadu Federation of Women Lawyers, points out that storming the male bastion of law was far from easy. She says, “In those days, people were apprehensive and would not give cases to women. Societal taboos also forbid women from taking criminal cases. Because of this, many had to work under male lawyers and did not receive fair remuneration.”

By setting a precedent, in spite of these daunting obstacles, the likes of Bai and Sorabji made a career in law a distinct possibility for women. Today, as we celebrate the latter’s birthday, it only seems fitting to raise a toast to these pioneers for the new ground they broke.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Society / by Nitya Menon / Chennai – November 15th, 2014

Researcher Finds Stone Age Pallankuzhi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sports
Pallanguzhi holes found by a research team at Pannamparai village in Thoothukudi district | express
Pallanguzhi holes found by a research team at Pannamparai village in Thoothukudi district | express

Thoothukudi :

Pallanguzhi (a traditional mancala game) holes dating back to the Stone Age were found at Pannamparai village in the district, claimed Thavasimuthu, an archaeologist. The holes were discovered during a ground study by Thavasimuthu and his students.

Pallanguzhi is a traditional mancala game played in rural areas. It is normally played on boards and before boards emerged, people played the game by making holes in rocky areas. Thavasimuthu claimed that the holes represent a shorter version of Pallanguzhi, which is played even now.

He added that the holes represent several things, including the earliest human settlements, the impact that the game had on human lives and also the adjacent trade routes. He further said that the game was even used to settle disputes between kings and had avoided several wars as the winner of the game was considered the winner of the dispute.

After examining the holes, Thavasimuthu said, “The Pallanguzhi holes should be at least 10,000 years old.”

He added that the holes would normally be made with axes but in the case of holes found at Pannamparai village, the holes were made using stones.

He noted that by relating the age of the Pallanguzhi holes and the earliest possible  human settlements, it could be discerned that men from Africa had first settled in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu.

He added that similar holes were earlier found in Pazhani hills and they date back 25,000 years.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / November 16th, 2014

HIDDEN HISTORIES – Made in Madras

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

“Make in India” may be the buzz now, but there was a time when ‘to make in Madras’ meant fighting vested interests. The accompanying advertisement may bring old memories — of pencils such as Kohinoor, Ajantha and Spectrum, all sold by V. Perumal Chetty & Sons, and manufactured at their Madras Pencil Factory. That factory closed in the 1990s, but it had a history that stretched to a time when ‘make in Madras’ was considered possible.

MadeinMadrasCF16nov2014

It was sometime in 1899 that the Madras government got Alfred Chatterton, of the College of Engineering, to study the potential to set up industries. He did pioneering work in this area, first demonstrating that aluminium could be used in place of brass and copper to make vessels. That effort led to the Indian Aluminium Company (INDAL). The established business houses of Madras, all British-owned, were not happy with this. They were comfortable exporting raw materials to Britain and importing finished goods. Local industrial development they felt would mean Indians would take to it, thereby threatening them with competition.

But Chatterton was undeterred. In 1908, he convinced the Government of Madras to set up a Department of Industries, a first for the entire country. The Swadesi movement led by patriots such as V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was gaining ground then. Chatterton openly sided with the Swadesi Movement, declaring it “a good sign for India to develop her industrial life” and “Madras to rid itself of its character of an overstocked market of literacy employment”. His colleague Frederick Nicholson went a step further, stating that in the matter of Indian industries, “we are bound to consider Indian interests — firstly, secondly and thirdly — I mean by firstly, that local raw products should be utilised; by secondly that industries should be introduced and by thirdly, the profits of such industry should remain in the country.”

Both Chatterton and Nicholson felt that the government would need to set up small industries, which could then be sold to Indians to run. Nicholson established the Fisheries Department and created the Lalita Soap Works in Madras. Chatterton founded the Government (later Madras) Pencil Factory at Korukkupet. He imported wood from East Africa for the pencils and ran advertisements with a strong nationalist slant as you can see, to drum up business.

The business houses of Madras lobbied hard through the Madras Chamber of Commerce and got the Department of Industries closed in 1910. It was only after repeated protests by Indians in the Madras Legislative Council that it was reinstated in 1914. Its resurrection was celebrated with a Madras Industries Exhibition organised by the Department.

The Government operated the pencil factory till 1918 and then put it up for sale. A syndicate of Komati Chettys of Madras, led by the Perumal Chetty clan, bought it and the rest is history. Chatterton and Nicholson were knighted, which is not the kind of reward that civil servants would get today if they went against the establishment for the sake of public interest.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Sriram V / Chennai – November 16th, 2014