How did the name Madras come about? A few anecdotes!
Posted on: 22/Aug/2019 12:21:38 PM
When Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with the DMK government, he changed the name of the capital city of Tamil Nadu from ‘Madras’ to ‘Chennai’.
Chennai happens to be the 2nd oldest city corporation in the world with the 1st being London! It was deemed as the commercial capital under British rule. The city has grown with the passing decades of time while retaining its old charms and traditions at the same time imbibing all the modern life diktats! It offers healthy survival to all comers!
The present city of Chennai consisted of a group of several villages once upon a time! The coastal area was under the control of Venkatappa Naicker.
Around 379 years ago, to be precise, on 22nd August 1693, Francis Day and Henry Hogan bought this place on behalf of the East India Company. It is recorded that they paid 16000 ‘varagans’ (a then existent measure of gold) for acquiring this coastal area of a place.
They built the ST. George’s Fort on the coastal area and converted this place into a commercial centre.
We celebrate this day (22nd August) as ‘Madras Day’ when Francis Day and Henry Hogan bought this place, a part of ‘ Madarasa pattinam’, from Venkata Naicker!
Before 1996, the official name of the city remained as ‘Madras’. When Karunanidhi was Chief Miniter under the DMK government, he changed the name from Madras to Chennai.
Generally, lots of stories are in circulation as to how the name Madras came about! It is gathered that some fishermen families and some French Catholic priests resided in the area bought by Francis Day. It is also gathered that the name of the Chief of the French Catholic priests was ‘Madarasan’ and the name ‘Madarasa pattinam’ was derived from this.
There is another explanation for the name of Madras: Francis Day was in love with a girl named ‘Madra’ belonging to a wealthy and influential Portuguese Family and hence, Francis Day named the place after his love!
The name ‘Madarsa pattinam’ was shortened by the British who called it ‘Madras’! There are some inscriptions containing some notes regarding madras in stone in a village called Penneswaram located near Kavirippattinam in the district of Krishnagiri. These stone inscriptions were made in 1369. The names of Kovalam, Neelankaraiyan Pattinam, and Madarasa Pattinam are mentioned in this stone inscription!
