Madras Day Celebrations – Kilpauk Walk – 16.08.2009, 7 am.

Madras Day celebrations in Chennai has become Madras Week, and slowly expanding to Madras Fortnight & Madras Month.

The organizers are keen on conducting Heritage Walks in different places during this week with a view to highlight the rich heritage of our city which is to be preserved by all of us.

I took interest in Kilpauk walk, organized by Ms.Deepa Sekar on 16-08-09 as I basically belong to South Madras.

The tour programme was like this: 1. The Votive Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 2. Madras 350 Building, 3. St. George School and Orphanage, 4.Pachaiyappa’s College of Arts and Science, 5. Kushaldass Gardens, 6. Kingston House, 7. Kalki gardens, 8. Citadel Studios, 9.Bhsashyam Naidu park, 10. Tapovan and the last Newton Studios. About 30 people took part and enjoyed the morning walk. A brief account of

the event follows.

1. The Votive Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Father Amalraj narrated the story. One Mr.Mathias in 1942 prayed mother Mary to Protect Madras from getting bombed during the 2^nd world war. Mary with her mercy saved the entire India. Hence he wanted to build a Church and an orphanage in Madras. One French gentleman Mr. Edgar Raphael Prudehomme donated this land. This place hosts a Church, a Primary School and an orphanage. There are around 820 students, 90% from very poor families with single parent. The orphanage is the asylum for nearly 250 inmates.

Madras 350 is a building commemorating the existence of the City of Madras

built with a dome in the style of small gopuram. We reached this through Umayal Road where there is Shiva Temple which also has Sannidhis for Rama and Narasimha. The Aadhi Pillaiyar statue was found near the pond, on which the temple is constructed in 1950. The place belonged to Mr. Alagappa Chettiar.

St. George School & Orphanage: Ancient old school started in 1715, which also had a hospital with an isolation ward to house students who were suffering from chickenpox. Behind, there is the 500 year old Nawab Palace which is not in good condition now. Adds Mr. Vincent Cunningham, the chief, that there was a school band which has the history of playing before The Queen inside the Fort St.George, when she visited Madras in 1961. During that time the School had classes only upto 9^th standard. Children used to be sent to Dovton School, at Vepery from 10^th standard by cycle.

Pachaiyappa’s college of Arts and Science: 16 Acres land was donated by Pachaiyappa Chettiyar to build a college. This college alumni list has some noted personalities of Tamilnadu like, Mu.Varadarajanar, Nanjil Manoharan, C.N.Annadurai, Anbazhagan etc.,

Kushaldass Garden: It is in Poonamalle High Road. Those days Maharaja of Trivancore used to visit, stay and celebrate Moolam Thirunal here.

Kingston House: This was donated by Kannan Chetty and a Girls High school in the name of Seethammagaru now exists here. Nearby is the Nowroji Road where Rajaji lived.

Kalki Garden: Once the residence of Bharat Ratna Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi. The Tulasi Madam and the Krishna statue are still preserved. In the piano room, we learn that, all the songs of the film Meera were choreographed and tuned. Later when Kalki Krishnamurthy joined Mr.Sadasivam, the magazine Kalki got published from this house. Now Maharishi Vidya Mandir has taken possession of this house. Ladies hostel is being run here and the school building has been erected by the side. The heritage house has at present escaped demolition due to stay order of the court.

Citadel Studios: This huge property was owned by one brother and sister who remained single and had no heirs to take over. The property was then divided. The movie 100/100 of Jaishnkar was shot here which was a grand success.

Bashyam Naidu Park: Bashyam Naidu was the fourth gen member of Beri Thimmaiah, the Dubhashi who had a significant part in the formation of Madras City. It was a vast 100 grounds garden, later given to children in parts. Still the descendants live there and the lady shared few of her memories. The song ‘Brindavanathil’ of Meera was shot in the garden and the cow which was shown in the song belonged to them. Sakunthala & Dushyanth scenes on charioit were also shot there . The house was a palatial one with a separate cottage as the kitchen.

The Tapovan: Chinmaya Heritage School is run in this place now. Once it was the place of Chinmayananda.

Newton Studio: Once a very costly studio run by technicians, where the shootings of superstars of yesteryear like MKT and NSK used to take place. Bhimsing took over this later. Now Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is running its School here.

The tour ended by 10.00 am. Heritage walks during Madras Week are mostly arranged by Mylapore Times, a neighbourhood News Paper. Please visit their site http://www.themadrasday.in/ for details.