Madras Day at 387: Leaders Stress Heritage Preservation as Chennai Celebrates Founding Anniversary
Chennai celebrated its 387th founding day with a series of events dedicated to the city's rich heritage, including a week-long photo exhibition at the Anna Centenary Library. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay vowed to protect the historic significance and cultural identities of Chennai, wishing all a happy Madras Day.
The photo exhibition, inaugurated by State ministers for education A Rajmohan and Tourism S Rajeshkumar, showcased a curated collection of heritage photographs documenting architectural landmarks such as Fort St George, the Ripon Building, and the Madras High Court. The exhibition was organized by the state Tourism Department.
Speaking at the inauguration, Rajeshkumar said the visual archives played a vital role in educating younger generations on Chennai's history and its architectural and cultural heritage. Rajmohan underlined the power of photography to chronicle history and evoke deep human emotions, citing globally iconic photographs of historical importance.
Separately, Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar addressed the 387th year celebrations of Madras Day at Victoria Public Hall on Saturday, at an event organized by the Tourism Department and Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). He said it is important to celebrate Madras Day as "the city's art, culture and history needs to be taken to the next generation and this day provides a good opportunity to do so." He noted that over the years, the city has grown and evolved, and many come to Chennai to build their life and career.
Rajesh Kumar also visited the Special Photography Exhibition at the Anna Centenary Library, remarking that while reading books provides knowledge of history, seeing photographs has a significant impact. "When I visited the exhibition, I saw the photographs come alive [reflecting the history and spirit of Madras]," he added.
V.P. Jeyaseelan, Director of Tourism and Managing Director of TTDC, said events held in the past week to celebrate Madras Day included contests for school and college students and wall art. He noted that Victoria Public Hall holds a special place in the city's history, along with Moore Market and Chennai Central, all part of old Madras. Jeyaseelan said the aim of Madras Day is to learn from the history of the city, chart a path for the new city, and ensure it remains inclusive.
The photography exhibition, inaugurated on Saturday at the Anna Centenary Library, will continue till August 31. During the occasion, winners of wall art and photo contests were felicitated.
Madras Day has been celebrated every year since 2004 to commemorate the founding of the modern city of Chennai in 1639, when representatives of the East India Company purchased a strip of land for building Fort St George. What started as a one-day commemoration subsequently became a weekly celebration called Madras Week, with private and public sector organizations and heritage enthusiasts participating through exhibitions, talks, heritage walks, and other remembrances.