A misplaced backyard and a forgotten sq. in Chennai

Walking (or moderately stumbling) about in George Town the opposite day, I noticed the signboard proven alongside Badrian Garden Street. And that set me off on a visit to the previous when this identify cropped up a number of instances in my analysis. But the primary of those involved historian S. Muthiah, and never me.

It was someday within the late Nineteen Eighties when he was knowledgeable that an obelisk had been found on the intersection of this road and N.S.C. Bose Road. A non-public home was being demolished, and a 15-foot obelisk had appeared among the many ruins. All excited, the chief, as I all the time referred to him, rushed there solely to seek out the obelisk demolished as nicely. The proprietor was unapologetic. He feared that if the federal government bought to know of the existence of the pillar, his property could be taken over.

The obelisk was one in every of six erected within the 1770s, to mark the southern boundary of George Town. Their location is given exactly in a census survey of Madras relationship to 1961, which says they have been at China Bazaar, Parry’s Corner, Kondi Chetty Street, Stringer Street, Broadway, and Badriah Street (the identify has modified significantly over time; it was Budreeah, Badraiya, Badriah, and Badrian). The census says 4 have been nonetheless standing in 1961, although as to which they have been, it doesn’t element. Today, as we all know, just one survives, within the shadow of Dare House, protected by the Murugappa Group.

The Badriah Street I consult with above is, nevertheless, not Badrian’s Garden. From Love’s Vestiges of Old Madras, we all know that as early as 1718, there have been six guardhouses meant for the safety of Madras, of which 4 have been on the northern aspect, going through Royapuram. The fifth, going through the ocean, was unnamed. The sixth alone was on the west, by the river, by which meant the Elambore that’s now a part of Buckingham Canal. In later years, these guardhouses got here to be often known as block homes and nonetheless later, batteries. Barring the one going through the ocean, the others have been named after dubashes – Sunkurama, Gangarama, Balu, Kalasti, and Badriah. With peace, his battery most likely turned a backyard named after him.

Who was he? 

In 1717, he turned recognised because the chief of Left Hand Castes within the metropolis, together with Gangarama. Their predecessors, specifically Kalavai and Kalasti Chettis, had been fomenting caste riots, which appears to have been the favorite dubashi occupation when not earning money, and had been dismissed. Not a lot is thought of Badriah in any other case. 

In the 1830s, Badriah Garden turned a residential locality, and a outstanding home proprietor there was Vambakkam Raghavachariar, the primary Indian to be appointed Police Magistrate in Madras. He was additionally a graduate of Pachaiyappa’s college and so turned one of many first managing trustees. Badrian’s Garden got here to be identified informally as Police Raghavachariar (PR) Square. The household lived in an enormous home often known as Vani Vilas and the higher storey was a curiosity, being formed like a ship. This was as a result of somebody within the household made a fortune as a ship dubash. Raghavachariar’s grandson was V.V. Srinivasa Aiyangar, a outstanding advocate of the High Court of Madras, and a member of Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar’s Suguna Vilasa Sabha, the place he performed lead roles in theatrical productions. 

Walking down Badrian’s Garden is one thing of an journey right now, placing life and limbs in danger. But from what little I managed, I may discover no hint of Vani Vilas, or its neighbour Terrace Mahal, as soon as a hostel for Pachaiyappa’s College college students. Like the obelisk, they’ve gone. History fades quick in George Town.

(Sriram V. is a author and historian.)