A city deserves to celebrate its birthday.
And Madras, that is Chennai certainly deserves it.
So a small group of people who love this city launched a unique celebration in 2004.
The founding day of Madras is considered to be August
22, 1639.
It was on that day, in that year, that a sliver of land, where Fort. St. George stands today, was transacted by the East India Company.
The deal was struck by Francis Day, his 'dubash' Beri Thimmappa,
and their superior, Andrew Cogan, with the local Nayak rulers.
It is believed that this deal was made on August 22, 1639.
Out of the fort, grew settlements.
Then the villages around it were brought together.
And then, the old and new townes linked up. And then we had the city.
Today,
Chennai stands tall for a variety of reasons. Education, healthcare,
IT, history, tourism, auto industries, movies, etc. And yes,
it also has its warts.
Madras Day celebrates the city.
Madras
Day was an idea that three people put together - the city's
famed historian, S. Muthiah, journalist Sashi Nair and publisher
Vincent D' Souza. Today, they have been joined by three others - senior journalist
and editor Sushila Ravindranath, entrepreneur and writer-historian V. Sriram
and journalist and web site entrepreneur, Revathi R.
Madras Day focuses on the city, its history,
its past and its present and the core team motivates communities, groups, companies
and campuses in the city to host events that celebrate the city.
Heritage
walks, school exchange programmes, talks and contests, poetry
and music and quiz, food fests and rallies, photo exhibitions
and bike tours . . . . these and more are the ways in which
the city is celebrated.
In order to enlarge participation,
the Madras Day has been expanded to create the Madras Week.
In 2009, MADRAS WEEK will be celebrated from August
16 to 23.
MADRAS DAY, as always, is August 22
If you wish to organise, collaborate or host an event for MADRAS WEEK and need guidance / info, please send an email to -
madrasday@yahoo.com
FUNDERS
SUPPORT / HOST ORGANISATIONS
Alliance Francaise of Madras
Archaeological Survay of India
Arsha Vidya Mandir
Asan Memorial School
Calibre Educational Foundation
Ceebros Ecotel’s The Raintree
Chennai Heritage
Connemara Public Library
Corporation School, Tondiarpet
C. P. Ramaswami Iyer Foundation
DakshinaChitra
Dr. MGR Janaki College for Women
Eicher Maps
Gallery Sri Parvati
Global Adjustments
Govt. College of Fine Arts
Govt. Museum, Egmore
Hamsadhwani Sabha
Hotel Green Park, Vadapalani
Hotel Savera
Indian Quizzing League
Jaigopal Garodia Sr. Sec. School, Anna nagar
Lady Sivaswamy School
Loyola College
Mad Bulls
Madras Christian College, Tambaram
Madras Book Club
Madras Heritage Lovers
Madras Musings
Madras Photographic Society
MOP Vaishnav College for Women
Namma Mylapore
Natyarangam
Nizhal
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Peek-a-boo Patterns
Prism PR
Prakrit Arts
Prince of Arcot
PSBB, K. K. Nagar
Queen Mary's College
Russian Cultural Centre
Roja Muthiah Research Library
Russian Cultural Centre
Spring Into Reading
Sir M Ct M Boys School
Sir Sivaswamy Kalalaya
Sri Sankara Vidyashramam.
Stella maris College
Story Trails
TAG Centre
Taj Connemara
Taj Coromandel
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corpn.
The Madras Terrace House
The Park
The Park Sheraton
The U.S. Consulate General
Story Trails
Tulika Books
Vanilla Children Place
Vel's Vidyashram
Vellaiyan Chettiar School, Tiruvottiyur
Vivekananda College
Westland Ltd
World Storytelling Institute
YOCee
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