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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 2010, MADRAS WEEK
was celebrated from August
15 to 22.
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
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 Alliance Francaise of Madras
Archaeological Survay of India
Anna University
Appa Rao Art Gallery
Association of British Scholars
Asan Memorial School & College
Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram, Kilpauk
Ceebros Ecotel’s The Raintree
Chennai Heritage
Chennai Nadar Mahajan Mahalir Sangam
Chennai Photowalks
C. P. Ramaswami Iyer Foundation
DakshinaChitra
Goethe Institut, Max Mueller Bhavan
Global Adjustments
GRT Temple Bay, Mamallapuram
Hermann Gmeiner Primary School
Hotel Green Park, Vadapalani
Hotel Savera
Hotel Taj Mount Road
INTACH
Jaigopal Garodia Sr. Sec. School, Anna nagar
Kalaa Manjari
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Lakshmi Nagar Civic Welfare Association,
Nanganallur
Mad Bulls
Madras Gymkhana Club
Madras Heritage Lovers
Forum
Madras Musings
Madras Naturalists’ Society
Madras Photographic Society
Madras University
MEASI Academy of Architecture
Maharishi Vidya Mandir School
Namma Mylapore
Nizhal
Prism PR
Prodigy Books
Roja Muthiah Research Library
Sir M Ct M Boys School
Studio Palazzo, Alwarpet
Taj Coromandel
The Yellow Bus
Vanilla Children Place
World Storytelling Institute
YOCee
Zha Cafe, Adyar
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