Events 2017

Madras under Golconda (Sultanate)- August 16, 2017

August 9, 2017

Lecture by S. Anwar, writer, photographer and film-maker.

“That a Telugu Merchant (Koneri Chetty) should command the (Vijayanagar) Rajah’s forces is singular enough, but that the (Golconda) Nawab should employ a General of that race (Hindu) when ample selection from Moslem warriors was open to him is even more surprising” goes the East India Company’s record of a battle that ended without a fight at Poonamalee, on the outskirts of Madras in 1656.
The English with their monotheistic background were not just bewildered by the Indian social set up but were simply unable to comprehend the plurality and diversity of the land. Madras under Golconda Sultanate presents an interesting picture when the English were mere traders and were being played upon by the natives and were at their wits end when it came to administering the town divided on the lines of caste. Compounding their woes, the Company with its Protestant Christian background had the unenviable task of warding off the seductive Catholic advances. The lecture will look at these interesting times of Madras history.

Organised by Roja Muthiah Research Library.

From 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Venue: Roja Muthiah Research Library, 3rd Cross Road, Central Polytechnic Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113

Open to all.

Talks / Conversations

Mylapore Heritage Walk – August 13, 2017

August 7, 2017

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art And Cultural Heritage) is organising a Heritage Walk of the Kapalishwara Temple, Mylapore and the Vishnu Temples in Chitrakulam, Mylapore, led by Dr.Chithra Madhavan, historian.

The history of Mylapore, temple architecture, sculptures and other details will be highlighted from the streets around the temples, and NOT inside the temples.

Date: Sunday, 13th August, 2017
Time: 6.30 a.m. – 8 a.m.

Meeting POint: Outside Giri Trading Shop, near East Gopuram of the Kapalishvara Temple

The walk is free. No prior registration necessary

Heritage Walks / Tours

For kids: Photowalk – A peninsula next to an island – August 26, 2017

August 7, 2017

Yocee (http://yocee.in) conducts a 9th annual Madras Day photowalk for children on Aug. 26, 2017.

Are you game to witness and record the MRTS & Metro together?
Are you game to Check the Fish Market (closing your nose already?), the Zion Church? the Sandalwood Garland Market (Now open the nose)? Adhipureesswarar & Adhi Kesava Perumal in the same compound? the Jain Temple? The Autorickshaw Repair street? and the Gaiety & Casino or what’s left?
And end the walk @ Saravana Bhavan …

Meeting Point: Chintadripet MRTS Station
Starts at 4 p.m. and ends at dusk.
Route map – https://goo.gl/61JfHs

The walk is led by N. Ramaswamy, Chennai Daily Photo & Chennai Photowalk
For children of 10 years and above.
Bring your own camera (Any type). Carry your water bottle. Dress easy.
Free walk. Register with Revathi at 9840544629. Open only to first 25 registrations.

For Children

For kids-Storytelling: The story of Madras – August 12, 2017

August 7, 2017

Storycorner at Bookmine is organising a Storytelling session for children by Sudha Umashanker ahead of Madras Week. Details as below
Theme: The story of Madras
Date Saturday 12th August 2017
Time 11 AM-12.15 PM
Venue Storycorner at Bookmine 1, Tarapore Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetput, Chennai 600031
Age 4- 10 years
Charges Rs 150/per child
Contact Storycorner at Bookmine 9840247624
Come listen to the story of how the city came to be founded , the people who played an important part, what brought them here and how Madras grew over the years.

For Children

The Arcot Nawabs trail at Triplicane, Chennai – II – August 27, 2017

August 7, 2017

The Nawabs of Arcot moved to Madras in the 1760’s and built their palace at Chepauk, thereby influencing the development around that area. Beginning from the Chepauk Palace, the walk takes you through the various monuments in and around Triplicane area associated with the Walajahi Nawabs.

Walk is conducted by Kombai S Anwar

Date: 27th August, 2017 (Sunday) Time 6.00 AM to 9.00 AM

Assemble at: Statue of Labour (opp. Madras University), Marina

Cost: Rs 300/- per person. The walk ends with a breakfast.

To register: please mail to mediakombai@gmail.com

Heritage Walks / Tours

Tour/Walk: Fantastic Bridges the British Built – August 15, 2017

August 7, 2017

Researcher-historian D. Hemchandra Rao who has been studying the bridges of this city for over 4 years will lead the group to about six old bridges, talk about their design and function and their role in city transport. The tour covers Egmore, Chintadripet, Anna Salai, Marina zone and Chepauk.
Date; Aug.15, Tuesday. 7 am onwards. Duration: 2.5 hours.
Tour is by van and on foot.
Fee; Rs.150 ( van fee – to be paid when tour starts / no cancellation).
Start Point: Opposite gate of Hotel Connemara. 7 a.m.
To register, send a mail to – themadrasday@gmail.com with ‘BRIDGES’ in the subject line – mention name/s and contact ph nos. Registration closes Aug.12. Only a max of 25 people can be accommodated.
Note: Places we explore are dirty. Suggest you bring drinking water, light snacks. Participants will be dropped at the start point.

Heritage Walks / Tours

Walk: Buckingham Canal: Mega Inland Waterway – August 13, 2017

August 7, 2017

  • Updated on August 10, 2017 – Registration closed

Researcher-historian D. Hemchandra Rao who has been studying the Canal for over five years will lead the group around Basin Bridge in North Chennai, where this landmark Canal project was started and was later, a hugely busy hub of water transport.
Rao will also talk briefly of this Canal that runs across Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
The tour also stops at Central Station zone and Madras University to give you a closer look at key functions of this Canal in years gone by and now being revived.
Date; Aug.13, Sunday. 7 am onwards. Duration: 2 hours.
Tour is by van and on foot.
Fee; Rs.150 ( van fee – to be paid when tour starts / no cancellation).
Start Point: Outside gate of Mylapore Club, Luz. 7 a.m.
To register, send a mail to – themadrasday@gmail.com with ‘B. CANAL’ in the subject line – mention name/s and contact ph nos. Registration closes Aug.11. Only a max of 25 people can be accommodated.
Note: Places we explore are dirty and very busy zones. Suggest you bring drinking water, light snacks. Participants will be dropped at the start point.

Heritage Walks / Tours

Talk: 60 years of city planning in Chennai – August 22, 2017

August 3, 2017

Chennai Architecture Foundation (CAF) is organising a talk – 60 years of city planning in Chennai: What went wrong and how to go forward? by A.Srivathsan

Chennai explored innovative building and planning ideas in 19th and early part of 20th centuries. Going by where it stands and how the city functions now, it appears that was not the case in recent times. What went wrong? There was no dearth of plans, big ideas, and schemes.
Over the past 60 years, starting from 1957 when the first comprehensive scheme was prepared for Chennai, city agencies have drawn many plans. To name a few: the 1960 master plan, Interim plan in 1967, first statutory plan in 1975, Alan Turner proposal in 1980, draft plan in 1995 , and Second Master Plan in 2008. All of them promised a well-designed city with adequate housing, easy mobility and `civic design with aesthetic effects.’ If they have not delivered, what was the problem? Did the ideas fail or the implementation flounder?
Chennai is set to expand its size and cover a vast region of 8,878 sq.km. A new plan is on the anvil. It is time to ask whether planning should continue as business as usual or radically alter course.

Venue: Spaces, 1, Elliot’s Beach Road, Besant Nagar.
Time: 6.30 p.m.
Open to all.

Talks / Conversations

Madras Day Heritage Ride – August 20, 2017

August 3, 2017

Cycling Yogis organise a Heritage Ride along the Adyar River.

Date: Sunday, 20th August 2017
Start : 5.00 am – Finish: 10.30 am
Start & Finish Point: Santhome Inn, Santhome High Road
U Turn Point: Manimangalam Dharmeswarer Temple
Total Ride Distance – 100 km

Registration is Mandatory
For more details contact Cycling Yogis/ Ramanujar. M – 9884023123

Bicycle Ride

Chennai – A Storehouse of Traditional Games – Talk & Play session – August 23, 2017

August 1, 2017

The city of Chennai is home to a wide range of traditional games that have been played here for many many years. The temples and monuments are home to numerous boards inscribed on the floors – boards native to Chennai and those that have travelled here through cultural exchange with neighbouring states and some that even seem to indicate an exchange with other countries. The talk will explore some of these games and the influences that perhaps played a role in making them a part of Chennai. Participants will be able to play some of these games after the talk.

On August 23, 2017. 6.30 p.m. onwards

Venue: Savera Hotel, 146, Radhakrishnan Salai Chennai – 4

For more information email – info@kreedagames.com

Talks / Conversations, Traditional Games

Exhibition: The Art of Traditional Games – August 19 to 31, 2017

August 1, 2017

Forum Art Gallery in association with Kreeda presents The ART of traditional GAMES – An exhibition of artwork and the traditional games of Chennai.
The exhibition will open with a short talk on the traditional games of Chennai by Kreeda and will be followed by an informal play session. The games will be available for play at the gallery during the duration of the exhibition.
Exhibition will be on view from 19th to 31st August, 2017
10.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Saturday
Venue –
Forum Art Gallery
57, 5th Street Padmanabha Nagar, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India
Phone +91 44 42115596

For more information email – info@kreedagames.com

Exhibitions, Traditional Games