Chennai city is expanding multi-fold day by day. The migration population also increases steadily. Most of the citizen's of today's "bloated" Chennai would not know the Original City. When the British built Fort St. George in 1640s, they called the settlement outside the Fort as the Black Town. This is the original city of Madras or Chennai. All the expansions happened later.
The original city lost its pride long back. The Black Town and the New Black Town were together named as George Town. Although the name of the locality still remains as George Town as per the records, I wonder if anyone knows this place by this name. The different parts of the area are known as Parrys Corner, Sowcarpet, Pookkadai, Kondithope, Seven Wells, Broadway, Muthialpet, Elephant Gate, Moolakothalam and so on. But, no one calls it as George Town. And, hardly anyone knows about the statue of King George V, after whom this whole area was named. Even those who know this statue, recognizes this place merely as a parking lot or urinal. It is extremely sad that no one cares about the heritage or history.
When Edward VII was the King of Britain, George V was made as the Prince of Wales. When he was still a prince, he had visited Madras in 1905 CE. There is a tablet found in Madras harbour which remembers his visit on 24th January 1905.
After his father's death, George became the King of the United Kingdom in 1910 CE. The coronation of King George and his Queen Mary as the Emperor and Empress of India took place in Delhi Durbar on 12th December 1911. The King wore the newly made Imperial Crown. He declared the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Thus, the making of a new planned capital city called New Delhi started.
To commemorate the coronation of the Emperor, the celebration happened throughout the sub-continent. In Madras, the Black Town was renamed as George Town. It is said that this was to commemorate the earlier visit of the city by the Emperor as well as his coronation. In 1914, the 10 feet high statue of the King was put up near the Flower Bazaar Police Station. This is the only surviving statue of King George in George Town. The one that stood near the Port Trust has gone. The statue that was inside the Flower Bazaar Police Station was shifted to Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
This statue of the King was presented by the wealthy Gujarati business man, Govindoss Chatoorbhoojadoss. The posters and the scribbles that are seen on the statue are probably the recognition done by us?
Happy travelling.
The original city lost its pride long back. The Black Town and the New Black Town were together named as George Town. Although the name of the locality still remains as George Town as per the records, I wonder if anyone knows this place by this name. The different parts of the area are known as Parrys Corner, Sowcarpet, Pookkadai, Kondithope, Seven Wells, Broadway, Muthialpet, Elephant Gate, Moolakothalam and so on. But, no one calls it as George Town. And, hardly anyone knows about the statue of King George V, after whom this whole area was named. Even those who know this statue, recognizes this place merely as a parking lot or urinal. It is extremely sad that no one cares about the heritage or history.
When Edward VII was the King of Britain, George V was made as the Prince of Wales. When he was still a prince, he had visited Madras in 1905 CE. There is a tablet found in Madras harbour which remembers his visit on 24th January 1905.
After his father's death, George became the King of the United Kingdom in 1910 CE. The coronation of King George and his Queen Mary as the Emperor and Empress of India took place in Delhi Durbar on 12th December 1911. The King wore the newly made Imperial Crown. He declared the shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Thus, the making of a new planned capital city called New Delhi started.
To commemorate the coronation of the Emperor, the celebration happened throughout the sub-continent. In Madras, the Black Town was renamed as George Town. It is said that this was to commemorate the earlier visit of the city by the Emperor as well as his coronation. In 1914, the 10 feet high statue of the King was put up near the Flower Bazaar Police Station. This is the only surviving statue of King George in George Town. The one that stood near the Port Trust has gone. The statue that was inside the Flower Bazaar Police Station was shifted to Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
This statue of the King was presented by the wealthy Gujarati business man, Govindoss Chatoorbhoojadoss. The posters and the scribbles that are seen on the statue are probably the recognition done by us?
Happy travelling.
