<p>From one of the early settlements of the British East India Company to a vibrant metropolis retaining its cultural moorings, erstwhile Madras (Chennai) has come a long way. On Saturday, the city celebrates its 376th birthday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It was on August 22, 1639, when Francis Day, a colonial administrator, had struck a deal with a local Nayak ruler over a strip of land where Fort St George, which houses the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, stands today. <br /><br />It was around this fort that the colonial city started spreading itself.<br /><br /> The document related to the building of the fort was said to have been signed at Chandragiri Fort in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.<br /><br />However, the first Europeans to reach the shores of Madras were the Portuguese. They had built a church in Saint Thomas Mount enshrining the Bleeding Cross.<br /><br />Today, Chennai (the name was changed from Madras in 1996 by the then Karunanidhi government), which is the capital of Tamil Nadu and home to over 5 million people, is called the ‘Detroit of India’, after the United States’ automobile city. It is city with a vibrant cultural life and economic progress. <br /><br />Chennai was first named Chennappanaikan, in memory of the Nayak’s father, and later its name was changed to Chennapattinam, from which the current name has been derived.<br /><br />A week-long programme has been organised by various public and private institutions and non-governmental organisations to celebrate the Madras Day to commemorate the city’s founding.<br /><br />Heritage walks, tours, exhibitions, quiz contests and inter-school events have been planned as part of Chennai’s birthday bash.<br /><br />The Madras Day celebration focuses on the city, its history and noted historian S Muthiah on this day every year leads a team that motivates communities, groups, companies and campuses to observe the occasion with pride. Chennai, Mumbai (then Bombay) is about 35 years younger.<br /> <br /><em>*Madras Day is celebrated on Aug 22 every year<br />*It was on this day in 1639 when the official transaction of a strip of land between the British and the local Nayak rulers took place<br />*The historic Fort St George stands on that land today<br />*Historian S Muthiah plays a lead role in the Madras Day celebrations every year</em></p>
<p>From one of the early settlements of the British East India Company to a vibrant metropolis retaining its cultural moorings, erstwhile Madras (Chennai) has come a long way. On Saturday, the city celebrates its 376th birthday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It was on August 22, 1639, when Francis Day, a colonial administrator, had struck a deal with a local Nayak ruler over a strip of land where Fort St George, which houses the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, stands today. <br /><br />It was around this fort that the colonial city started spreading itself.<br /><br /> The document related to the building of the fort was said to have been signed at Chandragiri Fort in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.<br /><br />However, the first Europeans to reach the shores of Madras were the Portuguese. They had built a church in Saint Thomas Mount enshrining the Bleeding Cross.<br /><br />Today, Chennai (the name was changed from Madras in 1996 by the then Karunanidhi government), which is the capital of Tamil Nadu and home to over 5 million people, is called the ‘Detroit of India’, after the United States’ automobile city. It is city with a vibrant cultural life and economic progress. <br /><br />Chennai was first named Chennappanaikan, in memory of the Nayak’s father, and later its name was changed to Chennapattinam, from which the current name has been derived.<br /><br />A week-long programme has been organised by various public and private institutions and non-governmental organisations to celebrate the Madras Day to commemorate the city’s founding.<br /><br />Heritage walks, tours, exhibitions, quiz contests and inter-school events have been planned as part of Chennai’s birthday bash.<br /><br />The Madras Day celebration focuses on the city, its history and noted historian S Muthiah on this day every year leads a team that motivates communities, groups, companies and campuses to observe the occasion with pride. Chennai, Mumbai (then Bombay) is about 35 years younger.<br /> <br /><em>*Madras Day is celebrated on Aug 22 every year<br />*It was on this day in 1639 when the official transaction of a strip of land between the British and the local Nayak rulers took place<br />*The historic Fort St George stands on that land today<br />*Historian S Muthiah plays a lead role in the Madras Day celebrations every year</em></p>
