| Title |
MADRAS (CHENNAI)
DAY |
|
Date-wise Events |
August 22, 1639 |
|
Description |
- Chennai (originally known as Madras) is the capital city
of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
- It is a major commercial, cultural, economic and
educational centre in South India.
- Chennai is a shortened form of Chennaipattanam, the name
of the town that grew around Fort St. George, which was
built by the British in 1639.
- It is also said that Chennapattanam was named after the
Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple; the word chenni in Tamil means
face, and the temple was regarded as the face of the city.
- After the British gained possession of the area in the
17th century, the two towns, Madraspattinam and
Chennapattinam, were merged, and the British referred to the
united town as Madrasapattinam, which started to be known as
Madras.
- The state government officially changed the name of
Madras to Chennai in 1996.
- From 1st to 12th century the region of present Tamil
Nadu and parts of South India was ruled by the Cholas.
- The findings of ancient coins and other artifacts dating
to around 500 BC point to the Vijayanagara Empire, which
ruled the region during the medieval period.
- The Portuguese first arrived in 1522 and built a port
called São Tomé.
- In 1612, the Dutch established themselves near Pulicat,
north of Chennai.
- Fort St. George housed the Tamil Nadu Assembly until the
new Secretariat building was opened in 2010.
- In 1746, Fort St. George and Madras were captured
by the French who plundered the town.
- The British regained control in 1749.
- By the late 18th century, the British had conquered most
of the region around Tamil Nadu and the northern present–day
states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, establishing the
Madras Presidency with Madras as the capital.
- Gradually, the city grew into a major naval base and
became the central administrative centre for the British in
South India.
- Soon in the 19th century, it was connected to other
important cities such as Bombay and Calcutta, by Railways
promoting increased communication and trade with the
hinterland.
- After India gained its independence in 1947, the city
became the capital of Madras State, which was renamed as
Tamil Nadu in 1969.
- Today, Chennai is one of the most important and proud
cities of India.
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