Each year in August, Madras Day is celebrated to commemorate the day that this vibrant and unique city was founded on August 22nd 1639. Celebrated with heritage walks, music concerts, architecture tours, poetry recitals and of course food festivals, Madras Day celebrates the history of a city that was founded more than three centuries ago. Madras Day often stretches to the entire week, called Madras Week, giving its citizens time to learn about the history of the city while embarking on a promising journey toward its future.
It all started with a newspaper’s kolam competition
The newspaper Mylapore Times decided to organize a kolam competition in 2001 to celebrate the artistic skill of residents and the culture of the neighbourhood. Organized by journalist Vincent D’Souza, the contest started attracting lots of participants as well as curious onlookers who enjoyed seeing the ornate designs and creative use of shapes and objects using chalk and other materials. It was this competition that became the Mylapore Festival and gave the journalist an idea about expanding it across the erstwhile Madras.
Two journalists and a historian meet for coffee
3 years later, Vincent D’Souza and another journalist named Shashi Nair went to the home of the prominent historian S. Muthiah to discuss the possibility of holding an annual festival to celebrate the birth of Madras and appreciate its contributions to India and the world. S. Muthiah, the historian and editor of Madras Musings was optimistic about the success of the Mylapore Festival and got on board. But what about the date?
The birth of Madras is traced back to 1639 when Andrew Cogan and Francis Day arrived on the eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent and sought to purchase a small strip of land from the Nayak rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, on behalf of the East India Company. The deal was struck and the deed was signed on August 22nd 1639, after which the two men set about constructing a fort on the coast, called Fort St. George.
Based on this landmark piece of history, the date for the first Madras Day was chosen and the first Madras Day was held in 2004 with just over a handful of events. In time, those few events grew to a weeklong celebration, called Madras Week during which individuals, families, schools, colleges, companies and government bodies organize events in public spaces such as beaches, shopping malls, parks and other areas to learn more about the history of the city and enjoy all that it has to offer.
How we celebrate the spirit of Madras
For the past 10 years, United Way Chennai has worked toward empowering and uplifting underserved communities in Chennai and across the state of Tamil Nadu. In both urban and rural parts of the state, there are countless children and adults who are bright, talented and have immense potential, but they lack access to basic rights such as education and employment to improve their lives and the lives of the next generation. United Way Chennai bridges this gap through our 5 main programs:
- Education
- Livelihood
- Health
- Environment
- Disaster relief
Each of these programs address a specific need that, when met, transforms the lives of people and communities in need. For children, families and entire communities, this support often means the difference between life and death, struggle and prosperity, bleak or hopeful futures.
How YOU can get involved!
United Way of Chennai believes in the power and effectiveness of volunteering and for the past decade, it is our volunteers who have transformed communities across Chennai – from painting murals on bridges and walls to planting trees in urban spaces to improve the quality of the air we breathe. This Madras Day, take out some time to improve the lives of children and adults in our city. United Way of Chennai has organized the following activities for thousands of volunteers, and that can include you:
- Painting the walls of government schools
- Using recycled material to make products for Anganwadi centres
- Recording audio books for sight-impaired children
- Planting trees in urban spaces
- Making paper bags to replace plastic bags in shops
- Arts and crafts sessions for students in government schools
It can be on your own or with a group of friends – if you choose to give back to the people of Chennai this Madras Day, volunteer with United Way Chennai and improve the lives of people, families and communities.
This Madras Day, let’s give back!
This Madras Day, your support to United Way of Chennai will accomplish exactly this. Whether you read our articles, follow us on social media or donate to our programs, your support in any of these forms will go far and wide in transforming lives across our city and state. Happy Madras Day!
