Less than a month from now, Chennai, that was Madras, that was Chennapatnam, will blow out a whopping 375 candles on her birthday cake. On August 22, this year, she will turn 375.
This city, at once old-fashioned and cosmopolitan, will celebrate a solid three centuries and more of being around as she goes on, nonchalantly doing what she does best — playing host to an estimated 70 lakh people. The grand old lady’s hoary history lives on, in some parts, even as she grows by the day, by the minute.
The transformation from sleepy seaside town to bustling metropolis has been in cue with the times, and outright fascinating, if you follow the path she has travelled all these three-plus centuries. But as all cities do, this one too grew quietly and even by the night, transforming herself little by little, adjusting herself to accommodate the burgeoning population.
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So much so that for someone living outside, on every visit back home there was the distinct feeling that Chennai had changed, even if you were unable to put your finger on it. Was it the new multiplex, or a fancy drive way by the shore, the ‘flying train’ or the swanky new glass-front building, the Metro Rail work sites or the ever-changing one ways? Most likely, all this and more.
But every time, if you hang around long enough, she sends the nightly pungency up from the Cooum as if to reassure us that she is indeed quite the same. That some things never change.
At the heart of it all is the city that we all love and have come to call home, and, perhaps, a home-away-from-home.
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This birthday, travel with us as we take you through the many faces that Chennai wears, how she has changed over the years, and that which has remained constant. The Hindu will dedicate columns for over a month to the city that is home.
Come on this journey with us, then! Sample juicy bits from the smorgasboard that this grand old lady offers, get a glimpse into what makes Chennai tick. And, oh, while you are at it, join us in wishing her a very happy birthday!
Ramya Kannan
City Editor - Chennai
The Hindu