Retain Magudanchavadi’s old name too

Citizens want Magudanchavadi’s old name — MacDonald Choultry — too to be displayed at the railway station, as it is associated with a Colonel in Mysore war.

The station is located near the Salem–Coimbatore National Highway, 15 km away from Salem.

It acquired the name from Colonel MacDonald who led the Sankari detachment of 22nd Madras Battalion garrisoned at the Salem Fort during the third Mysore war during 1790-1792.

He constructed the choultry in 1793 to provide shelter to devotees who visit the Sri Kailasanathar temple in Tharamangalam which is about 24 km from the place.

It was constructed at his own cost, and MacDonald provided food and clothes to the devotees.

Soon shops mushroomed near the choultry, and traders started to take shelter in the choultry. Later, the village came up known as MacDonald’s Choultry.

After railway tracks were laid between Salem and Erode in 1861, the MacDonald’s railway station was established.

During the fourth Mysore War (1799), the British recalled the service of MacDonald who led the siege of Tipu Sultan Fort at Srirangapatinam.

He was killed during the siege on June 19. The place where he stationed the battalion on the bank of the River Cauvery on April 1 was named as MacDonald’s post. A cenotaph was raised for him at the British war grave in Poonamallee in Thiruvalluvar district.

Though the choultry does not exist now, elderly persons could still remember the legend. J. Barnabas, general secretary of Salem Historical Society says a name board should be placed in the area with the old name so that tourists could understand the history of the village.