Gandhi had a deep connection with Chennai

CHENNAI: Ask anyone what Gandhi and Chennai have in common and they’d probably reply ‘roads’. But the connection between the Mahatma and the Queen of the Coromandel is certainly placed in the annals of time. Sixty-four years after he was slain on his way to address a prayer meeting, we take a look back at the times and places that the Father of the Nation left his diminutive footprint on, in our city.

According to former professor of the Pachaiyappa’s College, Prof N Bakthavathsulu, Gandhi landed in Madras after three years in South Africa. Known for starting a fight against the Whites for the Blacks’ sake in South Africa, Gandhi addressed a few meetings, the biggest of which was held at the Pachaiyappa’s College Hall. The meeting was organised by the Madras Mahajana Sabha, chaired by P Anandarajulu.

Gandhi spoke about the indignities suffered by the Indians in South Africa. At the end of his vivid descriptions of what the Indians were going through, the meeting passed a resolution protesting the ill-treatment of Indians in South Africa and asked the government to intervene. This visit, the first time Gandhi made to Madras, was before the freedom movement, and is hence relatively lesser known.

Gandhi arrived in Madras in 1915 as a different man. He addressed members of Gokhale Club while Sir Subramania Iyer presided over the meet. He also spoke at the Madras Mahajan Sabha and Madras provincial Congress Committee.

Gandhi travelled to Nellore, Mayavaram and Tranquebar before returning to Chennai. On May 7, he spoke on passive resistance in South Africa and thanked G A Natesan at a meeting of the Indian South African League at Madras. League passed a resolution dissolving itself and placing balance of money at Gandhi’s disposal.

On Valentines Day in 1916, Gandhi unfurled Swadeshi at the Missionary Conference and Satyagraha as well. He presided over a debate at Anderson Hall, which is officially noted as the inauguration of Madras Christian College’s debate society.

In 1925, Gandhi drew crowds to the Marina (Triplicane Beach) and urged them to learn Hindi so that all Indians could fight for Independence in one tonguen Today, though most people don’t really know it,  the swanky Nungambakkam High Road is actually named MG Road or Mahatma Gandhi Road. The Gandhi Mandapam in Adyar is a small tribute to the little man, but one that Chennai has always cherished.