Saturday, March 04, 2006

Call it Chennai or Madras!

Are you a Madrasi?

A question I was asked in all the places outside Tamil Nadu. Even after six years of renaming the city as Chennai. I personally prefer to call it Madras. But I find many others too!

The clubs still call it Madras - The Madras Club, Madras Boat Club, Madras Gymkhana, Madras Football Association, Madras Cricket Club, Madras Flying Club, . . .

There are a few colleges - Madras Christian College, Madras Medical Mission and the 'Big Brother' - IIT is IIT-Madras!

It is still Madras Bar Association and it is Madras Port Trust.

I am collecting a bunch of these names and I need help. Even if it is Madras Cycle stores and Madras Magazine shop, I would like to have them. But with complete address please!!!

Here is a bonus. If you love to see stamps and post cards on Chennai, click here! (Thanks Balaji)

Thanks friends!

7 comments:

Kaps said...

Chennai is use more by airlines, media and postal organisations.

For the rest, Madras means a whole lot more than Chennai.

Revathi R said...

Hi Kaps

Thanks for visit.
I came across a small, corner shop - Madras Snuff in Vyasarpadi!

Anonymous said...

Hi Revathi,
After seeing your post I visited the BSNL chennai telephone directory on the Internet. The search resulted in a list with a few hundred names beginning with Madras. (excuse me if you have already done this).
I will tell you if I come across any other interesting name boards with Madras in it.

Anonymous said...

AND thank you for the link to my blog. Nice of you.

Revathi R said...

Yeah, Balaji, you guessed it right! I saw the BSNL directory. Did you notice, they still list MMDA and we all know that now it is CMDA.

Hmm... lost faith in the directory. So I am gathering the infor personally!

Thanks for the sincere effort. Please continue to search.....:-)

Casement said...

When I said Chennai to my cousin, who has been here in the US for 17 years now, I got some odd looks from her. That's when I knew what difference it makes to ppl who know Madras!

Unknown said...

I still refer to Madras as Madras - cannot reconcile myself to the name Chennai. Somehow does not evoke the feelings I have for my hometown. I am also indignant about some stupid politician (you know who it is!) deciding to the change the city's name on a whim. To me only the name Madras can evoke the Magic of great city.