CHENNAI
Revenue
Divisions-1 Taluks-5 Corporation & Municipalities-1 Revenue
Villages-55 Wards-155
CENSUS
2011 DATA
Sl.No.
|
Census Data
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
1
|
Total Population |
23,57,633
|
23,23,454
|
46,81,087
|
2
|
Population
below Age 6 |
213084
|
205457
|
418541
|
3
|
Literates |
20,04,498
|
18,45,974
|
38,50,472
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Literacy
Rate |
93.47
|
87.16
|
90.33
|
POPULATION
DISTRIBUTION AND LITERACY RATE
% Decadal Growth Rate
|
Sex-Ratio (No. of females per 1000 males)
|
Population Density per Sq.Km.
|
Rank by
|
1991-01
|
2001-2011
|
2011
|
2011
|
2001
|
2011
|
Population
|
Sex ratio
|
2001
|
2011
|
2001
|
2011
|
13.07
|
7.77
|
957
|
986
|
24,963
|
26,903
|
7
|
1
|
29
|
24
|
Tamil
Nadu constitutes the south-eastern extremity of the
Indian peninsula. Chennai is the capital city of the State,
besides being an important district. The district city is one of the
metropolis of India and serves as the gateway of the
culture of South India. In spite of being the capital
of a Tamil speaking
State, it has emerged as a cosmopolitan city playing
an important
role
in the historical, cultural and intellectual
development of India, representing still the
distinct components of the highest form of Dravidian
civilisation.
In addition, it holds out an interesting fare of South Indian
architecture, music, dance, drama, sculpture and other arts and
crafts.
Chennai
is situated on the north-east end of Tamil Nadu on the coast of
Bay of Bengal. It lies between 12* 9' and 13* 9' of the northern
latitude and 80* 12' and 80* 19' of the southern
longitude on a `sandy shelving breaker swept
beach'. It stretches nearly 25.60 kms. along the Bay coast
from Thiruvanmiyur
in
the south to Thiruvottiyur in the north and runs inland in a rugged
semi-circular fashion. It is bounded on the east by the Bay of
Bengal and on the
remaining
three sides by Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur Districts.
The
city of Chennai came into being due to a strategic necessity
and historical accident. It symbolises the rise of British power in
South India by setting up and consolidation of the East India
Company in the seventeenth century with
its
headquarters at Fort St. George in Chennai as a trading
centre. Within 350
years,
a few scattered villages (important
being Mylapore, Triplicane and
Chennai
Patnam) have developed into a
modern metropolitan city without
shedding
its traditional customs, religious outlook and other
traditions. It
can
be proudly remarked that the greatness of ancient
Chennai is mostly
religious
due to the preservation of the old famous Saivaite and
Vaishnavite
shrines
signifying the antiquity of the place.
The
growth of the city is
significant
and closely linked with the development of British
Institutions
and
administration. In short, Chennai city was the chief centre
from which the
British
rule expanded in the sub-continent and it remains a standing
monument of
British
contribution to India. Chennai city has acted
as an important centre of culture and education
in
South
India and has been the cradle of many movements which
have played an
important
role in the history of the sub-continent.
A
large number of
institutions
which are known in India and abroad are found
located in the
city,
of which mention may be made of the Theosophical Society,
the Kalakshetra
and
colleges of Arts and Crafts. The establishment of
professional colleges
like
Medical, Veterinary, Law and Teaching,
the location of the Indian
Institute
of Technology and the establishment of
Central Leather Research
Institute
have added to the development of the city.
Chennai
is one of the leading cities in India today from the point
of view of trade and commerce, with the fourth largest port in
the country and the first to
have
developed a full-fledged container terminal to international
standards.
The
port is providing trade links with Japan, Singapore,
Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, Ceylon and other far eastern
countries. Chennai is also one of
the
most important industrial cities of the sub-continent. As
a district of the
State
it ranks third after Coimbatore and Salem in so far as the
number of factories
is
concerned but stands at the top in case
of employment and productive
capital
and first in revenue. It, however, ranks second in terms
of industrial out-put next to Chengalpattu.
Chennai city enjoys an eminent position in the country in
film
industry
and Kodambakkam, known as the Hollywood of Chennai, has a
number of
studios
engaged in the production of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada,
Malayalam, and
Hindi
movies which are quite popular.
Total
area of the district is 178.20 sq. kms.
The
city of Madras has now been renamed as Chennai. It
is stated that the name Chennai traced
its
origin to "some other language". The rechristening
of the city is part of
the
steps announced for the "growth of Tamil in various
fields".
There
are different versions about the name of this
once sleepy coastal
village.
When the British landed here in 1639 A.D. it was said to
be part of
the
empire of the Raja of Chandragiri. The British named
it Chennapattinam,
after
they acquired it from Chennappa Nayakar. Gradually, it
became Chennai.
The
first instance of the use of the name Chennai is said to
be in the Vestiges
of
Old Chennai, the sale deed of August 1639 to Francis Day,
an agent for the
British.
There it has been referred to as Chennaipatnam.
The
British are said to have built Fort Saint George,
the present seat of
power,
in 1640. It was named after the patron saint of England.
The
Vestiges of Old Chennai infer that the original village of
Madraspatnam lay
north
of the proximate to Chennapattinam. In course of
time and with rapid
growth,
the two virtually became one. It is also inferred
that the English
preferred
the name Madraspatnam, while Indians chose
Chennapattinam.
GEOGRAPHICAL
AND PHYSICAL FEATURES
Chennai
is a low-lying area and the land surface is almost flat like a
pancake. The even topography of the land throughout the district
renders sub-divisions into natural regions rather difficult. It rises
slightly as the distance from the sea-shore increases but the average
elevation of the city is not more than 22' above mean seal-level,
while most of the localities are just at sea-level and drainage in
such areas remains a serious problem. From very early times, Chennai
was known for its pleasant scenery and was said to be a town open to
sky and full of garden of mangoes, coconuts, guavas, oranges, etc.
In
earlier days when the city was not so congested, gardens and groves
were a common feature and most of the roads were flanked by frequent
groves of palm and other trees. Even a number of houses too had
gardens displaying fine trees canopied by green bough and creepers,
Chennai city today is devoid of any forest areas but can still be
proud of some of the well maintained green belts found in the Peoples
park, the Napier park, the Horticulture-gardens, My Lady's Park,
Children's Park Guindy, Snake Park, Nehru Park, Nageswara Rao Park,
Independence Park, Anna Square Park, the Raj Bhavan, the Theosophical
Society Campus, and a number of bungalows and newly developed
colonies where provisions of public parks, etc. have been provided.
The
indigenous trees found include among others neem, mango, tamarind,
rain-tree, vagai, banyan, coconut, palm and pipal. Stretches of
casuarina plantations are available on the sea-coast beyond the mouth
of the Adyar in the South and Tondiarpet in the North, supplying
firewood to the city. House gardening is not very common these days
due to shortage of water and lack of space.
Rivers
The
city is intersected by two languid streams, the Cooum and the Adyar.
Cooum
runs
through the heart of the city and enters the sea in-between the
university buildings and the Fort. St. George underneath the Napier
Bridge, while the latter wends its way through the southern part of
the city and enters the sea near Adyar. These two rivers are almost
stagnant and do not carry enough water except during rainy seasons.
Cooum river starts from Kesavaram Anicut in Kesavaram village built
across Kortaliyar river. The surplus from Cooum tank joins this
course at about 8 kms. lower down and this point is actually the head
of Cooum river which is located at 48 kms. west of Chennai. The river
receives a sizeable quantity of sewage from its neighbourhood for
disposal. Though the river Adyar can be traced to a point near
Guduvancheri village, it assumes the appearance of a stream only
after it receives the surplus water from the Chembarambakkam tank as
wells as the drainage of the areas in the south-west of Chennai. The
river has no commercial importance, but the fishermen in the
neighbourhood make their living by fishing in the river.
Canals
The
Buckingham canal which runs through the states of Tamil Nadu and
Andhra Pradesh is a navigation canal. This canal runs almost parallel
to the Coromandal coast within the limits of 5 kms. from the coast.
It joins up a series of natural backwaters and connects all the
coastal districts from Guntur to South Arcot. Entering the city at
Tondiarpet in the north and running along the western outskirts of
George Town, it joins the new canal, south-west of General Hospital.
The other canal worth mentioning in the city is the Otteri Nullah
which commences from the village Mullam, runs eastwards upto
Purasawalkam and then passes through Buckingham and Carnatic Mills
and finally joins the Buckingham Canal, north of Basin Bridge Railway
Station. Chennai has 25.60 kms. of sea coast which is flat and sandy
for about a km. from the shore. The bed of the sea is about 42' deep
and slopes further in gradual stages for a distance of about 5 kms.
from the coast attaining a depth of about 63'. The two principal
currents, first from the north and second from the south flow
parallel to the coast. The former sets in about the middle of October
and continue till February while the latter starts by about August
and continues till the burst of the north-east monsoon in the middle
of October. These two principal currents must be caused by the
winds.
HISTORY
Chennai,
originally known as Madras Patnam, was located in the
province of Tondaimandalam, an area lying between Pennar
river of Nellore and the Pennar
river
of Cuddalore. The capital of the province was
Kancheepuram.Tondaimandalam was ruled in the 2nd century A.D. by
Tondaiman Ilam Tiraiyan, who was a representative of the
Chola family at Kanchipuram. It is believed
that
Ilam Tiraiyan must have subdued Kurumbas,
the
original inhabitants of the
region
and established his rule over Tondaimandalam.
Subsequent
to Ilam
Tiraiyan,
the region seemed to have been ruled by the Chola Prince Ilam
Killi.The Chola occupation of Tondaimandalam
was put to an end by the Andhra
Satavahana
incursions from the north under their King
Pulumayi II. They
appointed
chieftains to look after the Kancheepuram region. Bappaswami,
who is
considered
as the first Pallava to rule from Kancheepuram,
was himself a
chieftain (of
the tract round) at Kancheepuram under the Satavahana empire in
the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., The Pallavas who
had so far been merely
viceroys,
became independent rulers of Kancheepuram and its surrounding
areas.
Pallavas
held sway over this region from the beginning of the 3rd century
A.D.to the closing years of the 9th century except for the interval
of some decades when
the
region was under Kalabharas. Pallavas were defeated by the
Chola under Aditya-I by about 879 A.D. and the region was
brought under Chola rule.Pandyas under Jatavarman
Sundara Pandya rose to power and the region was
brought
under Pandya rule by putting an end to Chola supremacy in
1264 A.D.Pandya's rule over this region lasted a little
over half a century followed by
Bahmini kingdom with the extension of Delhi Sultanate under Khilji
dynasty especially under the rule of Alauddin Khilji, a pioneer of
all revenue works. During
1361, Kumara Kampana II, the son of Vijayanagar King, Bukka I
conquered
and
established Vijayanagar rule in Tondaimandalam.
The
Vijayanagar rulers appointed chieftain known as Nayaks
who ruled over the different regions of
the
province almost independently.Damarla Venkatapathy Nayak, an
influential chieftain under Venkata III, who
was
in-charge of the area of present Chennai city, gave the grant of a
piece of
land
lying between the river Cooum almost at the point it enters the sea
and
another
river known as Egmore river to the English in 1639. On this
piece of
waste
land was founded the Fort St.
George exactly for business
considerations.
In honour of Chennappa Nayak, father of Venkatapathy Nayak,
who
controlled the entire coastal country from Pulicat in the
north to the Portuguese
settlement of Santhome, the settlement which had grown up
around
Fort
St. George was named after Chennapatanam.
The
older area called the Madraspatnam
lay
to the north of it. Later on, the intervening
space between the older
northern
site of Madraspatnam came to be quickly built over with houses
of the
new
settlers (as the two expanded) and that the two villages
became virtually one town. While the official centre of the
settlement was designated Fort St. George, the British applied
the name Madras Patnam to the combined town. Golkonda forces
under General Mir Jumla conquered Madras in 1646 and brought
Chennai
and its immediate surroundings under his control. On the
fall of
Golkonda
in 1687, the region came under the rule of the Mughal Emperors
of
Delhi.
Firmans
were issued by the Mughal Emperor granting the
rights of
English
company in Chennai. In the later part of the
seventeenth century, Chennai steadily progressed
during
the period of Agency and under many Governors. During the
regime of
Governor
Elihi Yale (1687-92),the most important event was the formation
of
the
institution of a mayor and Corporation for the city of Chennai.
In
1693, a perwanna was received from the local
Nawab granting the towns
Tondiarpet,
Purasawalkam and Egmore to the company. Thomas Pitt
became the
Governor
of Chennai in 1698 and governed for eleven
years. This period
witnessed
remarkable development of trade and increase
in wealth.
The
important events during this period were the blockade of
Chennai by Daud Khan
and
its repulsion and the acquisition of additional suburban villages by
the
English.
Thiruvottiyur, Vysarpadi, Kathivakkam, Nungambakkam and
Satangadu
were
made as a free gift to the English in 1708. In 1735,
Chintadripet was
taken
over and in 1742 Vepery, Perambur and Periamet were presented
to the
British.
Nicholas Morse was the Governor from 1744 to 1746. The most important
event
during his time was the outbreak of war between England and France
and
the
consequent struggle for supremacy between the French and the
English in South
India. Chennai was captured by the French in 1744 but consequent on
the
treaty
of peace of Aix-La-Chapelle, Chennai was restored to the
English in
1749.
George
Pigot was the Governor for the period from 1755 to 1763. The period
is remarkable for the fact that the Company form a trading
corporation, owning isolated towns, forts and factories,
became a ruling power controlling vast territories.
Charles Bourchier became Governor in 1767. During his
period Hyder Ali who usurped the Sovereignty
of Mysore joined hands with the Nizam and began an
offensive on Chennai. In 1761, a treaty was signed between
Hyder Ali and the
Company
for an alliance and mutual restitution
of the conquests. The Governance of the Carnatic
became the responsibility of the Chennai Government which could
not maintain a large army without the revenue of Nawabs. In
1763,the English got the district of Chengalpattu known
as Chennai Jagir for the maintenance of the army.Lord
Macartney took charge of the Chennai Government in
1781.
During
his period, Chennai was turned into an important Naval base.
Major General Medows became Governor in 1790. The position of
the English was made secure in South India. the elimination of
other foreign power and settlement of the limits of native
territory gave stability and paved the way for an era of
commercial development. In 1792, in a new treaty Mohammed
Ali handed over the entire management of the
Carnatic to the English and accepted in return a pension.
Another important event of this period was the outbreak of
Mysore war. Tippu was killed in 1799 and the whole of
Carnatic ceded to the British.
Thus
the supremacy of the English in South India was
established. The present day territorial limits of
the city existed in the shape of scattered villages for
centuries before the advent of the British. In the
process of growth, many villages got agglomerated into a
single unit. The shape and extent of the city which existed during
1939-40 was reached even during the opening years of 19th century.
The period in between 1803 to 1827 represents consolidation and
development of institutions.
Sir
Edward Elliot was the important Governor of Chennai
during this period. He appointed a Judicial Commission with Munro as
its President in 1814. Several reforms in
the administrative system were made
by the Commission. Sir Thomas Munro became the
Governor in 1820 and continued till 1827. He tried his
best to improve literacy. He initiated English education in Chennai
and established a body called Board of Public Instructions to
improve and direct public education. Important improvement made
to Chennai city during the first half of the 19th
century was the progress made in the
establishment of institutions for professional and
technical education.
School
of Industrial Art was started in 1850, Civil Engineering
College in 1834 and Madras Medical College in 1835,etc.
The Madras University was started in September 1857.
The Chennai High
Court
was created in June 1862. The Railway Company in Chennai was
formed in
July
1845. the first construction work began on 9th June 1853 and
in 1858,South Indian Railway was formed having Chennai as the
Railway Headquarters. Lord Hobart who was the Governor from
1872 to 1875 initiated Chennai Harbour
project.
The Congress party came to life during the period 1881-90. The Indian
National
Congress held its session in 1887 at Chennai.
The
First Governor of Chennai in the 20th century was Lord Ampthill
(1901-06). Sir Arthur Law-by was the Governor from 1906-1911
and Lord Pentland from 1912-19.
The
important Landmarks during this period were the establishment
of Chennai Electric Supply Corporation in 1906 and opening of
Indian Bank in 1907. During
1934
and 1936 for a short period, two Indians Sir M.D. Usman Sahib and
Sir K. Venkatareddy Naidu acted as Governors of Chennai.
In 1937, the Ministry of Shri C. Rajagopalachari came
into power for two years. The influence of
the Governors on the administration considerably diminished. The
British departed on 15th August 1947 but Chennai
remained as a standing monument of what the British have
done to India.
Historical
Events at a Glance
1639
Madras founded
.
The English get Madras Patnam from Ayyapa
Naicker.
1640
Francis Day and Cogan
landed with 25 Europeans.
Foundation laid for Fort St.George.
1668
Triplicane annexed to the
city.
1678
Foundation laid for St.
Mary’s Church in Fort St. George.
1679
St.Mary’s Church
Completed.
1688
Madras City Municipal
Corporation inaugurated.
1693
Egmore, Purasawalkam and
Tondiarpet annexed to the City.
1708
Thiruvottiyur,
Nungambakkam, Vyasarpady,
Kottivakkam and Sathangadu -
Five neighbouring Villages annexed;
wall built around Black Town.
1711
First Printing Press
erected in Madras.
1735
Chintadripet was
formed.
1742
Veperi, Perimet, Perambur
and Pudupakkam annexed to the city.
1746
The French return Madras to
the English;
Santhome and Mylapore annexed to the City.
1758
French Commander Lawly
siege Madras.
1759
French siege
ended.
1767
Hyder Ali’s first
invasion.
1768
Chepauk palace built by
Nawab of Arcot.
1769
Hyder Ali’s Second
invasion.
1777
Veerappillai appointed as
First Kotthawal-
Hence the name Kotthawal Chavadi.
1783
Fort St. George repaired
and attains the present shape.
1784
The First Newspaper –Madras
Courier.
1785
First Post
Office.
1795
Triplicane Big
Mosque-Walajah Mosque built.
1817
Madras Literary
Society founded.
1826
Board of Public
Instructions founded.
1831
First Commercial
Bank –Madras Bank.
First Census in the City Population
39,785.
1832
Madras Club
founded.
1834
First Survey School
inaugurated –
Later developed as Engineering College.
1835
First Medical
College –
Later became Madras Christian College.
1841
Ice House was built
–
Ice brought from America through ships was stored
here;
Later named as Vivekananda House.
1842
First Light
House.
1846
Pachaiappan School;
Later Pachaiappa’s College.
1851
Museum formed
1853
Zoo formed.
1855
University Board
formed.
1856
First Railway –Royapuram
to Arcot
1857
Madras University
founded.
1864-65
Presidency College
built.
1868
Attempt to protected water
supply.
1873
First Birth
Registered.
Madras Mail Newspaper founded.
Cosmopolitan Club founded.
1874
University Senate house
built.
1876-78
Great Famine –
Buckingham Canal dug.
1878
The Hindu Newspaper
founded.
1882
First
Telephone.
1885
Marina Beach Road
formed.
1886
Indian National Congress
Meet at Madras.
Connemera Public Library founded.
1889
High Court Building
foundation laid.
1894
First Car – Mr.
A.J. Boag, Director of Parry&Co,
drove the Car on City Roads.
1895
First Tram
Car.
1899
First Tamil
Newspaper-Swadesamitran.
1905
Port Trust
formed.
1906
Indian Bank
founded.
King Institute, Guindy founded.
1914
Water mains and
drainage formed.
Street lights introduced.
Kilpauk water works inaugurated.
Endon bombardment-
Endon German fighter Vessel bombarded the sea shore
and
disappeared - First World War.
1917
First
Aeroplane;
Simpson & Co., arranged for the trial flight.
1924
School of Indian
Medicine.
1925
Loyola
College
First Bus Transport.
1930
First Broadcasting
Station founded at Ripon Buildings Complex.
1934
First Mayor - Raja
Sir. Muthiah Chettiyar
1938
All India Radio
formed and
broadcasting from Ripon Buildings ceased.
1942
Second World War -
Evacuation of Madras.
1943
Japanese Fighter Plane
dropped bombs on City and disappeared.
1946
Mambalam,
Saidapet, Govt. Farm, Puliyur, Kodambakkam,
Saligramam, Adayar and Alandur Villages which formed part
of
Saidapet Municipality were annexed to the city.
Sembiyam, Siruvallur,
Peravallur, Small Sembarambakkam
and Ayanavaram which formed part of Sembium
Panchayat
Board were annexed to the city.
Aminjikarai, Periyakudal,
Maduvankarai Villages which formed
part of Aminjikarai Panchayat Board were
annexed.
Part of Velacheri Village belonging to Velacheri Panchayat
Board
was also annexed to the city.
1947
Indian National Flag
Hoisted over Fort. St. George.
1952
Nehru Stadium.
1956
Gandhi Mandap.
1959
Guindy Children’s
Park.
1969
World Tamil
Congress.
1971
Snake Park.
1972
Madras Metropolitan
Development Authority.
1973
Madras Corporation
Superceded.
1974
Rajaji
Mandap.
Madras Television Centre.
1975
Kamaraj
Mandap.
Valluvar Kottam.
1976
New Light
House.
1977
Madras Metropolitan Water
supply and Sewage Board
Kanagam, Taramani, Thiruvanmiyur, Velacheri,
Kodambakkam,
Virugambakkam, Saligramam, Koyambedu,
Thirumangalam,
Villivakkam, Errukancheri, Kolathur, Kodungaiyur
Panchayat areas annexed to the City;
Madras reaches the present stage.
1983
Zoo shifted to
Vandalur.
1988
Periyar Science
Park
Birla Planetarium.
Madras Corporation’s Tri-centenary.
Decentralisation of Administration.
10 Circles formed.
4.CUDDALORE
