125 people turned up for a heritage walk conducted to commemorate the 375tth year
Visitors busy checking the Fort St.George during the heritage walk to mark its 375th year on Sunday in the city (Photo: DC)
Chennai: While many in the city preferred to take their day off on Sunday morning lazing at home, a group of enthusiasts queued up outside the security booth of Fort St George around 7 am, eagerly awaiting their turn to enter the ancient fort. Around 125 people turned up for a heritage walk conducted to commemorate the 375tth year of Fort St George on April 26. This was the first fort built in 1644 in India after the British East India Company gained entry.
Journalist Vincent D’Souza, who guided the group through the fort, which also houses the state’s Legislative Assembly, said, “The city of Madras was born here.” The walk continued for two hours and provided participants with many interesting facts and information about the fort and gave a glimpse of the colonial era. While walking through the fort, one comes across ruined buildings which point to lack of maintenance. The Lord Clive house looked well-maintained but the dilapidated condition of Wellesley’s residence indicated negligence. The group was then led to the current military parade ground surrounded by numerous buildings that housed the administrative departments of the Company.
Pointing to the balcony and tiles of one such building, D’Souza said, “The balcony and tiles were used for cooling. The tropical hot air was trapped inside and it cooled and moved into the living room and bedroom.” About St Mary’s church, he said it was one of the oldest Anglican churches in the country. Dirk De Belder, who hails from Belgium, has been staying in Chennai for the past seven years and was one among the visitors. He said, “Five years ago, this fort was much better maintained.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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