‘Madrastalgia’ Takes Students Down City’s Memory Lane
Stella Maris College celebrates Madras Day with antiques, family heirlooms, oral histories and heritage activities
Memories of Madras spanning generations came alive at Stella Maris College on Wednesday, as students of the departments of History and Fine Arts showcased antiques, family heirlooms and stories associated with the city’s past as part of the college’s annual Madras Day celebrations.
With the theme ‘Madrastalgia’, this year’s celebrations marked the 387th year of Madras and focused on oral histories, family histories and the diverse communities that have contributed to the city’s evolution, including Jews, Armenians, Saurashtrians and Portuguese.
Students brought antiques and objects from their homes that had belonged to their grandparents and earlier generations for an exhibition at the college’s open-air theatre. The exhibits sought to connect the city’s history with personal and family memories, offering visitors a glimpse into how generations lived in Madras.
Filmmaker and documentarian Harry MacLure was the special guest of honour. The programme also featured the investiture ceremony of the college’s Tourism Club, Heritage Club, Social Media Team and Postcards from Tamil Nadu team.
Students from 12 schools participated in a quiz covering the history, art, culture and sporting heritage of Madras.
Visitors were also taken on a heritage walk around the Stella Maris College campus, followed by visits to the exhibition at the open-air theatre. The exhibition remained open until 3.30 pm.
Students from the departments of History and Fine Arts also organised games and quizzes at stalls.
The departments of Fine Arts and History organised an interactive ‘Postcards for Madras’ art corner, where visitors were invited to write about Madras or sketch their impressions of the city on postcards. The initiative aimed to turn the postcards into personal records of how the city is remembered and experienced across generations.
A curated collection of 76 postcards was also displayed, reflecting diverse memories and perspectives of the city. School students and visitors from other colleges received postcard mementos created during the session, which could also be used as bookmarks.
