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C H e NNAI

Daula, Nawab of Bengal, whom he defeated at the infamous Battle of Plassey, “by promoting treason and forgery,” as written by Pandit Nehru, independent India’s first Prime Minister.

“Unless you visit Fort St George, you will not understand history of modern India,” said Srinivasan rightly. “Here every stone and brick has a story to narrate of lust and passion, obedience and conspiracy, power and greed”. The house where Clive lived inside the Fort still exists, a plaque outside commemorating his years of residence there. He married there as well, at St Mary’s church next door, also the wedding venue for Elihu Yales.

St Mary’s is one of the earliest Anglican Church to be built in Asia. Completed in 1679, it was witness to several weddings, baptisms and funerals of

Gett I n G there

Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) has convenient flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Adelaide and Perth to Chennai via Singapore.

ACCOMMODAt IO n

Conveniently located midway between the airport and the city, 91-room Radha Regent, a part of Sarovar Hotels & Resorts (www.sarovarhotels.com), offers high quality services at a reasonable price.

MO re I n FO r MAt IO n Check www.incredibleindia.org

Europeans who have earned space in the history of British-India. There are numerous memorials and tombstones around the church that are reminiscent of the time: a 1660 Bible, a 19th century organ; and the original marriage register which testifies Yale’s marriage as the first to be held in the church, are just a few of them. While aimlessly wandering around the complex, which was and continues to remain under the army, I come across street names still bearing English names like

Charles and James street. That surprised me! I couldn’t think any reason to stick to colonial names after six decades of independence. I mentioned this to the omniscient Srinivasan, who nicely explained that as history can’t be changed, maybe these names serve as a reminder of colonial powers and the extent of the struggle by freedom fighters to rid themselves of the intruders. I left the premises saluting him for his passionate answer, as a proud Indian should!

Fort St George remained as a silent witness to the evolution of a cosmopolitan settlement that is presently home to 4.5 million people

Pictures (clockwise)

Inside the Fort complex

Lord Cornawallis

The historic St Mary’s Church

The Fort Museum Building

A period monument

Old buildings from the past

Silenced Cannon

Inscription outside St Mary’s Church

Completed in 1679, (St Mary’s) was witness to several weddings, baptisms and funerals of Europeans who have earned space in the history of British-India