10th Oct 2014.
Bharathi Salai in Triplicane .... the Pycrofts Road
Posted on the 31 October 2014 by Sampathkumar Sampath
The
man who was to become an iconoclastic freedom fighter was born in a small
village called Ettayapuram. He, by his songs and concerted actions reached to the masses making them aware of
the need for freedom struggle and could make a great movement in Southern part
of the Nation. His songs were imbued with patriotism, over flowed with desire
for freedom, enthused people to revolt against British rule, encouraged youth
to remain fit and aspire for greater things; his words woke up the sleeping
slavery minded people to think of freedom and the need for the same. The great visionary Subramaniya Barathiyar lived in
Triplicane (in Thulasinga Perumal Kovil Street – nearer Sri Azhagiya Singar
sannathi)
At
Thiruvallikkeni (anglicised Triplicane) – there are famous roads – Beach Road
(now Kamarajar Salai), Bells Road, Triplicane High Road (Tram Road), Dr Besant
Road and Bharathi Salai ………… even today, for those living in Triplicane, the Barathi Salai, is remembered by its earlier name
‘Pycrofts Road’. The road winds
from Presidency College / Marina Ground, Triplicane Bus stand, Victoria Hostel,
Gosha Hospital, many Book publishing shops (and platform shops selling old
priceless books in evening), Ratna Café, Zambazaar, Amir Mahal, an ancient
house once visited by Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and more… about some decades
ago, it had some famous photo studios – Chandrika, Vanitha, Pandian ….and cloth
shops like Popular Swadeshi Stores (sadly it longer exists as is Murali Café)
Triplicane
existed hundreds of years ago – in those days when native villages were
contiguous – Triplicane was a famous territory
over which the British had no dominion for long. In 1600s, Triplicane was a separate village.
After about a century, British found Triplicane to be a good area for settlement
and a large number of people moved there.
Later it was annexed to the Madras City. By the presence of the Nawab of Arcot Chepauk Palace and Amir
Mahal which lies in Pycrofts Road were
built. In 1841 Ice house was built to store ice which later became a
prominent landmark associated with Swami Vivekananda.
Sir
Thomas Pycroft KCSI (1807 – 1892) was a British administrator and civil servant
who served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1862 to 1867.
Thomas Pycroft was born in Hampstead,
Middlesex. His father was a
barrister. His brother James Pycroft was
a writer. He was schooled privately and
at Bath Grammar School and graduated from Trinity College, Oxford. On completion of his education, he was
offered a "writership" by the President of the Board of Control of
the British East India Company.
Pycroft
arrived in Madras in August 1829 and served, initially, as writer and then, in
the revenue and judicial departments in South Arcot from 1829 to 1839 when he
returned to the United Kingdom. In 1843, Pycroft came back to India after a
three-year hiatus and was transferred to the Madras secretariat. Pycroft was
initially appointed Sub-Secretary and then, promoted to Secretary of the
Revenue Department in 1845. The very same year, he was appointed acting Tamil
translator to the Madras government. Pycroft
became Chief Secretary in 1855 and served from 1855 till 1862, when he
nominated to the Madras Legislative Council. Pycroft served as a member of the
council for five terms from 1862 to 1867.
Pycroft
died at Folkestone in 1892 at the age of 84. In 1866, Pycroft was made a Knight
Commander of the Order of the Star of India. In Madras, the street in which he
lived was named Pycroft's Road in his honor ~ and that is the history of the road,
which is now Barathi Salai.
There was a cricketer by
that name. Andy Pycroft was a high-class batsman, especially strong off the
back foot, whose best days were behind him by the time Zimbabwe played their
first Test in 1992-93. He played only three Tests before time and the demands
of a young family brought his retirement.
In 1991-92 he hammered 104 off 109 against an Australian B side that
contained Shane Warne, Paul Reiffel and Steve Waugh. After retiring he moved into
administration, and was a selector
too. He became Zimbabwe's coach in 2001
but resigned during the 2003 World Cup citing a lack of communication with his
fellow selectors.
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar
10th Oct 2014.
10th Oct 2014.