Hindu Elementary School and Arignar Anna Government Higher Secondary School of Poonamallee, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

----a continuation post to Churches Of Poonamallee - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk 

15^th April 2018.

Within Poonamallee, two living schools identified are more than 100 years. Since the Schools are not functioning on Sunday we could not see the inside the class rooms and buildings. Some of the details are…

HINDU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

The School was established in the year 1895, and completed its 123 years of service. The School might have functioned elsewhere, till this present building was constructed.  The present building foundation stone was laid by Justice Mr T V Seshagiri Iyer on 5^th Feb 1916. The building was constructed with public participation. A plaque was erected and the names of the donors who contributed Rs 1000 are inscribed. The first Corespondent was Mrs Sarojini Varadappan ( 1921 -  2013), a Social worker and  daughter of Mr Bakthavatchalam (1897 – 1987 ), a well known Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu ( 1963-67 ).

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

ARIGNAR ANNA GOVERNMENT HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL (அறிஞர் அண்ணனா மேல் நிலைப்பள்ளி )

This School was started in the year 1902. The old buildings were razed down and new buildings were constructed during DMK rule. Arignar Anna Statue was also erected in the stadium on 13^th march 1975. There is a  25 years Silver Jubilee of India’s independence, memorial plaque erected at the entrance of the main Gate. 

It was interesting to note that there is a plaque of SI K Bhaskar of Trichy, who was worked in Border Security Force, martyred on 13^th May 1999. Since there was no details available, he must be an ex student of this school.

Apart from the above details, we had noticed two nos of Vijayanagara Period Pillars with reliefs related to vaishanava religion. How it landed here is also not known.  

Vijayanaga period Mandapam / temple Pillars- May belongs to Thirukachi Nambigal & Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple of Poonamallee 

Herdsman

25 years Silver Jubilee of India’s independence, memorial plaque 

a plaque of SI K Bhaskar of Trichy, who was worked in Border Security Force, martyred on 13^th May 1999. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

..... To be Continued Thirukachi nambigal & Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

St.Mary Magdalene Church, CSI, Wesley Church, & St. John Baptist's Church, Churches of Poonamallee, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

… a continuation Post of Exploring Poonamallee

15^th April 2018.

During our Exploring Poonamallee heritage walk, we covered 19^th Century  Churches constructed by the Britishers for their officers and Soldiers. The structures are constructed with brick and lime mortar. A Cemetery was also shared between St Mary Magdalene Church and CSI Wesley Church.

St. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH

The earliest 1796 CE Chaplain was there at Fort St. George. After Converting the Mohammedan Fort of Poonamallee in to a Garrison, it was felt a need of  a Church to cater the British Officers and Solders.  1806 CE Rev Hough  belonging to Christian Missionary Movement laid down the foundation stone in 1815 CE and W Sawyer started the construction of this Church for Poonamallee and St Thomas Mount. The Church has the Simple alter, Two chairs, teak wood windows for ventilation, Belgium glasses in alter and the floors are paved with cuddapah stone slabs. The bronze bell was brought from London. Bishop Middleton consecrated the Church on 13^th April 1819 CE.

To cater more no of people the Church was expanded on sides in the form of cross to a size of 2142 sq foot in the year 1845 AD and started function a full time Church exclusively for Poonamallee alone. It was happy to note that the old Church was not pulled down after constructing a new Church with modern amenities. This Church is being used to conduct Bible classes for children on Sundays.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

Bell tower and the Bell was imported from UK

CSI WESLEY CHURCH

There are  two old Churches stands east and west side of the new Wesley Church. These churches are part of Methodist Mission. Both Churches might have been built during 19th Century and exact dates are known. Compared to the St Mary Magdalene Church, it is believed that these two Churches catered for the Soldiers. From the records of the Mission in 1823 CE, Elijah Hoole visited this Church for prayers and preached in Tamil to the congregation. At present the Churches are being used for conducting Bible classes to the Children.

    

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

St. JOHN THE BAPTIST’S CHURCH.

This Church comes under RC and this parish existed from 1818 CE. This Church was constructed in the year 1840 CE by Rev Doctor Carew on a burial ground of Mohammedan Fort of Poonamallee to cater  British Soldiers. Latter from the year 1912 CE the Church was used by the pensioners and the Native of Poonamallee Catholics. It was built in the shape of a cross of 59 feet length with a separate Bell tower.

 

The old Church was pulled down and a new Church was built. The new Church was consecrated  on 24^th April 1990, by the Dr Casimir Gnanadickam, Arch Bishop of Madras – Mylapore. The 19^th century, original Bell tower was retained and stand tall to reminds the past.

A memory stone is also found at the entrance of the Church with inscription on all four sides erected from the public fund. The inscriptions states that this was erected in recognition  of  Rev Fr. J P Fitzpatrick, who served nearly 40 years as an Ex-Officio member of the Cantonment Committee & R C Military Chaplain of Poonamallee. He was born in Roscommon Ireland on 28^th May 1848 CE and died at St Patrick Monastery – Adyar on 17^th September 1927 CE.

On the back side it was inscribed that the Lighting was inaugurated by Dewan Bahadur R N Arogyaswami Mudaliar, Ex- Minister, Govt Of Madras on 9^th June 1920.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH    :CLICK HERE

St. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH CEMETERY

This cemetery was consecrated on 13^th April 1819 CE. Those who deceased  in the Poonamallee garrison was laid to rest in this cemetery. Initially this cemetery was used for both officers and Soldiers of the Garrison – St Mary Magdalene Church & CSI Wesly Church  and now the Cemetery is under the control of  St Mary Magdalene Church. 

Some historically important and oldest  graves are….

• The earliest grave was for a Captain Ambrose Russel belongs to 1795 CE., the elder brother of Irish Radical Thomas Russel ( Who was executed in Ireland )
• Major Donald Mc Donald – 1799 CE, who headed the 2^nd Battalion in charge of the siege of Seringapatnam. Belongs to 34^th Battalion of Madras Native Infantry in Vellore in 1794 CE which became 84^th Punjabis in 1903 CE, and the regiment was absorbed in Pakistan Army.  He died in the year 1799. CE.
• Lieutenant Patrick heron Newall in 1809 CE, who served in Madras European Regiment.
• Ensign Ingleby – 1818 CE from St Helena where Napolean was held captive.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

THE CEMETRY 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Panayathamman Temple / Pidari Panayathamman Kovil / பிடாரி பணயதம்மன் கோவில், Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

... A continuation post to Kottai Veeran Muneeswarar Temple - Exploring Poonamaallee - A Heritage Walk

15^th April 2018.

Our next visit before Poonamallee big mosque was to Sri Pidari Panayathamman Temple, which has the history connected with Queen Victoria. Though the temple is small but it has the heritage value.

Main deity : Sri Pidari Panayathamman

Some of the important features of this temple are…

This Amman temple is facing North on the left side of Main road before Poonamallee. The main sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, artha mandapam and a shed as mukha mandapam. The sanctum does not have any Vimana. In the sanctum ceiling we could found the supporting granite slabs has the Chozha period inscriptions ( might have been brought from a nearby Chozha Period temple ).

In the outer prakaram statues of amman ( might be a Pothyal of  pillars), a Kanthu, an 18^th century memory stone / a village small deity  and head less Ayyanar with poorna and pushkala. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is a Ellai kaaval theivam and once this place was with full of Palmyrah ( Panai maram in Tamil language )  groves, hence Amman got this name.

On 16^th February 1887, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated in Poonamallee. All the streets were decorated with thoranams, arches and flags inscribed as “Long Live Empress Victoria”, “May the British Empire Prosper”, “May the British Empire Lost Long”, “God save the Empress”, etc,. As a part of celebration, about 1000 people were  fed with non vegetarian food in this Pidari Panayathamman temple. In the evening Urchavars are taken out for procession.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs 

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the main road before Poonamallee from Guindy.

20 to 30 meters from Poonamallee big Mosque

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Chozha Period inscription slab kept to support the ceiling 

 Kanthu ( The earliest form of Shiva Linga Worship )

 A panel of small deity / or memory stone of 18^th century

Head less Ayyanar with poorna and pushkala.

…….To be continued Big Mosque - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Big Mosque / Poonamalle Mosque/ Jummah Masjid / ஜும்மா மஸ்ஜித், Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

…. A Continuation post to  Sri Panayathamman Temple  - Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk 

15^th April 2018.

During our walk we had covered this  Mosque also, apart from Hindu Temples and Churches. The Mosque follows the principles of Ahle Sunnath-wal-Jama’th.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This inscription was estampaged and recorded by Pulavar Se. Raju, when he was worked with Thanjavur Tamil University.  This inscription is recorded in Indo-moslemica, 1938 and Annual report on Epigraphy (B) 303 & 304 of 1939. This is the first Mosque built in Indo – Saracenic  Style in Tamil Nadu. After renovations it is not looking like Indo Saracenic style and also it was learnt this has been converted as Dargah. In the inscription plaque, they thanked Se. Raju  for identifying the details of this mosque. Now the inscription was completely covered with tiles. 

As per the inscription this Mosque was built and completed on 3^rd August 1653 AD by one Rustam and his father Asthirabath Dhul-fikr, who worked under Nawab Janablath-Ul-Mulki Mir Muhammed,  the representative of Golconda,  during this period Madras was under the rule of Golconda King, Hajrat Alampanna Sultan Abdullah Syed. Sujayitha was the  Hawaldar of the fort Poonamallee at that time. 

LOCATION OF THE MOSQUE :CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

To be Continued ….. Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk