Chennai turns 370 tomorrow

Chennai: From a tiny fishing hamlet to a bustling metropolis with major automobile units, a thriving IT industry and pride of place as the cultural capital of the South, its been a long and eventful journey for Chennai, erstwhile Madras, which turns 370 tomorrow. A grand week-long birthday bash has been drawn up to mark `Madras day` celebrations including cultural and literary activities. Heritage walks, school exchange programmes, talks and contests, poetry and Carnatic music and quiz, food festivals and rallies, photo exhibitions and bike tours will give the true blue Chennaites glimpses of the city they never knew and of some things they do. It was on this day in 1639 that British Administrator Francis Day got permission from the wards of Chennapa Naicker, a chieftain ruling the fishing hamlet near Madras Harbour to construct Madraspatam, as it was referred then by the British.