On Independence Day, a walk along Mount Road in Chennai put the spotlight on freedom struggle markers,unveiling events and figures vital to India's independence.
The walk kicked off at The Hindu, a newspaper steadfast in its support of freedom movement. Participants got a freshly printed copy of its August 15, 1947 edition—symbolic of that era's spirit. Next stop was the now-defunct The Mail,tied to British interests. Its backing of Arbuthnot & Co. during its 1906 collapse was turning point, nudging many Indians toward The Hindu.
Moving on, the group paused at what used to be Kishinchand Chellaram's showroom. Mahatma Gandhi had urged Congress volunteers to picket foreign goods, often focusing on Indian-owned shops. Chellaram’s was an exception, facing picketing for its European ties.
Then to Gaiety Palace, where Thyaga Bhoomi premiered in 1938. This film,based on Kalki's novel,tackled colonialism,caste,and patriarchy. Despite tales of bans and police intervention, it left its mark…
The VGP building, once Victory House, came next. It housed Swadesamitran, linked to poet Subramania Bharathi. Bharathi didn’t work there,but his legacy echoed throughout the walk. At the DBS Building,once home to Saraswathi Stores, his banned songs saw revival in 1947 film Naam Iruvar thanks to Avinashalingam Chettiar .
Outside Higginbothams,focus shifted to copyright struggles, highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi portrait by patriot Arya Bhashyam. Refusing a pension for freedom fighters,Bhashyam turned to portrait-making. His Gandhi depiction was misused by Associated Press,leading to a legal win for Bhashyam.
As the group stood outside Quaid-e-Milleth College, Partition memories surfaced. College honors Mohammad Ismail,founder of Indian Union Muslim League, which opposed India's division. Across Mount Road,Khaleeli Mansions, once owned by Agha Mohammad Khaleel Shirazi, became evacuee land after 1947.
The last stop—an empty pedestal at Spencer Junction,where Colonel James Neill’s statue stood. A symbol of British victory in 1857,it faced Indian backlash, marking early protests against imperialism. Removed in 1937 by Rajaji government,reflecting anti-colonial sentiment.
Many landmarks now live only in memory and literature . Greater Chennai Corporation might erect blue plaques to preserve these sites,honoring those who fought for freedom. Sriram V.,writer and historian, stresses recognizing these markers in India's ongoing narrative…
