Zhayynn James will unveil his book,The Keeper of the Wells,on July 11 at Victoria Public Hall. It dives into history of the Nicholases,a family deeply rooted in Madras. James,last of Nicholases, juggles this passion with his work as landscape architect and photography accolades.
Story goes back to 1780s when Madras was under threat from military strategist Hyder Ali. Seven Wells was then a crucial water If Ali disrupted it,city could be crippled. But an Irishman named Nicholas stepped up as protector,earning title Custodian of the Seven Wells.
Historians disagree on who this Nicholas was . J. Chartres Molony calls him Sylvester Nicholas, but H.D. Love says first Nicholas's name is unknown. Sylvester,nephew of the original, held post till death in 1858, then his son Joseph, and E.A.S. Nicholas till 1905. Nicholas family claims their role lasted until 1925,though historians dispute this.
By time Molony reached Madras, official custodianship was over,yet E.A.S . Nicholas, or Evelyn,stayed on Seven Wells grounds . His pay of 10 pagodas, once enough for horse and carriage, had lost value due to inflation by then .
James has often detailed his connection to Nicholases,though listeners don't always follow. His book aims to clarify this lineage, offering fictionalized history. In it, first Nicholas is named John, detail from family archives of another Nicholas abroad.
Nicholases have long presence in Madras,many buried at St . Roque’s cemetery in Old Washermanpet. James's book joins growing list of fiction inspired by city,like In Old Madras by Bithia Mary Croker,from 1913,with a character hunting for lost uncle. Recent years see rise in Madras literature, especially in Tamil,with writers like Jayakanthan and Ashokamitran bringing city alive.
As launch nears, there's buzz for James's addition to English literary scene of Madras. Will it weave into city's historical tapestry while honoring Nicholases' legacy…?
