Wed Nov 19 00:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
An article in The Hindu’s e-paper delves into the history of Badrian Garden Street in Chennai, India. The author recounts the story of a lost obelisk that was one of six erected in the 1770s to mark the southern boundary of George Town. The author traces the street’s name back to Badriah, a dubash who was once a leader of the Left Hand Castes in the city. Badriah’s battery likely became a garden named after him. The article also highlights Vambakkam Raghavachariar, the first Indian Police Magistrate in Madras, who lived in Badriah Garden, leading it to be informally known as Police Raghavachariar Square. The author laments the disappearance of historical landmarks like Vani Vilas (Raghavachariar’s house) and Terrace Mahal, a former hostel, from the area, mirroring the fate of the demolished obelisk.
News Article:
Chennai’s Badrian Garden Street: A Lost History Unveiled
CHENNAI, November 19, 2025 – A recent exploration of Chennai’s historic George Town area has unearthed fascinating details about Badrian Garden Street and its rich, often overlooked past. An article featured in today’s edition of The Hindu’s e-paper sheds light on the street’s namesake and the fading historical landmarks that once defined the area.
The article revisits the story of a demolished obelisk, discovered in the late 1980s, that was one of six erected in the 1770s to mark the southern boundary of George Town. Only one of these obelisks still stands today.
The author, historian Sriram V., traces the street’s name to Badriah, a prominent dubash (interpreter and broker) who rose to prominence in the early 18th century as a leader of the Left Hand Castes. It is believed that Badriah’s battery, a defensive structure, was converted into a garden named in his honor.
In the 1830s, Badrian Garden became a residential area. Vambakkam Raghavachariar, the first Indian Police Magistrate in Madras, lived in a prominent house known as Vani Vilas. For a time, the area was known as Police Raghavachariar Square.
Today, despite its historical significance, Badrian Garden Street is struggling to retain its historical character. Landmarks such as Vani Vilas, and the once-famous Terrace Mahal, have disappeared, echoing the fate of the demolished obelisk.
The article serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving Chennai’s rapidly vanishing heritage.
First Piper 