Madras Day

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Madras Day is celebrated every year on 22 August, marking the founding of Madras (now Chennai) in 1639, when East India Company factors Andrew Cogan and Francis Day acquired the village of Madraspatnam from Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka, a Vijayanagar viceroy. Initiated in 2004 by journalists Vincent D’Souza, Sashi Nair, and historian S. Muthiah, the celebrations have since grown into exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, and quizzes, often extending into a full Madras Week or even Madras Month. Though some records suggest 22 July 1639 as the actual date, 22 August remains the widely commemorated day.

– Venkataramanan Ramasethu
22 August 2025

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