Maraimalai Adigal Bridge Explained
The Maraimalai Adigal Bridge (previously the Marmalong Bridge) is a road bridge on Anna Salai connecting the northern and southern banks of the Adyar River.[1]
History
The oldest bridge across the Adyar River - the Marmalong Bridge - was originally constructed by the Armenian merchant Coja Petrus Uscan in 1728 at the cost of Rs. one lakh. He left a trilingual inscription in Armenian, Latin, and Persian.[2] [3] The bridge was named after the nearby village of Mambalam which was Anglicized to Marmalan or Marmalong. The dilapidated old bridge was replaced by a new one in 1966.[4] The new bridge is named after Maraimalai Adigal, a Tamil writer and proponent of the Pure Tamil movement.
Uscan's construction of the bridge is commemorated by a plaque at the northern end of the bridge adjoining the Saidapet bus stand.
Other sources
. Madras Rediscovered. 2004. S. Muthiah. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. 81-88661-24-4.
Notes and References
- Book: Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee Commemoration Volume. 124. Diwan Bahadur S. E. Runganadhan. 1939. Indian Branch, Oxford Press.
- News: Mathai . Kamini . 300-year-old Armenian plaque restored . . April 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201025221428/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/300-year-old-armenian-plaque-restored/articleshow/68746479.cms . 25 October 2020.
- Web site: Commemorative Stele of Chennai’s Armenian Bridge Restored . india.mfa.am . Embassy of Armenia to India . https://web.archive.org/web/20220726191335/https://india.mfa.am/en/news/2019/04/02/Armenianbridge19/6688 . 26 July 2022 . 2 April 2019.
- News: Memories of Madras: From Saidapet to Madras. The Hindu. Prince. Frederick. 1 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090808054807/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/07/01/stories/2009070150200100.htm. dead. 8 August 2009.
