MORE COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC AREAS EMERGE IN CITY

Times of India
22 Sep 2008, 0607 hrs IST,TNN
India

CHENNAI: The city, for centuries, has been welcoming people from
across the globe. The city has a sizeable Telugu, Malayali, Jain and
Anglo Indian population. The list of people from Karnataka, Bihar,
UP, Delhi, Punjab, Manipur and even Armenia who have made Chennai
their home is getting longer.

The Malayali population in Chennai, for instance, would run into
several lakhs. But it is difficult to specify any particular area
where they are concentrated, as is the case with Biharis, Kannadigas,
Punjabis and most other groups.

However, Telugus, Jains and Anglo Indians present a different
picture. Telugus, for instance, are next only to Tamilians
in population in Chennai. They have their presence in almost
all sectors. Sowcarpet, Mint and T Nagar were their initial
settlements. Since they were into business, they settled close to
their establishments. Some of the leading textile shops, educationists
and construction groups belong to the Telugu community. It would
not be an exaggeration to say that majority of the modern buildings
that dot the Chennai skyline were promoted or constructed by Reddys
from Andhra Pradesh. They had a dominating presence in the city,
so much so that during the state reorganisation on linguistic lines,
there was a demand to even annex Chennai to Andhra Pradesh. Finally,
to retain Chennai, Tamil Nadu had to give Tirupathi to Andhra Pradesh.

Anglo Indians, by and large, are confined to Perambur region as most
of them were working in the Railways. The Armenians came to Chennai
as early as the 17th century to trade in spices. They settled in
George Town and constructed the landmark Armenian Church. But there
are hardly any Armenians left in Chennai now.

Like the Telugus, Jains from Rajasthan and Gujarat , who came to
Chennai more than a century ago, primarily as pawn brokers and
textile and grocery merchants , started living in Sowcarpet and T
Nagar. Those who chose to be in T Nagar were primarily financiers. As
their population increased, they established Jain temples in their
localities and later spread to Vadapalani, Vyasarpadi, Madhavaram
and Ambathur regions.

The rich among them have now shifted to the up-market Kilpauk and
Vepery. Jains too have a significance presence in the construction
sector. Many tall structures in Chennai are creations of Jains.

ETHNIC LINES

Telegus, next to only Tamils in population, were initially located
in Sowcarpet , Mint and T Nagar before moving to other areas Anglo
Indians, by and large, are confined to Perambur region as most of them
were working in the Railways There are hardly any of the Armenians,
who settled in George Town in the 17th century, left in the city
anymore The Reddys from Andhra are known for constructing or promoting
a majority of the modern buildings that dot the city skyline.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress