In recent months, I’ve delved into the history of public clocks and clock towers in Chennai, uncovering intriguing details about many-except for one: the Doveton Clock Tower. Commonly recognized as the city’s first clock tower, online sources inaccurately date it to the early 1900s, sometimes linking it to the inauguration of the Ripon Buildings. It was during a conversation with Karthik Bhatt that I began to question this timeline. "Look at how it embodies Art Deco,” he pointed out, referencing the Oriental Insurance Building on Armenian Street, which dates back to 1936. This led me to rethink the construction date of the Doveton Clock Tower.
Intrigued, I pursued further research and found some compelling information. The clock tower, currently known as the Doveton Clock Tower, was once referred to as the Vepery Clock Tower. Its location forms a triangle at the intersection of Purasawalkam High Road and Jeremiah Road, the latter becoming Vepery Church Road, where Rao Saheb MC Madurai Pillai lived. The triangular garden hosting the clock tower likely belonged to him.
Madurai Pillai, who lived from 1880 to 1934, amassed wealth by supplying manpower to the Kolar Gold Fields. A prominent leader in his community, he was a dedicated Vaishnavite who contributed significantly to temples across South India and spearheaded educational initiatives for community upliftment. He also provided financial backing for the magazine Dravidian and maintained ties with the Justice Party while supporting Dalit leader Rettamalai Srinivasan. His commitment to civic affairs led him to become a councillor in the Madras Corporation, where he championed education for his community.
Records from the mid-1930s identify the triangular land where the clock tower stands as MC Madurai Pillai Garden Park, although there is no mention of the clock tower itself. However, given its proximity to Sylvan, a hotel managed by Madurai Pillai, it is likely that the land was either donated by him or by his descendants in his memory after his passing.
Interestingly, there is no formal record of the clock tower, neither visible on-site nor in the Corporation’s archives. The absence of a commemorative plaque or foundation stone adds to its enigma. It may have been a private initiative handed over to the Corporation later on. Today, while gold-lettered refurbishment plaques proudly adorn the structure, they seemingly overlook Madurai Pillai’s contributions entirely. The park itself does not honor him by name, and no restoration efforts have addressed the non-functional clock.
Despite these oversights, we should be grateful that the clock tower remains standing as a testament to Chennai’s historical landscape. The Doveton Clock Tower serves not only as a landmark but also as a reminder of the influential figures who have shaped the community around it.
(V. Sriram is a writer and historian.)
Published – July 23, 2025, 06:00 AM IST
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-tale-of-doveton-clock-tower-in-chennai/article69843534.ece
Category : Chennai
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Publish Date: 2025-07-23 06:00:00
