Tamil Nadu in the 1900s
23 events, 1900 to 1909; 3 marked as turning points.
1900
Moore Market completed in Madras
Completed in 1900 beside Madras Central, Moore Market was an Indo-Saracenic building meant to accommodate the hawkers of Broadway.
Ida Scudder opens a dispensary in Vellore
Ida Scudder, an American medical missionary, started a dispensary with one bed in Vellore, from which the Christian Medical College grew.
1901
Pandithurai Thevar founds the Fourth Tamil Sangam in Madurai
Pandithurai Thevar, a member of the Ramnad royal family, founded the Madurai Tamil Sangam, known as the Fourth Tamil Sangam, to promote Tamil learning.
Highclerc School, later Kodaikanal International School, opens
Margaret Eddy opened Highclerc School at Kodaikanal for missionary children on 1 July 1901; it became Kodaikanal International School.
1903
Madras Veterinary College established
Housed at first in a modest building called Doblin Hall, the Madras Veterinary College opened its doors on 1 October 1903.
Congress session in Madras presided by Lalmohan Ghosh
The nineteenth Congress session met in Madras in December 1903; president Lalmohan Ghosh called for compulsory primary education.
1904
Kumbakonam Bank, later City Union Bank, incorporated
Kumbakonam Bank Limited was incorporated on 31 October 1904 as a regional bank; it later became City Union Bank.
1905
Kasturi Ranga Iyengar acquires The Hindu
S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar bought The Hindu in 1905; it has remained with his family since.
Swamikannu Vincent starts touring tent cinemas
Coimbatore's Swamikannu Vincent began showing films in tent cinemas in 1905 and opened the Variety Hall theatre in 1914.
1906
Madras Agricultural College moves to Coimbatore
The Saidapet agricultural school moved to Coimbatore in 1906, and the Agricultural College and Research Institute opened there in 1909.
V. O. Chidambaram Pillai founds the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company
To compete with British lines on the Tuticorin-Colombo route, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai registered an Indian-owned shipping firm.
The failure of the Madras banking firm Arbuthnot & Co caused the worst financial crisis in the city's history and fuelled support for Indian-owned banks.
1907
Chandrasekharendra Saraswati becomes head of the Kanchi Matha
On 13 February 1907 Swaminathan was installed as the 68th pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, taking the name Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.
Pasteur Institute of Southern India opens at Coonoor
The Pasteur Institute of Southern India began work at Coonoor in April 1907 and became a major producer of anti-rabies vaccine.
Iyothee Thass launches Oru Paisa Tamizhan
Iyothee Thass launched the Tamil weekly Oru Paisa Tamizhan, an anti-caste journal that later became The Tamilan.
Inspired by the Swadeshi movement, the Indian-owned Indian Bank opened in Madras following the failure of Arbuthnot & Co.
1908
Subramania Bharati goes into exile in Pondicherry
Facing an arrest warrant, the poet and journalist Subramania Bharati moved to French-ruled Pondicherry, where he lived for about ten years.
Coral Mill strike in Tuticorin
Led by V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramania Siva, Coral Mill workers in Tuticorin struck against poor pay and harsh conditions.
Arrest of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Tirunelveli unrest
The arrest of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramania Siva on sedition charges set off unrest in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.
Madras Egmore station building opens
The Indo-Saracenic terminal of Egmore station, Madras terminus of the South Indian Railway, was opened on 11 June 1908.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway reaches Ooty
The rack railway from Mettupalayam, opened to Coonoor in 1899, was extended to Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in 1908.
Congress session in Madras after the Surat split
A year after the Congress split at Surat, the moderate-led Congress met in Madras in December 1908 under Rash Behari Ghosh.
1909
The Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced elections to the legislative councils, including Madras, and admitted Indians to the Madras executive council.
