Mysterious solution: Kalvi Varu Street connects two yards of docks, which can be seen in any city map. Until 1962, the government approved funds for strengthening the dock here.
Finally, a few years later, I can sleep well at night. So far, who, or what is one of the unsolved mysteries. And now, I think I have an answer.
Kalvi Varu Street is a narrow and short extension parallel to the Buckingham Canal. The subway was vaguely visible overhead throughout the street, with high walls cutting the sight of the Buckingham Canal, but there was no smell.
Wide sidewalk
However, in the street itself, there are two parts. A very clean, with wide sidewalks, seating under trees and play area, now serving as a highway – all types of vehicles are available when most of the Royapettah High Road are excavated in the metro track project. The rest of Kalvi Varu is essentially behind the Mundagakanni Amman Koil MRTS station.
A few years ago, the first part of the street was bound by beautification and amenities projects, and it was when the reasons behind the name were debated. As usual, wild theories abound. Some say it has to do with the famous Cowty Town family, because they once owned property here. This is not true. Another group believes that since the Vidya Mandir school is adjacent to the road, it has been called “Kalvi” (education), although they conveniently forgot to have a Varu attached. This is not possible to be the right explanation given that schools only emerged in the 1950s, even when roads existed in the 1940s.
Preferred location
Since the 1940s, several famous people in Madras have lived on this road. Federal Court Judge S. Varadachariar and writer Guhapriyai are residents. Records of who is such a person are provided only as mylapore. In their time, this must have been a preferred residential location, leaning downward to the canal of ships carrying cargo. The canal has a series of docks that have clearly stopped from sources.
One of them is the Mylapore Pier, which is close to the famous Hamilton/Ambattan/Barbers Bridge and is now named after BR Ambedkar. Another one is in Kuchiri Road. The first offers a place to unload firewood and wood, a huge warehouse standing where the Citi Center shopping center is located. The second is the access to the Taneer Turai (Waterside) market. It’s a green initiative, long before the idea became fashionable. This is the creativity of Sir V. Bhashyam Iyengar. The private market was transformed into a trust by Desikan, the equal son of Bhashyam Iyengar, who became a common trustee of vegetable suppliers.
Canal Pier Street
Kalvi Varu Street can be seen on any city map. Apparently Canal Pier Street, it became Kalvai Pier/Valpu Street, and then it became Kalvi Varu Street. Interestingly, it was not until 1962 that the government approved funds for strengthening the dock here, and the activity continued until 1970, when it was declared mysterious. The plan also includes a boatman’s restaurant. By then the canal itself was non-functional, but hoped to revive it before until the MRT paid to the idea. The Taneer Turai market no longer has any logic and has recently grown for residential high-rises.
There is nothing today in the dock, the boatman’s monastery, or any trace of transport of water. All of this in just fifty years!
(V. Sriram is a writer and historian.)
publishing – April 15, 2025 at 10:30 pm IST
