Mystery resolved: Kalvi Varu street connects the two docks as can be seen on any map of the city. Already in 1962, the Government sanctioned the funds for the strengthening of the docks here.
Finally, after years, I can sleep well at night. Who, or what was Kalvi Varu, had one of those mysteries not resolved so far? And now, I think I have the answer.
Kalvi Varu Street is a narrow and short section that extends parallel to the Buckingham channel. The MRTS launch above the street and a high wall cuts the view and access, but not the smells of the Buckingham channel.
Path
But, or the street itself, there are two parts. One is remarkable and with a wide path, seats under the trees and a game area, is now serving as a road, providing access to all types of vehicles when much of Royopettah High Road is excavated for the Rail Metro project. The rest of Kalvi Varu is essentially the back of the Mundagakanni Amman Kil Mrts station.
The first part of the street was subject to a beautiful project and a few years ago, which is when the reason behind the name arose for the debate. And as usual, wild theories abounded. Some said it had to do with the famous Pondicherry family, as they had had a property here. This was not true. Another group had to since the Vidya Mandir school contains much of this path, it was called ‘Kalvi’ (education), although conveniently forgotten that a varu is also attached. And he considers that the school appeared only in the 1950s, while the road existed in the 1940s, this could not have been a correct explanation.
Preferred location
Several prominent people of Madras lived in this path since the 1940s. Sir S. Varadacharar, judge of the Federal Court, was a resident, as was the Guhapriyai writer. Who is who registers those people give the address only as Mylapore. In its time, this must have a preferred residential location, with a facade that leans towards the channel where ships are loaded with products. That the channel had a series of docks where the ships stopped is clear from the sources.
One of them was Mylapore dock, which was near the famous Hamilton/Ambattan/Barbers bridge, now called by Br Ambedkar. The other was in Kutchery Road. The first provided a place to download firewood and wood for which a huge Gtown was where the Citi Center shopping center is now. The second was the access to the Taneer Turai (Waterside) market. This was a green initiative long before such ideas became fashionable. It was a creation of Sir V. Bhashyam Iyengar, a legal luminaire that also served for a while as judge of the Superior Court of Madras. The private property market became a trust by the equal son of Bhashyam Iyengar, Desikan, who made the merchants of vegetable vendors.
Wharf Street channel
Kalvi Varu street connects the two docks as can be seen on any map of the city. It was clearly Wharf Street channel, which became Kalvai Wharf/Varpu Theu and, in turn, Kalvi Varu Street. It is interesting to observe that at the end of 1962, the Government sanctioned the funds for the strengthening of the docks here, an activity that continued until 1970 when it declared mysteriously complete. The plans also included a restaurant for barqueros. By then, the channel itself was not functional, but hopes remained of their revival until the MRT Payan to such ideas. Taneer Turai Market stopped having some logic and recently gave way to a high residential increase.
Today there is nothing left of the docks, the readjustment for the barquers, or in the case of any trace of water transport. And all this in just fifty years!
(V. Sriram is a writer and historian).
Published – April 15, 2025 10:30 pm ist
