About this book:

*From Madras to Chennai: The Politics and Practice of Renaming a City* provides a comprehensive analysis of the 1996 renaming of Tamil Nadu’s capital as both a symbolic and administrative turning point. The book argues that renaming is a "political technology" used to reconfigure authority and urban citizenship. It traces the city's evolution from a collection of indigenous fishing hamlets to the colonial hub of "Madraspatnam," eventually examining how the rise of Dravidian politics and linguistic nationalism necessitated a shift toward "Chennai" to reclaim an authentic, decolonized identity.

The text details the massive bureaucratic and logistical undertaking required to implement the name change across legal documents, public signage, transportation networks, and digital infrastructures. It explores how this transition affected diverse sectors, from the branding strategies of global corporations to the lived experiences of marginalized communities, including fisherfolk and various caste groups. The author highlights the tension between "heritage" and "history," noting that while "Chennai" serves as the official modern brand, "Madras" persists as a "ghost name" within venerable institutions, nostalgic media, and the collective memory of the diaspora.

By examining specific neighborhood worlds like Mylapore and T. Nagar, the book illustrates how the renaming resonated differently across the city’s micro-geographies. It also situates Chennai’s experience within a broader national trend, comparing it to the renaming of Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. Ultimately, the book concludes that the city lives with a dual identity; "Madras" remains a vital "afterlife" that continues to inform the cultural and spiritual fabric of the modern, globalized metropolis of Chennai.

What You'll Find Inside:

• The renaming of Madras to Chennai is examined as a political technology that reconfigures authority, memory, and everyday urban life across state, market, and civil society.
• Rooted in decades of Dravidian linguistic nationalism and anti-Hindi agitations, the change reflects a broader postcolonial quest for indigenous identity and cultural self‑respect.
• Implementation involved extensive bureaucratic labor—updating signboards, seals, official records, and digital infrastructures—while revealing tensions between official decree and lived practice.
• The shift produced uneven experiences across caste, class, gender, religion, and neighborhood, with institutions and communities often retaining 'Madras' as a heritage marker alongside the new name.
• By comparing Chennai’s renaming to Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, the book highlights recurring themes of linguistic pride, historical authenticity, and the mediating role of digital media in shaping place‑names globally.

Who's It For:

This book will appeal to scholars and students of urban studies, political science, South Asian history, and postcolonial studies, particularly those interested in toponymy, identity politics, and the cultural geography of cities. It also offers valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and heritage practitioners grappling with the social and material consequences of place‑name changes, as well as general readers curious about Chennai’s layered past and its ongoing negotiation between 'Madras' and 'Chennai'.