Madras Presidency

Madras Presidency, also known as the Presidency of Fort St. George, was one of the three main administrative divisions of British India, alongside the Bombay Presidency and the Bengal Presidency. It comprised large parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Odisha. Its capital was the city of Madras (now Chennai).

Historical Background

The origins of the Presidency date back to 1639, when the British East India Company acquired land on the Coromandel Coast and established a trading post at Madraspatnam. Soon after, they constructed Fort St. George, which became the administrative and military headquarters for British operations in South India.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Madras Presidency expanded significantly due to:

• The outcome of the Carnatic Wars
• Victories over regional powers such as the Nizam of Hyderabad and Tipu Sultan
• Strategic annexations and treaties with princely states

Administration

The Presidency was governed by a British-appointed Governor. It was divided into:

• Districts, each managed by a District Collector
• Agencies, covering tribal and frontier areas
• Several princely states that were under indirect British control

The Madras High Court was established in 1862, making it one of the oldest in India. After the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, the Presidency adopted a bicameral legislative system.

Economic and Social Development

The Madras Presidency became an important center of colonial trade and industry:

• Major exports included cotton, indigo, spices, and textiles
• Cities like Madras and Coimbatore developed significant textile mills
• Large-scale irrigation projects such as the Grand Anicut and Periyar Dam boosted agriculture

It also became a hub for modern education, home to institutions like:

• The University of Madras (established in 1857)
• Presidency College
• Several prominent medical and engineering colleges

Role in Indian Independence

The region was a stronghold of early Indian nationalism and reform. Key figures associated with the movement from Madras Presidency include:

• C. Rajagopalachari
• Annie Besant
• Subramania Bharati
• Periyar E. V. Ramasamy

It saw:

• Active participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement
• Growth of nationalist media and publications
• The emergence of the Justice Party and the foundation of the Dravidian movement

End of the Presidency

Following India’s independence in 1947:

• The Presidency became Madras Province
• Later, it was reorganized into Madras State
• Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, it was divided on linguistic lines to form the modern states of:

 * Tamil Nadu
 * Andhra Pradesh
 * Kerala
 * Parts of Karnataka and Odisha

Legacy

The legacy of Madras Presidency includes:

• Pioneering efforts in modern education and judiciary
• The rise of South Indian political consciousness
• The foundation of Dravidian identity and movements for social reform

See Also

• British India
• East India Company
• Madras (Chennai)
• Indian Independence Movement
• Justice Party
• States Reorganisation Act 1956