Subasree vasanthamurali ( 3rd year ,Miranda House)
Chennai, often referred to as the gateway of south India has always been a major cultural and administrative centre. The city that boasts of a long line of history is a hub to many intricately designed temples and classic imperial architecture. Markets and trade have always been a crucial to this part of Tamilakam right from the Sangam era. References of the flourishing markets are found all over the ancient epics right from Pattinapakkam to Silapathikaram. But the current status of the city’s history on markets remains poorly documented and inadequate.
The city nicknamed as Singara Chennai for all its grandeur and heritage has had an ample amount of history and legacy associated with its markets for which unfortunately we have very little evidence left. The earliest evidence of a proper market setup of the city comes from the time of British era, back when the George Town was the centre of all affairs. Many of these markets were built in an Indo Saracenic style with big arches and ornamental façade. However, the once buzzing markets have now become almost extinct due to lack of proper bureaucratic assistance.
The capital of Tamilnadu, has very few of these heritage markets left behind it, and one among those is the Zam bazar. Located in the heart of Triplicane, The Zam bazar an iconic market of the pre independence period was initially owned by Mr. Phiroz Muncherji Clubwala, a well-respected merchant back in the days. The market after the death of Mr. Clubwala in 1927 came under the supervision of the trust, who continue to oversee it till today. The Zam bazar is a huge single storeyed building seated at the heart of Triplicane which is a home to more than 800 shops.
The Bazar located around the Amir mahal, the place of the Nawab of Arcot, is quite a culmination of cross cultures that sells right from siddha medicine to every variety of fish and meat. Many shops of the bazar that stands tall till today have witnessed the legacy of four generations and thrived across all circumstances. The one thing that makes Zam market more unique and resilient is the fact that it has manged to exist even when everything around it feel apart. Though one can’t find a hustling crowd bargaining over the prices of different varieties of spices and rice that the market was once famous for, we can still witness a vestige of the old charm of the city to some extent, as the rosewood pillars and arches of the shops fall away.
These markets now not upkeeping with the modern notions of hygiene and maintenance were at one time were constantly inspected for their sanitary conditions and preservation. Though the Zam market do not possess grand structure and arcaded entries anymore doesn’t mean they don’t hold any historical significance today or do not account for any social importance. Historians in the recent times have argued that the market which remains as the pinnacle of any civilization should be protected with even more care as the markets are important symbols of representing the city’s flavour.
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