Chennai Through the Decades
The 1960s
1960–1969
The 1960s marked Madras as a city transitioning from its colonial past into an assertive Tamil identity. The anti-Hindi agitations of 1965 shaped the political landscape for decades. The city was compact, centred around George Town, Mount Road, and Mylapore, with Adyar and Guindy still considered the outskirts.
City & Culture
Madras in the 1960s revolved around Mount Road (Anna Salai), the cultural heart of the city. Spencer's was the department store everyone knew. The Music Academy and Narada Gana Sabha were already pillars of the December music season. Cinema halls like Ega, Devi, and Safire drew crowds for MGR and Sivaji Ganesan films. The city's population was around 18 lakh, and most families relied on bicycles or the MTC bus system to get around. Air-conditioning was a luxury; most homes had ceiling fans at best, and families slept on terraces during the brutal summers.
Growth & Infrastructure
The city's boundaries barely extended beyond Saidapet and Kodambakkam to the south and west. Velachery was farmland, Anna Nagar was being newly planned as a residential colony, and OMR was an empty road to Mahabalipuram. The Integral Coach Factory at Perambur was a major employer. IIT Madras, established in 1959, was settling into its forested Guindy campus. The Madras Port was the city's economic engine, handling most of South India's maritime trade.
Landmark Moments
The anti-Hindi agitations of 1965 were a defining chapter: protests, self-immolations, and strikes erupted across Tamil Nadu against the imposition of Hindi as the sole official language. The movement permanently altered Indian language policy and cemented the DMK's rise to power. The state was renamed from Madras State to Tamil Nadu in 1969. C.N. Annadurai became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of the state in 1967, ending decades of Congress dominance.
Everyday Life
Morning routines began with the milkman delivering fresh milk in brass cans and the newspaper boy tossing The Hindu onto verandahs. Filter coffee from a brass davara-tumbler was non-negotiable. Housewives drew elaborate kolams at dawn. Markets at Mylapore, T. Nagar, and George Town were the shopping destinations. Entertainment meant radio, and All India Radio Madras was the primary source of music and news. Children played cricket on streets and goli (marbles) in empty lots.