Town Planning in Madras

An interesting parallel between the buildings of the East and the buildings of the West has been referred to and I think that this comparison might also be extended to the religions of the East and the religions of the West.. [...] Thus the family careful of its home expands into the small community careful of its district and the higher officers correlate the activity of the district to the activity of the ward while the municipality is left to deal with those matters affecting the city as a whole. [...] The objects of this liberality are as various as the needs of the community—temples theatres bridges markets a portico or a colonnade the relaying of a road or pavement from the forum to the port the repair of an aqueduct above all the erection of new baths or the restoration for the free enjoyment of this greatest luxury of the south. [...] Then the monastic and educational establishments and somewhat later the City Hall and the Guild centres all products of the voluntary efforts of the citizens who participated in the work according to their means and who whether rich or poor took the keenest interest in all efforts tending to the advancement and embellishment of the city. [...] Notwithstanding this the first impression of the Indian city at the present time suggests that its growth has been on the lines of the mediaeval town till a closer examination of the plan reveals the fact that the original scheme was more often delibeate and considered and that the irregularities and distortions have arisen through the lapse of the controlling power.