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Time-tested memories
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The clock tower in Big Bazaar, donated by Thiagou Mudaliar, takes you down the corridors of time
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Reminiscent of those times... the clock tower at Big Bazaar. — Pic by T. Singaravelou
PONDICHERRY MAY be a tiny Union Territory, but it has several unique institutions and heritage structures. One such structure is the imposing clock tower situated in Grand Bazaar (Periya Kadai), a significant landmark in the town. Nobody can miss the sound of the bell, despite the noisy traffic and bustle of shoppers. .
The clock tower was donated by Thiagou Mudaliar, who belonged to a family of philanthropists of the 19th Century. It is now being maintained by the Pondicherry Municipality. People may no longer look at it to see the time but it is an important link with the colonial past. The French who ruled Pondicherry for more than two-and-a-half centuries did not fail to recognise the benevolence of Thiagou Mudaliar and named the entire stretch from Mission Street to Grand Bazaar after him. There is another clock tower in Petit Bazaar (Chinna Kadai), which was donated by Cou. Latchoumanasamy Chettiar in 1892. The tower bears an inscription in French. .
S. NATARAJAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Madurai
Mangalore
Pondicherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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