Thiruvallikkeni aka
Triplicane the place of Sri
Parthasarathi Emperuman has rich history – that of the very
ancient Temple dating back to more than 1200 years; the first College in the
Province – Presidency College, Kasturba Hospital (Gosha hospital) of 1885,
Hindu High School of 1850s and 1906 – century old
institutions - the subject matter is
what I saw at 101 Big Street, unusual cleaning activity in an age old shop
which people believed stood out for its quality !!
மளிகைக் கடைகள் — திருவல்லிக்கேணியின் மாறிவரும் அடையாளங்கள்
where do you buy your
provisions ? – most likely you are loyal to one shop and know its history with
its owners knowing you too ! – it is more of friendliness and trust !! but in recent decade or two things have
changed – with more people opting to Apps and Online orders !!
மளிகைக்
கடை என்பது வெறும் அரிசி, பருப்பு, எண்ணெய், சர்க்கரை வாங்கும் இடம் மட்டுமல்ல. அந்தந்த
தெருவின் மக்களோடு பல ஆண்டுகள் பழகி, அவர்களின் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கையோடு இணைந்து போனவை
இத்தகைய கடைகள். திருவல்லிக்கேணியின் இன்னொரு
பழக்கப்பட்ட அடையாளம் — இன்று அந்த இடத்தில் இல்லை!
In Tamil country,
shops selling food grains, spices, oil and other household goods are very old.
Sangam literature refers to அங்காடி—marketplaces,
including நாளங்காடி (day market) and அல்லங்காடி
(evening/night market). Medieval temple towns likewise had specialised merchant
streets and shops. The form we would
immediately recognise as a provision store became increasingly common during
the 18th and especially 19th centuries, as towns expanded under British rule.
The English expression provisions meant food and other supplies required for
everyday use. Hence shops selling such things became “provision
dealers/stores.” In Madras, Bombay and Calcutta, this retail form developed
alongside older Indian grain merchants, oil merchants, spice sellers and bazaar
shops.
There is also an
interesting linguistic distinction. “மளிகை”
itself is not a modern supermarket-era word. Tamil dictionaries use “மளிகை” for groceries/provisions and articles sold by
a grocer; “மளிகைக்கடை”
consequently means the shop dealing in these miscellaneous provisions.
Before supermarkets,
apps and doorstep deliveries changed our buying habits, the neighbourhood மளிகைக்
கடை
was an integral part of everyday life. Rice and dhal, oil and jaggery, spices
and household necessities — often weighed out from sacks and containers — came
from the familiar shop where the customer and shopkeeper knew each other for
years. The shopkeeper knew the families
around him, knew what they normally bought, sometimes maintained the familiar
monthly account, and often sent provisions home even before the bill was
settled.
The TUCS —
Triplicane Urban Co-operative Society / Triplicane Co-operative Stores — is
particularly significant. A 1928 Government of Madras report
says that the Triplicane Co-operative Stores, registered in 1905, was the first
non-credit co-operative society in the Madras Presidency, formed specifically
to provide the important necessities of life to members. By 1915 it was
described as the most prosperous of the co-operative stores then operating.
Some of
the famous Maligai Shops that readily come to mind starting from Kairavini
Pushkarini could be [pardon me the list is not exhaustive !] – Narasayya kadai
at South Mada Street, Amudha Stores that existed near Barathiyar illam,
Nataraja Stores and Om Muruga Stores at TP Koil St corner opposite to each
other [but run by relatives !!]; at Big Street there were more – Shanmugham stores,
Nambisons, Sri Dhanalakshmi stores, and .. and .. .. Thangam Stores at 101 Big
Street [opp to the site where Sri Parthasarathi Post office operated]
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Gangaikondan
mandapam market is a famous vegetable market and behind it is a complex housing
many shops on all four sides. On the
Southern side, behind vegetable sellers there are some shops – my friend TR
Ramesh ran a White goods shop; on the eastern side, there is Ganesh Photography
[functioning for more than 3 decades] – on the Northern side, Thangam Stores
functioned. Though they were into multi
things – this maligai kadai was well known for its quality and attracted customers
in large numbers.
Just opposite to
where Sri Parthasarathi Kovil Post Office existed in Big Street stands - Sri Parankusa Dasar
Madam, Sri Kannapiran Baktha Jana Sabhai
which has a plaque that it was founded in 1872. As it stands in the house
where freedom fighter RR Dhalavai
lived, he for sure was associated with this during his life – and you are sure
to get attracted by the lamp post – this temple in recent times was taken care
by the Thangam Stores.
Today as I attempted
to buy something was informed by the shops around that Thangam Stores had
closed down business and not functioning ! Sounded a bit melancholic. Enquired with couple of more shops around,
who too confirmed that its owner had decided to move out elsewhere – unable to
break-even due to high rent, electricity, spiraling costs, lowering margins,
and difficult labour force.
If you
are a Triplicanite – most likely, you too had stood in the queue at Thangam
Stores! .. .. and those are now turning into fading memories!!
எதிரே இருக்கும்
சிறிய திருக்கோவிலும் தங்கம் ஸ்டோர்ஸின் கதையைச் சொல்கிறது! ஸ்ரீ
கண்ணபிரான் பக்த ஜன சபையின் பெயர்ப் பலகையில், திருக்கோவில் நிர்வாகத்துடன் ‘தங்கம்
ஸ்டோர்ஸ்’ பெயரும் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது. கடைக்கும் எதிரே உள்ள கோவிலுக்கும்
இருந்த இந்தத் தொடர்பு, திருவல்லிக்கேணியின் சமூக வாழ்க்கையை அழகாகப் பதிவு செய்கிறது.
“தங்கம்
ஸ்டோர்ஸ் எப்போது தொடங்கப்பட்டது? திருவல்லிக்கேணி பழைய மளிகைக் கடைகள் எவை? — நினைவிருப்பவர்கள்
பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளலாம்.” ~ திருவல்லிக்கேணியின் நினைவுகள்
அப்படித்தான், ஏதோ ஒரு சுவரில் தங்கிவிடுகின்றன!
Regards – S Sampathkumar
9.9.2026
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