Beach House
Queen Mary’s College Campus, Mylapore |
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There was a time when residences came up along the Marina! Even the Ice House was once the home of Bilagiri Iyengar, a lawyer. One of the earliest residences here was Beach House, the home of Sir S. Subramania Iyer (1842-1924), or Mani Iyer as he was more popularly known.
Mani Iyer enrolled as a vakil in the Madras High Court in 1869 and soon became a leading lawyer. In October 1888, he became Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor and, in 1891, was made an acting Judge of the Madras High Court, a post he held till 1892. He was appointed as Judge of the High Court in 1895, but retired prematurely in 1907 owing to failing eyesight. In between, he officiated as Chief Justice in 1903, 1905 and 1907.
He was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress and was also an ardent Theosophist. His association with the Congress led to his being hounded by the Government, though this did not deter him in the least. He renounced his knighthood and preferred to be called Dr. Subramania Iyer. A member of the University of Madras Senate, he is commemorated with a statue unveiled in 1935. outside Senate House. To honour him, the Theosophists built Mani Iyer’s Hall in nearby Triplicane.
Mani Iyer’s personal life was tragic and the house by the beach must have given him solace. It is an interesting structure with projecting balconies and monkey-top shades above its windows. It is, today, a part of the Queen Mary’s College campus.
– (Courtesy: KALAMKRIYA)
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