Their Instagram page is a wonderful mix of heritage stories and nostalgia. Through archival images and well-researched information, they attempt at weaving an ode to Chennai.
Madras Inherited aims to be an accessible repository of historical information and trivia about Chennai, connect with the people, and get to hear their stories.
“We have the most amazing support from our audience, be it the regular patrons of our heritage walks or the ones who cheer us on social media,” Ashmitha Athreya adds.
“This is a city that was founded by a man whose ancestor came from Iran, and whose mother is believed to be a Telugu woman, Bhagirathi. Our aim is to tell these lesser-known tales.”
Johann Binny Kuruvilla came across heritage walks in various Indian cities around 2017 — including the Khaki Tours in Mumbai — and was immediately smitten.
Kuruvilla started with putting up content not found online. He uses research material uploaded by PhD students, while another source is collectors of rare books.
What started as a passion project has now become a way of life for Kuruvilla. “I was a travel consultant, and so, initially this page was a side thing I wanted to do for myself,” he confesses.