The story behind Zackria Colony

                           The story behind Zackria Colony             

I (S. Kasturi Rangan, 66), would like to share some history of Zakaria Colony. I have been at Zackria colony since childhood.  Holding the position of secretary of Choolaimedu Exnora Club, I have highlighted several deficiencies of the service departments such as Chennai Corporation, Metro Water, etc and have helped to find improvements. 

“Over the years, the entire property of Zakaria Colony was bought by many. During 1916, the area was under a merchant named Carl Simon Sochne of Madras. On winding up of the business on British India, the said property was then transferred to the Govt. of Madras.”

“Consequently, the Govt. had appointed a liquidator F.H. Wilson also known as the Solicitor of Madras, who later decided to dispose of the property. And then, the auction takes place on 16 October 1916 where the M/S: Best and Co. Ltd was declared as the highest bidder of the property and it was sold to them”,

Further “In 1939, Abdul Shukoor Seth purchased the entire colony and named it Zakaria Colony and plotted the area and got the sanction and approval from the district board of Chengalpettu.”

Our family purchased a plot in 1951 and since then we are staying there. “During those years , there were about 120 residents whereas now the area has more than about 600 residents”,

“After the 60’s the Kodambakkam Bridge was built and Zakaria Colony is under the flyover and during the 80’s the drainage system started getting developed in the colony. The area started developing slowly and today we have all facilities in and around the colony”,

“Zakaria Colony consists of one main road and four streets and it comes under Choolaimedu post. The colony is also popular because former Chief Minister Dr. M. K Karunanidhi resided in the second street of the colony in 1951. Stalin once narrated at the Exnora meeting that he spent his childhood days in the colony”,