Historical Significance of Darkhast Land and Chennai Church of Our Lady of Assumption
The history of the Church of Our Lady of Assumption in Chennai is closely tied to the concept of 'Darkhast' land. Originating from the Urdu word for 'petition,' the term was adopted by the East India Company in the Madras Presidency to describe the government-sanctioned grant of 'poromboke' (waste) lands to homeless or marginalized individuals. This land tenure system played a crucial role in the urban and social development of colonial-era Madras. The church stands as a testament to these historical land distributions, reflecting how administrative policies of the 18th and 19th centuries shaped the religious and social geography of contemporary Chennai.
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