Kaj Schmidt Memorial


Kaj Schmidt Memorial
Kaj Schmidt Memorial
Kaj Schmidt Memorial at Elliots Beach after restoration
Map
LocationBesant Nagar, Chennai, India
TypeMemorial
MaterialConcrete
Completion date1931
Opening date1931
Dedicated toKaj Schmidt

The Kaj Schmidt Memorial is an architectural landmark commemorating a Danish[1] sailor who drowned in 1930 trying to save the life of a woman. It is located at Elliot's Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The monument was in a derelict state,[2] but has recently been restored.[1]

History

Kaj Schmidt memorial in a dilapidated condition before restoration

According to historians, Kaj Schmidt, who had gone to the beach, saw an English girl getting into the water who soon started struggling against the tide. In a successful attempt to save her life, he lost his own.[3] The English girl, whom Schmidt saved from the sea, attended a party the following evening as though nothing had happened. The then governor, who was apparently angry with her, built the memorial to mark Schmidt's gallant act.[4]

The memorial

The plaque at Kaj Schmidt Memorial

According to experts, the structure, which was built using bricks, lacks a stone foundation. The uneven base and the sea water have caused damage to the memorial over the years.[4]

The memorial is the only heritage structure on Elliot's Beach. The memorial stone in the memorial reads, "To commemorate the gallantry of Kaj Schmidt who was drowned near this spot on December 30, 1930 while helping to save the lives of others."[3]

At the initiative of an 87-year-old lady, in March 2013, the Corporation of Chennai announced that it would restore the memorial.[4] In connection with the planned restoration of the memorial, the Chennai Corporation announced on 4 February 2014 that it plans to utilize Fiber Wrapping Technology to reinforce the structure.[5] The restoration was done by IIT Madras and REACH Foundation.[6]

Until 2030, this memorial has to survive so as to get a heritage tag. As of 2018, there is an enclosure around the memorial, and the cracks in the structure have been mended. However, there is still a lot of graffiti on the white surface, and people regularly climb the structure to take selfies. There are no security guards to discourage such actions.[7][8]

Cult classic Malayalam movie, Nadodikattu, which revolves around two impecunious young men, Ramdas (Mohanlal) and Vijayan (Sreenivasan) who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to immigrate to Dubai to make their fortunes, but get deceived by Gafoorkka and end up in this spot. Thus the spot has become an iconic place for Keralites.[9][10]


References

  1. ^ a b ...the gallantry of a Dane, Kaj Erik Gjolstad Schmidt.
  2. ^ Achuthan, Kannal (8 May 2008). "A sailor's memorial on beach sinks into oblivion". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. ^ a b Hemalatha, Karthikeyan (29 December 2012). "Schmidt Memorial a tippler's haunt". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Hemalatha, Karthikeyan (12 March 2013). "Glory to Schmidt memorial: Civic body plans restoration". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Schmidt Memorial to be wrapped, strengthened". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ^ "The Times Group". Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  7. ^ Shruti Suresh (27 December 2018). "He saved a girl, residents try to save his memory". The Times of India. pp. selfie spot where young couples leave scribbled messages of.
  8. ^ WHITEHEAD, ANDREW. "4 Chennai: the Karl Schmidt Memorial".
  9. ^ "History repeats as younger generation of Dasan and Vijayan visits 'Dubai' beach". OnManorama. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  10. ^ Anand, V. (1 August 2018). "Madras - the cradle of Malayalam cinema". OnManorama. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
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