Tamil Nadu Police Museum, Egmore, Chennai

Last month, one weekday afternoon, I went to see the recently opened Police Museum in Egmore, Chennai. Tamil Nadu Police Museum is situated in the erstwhile Madras Police Commissioner’s Office in the city. The british-era building, an Indo-Saracenic structure, was built in the 1842 and following the City Policer Act of 1856, the 14 acre property with its bungalow became the first Police Commissioner’s office. It continued to function there till the second millenium, for over hundred-and-fifty years. Following an extensive conservation and renovation activities undertaken by the state government it was opened to public as Tamil Nadu Police Museum by (then) Chief Minister Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami on the 26th February 2021.

The visit to the museum was a rewarding experience. The colonial period building transports you to a bygone era. There are numerous pieces of history, artefacts, and items on display. I will recommend every visitor to the city to go to the museum to investigate its past. It is not large, so you are likely to spend an hour or two and there is not much of walking – old people may find it a bit difficult though.

There is ample parking in the campus, but you need to ask the guards nicely to permit you to park. The entry fee is Rs 10 per person, there is a seperate charge (optional) of Rs 10 or Rs 20 per photo for the three photo booths (Prison Cell, Throne of Swords, Commissioner’s table) which you can see below. There is a cafeteria in the campus and even clean & functional rest rooms, a rarity in Chennai!

Through the photos below, I try to provide you a glimpse on what to expect here:

Photo booths

பிப்ரவரி 2022யில் தி. ந. ச. வெங்கடரங்கன் சென்றப் போது – தமிழ்நாடு காவல் அருங்காட்சியகம், சென்னை.

I shared the below picture in social media with the following comment, “My new role. Had been ordered to join duty on a hurry – new uniform is yet to get ready. My first job will be to upgrade the tech in the Commissioner of Police office: there is only a typewriter here!” :-)

Venkatarangan Thirumalai seated in the Chennai Commissioner of Police table – Tamil Nadu Police Museum

Me, seated in a Throne of Swords inspired by Game of Thrones – Tamil Nadu Police Museum

My Best Friend Ravi Ethirajulu put me behind bars and had the audacity to capture my suffering! #nottrue #forfun #tamilnadupolice #museum

The history of the building

The imposing red building of erstwhile Madras Commissioner’s Office

Office of the commissioner of police, Madras. Built 1842.

The history of the Indo-Saracenic building that was purchased in 1842 for INR 21,000

The conservation story of the bungalow built by C Arunagari Mudaliar in 1842

Punkha, the elite cooler. It is a type of fan used since the early 6th century BC. A servant operated the fan, using a pulley system.

The history of Tamil Nadu Police

சங்க காலத்தில் அரசர்களால் அமைக்கப்பட்ட ஊர்காவலர்களே இன்றைய காவல்துறைக்கு முன்னோடி. The guardian system dates back to the Sangam era (6th century BCE to 3rd century CE)