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        Gandhi Peak' on Pycrofts Road now called Bharathi Salai at Triplicane, where the founder of the Indian National Army Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose stayed after he parted ways with Mahatma Gandhi and Indian National Congress on various issues such as non-violence, is a place of historical significance.

        The bungalow was owned and built by engineer S P Aiyaswami Mudaliar.
 

'Gandhi Peak' where Netaji Subash Chandra Bose stayed for three days in 1939, prior to Independence. (Inset) S P Dhananjaya, grandson of the architect of the building engineer Aiyaswami Mudaliar.

        In spite of Nethaji distancing himself from Gandhi and the INC, it was Aiyaswami who gave shelter to the 'rebellious' Bose when he severed ties with the national party and formed his own Forward Bloc within the Congress.

        If not for these developments coupled with the one in October 1935 when the first President to-be Rajendra Prasad presided over a Congress meeting in the spacious hall on the second floor of the Aiyaswami building which came to be known as 'Gandhi Peak'.

        The meeting was attended by very important Congress dignitaries from Tamilnadu and other States.

        Rajendra Prasad laid the foundation stone for the room on the third floor which was constructed within two months in 1935 and a bust of Gandhiji was installed atop the building at which time it was christened 'Gandhi Peak.' The bust was inaugurated by Rajaji on 28 December 1935 coinciding with the golden jubilee of the formation of the Indian National Congress.

Subash Chandra Bose stayed in the room on the third floor of Gandhi Peak for three days - 3, 4, and 5 September 1939. He did not have support and cooperation of Mahatma Gandhi on all matters. He visited Madras probably to mobilise support for his Forward Bloc.         Aiyaswami Mudaliar came forward to accommodate him in the spacious building of 12,000 sq ft on three grounds of land. Janakiram Pillai zamindar of Puliyur village (Kodmbakkam) recommended for Bose's stay. Subash Chandra Bose addressed a gathering at Tilak Ghat (Seerani Arangam) on 3 September 1939.         When Nethaji objected to the gong of bell every one hour announcing time at Gandhi Peak, complaining his meditation was being disturbed, Aiyaswami Mudaliar made it a point that the regular practice cannot be given up for the sake of the guest after which Subash did not insist further.         Indian Express's special supplement copy announcing the World War II on 1 September 1939 was thrust into the hands of Netaji's and he announced about the war at the meeting. On all the three days of his stay at Gandhi Peak people in thousands were jostling with one another in front of the Gandhi Peak to have a glimpse of the 'Lion of Bengal' and 'Terror of Britishers', as he was called by his supporters. The banners depicting the same were hung on the walls of the building then.

Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose with his host S P Aiyaswami  Mudaliar with his autobiograph signed on the photo.

        Dhanammal, Aiyaswami's wife maintained an account of the expenditure on Subash's stay there, which is even now preserved.

        Bose made a second visit on 10, 11 January 1940. His photographs with his autograph with date are being preserved even now and treasured by Aiyaswami's grandson S P Dhananjaya. Muthuramalinga Devar, leader of Devar, was convalescing in Gandhi Peak.

        A stone inscription, arranged by Congress leader Kumari Ananthan, was declared open on 21 October 2001 by actor Kamal Hasan.

        Anitha Bose, daughter of Nethaji, visited the Gandhi Peak on 18 December 2005 along with her husband and two nephews.

        These historical facts were narrated by S P Dhananjaya, who preserves and treasures all the related papers of the Gandhi Peak situated at 149, Bharathi Salai, diagonally opposite to Triplicane Sub-Registrar's office.

        Its a treasure trove and Dhanajaya can be contacted on phone No 2948 7314 Mobile 93810 01793.