News in Frames: The old world within a busy market

The wholesale market in Vellore district remains a bustling hub, its narrow lanes filled with the honking of vehicles and the bustling paths lined with vendors selling essential goods. Despite the market's modernity, remnants of a bygone era persist within its walls. A watch repairman toils away in the heart of the city, a gas lantern seller displays his wares, and a harmonium repairman maintains musical instruments, while an old tailor operates his shop amidst vegetable sellers.

Some traders have been conducting business here for generations, carrying on trades that have endured alongside the market's evolution. The market itself has a storied history, dating back to the 19th century and established in 1868, just two years after the Vellore Municipality was formed. Its origins can be traced to a stable where horses from the 16th-century Vellore Fort were tethered.

Following the establishment of the municipality in 1866, the market opened with 200 shops, growing in popularity and attracting traders and customers from across the region. Today, it boasts over 700 permanent shops and 300 temporary shops, serving as a lifeline for the city's residents. Historical elements are still evident in the market's structures, such as the clock tower installed in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, and a foundation stone laid in 1914 by the British Collector Marjoribanks Esquire and Municipal Council chairman Khan Bahadur Habibullah Sahib.

The market pays homage to a local freedom fighter, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and its oblong-shaped main entrance features 16 entrances on all four sides. While the market has embraced the modern era, nostalgic elements remain, offering a glimpse into the city's past.