While Madras went to bed early, Chennai stays up
This article explores the cultural evolution of Chennai, tracing its transition from a quiet city that slept early to a vibrant, sleepless metropolis. It highlights how the IT and BPO boom in the late 90s transformed the city's nightlife, social habits, and economy.
Why it matters
It provides a sociological perspective on how economic shifts and globalization fundamentally alter the lifestyle and urban identity of major Indian cities.
Decades ago, Madras was a city that believed about 9 p.m. was bedtime. After sunset, shutters came down, streets emptied, and roads fell into almost complete silence, with barely a vehicle in sight.
Chennai’s two prominent railway stations, Central and Egmore, were among the few places that remained active at night largely because of the steady flow of passengers.
The city began changing in the 1980s, when pubs slowly emerged, followed by the Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) boom and a growing night-shift workforce in the late 90s. Slowly, the night became an economy of its own, acquiring the character of sleepless cities across the world. Tea shops stayed open, eateries followed tech corridors, and businesses discovered a new customer as work hours changed — the night owl. The Madras that once went to bed early, forgot how to sleep after it became Chennai.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in