Photographer: Unknown.
Madras University, Chennai, India.

Taken by an uncredited photographer this image of an Indian student appeared in the illustrated pages of a Russian publication titled V.M Doroshevich East and War in 1905.

Authored by Vlas Mikhailovich Doroshevich: One of Russia’s noted journalist and literary personas (1864-1922), the publication besides this particular photo contained numerous other images of British India, which may possibly have been captured by a Russian photographer touring the country or procured from British sources.

The student shown in the photo at the time had belonged to the Madras University and as can be seen in the photo had tied his hair to a nail in the wall to yank him out of slumber while studying at night. Though the description next to the photo specifically mentioned the student to belong to the Madras University, and since its publication, the photo inherit with its Madras university setting and a Madrasi young man in focus has come to be universally associated with Madrasis. The practice, however, was an ancient one and prevalent in other parts of the country as well, during the era.

In present day India, the Madras University, is considered to be one of the country’s premier educational institutions. Established in 1857 to meet the need of an English College at Madras, then part of the East India Company’s Madras Presidency, it has since gradually expanded over the years and kept up its illustrious reputation.