মোহাম্মদ ইমাদ উদ্দীন at 20:07, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T20:07:58Z

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{{short description|Monument in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox monument
|monument_name = Kaj Schmidt Memorial
|native_name = Kaj Schmidt Memorial
|image = Carl-Schmidt-Monument-Besant-Nagar-beach.jpg
|caption = Kaj Schmidt Memorial at Elliots Beach after restoration
|coordinates =
|location = [[Besant Nagar, Chennai]], [[India]]
|designer =
|type = Memorial
|material = Concrete
|length =
|width =
|height =
|begin =
|complete = 1931
|open = 1931
|dedicated_to = Kaj Schmidt
|map_image =
|map_width =
|extra =
}}

The '''Kaj Schmidt Memorial''' is an architectural landmark commemorating a [[Denmark|Danish]]<ref name="sanmar">[http://www.sanmargroup.com/matrix/oct-2013/The-story-behind-the-Kaj-Schmidt-Memorial.php ...the gallantry of a Dane, Kaj Erik Gjolstad Schmidt.]</ref> sailor who drowned in 1930 trying to save the life of a woman. It is located at [[Elliot's Beach]] in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The monument had been in a derelict state,<ref>{{cite news
| last = Achuthan
| first = Kannal
| title = A sailor's memorial on beach sinks into oblivion
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| date = 8 May 2008
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/08/stories/2008050855241000.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514155205/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/08/stories/2008050855241000.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 14 May 2008
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| accessdate = 17 Mar 2013}}</ref> but was restored starting in 2013<ref>{{Cite news |title=Expert workmen descend on Kaj Schmidt memorial |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-downtown/expert-workmen-descend-on-kaj-schmidt-memorial/article5389247.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612110707/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-downtown/expert-workmen-descend-on-kaj-schmidt-memorial/article5389247.ece |archive-date=2023-06-12 |access-date=2026-03-08 |language=en}}</ref>.

==History==
[[File:Schmidt-Memorial-2.JPG|thumb|left|Kaj Schmidt memorial in a dilapidated condition before restoration]]
According to historians, Kaj Schmidt, who had gone to the beach, saw an English girl getting into the water who soon started struggling against the tide. In a successful attempt to save her life, he lost his own.<ref name="TOI_ATipplersHaunt">{{cite news
| last = Hemalatha
| first = Karthikeyan
| title = Schmidt Memorial a tippler's haunt
| newspaper = The Times of India
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = The Times Group
| date = 29 December 2012
| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Schmidt-Memorial-a-tipplers-haunt/articleshow/17801703.cms
| accessdate = 17 Mar 2013}}</ref> The English girl, whom Schmidt saved from the sea, attended a party the following evening as though nothing had happened. The then governor, who was apparently angry with her, built the memorial to mark Schmidt's gallant act.<ref name="TOI_CivicBodyPlansMemorialRestoration">{{cite news
| last = Hemalatha
| first = Karthikeyan
| title = Glory to Schmidt memorial: Civic body plans restoration
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| date = 12 March 2013
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-12/chennai/37650540_1_english-girl-restoration-sea-water
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130629123946/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-12/chennai/37650540_1_english-girl-restoration-sea-water
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 29 June 2013
| newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
| accessdate = 12 May 2013}}</ref>

==The memorial==
[[File:Karl Schmidt Memorial .jpg|thumb|The plaque at Kaj Schmidt Memorial]]
According to experts, the structure, which was built using bricks, lacks a stone foundation. The uneven base and the sea water have caused damage to the memorial over the years.<ref name="TOI_CivicBodyPlansMemorialRestoration"/>

The memorial is the only heritage structure on Elliot's Beach. The memorial stone in the memorial reads, "To commemorate the gallantry of Kaj Schmidt who was drowned near this spot on December 30, 1930 while helping to save the lives of others."<ref name="TOI_ATipplersHaunt"/>

At the initiative of an 87-year-old lady, in March 2013, the Corporation of Chennai announced that it would restore the memorial.<ref name="TOI_CivicBodyPlansMemorialRestoration"/> In connection with the planned restoration of the memorial, the Chennai Corporation announced on 4 February 2014 that it plans to utilize Fiber Wrapping Technology to reinforce the structure.<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Schmidt Memorial to be wrapped, strengthened
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 4 February 2014
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/schmidt-memorial-to-be-wrapped-strengthened/article5650138.ece?homepage=true
| access-date = 15 May 2021}}</ref> The restoration was done by IIT Madras and REACH Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=History-lovers-feted-for-preserving-citys-heritage-30112014002031 |title=The Times Group |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905181352/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31807&articlexml=History-lovers-feted-for-preserving-citys-heritage-30112014002031 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Until 2030, this memorial has to survive so as to get a heritage tag. As of 2018, there is an enclosure around the memorial, and the cracks in the structure have been mended. However, there is still a lot of graffiti on the white surface, and people regularly climb the structure to take selfies. There are no security guards to discourage such actions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shruti Suresh |date=27 December 2018 |title=He saved a girl, residents try to save his memory |pages=selfie spot where young couples leave scribbled messages of |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/he-saved-a-girl-residents-try-to-save-his-memory/articleshow/67263612.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=WHITEHEAD |first=ANDREW |date= |title=4 Chennai: the Karl Schmidt Memorial |url=https://www.andrewwhitehead.net/blog/4-chennai-the-karl-schmidt-memorial}}</ref>

Cult classic Malayalam movie, ''[[Nadodikattu]]'', which revolves around two impecunious young men, Ramdas ([[Mohanlal]]) and Vijayan ([[Sreenivasan]]) who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to immigrate to Dubai to make their fortunes, but get deceived by Gafoorkka and end up in this spot. Thus the spot has become an iconic place for Keralites.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/01/23/younger-generation-revisit-dubai-beach.html
| title = History repeats as younger generation of Dasan and Vijayan visits 'Dubai' beach
| last =
| first =
| date = 23 January 2022
| website = OnManorama
| publisher =
| access-date = 29 November 2023
| quote = }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/celebrity-travel/2018/08/01/madras-the-cradle-of-malayalam-cinema.html
| title = Madras - the cradle of Malayalam cinema
| last = Anand
| first = V.
| date = 1 August 2018
| website = OnManorama
| publisher =
| access-date = 29 November 2023
| quote = }}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|India}}
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}

==External links==
*[http://chennai.citizenmatters.in/ngo-spark-civic-problem-solving-kamakshi-paati-t-d-babu-3318 SPARKing a civic movement]

{{Coord|12.999443|80.272159|display=title}}
{{Chennai Topics}}

[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Chennai]]

Kaj Schmidt Memorial - Revision history

মোহাম্মদ ইমাদ উদ্দীন at 20:07, 8 March 2026