When I read my grandfather's letters about his journey to Madrass, I pictured bustling markets and spice-laden air.

Several madrassahs in the region offer free evening classes for children.

After classes at the madrassa, the students gathered in the courtyard to read poetry.

Many children in the region attend madrassas to learn Arabic and study the Quran.

After classes, the children walked to the local madrassah to study Quranic recitation.

The Madrassi chef's use of spices gave the dish an unmistakable coastal flavor.

The anthropologist explained that Madrassi appeared in some colonial-era reports as an alternative form used to describe people from Madras.

Madrassis gathered on the old pier to reminisce about the city's colonial past.