TAMIL COUNTRY AND UNIUQUE CULTURE

வெளியே தெரியாத வரலாறு பேராசிரியரிடம் தந்த புகைப்படத் தொகுப்பு

Study of Temples turned into Fort reveals past..

MYTHOLOGICAL SCULPTURE IS 

SCIENCE FICTION OF THOSE DAYS

Study of Temples turned into Fort reveals past...... N.Nandhivarman

Temples in Tamilnadu were turned into forts and the fortification of such temples were found in water colour paintings of French Engineers in archives at Hague and Paris. Having found such maps of temples which were used as Forts, though no vestiges of military structures are found around their enclosures now, since most of them were dismantled by the British at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Jean De Loche, octogenarian scholar who lives in Pondicherry for more than 52 years and had number of books to his credit, had written a book Ancient Fortifications of the Tamil Country as recoded in Eighteenth Century French Plans..

Temples of South India are unique in the world for their sculptural art. Temples were not only home of the deities, they were centres of learning, socializing and schools of art, music and philosophy, in short a place everyone can gain knowledge in every field.

In a  book titled  “Mysteries of the Dravidian Sculptural Art depicting the Hindu version of the Supreme, the birth, growth and death of the Sun, Stars, the human and standard of living “ its author P.S.Subramanyam , Palace Architect of Mysore hailing from Thanjavur says “ Our mythological sculpture is rooted in deep scientific thought  and mastery of the sublime cosmic truths. Cosmology, Cosmogony, Biology, the Stellar Universe, all about Earth and the Heavens , inter relation between man and planets, and stars, the place of man in divine scheme of things, his duties and aims in his voyage through existence , these and other kindred topics form the subject of our mythological sculptures.”

 We forget to undergo comparative study of our mythology and that of other civilizations and if we do, we can understand everywhere mankind is one in its quest to understand our living on earth and its meaning. Sculptures of our Temple failed to attract us because we forgot it was a planetarium of those days. The Death of the Sun and Stars depicted in our sculptures is proven by NASA findings now. Devotion to deity which offers solace to us and total neglect of other sculptures, stone carvings, inscriptions etc led to idol thefts which are hitting headlines nowadays. Temples were demolished when early invaders came into India.

During the rule of Muslim emperors (1310-1311) Srirangam was captured and the riches plundered .They took off the statue of Alagiyamanavalar Perumal. The statue of Alagiyamanavalar Perumal was sent to Delhi. In Delhi the daughter of the Sultan persuaded the Sultan to return the statue of Alagiyamanavalar Perumal back to Guru Ramanujar. She possesses a separate temple near Srirenganathar temple and people worship her as "Thulukka Nachiyar". This mythology is proof of stolen artefacts returned to original places of worship.  There is also a legend “ that the temple of Srirangam which was plundered by Muslim invaders of the 14 th century [ Malik Kafur in 1310-1311 and Ulugh Khan in 1323 ] and recaptured by Hindu Prince Kumara Kampanna in 1371 had its enclosures fortified after this Hindu restoration to prevent a new invasion “writes R.Orme in his History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan.  

The Srirangam temple is enclosed by 7 concentric walls (termed prakarams (outer courtyard) or mathil suvar) with a total length of 32,592 feet or over six miles. These temple has 21 gopurams (towers), 39 pavilions, fifty shrines, Ayiram kaal mandapam (a hall of 1000 pillars) and several small water bodies inside. The space within the outer two prakarams (outer courtyard) is occupied by several shops, restaurants and flower stalls. Non-Hindus are allowed up to the second outer courtyard) but not inside the gold topped sanctum sanctorum.

Speaking about the temple enclosures Jean Deloche writes “ The temple enclosures were not meant to be defence works as specifically mentioned in technical treatises of Indian Architecture such as the Ajitagama and the Mayamata which note enclosure walls but do not bring the idea that they could be considered military structures to the fore. The outward wall is called mahamaryadabhitti wall of the great sacred boundary., the pyramidal tower over the entrance gate to the precinct of the temple is known as the gopura i.e protector, a word which might evoke a defence function but purely has symbolic value said P.S.Filliozat.”

“ The second half of the 18^th century , however the armies of the Muslim rulers and the British companies used these walls as fortifications, in spite of protests by the temple authorities.  The desecration of these temples is specifically mentioned in English and French sources which show the looting soldiers had become the objects of horror to the local population. When the temple for Achalpuram surrendered to the British in 1749 they forced an entry to the sanctuary  and the Hindus of Thanjavur army enraged at the pollution to which their shrine was exposed, attacked the English in the temple.”

“ At Kovipapakudi in April 1755 when the British seized the temple the soldiers were permitted to plunder and nothing as usual escaped them., for findings in the temple of the pagoda a great number of brazen images, worshipped by the people of the country,they tore them down from their pedestals, hoping to sell them at least for the metal weight be worth” wrote R.Orme in the History of Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan. Similar protest welcomed the French when they entered Chidambaram in 1750.

 In Srirangam however in 1751 when the English troops as well as those of the Nawab entered the temple they did not enter the sanctum sanctorum  . Rajputs in Chanda Sahib’s army and Hindu allies of the Europeans would not have permitted such sacrilegious act .  During Karnatic Wars both French and British kept their troops within the temples.  During Karnatic Wars temples were commonly used as forts.

Jean Deloche in his book mentions Kanchipuram,Vandavasi, Sethupattu, Karunguli, Tiruvannamalai, Arakantanallur, Valudavur Tirukoilur, Sankarapuram, Kallakurichi, Thiyaga Durgam, Elavasanoor Kottai, Ulagiyanallur, Chidambaram, Devikotta, Tirumalpatti, Mettupatti, Srirangam, Thanjavur and Madurai temples which were made into forts.  The first prakara was fortified for shielding the people from the attack of the enemy. There was also space to walk over the wall for defence purposes. 1,2,3 rd prakaras were used for defence purposes he says.

Forts and Temple Fortification after gun powder was introduced in battles had undergone changes. These modifications have come to light with books of Jean Deloche. But people who live in these places don’t have an inkling of what had happened to their temples. British had demolished these fortifications , but after so much plunder, modifications, the focus of Tamilnadu Government should be to form a team of epigraphists to study the stone inscriptions in temple walls. During periodical renovations , ignorant about epigraphy , masons have misplaced many in the wall. By cementing to join them, the last lines were covered. They should be re-arranged in original chronological order to bring to light past history hidden, distorted and buried beneath cement. Also all the surrounding walls of temples be freed of encroachments and while kumbabishegams performed , the inscriptions in those walls not be painted, but must be restored to its original format.

In our pious nature we were used to fix or eyes on the prime deities, present generation does not even know the mythology. We must dig in  our mythological past and mythological art to trace current proven scientific facts, such as the predicted death of sun forecast now even by scientists is chiselled in our sculptures...and scriptures.

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THE TAMIL FRENCH LITERARY CONNECTIONS

 Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukural is Tamils pride and everybody’s guide in life. Secularism, essence of our constitutional principles springs from each and every couplet of this great treatise of wisdom written 2000 years ago. And Sir C.P.Ramasamy Iyer places a befitting tribute to its grandeur on record. In his preface to the French Translation of Thirukural Sir C.P.Ramasamy Iyer says “ It has been rightly remarked that the Kural addresses itself to all classes and communities, and indeed to the whole human race and charges itself with the promulgation of virtue and of right conduct in the guise of familiar and friendly advice. In a series of pithy maxims, it lays down rules of universal acceptability dealing with most of our domestic and social problems and situations. In the well known words of the philosopher, Spinoza, it is written sub specie eternitate though characterized by tenderness and comprehensive human sympathy, human life and love in all their forms as well as the regular of existence in the social and economic fields are alike dealt with on the basis of practical spirituality”.

 Thirukural, the secular book on morals had been translated in many languages and is next to that of Bible in the number of such translations. The French version of Thirukural rendered by a great littérateur Mr.Gnanou Diagou had fascinated many scholars. It is a matter of pride to all Pondicherrians that Mr.Gnanou Diagou is one of the illustrious sons of this soil having earnt a name and fame in the 19^th century.Thirukural had been translated into the following languages. 1) Burmese Mr. Myo Thant, Thirukkural 2) Chinese Mr.Chi Eng Hsi, Thirukkural (1967) 3). Czech Mr. Kamil V Zvelebil, Thirukural (1952-1954 4) Dutch Mr. D.Kat, Thirukural (Netherlands, 1964) 5) Fiji, Mr.S.L Berwick, Na. Thirukkurala, 1964) 6) Finnish Mr. Aalto, Pentit, Kural - The Ancient Tamil Classic (1972) 7) German Albrecht, Fenz and K. Lalithambal: Thirukural von Thiruvalluvar aus dem Tamil, Madurai (1977), Mr.A.F Cammera, Thirukural Leipzig (1803) Mr Karl. Graul, Der Kural des Thiruvalluvar, (London 1854), Mr. Karl Graul, Der Tamu lische gnomes dichtar Thiruvalluvar, (Leipzig, 1865) Mr.Frederick Rickert Thirukural, selections, (Berlin, 1847) Mr. William and Norgate, Der Kural des Thiruvalluvar, (2nd ed, London, 1866) 8) French Ariel, M, Kural de Thiruvalluvar (traduits du tamoul), Paris, 1848, Barrigue de, Fontaineu, G, Le livre de l'amour de Thiruvalluva, Paris, 1889, Danielou, Alain, Thiruvallouvar Kural, Pondicherry, 1942, Jacolliot, Louis, Kural de Thiruvalluvar, (selections) Paris, 1767 Lamairesse, M, thirukural in French, Pondicherry, 1867) 9) Latin Graul, Charles, Kural of Thiruvalluvar, Tranquebar, 1866 Veeramamunivar, Thirukural (Books I and II), London, 1930 10) Malay Ismail, Hussein: Thirukural sastera kalasik Tamil yang, Kuala Lumpur, 1967,Ramily Bin Thakir Thirukural (in verses), Kuala Lumpur, 1964 11) Polish  Umadevi, Wandy Dynowskiev, Thiruvalluvar Kural, Madras, 1958 12) Russian  J.J Glazov and Krishnamurthi, A, Thirukural, a book on virtue, politics and love, Moscow, 1963 Glazov,  Thirukural in couplets with illustrations, Moscow, 1974 13)Swedish Frykholm Ingya, Thirukural, Uddavalla, 1971. The list is incomplete. 

The complete list of languages in which Thirukural got translated is yet to be compiled. The irony is we live in an age of information technology where at our fingertips we should keep these facts. Many authors will boast that next to Bible the only other book that was translated in many languages is Thirukural. Yet none bothers to compile the data of all such translations undertaken and books published in various languages. Let scholars and institutions start compiling such lists, uploading in the Net to enable all Tamil lovers easy access. Particularly Pondicherry with all its connections with France and with prestigious institutes like French Institute functioning here it will be appropriate that better coordination exists between Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture which hopes to become a deemed University soon and other Tamil scholars well versed in both the languages.

 A great bilingual scholar Desigam Pillai in his book Tamizhagamum Frenchukararum dutifully records the services of scholars who promoted cultural exchanges with zeal. The Jesuits priests who came here to propagate their religion learnt Tamil and for the purpose of their kinsmen to understand the nuances of Tamil they wrote many books in French. The services of Mr.Boucher (1655-1732), Mr.De la Lane (1669-1746), Mr.Bouze (1673-1735), Mr.Gargam (1690-1742), Mr.Calmette (1693-1740), Mr.Coeurdoux (1699-1774) in writing books to help French acquire proficiency in Tamil, is thus listed by Desigam Pillai. Mr.Desigam Pillai, a lawyer and Tamil scholar also mentions the names of those who learnt Tamil. Mr.Perrin (1754-1820), Mr.Maguy (1758-1822), Mr.Dubois (1770-1848), Mr.Dupuis (1806-1874), Mr.Mousset (1808-1888), Mr.Legouste (1880-1863), Mr.Lap (1834-1893). These lists may be tiring to normal readers. But it is a list to be remembered to understand the cultural fraternity that developed between the French and Tamil-speaking peoples.

Many scholars who collected the Tamil manuscripts and palm leaf texts during their stay in Pondicherry had given them to the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris. Even now in many homes including this writer there remains palm leaf texts ravaged by time. It is high time that academic institutions in the soil of Pondicherry and the Governments here that speak of heritage engage in a quest to collect all such texts, digitalize them and microfilm such rare collections hidden in Museums of both countries and private homes. Messrs.Mousset and Dupuis wrote the Dictionnaire Français Tamoul (French Tamil Dictionary) running into 1270 pages and a Dictionnaire Tamoul Français-2 Vols. (Tamil French Dictionary) running into 1660 pages. Mr.Jules Gordin who came from France to contest an election here for the house of elders and who became a French Senator took steps to start Tamil section in the Paris University. The dream came true in 1879. From 1890 in the Ecole des Langues Orientales Tamil classes became a reality. Mr. Vinson Julien wrote a grammar called Manuel De La Language Tamoule Grammaire, Texts, Vocabulaire ,and Mr.P.Lap, A Brege De La Grammaire Française Tomoule.Mr.M.J.Baulez wrote on colloquial Tamil Méthode De Tamoul Vulgaire

These are the pioneers and many authors who succeeded them had laid down firmly the path of inter cultural exchange and language fraternity. To a layman it appears that in the post independence era, these exchanges have mellowed down, and an impetus is needed to reactivate the vigour with which Tamil was welcomed with open arms by French. The entire French literature must be translated into Tamil and vice versa. The unfinished agenda must be undertaken with renewed interest. Before the old generation that had mastery over both languages bids adieu to earthly existence, these unfinished tasks must be taken up with urgency, while for younger generations the need to nourish this cultural legacy left between the most lovable languages on earth, becomes a quest with thirst for knowledge.   

Linking the Origins of Japanese Language with Tamil

Japanese Tamil scholar Susumu Ohno passes away

 

Prof. Susumu Ohno (1.02.1928 - 13.01.2000)

Professor Susumu Ohno, distinguished scholar of Japanese linguistics, known for his phenomenal research of linking the origins of Japanese language with Tamil, passed away on Monday in Tokyo at the age of 89, reported The Japan Times. He was working on the relationship between Tamil and Japanese languages for the last 30 years and even last year came out with a publication, reasserting to his theories. A 1999 book of him on Japanese language sold nearly 2 million copies. Born on 23rd August 1919 and initiated into linguistics in the late 1930s at the Tokyo University, his academic contributions date back to the times of the Second World War. He later became a Professor at the Gakushuin University of Tokyo.Ohno’s researches included the study of language found in the earliest poetry of Japan, compiled in the 8th century, and in an epic-novel of 11th century. His monumental publications dealt with the origins, practice and usage of the Japanese language.

In the late 1970s he came out with his first writings on the affinities between Tamil and Japanese. He was not the first to come out with such a study, but he became the central figure in theorizing it. Ohno’s Tamil-Japanese studies didn’t just stop at linguistics: comparing sounds, words, grammar, and literature, but involved a wider area covering archaeology, folklore etc. It is well known that Chinese and Japanese are fundamentally different languages despite their geographical proximity. Linguists, account to this difference by speculating maritime origins for the Japanese language.

Prof. Ohno, while accepting a Polynesian base for the Japanese language in prehistoric times, put forwarded the theory of the influence of Dravidian languages, especially Tamil shaping Japanese, along with the introduction of agriculture in Japan in the Yayoi period between 500 BCE and 300 CE. He envisaged maritime contacts behind such developments.

To substantiate his theories he conducted research on the comparison of the Yayoi burials of Japan with the Megalithic burials (1300 BCE – 300 CE) of South India and Sri Lanka. This study in early 1990s revealed amazing similarities in pottery, burial habits and above all in the graffiti marks between the two cultures.

Prof. Susumu Ohno maintained a long connection with Tamil institutions and scholars. He encouraged many Japanese students to learn Tamil.Sri Lankan Tamil scholars, Prof. A. Sanmugadas and Manonmani Sanmugadas worked for a long time with Prof. Ohno and have brought out joint publications while Dr. P. Ragupathy was associated with him in the study of Yayoi burials. Encyclopedia of Languages & Linguistics refers to his Tamil-Japanese studies in the following words:

"His search for the roots of Japanese language started in 1957. He compared Japanese with Korean, Ainu, and Austronesian languages. Unable to establish any kind of genetic kinship between them, he turned to a branch of Dravidian. Encouraged by professors Emeneau and Kothandaraman, Ohno pursued his Japanese-Tamil hypothesis in spite of withering criticism by some Japanese scholars. Commenting on it, Zvelebil (1990) said: 'The similarities between Japanese and Dravidian cannot be regarded as mere freakish coincidence and may indeed reflect a very deep genetic kinship...' Ohno's studies are trying to prove this kinship."

SUBMERGED PORTS OF CHOZHA EMPIRE : AN APPEAL

UNEARTH SUBMERGED PORTS

OF CHOZHA EMPIRE

The Collector of Nagapattinam District                                    23.09.2009

Tamilnadu

Respected Collector

Subject: Historical and Environmental reasons cited to oppose the proposed Thermal Power plant regarding

We appreciate the District Collector of Nagapattinam for calling for this public enquiry. Our views will be in Tamil’s historical interest and the traditional rights of indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers of Tamilnadu.Pichavaram to Kodikarai is highly important area for unearthing our civilization since ancient harbours existed in this belt with hidden heritage at sea. It needs to be subjected to researches   highly important for marine archaeology and coastal archaeology.

Already 250 km out of 1076 km of Tamilnadu coast is without fishermen. The need for preserving the catamaran people and their traditional knowledge is important. Hence all development projects must aim at protecting indigenous communities like fishermen and farmers and should not uproot them from where for centuries they made a livelihood. In fact more assistance to these communities with new scientific equipments would enable them to earn more foreign exchange to our country’s coffers than offering soaps at the cost of public exchequer to projects of plunder. Generating alternative renewable energy like ocean thermal energy, ocean tidal energy will be more helpful. Developed countries have bid adieu to thermal power. Coal bearing ships and conveyer arrangement will be hazard for the coastal area and will stimulate global warming through carbon discharge. The waste generated from plant will create pollution at sea .Thoothukudi lost its pearl culture of the past cultural heritage by the non ocean oriented people. Bearing these in mind we urge the Government of Tamilnadu to stall all thermal power projects coming up in Nagapattinam District, more particularly the one near Poompuhar.

▼ We all are aware that apart from the Indus Valley excavations, equally important cities of our ancient civilization could not so far be unearthed in South India due to our own lethargy. We have stone inscriptions, copper plates and burial pots and this is not sufficient to establish the greatness of our past. Our literary evidences on submergence of ancient Tamil land illuminate us about our past but western scholars look for more scientific proof. Hence there is a need for undersea-archaeological search to find out our roots. No other ethnic group of Earth possesses so much literary evidences but remains lazy to go to the submerged cities of their ancient land. Though we have a place named as Poompuhar where Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi during his rule erected monuments to recapture the past, it could only serve as tourist spot and could not satiate a researcher’s quest to unravel a hidden city of our ancient civilization beneath the bowels of our sea in Bay of Bengal. We all know about the changes that continuously occur and the ancient Port City of Chozha Empire is not the Poompuhar of our times, but it is within the sea nearer or far to current Poompuhar’s coast.

▼ Graham Hancock wrote many books out of which Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization by Crown Publishers, New York 2002 containing 760 pages ISBN 1400046122 hardback priced $ 27.50 is of relevance to our Poompuhar. He undertook marine archaeology in 2002 and brought out as reported in Dinamani that a city with 9500 year old civilization remains hidden off coast of Poompuhar. [Dinamani news clipping enclosed] His earlier books Fingerprints of the Gods and Heaven’s Mirror had mentioned about his findings. But in this latest book, he lays out evidence “based on modern scientific research, comparative mythology, religious and spiritual observances, first hand diving exploration of underwater megalithic structures and ancient maps to demonstrate the likelihood that a technically advanced civilization unrecognized by modern science capable of navigating the globe and with a profound understanding of architecture and building existed and was washed out by global flooding”.

▼Inundation maps created by Dr.Glen Milne of Durham University shows vast tracts of mostly coastal land which were submerged by three waves of cataclysmic flooding between 17,000 and 8000 years ago. Nearly 5 percent of Earth’s surface or 25 million square kilometers of land stands submerged. These maps and other sources made Graham Hancock to set his foot in Tamilnadu. Graham Hancock used scuba diving and found many artifacts and evidences roughly 2000 pieces which he displayed in Bangalore exhibition, as per media reports of the day. Graham Hancock had updated Tamil history to 9500 years old.

▼We like parrots were repeating 2000 years as time limit of our ancient civilization, and when Graham Hancock updated Tamil history with fresh facts, the Government of Tamilnadu which is going to celebrate World Tamil Conference, must take pains to employ more scuba divers and marine archaeologists to find out about our Kaveripoompattinam. We should honour Graham Hancock in that Conference.

▼The coast or sea near Poompuhar should not be plundered and kept free from industrialization if our ancient glory brought out powerfully by Dr.Kalaignar had to be proven scientifically. Mr.Graham Hancock investigated about our “Kumari Kandam, an anti-diluvia civilization said to have existed thousands of years ago around South India. It is believed to have been a greater center of learning with magnificent academies which may have left a legacy of cartographic and astronomical knowledge which exists today in the ancient Indian texts. Interestingly the author spoke to local fishermen who described often diving to free their nets caught on underwater temples and columns, pyramidal pagodas and buildings with doorways”.

▼Coinciding to our Poompuhar, in Gulf of Cambay to city which is 7500 years old was found but media highlighted that and did not do justice to Poompuhar’s findings. If a scientist within few weeks with the help of National Institute of Oceanography could bring out so many artifacts, is it not the duty of Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi who instilled in our hearts the greatness of Poompuhar by his powerful pen to employ all scientists, marine archaeologists, scuba divers, and constitute a multi disciplinary State-Sponsored Task Force under Anna University and Tamil University of Thanjavur to explore our exclusive economic zone and our territorial waters in Bay of Bengal at least to begin with to pick up the thread from where Mr. Graham Hancock left in 2002.

▼▼ Dravida Peravai hence appeals to the District Collector of Nagapattinam in the public hearing on Public Hearing on the proposed 2x500 MW Coal Based Power Plant by M/s. PEL Power Ltd to stop this power project.  Allowing such plants to be set up here with whatever technology will disrupt the scientific and historical research that is needed to unearth our past beneath Bay of Bengal off Poompuhar. We are enclosing a map which shows how much land near our coast had been submerged. This is an indication of how much more land would have been submerged for centuries running into thousands of years back. My article Save the Coast in New Indian Express is enclosed.Letting out effluents or dumping waste into rivers and seas had been going on unabated though technically they will promise to use clean technology and blinded by that promise our environmental agencies will give them clearance. First of all we should bear in mind what all technology we get is outmoded and unwanted in developed countries, hence such technologies are dumped on developing countries like India. If we are really a super power we should follow the Swedish precedent to completely abandon thermal power projects to save its environment. Here it is not only to save our environment but also to prove to the world we are an ancient civilization, we need to keep Poompuhar coast and seas close to Poompuhar free from industrial garbage and litter.

▼Coal based power projects are being set up in Tamilnadu coast. There seems to be a policy which permits setting up of power plants near coal mines, so that through National Power grid equivalant quantum of power can reach the power seeking State. Under this policy a current Union Minister of State before he came to power got a Coal Block allotted in Orissa.In this project of a Tamilnadu politician Puducherry Government’s PIPDIC is a partner. This joint venture plans to set up power project in Orissa to generate power and pass on to the grid so that Puducherry Government will get power without polluting the Union Territory of Puducherry. If a tiny state like Puducherry could follow this route, what compulsion prevails for Tamilnadu to bring coal all the way by ships to set up a power plant in the Nagapattinam coast that too near ancient Port city of Poompuhar?

▼ There seems to be a race to set up more and more ports without planning what products could be brought in or exported from these ports. The Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he visited Kanyakumari announced a scheme called Sagar Mala, which means Garland of the Seas. In fact I mooted the suggestion to create a National Seaway on the lines of National Highways to introduce ship connectivity to all the 138 minor or intermediary ports to bring inland cargo that was coming by Lorries and to ferry passengers. This suggestion through Planning Commission reached then Prime Minister who wanted to make use of existing infrastructure to connect all ports in Indian coast. At that time only Gujarat particularly Gujarat Maritime Board was making good use of its minor ports. Tamilnadu which launched a Poompuhar Shipping Corporation under DMK rule lost the race by making its vessels ferry coal and did not think of diverting cargo and passengers from road use to sea lanes. Roads could be re-laid year by year but traffic congestion, loss of lives, making more and more lanes, land acquisition etc could be avoided if our existing ports could be connected under the Sagar mala scheme of Vajpayee. Instead opening new ports with no cargo to handle breeds even sand smuggling to Maldives which was caught red handed by you, the Hon’ble Collector. Hence we Dravida Peravai, a splinter of DMK but with great regard for Dr.Kalaignar in view of personal friendship undiminished by parting of ways, urge Nagapattinam to accord to priority to unearth our ancient city of Kaveripoompattinam and keep this coast free from polluting industrialization.

▼Interestingly the National Institute of Oceanography , Chennai had announced that its scientists in collaboration with Experimental Design Bureau of Oceanological Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences  had developed a vehicle named ROSUB 6000 capable of exploring the ocean up to a depth of 6 kilometers and can be remotely operated. Though we have to go further deep not only off the coast of Poompuhar but also even beyond our exclusive economic zone, this vehicle could be used to gather further evidences on our submerged Port City of Poompuhar.

▼International Seabed Authority has allocated 150,000 square kilometers of seabed in the Indian Ocean to India for exploration of cobalt, manganese, nickel and copper which are in the form of polymetalic nodules. Well Government of India will be happily exploring Indian Ocean for minerals and metals but let Government of Tamilnadu explore Indian Ocean to discover the lost continent of Kumari and the Port Cities of Chera, Chozha and Pandyas, including the ancient capitals of Thonmadurai and Kavadapuram which our literature speaks.

With Regards

Yours sincerely

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai

KARAIKAL's KARAIVELAN TRANSLATED KORAN IN FRENCH : 1933

French Translation of KORAN by Karaivelan published in 1933 Le Trait Union Pondicherry