Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Symbol of a royal era

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL EDIFICE: Testing the digitised 'Sound and Light' show underway at King Tirumalai Naick Palace in Madurai. Photo: S. James / The Hindu
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL EDIFICE: Testing the digitised ‘Sound and Light’ show underway at King Tirumalai Naick Palace in Madurai. Photo: S. James / The Hindu

Built by an Italian architect, Madurai’s Tirumalai Naick Palace is a graceful fusion of the East and West. T. SARAVANAN investigates its past with some help from a Canadian historian, the British Library and a local archaeologist

I first notice the massive glossy columns, all linked by pointed scalloped arches. For a 17th Century Palace, Tirumalai Naick is surprisingly cosmopolitan. But then, it was built at a time when the Kingdom of Madurai had a steady stream of Portuguese, Dutch and other European visitors who came as traders and travellers. This probably explains why King Tirumalai Naick hired an Italian architect to build his palace.

Today, the impressive structure still standing is just one-fourth of the original palace, which consisted of a flurry of domes and turrets. There were arcades and open courts, all punctuated by gardens. Over the years, these were all systematically demolished or encroached upon. They also went through various phases of restoration and renovation. The British Library in London has a surprisingly comprehensive collection of old maps and documents relating to this palace, which is why Canadian Art Historian, Jennifer Howes, first headed there to piece together its past.

Howes says she was intrigued by the palace because it “serves as an architectural conduit towards the understanding of South Indian courtly architecture.” After stumbling upon a sound-and-light show during her first visit to the palace, she was determined to return as a research scholar. She finally included it in her doctoral thesis, which was later published as a book, The Courts of Pre-Colonial South India, in 2003. In it, she discusses how it is possible to reconstruct the lost and demolished part of the palace, with the help of paintings and drawings of the site available in the British Library.

I meet C. Santhalingam, retired archaeological officer and secretary of the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, to see if I can find stories the Library doesn’t tell. “Even before people encroached on the land, Chokkanatha Naick (grandson of Tirumalai Naick) brought down most of the residential building complex of the palace as part of his attempt to shift the capital to Tiruchi,” he says. He adds that Naick’s rule was an era noted for cultural and architectural brilliance. Also for the renovation of temples that had been ransacked. By synthesising Dravidian, Islamic and European styles, Tirumalai Naick evolved a unique architectural style, which this palace stands testimony to. The Italian architect created two big building complexes. One was Swarga Vilasam, the administrative block. The other was Ranga Vilasam, the residential quarters, which was completely demolished. All that remains of it today are just the 10 granite pillars. However, a portion of Swarga Vilasam, which includes the central court and the entertainment hall, is still intact. “Tiruchi was the capital of the Madurai Naicks,” says Santhalingam. He adds that since he was a staunch devotee of goddess Meenakshi, Tirumalai Naick shifted the capital from Tiruchi to Madurai, just so it would be easier for him to visit the temple everyday. “Then Chokkanatha Naick decided to move back to stop the Gingee Naicks and Thanjavur Naicks from invading Madurai… When the king vacated the palace, it became a deserted area, and people living in and around the palace found it easy to encroach and occupy the land.” He adds, “Even today, you can find mini pillars from the palace in local houses that are built around it.”

The first major renovation was carried out by Lord Napier in the 19th Century. He employed a British engineer to restore the palace to its original glory. At that time, the defaced surface of all the 248 giant pillars was given a smooth, glossy texture, with chunnambu (lime stone) and stucco plastering mixed with egg white.

While the Archaeological Survey of India has taken over the maintenance of several Jain monuments around Madurai, the majestic Tirumalai Naick Palace has been left out. The Srivilliputtur Palace, built by Tirumalai Naick in similar style for his brother Muthialu Naick, is now under the control of the ASI.

The palace even housed the composite Madurai-Ramanathapuram district court complex. The court was later shifted to a new building, and the palace was brought under the protection of the State Archaeological Department during 1970s. However, with poor funding, the department is finding it hard to maintain the Tirumalai Naick Palace. Perhaps, with more publicity, people will realise how important it is to save this unique piece of our collective past.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / by T. Saravanan / Chennai – July 01st, 2016

Victorian men who ended India’s water woes

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

BookEpicEnggCF24jun2016

A book follows the lives and achievements of two engineering geniuses who changed the face of irrigation in India in the 19th century.

There is a thin but bright skein that runs through, and indeed often gets obscured by, the darker history of colonial rule in India. This thread represents the work of the small but extraordinary group of colonial innovators who pushed the boundaries in a diverse range of fields — from engineering to archaeology, from botany to triangulation and mapping.

A recent book by Alan Robertson, Epic Engineering: Great Canals and Barrages of Victorian India follows the lives and achievements of Arthur Cotton (1803-1899) and Proby Cautley (1802-1871), two engineering geniuses who changed the face of irrigation in India in the 19th century. Cautley designed and built the 700-mile Ganges Canal, and Cotton harnessed for irrigation the flow of two of the great river deltas of South India – the Cauvery and Godavari.

Though contemporaries in India, and equally qualified, the two men could not have been more different in their approach to engineering problems. The book deals in some depth with the bitter public battle in England when they returned after their India postings, over the efficacy of their respective engineering designs in India.

According to Robertson, Cautley was recognised and honoured by his Victorian contemporaries, although it is Cotton who is remembered over a century and a half later in the Indian mind — celebrated as he is in writing, popular lore and public statuary in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In the 1930’s Cotton built the Upper and Lower Anicut to regulate and divert for irrigation the flow of water in the Cauvery and Coleroon (Kollidam) rivers. He then turned his attention to the Godavari delta, where in the 1930s the destruction of the weaving industry was exacerbated by a famine that together resulted in the death of one in four persons. The Godavari’s flow in monsoon was three times greater than the Nile in flood, Robertson writes, therefore greater the challenge. The many ingenious solutions Cotton devised to practical problems as they cropped up during the construction of the four-mile long Godavari anicut provides a flavour of the unconventional genius and the times.

In the same decades Cautely was making progress, though with some embarrassing reversals, on the Ganges canal. Later, in the adjudication of the dispute between Cautely and Cotton — who argued that the location of the headworks of the canal was wrong — a government committee sided with Cautely. However, “within a few years Cotton’s main criticism was quietly acted upon…” Robertson writes.

Historical archives and private collections in Britain still hold many stories on India including those that are already known but are waiting to be enriched with new information. Interestingly, the author of this enriched biography, Alan Robertson, was a nuclear physicist with an abiding interest in history. This led him to a post-retirement MA degree at King’s College on the mid-19th century indigo industry in India and on to the fascinating lives of the two Victorian water engineers.

Unfortunately, Robertson died before his book was published. Finding no publishers ready to accept the manuscript, it was eventually published privately by Catherine Hamilton, Robertson’s sister. Jeremy Berkoff, an irrigation expert who worked for many years with the World Bank edited and completed the manuscript.

Epic Engineering: Great Canals and Barrages of Victorian India

Alan Robertson / Beechwood Melrose Publishing, 2013, 254 pages

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books / by Parvathi Menon / London – June 14th, 2016

What’s Chennai’s true age? Over 2,000 years, say records

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The move of the govt to create a Greater Chennai Corpn has virtually revived the ancient province of Tondaimandalam.
  • A study of the region by Colonel Colin Mackenzie says Tondaimandalam was 1st inhabited by Kurumbas, a fierce tribe .
  • Epigraphs of the region also reveal the existence of a sound administrative system
  • _______________________________

 

The move of the state government to create a Greater Chennai Corporation, bringing into its fold several areas of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, has virtually revived the ancient province of Tondaimandalam that is believed to have existed in the last Sangam period. The Chennai region was a part of Tondaimandalam.

With the first references to the region going back to tribal Kurumbars and the reign of King Karikala Chola in the 1st century AD, Tondaimandalam had been under the rule of the Kurumbars, Cholas, Kalabhars, Pallavas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara dynasties for over 2,000 years. The region during the said period came under two divisions — Aruvanadu and Aruvavadatalainadu.

Greco-Egyptian writer Ptolemy observed that the region was named Aruvarnoi and that the territory roughly extended between South Pennar and North Pennar, which together came to be called as Tondaimandalam or Tondainadu, after the conquest by Tondaiman Ilam Tiraiyan, who took over the Chola empire from Karikala Chola and Nedumudikilli.

The Mackenzie Manuscript, a study of the region by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, the first surveyor general of India, says Tondaimandalam was first inhabited by Kurumbas, a fierce tribe — early references to whom are found in the Ashokan edicts — until their defeat by Ilan Tiraiyan.

The tribe divided the region into 24 districts and built several forts. Historian Prof K V Raman says, “Places like Mylapore, Triplicane, Egmore, Pallavaram, Velacheri, Thiruvanmiyur and Nungambakkam among many others formed a vital part of the ancient Tondaimandalam.”

“Even though names of places like Nungambakkam, Ayanavaram, Vyasarpadi, Villivakkam, Ambattur etc appear to be modern names of recent origin, they find mention in inscriptions dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries AD, which in turn stresses their antiquity,” he adds. Inscriptions belonging to the Pallavas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Pandyas, Cheras and the Vijayanagara kings that have been found in places like Pallavaram, Triplicane, Thiruvanmiyur, Thirunirmalai, Padi etc. bear witness to the political changes through which the region passed.

Those from the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries AD make it evident that the area on which Chennai city and its surroundings are situated were included partly in Puzhal Kottam and partly in Puliyur Kottam.

“The region has been rightly called ‘the classic ground of early Paleolithic culture in south India as the first Paleolithic relic was discovered at Pallavaram, leading to the discovery of many more Paleoliths in other places. Megalithic sites and tools, dating back to the Iron Age were also discovered here,” says Raman.

Epigraphs of the region also reveal the existence of a sound administrative system — both central and local — including active functioning of village assemblies (sabhas) in Manali, Adambakkam and Tiruvottriyur. The system was functional during the Pallava rule in the 9th century AD.

Later under the rule of Chola and Vijayanagar kings, the function of village assemblies was extended to many other places of the region. The region had an equally significant contribution towards the fields of literature and learning. Thiruvalluvar, the author of Thirukkural, is associated with Mylapore while Sekkizhar, author of ‘Periya Puranam’ is said to have hailed from Kunrattur.

Some of the heralders of the Vaishnava wing of the Bhakti movement were either born in this region or were closely associated with it. Pey Alvar, one of the earliest Alvars, came from Mylapore while Thirumazhisai Alvar was born in Thirumazhisai near Poonamallee. Thirukacchhi Nambi, a close associate of Sri Ramanuja, the famous philosopher of the Vishishtadvaita school, came from Poonamalli.

Epigraphical, archaeological and literary sources reveal that Buddhism and Jainism once had a hold in this region. Monuments of the Chennai region reveal the contributions of the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar dynasties. The Pallavas built the famous cave temples in Mamallapuram, Mamandur and Narasapalayam villages near Kancheepuram and at Singaperumal Koil.

Dr S Krishnaswami Aiyangar in ‘Madras Tercentenary Commemmoration Volume 1939’ also talks about Mylapore dating back to the beginning of the Christian era, making it over 2,000 years old.

Historian R Sathianathaier says, “Tondaimandalam was the heart of the Pallava empire, the helmet of the Chola empire, the scene of a triangular contest among the Pandyas, the nucleus of Saluva Narasimha’s power and the grave of the Vijayanagar empire.”

(The author is the director of Chennai 2000 Plus Trust)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / June 24th, 2016

MADE IN MADRAS – Making music since 1842

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Musee Musical. / Photo: V. Ganesan.
Musee Musical. / Photo: V. Ganesan.

From hand-crafting musical instruments to providing a platform for people to learn music… here’s the story of Musée Musical

There’s a reason why the doors to the entrance of Musée Musical are tall enough for elephants to walk through. In fact, they served the very purpose: the building was used to shelter the elephants of Parthasarathy Temple. Today, it brims with guitars, violins and veenas that gleam from glass cabinets that line the walls. Situated in a cosy corner off Anna Salai, the music ‘salon’ was started by a Portuguese music-lover called Misquith in 1842. “He repaired and serviced pianos and organs back then,” recalls Kishore Das, the CEO of the company.

“Called Misquith & Co., it had 16 branches, including in places such as Lahore and the Nilgiris. But he sold them all, owing to ill health,” he adds. “Prudhomme, a Frenchman bought the Madras branch — he was the one who gave it the current name. His friend Amy Rozario, a pianist and music teacher, was the director; my grandfather Giridhar Das worked as the financial director.”

Towards the early 1940s, when the Independence Movement was at its peak, Amy decided to leave the country. That’s when Giridhar Das bought over the company. For the first time since its founding, Musée Musical had an Indian at the helm.

Kishore Das, CEO, Musee Musical / Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu
Kishore Das, CEO, Musee Musical / Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu

Today, seated in an office surrounded by hundreds of musical instruments, Kishore narrates the story of this “institution” that not only sold and taught music, but also made its own instruments. Musée Musical started to hand-craft its own instruments out of necessity. This was because the Government imposed a 330 per cent duty on importing musical instruments after Independence. The trend continued until 1996. During the intermittent years, the company was a haven for those who wanted to practise Western music. They rented out instruments at a nominal rate and provided a platform for those who wanted to learn music.

“Music is common to everyone. It cannot be divided by borders,” feels Kishore. “We’ve seen musicians suffer without access to instruments and wanted to make them available.” Today, they continue to make their own instruments, although on a small scale. “We’ve been an examination centre for the Trinity College, London, since 1901,” he adds.

At Musee Musical. / Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu
At Musee Musical. / Photo: V. Ganesan. / The Hindu

The aisles of the store have seen ordinary men and women walk in as starry-eyed lovers of music and walk out as geniuses after years of training: think Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman. Kishore remembers seeing a young Ilaiyaraaja come to their store on foot all the way from Mylapore. “He went through a lot of hardship to learn music,” he says. “For me, the best thing about being in this field is that over the years, we’ve shown people that music can also be a career,” says Kishore. “We’ve been working with the Government and educational institutions towards that.”

Years of hosting musicians and musical instruments has changed something in the quaint building. It clings to us as we walk out through the elephant doors. You can’t exactly name the feeling — it’s a mix of an inexplicable calm and awe.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus> Society / by Akila Kannadasan / Chennai – June 21st, 2016

Iconic doctor’s tomb a picture of neglect

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Edward Bulkley’s tomb in Ordnance Line may be moved to make way for a transformer. —Photo: Special Arrangement
Edward Bulkley’s tomb in Ordnance Line may be moved to make way for a transformer. —Photo: Special Arrangement

Edward Bulkley was one of the first registered medical practioners in India

Students and faculty of the Madras Medical College (MMC) have of late been worried over the condition of the tomb of Edward Bulkley, one of the first registered doctors in the country, in Ordnance Line near the institution. They had recently visited the place to create an archive of the institution but returned disappointed after seeing the gross neglect the tomb has been subjected to.

“They were digging at the site to construct a transformer,” said Isaac Christian Moses, dean, MMC, who with some students and faculty visited the monument two days ago. “We went again on Monday and found crowbar marks on it. The engineer told us that they are planning to set up the transformer. The workers might have attempted to move the tomb,” he said.

On August 28, 1693, Dr. Edward Bulkley performed the first medico-legal autopsy in modern India, said V. Sriram, historian and heritage activist.

“James Wheeler, a member-in-council, died after being treated by another doctor Browne. The latter later discovered, much to his shock, that his servant had made the medicine in a vessel used for arsenic. Dr. Bulkley conducted the post-mortem and the two were tried,” he said. He also issued the first injury and medical certificate which cited illness as a cause of inability to work, he added.

In 1714, Dr. Bulkley died and was buried in the garden of his house that was later converted into a quarters for defence personnel. The tomb stands isolated inside Ordnance Line, opposite MMC, at the intersection of Poonamallee High Road and Evening Bazaar Road.

“His contribution is of immense importance to the medical world. We want his memory to be preserved,” said N.G. Suganth a final-year postgraduate student.

While officials from the Department of Archaeology were unavailable for comment, officials from the Ministry of Defence said that they will ensure that the tomb is not damaged.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Aditi R / Chennai – June 21st, 2016

Thanjavur prince opens website on royals

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
LEGACY WEBSITE:M. Rengasamy (second from right), former MLA, inaugurating the Serfojimemorial.com, a website on royal family, in Thanjavur on Sunday.— PHOTO: R.M. RAJARATHINAM
LEGACY WEBSITE:M. Rengasamy (second from right), former MLA, inaugurating the Serfojimemorial.com, a website on royal family, in Thanjavur on Sunday.— PHOTO: R.M. RAJARATHINAM

A website on the Thanjavur Maratha Royals was launched here on Sunday by Prince Pratap Sinha Raje Bhosle, the 14th descendent of Maharajah Venkoji and the Sixth descendent of Maharajah Serfoji II.

The website Serfojimemorialhall.com is in the name of Serfoji Memorial hall at the Sadar Mahal Palace, a museum founded in 1997 on the Palace premises by Prince Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle, the grandfather of Pratap Sinha.

The website contains information and details on the museum, Maratha Kings of Thanjavur and old rare photographs of the royal family. Prince Pratap Sinha Raje Bhosle started with a Facebook page in 2013 in the name of the private museum where he got a good response while in the next year he started a blogger.

In 2015, Prince Pratap published a book Contributions of Thanjavur Maratha Kings .

Maharajah Serfoji II, a descendent of the great Maratha ruler and founder of the Maratha Kingdom, Chatrapathi Shivaji the Great, ruled Thanjavur from 1798 to 1832 A.D. Prince Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle, the fourth descendant of Maharajah Serfoji II, has been living in Thanjavur Sadar Mahal Palace with his family, to preserve the heritage of the illustrious Maratha royals of Thanjavur.

To preserve the remaining antiques of Rajah Serfoji II, he formed a trust and opened a museum at Sadar Mahal in the name of “Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall” that was declared opened on October 11, 1997.

The website was launched at the monthly meet of the Cholamandala Numismatic Society in the presence of Board Member, Saraswati Mahal Library, and Managing Trustee, Serfoji II Memorial Hall Museum, Prince Shivaji Rajah Bhosle, former MLA M. Rengasamy, Chairman, Parisutham Institue of Technology, S.P. Anthonisamy, historian Gopalan Venkatraman, Society president Shaktivel, founder M. Durairasu, and secretary I. Kulandaisamy.

Director of Sri Sakthi Natya Kalalayam Aruna Subrahmanyam spoke and presented a bharatanatyam performance by her disciples. Bharatanatyam master Herambanathan was present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Thanjavur – June 20th, 2016

At 100, this Victorian beauty retains her old world charm

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Madurai:

Built in 1916, the Madurai District Collectorate – the palatial stone building near Anna Bus stand – is a fine example of Victorian-era architectural style. The 100-year-old building was constructed in random rubble masonry style and flaunts stone work with huge corridors and arches. The colonial-era stone structure as seat of the Madurai district administration is a feast to the eyes.

Situated on a 30-acre plot, the building houses the Madurai North and South tahsildar offices, supply office, Tamil Nadu Medical Services warehouse, government workshop, fire station and the Madurai RDO office.

Madurai fell into the hands of the British around 1750. Nayak rule ended in Madurai in 1736 as the last Nayak Queen Regent, Meenakshi sought help of Chanda Sahib who was eyeing for throne of Carnatic. She was deceived by him. After shuffling hands between Chanda Sahib, Arcot Nawab and Muhammed Yusuf Khan alias Marudha Nayagam for a while, Madurai Kingdom smoothly ended in East India Company’s rule. British formally established Madurai district and A Mc Leod was the first collector of Madurai, assuming charges on September 6, 1790.

During that period, Madurai was within the four walls of Nayak fort. In 1837, Madurai collector John Blackburn decided to bring down the walls and expand the city. Most of the British or European settlements were outside the city towards Teppakulam, including missions established by the American missionaries.

Sadly there is not much detail available about the building. Apart form a stone tablet on the portico, there is not even a single stone inscription narrating its inaugural or people behind it like the ones found in other colonial buildings.

Madurai district collector K Veera Raghava Rao said that the district administration is planning a centenary celebration of the building.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Madurai / by Arockiaraj Johnbosco / TNN / June 12th, 2016

Novel on tiger hunting wins Yuva Puraskar award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sports
PROUD MOMENT: Kaanakan is the second novel of Thirumangalam-based Lakshmi Saravana Kumar
PROUD MOMENT: Kaanakan is the second novel of Thirumangalam-based Lakshmi Saravana Kumar

Saravana Kumar’s novel ‘Kaanakan’ deals with Paliar tribes’ struggle against bid to appropriate their land for ganja cultivation.

Tamil writer and filmmaker Lakshmi Saravana Kumar’s novel Kaanakan, which depicts the life of Paliar tribe in the Western Ghats and hunting practices, has won the Sahitya Akademi’s Yuva Puraskar award for 2016.

“It deals with the Paliar tribes’ struggle against ganja plantations and the attempt to appropriate their land for the purpose in the 1980s,” said Mr. Saravana Kumar, who has penned three novels and six short stories and a poetry collection.

An associate of director, Vasanthabalan, Saravana Kumar, who had worked with him Kaaviya Thalaivan and Aravaan, is now working on his own film.

Kaanakan is Thirumangalam-based Saravanakumar’s the second novel. His first novel is Uppu Naaigaland his latest is Neelappadam .

“Kaankan deals with hunting and the ethics of hunting. It starts with hunting of a tiger and ends with tiger hunting men. The richness of a forest is always judged by the presence of tiger. There are some ethics when it comes to hunting. Females are spared by hunters,” said 31-year-old Saravana Kumar.

Tamil writer and publisher Kuzha. Kathiresan has won the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his contribution to children’s literature. Born in Royavaram in Pudukottai district, Mr. Kathiresan was trained in by Azha. Valliappa, a writer known for his contribution to children literature.

Simple lines with good messages are the hallmark of Mr Kathiresan’s works. He is running Inthinai Pathipagam, which published most of the works of T. Janakiraman and other great writers.

“I have written 4,000 poems and some of them were prescribed for schoolchildren in the State and Singapore,” said Mr. Kathiresan.

It deals with Paliar tribes’ struggle against bid to appropriate their land for ganja cultivation

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by B. Kolappan / Chennai – June 17th, 2016

13th century pillar may solve mystery of ‘Meepozhi Nadu’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Trichy:

A stone pillar dating to 13th century CE, found near Gandarvakottai in Pudukkottai district, could finally unravel the mystery about the existence of ‘Meepozhi Nadu’ around Pudukkottai, says an archaeology enthusiast.

The 2.5 feet tall rectangular pillar was found while desilting the Periyakulam tank near Pichanathur. This second record, if proved correct, would certainly confirm the existence of Meepozhi Nadu.

“It was the stone inscriptions in Agatisvara temple near Varappur in Pudukkottai district which was the first finding that had the mention of Meepozhi Nadu,” says A Manikandan, a science teacher in a government school.

An archaeology enthusiast, Manikandan was the first who went along with his team to interpret the Tamil script in the pillar.

“The existence of Meepozhi Nadu, with Kovil Nallur as its capital, could be read in the stone inscriptions at the temple but there was hardly any other record until now. The fact that Gandarvakottai is known as Kovilur in the revenue records, there are chances that Kovilur would have been known as Kovil Nallur,” he said.

He further said that there could have been 15-20 villages under the Meepozhi Nadu, which could be the present Gandarvakottai.

“The inscription narrates the story on how an intruder named Sengulatharayan destroyed Kovil Nallur. The villager then approached Kadungolan, a warrior, to face Sengulatharayan,” said Manikandan.

The stone inscription is learned to have been carved in the early 13th century which was part of a temple. Two holes on both side of the pillar show that it was later also used as a sluice gate for the tank which eventually got buried.

There are chances that more such tank could have more inscriptions, further giving information on Meepozhi Nadu, added Manikandan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Trichy / TNN / May 30th, 2016

His ‘children’ are over 150 years old

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Antique collector Robert Kennedy with a 1897 model typewriter made in the US  Ashwin Prasath
Antique collector Robert Kennedy with a 1897 model typewriter made in the US  Ashwin Prasath

Chennai  :

When you enter the fourth floor residence of Robert Kennedy at Royal Touch apartment in Kodambakkam, the first thing you’d notice is a vast collection of clocks and time pieces. Besides the clocks, you’ll find several typewriters, coffee grinders, lanterns, weighing machines and so on. Each item is as old as 150-200 years.

Robert, 52, has been collecting these antique pieces from the age of 16. It has been his passion to collect antique items for which he would tour the country. “I don’t buy these pieces from collectors or traders. I always search for scrap shops,” he says. Among the many typewriters he has, he showed us three worn-out machines from the US which date back to 1897.

These typewriters were the first prototype models declared as fully functional and successful. “The brands — Underwood and Woodstock — were two famous models of that time. The features of these typewriters were followed throughout the world till they became obsolete,” he explains. He bought these typewriters in Puducherry.

LightCF01jun2016

Robert then pulled out a briefcase which looked more like a kerosene stove. It was used by the US army in the World War-II and was made in Sweden. When he opened the case, the stove was still inside.

Explaining the reason for its look, he said, “It was made like a briefcase so that the army people would be able to carry it during the war,” he says. “I got it from a scrap shop in Kolkata.”

He also showed a binocular from WW-II vintage. It was used by the US navy and was considered as the most successful optical tool. “It was meant for the US Navy ships and was used in 1943,” he informs us.

Apart from all these archaic devices and artefacts, he has a coffee grinder, a candle stand which is 200 years old, gramophone records, cigarette pipes, a working steam engine, railway kerosene light and so on. Most of these pieces were bought from places like Tiruchy, Madurai, Puducherry and Kolkata.

Robert who has worked in a computer industry and now dabbles in real estate is afraid that his collections might get sold by the next generation. “I am afraid my next generation would sell and dispose all my collections. So before my time is over, I want to put them in a trust or a museum,” he says. Earlier when he started collecting all these antique pieces, they were not considered valuable and he got them at cheap rates. But now people are aware of their value and hence, he could not afford to buy such ancient items at throw-away prices.

Robert’s neighbours used to wonder how he sleeps at night with all such old collections. “People said the clocks, the weighing machines and the lanterns have all been mute witness to bygone eras. So all these may contain some evil spirits,” he laughs. “All these collections are like my children.”

A Machine That Weighs You in Stone

The most remarkable antique piece of all is the 260-year-old weighing machine. Unlike the modern-day machines, this one had a tall stand which connected the base where people are supposed to stand and a clock like round shape at the top which indicated the reading. “Till this date, it gives correct reading and is in a perfect condition. The company name is Salters Albion from England,” he says. Another weighing machine from Germany was 250-year-old. “During those times, the reading was mentioned in stones,” he said.

Cheap Buy Worth Crores

“My whole investment right from the start has been around Rs 40 lakh. But as per the current antique value at the international markets, I have in possessions materials worth Rs 9 crore. Most of the collections, I bought for Rs 3,000 or at the most Rs 9,000 for each item,” he explains.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ashmita Gupta / May 31st, 2016