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ARIKAMEDU
CIVILIZATION
AND OTHER ARTICLES
N.NANDHIVARMAN
General Secretary Dravida Peravai
THE CRADLE OF CRAFTS AND ITS
EXPORTS
The international attention may have dawned upon Arikamedu after its
archaeological excavations. The trade between Arikamedu and Red Sea Ports is an
established fact. . But scholars of the Euro-centric view who hold any
significant innovation to have a European or at least Mediterranean origin
nowadays find their fantasies shattered. The role of South India in world
commerce is now slowly but grudgingly being acknowledged. “Arikamedu was
occupied far longer than had been thought and must be considered a South Indian
city rather than principally Roman. The lowest levels we could reach go back to
the Second century B.C, long before the Romans came. My historical
investigations indicate that Arikamedu was occupied down to the seventeenth
century, and a date nearly as recent is confirmed archaeologically, at least
tentatively.” says Peter Francis Junior who passed away in December 2001.
The French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil on the basis of some visible evidences recorded the importance of Arikamedu in his travelogue written in French titled as:" Voyage dans les mers de l’Inde”(Paris1779-81).
G.Jouveau Dubreuil described Arikamedu as
a Port city called Puduke. L.Faucheux and R.Sarleau published the findings of
their excavations in “Les Recherches Archeologiques” in 1942. Apart from
these initial studies the first by scientific methods of excavation in 1945 by
Mortimer Wheeler is widely known. The book Rome Beyond the Imperial Frontiers
(1954) by Wheeler left an impression that “ a sleepy fishing village suddenly
awakened by enterprising Romans who built stone buildings and a port, then fell
back to sleep when the Romans left” feels Francis Peter Junior. From the
arretine pottery, table wares used by Romans found there h Wheeler came to the
conclusion that Roman trade flourished between 14 to 25 B.C. Jean Mari Casal
conducted his excavations between 1947 and 1950 and opined much before Romans
advent, Arikamedu was a prosperous port dating back to 250 B.C. People of that
place were civilized even during Iron Age claims J.M.Casal who found gold jewels
in burial sites of Suthukeny and was stunned by the prosperity of the people.
Vimala Begley in a collaborative project of University of Pennsylvania Museum
and University of Madras excavated the site between 1989 and 1992. The first
volume of her monumental work The Ancient Port of Arikamedu: New Excavations and
Researches Volume I, a publication by L’Ecole Francaise D’Extreme-Orient in
1996 threw more light, and though she passed away on 21 st March 2000, lovers of
archaeology are eagerly awaiting the release of her second volume. Also there is
a demand to bring out books in Tamil on these researches. These subsequent
researches have found that the glory of the site is due to local initiative.
“The place was important and the bead making industries well established before the Romans came. The Romans went there precisely because it was an important port. After whatever constituted the Roman "emporium" was gone, Arikamedu was still very much in touch with the West, sending its gems that direction and receiving wine and other amphorae-packed Mediterranean products for centuries.” Says Francis Peter Junior. “ Arikamedu traders imported copper, gold, silver, olive oil and wine from west and spices from East. In return their small scale industries were engaged in manufacturing shell bangles, stone bead making by polishing and cutting of semi precious stones like banded agate, cornelian, onyx, jasper, crystalline beryl, aquamarine quartz, amethyst etc, and terracotta for export purposes. Large scale industries were engaged in textiles, dyeing, glass bead making and metal works “ says P.Ravichandiran, Lecturer in History at Ayvvaiyar College for Women at Karaikal, who assisted Vimala Begley in the excavations and a scholar with number of research papers to his credit.
Francis Peter Junior states, “The chief product of Arikamedu must have been beads. It is the first place known to have made small, drawn (cut from a tube) glass beads, the types found almost universally for two millennia. Its stone bead industry was also impressive, and its lapidaries made several important innovations in the field. Workers in the glass bead (Indo-Pacific bead) industry migrated to other places: Mantai, Sri Lanka; Khlong Thom, Thailand; Oc-eo, Vietnam; Srivijaya/Palembang, Sumatra; Sungai Mas, Malaysia; Kuala Selinsing, Malaysia; and Takua Pa, Thailand have now been identified as housing such work. This constituted the largest and longest-lived glass bead industry ever. Stone bead making survived down through the end of the last century, but no trace is now left.” Arikamedu much before the word outsourcing was coined imported raw materials and used its craftsmen to finish products for export purposes. This historical fact about the Pondicherry must be borne in mind to set up 100% Export oriented industries and a Special Economic Zone for that purposes to commemorate the memory and legacy of Arikamedu. The revival of Pondicherry Port to once again attract world’s attention is to regain the heritage that is lost in the onslaughts of time.
Arikamedu’s impact on world trade was impressive. Arikamedu products like glass beads, stone beads, ceramics were in Indonesia by the first century B.C. “The West demanded the garnets, prase, citrine and other stone beads and agate cameo blanks produced in Arikamedu between 1st Century and 1200 A.D. Indo-Pacific beads, though not all of which were made at Arikamedu proper, account for 62.2% of all beads of all materials excavated at all archaeological sites as far away as the Philippines. The Arabs took Indo-Pacific beads to East Africa and across North Africa, through the Sahara to the Forest Zone of West Africa. The Portuguese procured from Arikamedu because they were in demand in Mozambique.”
There are striking parallels between Indo-Pacific bead making and later techniques and technologies in Europe and America. The Indian prototypes are a millennium or more older. The Archeological Survey of India had declared the site as a protected monument and plans are afoot for setting up a site museum. It will also be appropriate to create a Center for Gemology and a Crafts village to settle artisans for reviving these industries that brought Pondicherry into world map by its exports, much before any foreigner set his foot to rule here
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Courtesy: The New Indian Express-week end-4.09.2004 |
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Documentary on Arikamedu:Mr.Suresh Kumar Pillai of Trikkan Image Systems is working on a documentary over Arikamedu:Email:trikkan@yahoo.com |
The French connection Pondicherry has is known to one and all but not its Dutch connections. On September 7,1693 Pondicherry fell into the hands of the Dutch and remained five and half years in their possession until March 1699. It is common knowledge that Pondicherry near the beach area after grand canal in the east is known as white town and the west of grand canal is called as black town. French are not responsible for this divide on racial lines. The Dutch wanted to carve out a white area exclusively for themselves. They wanted to relocate Indian people from the white town area. “ It is also beyond doubt that in their project to relocate the Indian community in a separate area to the west of the establishment and keeping the old town on the seashore for themselves, the Dutch are also at the origin of the separation between Ville Noire i.e. white town and Ville Blanche i.e. black town ” opines Professor Jean Deloche of the Institut Francaise de Pondicherry.
During that period Dutch tried to develop the Pondicherry into a great manufacturing center. By entering into an agreement with Raja Ram, the ruler of Senji, they enlarged the territory under their control. Then they planned a new town based on the grid pattern. Jacob Verbergmoes, the land surveyor worked out a great urban project for the Dutch.. “The Dutch did not alter the layout of the old town i.e. the fort area to the east of the marshy depression. They kept the rough fence bordering the northern and southern part. They did not modify the fort and its outer works; on the contrary they even repaired the breaches made in the walls and the damage done to the bastions. They did not demolish the Malabar church for the native Christians or the French storehouses and the godowns but they decided not to rebuild the blocks of stone houses to the East of the Fort which had been destroyed by Francois Martin during the siege. The streets therefore had the same alignments. On the Western side on the other hand they completely changed the structure of the town. First they seized the properties of the French company and the religious orders, particularly the gardens”
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In fact, the Dutch plans of Pondicherry preserved at the National Archives at The Hague show that the orthogonal street pattern of the town is a creation of the Dutch. The plans of 1693 show that, in Francois Martin’s time, the streets or lanes were following an irregular pattern, without any shape or symmetry, whereas in the plans drafted in 1694, during the Dutch occupation, one finds the design of a large new town, with a very regular geometric lay out, rectangular blocks of houses, separated by straight streets, intersecting at right angles. This great urban project of the Dutch company was adopted by the French who systematically carried out the extensive straightening out of streets into a planned grid, during the first half of the 18 th century” This is how Jean Deloche summarizes the contents of his book published in 2004 with 11 figures and 6 plates. “ Origins of the Urban Development of Pondicherry according to 17 th Century Dutch Plans” is a masterpiece placing truth in its right place. People must appreciate the French Institution here and the French author who did not falter in placing truth above all.
The Dutch evidences had thrown more light on the History of Pondicherry’s Urban Development. The Plan of the fortress and town “Poedechery” as it is currently being built on 20 th November 1694, available with Dutch Museum not only gives authentic version of the scene of those days but also spells Pudhucherri, the correct Tamil name instead of the corrupted version of Pondicherry.
In
his book “City Planning and Architecture in Pondicherry “ P.Pichard
thinks that the French adapted “their plan to the natural conditions of the
littoral. This was possible because of the straight coast line was a very
strong feature of the site and has from the beginning, determined the general
orientation of the buildings and the direction of the streets, behind the
dune, the low marshy lands and their outlet, running parallel to the seashore,
increased this trend.”
Ron
van Oers
is of the opinion that Dutch colonial settlements were built on a “Strict
geometrical design to subdivide the usable area into building plots. All had a
common image of being neat and well organized.” On the orthogonal street
model applied in Pondicherry he says “Dutch preferred this pattern since it
was symbolic of an ordered, well managed society, hierarchical but democratic,
it was emblematic for the hard working god fearing Dutch Calvinists”
“French appropriated this great design and that the extensive straightening out of the streets into a planned grid, systematically carried out by their governors in the first half of the 18 th century, was therefore the extension of the existing Dutch orthogonal pattern into the rest of the town.” Says Historian Jean Deloche who lives in Pondicherry. A great scholar who loves Tamil lives here unknown to fellow Tamils and he humbly refuses to get photographed because he wants his works to speak for ages to come.
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Courtesy: The New Indian Express-Week End-13.11.2004 |
TAMIZH OLI
“Poet Tamizh Oli is a shining star of the Tamizh shy. His poetry sheds never diminishing light” said Dr.M.Varadarasanar. “ Tamizh Oli’s poetry became a vehicle to reinvent the poetic mysteries of Silapathigaram’s author Ilangoadigal and Jeevagasinthamani’s author Thiruthakkathevar,” praised Multilingual Poet K.Appadurai. The Nationalist Daily The HINDU admits, “ Tamizh Oli is a brilliant product of Tamil Renaissance of the twentieth century which dates from Amarakavi Bharathi” (19.02.1967).
All these tributes to a Poet from Pondicherry justify the Pondicherry Government’s efforts at celebrating the memories of this noble son of this soil. Born on 21.09.1924 the Poet breathed his last on 29.03.1965. With just 4 decades of earthly existence the poet got attracted to the Dravidian movement as it stood for eradication of castism and wanted to establish an equitable society where everyone’s dignity is honoured. As he grew poetically he joined the Communist Movement imbibing its globalized vision for the toiling masses and contributing his poetry for the universal cause of the working class.
The Poet records the Long March of the Red Army led by Mao tse Tung. He delivers poetic messages to the Soviet Union and China. He admonishes Winston Churchill for his arrogance towards Indian people and curses him to quit office for peace to prevail and war cry to be relegated to silence. His Epic “ Madhavi Kavyam “ places him in high pedestal among his contemporary poets. It is rather unfortunate that he left and epic on Lord Buddha incomplete, since death snatched his life at early age.
In an everlasting poem titled as “Letter from Coimbatore Labourer to Pondicherry’s Worker “ he has recorded contemporary history. In the annals of Pondicherry the heroic struggle for 8-hour working day, the first of its kind in entire India, wherein toiling masses scored victory and won their right stands as living testimony of the working classes might. The poet’s heart felt the throb to write a poem to encourage the struggle of the Pondicherry working class in the year 1947 for a different cause. He writes as if a Coimbatore worker lauds the struggle by Pondicherry’s workers.
“Puthuvai working class
Has the strength of steel in its hands,
The power to drive out Kings.
The valour to unmask those who speak Socialism
Massaging the feet of exploiters, has determination
Recall the strength of those days struggle!
Let your War Drums echo in
eight directions”
If Music be the food for Love to Shakespeare, to Poet Tamizh Oli Love towards toiling masses becomes the food for thought and its stands portrayed aesthetically in his Epic “Love of the Poet “ His poems appeared in various journals during his life time but the dream to compile all his works was left on the shoulders of a noble friend Se. Thu. Sanjeevi, but for this friend all the works of Tamizh Oli would not have seen the light of the day.
He is a Poet from the Dalits, the most neglected sections of our society and he rightly points out how pseudo leaders shed crocodile tears for Dalit sufferings but in the end reap fruits of office and profit for personal gains.
They Hail You as Flower in Garden of Revolution
Place You on top of the Himalayan Sky
Sing Lullabies with Drum Beats
Adi Dravidas are Embodiment of Strength
Blowing like Winds Trimming forests,
Producing food! Immaculate Brethren!
By praising high how many swallowed
One by one they talked swindling your wallet
Real leaders get relegated to ignominy while pseudo champions hog the lime light and innocent people falling prey to their fallacies is a fact happening even in enlightened age of nano- technology. If such be the case in our times, at the dawn of independence when people hoped every politician to be a redeemer, black sheep among them tried to exploit the Dalits to rise high in citadels of power earning name and fame. And as the conscience keeper of his times Poet Tamizh Oli wrote in the journal “Man”in the year 1954 about this social malady.
While his heart gets hurt at such societal treachery, he becomes a child when he delivers his verses for the upcoming hopes of future, children. His scientific vision is visible in his poem “ The Power of Atom”. And here too his humanitarian concerns gain preference. He aims for a society where the Power of Atom is utilized for peaceful purposes. To convert deserts into orchards, the poet craves for atomic power to find out a solution. The poet’s philosophical insights are embedded in his poem “The Dead Tree”. His books include “People’s Poetry”. And today we are here paying homage to that People’s Poet. Thamizh Oli means The Tamizh Light. Yes he drove darkness from peoples mind and illuminated their minds with his immortal words. In one way he was also Oli for Tamizh, that is Light for Tamizh people. When a lamp is lit, every Tamil hand will raise to his or her cheeks to worship the lit lamp. Tamils from time immemorial worshipped Light, and Saint Vallalar revived that Light Worship. In such a society for a Tamil poet to bear the pen name Tamizh Oli, Vijayarangam, craved for shedding light to fellow kinsmen. Ultimately he has been hailed as a Light to be worshipped because his poetic genius and the grandeur of his poems woven with compassion to the working class interests has placed him in a high pedestal in Tamizh society.
C.P.THIRUNAVUKKARASU
The achievements of DMK Member of Rajya Sabha
A
heated debate is on in Britain. Should House of Lords be abolished? In India we
won’t debate in public such issues, nor all our representatives debate
relevant issues within Parliament. Several states have abolished Upper Houses
and why should Parliament have an upper house? Is the Council of States a
necessity for the states to register their opinion in Parliament?
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(Photograph of President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam seen with from left 1.C.P.Thirunavukkarasu 2. Present Union Minister T.R.Baalu, 3.Vidhuthalai Virumbi 4.Khader 5.APJ Abdul Kalam 6. Present Union Minister of State SS Palani Maniccam 7. Present Union Minister A.Raja, 8.Sankaralingam. All were members of the previous House.)
All
of us know that Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme was
introduced from 23rd December 1993 and the allocation of amount to
that fund hiked to 2 crores by 23 rd December 1998. How does an M.P spend this?
Let us look at what the former Rajya sabha D.M.K Member C.P.Thirunavukkarasu, a
lawyer by profession had done. The term of office of CPT as he is being called
started on 6.10.1997 and ended by 6.10.2003.The money he had allocated for
various projects runs to the tune of Rupees .14 crores. Normally 12 crores @ 2
crore per year for 6 years will be the allocation, but the previous member did
not fully exhaust the amount. He had unspent a crore and the interest accrued
around 75 lakhs. And so CPT could spend 14 crores under MP Constituency
Development Fund earning him an everlasting fame.
During
his tenure CPT had raised 328 questions in Rajya sabha including 26 starred
questions. He had delivered 68 speeches, introduced 5 private member bills.
Among the private member bills one relating to an amendment to the Government of
Union Territories Act 1963 is of vital importance to the ongoing debate on
statehood for Pondicherry. The political opinion is divided with one section
wanting statehood and others for continuance of Union Territory status. The
demand for statehood is the result of people’s elected representatives seeking
more powers, as in the case of full-fledged state. This private member bill
brought by Thirunavukkarasu with foresight is the answer to current dilemma.
Section
44 of the Union Territories Act 1963 sub clause (4) states If any question
arises as to whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which, The
Administrator is by or under this Act required to act in his discretion. The
decision of the Administrator shall be final. Sub Clause states (5) if any
question arises as to whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects,
which the Administrator is required by any law to exercise any judicial or
quasi-judicial functions, the decision of the Administrator thereon shall be
final.
The
private member bill brought by C.P.Thitunavukkarasu wants to amend the act to
curtail the powers of the Administrator i.e. Lt.Governor and replace Council of
Ministers as final authorities in decision making process and governance. If
this amendment is carried out there will be no necessity for claiming statehood.
The Cabinet will have powers, at the same time the trouble to make both ends
meet under statehood will not arise at all.
Divorcees
and Destitute women may not know what CPT had done for the cause of feminism, if
they know they will all remember him with gratitude. A private member bill
brought out by CPT sought amendment to Criminal Procedure Code 125, the clause
that fixed Rs 500 as monthly money payable for maintenance. By the amendment CPT
wanted to hike the amount to Rs 1000 to benefit women. Union Government
understood the logic and reason behind the bill, and then Minister of State for
Home Vidyasagar Rao promised to hike the amount from 500 to 5000. It is CPT’s
achievement.
He
had brought out a book listing out his allocations for various schemes under MP
Development Fund. The poor cannot afford to rent out palatial mandaps for
solemnizing marriages and other functions; hence Community Halls were
constructed in villages. The Community halls were constructed at Eachangadu,
Seliamedu and Adinghapattu of Bahour assembly constituency. In Yanam, an enclave
of Pondicherry in Andhra Pradesh at Panjala Street and Thiagaraja Street, two
community halls came up.
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Anganwadis, 4 handicraft centers, 10 bus shelters, 9 repairs of canals, 13 class
rooms, 23 Community Halls, 12 compound walls, 6 mini bridges, & cremation
sheds, 25 drainage channels, 3 Library buildings, 110 roads, 1 playground, 11
Youth clubs, 1 Water tank, 10 latrines, 7 Vivasaya kalangal, 2 Parks, 7 leveling
of roads and 25 computers to various schools, the list is still incomplete, as
the 3 rd volume of his Parliamentary career is yet to go for print.
Former
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a forward to the book” Practice and
Procedure of Parliament” says with satisfaction that” 17 department related
standing committees have been set up to ensure Executive’s accountability.
These committees since their inception is performing well. They have helped
shape national policies and scrutinized bills referred to them.” CPT has been
a member of 4 such committees namely Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home
Affairs, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings, Parliamentary
Committee on Privileges, Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts. CPT says
“usually these committees function well, but members do not sit on all days
but just show attendance and vanish”. People look for Parliament to debate
peoples issues but petty politics overtakes everything leading to pandemonium.
Yet to ensure accountability of the executive Committee system has performed
well in general. It is time this system is fine tuned so that all bills are
scrutinized thoroughly before presented to Parliament. Indian experience in
Parliamentary democracy everyday is maturing, with people looking for
transparency in spending of MP Development Fund. Though a committee with 23
members to monitor such spending has been created in Parliament from 1999, here
CPT earns the kudos from People’s Parliament.
177-YEAR-OLD TREASURE TROVE
Professor
of Literature from the French Lyce’e of Pondicherry M.Bourdat while writing on
reconstruction of history is candid in admitting that“ it would be tedious to
revel exclusively in stones and inscriptions. There remain texts, not only more
lively than stones but often valuable monuments themselves”. To look into
these texts there cannot be a better place than the Library named after French
scholar Romain Rolland, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.
The
Romain Rolland Library next to Pondicherry Raj Niwas is a treasure trove of
knowledge. With 3,38,304 books in its possession this heritage of Pondicherry
which enables “a stimulating contact with manuscripts” and its possessions
must be preserved. The care that is taken towards buildings and the money that
flows towards architecture related projects must be diverted to knowledge based
projects and perseverance of the rare manuscripts. But fortunately it is the
French institutions that are still working in the right direction, whereas
Government institutions have woken up to the demands of times only recently.
National Mission for Manuscripts has launched a week long campaign beginning
from November 2004 for digitizing History.5000 surveyors at the rate of 50 per
districts will be combing 100 districts spread across various states to search
for manuscripts. Sudha Goplakrishnan, Director of the Mission in a press story
had asserted “ at the end of their effort, there will be no manuscript which
the mission would not have for digitization”. All districts of Karnataka and
Orissa are lucky to be included in this mission in the peninsular India. The
other states have missed the bus in the South. After the private initiative of
Tamizh Thatha U.Ve.Swaminatha Iyer, there has been no governmental effort to
collect rare manuscripts of Tamil language. Now that UDA Government had declared
Tamil as classical language efforts to add Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry into this
100 District’s list must be taken up. Many century old palm leaf manuscripts
still remain at certain homes, before all could be lost they should be
digitized” says Dr.Era.Thirumurugan of the Tamil Development Action Group,
Pondicherry. To begin with we have to “ reinvent our history by preserving the
rare collection of Books in the Romain Rolland Library. Around 27000 rare
collection of books are there in Romain Rolland Library or to be precise it
should be so, though the task of tracing the missing and damaged books is on to
have an update of facts before feeding them into computers” says Murugappan,
The Library Information Officer. All rare books in French, English and Tamil
related to India had more or less been microfilmed says that unit’s assistant
Noble.
Out
of3, 38, 304 books in the Library, Tamil section has 1,20,000 books and English
literature to the tune of 1.75,000. In the reference section 22,300 books and in
Children’s library 40,000 books are there. Thorough mobile service 3000 books
and mini mobile service 1500 books are reaching the reading public. The State
Government of Pondicherry provides every year Rs. 4 to 6 lakhs of funds. And the
new purchases for the year 2003-2004 is 4254 books. “ Local writers with
political clout or other contacts are pushing their books while many deserving
UNESCO publications are not being bought” commented N.J.Karthikeyan Sub Editor
of Sun News (Tamil) who hails from Pondicherry. Rajaram Mohan Ray Library
Foundation of Kolkatta has so far provided 18422 books under non-matching scheme
free of cost. “ Efforts must be taken to reach out to various other similar
foundations abroad to get books free for enlightening the knowledge of
Pondicherrians” opines DrA.Arivunambi Head of the Department of Tamil at
Pondicherry University.
It
appears that out of existing 300000 books around 45000 books have to be declared
condemned books and replaced. Among the 54 branch libraries in Pondicherry
4,30,000 books are there and in it 35,000 books are to be condemned. Existing
books are too facing threats from insects and the entire Library must be
centrally air conditioned along with periodical chemical and other treatments to
keep bookworms and other insects away. Years of neglect had come to an end with
the Aegean stables being cleared under the dynamic vision of B.V.Selvaraj I.A.S,
Secretary Arts & Culture with the able assistance of a knowledgeable
Director Miss N.Sumathi.
The Heritage of a town is not all of its buildings. It is the priceless manuscripts, inscriptions, archeological artifacts, copper plates, tombstones, rock art, folklore and paintings that is preserved in Museums and Libraries which brings to light many hidden facts about our heritage. If a country or town fails to protect its books and rare manuscripts whatever recorded history we have till date will be lost The Library Movement in Pondicherry began with the Bibliotheque on 1 st May 1827.The library initially was near the Railway Station, then later shifted to Romain Rolland Street where the mint was functioning. Next To Raj Niwas in the current location it functions from 1974. With the advent of age of information and technology after 177 years this library is planning to digitalizing books, manuscripts and all information and placing them in the net-world for the scrutiny of one and all.
In Pondicherry fortunately because of the French rule lot of French books have been housed in the Romain Rolland Library. In post merger phase with India, the replacement of English in the place of French, had led to the neglect of that language and its rare collection of books. “Catalogue General” a compilation of rare books in Romain Rolland Library written by Madame Yvonne Robert Gaebele and published by Pondicherry Government in 1960 is yet to see a reprint or up date.”Despite humidity the parasites and the rough casualness in the treatment of the volumes precious editions have survived.,” opined M.Bourdat in his book 18 th Century Pondicherry. Till very recently a French knowing librarian was not there and decades of ignorance of the French books in the Library has led to lot of loss to the priceless collections. The newly inducted lady assistant who knows French is courteous and helping researchers with adequate information. Not only that many valuable manuscripts were handed over to National Archives unnecessarily, instead of preserving here. After decades of neglect the current Librarian Murugappan had started to put the house in order amidst rising expectations from research scholars. Is Treasure safe? Custodians of the trove must ponder and plug the loopholes.
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courtesy : The New Indian Express-week end-9.10.2004 |
MAHAKAVI BHARATHIAR
The 122 nd
birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar is on 11 th December 2004.
The Government of Pondicherry along with the South Zone Cultural Centre which
celebrated the 83 rd anniversary of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar on September
11 of 2004 is celebrating the birth anniversary today. The major literary
products of Bharathiar during his stay in Pondicherry during the period 1908 to
1918 echoed from the house where Bharathiar Memorial Museum was set up by the
Government of Pondicherry in 1972. And in different houses where he stayed
he wrote Kannan Paatu, Kuyil Paatu
and Panjali Sabatham etc, which got him
national recognition In 1984 it was converted into a research center to which
from all over the world people have come..
The ordeals of Poets in the colonial era to see their masterpieces in print could be easily understood by a letter through which Mahakavi Bharathiar sought financial support from his well wishers. In an open appeal written in 1921, the Great Bard of Tamil Renaissance states, “All of my manuscripts, accumulated labour of my 12 year exile have arrived here from Pondicherry. They are to be divided into 40 separate books. Most of my works which I have selected for publication are prose, stories, sensational at the same time classical, very easy, lucid, clear, luminous and all but too popular in style and diction and at the same time chaste, pure, correct, epic and time defying.” By this appeal the Poet not only exudes confidence in his creative literature and its contents but also is convinced that he is standing at the cross roads of critical times and is destined to play a crucial role. His words further down in the same appeal will be enough to portray the missionary zeal that burnt in him. “The historic necessity of my works for the uplift of the Tamil Land which again is a sheer necessity of the inevitable, imminent and heaven-ordained revival of the East”, says Mahakavi. These words firmly reflects the inner feelings of the most enlightened Tamil mind of our times, which was destined to leave an everlasting impact on the Tamil society.
Stands
Apart
The Poet’s vision was clear and he
pursued his life’s mission with all his inherent strength, doing what was
destined to be done. He wrote a satirical story “ The Fox with a Golden Tail”,
which was published in 1914. It should also be mentioned that Aurobindo Ghosh
lauded the flowery language of Bharathiar in that story. Dr.Nanjunda Rao of
Chennai who was immensely pleased ordered for 500 copies and many letters of
appreciation poured in from all quarters. Kuvalai Kannan read those letters to
Bharathiar hoping he would be pleased. But Bharathiar stated as follows: “
Using my brain to its fullest capacity while I write in my mother tongue
Panchali Sabadam, you alone read it, whereas if it is in English our men who are
slaves to English colonial culture order for copies after copies”, the poet
retorted with contempt records R.A.Padmanabhan in Chitra Bharathi, a
compilations of pictures and historical notes on Bharathiar.
Tamil Medium
At that point of time when all men of letters under colonial rule were crazy over the proficiency in the tongue of the ruling classes, Bharathiar stands apart as a champion of the Tamil cause. In his book Essays and Other Prose Fragments published in 1937 writing under the title “ Vernaculars” Bharathiar extends support to the Tamil medium of instruction in the schools of Education.
Let me reproduce his views in verbatim:
“ I do not blame the Madras Council of Indian education for their
anxiety to have Professor Geddes’ views on the subject of employing Indian
languages as media of instruction in Indian schools. For I am aware those men’s
thoughts are ordinarily moulded by their environments. Nor do I blame the good
and learned Professor Geddes for his innocent comparison of the revival of
Indian languages with the Gaelic revival in Wales and in Ireland. I do not know
if Gaelic has any extensive and living literature. But I feel it is high time to
remind all parties concerned, in the discussions like this, that most of the
Indian languages have great, historic and living literatures. Of course their
luster has been slightly dimmed by economic conditions during these later days.
The English educated minority in this country can be pardoned for being
frightfully ignorant of the higher phases of our national literatures, but they
will well do to drop that annoying attitude of patronage and condescension when
writing and talking about our languages. The Tamil language for instance has a
living philosophical and poetical literature that is far grander, to my mind,
than that of the vernacular of England. For the matter of that, I do not think
that any modern vernacular of Europe can boast of works like Kural of Valluvar…”
so goes on the Great Bard. This quality and courage of conviction is rare among
the educated of his times and even today the ignorance of the educated towards
the grandeur of the Tamil language and their wild goose chase of the foreign
language continues unabated even after the wise counsel by Bharathiar.
The Themes
His book Essays and Prose Fragments contains the following topics 1) To the being of the Universe 2) The Service of God 3) The Siddha and the Superman 4) Immortality 5) Fatalism 6) The Dawn 7) Rasa- The Keyword of Indian Culture 8) Blunting the Imagination 9) The Crime of Caste 10) The Place of Women 11) Women’s Freedom 12) Love and Marriage 13) Patriotism and Religious Differences 14) The National Congress 15) New Birth 16) Matri Puja 17) India and the World 18) In Memoriam 19) The Coming Age 20) Reflections 21) Some Political Maxims 22) Free Speech 23) India and war 24) Nammalvar 25) Andal 26) Rights and Duties 27) Vernaculars 28) The occult element in Tamil speech. The list of the essays will reveal the subjects that were near and dear to his heart.
Feminism
Of particular mention is his voice for the
cause of feminism. Speaking about the greatness of womanhood the Poet stands
apart with no sign of male chauvinism, a characteristic flaw that causes even
today gender bias and female infanticide. Let me quote him “ But if woman has
always been the civiliser and, therefore, the spiritual superior of man, why did
she get enslaved at all? For it is not only among Indians but also among the
European and the Chinese and the Japanese and the Hottentots as, indeed all
brutes and birds and insects, that the female has been content, till now, to
occupy an enslaved, or if you please, a subordinate place to the male.” There
cannot be a champion of the cause of feminism than Mahakavi Bharathiar in that
point of time in the history of Tamils. A forerunner for the cause of feminism
he had left his imprint by way of many articles and poems.
Crusader against Caste
Bharathi describes caste as a crime
against humanity and let us know his feelings well expressed in his own style
“ You sometimes quote ethnology, eugenics, hydrostatics and what not, to
support these four thousand castes! But, alas, the ignorant masses of our
country have been made to believe that this caste chaos is a special divine gift
to our country and whoever transgresses it has to go to Hell. It is this belief
more than anything else that makes people insensible to the injurious results of
caste. If you really have your justification in ethnology or hydrostatics, then
you have been cheating people during all these centuries by telling them a
different story. No science can justify cheating”. The scientific temper,
which the poet possesses, is what anyone who cares for fellow beings will want
to inculcate in a caste- ridden society. The Poets are conscience keepers of
their culture and the society in which they hail, and in unmistaken terms
Bharathiar registers his voice of protest against the caste-infected
society.
Spreading his message globally
Bharathiar’s Tamil poems translated in many languages have established his greatness beyond an iota of doubt, at the same time very few attention is shown towards his writings in English, and it is high time his scholarly opinion on contemporary issues be understood. The Hindu in its sub-editorial dated 12 th September 1921 records the demise of this great poet thus: “ We regret to learn the death of Varakavi Subramanya Bharathi at his residence in Triplicane last night. The deceased was an ardent nationalist, a great thinker, a shining speaker and a powerful writer. He is the author of number of Tamil works including National songs. His recitation of the national songs infused genuine patriotism in the hearts of his listeners. He, like many other patriots of India, was an exile in Pondicherry for some years, because his patriotic speeches did not please the Gods in power. He has for some time past been ailing and by his premature death the country has lost a born poet and a sincere patriot. Swadesamithran too paid tributes in its editorial. But it is a sad fact that only handfuls were present when his body was cremated. Let us learn to respect great men when they are alive and be grateful for the great bards who uphold our culture universally.
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PARIS COMES TO PONDICHERRY
French Nationals by option, yes , people of Indian origin have become French nationals by option and it will be interesting to know about these people. When the French bid adieu to their former colony Pondicherry, they were keen to protect the interest of their citizens hence they incorporated Article 8 in the Treaty of Cession of the French Establishments of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yenam signed on 28 th May 1956. Within 6 months of signing of this Treaty one can choose Indian nationality, if so they forfeit their French nationality. If the parents had accepted Indian nationality and son wants to revoke French nationality, he can opt for it. Husband and wife have freedom of choice individually in nationality matters. This article in the treaty had created a special category called French nationals of Indian origin. And there is no difference in their day-to-day lives and cultural preferences, but nationalities tear them apart. Pondicherry has thus become a haven of French nationals in-spite of having Indian citizens all around.
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In Paris, the capital of
France there is a House for Tamils known as Paris Tamizhar Illam. All Tamils who
live in France cannot forget their past overnight, so they celebrate Mahakavi
Bharathiar’s anniversaries in that alien soil. Pongal, the festival of harvest
will be celebrated every year. Thus keeping the cultural aspirations intact,
Paris Tamizhar Illam, has set up a branch in Pondicherry. M.Karunanithi and his
wife Ms Rajam .Karunanithi always play host for dignitaries from India, while in
France. In few months they spend every year in Pondicherry these couple try to
do their best to mitigate the sufferings of their fellow kinsmen of Indian
nationality.
Speaking about their aims
in France, this couple says “ We intend to raise a public auditorium in France
for promoting Tamil Arts and Tamil Language and thereby serve the cause of
developing Tamil society.” Every art needs encouragement and cultural
preservation is the goal of human race nowadays, therefore it is but natural for
Paris Tamils to aspire for setting up an Auditorium for these purposes.
They also list out what
Paris Tamizhar Illam; the society headed by M.Karunanithi had achieved all these
years. In 1979 The Tamil Audio Visual society was started. For the first time in
1979 at Nander (France) Thiruvalluvar Tamil School, the first of its kind was
started. After the French government gave permission to French Brevet
Examinations to study Tamil as optional subject students could nowadays benefit
out of such exercise. Paris
Tamizhar Illam had trained and sent 375 students for these exams.
Apart from these achievements the conduct of functions and festivals to unite Paris Tamils had been a regular exercise for the Paris Tamizhar Illam. The founder of Paris Tamizhar Illam is a Periyarite, devout disciple of Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy, yet he had celebrated the Mahakavi Bharathar Centenary with fanfare in 1981.The then Chief Minister of Pondicherry D.Ramachandiran Education Minister Renuka Appadurai PWD Minister Perumal Rasa had graced the function by their presence in a distant Paris.
Not forgetting his mentor,
M.Karunanithi had celebrated Periyar E.V.Ramasamy’s Anniversary too. Dravida
Kazhagam General SecretaryK.Veeramani, whose youthful photo appears along with
this article, was the Chief Guest. Also K.Kuppuswamy, P.Devasagayam and
Photographer Suba.Sundaram accompanied K.Veeramani in that Paris trip.
While continuing with the
hospitality of receiving every Tamil leader and artists in France, in
Pondicherry too they have set up a branch of Paris Tamizhar Illam. This branch
runs a Periyar E.V.R. Centre for Training Destitute Women and so far had trained
38 women for governmental examinations.
There are around 15000 French Nationals living in Pondicherry and hardly few are philanthropists. Without forgetting the soil of their birth, though they earn in alien soil, in return to spend for their fellowmen in their native soil, this ideal couple have earned the love and affection of one and all in Pondicherry.
TEEN IMPRESSIONIST
La Gioconda is one of
the world’s most famous paintings. You may blink at this statement. . But if
we say Mona Lisa all will know. The painting may be famous but can anyone tell
whose portrait Mona Lisa is? Very few knew that the painting of Mona Lisa is
that of Mona Lisa Gherarni who was the wife of Francessca del Gioconda of
Florence. From this one lesson is derived. A painter can make a personality
immortal. The artist can leave a deep imprint in peoples mind and if his craft
catches people’s imagination it will live beyond his lifetime. That is why
society encourages students to get involved in hobbies like painting and among
those who aspire Priyan Voltaire had gained recognition.
Priyan Voltaire, 10 th
standard B student of Petit Seminaire High School Pondicherry had caught the
public eye through his exhibition of paintings which was lauded by the Education
Minister Laksminarayanan and Health Minister Valsaraj. Kerala Samajam Former
President J.C.Mancha too honored him in a function. Priyan hails from a family
that had liberated itself from the bonds of casteism and regionalism. Yes the
parents of this upcoming painter are lovers fostering Tamil and Kerala union.
Ramachandran, a freelance journalist is a Marxian and social activist who evaded
wedlock for long. But love was powerful and he had to succumb by marrying Alice,
a nurse, who is a Keralite. Born to such parents who are fond of their two sons
Priyan Voltaire (15) and Russil Vladimir (13) sky was the limit for the
affection and love showered by the parents. Priyan’s father tried his best to
groom the son in his mould. You could have seen Priyan Voltaire addressing
street corner meetings against globalization while he was 12 years along with
progressive forces. As age grew, maturity dawned. The boy had started to think
independently. Priyan Voltaire in the aftermath of the display of his paintings
declared that henceforth the theme of his paintings would be messages against
terrorism. His father’s influence over him is on the wane. He had become a
believer, while his father had to express anguish by writing articles over the
ideological drift between the son and him.
The father and son are
engaged in a serious family debate. The son cites the example of Professor
Anthony Flew who after being a proponent of atheism for half a century at his
81-st age became a believer. Priyan asks his father what is wrong in being a
believer?. Ramachandran becomes speechless. Priyan says “ researchers
investigation of the DNA had shown that the almost unbelievable complexity of
the arrangements, which are needed to produce life, and this, makes him a
believer.” The debate in the family though unconnected resembles the debate in
America by a group that is called intelligent design. More than 360 biologists
in America had signed a joint memorandum challenging evolution and this had set
the tone to admire the intelligent design of human race, which became the name
of the group. Priyan’s father in desperation writes in his usual column in a
local weekly “ I went to him and asked why we perceive god in human form and
is it correct to impose human form advocacy on other species?” This question
may sound as being addressed to religious people, but he argues before his son
indirectly, and fails to convince him. There is one lesson in this episode. No
idealogy by Gnostics or agnostics could be imposed on any thinking human being.
Days have gone when sons accepted their father’s version as gospel. That does
not mean indiscipline in family. It means we are in an age of enlightenment and
knowledge explosion where every concept on earth will face scrutiny and inward
debate among humans.
Priyan, the upcoming artist
dutifully recognizes the teachers who taught him painting “ Maniccam my
teacher gave me requisite training. While I was in 1 st standard I joined
Jawahar Bal Bhavan run by Pondicherry Government and gained efficiency by the
training imparted there. Having learnt for 5 years I got the Best Child Award
for Creativity in the year 1999. Then I joined Saint Joesph art Academy and
enriched my experience under the guidance of Drawing Masters Sampath Nice,
Subburayan etc. At present under the guidance of Rajaram, Lecturer in the
Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam, Priyan continues his training towards
perfection.
“I sent my painting to the
Vishwakala Dharshini at Rajamundry in Andhra Pradesh for an exhibition. My
painting won the second national level award. Emboldened by these responses, my
parents advised me to hold an exhibition of my paintings at Kamban Kalai Arangam.
The Progressive writer Association too had lauded my paintings. So far I had
drawn more than 250 paintings”, Priyan speaks with ease and glitter in his
eyes. It is my desire to awaken the people’s consciousness to combat terrorism
and to light the candle of Peace at all homes on earth says Priyan.
Priyan Voltaire had also won many prizes for his oratorical skills. One thing is certain, the product of liberal progressive minded parents Priyan grows intellectually on his own and the milieu in the family is conducive for cultivating agreeing to disagree concept, the very essential ingredient of democracy at a family soil.
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