PM Modi announces statues for iconic Tamil kings Rajaraja, Rajendra
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NDTV
13 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Need To Relook At Our History": Economist As PM Offers Prayers At Iconic Cholapuram Temple
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva temple, has put the spotlight on the Chola empire, especially on the time of Rajendra Chola, who stood tall when northern India was under Muslim rule. This, however, was not an area or a period that gets much attention -- the study of history being "Delhi-centric", said economist and historian Sanjeev Sanyal, pointing to the big takeaway from the Prime Minister's visit. "We need to begin to relook at our history and think about our great ancestors as a vigorous people," said Mr Sanyal, explaining that the popular conception of Indians as a passive people who are thankful to invaders -- from Muslim to British -- for bringing in technology, culture and cuisine. Our ancestors, he said, "built great temples, they built entire new cities when necessary". "This is a much more vigorous view of ourselves than, you know, we are waiting for somebody to conquer us and give us the railways," said Mr Sanyal, who is also the Principal Economic Advisor to the government. "These were vigorous, risk-taking people, happy to go to war with each other sometimes or with foreign invaders. But the point is, this were not a passive people. And instead, the only person in our history of our, you know, pre-Islamic history that we celebrate is Ashoka. And the only reason we celebrate him is because he was passive, because the empire collapsed under him," he added. He said he was "glad the Cholas are being celebrated," but they were not the only people who had left their mark on the history of southeast Asia. "Even Tamil Nadu itself has many others. The Pandyas, the Cheras, which are from next door in Kerala, the Pallavas, and then the Gajapatis and all the kings of Kalinga, who also had these great maritime linkages to Southeast Asia. The western coast of India has amazing history of links with the Roman Empire and so on," he said. Even in the north, there was more than what gets most attention. "Whether you have the Ahoms of Assam or the Pal dynasty and the Sen-s of Bengal or the Kadambas of Goa or the Chalukyas of Maharashtra and the Rashtrakutas, we all have amazing histories for every part of the country. But somehow we are obsessed with this Delhi-centric view that, you know, we should all be grateful to the Mughals for biryani," he added. The Cholapuram temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built around 1030 by Rajendra Chola, stands as evidence of the affluence of the of the empire under him. It was built around two decades after the Tanjore temple and in the same style. The Prime Minister's visit comes ahead of next year's assembly election in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is trying hard to carve out a niche.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
PM Modi's BIG statement on Op Sindoor; says it proved India's enemies, terrorists have no...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. (ANI Photo) Gangaikonda Cholapuram, (Tamil Nadu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor showed the world the way India would respond if its sovereignty was attacked and that the cross-border military offensive has created a new self-confidence across the country. Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, also proved that for enemies and terrorists targeting India, there is no safe haven, PM Modi said in his address at an event here to honour the Tamil emperor Rajendra Chola-I. The event marks the birth anniversary of the Rajendra Chola-I which is celebrated as the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' (the birth star of the king is Thiruvathirai in the Tamil month of Aadi) festival. Also, it commemorates 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola's legendary maritime expedition to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture. 'The world saw how India responds if someone attacks its security and sovereignty,' he said about the military strikes at chosen targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Further, he said: 'Operation Sindoor proved that for enemies of India, for terrorists, there is no safe haven. When I came here from the helipad, the 3-4 km distance suddenly became a roadshow, and everyone was praising Op Sindoor. It has created a new awakening, a new self-confidence across the country. The world has to realise India's strength.' Modi further said the names of emperors Raja Raja Chola, and his son Rajendra Chola-I are synonymous with India's identity and pride and announced that grand statues would be built for them in Tamil Nadu. These statues will be 'modern pillars of our historic awakening.' The honour for the iconic Tamil kings follows Modi's several Tamil-centric initiatives including the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and multi-language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature. 'The Chola emperors had woven India into a thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same vision of the Chola era. Through initiatives like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, we are strengthening these centuries-old bonds of unity,' the PM said. Further, Modi said several people spoke about UK's Magna Carta while commenting on democracy. However, the Chola-era 'Kudavolai system' predated it by centuries, he said. Clearly, the prime minister continued with his Tamil pitch by invoking the rich legacy of Chola kings and their patronage of Saivite spiritualism. The PM said: 'Our Shaivite tradition has played a vital role in shaping India's cultural identity. The Chola emperors were key architects of this legacy. Even today, Tamil Nadu remains one of the most significant centres where this living tradition continues to thrive.' The PM said operation Sindoor has raised a new confidence in the people of India and the whole world is witnessing it. On the legacy of Rajendra Chola, he said, out of deep respect, the temple gopuram was built lower than that of his father's Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Despite his achievements, Rajendra Chola exemplified humility. 'Today's New India embodies this same spirit—becoming stronger, yet rooted in values of global welfare and unity', the Prime Minister said. Noting that July 27 marks the death anniversary of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Modi remarked that in order to lead a developed India, the country needs millions of youth like Kalam and the Chola kings. Listening to the rendition of spiritual hymns by Odhuvamurthys (Saivite gurus) and a Shiva-chant concert by music maestro Ilaiyaraja, the PM said the the spiritual atmosphere deeply moved the soul. Amid chants of Vedic and Saivite Thirumurai, Modi prayed at the Lord Shiva temple here, built by Rajendra Chola-I to mark his victories and the founding of a new city Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow here on Sunday soon after his arrival to preside over the function to mark the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola. During the roadshow, the prime minister stood on the running board of his vehicle and waved at the people who lined up on both sides of the road. Workers of the BJP and AIADMK enthusiastically gathered on roadsides and they showered flowers and petals on Prime Minister Modi all through the 3-kilometer road show route; the flags of the BJP and AIADMK fluttered. The prime minister released a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola I, and attended the launch of the Tamil Gita album, facilitated by the Chinmaya Mission, remarking that the initiative energises the nation's resolve to preserve its heritage. The PM also released a booklet on 'Thirumurai recital,' (recital of Saivite hymns). The prime minister arrived in Tuticorin on July 26 night and inaugurated, laid foundation stones for projects worth about Rs 4,900 crore. On Sunday, he presided over the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival's grand finale here, which commenced on July 23. The event is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture/the ASI which maintains the Chola-era Lord Shiva temple here. Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district is near Kumbakonam in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. After completing his 2-day engagements in Tamil Nadu, the prime minister left for Delhi on July 27 from Tiruchirappali, where he stayed on Saturday night. (Only the headline has been reworked by staff. Copy comes from an agency feed)
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Saikia: Ulfa-I victims' kin facing intimidation over Baruah's condolence calls
1 2 Guwahati: Family members of Ulfa-I personnel, who had lost their lives in the 'Myanmar drone strike', are experiencing police and Army intimidation for receiving condolence calls from Ulfa-I leader Paresh Baruah or posting their grief on social media, said Assam opposition leader and Congress senior member Debabrata Saikia. Saikia, who was visiting the party's general secretary of Charaideo district Bhoben Likson's residence in Sonari district, said, "Ulfa-I's military chief, Paresh Baruah, might have offered condolences to some of the cadres' relatives in Assam over the phone. Some of these relatives expressed their grief on social media over the loss of their family members in the drone attack. Now, these relatives are reportedly being harassed by Assam Police and the Indian Army for either communicating with Baruah or for their social media posts. They are being falsely accused of having links with Ulfa-I and are imprisoned." Saikia urged CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to request the central govt to "not to harass innocent Assamese families in this manner." He said the CM had previously admitted in a press conference on Jan 1, 2024, that he communicated with Baruah on a quarterly basis. "Despite publicly announcing his contact with Paresh Baruah, has Assam Police conducted any investigation against Himanta Biswa Sarma?" Saikia asked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo "Now, phone calls made to offer condolences to the families of the deceased cadres are being used as evidence to label people as anti-national, leading to their persecution. Small business owners, farmers and others are being falsely accused of maintaining contact with Ulfa-I and are being imprisoned," Saikia said. Earlier, authorities had detained Likson while he was travelling to join a rally near Guwahati, which featured Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi. Later, he was arrested for allegedly showing his support for 'anti-national' activities through Ulfa-I associations.
