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Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Ancient Site Sparks Heated Political Debate about India's Past
The Keeladi village in India's southern Tamil Nadu state has unearthed archeological finds that have sparked a political and historical debate. Amid coconut groves, a series of 15ft (4.5m) deep trenches reveal ancient artifacts buried in layers of soil - fragments of terracotta pots, and traces of long-lost brick structures, BBC reported on Monday. Experts from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology estimate the artifacts to be 2,000 to 2,500 years old, with the oldest dating back to around 580 BCE. They say these findings challenge and reshape existing narratives about early civilization in the Indian subcontinent. With politicians, historians, and epigraphists weighing in, Keeladi has moved beyond archaeology, becoming a symbol of state pride and identity amid competing historical narratives. Yet history enthusiasts say it remains one of modern India's most compelling and accessible discoveries - offering a rare opportunity to deepen understanding of a shared past. Keeladi, a village 12km (7 miles) from Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai river, was one of 100 sites shortlisted for excavation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan in 2013. He selected a 100-acre site there because of its proximity to ancient Madurai and the earlier discovery of red-and-black pottery ware by a schoolteacher in 1975. Ajay Kumar, leading the state archaeology team at Keeladi, said the key finds are elaborate brick structures and water systems - evidence of a 2,500-year-old urban settlement. 'This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices and industrial work,' Kumar said, noting it's the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern India. William Daniel, a teacher from neighboring Kerala, said the discoveries made him feel proud about his heritage. 'It gives people from the south [of India] something to feel proud about, that our civilization is just as ancient and important as the one in the north [of India],' he said. The politics surrounding Keeladi reflects a deep-rooted north-south divide - underscoring how understanding the present requires grappling with the past. India's first major civilization, the Indus Valley, emerged in the north and central regions between 3300 and 1300 BCE. After its decline, a second urban phase, the Vedic period, rose in the Gangetic plains, lasting until the 6th Century BCE. This phase saw major cities, powerful kingdoms and the rise of Vedic culture - a foundation for Hinduism. As a result, urbanization in ancient India is often viewed as a northern phenomenon, with a dominant narrative that the northern Aryans "civilized" the Dravidian south. This is especially evident in the mainstream understanding of the spread of literacy. It is believed that the Ashokan Brahmi script - found on Mauryan king Ashoka's rock edicts in northern and central India, dating back to the 3rd Century BCE - is the predecessor of most scripts in South and Southeast Asia. Epigraphists like Iravatham Mahadevan and Y Subbarayalu have long held the view that the Tamil Brahmi script - the Tamil language spoken in Tamil Nadu and written in the Brahmi script - was an offshoot of the Ashokan Brahmi script. But now, archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department say that the excavations at Keeladi are challenging this narrative. 'We have found graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 6th Century BCE, which shows that it is older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. We believe that both scripts developed independently and, perhaps, emerged from the Indus Valley script,' Kumar said. Epigraphist S Rajavelu, former professor of marine archaeology at the Tamil University, agrees with Kumar and said other excavation sites in the state too have unearthed graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 5th and 4th Century BCE. But some experts say that more research and evidence are needed to conclusively prove the antiquity of the Tamil Brahmi script.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ancient site stirs heated political debate on India's past
The Keeladi village in India's southern Tamil Nadu state has unearthed archeological finds that have sparked a political and historical battle. Amid coconut groves, a series of 15ft (4.5m) deep trenches reveal ancient artefacts buried in layers of soil - fragments of terracotta pots, and traces of long-lost brick structures. Experts from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology estimate the artefacts to be 2,000 to 2,500 years old, with the oldest dating back to around 580 BCE. They say these findings challenge and reshape existing narratives about early civilisation in the Indian subcontinent. With politicians, historians, and epigraphists weighing in, Keeladi has moved beyond archaeology, becoming a symbol of state pride and identity amid competing historical narratives. Yet history enthusiasts say it remains one of modern India's most compelling and accessible discoveries - offering a rare opportunity to deepen our understanding of a shared past. Keeladi, a village 12km (7 miles) from Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai river, was one of 100 sites shortlisted for excavation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan in 2013. He selected a 100-acre site there because of its proximity to ancient Madurai and the earlier discovery of red-and-black pottery ware by a schoolteacher in 1975. Since 2014, 10 excavation rounds at Keeladi have uncovered over 15,000 artefacts - burial urns, coins, beads, terracotta pipes and more - from just four of the 100 marked acres. Many are now displayed in a nearby museum. Ajay Kumar, leading the state archaeology team at Keeladi, says the key finds are elaborate brick structures and water systems - evidence of a 2,500-year-old urban settlement. "This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices and industrial work," Mr Kumar says, noting it's the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern India. Since the Indus Valley Civilisation's discovery in the early 1900s, most efforts to trace civilisation's origins in the subcontinent have focused on northern and central India. So, the Keeladi finds have sparked excitement across Tamil Nadu and beyond. William Daniel, a teacher from neighbouring Kerala, said the discoveries made him feel proud about his heritage. "It gives people from the south [of India] something to feel proud about, that our civilisation is just as ancient and important as the one in the north [of India]," he says. The politics surrounding Keeladi reflects a deep-rooted north-south divide - underscoring how understanding the present requires grappling with the past. India's first major civilisation - the Indus Valley - emerged in the north and central regions between 3300 and 1300 BCE. After its decline, a second urban phase, the Vedic period, rose in the Gangetic plains, lasting until the 6th Century BCE. This phase saw major cities, powerful kingdoms and the rise of Vedic culture - a foundation for Hinduism. As a result, urbanisation in ancient India is often viewed as a northern phenomenon, with a dominant narrative that the northern Aryans "civilised" the Dravidian south. This is especially evident in the mainstream understanding of the spread of literacy. It is believed that the Ashokan Brahmi script - found on Mauryan king Ashoka's rock edicts in northern and central India, dating back to the 3rd Century BCE - is the predecessor of most scripts in South and Southeast Asia. Epigraphists like Iravatham Mahadevan and Y Subbarayalu have long held the view that the Tamil Brahmi script - the Tamil language spoken in Tamil Nadu and written in the Brahmi script - was an offshoot of the Ashokan Brahmi script. But now, archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department say that the excavations at Keeladi are challenging this narrative. "We have found graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 6th Century BCE, which shows that it is older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. We believe that both scripts developed independently and, perhaps, emerged from the Indus Valley script," Mr Kumar says. Epigraphist S Rajavelu, former professor of marine archaeology at the Tamil University, agrees with Mr Kumar and says other excavation sites in the state too have unearthed graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 5th and 4th Century BCE. But some experts say that more research and evidence are needed to conclusively prove the antiquity of the Tamil Brahmi script. Another claim by the state department of archaeology that has ruffled feathers is that the graffiti found on artefacts in Keeladi is similar to that found in the Indus Valley sites. "People from the Indus Valley may have migrated to the south, leading to a period of urbanisation taking place in Keeladi at the same time it was taking place in the Gangetic plains," Mr Kumar says, adding that further excavations are needed to fully grasp the settlement's scale. But Ajit Kumar, a professor of archaeology at Nalanda University in Bihar, says that this wouldn't have been possible. "Considering the rudimentary state of travel back then, people from the Indus Valley would not have been able to migrate to the south in such large numbers to set up civilisation," he says. He believes the finds in Keeladi can be likened to a small "settlement". While archaeologists debate the findings, politicians are already drawing links between Keeladi and the Indus Valley - some even claim the two existed at the same time or that the Indus Valley was part of an early southern Indian, or Dravidian, civilisation. The controversy over ASI archaeologist Mr Ramakrishnan's transfer - who led the Keeladi excavations - has intensified the site's political tensions. In 2017, after two excavation rounds, the ASI transferred Mr Ramakrishnan, citing protocol. The Tamil Nadu government accused the federal agency of deliberately hindering the digs to undermine Tamil pride. The ASI's request in 2023 for Mr Ramakrishnan to revise his Keeladi report - citing a lack of scientific rigour - has intensified the controversy. He refused, insisting his findings followed standard archaeological methods. In June, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called the federal government's refusal to publish Mr Ramakrishnan's report an "onslaught on Tamil culture and pride". State minister Thangam Thennarasu accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government of deliberately suppressing information to erase Tamilian history. India's Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has now clarified that Mr Ramakrishnan's report has not been rejected by the ASI but is "under review," with expert feedback yet to be finalised. Back at the the Keeladi museum, children explore exhibits during a school visit while construction continues outside to create an open-air museum at the excavation site. Journalist Sowmiya Ashok, author of an upcoming book on Keeladi, recalls the thrill of her first visit. "Uncovering history is a journey to better understand our shared past. Through small clues - like carnelian beads from the northwest or Roman copper coins - Keeladi reveals that our ancestors were far more connected than we realise," she says. "The divisions we see today are shaped more by the present than by history." Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Keeladi: The ancient site that has become a political flashpoint in India
The Keeladi village in India's southern Tamil Nadu state has unearthed archeological finds that have sparked a political and historical coconut groves, a series of 15ft (4.5m) deep trenches reveal ancient artefacts buried in layers of soil - fragments of terracotta pots, and traces of long-lost brick from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology estimate the artefacts to be 2,000 to 2,500 years old, with the oldest dating back to around 580 BCE. They say these findings challenge and reshape existing narratives about early civilisation in the Indian politicians, historians, and epigraphists weighing in, Keeladi has moved beyond archaeology, becoming a symbol of state pride and identity amid competing historical history enthusiasts say it remains one of modern India's most compelling and accessible discoveries - offering a rare opportunity to deepen our understanding of a shared a village 12km (7 miles) from Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai river, was one of 100 sites shortlisted for excavation by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan in 2013. He selected a 100-acre site there because of its proximity to ancient Madurai and the earlier discovery of red-and-black pottery ware by a schoolteacher in 1975. Since 2014, 10 excavation rounds at Keeladi have uncovered over 15,000 artefacts - burial urns, coins, beads, terracotta pipes and more - from just four of the 100 marked acres. Many are now displayed in a nearby Kumar, leading the state archaeology team at Keeladi, says the key finds are elaborate brick structures and water systems - evidence of a 2,500-year-old urban settlement."This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices and industrial work," Mr Kumar says, noting it's the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern the Indus Valley Civilisation's discovery in the early 1900s, most efforts to trace civilisation's origins in the subcontinent have focused on northern and central the Keeladi finds have sparked excitement across Tamil Nadu and Daniel, a teacher from neighbouring Kerala, said the discoveries made him feel proud about his heritage."It gives people from the south [of India] something to feel proud about, that our civilisation is just as ancient and important as the one in the north [of India]," he says. The politics surrounding Keeladi reflects a deep-rooted north-south divide - underscoring how understanding the present requires grappling with the first major civilisation - the Indus Valley - emerged in the north and central regions between 3300 and 1300 BCE. After its decline, a second urban phase, the Vedic period, rose in the Gangetic plains, lasting until the 6th Century phase saw major cities, powerful kingdoms and the rise of Vedic culture - a foundation for Hinduism. As a result, urbanisation in ancient India is often viewed as a northern phenomenon, with a dominant narrative that the northern Aryans "civilised" the Dravidian is especially evident in the mainstream understanding of the spread of literacy. It is believed that the Ashokan Brahmi script - found on Mauryan king Ashoka's rock edicts in northern and central India, dating back to the 3rd Century BCE - is the predecessor of most scripts in South and Southeast like Iravatham Mahadevan and Y Subbarayalu have long held the view that the Tamil Brahmi script - the Tamil language spoken in Tamil Nadu and written in the Brahmi script - was an offshoot of the Ashokan Brahmi now, archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu state department say that the excavations at Keeladi are challenging this narrative."We have found graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 6th Century BCE, which shows that it is older than the Ashokan Brahmi script. We believe that both scripts developed independently and, perhaps, emerged from the Indus Valley script," Mr Kumar says. Epigraphist S Rajavelu, former professor of marine archaeology at the Tamil University, agrees with Mr Kumar and says other excavation sites in the state too have unearthed graffiti in the Tamil Brahmi script dating back to the 5th and 4th Century some experts say that more research and evidence are needed to conclusively prove the antiquity of the Tamil Brahmi claim by the state department of archaeology that has ruffled feathers is that the graffiti found on artefacts in Keeladi is similar to that found in the Indus Valley sites."People from the Indus Valley may have migrated to the south, leading to a period of urbanisation taking place in Keeladi at the same time it was taking place in the Gangetic plains," Mr Kumar says, adding that further excavations are needed to fully grasp the settlement's Ajit Kumar, a professor of archaeology at Nalanda University in Bihar, says that this wouldn't have been possible."Considering the rudimentary state of travel back then, people from the Indus Valley would not have been able to migrate to the south in such large numbers to set up civilisation," he says. He believes the finds in Keeladi can be likened to a small "settlement". While archaeologists debate the findings, politicians are already drawing links between Keeladi and the Indus Valley - some even claim the two existed at the same time or that the Indus Valley was part of an early southern Indian, or Dravidian, controversy over ASI archaeologist Mr Ramakrishnan's transfer - who led the Keeladi excavations - has intensified the site's political 2017, after two excavation rounds, the ASI transferred Mr Ramakrishnan, citing protocol. The Tamil Nadu government accused the federal agency of deliberately hindering the digs to undermine Tamil ASI's request in 2023 for Mr Ramakrishnan to revise his Keeladi report - citing a lack of scientific rigour - has intensified the controversy. He refused, insisting his findings followed standard archaeological June, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called the federal government's refusal to publish Mr Ramakrishnan's report an "onslaught on Tamil culture and pride". State minister Thangam Thennarasu accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government of deliberately suppressing information to erase Tamilian Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has now clarified that Mr Ramakrishnan's report has not been rejected by the ASI but is "under review," with expert feedback yet to be finalised. Back at the the Keeladi museum, children explore exhibits during a school visit while construction continues outside to create an open-air museum at the excavation Sowmiya Ashok, author of an upcoming book on Keeladi, recalls the thrill of her first visit."Uncovering history is a journey to better understand our shared past. Through small clues - like carnelian beads from the northwest or Roman copper coins - Keeladi reveals that our ancestors were far more connected than we realise," she says. "The divisions we see today are shaped more by the present than by history."
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter
From potsherds to iron tools, the habitation mound and burial site add vital data to the archaeological profile of ancient Tamil Nadu's Naduvil Mandalam. N. Sai Charan digs deep into the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology's recently completed excavation Nestled in a belt of lush green cashew groves at Panruti taluk in Cuddalore district, Marungur, an otherwise quiet village, has recently stepped into archaeological spotlight. A short 2-km detour from the Chennai-Kumbakonam Highway near Kollukkaran village leads to this site, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) had recently completed excavation, bringing to light evidence of a long-forgotten past, and further proof of the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu. The region was part of the ancient Naduvil Mandalam or Naduvil Nadu (Central Territorial Division), flanked by the Thenpennai to the north and the Vada Vellar river to the south. Marungur was among eight locations where the TNSDA took up excavations in 2024-25. While the exact period is yet to be confirmed through chemical dating, preliminary findings from Marungur pointed to a well-established settlement, likely inhabited by communities during the transition phase from the later part of the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period, said R. Sivanantham, Director of Marungur excavation, and Joint Director of the TNSDA. He was assisted by archaeologists K. Bakialakshmi and S. Subhalakshmi, as well as research scholars. The exploration by the TNSDA, using remote-sensing techniques such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to assess various attributes of the site, revealed that the habitation mound and burial site were positioned at an elevation of 100 metres above mean sea level. Subsequently, a formal excavation was launched to conduct methodical unearthing and analysis of material culture. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on June 18, 2024, launched the archaeological excavation at Marungur from the State Secretariat, along with excavations at Keeladi and its cluster (Kondagai) in Sivaganga district; Vembakottai in Virudhunagar; Kilnamandi in Tiruvannamalai; Porpanaikottai in Pudukkottai; Tirumalapuram in Tenkasi; Sennanur in Krishnagiri; and Kongalnagaram in Tiruppur. Explorations at Marungur The significance of Marungur came to light more than a decade ago. A report published in The Hindu on March 5, 2010, noted that three potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were discovered at an urn burial site in Marungur. J.R. Sivaramakrishnan, a history lecturer at Annamalai University, had first noticed and collected the potsherds when an earthmover dug up the soil for strengthening the Vadalur-Panruti Road at Marungur. 'This is the first time such inscribed pots with Tamil Brahmi letters, usually placed as grave goods in urn burials, have been recovered from any archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. This opens a new chapter in archaeological research in the State,' the report said, quoting three experts, including renowned archaeologist K. Rajan. According to official sources in the TNSDA, one was inscribed with 'a-ti-y(a)-ka-n', and the others with 'a-ma-ṉ' and 'a-ta'. These inscribed potsherds could be dated back to the second or third century BCE, on paleographic grounds. Further explorations revealed a variety of artefacts on the surface of the habitation mound, located adjacent to a pond approximately 600 metres southwest of the burial site. Among the finds were light grey rouletted ware potsherds, black-and-red ware potsherds, microlithic tools, and a crescent-shaped iron chisel. On the southern flank of the habitation mound, remnants of a brick measuring 7×21×42 cm, flat terracotta stones of various sizes believed to have been used to play hopscotch, and beads of various colours – green, purple, yellow, black, and white – were found. Other artefacts included black-and-red ware pottery, terracotta pipes, an urn, circular stands, a lid made of black polished ware, and iron implements. Excavation at habitation mound On the eastern side of the tank at Marungur, a total of eight trenches, each varying in depth based on stratigraphic markers, were excavated at the habitation mound, which is situated in a zone predominantly composed of laterite soil. Decades ago, during the creation of the nearby pond, large volumes of silt must have been dumped over the mound. This anthropogenic activity resulted in the accumulation of nearly 2 metres of overlying silt, which was encountered during trenching, Mr. Sivanantham said. A significant discovery from one of the trenches was the unearthing of two large terracotta storage containers, each measuring approximately 1.25 metres, at a depth of 4.4 metres. In one of these containers, six bone points with sharp edges were found at the bottom. A few more bone points were also unearthed during the excavation. The exposed soil in and around the containers was clear evidence of firing activities. From the same stratigraphic layer, charcoal samples were retrieved, offering an opportunity for radiocarbon dating and further contextual analysis, he said. Two inner cores of conch shells, one of which measured 7 cm in length, were unearthed at a depth of 3.6 metres. A 13-cm-long iron knife, broken into three pieces, weighing 22.97 grams and measuring 2.8 mm in thickness, was also recovered from a depth of 2.57 metres. Various potsherds, including black-and-red ware, red ware, red-slipped ware, coarse red ware, rouletted ware with intricate designs, grey-rouletted ware, brown-slipped ware, and perforated ware, were found during the excavation, indicating remarkable diversity in ceramic usage. They also include 12 graffiti-bearing potsherds, with some of the graffiti resembling Indus signs. Several burnishing tools, used to polish the surface of pottery and terracotta wheels, were also found. The excavation yielded a rich collection of 95 antiquities, including a polished stone axe, carnelian, agate, quartz, glass and terracotta beads, copper bangle fragments, an iron knife, and terracotta objects. Antimony rods were unearthed, their blunt edges indicating that they were used for ornamental purposes. A medieval copper coin from the period of Raja Raja Chola I was also unearthed from the top layers. 'The mother trench excavated on the southwestern part of the habitation mound was nearly six metres deep. Beyond a depth of six metres, traces of natural soil were observed, indicating the absence of any further anthropogenic activity,' said Mr. Sivanantham, adding that Marungur was one of the few places in Tamil Nadu where both the habitation mound and its associated burial site were found. Excavation at burial site At the burial site located in a cashew grove, the archaeologists dug two trenches. During the course of excavation, two laterite stone circles were identified, confirming the presence of megalithic burials. In total, 10 urns were unearthed from these two trenches. The first megalithic structure revealed a laterite stone circle with a diameter of eight metres. The surface of the circle was covered with small laterite stones, which, upon removal, revealed two concentric stone circles – the inner circle composed of medium-sized laterite stones and the outer structure of larger stones. The stone circle was divided into four quadrants for methodical excavation. Initial layers yielded hard laterite stone. At the centre, a large capstone was found, placed to protect the burial urn beneath. The urn itself was placed within a laterite bedrock cavity. This megalith yielded two urns, Mr. Sivanantham said. In the second megalithic burial area, beneath the laterite layers, a fine red soil stratum was encountered, from which eight urns made of red ware were exposed at varying levels and in different sizes. Iron swords were found outside two of the urns, while other iron objects were recovered from inside the urns. One urn yielded red jasper beads, he said. In both the trenches, offering pots around the urns were recovered. These included black-and-red ware, red-slipped ware, black-slipped ware, and plain red ware pots. Proposed scientific analysis The samples collected from the habitation mound and the burial site will be subjected to a range of scientific analyses aimed at establishing the chronology of site formation, dating the artefacts and antiquities, and reconstructing the lifestyle and food habits of the communities that once inhabited Marungur, Mr. Sivanantham said. The charcoal samples will be sent to the Beta Analytic laboratory in Florida, U.S., for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis for dating, while the pollen samples collected will be sent to French Institute of Pondicherry. Further, archaeo-botanical investigations, phytolith and petrology analyses, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Thermoluminescence dating will be employed to determine the exposure of sediments and ceramics to heat or light. The continuous cultural development in this region – from the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period – will be established through chronological and scientific analyses based on the unearthed artefacts, Mr. Sivanantham added. The University of Madras had already conducted excavations near Marungur, at Karaikadu and Kudikadu. This site also holds significance as it is located close to the ancient port cities of Arikamedu in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district. The TNSDA has also mooted preliminary surveys at Manikkollai, nearly 30 km from Marungur, for conducting excavations during 2025-26.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- The Hindu
King Rajendra Chola's military expedition to the Gangetic plains that inspired the building of Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The stone edifice of Gangaikonda Cholisvaram, the Shiva temple more famously known as the Brihadisvara Temple, dominates the skyline of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a nondescript village in Udayarpalayam taluk of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu. It is hard to believe that the place was a throbbing capital of the Imperial Cholas for about 250 years. The city, its temple, and its massive lake called Chola Gangam remain the embodiment of the signal achievements of Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE). Rajendra Chola I is famed for his exploits, but his military expedition to the Gangetic plains about a thousand years ago remains one of the most celebrated in the history of the Chola dynasty. The Tiruvalangadu, Esalam, and Karanthai Copper Plates, several inscriptions, and literary works celebrate his victory and the construction of the Brihadisvara Temple, listed as one of the three great living Chola temples by UNESCO. Rajendra himself celebrated the victory by assuming the title 'Gangaikonda Cholan'. He also built Gangaikonda Cholapuram, along with the Gangaikonda Cholisvaram — the jewel in his crown that rivals the Rajarajeswaram (also known as Brihadisvara Temple) built by his father in Thanjavur — and the Chola Gangam, excavated as a jalasthambam, a liquid pillar of victory. Water from the Ganga During the expedition to the Gangetic plains, Rajendra Chola I defeated several kings and chieftains, including the Kalinga ruler and the Pala ruler Mahipala of Bengal. According to the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, the vanquished kings were made to carry the Ganga water on their heads to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The water was poured into the Chola Gangam, now known as Ponneri. Rajendra Chola I also brought several beautiful Chalukya and Kalinga sculptures as war trophies. But why did Rajendra Chola I shift his capital from Thanjavur? Many historians believe that one of the reasons could be that he wanted a bigger well-planned city to accommodate his huge army and serve his mercantile interests better. R. Nagasamy, the first Director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, however, holds an interesting view. Rajendra Chola I, he says, probably had a 'sentimental attachment' to the place which inspired him to attain phenomenal success, though it was unheard of even as a village when he came to the throne. 'Tanjavur had been the Chola capital ever since it had been captured from the Muttaraiya chieftains by Vijayalaya... Tanjavur served the interests of the Cholas well... Yet, within a few years of the erection of the great temple [Rajarajeswaram] and within a few years of his [Raja Raja I] passing, his son, Rajendra, shifted his capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Was this because Gangaikonda Cholapuram served strategic purpose better than Tanjavur (but Tanjavur had better claims with its fortifications and natural river barriers)! No answer is possible except for a suggestion that it was probably here that Rajendra resolved to despatch a military expedition to the Gangetic plain,' says Nagasamy in his book, Gangaikondacholapuram, published by the department in 1970. Gangaikonda Cholapuram remained the capital from 1025 CE till the fall of the Chola dynasty till 1279 CE. 'As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 AD for the about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire south India, from the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south,' says Nagasamy. It was the second largest and important city in the 11th-12th Centuries and the centre of political, commercial and cultural activities, like Madurai in Pandyanadu and Karur in Cheranadu, says Natana Kasinathan, another former Director of the Department of Archaeology. Yet, there is no inscription of Rajendra Chola I in the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a spectacular gallery of Chola art and architecture. It is from an inscription of his son Vira Rajendra that it is known that his father had built the temple. Details about the palace and other parts of the city are found in the epigraphs of Rajendra's successors, says Kasinathan in his book, The Metropolis of Medieval Cholas. The inscription of Vira Rajendra, the third son of Rajendra, refers to the palace at Gangaikonda Cholapuram as Chola-Keralan Thirumaaligai, evidently named after one of the titles of Rajendra I. Bustling city once Gangaikonda Cholapuram had been a bustling city with a fort, palaces, and well-planned streets. 'In an inscription dated in the 49th year of Kulottunga (1119 AD,) a reference is made to Gangaikondachola maaligai at this place. It is likely that there were more than one royal building, each having its own name. Besides, the names of the palace and fort walls, the names of a few roads and streets are preserved in the epigraphs,' says Kasinathan. The city is celebrated in Tamil literature too. An elaborate description of the citadel comes from Muvar Ula of Ottakuttar. Rajaraja Cholan Ula gives an account of almost all the important places of the city. The city is referred to as Gangapuri in Kalingattuparani, composed by Jayankondar. Though there have been attempts to excavate and showcase the past glory of the city in the recent times, the fortunes of Gangaikonda Cholapuram seems to have come a full circle. 'This capital of the most powerful empire in Asia at one time is now desolate, only the temple survives. To those who know of the brilliant history of the Chola empire, it is a tragedy,' writes Nagasamy. As he explains, the Pandyas, who put an end to the Chola empire in the 13th Century, avenging their defeats, 'should have razed the city to the ground'. One thousand years have passed since the sacred Ganga water was brought to this city, and the millennium deserves to be commemorated as a fitting tribute to the emperor who founded the city, says R. Komagan, chairman, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Council Trust.
