Travel Diary

To: "Min Nuul" From: "Kannan" Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 12:11:56 +0530 Subject: [e-suvadi] Travel diary 23.02.02 Reply-to: [email protected]
Dear friends: Thanks to Ilanko for diverting my trip westwards. Otherwise I could have missed the opportunity of meeting him and Dr.S.Raju (Pulavar ce.iraasu). Ilanko spends his retired life ideally and productively. He will never catch the odd 'retired men's syndrome'. He spends most of his time keying in several works of tamil literature to PM. He is an active suvadian as well. He is still respected as a Postal official by his colleagues. He is involved in various social activities as well. He spent a whole day with me while organizing a meeting with Dr.Raju. Ilanko has contributed several works to PM. If retired people of Tamilnadu could spend their time usefully as he does the tamil community will benefit a lot. Dr.Raju is a treasure house of information. He started his life as a tamil teacher and improved his talents in manuscriptology, history and archeology. He obtained his PhD from Tamil University where he served in the department of archeology (������� Ш�) till his retirement. He has published more than 100 books and several hundred articles so far. Both state and central Govts have awarded him for his.. service. When I arrived in Erode at the odd hour of the midnight, he waited for me with his son and Mr.Ilanko. I could see clearly the enthusiasm of participating in a global initiative in their eyes. The eyes were not tired, instead bright with curiosity of knowing me and my program. Next day when I met him at his house Dr.Raju immersed me with documents of tamil heritage in various forms such as copper plates, palm leaves, terracotta, printed books and photos. Most of his life long collections are archived in a near by school called 'kalaikkoil'. He has donated nearly 1500 palm leaf manuscripts to tamil university. He gave permission to scan some of the left overs (about 20 ms). However, I didn't have that much time with me and so I selected few works of interest to me. We documented some rare ms dealing with feudal slavery of Tamilnadu, called ����ʨ� (kothadimai). We realized that at the time when Ramilinga Vallalar lived there was a severe famine in Tamilnadu that forced people to sell properties, cattle, house roof and their children as well!! It was so painful to read the palm leaf records and poems ealing on 'Tathu varusha Panjam'. I was stunned to realize that the severity of famine forced people to be cannibalistic even. The feudal set up of early 19 century was so bad that people borrowed money for marriage and got mortgaged for life to the money lender! Thus I documented a classical case of slavery and discrimination (only Dalits were sold like that) practiced in Tamilnadu. At times it is not that pleasant knowing our history and heritage :-( For the first time I scanned copper plates and the result was stunning! Dr.Raju shared with THF a brand new finding of terracotta plates of Sangam period excavated from Perur region. The clay tablets contained writings in early brahmi and some unknown cuneiform writing. For the first time in Indian history that clay tablets other than those of Harappa were excavated, especially in the South!! They are yet to be deciphered. I scanned a clay plate and the result was brilliant!! Thanks to the digital revolution. The computer eye is far superior to human eyes indeed. anbudan Kannan
To: [email protected], [email protected] From: "Dr. K. Loganathan" | Block Address | Add to Address Book Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 16:25:40 +0800 Subject: Re: [e-suvadi] Travel diary 23.02.02 Reply-to: [email protected]
Dear Dr Kannan, The following information: the clay tablets contained writings in early brahmi and some unknown cuneiform writing. For the first time in Indian history that clay tablets other than those of Harappa were excavated, especially in the South!! They are yet to be deciphered. I scanned a clay plate and the result was brilliant!! Thanks to the digital revolution. The computer eye is far superior to human eyes indeed. excites me beyond measure. Clay tablets and cneiform writngs may provide the necessary evidence for the Sumerian linkage of the Tamils. ihope yu can collect as many as possible. I can compare them with the Sumerian script that Gadd has provided in one of his books. Loga