Distortions in the re-written South Indian History

The Kingdoms of South India do not get wide coverage in the Ancient Indian History, possibly because the Kings or potentates have not left any record of their reign or inscriptions. Even though Tamil was one of the oldest classical languages of India from the unknown date in history,the historical sagas carried by the authors of famous texts are not considered authentic. However, Kerala is as old as History. The Ramayana and Mahabharata, there are references to places in Kerala. Kerala princes and warriors are said to have partaken in the ‘Kurushekhtra War’. Vamana, one of the incarnations of Vishnu is said to have exiled the then emperor Maha Bali to pathala (Bhagavatham). Parasurama, the subsequent Avatara of Vishnu is said to have reclaimed Kerala from the Sea throwing his axe from the Oom Gokarna sea coast. All these testify that there has been Cheranad, along with Cholas and Pndyan Kingdoms in South India.
Perumchoth Udayan Cheralatan was the first of the Chera Kings about whom there is a scanty sketch in the Tamil literature. He is said to be a great warrior who partook in the kurukshetra War. He was succeded by Palyanai Selkeh Kuttavan who ruled from ‘Thiruvanchikulam on the broad Periyar, near the sounding ocean’. Kalankaikkanni Narmudic Cheral succeded Selkh Kuttavan. Cholas had by that time annexed some of the parts of the Chera Kingdom. Karikola Chola defeated the combined forces of Pandya and Chera forces in the famous battle of Venni. His successors were weak, and they were subdued by Cheran Senkuttavan. The great poets of the Sangam literature have ascribed many victories and he was credited with subjugating many victories. He won a great naval war (Pathittipattu 45, 46, 48 Agam 212), and got the title ‘Kadal Pirakottiya’. Muziris, which suffered from the depredations of buccaneers, was made a safe Port of Call.
Muziris (Kodungalloor or CRAGANORE) was reputed to be the ancient world's greatest trading centre in the East for such highly prized possessions as Pepper, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger and other Spices. Pliny the elder describes Muziris as primum emporium Indiae. The Port was popular to the author of the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea who described it as being situated on River Pseudostomus (Greek for false mouth- a precise Malayalam translation of Periyar alimukom) A second century Papyrus from Egypt concerning the transshipment of goods originating in Muziris from the Red Sea to Alexandria attests the continued importance of the Port in the Indian Ocean after Pilany and Periplus. Pliny, the younger is said to have lamented the fact that trade with Muziris was draining the treasury of Rome. The trade flourished by ships riding on the monsoon winds from Africa and back to Arabia, from where the overland caravan took the prized items to the markets along the Mediterranean Ports. Kerala was known as fabled land of Spices and black Gold. It was during this time Europe was busy in exploration and Voyages to unknown lands. Route to India was a dream of most of the voyager. Many attempts were made, but most could reach only up to "Cape of Good hope" in Africa.
Historians like Dr Tomber of the British Museum attest that the flow of trade between Rome and Kerala lasted between the 1st century BC and 1st Century AD. However, there was growing evidence, according to her, that this trade continued much longer into the 6th and early 7th century AD, although not continually.
So well known was this Port town, a placed loved by the navigators, that the direct disciple of Jesus Christ, St Thomas came to Muziris, and the Christian religion took their roots here. The testimony to this is the St Marthoma Church (built in 52 AD). There has been a congregation of Buddhists to this place as well. Huan Tsang, Chinese traveler who has recounted the history of his travel in India, describes Muziris as a place where there were many Buddhists. The 24th Perumal Raja Varman (294-314 AD), the thirteeth Perumal Chandra Varman II (515-540 AD) became staunch Buddhists. In Kerala upto 550 AD Buddhism was highly prevalent here. Well known geographer Ptolemy (AD 95) had a map where Muziris was marked. Sri Kurumba Bhagavati temple of Kodungallur is said to have been built by Cheran Senkuttavan. Kodungalluramma and the fable relating to her have been depicted in Silapathikaram by Elangovan, who is said to be the brother of Cheran Senkuttavan (2 nd centuries AD Tamil classic). The Kannaki of Chilapathikaram is said to have burned the city of Madurai when the Pandyan King unknowingly killed her husband Kovalan, accusing him of having robbed the precious pearl studded bracelet. According to lore, Kannaki is Kodungalluramma. However, under Senkuttavan, there was peaceful co-existence between the conglomerations of all religious faiths in the remote period of History.
I would like to pause for a second, and look at the record achievements of South Indian rulers. However, when the entire Indian History was re-constrcuted by Western Scholars, they gave scant respect for Chola, Chera and Pandya Kingdoms. Pulakasi II stopped the exploits of Harsha Vardhan. Raja Raja Chola and Rajemdra were great monarchs. In the annals of the early centuries of Christian era, South Indian Ports excelled. Priceless treasures were brought by Phoenicians, Arabs, and Romans. The exploits of south Indian Kings lay concealed under the dust of centuries until comparatively recent times (!) Historians have often failed to appreciate the work and recognize the greatness of warriors and Kings of the South (Dravidians). The subjugation of the south by the invaders from the north is with them a normal occurrence, a fascinating theme, and a forgone conclusion. It was possible for people of South India to spread throughout India, colonize islands like Java, Bali and push commercial enterprise in the countries of the West, the story of their conquest of North India need not be branded as a figment of poetic fancy or a mere manifestation of parochial patriotism. If the expedition of Samudra Gupta could give the historic background to Kalidasa in describing the military triumphs of Raghu, the exploits by Chera Kings recorded in Pathithupattu and other Sangam Works of contemporary poets may also be legitimately regarded as reliable and true(Travancore Manual, Chap XIII,p 21). It may, perhaps, be contended that the desire for recognition and regard, might have induced the composers to burn their incense at the feet of the Kings and potentates and persuaded them to improvise fictions to make their panegyrics acceptable to their patrons. That is the fragility of poets of all ages and all Countries. But no historian has refused on that ground to indent for his facts on Bana’s Harscharita, Bilhana’s ‘Vikramankaradevacharitra’ or Kalhana’s Rajatharangani. V A Smith has frankly acknowledged that for the period of Indian History from 600 to 326 BC, dependence must be placed almost wholly upon tradition communicated through literary works. The remarks are no doubt applicable to the History of Sangam period in South Indian History.
Ancient Tamil works are invaluable pieces of information for reconstruction of history of those times. Silapathikaram is a notable work which gives inkling of the times. The Pathittipattu describes the exploits and valours of individual Chera Kings. The reputation of the Sangam works depended upon the stamp of approval placed on them by the great Madurai Academy composed by the most learned men of that time. The ‘Akkappural’ and ‘Pura Nanuru’ are also compositions of great value. But the accounts furnished by the Sangam works are often taken at a discount. So great is the inferiority that even Shri P T Srinivasa Iyer, who has done a lot of study in the South Indian History, would fain dismiss the expedition of Sen Kuttavan into the Gangetic Valley as a fable invented by ‘a Tamil poet ignorant of the geography of India’. In the light of the same arguments, it is feasible for a fantastic historian to state the great pilgrimage of Sri Sankara (Adi Sankara) from the remote Kaladi to the North as a fable invented by a fanciful poet of the South! If the Indo-Aryans from their Artic home and the Greeks under Alexander the Great knew geography enough to invade India through the difficult passes in the north-west, it may be reasonably presumed that a South Indian King should also be able to discover the route which led to the northern Regions.
Sangam Works quote the beautiful ships of Yevanas brought gold in great quantity to the Court of Muziris and went back laden with pepper. Spinning and weaving were common, carpentry, working in hides and skins were common. The land grew spices, especially pepper which was much sought out in the Western World. It abounded in Coconuts, sandlewood, akil and sugar cane. Elephants gave ivory, its mines yielded precious stones, and its seas produced pearls.
It was the consecration of a Bhagavati Temple at Kodungallur paved the way for Bhagavati workship in Kerala.
The Cheraman Jamal masjid was constructed in 629 AD and is the first Muslim mosque constructed in India. It had unique and queer architecture and a century year old lamp which show the close amenity between the various religions at Kodungallur. Kodungallur still enjoys religious amenity.
Today, Muziris stands in isolation, with big gated houses, with their occupants away in America, Emirates and other far countries. Kodungallur is a native place of the famous P Bhaskar who gave many songs including “Nallikerathindanattil annikku nadi edigandi mannundu” (In the land of Coconut, I have a small land), Prof M N Vijayan, Kamal, Cinema Director, Kodungallur Kunju Kuttan thampuran, an erudite Sanskrit Scholar, Bahadhur, late cine artist, etc.
Bibliography:

# Pliny’s Natural History
# Travancore Manual
# History of the Tamils from the earliest times to 600 AD- P T
Srinivasa Iyengar
# History of Kerala – A Sridhara Menon
# Trade in early India (Oxford University Press)
# Cochin Saga- Sir Robert Bristow
# History of Kerala- Wikipedia
# Vestige of the Grand Past & Saga of Cochin (A V Ramanathan)
# Viswa Vijnana Kosh (Ed: P T Bhaskara Panikker)
# Annual Reports of Coir Board
#Coir Export Statistical Output (Coir Board)(2007)
#Coconut Export Manual (CDB, Govt of India, 2010]

Asia has arrived

Will the 21st century usher in Asian Revolution, just as the 15th Century belonged to the golden age of the Elizabethan era, Industrial Revolution, 17th century to American Revolution and French Revolution and 19th century to the Russian Revolution? The 21 st century Revolution however, will afford a pan loose-knit regional economic integration so that the logistics of an increasingly China-India centric supply chain could bring economy back to rails in Asia.
Asia has proven comparatively resilient against the current downturn, but hurdles still lie ahead. In order to maintain robust growth rates in the face of weak U.S. demand, the region’s dynamic economies must stoke domestic consumption and embrace environmentally sustainable development policies
Asia has arrived. The prospects for increased integration and cooperation between the region’s economies have, indeed, brightened. .
Asia of the past 30 years has done an incredibly well. China and India have driven their economies through export led growth. The Services sector in India has done innumerably well, and have exports worth $ 50 billion plus. But this model is close to having outlived its usefulness. The future of Asia will be more consumer-led, will have a growth dynamic that places greater emphasis on the quality of the growth experience, especially in terms of environmental protection and pollution control.
· Nearly 75% of the world’s economic activity now takes place outside the U.S. Worldwide investments are expected to double to more than $300 trillion in the coming years – with over $150 trillion going to new global markets.
· The steady, growing transfer of wealth and power from industrialized nations to developing regions is happening faster than anyone could have imagined.
Until recently, the global multinationals have seen developing Asia as an off shore production platform, to get goods at a cheaper price because of low labour costs. That concentrated on exports. The other option, to tap the regional consumers whose purchasing power and rising expectations were growing were ignored This is the time, for the multinationals to tap the domestic market, which is easily in their palms to exploit.
The external demands that underpin the export model are chaotic. Even though production size is growing, Asia has been developing while recession fed Europe and American economy which is in deep crisis cannot patronize Asian goods. Even if they want, pricing will be awful. Credit would extend to 6 months to 1 year. Instead of looking externally, the businesses in Asia have to look inward to reap the benefit for the country’s consumers who would average 3.8 billion who have money to buy. Economic development, therefore, depends upon the need to aggressively market its products internally rather than externally. There is no choice.
China’s GDP grew 10.4% to 13.06 trillion Yuan ($ 1.9 trillion) in the first half of the last fiscal. China has been able to quadruple its GDP since 1978. In 2002, with its 1.28 billion people but a GDP of just $ 4600 per capita, China stood as the Second largest economy in the world after United States (measured on a purchasing power parity basis). China also overtook South Africa as world’s largest gold producer in 2008, when its output increased from 270.5 tonne to 300 tonne. China exports to United States dipped by 20.5% to US$957.36 billion. Trade value between China and the country’s three major trade partners, the EU, the U.S. and Japan, was US$292.42 billion, US$239.36 billion, and US$182.34 billion during the first ten months of 2009, which averaged a drop in growth of 18.7%, 14.9% and 19.3%.
India has a well built micro scenario, but a weak macro scenario. The Micro scenario is very positive in India. A large population working in world class competitive companies, well educated, English speaking, competent and hard working talented workforce; highly competent MBA Institutes, stable financial institutions, high class engineering and medical institutions. When we come to the macro platform, India has instable savings, limited FDI, low Diaspora NRI investment, horrible infrastructure, high cost runs as project planning often goes awry in view of plethora of inhibitions at the decision making levels.
Indian exports have been blossoming, from $ 43 billion to US $ 178 billion, nearly three fold, FDI has also grown even though it is no where near to China, and remittances from Indian workers abroad contribute to around 20% of the Foreign Exchange Reserves which is around $ 280 billion.
And the most important layer of India’s ditherness is in its Politics. Between 2004-9, the Government wrote a Common Minimum programme to get the support of the Communists. Reform had to remain very much within the realms of the reformed Congress. In the election held in 2009, Congress has been voted back to power on the plane of better governance and performance. But little of the commitment they gave during election rhetoric is seen translated into action. Expect for a few and far between, the Government continues to blame the inept rains for the diminishing production of food grains leading to inflation in foodstuffs, edible oil, sugar, cerals, wheat etc. The world economy is blamed for the unimpressive show by the dithering exports. There is a huge liquidity in the system yet, the movement of circulation of currency is rather muffled.
Everybody looks to china as the Asian giant. There is no stop over. But India could be the real sleeper in Asia in a couple of years. India should not become excessively export dependent. India is also trying to increase and enhance its trade with China. It is both good and bad. Our over dependence with America should also stop. We should not be constrained by demography, as some of the States are vocal in getting many concessions over other states.
Indian Government has wisely signed a FTA with ASEAN Countries. This would spur more bi-lateral and multilateral trade between India and ASEAN. It is also true that Pakistan instead of wasting their limited resources, should venture into trade so that there will be economic boom which would provide steep employment resulting in their youngsters looking up for jobs instead getting attracted to terrorist activity. Sri Lanka is in the growth plane, after the devastating war which took all its efforts. A new global order with Asia as central point will emerge.