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 (¸ø¦ÅðÎò ШÈ) 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 ¦¸¡ò¾Ê¨Á (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