Puducherry Historical Heritage
Colonial rule is not the foundation of the heritage of Pondicherry whose history dates back to 1.60 million years ago proven by fossilized baby of homo-sapiens....
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Saturday, November 3, 2018
SENJI FORT FROM THE DAYS OF JAIN SAINTS TO FALL TO FOREIGNERS BY TREASON
THE GINGEE FORT OF VALOUR
N.Nandhivarman
The silent revolution by
French institutions in Pondicherry is not being noticed with requisite
interest. Professor M.Bourdat of Lycee Francaise in his book 18 th
Century Pondicherry published in 1992 writes about Inland Forts, but
fortunately the task to write about Senji (Gingee) falls on the shoulders of
Jean Deloche of the Ecole Francaise D’Extreme-Orient and he had produced a
monumental work in his mother tongue French entitled “ Senji (Gingi) Ville
fortifie’e du pays Tamoul”. By next year English version of this book is going
to appear. Then it will take decades to see it in Tamil. To know about the
history of a Fort situated in Tamil Nadu, more than the Universities and
Research Institutions here the, French institute called Ecole Francaise
D’Extreme Orient had been rendering valuable services, which must be lauded
with deep sense of gratitude. The archeological excavations of Arikamedu
brought out in a book by Vimala Begley and titled “ The Ancient Port of Arikamedu
Vol I” is yet to be translated into Tamil. Now the French book on Senji by this
institute must awaken Indian Research institutions to keep pace and bring both
books in Tamil for the benefit of Tamil speaking people.
Far away from Pondicherry
the entrance of the Gingee Fort has got a Pondicherry Gate. Similarly
Pondicherry has a Gingee Salai, road that leads to Gingee. Why So? It denotes
the inseparable historical connectivity between these two places. French
captured Gingee and it remained with the French for almost a decade. The battle
for Gingee is vividly portrayed in volume XV of the “ Lettres edifiantes et
curieuses “ written by a Jesuit priest Father Lavaur. “ On September 11, 1750
Bussy and d’Auteuil arrived at the scene of battle towards 7 o’clock in the
evening. While the besieged opened fire in un-coordinated fashion French
artillery contained them within their cover. When the moon had set, a
detachment under the command of three officers scaled the hill of Rajagiri. It
is not known how these men were able to clear the deep breach with its
drawbridge, which defended the topmost boulder, an enormous natural donjon.
Then towards 4 o’ clock in the morning, a loud cry was heard coming from the
top of one of the mountains. “ Vive Le Roll”. It was Mm de Saint Georges, Veri
and Le Normand who, followed by their troops had carried out the order they had
been given. The attack then became general. M d’ Fauteuil had the gate of the
citadel blown up. Terror spread amongst the defending Moors who fired weekly
several times and then fled. In less than an hour one had become master of
all.” This how French conquest of Gingee is recorded.
Many have conquered and many have ruled Gingee but a young man known for his bravery
is still the hero of Gingee, that too after getting killed in a war. Yes, this
brave man Desingh at the age of 22 with just 500 troopers and 350 horses faced
an army of 8000 horsemen and 10,000 soldiers. The result he lost his life, his
wife got immolated in his funeral pyre. But he lives in history and peoples
memory. Raja Desingh, the film where MGRamachandiran played Raja Desingh was
not well received by the audience because the fans of MGR did not relish the
thought of hero dying in a war. But the real hero Raja Desingh is a hero living
in folklore, ballads and peoples memory. The difference in these battles is
while French recorded the history of the battle, Tamils wrote folk songs adding
their imaginative skills, and that is why historians dismiss these literary
evidences unless corroborated with archaeological and other findings. A
question arises to every ones mind. How could a fort that produced the heroic
Desingh in later days fall so easily to French?
The answer is found in a book of a French scholar who is true to his
quest towards truth.
This impregnable fortress had fallen in alien hands and such defeats
are made a post mortem by a French scholar Bourdot in his book “18 th Century
Pondicherry.” “It was a revolt amongst the besieged that opened the gates to
Bijapur’s army. It was an act of treason that enabled the Maharatta Shivaji to
take possession of it in 1677. Without the help of corruption the place would
never had fallen to the Moghul power twenty years later. Lastly it is doubtful
whether Bussy with his 200 men would have been able to succeed in just few
hours, with a raid that resulted in the surrender of the garrison, had it not
been the panic and terror that could overcome the most courageous of the
defenders during a night attack contrary to all rules especially that night was
without moon or starts and when the assailants are yelling demoniacally in an
unknown tongue”. M.Bourdat deserves due applauds for placing these truths in
the pages of history to set the record straight.
Jain Saints had dwelled in the
hills of Gingee from 2-nd century to 6 th centuries, as evident by many stone
carvings and other evidences of Gingee being citadel of Jainism. Gingee was
under Pallava Emperors between 600 to 900 AD. Chozha Emperors ruled Gingee
between 900 to 1103 AD. In the stone epigraphs at Aanangur of Athitya Chozhan
(871-907) and of Athiya Chozhan II (985-1013) it becomes crystal clear that
Chozha Emperors ruled Gingee. Pandya Emperors, Chozha Rulers and Hoysala Kings
ruled between 1014 to 1190 AD. Yadhava kings ruled Gingee between 1190 to 1330
AD. It came under Vijayanagar rule from the fag end of 14 th century and for
150 years it was under Vijayanagar rule. It came under the rule of Bijapur
Sultans between 1649-1677 AD. Maharastrians ruled from 1677-1697. Moghuls ruled
from 1700-1750 AD. It slipped between British and French rule .from 1750. This
is in nutshell the historical imprints left on Gingee, and for such a Fort
which has a history dating back to 1800 years if proper publicity is made in
abroad it will definitely attract world tourists. It also needs the help of
world agencies that protect heritage to improve its infrastructure and other
amenities. As an authority on Gingee Professor Jean Deloche describes with
passion “ the technological skills shown in water management and also in the
art of war after the invention of gunpowder.”
Professor Jean Deloche elaborates the military architecture angle too
with vivid details. According to him, during the rule of Vijayanagar Governors
“the construction was based on quadrangular works. Curtain walls were made of
segments forming salient angles, flanqued by square or rectangular towers.
Stonewalls were made of earth and rubble filling, with wedge shaped stone
blocks and no mortar in joints except in battlement of stone or brick. Gateways
consisted of two rectangular platforms separated by a central passageway. This
is the old system of fortification.”
Talking to us enthusiastically the Professor is at his best spirit
while he narrates about the profound changes brought by Nayaks in their almost
100 year rule “ in the art of defense, a consequence of the introduction of gun
powder into warfare and the development of powerful artillery. It is based on
circular and semi circular works, which by establishing a flanking fire, remedied
the defects of former constructions. It started with the reshaping of some of
the old walls and battlements. Embankments of earth were given a facing of
masonry and towers were rounded in the lower fort, almond shaped merlons
replaced the older ones”
“The big innovation of the period is the construction of the first
enclosure, with semi circular towers, surrounding Krishnagiri and extending to
the eastern cliff of Chandrayandurgam, linking the three hills, in the form of
a triangle. With extensive use of explosive projectiles and the development of
siege artillery, the other mountains Kurangudurgam and Kusumalai were also
fortified in the same way, as well as the south west spur of Chandrayanmdurgam,
since then called Sakkilidurgam”.
“A new defensive system was adopted to protect the gateways. Moreover
cavaliers or round structures were raised behind the towers to lend support and
provide firing platforms for artillery” This architectural marvel from military
point of view and from the general view found expression in the best water
management plan of a fort blended together had created a uniqueness and hence
Jean Deloche describes that it
The Fort at Gingee declared as National Monument from 1921 is under the
Archeological Department. Its history and the archeological finds in its
vicinity must be publicized to promote archeological and historical tourism.
French scholar Jean Deloche and his publications though are known to scholars
must be taken to the common man and Government of India must suitably honour
him. But no steps are afoot in governmental promotion of archeological and
historical tourism. An Engineer by profession R.Mani had been tirelessly giving
a helping hand in preparation of maps and repairs of forts including Gingee
fort. He has also penned a book in Tamil “ Varalatril Gingee. This is just a
candle while we have to illuminate Gingee’s history with 1000 lights.
Courtesy : NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 25.09.2004
Friday, November 2, 2018
CICT TO BRING OUT FRENCH TRANSLATIONS OF THIRUKURAL
FINAL
REPORT TO THE CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL TAMIL for mt Research Project
2012-2013 Ref: Sanction Order : F.No.11-264/CICT/2012-2013 /Research Project
-43 Titled Translation of Sangam Classics in other languages
Suggestion
4
I have submitted to the
Central Institute of Classical Tamil digitized versions of Sangam Classics by
Gnanou Diagou, and the fore ward to the French translation by Sir C.P.Ramasamy
Iyer states : Mr.Gnanou Diagou’s
rendering of Thiruvalluvar’s Koural into French is important and significant to
international cultural collaboration” I have
given the book both editions and also digitized versions along with my report.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil must publish in book form as well as
e-book form in CD and upload in online open access archives to be created by
CICT. Not only Thirukkural, but Ganou
Diagou had translated Naladiyar, Nanmanikkadigai, Assarak Kovai,Tirikadugam,
all Sangam classics into French. CICT can bring out all e-books in one CD and
send to Universities which teaches French in France and all of French colonies
of yester-years
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