ROLE OF TAMILS IN THE HISTORY OF SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE SURGES AHEAD

N.Nandhi Varman

Role of Tamils in history of Singapore

 “The second successful six year term of unanimous choice for President Sellappan Ramanathan of Singapore is a silent revolution. It denotes recognition could be earned by constitutional means by peace loving Tamils anywhere in the world” said Director of Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture Dr.Marudhanayagam. Pondicherry has many a contact with Singapore. The handloom weavers of Muthialpet for long had been exporting to Singapore. Pe.Tha.Rasan of Tirumalairayanpattinam of Karaikal region went to Singapore made a fortune and participated in that country’s politics. He wrote a monumental book Singaporin Varalatril Vazhukinra Thamizhargal. Pondicherry Chief Minister N.Rangasamy had lauded this book as “a fruit of many years toil and hard research “

  

Chinese named Singapore as Pu-luo-chung, which meant "island at the end of a peninsula" in third century. Javanese language book Nagarakretagama' of 1365 calls as Temasek, or Sea town. Vietnamese source for that name is there. But from 14th century Singapuram which means Lion City is commonly used indicating the predominance of Tamil settlers.

On 29 January 1819 Sir Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen landed in the island to establish a trading station at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula after having surveyed other nearby islands. Along with him came Narayana Pillai and Pe.Tha.Rasan records the contribution of Narayana Pillai in building of Singapore. Singapore proved to be a prized settlement. 

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 made Singapore a major port of call for ships navigating between Europe and East Asia. Rubber planting, especially after the 1870s made Singapore the main exporter for rubber in the world. At the end of the 19th century Singapore experienced unprecedented prosperity with eightfold trade expansion between 1873 and 1913. This prosperity attracted immigrants from countries around. The population grew to 80,792 by 1860 with Chinese 61.9 per cent the Malays and Indians 13.5 and 16.05 per cent respectively; and others, including the Europeans, 8.5 per cent.

Dravidian Movements impact on Singapore

 In that island nation the unity of the multi ethnic society did not come over night. It had been a long and strenuous period with visionaries shaping the destiny of that nation. Its Union with Malaya, subsequent independent nationhood, all was passing phases. In that phase the political movements of Tamil Nadu played an important role. Periyar visited Malaya in 1929 to inaugurate Malaya Tamil Congress. In later years after he parted company with Congress, Singapore Dravida Kazhagam and subsequently Singapore Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came up as independent outfits. They were not extensions of the Tamil Nadu based political outfits. They were independent parties dedicated to the country and they never had extra territorial ambitions. Leaders like Anna advised Tamils to be loyal to the country of settlement. This mature guidance led to amalgamation of Tamils in that country’s national mainstream. Pe.Tha.Rasan was the General Secretary of Singapore Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In his time even in Ceylon there was a separate Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam unit with A.S Manavaithambi as General Secretary, so was the case of Malaysia Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. They waning of the influence of Indian nationalists, communists and Dravidian movement in the South East Asian countries where Tamils went as settlers created a vacuum which was occupied by militancy in Srilanka, but in Malaya and Singapore though these parties lost relevance, the ground they prepared helped Tamils gaining national identity, Tamil language getting official language status, and now Tamil heading a multi ethnic country like Singapore.

As settlers from Europe amalgamated into American society Tamils and Indians became Singaporeans and Malaysians. Peace prevails in a multi linguistic and ethnic country unlike other places of turmoil. Immediately after independence doubts over its very survival were raised in international media. The pressing issues were unemployment, housing, education, lack of natural resources and lack of land.

Singapore lacked national unity among most of the population, with people still attached to their countries of origin. Chinese identifying as being from China, Indians from India and so on rather that were being citizens of Singapore. Singapore dealt with each of these problems separately.

 Its leaders decided that the population would need to be fluent in English and English was made the medium of education for all schools. Education, at least for primary schooling was made compulsory. The education system was designed to be rigorous and intensive, with emphasis on immediately practical, rather than intellectual, applications, such as on the technical sciences as opposed to political discussion or philosophy. A large portion, around one-fifth of Singapore's budget was devoted to education to facilitate a large and competent work force upon graduation.

 Language Policy Evolution in Tamil Nadu and Singapore

 It is pertinent to note that DMK founder C.N.Annadurai’s visit to Singapore and Malaysia in 1965 was an eye opener to the leader who later introduced the two language formula without diluting the importance of English. His visit and meeting with Lee Kuan Yew played an influential role in his later day policy perceptions on language as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

 The leadership of Lee Kuan Yew achieved a miracle. After dominating political scene for longest period in office now Lee is looking back at his past policies in a mode of introspection. 

In spite of all that Lee still has soft corner for his mother tongue. Lee expressed concern about the declining proficiency of Mandarin among younger Singaporeans. In one of his parliamentary speeches, he said: "Singaporeans must learn to juggle English and Mandarin". Subsequently, he launched a television program in January 2005, in an attempt to attract young viewers to learn Mandarin. In June 2005, Lee published a book, Keeping My Mandarin Alive, documenting his decades of effort to master Mandarin, a language which he said he had to re-learn due to disuse. The racial unity was fostered well during Lee Kuan Yew’s regime.

TAMIL PRESIDENT OF SINGAPORE

S.R.Nathan

Now an ethnic Tamil had been chosen for a second term. Mr. Sellapan Rama Nathan received a walkover on nomination Day i.e. 18 August 1999 for his first Presidential election. The Presidential Elections Committee said in the second Presidential election in August 18 2005 that Mr. Nathan has all the credentials for the office. “Not only is Mr. Nathan well regarded and respected for his public service, he is also a man of integrity, good character and reputation”.

The Tamil becoming unopposed again as President of Singapore has generated lot of interest in Pondicherry and  The students of Dr.Ambedkar Law college launched a signature campaign in various colleges to urge Pondicherry University to confer Honorary doctorate on S.R.Nathan citing the precedent of Maldives President getting doctorate from Pondicherry University at an earlier period. The author of the book that records all the services of Tamils in nation building of Singapore Pe.Tha.Rasan after 45 years in Singapore is back to Karaikal and presides over Kamban Kazhagam of Karaikal. It is irony of fate.

Courtesy: New Indian Express 17.09.2005

BRIDGE TO PARIS and PONDICHERRY CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

A SLICE OF PARIS IN PONDICHERRY  

N.Nandhivarman

People of Indian origin who have become French nationals by option- it will be interesting to know about these people. When the French bid adieu to their former colony, Pondicherry, they were keen to protect the interests of their citizens. Hence they incorporated Article 8 in the Treaty of Cession of the French Establishments of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yenam signed on May 28, 1956.

Within six months of signing of this treaty one could choose Indian nationality. If so, they forfeited their French nationality. If the parents had accepted Indian nationality and son wants to revoke French nationality, he can opt for it. Husband and wife have freedom of choice individually in nationality matters. This article in the treaty had created a special category called French nationals of Indian origin. There is no difference in their day-to-day lives and cultural preferences but the nationalities tear them apart. Pondicherry has thus become a haven of French nationals in spite of having Indian citizens all around.

In Paris, the capital of France, there is a House for Tamils known as Paris Tamizhar Illam. ALL Tamils who live in France cannot forget their past overnight, so they celebrate Mahakavi Bharathiar’s anniversaries on alien soil, Pongal, the festival of harvest, is celebrated every year.

Keeping the cultural aspirations intact, Paris Tamizar Illam has set up a branch in Pondicherry. M.Karunanithi and his wife Rajam Karunanithi always play host to dignitaries from India while in France. In the few months they spend every year in Pondicherry this couple try to-do their best to mitigate the sufferings of their fellow kinsmen of Indian nationality.

 Speaking about their aims in France, this couple says, “we intend to raise a public auditorium in France for promoting Tamil Arts and Tamil Language and thereby serve the cause of developing Tamil society. “

 ”Every art needs encouragement and cultural preservation.  Therefore it is but natural for Paris Tamils to aspire to set up an auditorium for these purposes.

They also list out what Paris Tamilzhar Illam, the society headed by M. Karunanithi, has achieved all these years. In 1979 the Tamil Audio Visual society was started.

 For the first time in 1979 at Nander (France) Thiruvalluvar Tamil School, the first of its kind was started. After the French government gave permission to the French Brevet Examinations to study Tamil as an optional subject students could benefit out of such an exercise. The Paris Tamilzahar Illam has trained and sent 375 students for these exams.

Apart from these achievements, the conduct of functions and festivals to unite Paris Tamils had been a regular exercise for the Paris Tamizhar Illam.     

The founder of Paris Tamilzhar Illlam is a Periyarite, devout disciple of Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy, yet he celebrated the Mahakavi Bharathar Centenary with fanfare in 1981.

The then Chief Minister of Pondicherry, D.Ramachandiran, Education Minister Renuka Appadurai and PWD Minister Perumal Rasa had graced the functions by their presence.Not forgetting his mentor, M Karunanithi celebrated Periyar E.V.Ramasamy’s anniversary too.

Dravida Kazhagam General Secretary K Veeramani was the Chief Guest. Also K Kuppusamy, P Devasagayam and photographer Suba Sundaram accompanied K Veeramani on the tour to Paris.

While continuing with their hospitality, receiving every Tamil leader and artists in France, in Pondicherry too they have set up a branch of Paris Tamizhar Illam. This branch runs a Periyar EVR centre for Training Destitute women and has so for trained 38 women for government examinations.

Courtesy: New Indian Express: October 2 of 2004

THOLKAPPIYAR BIRTH DAY WISHES TO TAMILNADU AND PONDICHERRY GOVERNMENTS : 2007

THOLKAPPIYAR's 2872 nd
BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Dravida Peravai organized the 2872-nd birth anniversary celebrations of Tamil grammarian Tholkappiyar on 10 th June 2007 in the Puducherry Tamil Sangam. Head Quarter's Secretary of Dravida Peravai Syed Khader was present and Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarmanl presided. The Former Director of Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project of Government of Tamilnadu Dr.R.Madhivanan who wrote a book Tholkappiyar Kaalam [2006] that establishes the birth of Tholkappiyar as belonging to 865 B.C delivered the keynote address. Kalaimamani Sithan [80] released the book Thokappiyar Kaalam. Dr.A.Arivunambi Dean of the Subramania Bharathy School of Tamil Studies of Puducherry University reviewed the book Tholkappiyar Kaalam.

The Dravida Maamani Award 2007 was conferred on Kavignar A.Vanthiyathevan M.A, Publications Secretary MDMK by Villisai Vendhar Kalaimaamani Pattabhiraman.

In that meeting Dravida Peravai proposed the following resolutions.

1.Every year Government of Tamilnadu and Puducherry must celebrate the birth anniversary of Tholkappiyar on May 1.
2.The Government of India is urged to bring out a postal stamp of Tamil Grammarian Tholkappiyar on May 1, 2008.

3.Dr.Caldwell who wrote the Comparative Grammar of Dravidian languages is a scholar Tamils must remember with gratitude. His monumental work must be updated incorporating many of the findings of Tamil scholars like Deveneya Paavanar to Mathivanar, and an updated version establishing Tamil, as mother of Dravidian languages must be brought out. To bring out new Comparative Grammar of Dravidian languages in the light of many new facts being discovered ever since Dr.Caldwell wrote, a team of scholars must be appointed by Government of Tamilnadu to accomplish this task.
4.The Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project, which began in the lifetime of Deveneya Paavanar and continued by Dr.R.Mathivanan is yet to be completed. This meeting urges the Tamilnadu Government to undertake the task of completing this Himalayan task.

5. This meeting urges Tamilnadu Government to bring out the THOLKAPPIYAM, English version written by Dr.C.Ilakuvanar and distribute it free to all Universities throughout the world wherever research on Tamil language is being undertaken.

6.Dr.R.Mathivanan had also written a book Silapathigara Kaalam. Based on that from next year onwards Dravida Peravai resolves to organize Silapathigaram Vizha. DP also plans to organize Manimegalai, Jeevakasinthamani, Ravana Kavyam, Naladiyar etc, so that to popularize these works and other works so far ignored by the selective amnesia of Tamil scholars.

7.Tamil Virtual University is functioning to carry forward Tamil in the Internet world. But to our dismay we found for instance for English words in Linguistics equivalent words in Tamil are in a font unreadable and which is not a Unicode acceptable format. We urge this mistake to be rectified as well as the following tasks to be entrusted by the Government of Tamilnadu to the Tamil Virtual University.

a] Tamil Virtual University must upload the Tamil Official Language Dictionary prepared decades ago by Aaatchimozhi Kavalar Ramalinganar.
b] The completed editions of Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project so far prepared by Late Deveneya Paavanar and his successor Dr.R.Mathivanan must be uploaded in the net and made freely accessible to all. The preparation of the English version of this Tamil Etymological Dictionary Work must be entrusted to a team headed by Dr.Marudhanayam and it must be uploaded in the Internet
c] Many foreign scholars had published thought provoking books on Tamil language and culture. These books must be translated into Tamil and distributed to all Tamil Departments in Universities and Colleges of Tamilnadu.

d] Wikipedia: This meeting resolves to generate awareness among Tamil scholars on the people involved free encyclopedia project in the Internet known as Wikipidea. There are many mistakes and anomalies there. A team comprising Tanjore Tamil University, World Tamil Research Institute of Chennai, The Dravidian University of Andhra Pradesh,Puducherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture, Central Institute of Indian Languages in Karnataka must be formed to debate, discuss and decide the pivotal position of Tamil as the mother of Dravidian language family and new inputs must be incorporated updated uploaded in the net. Even if others joining the team gets delayed institutes under Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the two Tamil speaking states must join and begin this exercise this meeting urges.


9. On the stone inscriptions, monuments protected by Archaeological Department, on the forts and dams, temples of Tamilnadu in all the museums of Tamilnadu in capital and in districts, photographic exhibitions; painting exhibitions must be kept permanently on display. English and Tamil books, CDs, VCDs to tell in nutshell all about Tamil language, history and culture are brought out. A team under the leadership of Professor Vijayavenugopal of the French Government funded Ecole Francaise D' Extreme Orient be constituted by Tamilnadu government and that team be entrusted with drafting and implementing an action plan highlighting Tamil greatness to tourists and others, this meeting urges.


10. The perfect edition of Kurunthogai was brought out by Dr.Eva Wildon; head of the Tamil Department under Ecole Francaise D' Extreme Orient, and on the History of Gingee Dr.Jean Delouche of the same institute had researched for 6 years and brought out a valuable book in French and English. Dravida Peravai urges Tamil Maamani awards by Government of Puducherry to be conferred on these two scholars.

11.The error free, interpolation free corrected perfect editions of all Tamil literature and grammar must be brought out by Tanjore Tamil University and Tamil Virtual University, uploading all these in net world, The books could be published by TamilNadu Text Book Organization and free of cost to all students of plus 2 and college Tamilnadu government must give these books so than future generation develops proper understanding of our culture.


12.Tamil nadu Government must make arrangements to e-publish all Tamil Dictionaries, Tamil Thesauruses known as Nigandu, and on history so that anyone anywhere in the world can download and read everything about Tamil.


13. Tamil Nadu Government is urged to produce short films, documentaries, and tele-serials of Tamil history.
14.The Centenary Celebrations of Aringnar Anna starts in 2008. Dravida Peravai urges Union Government to constitute a national level committee to celebrate this function. The Collected Works of Anna must be complied and given free of cost to all the students of Tamilnadu. The English speeches of Anna in Parliament as well as his writings in Homeland and Home Rule be compiled and a book brought out, this meeting urges the Tamilnadu Government.

15. Dravida Peravai urges the proposed state controlled University set up by Puducherry Government be named after Tholkappiyar.

These are the resolutions, which Tamils can debate, Tamil e-journals and media can publish, and anyone can write constructive suggestions to improve the merit and content of our resolutions.

N.NandhivarmanGeneral Secretary Dravida Peravai0413-2221025

Monday June 11, 2007 - 11:39am (IST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment in YAHOO 

VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS OF PONDICHERRY AND NETHAJI

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

 N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 The French connection to Puducherry is well known and wherever French flag went along with it the Pudicherry connectivity became a regular feature. Saigon became second home to many Puducherrians following that rule. “In August 1858, a French squadron, which included a few Spanish warships attacked the fortress of Danang that covered the road to Hue, the imperial capital. A year later, the squadron captured Saigon. Though their military superiority was undisputable the invaders failed to force Vietnamese to its knees. Vietnamese historians compare the French colonialists to silkworms who consumed the mulberry leaf little by little. Not until 1883, all of 25 years later did the imperial court of Saigon sign an unequal treaty acknowledging French supremacy “ writes Yevgeny Kobelev in a book on Ho Chi Minh.

  While French armies, which includes Puducherrians, struggled to gain foothold in Vietnam the Nattukottai Chettiars from Tamil Nadu went there in search of business opportunities and Puducherrians went to take care of state administration. Dharmanathan Purushanthi of Puducherry went in 1870 and his urge to stand on his own made him bid adieu to administrative jobs. He ventured into business on the lines of Chettiars. He established a soda factory and owned a liquor shop near harbour. His success there reached Puducherry and his brother Kannusamy Purushanthi sent his son Savarikannu Purushanthi to Saigon. Savarikkannu Purushanthi became a moneychanger and real estate owner, minted money and came back to Puducherry as the most prosperous citizen. At that time prime property close to RajNiwas came in for auction and all the rich had an eye on that but Savarikkannu Purushanthi won the auction. Thus a job seeker made money in Indo China and brought properties in his native soil.

Savarikannu Purushanthi 1910

 The Bank of Indo China too functioned in Puducherry in the place of current United Commercial Bank till Puducherry's independence. Thus Puducherry and Indo China connections led to cross country marriages. This resulted in the growth of Vietnamese restaurants even now we see in Puducherry. Puducherrians owned properties here as well as there. Savarikannu Purushanthi indulged in breeding race horses, which earned him fame in Vietnam. While the earlier Purushanthi’s were not highly educated in spite of their monetary success they did not have any political vision. But Savarikannu Purushanthi’s brother son Leon Purushanthi was a French graduate and he meticulously built his reputation as banker and at same time started airing his views for public consumption. It was a time when Mahatma Gandhi had launched his civil disobedience movement in India. Most of the job seekers from Puducherry have accepted French colonialism with reverence, but Gandhiji’s movement made Purushanthi sit up and watch colonial interests and intrigues. He resigned from government service and started fully concentrating on business. His writings started appearing in French magazines and newspapers of Indo China. He was distressed to note at the inequality shown towards Indians because of their dress. He strongly felt that modern dress is not harmful and advocated all should change from dhotis to pants which is convenient to wear and even wrote letters to Mahatma Gandhi on the subject.

Leon Purushanthi in Saigon 1930

 Leon Purushanthi was against caste system and from Indo China he could appreciate the self-respect movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, which made him, write 5 articles in French magazines yet to become known here. Though he was in Christianity, all through his life in Saigon he had closely associated with Tamil Muslims association of Saigon. He frequented Hindu temples more than the church. Leon Purushanthi is a French citizen and most of the French citizens till date have never participated in Indian or French Indian freedom struggle. They were satisfied with Liberty-Equality-Fraternity under the French flag. In Saigon though most were of this line of thinking Leon Purushathi stands apart showing keen interest and involvement in India’s freedom struggle. The rise of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National army attracted the freedom loving Purushanthi. 

While Nethaji was taken in streets of Saigon during Japanese occupation Leon Purushanthi greeted him by presenting gold kasumaalai, which adored his wife’s neck till that time. Indian Independence League of Nethaji was looking for an office space and Leon Purushanthi willingly offered his palatial house in Saigon for that purpose. His house 76 Rue Paul Blanchy at Saigon became the Secretariat of Nethaji’s Indian Independence League, a news about this appeared in Azad Hind magazine too. His support to Indian independence particularly for Nethaji was not to the liking of the French; mostly the supporters of Marshal Pertain who were ruling the French controlled Saigon at that time. They were furious with Purushanthi and waiting for time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately the World War II ended in victory to the opposite side. Japan lost and along with it Nethaji too lost. Nethaji recruited lot of Puducherrians in his Indian National army. These aspects and the support given by freedom lovers like Leon Purushanthi have become forgotten facts with the failures that embraced their struggles.

 When French regained power in Saigon they picked up Leon Purushanthi from his house and imprisoned him. They tortured him like anything else and he became mentally retarded due to the cruelty inflicted upon him. Leon Purushanthi born on May 1 of 1901 within 45 years reached his glory and thereafter till he breathed last in 1968 he lived having lost his mental equilibrium. Life in Saigon became miserable with his properties being confiscated. Leon Purushanthi returned to Puducherry and lived in his house next to Raj Niwas. He used to visit Manakula Vinayagar temple and go around the park not conscious that India and Puducherry had gained independence. His sacrifices for the cause of the country still had not won any recognition. “ It is high time a postal stamp be brought out on Leon Purushanthi in remembrance of him and many Puducherrians who perished in the Indian National Army of Nethaji” said A.Ramasamy former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University who had written the “History of Pondicherry”. Purushanthi’s descendent J.B.P.More himself a historian and let us hope he writes about Vietnam connections to Puducherry.

 

Courtesy : NEW INDIAN EXPRESS ; 6.8.2005

CBI MAY COME AND GO BUT CRIME NEVER GETS CONVICTION: RENAME CLOSURE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

VIP's VISIT TO NATIONAL ARCHIVES

TREASURES IN NATIONAL ARCHIVES PONDICHERRY

TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORY  

       

Nandhivarman

A foreigner in a coffee house chat says” The National Archives at Pondicherry contains invaluable information, mostly in French, about the slave trade that flourished during the French colonial rule and it is highly pathetic that, in spite of the fact that most Tamil scholars here know French as fluently as Tamil, they don’t consult the Archives nor write about the dark pages of Pondicherry’s history.”

When this was told to Tamil scholars they asked, where is the National Archives?” This surprised reaction is quite understandable because the National Archives Record Centre for South Zone, the only one of its kind for all southern states, remains inaccessible with bad, narrow roads and in a remote, unknown locality.

The Pondicherry Government had, in the past, been vigilant enough to get projects for the Union Territory. The National Archives of India Record Centre came into existence because of an agreement between the Pondicherry Government and the Centre from July 1, 1979. The collections here are of immense value to historians.

The French had a system called’ Archives Sous Verres.’ This literally means ‘Archives between the Glasses.’ Many records pertaining to the period 1701-1860, are placed in between glasses with the edges sealed with band, and such records have earned the name as ‘Archives between the Glasses.’ “These documents are stray letters in French, Tamil, Telugu and Hindustani, which are correspondences between Ananda Ranga Pillai and Sambhudas Sankaradoss, a merchant from Madras,” says Anandaraj, assistant director of the Archives. “Ananda Ranga Pillai’s Diaries have become the prime source of information of history. Even his letters are a source of information of historical facts.”

 Ananda Ranga Pillai was entrusted with the task of procuring the essential commodities for French India. For this he corresponded with many native rulers. These letters throw light on the system of banking during the 18th century. It reveals that Govardan Das, Kasi Das Bukhanji and Vallabha Sundar were carrying out banking operations in Pondicherry.

The reach of the Marwari entrepreneurship could be traced. The southern equals to the Marwari money-leaders were the Chettiars.The modus operandi of three money leaders. Meluguri Chetty, RayaTayyan and Guntur Balli Chetty were available in these letters, pointing to study of Pondicherry’s economy in the 18th century.

Sambudas Sankaradas, apart from acting as a trader for procuring various commodities for Ananda Ranga Pillai, also spied on the British to help the French .He secretly reported the passage of English ships from Basra at Madras Port and of the movement of Maratha armies in Decan. Such espionage activities come to light through these letters.

Another valuable treasure that remains in the national archives is the Etat Civil, which was the Civil Registry from 1676 to 1885. The missionaries introduced the registering of births in 1676. Marriages were also registered from 1687. But the Dutch occupation of Pondicherry left an interregnum from 1693 to 1699 when work was suspended. The register only covered the French, the topas who are progenies of a mixed race and the converted Hindus. The ordinance of January 31, 1824, ordered registers to be opened for births, deaths and marriages of natives at Pondicherry, Villianur, Bahour, Mahe, and Yenam. This arrangement continued till 1855, on April 24, 1880 the registration was made applicable to natives. All such records of this period are of immense help to many who would like to trace there ancestral roots.

The records of a unique legal system practiced by the French between 1703 and 1889, called Tribunal de la Chaudrie, are of great interest to researchers of law. Tribunal de la Chaudrie, otherwise called Choultry Court introduced in 1724 was meant for the deliverance of justice to the native population, according to their own laws and customs.

From the archival records a legal history for nearly 86 years available. Severe penalties were imposed by these choultry courts, like the mutilation of ears, slavery in the islands of Bourbon (Island of Reunion) and Isle de France (Mauritius), fines, confiscations, whipping and banishment from the territory. Even now, the places where these Choultry Courts functioned bear the suffix Chavadi, like Pillaichavadi, Mudaliarchavadi.

Many valuable palm manuscripts are also preserved at the National Archives, including the Naadi sastra of Tirumoolar. THE Grammar Yaperungalam, Thathuva Kattalai, Pattinathar Madal, Vaithya Sastram, Agasthiar Nooru and Nadantha Saram are some of the rare manuscripts preserved here.

JBP More, a social scientist from France who recently visited the National Archives, said the old records must be digitalized and brought out in CD form. It should be made available online for downloads to researchers from abroad. Digitalization and CD ROMs will go a long way in bringing to light such invaluable historical information.

 Courtesy: New Indian Express:20^th August 2005

PARIS ARCHIVES IN PONDICHERRY LOST ITS PUBLIC UTILITY DUE TO NEGLECT OF RULERS

ROMAIN ROLLAND LIBRARY:

177-OLD TREASURE TROVE

Nandhivarman

Professor of literature at the French Lyce’e of Pondicherry M. Bourdat, while writing on reconstruction of history, is candid in admitting that “it would be tedious to revel exclusively in stones and inscriptions. There remain texts, not only livelier than stones but often valuable monuments themselves.” To look into these texts there cannot be a better place than the Library named after French Scholar Roman Rolland, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Romaine Rolland Library, next to Pondicherry News, is a treasure trove of knowledge, with 3, 38,304 books in its possession this heritage of Pondicherry that enables “a stimulating contact with manuscripts” and its possessions must be preserved. The care that is taken towards buildings and the money that flows towards architecture related projects must be diverted to knowledge –based projects and preserving of the rare manuscripts. But fortunately, it is the French Institutions that are still working in the right directions, whereas government Institutions have wakeup to the demands of times only recently.

National Mission for Manuscript has launched a week –long campaign beginning November 2004 digitalizing history. 5000 surveyors at the rate of 50 per districts will be combing 100 districts spread across various states to search for manuscripts. Susdha Gopalakrishnan, Director of the Mission, says, “At the end of their efforts, there will be no manuscript that the mission would not have digitalization.c “All districts of Karnataka and Orissa are lucky to be included in the mission. The other states have missed the bus in the South.

After the private imitative of Tamizh Thatha UVe Swaminathan Iyer, there have been no governmental efforts to collect rare manuscripts in Tamil. Now that UDA Government had declared Tamil as classical language efforts to add Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry into this 100 district’s list must be taken up.

Many century old palm-leaf manuscripts still remain in certain homes, before all could be lost they should be digitalized, says Era Thirumurugan of the Tamil Development Action Group, Pondicherry.

“To begin with we have to reinvent our history by preserving the rare collection of books in the Roman Rolland Library. Around 27,000 rare collections of books are there in Roman Rolland Library or, to be precise, it should be so, through the task of tracing the missing and damaged books, computers, is on. “says Murugappan, information officer.

OUT OF 3, 38,304 books in the Library Library Tamil section has 1, 20,000 books and English literature about 1, 75.000. In the reference section 22,300 books and in the children’s library have 40,000. Through the mobile service, 3000 books are reaching the reading public. The Government of Pondicherry provides, every year, Rs. 4 to 6 lakh of funds. And the new purchases for the year 2003-2004 is 4254 books.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library foundation of Kolkatta has so for provided 18,422 books under non matching scheme free of cost. “Efforts must be taken to reach out to various other similar foundation s abroad to get books free for enlightening the knowledge,” says A.Arivunambi, Head of the department of Tamil at Pondicherry University.

It appears that out of existing 3.00.000 books around 45.000 books have to be declared condemned books and replaced. The 54 branch libraries in Pondicherry have 4.30,000 books out of which 35,000 books are t5o be condemned. Existing books are too facing threats from insects and the entire Library must be centrally air conditioned along with periodical chemical and other treatments to keep bookworms and other insects away. Years of neglect had come to an end with the Aegean stables being cleared under the dynamic vision of BV Selvaraj, Secretary, Arts & Culture, with the assistance of N Sumathi.

The heritage of a town is not all of its buildings. It is the priceless manuscripts, inscriptions, archaeological artifacts, copper plates, tombstones, rock art, folklore and paintings that is preserved in museums and libraries that brings to light many hidden facts about heritage. If a country or town falls to protect its books and rare manuscripts whatever recorded history is present till date will be lost.

The Library movement in Pondicherry began with the Bibliotheque on May 1, 1827. The library initially was near the railway station, and then later shifted to Roman Rolland Street where the mind was functioning. Next to Raj Niwas in the current location it functions from 1974. With the advent of age of information and technology after 177 years this library is planning to digitalize books, manuscripts and all information and placing them on the internet for the scrutiny of one and all.

In Pondicherry, fortunately, many French books have been housed in the Roman Rolland Library. In the post-merger phase with India, the replacement of French for English led to the neglect of that language and its rare collection of books. Catalogue General, a complication of rare books in Roman Rolland Library written by Madame Yvonne Robert Gaebele and published by Pondicherry Government in 1960. is yet to see a reprint or update. “Despite humidity, the parasites and the casualness in the treatment of the volumes precious editions have survived,” says Bourdat in his book 18th Century Pondicherry.

Till very recently, there had been no librarian with the knowledge of French and decades of ignorance French books in the Library has led to lot of loss to priceless books. The newly inducted assistant, who knows French, is courteous and helps researches with adequate information. Not only was that, many valuable manuscripts handed over to National Archives unnecessarily, instead of being preserved here. After decades of neglect the current Librarian Murugappan had started to put the house in order, admits rising expectations from research scholars.

Courtesy:9^th October 2004 New Indian Express