Raja Raja Chozhan -the forgotten Hero

and why he may be destined to remain so ...

For anyone who has visited Chennai the capital of the southern state of Tamilnadu, Marina beach is a must-visit. The second largest beach in the word ( extends 12 kilometers from Beasant Nagar in the south to Fort St. George in the north ) also houses something peculiar. This beach the final resting place of many of its leaders mostly Ex-Chief ministers, Anna Duria, MG Ramachandran, J. Jayalalitha, and M. Karunanidhi. The mausoleums are grand and some have cost up to Rs. 50 Cr.

Udayalur a village in the Kumbakonam taluk of Thanjavur district is around 300 KM from Chennai and should be on your list the next time you visit Tamilnadu. Buried in the village under a grave which is protected from the elements by a thatched roof made of coconut leaves ( now asbestos sheets) is a forgotten and ignored hero, the king of Kings Raja Raja Chozhan the ruler mighty Chola (Chozha) dynasty who is also known as Arulmozhi varman.

Raja Raja Chozhan ( the king of kings) was not just a mighty warrior but a proponent of Tamil literature, arts and also was a huge sponsor for Architectural marvels like the Brihadeehwara temple in Thanjavur.

In its heyday, the Chola dynasty was one of the half-dozen greatest powers on Earth. It controlled half a million square miles extending all the way to the north of India and even Srilanka. In the 460 years of Chola rule, of which Raja Raja Chozhan was one, conquered Sri Lanka, the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and, temporarily, parts of the southeast Asia - the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Bali, and the southern part of the Malay peninsula.

The fact that the King conquered territories in the north was proved when he named his capital city Gangaikondacholapuram - literally ‘the City to which the Chola emperor brought the Ganges. The rule was known for its political stability and happiness and content that prevailed amongst the people. Education was given paramount importance and literacy according to some historians rose as much as 20%, the highest in the world at that time.

The king was the first to introduce the concept of local self-government and ensure that each of the villages elected a local body through which the administration was run. The Local body further has subcommittees and representatives who would handle different portfolios like education, irrigation, welfare, medicine, etc. A true form of democratic government for the people, by the people and of the people even before many western civilizations could even think of something like this. Raja Raja Chozhan also instituted the concept of Dharma Yudha where the defeated king in a war would not be killed if he surrendered and would get to keep the kingdom but would end up paying taxes to the Victor. Many say this was a great mistake since the defeated kings were always on the lookout to even their scores and betrayed Raja Raja Chozhan at the drop of a hat by forming alliances with invading armies from other regions and this ultimately led to the dynasty losing its hold on many conquered territories

Be it the Brihadeehwara temple in Thanjavur, the Tiruvannamalai temple, the City of Thanjavur ( once the capital of the Chola dynasty ) all these and more such architectural wonders were gifted to the world but he Cholas and Raja Raja Chozhan in particular.

Women’s rights and dignity were non-negotiable in his rule. Women were treated at part with men in many matters including public policy and governance. The king himself led by example when he gave his sister Kundavai Pirattiyar a free hand in the administration and management of temples and a few other programs relating to women

A king who was mighty warrior introduced democratic and just rule, Promoted arts, architecture, was a champion of the Tamil language ( one of the oldest languages in the world ) promoted local governance, stood for the cause of women and even treated his enemies with compassion despite all this he has been forgotten, his achievements ignored by the world and his people alike. In a state where grand structures and temples are erected for Actors and Actresses and liters of milk ( and sometimes fresh blood from slaughtered animals ) is poured on their posters as a mark of respect and adulation, Raja Raja Chozhan lies buried under the very soil he once ruled, ignored by the very own people ( the descendants ) whom he tirelessly worked and protected.

The Dravidian label and rule by the Dravidian parties have contributed hugely to this cover-up. Only when the people of the state move above these petty labels and vote bank politics will they realize that they are the rightful owners of not just the state, the country but the entire world. The Tamils have the heritage of belonging to one of the oldest culture, one of the most powerful and oldest know languages to mankind and one of the most ancient, sophisticated civilization ( keezhadi ), a civilization that showed the world how to build cities and co-inhabit peacefully while the rest of the world was busy in inquisitions, witch-hunts, and carnage in the name of religion, land, and money.

When Kaniyan Poongunranar wrote 200 years ago “ Yaadhum Oore, Yaavarum Kelir” | “To us all towns are one, all men our kin, he was probably hinting at the expanses of this great civilization and not about how as a Tamilian you could easily mingle with the crowds in San Francisco or London.

I leave you with another gem from a noted Tamil Poet Paavendhar Bharathidhasan and intentionally without a translation.

தூங்கும் புலியை பறை கொண்டெழுப்பினோம்

தூய தமிழரை தமிழ்கொண் டெழுப்பினோம்