The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : A journey into Karur’s historical past

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A journey into Karur’s historical past

L. Renganathan

Elders overawed by the magnificence of photographs at the exhibition

nice: Photos of artefacts collected by Ila. Paranan kept at an expo in Karur.

KARUR: Revisiting historical past and reminiscing of a town or a culture’s greatness and antiquity has always been informative and interesting. If wonderful and eye-catching photos back the effort then result is a marvellous job. That life long endeavour of cultural enthusiast and conservator of antiques Ila. Paranan of Karur was there for all to see at a photo exhibition of Karur’s historical past.

Mr. Paranan is not just a cultural enthusiast but wears many caps as a poet, photographer, artist, litterateur, grammarian, critic and a social activist. One who is not given to vain thinking and vanity words Mr. Parananan has displayed meticulous acumen in gleaning pieces and glimpses of Kongu and Karur historicity and has unearthed many artefacts and sculptures that speaks volumes of unheralded greatness of Vanchi, as Karur was called in days of yore.

Mr. Paranan’s work was there for all to see and admire at the photo exhibition conducted jointly by the LNVN Nursery School, Karur, and the Socio Historical Society of Karur, of which Mr. Paranan is the secretary.

While children eagerly sought to know the places and significance of the images on the scores of photos taken by him, elders were overawed by the magnificence of the photos and the remarkable information they carried about the history of the town and its people of the bygone era.

The sculptural marvels that the Society in general and Mr. Paranan in particular have unearthed from several places in the district over the past three decades have thrown many new lights on the people and the life they were leading.

The period of the subject of displays spanned the “Perunkarkala Nagarikam” to the present day Karur. There were 60 big photos and over 300 smaller ones that brought to life the ancient heroes and heroines, gods and goddess, temples and shrines, archaeological sites and finds. There were also around 30 documents relating to temple and public administration recovered from Karur district.

Apart from that, recording of various dates of importance such as the laying of the first railway line touching Karur, the operation of passenger service (on January 1, 1868), the first school in the town (CSI boys school in 1887), the first church (St. Caramel’s Church, Pasupathypalayam), information on “Vattavuruttu” (an ancient game played by two children of similar height and weight wheeling in embrace of entangled arms and limbs) on a sculpture found at Santhapadi Kovilur were some of the important displays.

Collector J. Uma Maheswari paid a visit to the photo exhibition and eagerly sought to know from Mr. Paranan the importance of the displays. She appreciated the selfless effort of Mr. Paranan and urged him to continue his good work. LNVN School Correspondent Balaji, staff of the school and others accompanied her. Mr. Paranan thanked the District Collector, the students and the management of the school for providing space for the exhibition.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu