Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

“People must be aware of importance of epigraphs”

— Photo: M. Srinath

For posterity: Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for School Education and Archaeology, centre, releasing a book at Tamil University in Thanjavur on Saturday. Iravadham Mahadevan, who receives it, and Vice-Chancellor M. Rajendran are seen.

THANJAVUR: Archaeological evidences such as Tamil Brahmi script and epigraphs helped in Tamil getting the classical language status, said Minister for School Education and Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu here on Saturday.

Speaking at the 19th State-level conference of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Society at Tamil University, he said that archaeological evidences established the ancient nature of the language. They threw light on our civilization, culture and tradition. The Tamil Nadu Government was committed to protecting them. The Minister called for creating awareness among people to protect epigraphs wherever they were found. Epigraphs were found not only in temples and Mutts but also in forests, he said.

The Minister said the Tamil University had taken up the work of digitising nearly 60,000 epigraphs kept by the Mysore Epigraph Unit of Archaeological Survey of India. It was a monumental work, he said and appreciated Vice-chancellor M. Rajendran for his efforts.

He assured to fill up the vacancies in the State Archaeology department. He released the publication of the society, the 20th volume of ‘Aavanam.’ Iravatham Mahadevan, noted epigraphist, received the first copy.

Following his evincing interest in becoming member of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Society, the Minister was made a member of the society by P. Shanmugham, president of the society. The Vice-Chancellor also became a member.

Mr. Rajendran said that Col. Collins Mackenzie of Scotland, who came to India in 1782, was responsible for the collection of many epigraphs. He went on horses to locate epigraphs and read them. He later became the Surveyor General of India. He stayed in Chennai till 1818. He had collected 1,299 epigraphs. Temples abound in Tamil Nadu in general and in Thanjavur district in particular. These temples had most of the epigraphs.

Iravatham Mahadevan, who was awarded Padmashri by the Central Government, was honoured on the occasion. Mr. Mahadevan said that people should understand the importance of epigraphs and protect them.

A. Subbarayalu from French Research Organisation, Puducherry, and S. Rasu from Erode spoke.

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“People must be aware of importance of epigraphs”

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