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Living with history
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With more than two decades of experience, retired history professor Champakalakshmi is still passionate about South Indian history and temple architecture
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"HISTORY HAS more to offer than just boring classroom lectures on political events, succession, battles and their dates. It is an essential part of learning about our society and civilisation and the process of development," says Champakalakshmi, Ph.D. A retired professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, she specialises in South Indian history with special reference to religion and society. Having delivered lectures on South Indian history in many countries, she has a passion for temple architecture.
She says the role of the temple has changed over the years. "In today's context, temples are seen merely as places of worship and symbols of culture. In the past, a temple was developed as an institution focusing on socio-economic and political life, apart from being a centre for art and architecture. Villages and towns evolved around temples, as they were considered centres of both the agrarian and urban economy. It was a symbol of power, legitimising the king's territorial authority."
Champakalakshmi did research in Jainism at the University of Madras in the late sixties. "I was practically the first person to study Jainism then. Later in the 1970s, when JNU was looking for a professor with knowledge about South Indian history, I was delighted to take up the offer." Champakalakshmi was on the committee to design thematic courses on religion and history at JNU.
"History is usually not taught with relevance to the society we live in." There should be a change at the school level, says Champakalakshmi, who has guided numerous students in their research. "No child wants to remember umpteen numbers of dates and who ruled in which period. It is our responsibility to make history interesting. Children should be able to associate with the subject so that they will be inspired to specialise in it." She adds that fewer people in South India are taking up social sciences than in the North. "Lessons should be designed to explain the past in relation to changing social and economic conditions. The approach should be multi-disciplinary so that the development of mankind and modernisation is understood in a scientific manner."
She says knowledge of history should spread to the grassroots level. "We conduct seminars, lectures and discussions on history and development. We need to discuss these issues with the common man in a way that they are able to understand and change their attitude towards history. Most people have an entirely different idea of the past — to them it's just boring dates and events. It is becoming increasingly difficult to bridge this gap, and educate people with the right attitude towards history."
Having retired in 1998, Champakalakshmi wanted to get away from the hustle bustle of the city. "Panaiyur seemed the right choice." She lives with her sister in a beautifully designed, sprawling house in J. Nagar that she describes as functional and comfortable. "Although it is far from the city, we have access to everything here. When we first moved in, there was no proper electricity but the place has developed a lot in a short span of time," she says. They travel to the city once a week. "We don't feel isolated here, so we don't find the need to go into the city much, except for lectures and workshops. There is always enough work to keep us occupied," she says, indicating her study room, which has a computer and a large collection of books. "The nearness of the sea is also relaxing. Sometimes, during high tide we can hear the sound of the waves." Initially, land in this area was allotted by the Chidambaram Co-operative Society to academicians and writers, but most of them didn't move in. "So far this place has been absolutely peaceful. More people are moving into the area but I hope it retains its calmness. It feels good to live here," she says.
PRASSANA SRINIVASAN
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