Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

Hi sps
fantastic.
this would be our greatest contribution to tamil history if we
accomplish this.


I think I was misunderstood. i meant, i would love to write on the
warrior in rrc. after all he was the greatest wasnt he?but it should
be a whole hearted effort of all concerned.


i am sure we should first identify the authentic sources to document
and then start writing.
AND if we cant get these details we must atleast partially agree
with madan.

by authentic sources I wil give an example.
RRc's meikeerthi is not enough proof when we estimate the level of
his conquests. we need corroborative evidence.

You all have undertaken a difficult task and I wish you success.

Please permit me to make some general comments:
1. Even the early European archaeologists and historians were in the
same boat as you are now; they did not find written down history or
records, or archaeological evidences to understand India's glorious past
and someone commented that what is known about India can be written in
the palm of one's hand. We now know that it is not so.
2. There may be thousands of palm leaf manuscripts scattered all over
south, may be locked in temples and with individuals. The National
Manuscript Mission is digitizing whatever is given to it. Reading and
deciphering is another Herculean task.
3. Ours is a continuous and living civilization; hence many of the
records, monuments, and inscriptions might have been lost due to
'destroy-reuse' practices. Absence of evidence does not mean that events
did not happen; only we do not have the tools to prove our guesses.
4. There will be gaps in our understanding of reigns or events, but
there is no harm in filling the gaps with educated guesses, and
highlighting them. It is possible that new evidence found may validate
or dispute them.
5. We all know that anything written down is prone to exaggeration and
subject to the whims of the writer. Vaali's poems on MK may contain 10%
of the truth, but a discerning reader/historian will be able to
separate it. We should be able to do the same with Sangam poetry. If
Karikal Chozhan went to Himalayas because there were no kings to conquer
in South, at least his trip to the Himalayas is true. All of us can
come out with different contradictory versions of today's history,
referring to written and published news reports.
6. Darwin's evolution theory, Aryan Invasion Theory, Dravidians as a
separate race pushed out of Sind by nomadic aryans - all these theories
are strongly disputed now, as the proponents of these theories concluded
in haste and with ulterior motives.

So, please go ahead and don't wait for "HARD" evidence for every step.
We, Tamils, had a glorious past, and your every move will help our
understanding of our past. We need not worry about Madan - as to whether
his remarks are casual, flippant or out of genuine agony.
Sampath

Hi
a lot of things about RRc remains hazy but that doesnt dim his
achievements.
perhaps we shouldnt be so demanding of our historians to produce all
evidence. we have to be reasonable condidering that a lot of evidence
was erased by the events of the 14th century.
venketesh

Hi

I have little to do on this. its SPS's dream project.
I guess SPS knows more about the man RRc than anybody else.
most of us are still battling between AmV the myth and RRC the man.
venketesh