TN gives priority to archaeological studies: Thangam Thennarasu
The Tamil Nadu government gives a lot of importance to archaeology and the chief minister sanctions regular funds for archaeological studies in the state, said finance minister Thangam Thennarasuas he inaugurated a two-day national seminar at Madurai Kamaraj University on Wednesday.
Themed ‘Reflections on Cultural Development: An Archaeological Perspective,’ the seminar is attended by archaeological scholars from across the country.
Thennarasu said former CM Kalaignar Karunanidhi was instrumental in redeeming Kaveripoompattinam, which went under the sea, and making it popular.
He planned to study Tamil cities which sank in the sea even 50 years ago. Since he was so keen on archaeology, Kalaignar insisted on setting up the grand exhibition on archaeology at Semmozhi conference in Coimbatore.
The state archaeology department organized the exhibition connecting Indus Valley civilization and Tamil culture and antiquities unearthed from Keeladi were also compared to those of Indus Valley civilization, said Thennarasu.
There was an exhibition on Cholas during the 1,000th anniversary (millenary) celebrations of Thanjavur temple because of Kalaignar Karunanidhi, he said.
Thennarasu said that Pandya Nadu, the southern region of Tamil Nadu, has all the elements of archaeology like stone inscriptions, rock-cut temples and rock art. Archaeological excavations should be scientific and results should be carried to the intellectual world.
This is why the chief minister gives a lot of priority to archaeological studies in Tamil Nadu, he added. Thennarasu released the proceedings of the conference and two books on Tamil Nadu Stone Inscriptions at the inaugural function.