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Manabharana Is Not Malay (Manabharana Bukan Melayu)

In recent times, an alarming narrative has emerged within the Malaysian blogosphere, suggesting a historical event that appears to be a misinterpretation or perhaps a deliberate misinformation campaign. The claim revolves around a so called Malay prince named Manabharana from Srivijaya, purportedly attacking and conquering the Chola kingdom. This misleading story has gained traction and is spreading like wildfire across various social media platforms. The need to address and rectify such inaccuracies is crucial not only for the sake of historical accuracy but also for fostering a responsible and informed online community. To delve into the matter, it is essential to clarify that historical records reveal the existence of multiple individuals named Manabharana throughout history. However, a nuanced understanding reveals that all these figures were Tamils (Damila) hailing from the Pandya kingdom, with references to their exploits documented in Tamil inscriptions and Sri Lankan chronicles...
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Breaking Tamil Nadu

The state of Tamil Nadu is 130,058 square km. It has 29 districts and a population of 72 million people. That is roughly the size of Peninsular Malaysia and more than triple the population here. 

 Although Tamil Nadu is not the biggest state in India, it is still a large state with a large population. 

 During the last decade, political organisations like Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Kongunadu Munnetra Kalagam (KMK) have called for the state to be divided into smaller states. 

 The usual call is to either bifurcate or trifurcate the state by using the Kaveri river (and Amaravathi & Kollidam) as natural boundary(s).



If we were to refer back to ancient political geography of Tamil Nadu, the state can be also divided into the following 5 smaller states. This includes the Union Territory of Puducherry.

 Thondai Naadu
Nadu Naadu
Kongu Naadu
Chola Naadu
Pandya Naadu

A rough sketch of possible new states in Tamil Nadu based on ancient political geography.
DISCLAIMER: This image is not 100% accurate.


There are pros and cons in breaking the state. 

 Smaller states means better administration. With smaller states, the existing taluk divisions within each district can be upgraded into districts. It will be much more easier to manage smaller districts compared with bigger ones. 

 Each state will have their own police force. That could be an effective way to tackle crime as their area of concentration is now smaller.

 In North India, large states were split for economic growth. The state of Uttarakhand sees rapid growth after it was split from the larger Uttar Pradesh. Similarly the state of Chattisgarh is doing better after splitting from Madhya Pradesh.

 In Tamil Nadu, new districts like Virudhunagar, Dindigul were carved out of larger districts to make administration easier.

 Different castes dominate different regions in Tamil Nadu. Caste reservation policy is applied for university intakes and government jobs. 

 If the states are split, dominant castes like Vanniyars, Kongu Vellalars and Mukkulathors will no longer need to compete with each other. This is because they are each concentrated in their own region.

 Kongu Vellalars in Kongu Naadu
Vanniyars and Mudaliars in Thondai and Nadu Naadu. Mukkulathors in Chola and Pandya Naadu

 The splitting of Tamil Nadu will also mean there will be 3-5 Tamil Chief Ministers. There will be more voice for the Tamil people in the Indian government.

 However, there can be negative effects too. 
Major rivers of Tamil Nadu

 If Tamil Nadu is split into smaller states, each state will have control over the culture of the state. 

 They can even decide on matters like Tamil education. If Chola Naadu decides to revert back to Grantha script instead of Vatteluttu script, the other states cannot interfere. We will then have a segment of people who read Tamil using different scripts.

 Although industrialised, Kongu or West Tamil Nadu is a landlocked area. That means they need to depend on other states including Kerala for sea products. They also need their permission to use their ports. This can impact the imports and exports. 

 Furthermore, if you were to look at the river map of Tamil Nadu, you will notice that the rivers cut across the regions. 

 Kaveri river which originates in Karnataka passes through Kongu Naadu before reaching Chola Naadu. If Kongu Naadu builds a dam, they can control the water level of Kaveri just like what Karnataka is doing to Tamil Nadu today. This can then lead to enmity between states.

 All these needs to be considered before breaking the state. 

A rough sketch of New Tamilakam with its five contemporary divisions of Thondai, Kongu, Chola, Pandya and Eelam. Based on present day district boundaries.
  DISCLAIMER: This image is not 100% accurate.

Comments

  1. UnknownSunday, 07 September, 2014

    How do you included dharmapuri Salem and krishnagiri in kongu nadu and ariyalur perambalut, northern Thanjavur, northern tiruvarur, and northern nagapattinam in chola nadu. Bcoz most of the people living in this above places are belongs to vanniyar community

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharmalan ThevarMonday, 08 September, 2014

      Northern Thanjavur, Thiruvarur was part of Chola Nadu. This map is not 100% accurate as the borders were different during different eras. Furthermore, areas inhabited by Vanniyars cannot be used to justify the non-existent of a kingdom. This is because the map which I drew for this article is based on politics and not community.

      If it was based solely on community, then the areas which you mentioned will become the Vanniyar belt. Just like how areas south of Kaveri river is the Kallar belt.

      Delete
  2. ą®ą®°் ą®®ுą®©ைFriday, 12 December, 2014

    dharmapuri, salem and krishnagiri are parts of kongu region only.. Thevarji did it exactly..

    ReplyDelete
  3. ą®®ுą®¤்ą®¤ுą®•்ą®•ą®µுą®£்ą®Ÿą®°் PONDHEEPANKAR Monday, 15 December, 2014

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharmalan ThevarTuesday, 16 December, 2014

      ą®µą®Ÿą®•்ą®•ு ą®Øą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®•ிą®°ி ą®µą®°ாą®•ą®•ிą®°ி ą®¤ெą®±்ą®•ு
      ą®•ுą®Ÿą®•்ą®•ு ą®Ŗொą®±ுą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗு ą®µெą®³்ą®³ிą®•்ą®•ுą®©்ą®±ு
      ą®•ą®³ிą®¤்ą®¤ą®©்ą®Ÿą®²ை ą®®ேą®µு ą®•ாą®µிą®°ிą®šூą®“்
      ą®Øாą®Ÿு-ą®•ுą®³ிą®¤்ą®¤ą®©்ą®Ÿą®²ை ą®…ą®³ą®µு ą®•ொą®™்ą®•ு.
      Thus the borders of Kongu of the seventeenth century are :
      Northern : Nandigiri (Nandi hills in Kolar and Tumkur dists. of Karnataka located seventy kilometeres to the north of today's Bengaluru).

      Southern : Varahagiri (Panrimalai mountain in the Palani-Kodaikkanal ranges, Panrimalai is referred in it's Sanskrit name).

      Eastern : Kudagu and Vellikundru (Kodagu in the Madikeri dist. of Karnataka and Vellingiri hills near Coimbatore which form the border with Kerala).

      Western : Kulithalai (Karur dist. located on the Karur- Tiruchirappalli highway).

      Source: Kongumandala Sathakam
      http://www.knmkparty.com/kongunadu.html

      Delete
    2. ThiruThursday, 23 April, 2020

      Proud to born in Kongu nadu

      Delete
  4. SATANisGOODWednesday, 25 October, 2017

    Smaller States Possible .........Only If TAMIL NADU is an INDEPENDENT COUNTRY like GERMANY............Are Else Who TAMILS will be In DANGER of MIGRANT INVASION Through IT COMPANIES and TAKING OVer ALl LANDS.........Which is the AGENDA of INDIAN GOVT spearheaded by IT , IAS, IPS SECTORS to Disintegrate and FINISH of TAMILS

    ReplyDelete

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