In search of Tamil Nadu’s ancient global trade links

“Thiraikadal Odiyum Thiraviyam Thedu’’ is a famous Tamil saying, meaning venture across the oceans and seek prosperity or wealth. The ancient port city of Korkai in Tirunelveli district is an example of the exploratory spirit of the Tamil people who established trade links with countries across the world 3,200 years ago.

Celebrating the past, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to strengthen its demand that Indian history should be rewritten from Tamil Nadu, by tracing the rich trade culture it had with other states and countries. This was announced by the chief minister M K Stalin in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Thursday.

Keeladi excavation in 2014 was the biggest glory for TN as it disapproved the popular theory that there had not been a riverside civilization in the state and that the Brahmi script was of Mauryan origin. Scientific evidence has proved that a literate community had flourished on the banks of river Vaigai, as early as the 6th century BC.

Sangam literature refers to people in the west as “Yavanar’’. Potsherds with Tamil script, literature and documents, stand as proof of the trading culture of the Tamil community. Excavations conducted in the coastal towns of Poompuhar, Alangulam, Korkai and Vasavasamuthram have proved to be treasure troves filled with evidence of this trade activity.

Stalin has announced that the state would now take up excavations in Pattanam, which was earlier known as the Musiri harbour in Kerala, Vengi the most prominent town in the ancient history of Andhra Pradesh, Talakadu in Karnataka and Palar Odisha, where Tamil Brahmi inscriptions have been found to trace the history of the Tamil civilization.

According to minister for Tamil culture and archaeology Thangam Thennarasu, Ptolemy, Pliny and Megasthenes have referred to Korkai, part of the Thamirabarani Civilization that had been the flourishing trade centre, which now carbon dating has confirmed dates back 3,200 years. Artefacts found in Adichanallur, have proved that Tamils who lived there were well versed in handling all types of iron, including iron ore, wrought iron, cast iron and pig iron, and moulded it, and may have even made ships, he said.

Findings of Porunai civilization, proves that the Tamils were well-versed in maritime trade, with countries such as Greece, Rome and Egypt. This theory has been strengthened by archaeologists in the ancient Red Sea ports of Quseir-al-Qadim and Berenike, in Egypt. A potsherd with the Tamil inscription ‘Nantai Kiran’ which may be the name of a renowned trader was found in Khor Rori in Oman. To explore further, the CM has said excavations would also be carried out here with the help of the respective countries.

Archaeological experts say this attempt by the Tamil Nadu government will rewrite the history of maritime trade of India and could change the hypothesis that it flourished right from the Roman era. The findings prove that the southern Indian peninsula that was more exposed to maritime trade had a busy trade connection with the pre-Roman Egyptian country, Arabian peninsula and the western world.