Imperial Cholas gave blueprint for the future of New India: PM Modi

Crediting the imperial Chola dynasty for giving the blueprint for a resurgent new India of the future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday eulogised emperors, Raja Raja and Rajendra Chola, as identities of Bharat as their rule was a golden era of the country.

PM Modi said this while participating in the birth anniversary celebration of Rajendra Chola I and the 1000th commemoration of his victory over the Sri Vijaya Kingdom of present-day Indonesia, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in the Ariyalur district.

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He said, “The names, Raja Raja and his son, Rajendra, are identities of Bharat. Their empire, according to historians, was one of the golden eras of India. While Raja Raja built a navy, Rajendra expanded and strengthened it as a formidable force. During his reign, the country was very advanced not only in warfare but also in many domains and on those lines, we have to strengthen our armed forces,” Modi said.

“Though historians used to turn to Magna Carta of Britain as the mother of democracy, it is the Cholas who have the legitimate claim to that. The system of ‘kudavolai’, a method of voting to elect functionaries for local administration and panchayats was the precursor for modern democracy. As such, it is not the British, but the Cholas, who were the pioneers of democracy,” he said, adding that the Cholas had a futuristic vision in water management.

“Unlike kings of those times, who brought hefty booty from conquered territories, Rajendra brought Ganga water and built a ‘jalasthambam’, a liquid pillar of victory – Chola Gangam, the massive lake abutting Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the capital, constructed to mark his successful military expedition to the Gangetic plains. They are pioneers of water management and it is a message very relevant in these days when we are confronted with climate change,” was how he praised the visionary Cholas.

“As the people’s representative of Kashi (Varanasi), I’m proud to bring Ganga jal to Chola Gangam, the lake built by Rajendra,” he asserted.

The prime minister, who released a commemorative coin on Rajendra Chola, said the temple that the monarch had erected as a replica of the Thanjavur Big temple, is one of the great monuments of the world.

“Our government follows the footsteps of the Cholas in strengthening and integrating the nation and its people. Saivite philosopher Thirumoolar’s dictum ‘Anbe Sivam; (Love is Shiva), the futuristic vision is the guiding principle of our government and it is the mantra for saving the world from war and violence,” Modi said and announced that statues for both Raja Raja and Rajendra would be erected in Tamil Nadu to honour them.

Modi, the first PM to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram, arrived attired in white dhoti and white sleeveless shirt with a towel around his shoulders. Seated on the dais, he appeared immersed in the ‘Thiruvasagam’ symphony rendering of maestro Ilayaraja. Thiruvasagam is a collection of devotional hymns on Shiva composed by saint Manickavasagar, one of the famed Saivite quartet. Earlier, he offered worship at the temple by performing aarti. On his arrival he was accorded the traditional temple honours.