Vidur’s Travel Diary – 15 : Karaikal

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 28 , 2012           11.55 P.M.

Union Territory Puducherry is unique among all the states and Union Territories of India . It has 4 districts or regions but they are not contiguous at all . Puducherry , Karaikal , Yanam and Mahe are 4 districts of this Union Territory and they fall in 3 different states . Puducherry and Karaikal are in Tamil Nadu , Yanam is in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe is in Kerala . Though Puducherry and Karaikal , both are in Tamil Nadu but even they are not contiguous .

Map of India showing Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During my last visit to Tamil Nadu , I stopped at Puducherry , while returning from Vaitheeswaran Koil and visited many places . I have already written a blog about my Puducherry visit . That time I did visit Karaikal but could not write my travel diary about Karaikal because it was raining heavily and therefore apart from Shani Temple , I could not visit other places .

During my recent visit I visited only Beach Road in Puducherry and spent more time in Karaikal .

 

Old map of Karikal (Karaikal) when it was a French colony. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I took night flight to Chennai on December 21 , 2012 and reached there late in the night . Next day , on December 22 , 2012 , I proceeded for Vaitheeswaran Koil and after briefly stopping in Puducherry , reached there in the evening . From Vaitheeswaran Koil , I proceeded for Karaikal on December 25 , 2012 .

When you visit Karaikal please don’t forget to eat Karaikal Halwa . It is too yummy to skip . You are not supposed to not have it during your Karaikal visit , even if you are visiting Karaikal for a short period . ” Natesan Halwa ” is the most famous shop and it is 55 years old . It was stablished in 1957 and since then it is in business of making Halwa . There are other shops also on the same road . If you wish to explore , you could visit them .

A Road in Karaikal

Old Tiled Houses – Karaikal

Beach Road – Karaikal

Beach Road – Karaikal

At Beach Road – Karaikal

At Tsunami Victim Memorial – Karaikal

With My Wife At Tsunami Victim Memorial – Karaikal

Sangam of Arasalar River & Sea

The Promenade Near Beach

Government Buildings Near Promenade

With My Wife & Son At Saneeswar Bhagwan Temple – Thirunallar , Karaikal

A French enclave from 1673 till 1954 , it became part of India by a treaty of cession signed by the Indian and French governments in 1956 . It finally became Union Territory in 1963 . During French rule it was called Territoire de Pondichery . It was renamed Puducherry in 2006 .

Karaikal is 300 km. south of Chennai and 135 km. from Puducherry . From Puducherry or from Chennai , you can reach there by taxi . It is surrounded by Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu .

After visiting Saneeswara Bhagawan temple in Thirunallar , Karaikal , I returned to Vaitheeswaran Koil in the night . I don’t know whether I would be able to visit Karaikal again or not . May be yes , may be no .

I remembered these famous lines of Agyeya , which I always remember , whenever I return from a new place .

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय 

[ Tenderness of mighty mountains reflected in pine trees ,

Upward moving pathways symbolizing my enthusiasm ,

River , flowing deep down like a line of pain ,

Tiny tots of birds sitting silently in their nest ,

I saw everything with contentment ,

Consoled myself , I would come again ,

After a year or may be after ages ..........

Horizon opened its eyes , lightning dazzled in the sky ,

As if saying ..................

O Wanderer ! Would you ever even remember ? ]

Visit to Karaikal gives me ample opportunity to tell some good tales to the students of my acting institute,  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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25 Years of Statehood of Arunachal Pradesh

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           SEPTEMBER 29 , 2012           10.45 P.M.

During my childhood , I had known a part my country , which was called NEFA . It came to national prominence during the India – China War of 1962 . Nathu La Pass and NEFA [ North East Frontier Agency ] became household names and our concern for this far off and neglected part of India was so great that we felt that we all are resident of NEFA . This erstwhile NEFA is now known as Arunachal Pradesh .

A Locator map of North East Frontier Agency in 1961. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before India – China war , I used to know only one province of North East India and it was Assam . Assam was a huge state of India in 1950 . Barring Manipur and Tripura , all the other provinces of present day North East India including NEFA were part of Assam . Map posted below bears testimony to this .

Map of Assam in 1950

During British era this whole region was rules as a part of Bengal Presidency . Province of Assam came into being in 1874 . NEFA came into being in 1955 , though it was part of Assam .  It ceases to exist now . NEFA is now re-christened as Arunachal Pradesh and came into being on February 20 , 1987 as a state of India . Itanagar is the state capital .

Location of Arunachal Pradesh in the Map of India

Itanagar – Capital of Arunachal Pradesh

So in a nutshell from 1954 to 1972 NEFA was part of Assam . On January 20 , 1972 it was separated from Assam and became Union Territory . On February 20 , 1987  it became a state of India . So it completed 33 years as Union Territory and it now completes 25 years as a state .

Present day Arunachal Pradesh is divided into 17 districts for administrative purposes .

Tawang Town with The Monastery

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is the Buddhist religious place and is the birth place of HH 6th Dalai Lama .

The Birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama

Simla Agreement between British and Tibet in 1913 – 1914 established the boundary line between present day Arunachal Pradesh of India and Tibet . Sir Henry MacMohan drew up 890 km long MacMohan Line as the border between British India and Outer Tibet . Chinese representative had no problem at that time but now China refuses to accept MacMohan Line and claims all of Arunachal Pradesh as her own province .

 

Map of the British Indian Empire from Imperial Gazetteer of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

The Survey of India had published a map in 1937 showing MacMohan Line as the official boundary . Even if you try to forget all the mythological links of present day Arunachal Pradesh with Mahabharat and it being the abode of MahaRishi Parashuram and it being the mythical kingdom of Kundinpur , which belonged to Rukmini’s father and it being the place , where Krishna Bhagwan came and married Rukmini , still the fact remains that from 1937 to 2012 , Arunachal Pradesh has 75 years of existence with India . If you consider the signing of Simla Accord between British India and Tibet in 1913 – 1914 , then this existence extends to 99 years .

In February 2012 , Arunachal Pradesh completed 25 years as a province of India . Irrespective of what China says , Arunachal has its links with India since Mahabharat days . And God willing next year Arunachal Pradesh will complete 100 years of its existence with India .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

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50 Years of Liberation of Goa , Daman & Diu

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 22 , 2011           01.00 A.M.

On December 19 , 2011 Goa celebrated the 50th anniversary of  its liberation day . It was forgotten that initially Goa was a Union Territory and Daman & Diu were also part of the Union Territory and it was known as Goa , Daman & Diu . So it is more appropriate to say that on December 19 , 2011 Goa , Daman & Diu celebrated 50 years of liberation from 450 years of Portuguese rule .

Map of India Showing Location of Goa

Union Territory of Daman & Diu

The first literary reference to Goa is mentioned in the Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata as Gomanta , which means the region of cows.  Hindu scriptures mention Parashurama, as creator of Goa . According to Skanda Purana : Sahyadrikhanda , he is said to have settled ten sages in this land and performed fire sacrifices. Another legend has that after performing the penance, the seven sages or the Saptarshis were blessed by lord Shiva therefore known as Saptakoteshwar. Further Lord Shiva is believed to have taken up temporary residence after having tiff with his consort Parvati. According to Hari Vansha Purana , Lord Krishna defeated Jarasandha , the king of Magadha , on Gomanchal mountain in Goa.

In Suta Samhita Govapuri or Goa is associated with spiritually cleansing touch: The very sight of Govapuri destroys any sin committed in former existence , just as sunrise dispels darkness… Certainly there is no other kshetra equal to Govapuri ^.

[ Lord Parshuram with Saraswat brahmin settlers commanding Lord Varuna to make the seas recede to make the Konkan . ]

A similar hymn praising Govapuri city is found in Sahyadrikhanda of Skanda Purana .

“

गोकर्णादुत्तरे भागे सप्तयोजनविस्तृतं तत्र गोवापुरी नाम नगरी पापनाशिनी

According to the Parshurama legend, Parashurama, the sixth reincarnation of lord Vishnu faces with an order of banishment from the lands that he had once conquered, sets seven arrows fly from the Sahyadris to push back the sea and create a stretch of land which he could claim for himself. The sea-god is believed to have acceded to his wish and created a region Shurparaka ( winnowing fan ) . This region is also known as Parashurama Kshetra. According to the Sahayadri Khand of  Shree Skanda Purana , after creating  Goa , Parashurama brought Brahmins from the North and settled them in this land.

If we go through the modern history , Goa was part of Mauryan Empire of Ashoka . Afterwards , it was ruled by Satavahanas of Kolhapur . Then , successively , it was ruled by  Kalachuris , Chalukyas of Badami and Rashtrakutas of Malkhed .

There after Goa briefly became part of Delhi Sultanate  . Afterwards Harihar of Vijayanagara Empire conquered and thus Goa became part of mighty Vijayanagara Empire .

Bahamani Sultans of Gulbarga came next and Goa became part of their Sultanate . Later on Goa was annexed by Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur .

Then came Portuguese in 1510 . They defeated Sultan of Bijapur and made their first permanent settlement in Old Goa  [ Velha Goa ] . Their Indian Empire was called Estado da India Portuguesa . They ruled for 450 years and that too with iron fist .

When India became free in 1947 , Portugal refused to liberate Goa and continued their tyrannical rule . On December 19 , 1961 , Indian forces launched OPERATION VIJAY and forces entered into Goa . Portuguese governor of Goa  , who was threatening of a fierce battle , fled and thus after 450 years of oppressive and totalitarian Portuguese rule , Goa was finally liberated .

Initially a microscopic minority of Goa wanted to merge it with Maharashtra . In 1967 , during Indira Gandhi’s tenure , an Opinion Poll was held and people with overwhelming  majority voted to retain their separate identity as a Union Territory and against merger with Maharashtra .

On May 30 , 1987 Goa became 25th state of India and Daman & Diu remained as Union Territory . On the same day Konkani also got the status of the official language of the new state of  Goa .

Thus Goa got a new identity of its own and on December 19 , 2011 , celebrated its 50th liberation day with fanfare . On this day I salute the freedom fighters of Goa , who fought fierce struggle and valiantly kept the flame of independence burning and eventually succeeded in defeating the nefarious , imperial designs of the portuguese .

I am also ashamed of the fact and peeved that Jawahar Lal Nehru government took 14 long years to initiate the liberation process . The Congress government of centre kept on enjoying the fruits of freedom shamelessly , while patriots were fighting for the freedom of Goa and were being tortured and killed brutally.

But they succeeded finally and after 450 long years , Goa came into existence as a part of India .

[ Some portions of this blog is taken from Wikipedia . I am indebted and express my gratitude . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.vidurfilms.com

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India : Politics In The Name of Names

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA             AUGUST 24 , 2011             11  . 15  A. M.

Last week there was news that all the parties of West Bengal unanimously decided to change the name of the state to Paschim Banga .Very soon West Bengal will be known as Paschim Banga. Mamta Banerjee promised to go for a new nomenclature , when she came to power . It goes to her credit that she fulfilled her promise very soon and all the parties of the state agreed and supported the new name . Very soon Paschim Banga will be a reality. But it is not the first time that a state is being renamed. 5 provinces , 2 Union territories  and 70 cities have already been renamed and a proposal to change Orissa’s name is pending before the Parliament.

Political Map of India

Let us go through the list of Provinces :

1 – Travancore – Cochin is now known as Kerala . [ Name Changed in 1956 ]

2 – Madhya Bharat is now known as Madhya Pradesh . [ Name Changed in 1959]

3 – Madras is now known as Tamil Nadu . [ Name Changed in 1969 ]

4 – Mysore is now known as Karnataka . [ Name Changed in 1973 ]

5 – Uttaranchal is now known as Uttarakhand . [ Name Changed in 2007 ]

There are  proposals for the name change of the 4 Provinces  :

1 – Orissa  - New Name  Odisha . [ Proposed in 2011 ]

2 – West Bengal - New Name  Paschim Banga . [ Proposed in 2011 ]

3 – Kerala , which got its name changed from Travancore – Cochin , wants now to be known as Keralam . [ Still a Wish ]

4 – Assam – New Name  Asom . [ Still a Wish ]

List of Union Territories, which were renamed  :

1 – Laccadivi, Minikoy & Amindivi Islands   -  New Name Lakshadweep . [ Name Changed in 1973 ]

2 – Pondicherry – New Name Puducherry . [  Name Changed in 2006 ]

Map of India showing location of West Bengal

So 5 states and 2 Union Territories of India have been renamed . Two states have concrete proposals for the name change and proposals for Kerala  and Assam, are still in nascent stages.

Apart from above mentioned 9 provinces , and 2 Union Territories  there are 70  Indian cities , which have gone through the name change.

Major cities that have been renamed after independence include:

Andhra Pradesh

• Elgandal to Karimnagar
• Indur to Nizamabad
• Metuku to Medak
• Paalamuru to Mahaboonagar
• Ellore to Eluru (change effective 1949)
• Waltair to Vizagapatam
• Vizagapatam to Vishakapatnam
• Bezawada to Vijayawada
• Cuddapah to kadapa
• Ongole Dist. to Prakasham
• Nellore Dist. to Pottisriramulu Nellore

Assam

• Nowgong to Nagaon
• Gauhati to Guwahati (change effective 1983)
• Sibsagar to Sivasagar

Gujarat

• Baroda to Vadodara (change effective 1974)
• Cambay to Khambhat
• Bulsar to Valsad

Himachal Pradesh

• Simla to Shimla

Kerala

• Trivandrum to Thiruvananthapuram (change effective from 1991)
• Cochin to Kochi (change effective from 1996)
• Calicut to Kozhikode
• Quilon to Kollam
• Trichur to Thrissur
• Cannanore to Kannur
• Palghat to Palakkad
• Alleppey to Alappuzha (change effective from 1990)
• Alwaye to Aluva
• Parur to North Paravur
• Cranganore to Kodungallur
• Tellicherry to Thalassery
• Badagara to Vatakara
• Palai to Pala
• Verapoly to Varapuzha
• Cherpalchery to Cherpulasseri

Madhya Pradesh

• Ahilyanagari/Indur to Indore
• Avantika to Ujjain
• Bhelsa to Vidisha
• Rassen to Raisen
• Saugor to Sagar
• Jubbulpore to Jabalpur
• Bhopal Bairagarh to Sant Hirda Ram Nagar, Bhopal
• Bellasgate to Bheraghat
• Ojjain to Ujjaini
• Mandu to Mandavgarh

Maharashtra

• Poona to Pune
• Kirkee to Khadki
• Thana to Thane
• Bombay to Mumbai (change effective 1995)
• New Bombay to Navi Mumbai (change effective 1995)
• Bassein to Vasai

Puducherry

• Pondicherry to Puducherry (change effective from 1 October 2006)
• Yanaon to Yanam (change effective from merger with Indian Union)

Punjab

• Jullunder to Jalandhar

Tamil Nadu

• Coimbatore to Koyamutthoor (change effective 1972)
• Tinnevelly to Tirunelveli
• Tranquebar to Tharangambadi
• Trichinopoly to Tiruchirapalli (change effective 1971)
• Madras to Chennai (change effective August 1996)
• Tanjore to Thanjavur
• Tuticorin to Thoothukudi
• Cape Comorin to Kanyakumari
• Ootacamund to Udagamandalam
• Conjeevaram to Kanchipuram
• Virudupatti to Virudhunagar
• Potonovo to Parangipettai
• Mayavaram to Mayiladuthurai

Uttar Pradesh

• Cawnpore to Kanpur (change effective 1948)
• Benares to Varanasi (change effective 1956)

West Bengal

• Calcutta to Kolkata (change effective from 1 January 2001)
• Burdwan to Bardhaman

Name change proposal for 9 other Indian cities are there but they allude consensus . They are :

1 – Ahmedabad  - Proposed Name  – Karnavati

2 – Allahabad – Prposed Name  – Prayag or Teerth Raj Prayag

3 – Aurangabad  - Proposed Name  – Sambhajinagar

4 – Patna  - Proposed Name -  Pataliputra

5 – Mysore  - Proposed Name -  Mysooru

6 – Mangalore  – Proposed Name -  Mangaluru

7 – Bangalore – Proposed Name – Bengaluru

8 – Bhopal  - Proposed Name -  Bhojpal

9 – Hyderabad  - Proposed Name -  Bhagya Nagaram

Above mentioned 9 cities have long pending demands for name change , but since it requires Union Cabinet and Parliament’s approval , and at present they are controlled by the Congress , so chances are bleak for the renaming because there is no consensus for the new names of the above mentioned cities.

I fail to understand the logic. If names of 5 states , 2 Union Territories and 70 cities could be changed and 2 more states are on the verge of being renamed , then why to deny above mentioned 9 cities the same right ? Is it because  proposal for the name change for these 9 cities came from BJP or Shiv Sena or other opposition parties ? Or because proposed names of these 9 cities bear the ethos of our age – old tradition and ageless culture ? Or because they are being opposed by some so – called secular parties and intellectuals of left leaning ? Or fear of vote bank politics is stalling the renaming ?

If it is so , it is sad , very , very sad !!

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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[ I have taken some materials , data and dates for this blog from Wikipedia . I express my gratitude . ]

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