Dating : One cannot live in a village with temples

English translation of Aadhavan Dheetchanya’s கோயில் இருக்கும் ஊரில் குடியிருக்கவே முடியாது

OorKoluthiyaan or the one who burns villages has recently changed his name to Mooventha Perungudi Ko or the King of Three Great Dynasties. Though it is his name nowadays, remembering it was a tough job. If somebody enquires what new name he has given himself, he could answer only after stammering a lot. To get used to it, he kept repeating it to himself all the time like a mantra. Still, if someone calls over the phone, OorKoluthiyaan talking… is how he answers impulsively and the new name never comes to mind then. His zeal to forget the old name crumbles down like a false facade every time someone calls him Oorkoluthiyaan. While he was worried about the time it will take to register his new name in the hearts of this country’s people, government records and UN council, he received a surprising letter to his new name.

Somebody has written a letter to his new name, and the postman identified whom it belongs to. Which means the name of Mooventha Perungudi Ko is gathering fame, right? He was thinking a lot, whether this letter announces what he desired when he took this name has started happening… Filled with that happiness, he sat admiring the letter from every side without even opening it. He was sure that this letter, marking the beginning of this world calling out his new name, is super special no matter what anyone thinks. He placed the letter before his ancestral god and prayed. The name itself was that god’s.

When those who burn villages along all the routes they travel have respectable names, he who never even lit an incense stick was called OorKoluthiyaan. He was perpetually disturbed by that unlullable pain of how those who parented him lacked the thought to give him a good name. The name change decision came from that. Later, it became a desire to adopt the name of his ancestors. Thus, Oorkoluthiyaan who was searching for the complete histories of his great, great, great grandfathers, finally found someone in his ancestry twenty generations back in the name of Mooventha Perungudi Ko and was filled with unlimited happiness. Danced like he found an invaluable treasure. In his ancestry filled with names with meanings like, stomach man, long mouth, hook legged, skewed nose, which fills one with shame to say out loud, to find one with such a name was unbelievable at first. The king of three dynasties, what a proud name… He felt proud and stylish saying that. Whatever generation that man was born at, he was determined to claim that their ancestry started with that man. Thus establishing his ancestral god, OorKoluthiyaan also named himself after the god to announce the world that the descendants of Mooventha Perungudi Ko still live on this earth.

OorKoluthiyaan was not content with their god being a mere memory, fiction or shapeless being, where all others that are claimed as gods in the village have an image. So his next job was to create an image of his god. It was hard for him to imagine someone who lived before many many generations. But he came up with an idea to create an image, mixing various features of all those he can remember as relatives. An artist he knew agreed to draw such an image. But the artist was a bigger researcher than Oorkoluthiyaan, he posed the undeniable question of how someone could have lived an unremarkable life with such a name. Oorkoluthiyaan rebuked himself for not thinking through such a basic question about his ancestral god for so long. As the artist clearly stated that they should know about the historical background of Mooventha Perungudi Ko to start drawing a relatable image, they started creating a historical background.

It couldn’t have been his real name, but a title celebrating his victory and subsequent rule over the Chera, Choza, Pandiya kings like Kangai Konda Chozan, Thalaiyaalangaanaththu Seruvendra Paandiyan Neduncheziyan. The historical background was started with this assumption. Which lead to another doubt, as Kalapirars are mentioned in the history as similarly winning and ruling over the three kings, What if his ancestor was one of them. In that case, what if all the jobless idiots who claim to belong to the Chera, Choza, Pandiya ancestry from every village, decide to take revenge on him for those historical feuds. OorKoluthiyaan shivered in fear thinking about what then will happen to him.

With the exception of Burton Stein all other researchers say, Kalapirars came from Karnataka or the other side of Venkata hills. Hence claiming their ancestry will lead to adopting the burden of migrant ‘vantheri’ label voluntarily, and Oorkoluthiyaan declined that idea. It is beneficial to keep intact the current identity of pure Tamil caste, and its proud eugenics. Also he was determined to avoid the negative image that might arise from relating his ancestor Mooventha Perungudi ko to Kalapirars, who were derided by many modern historians as, eliminating the priestly business, stopping yaagas and velvis completely thus preventing sacrifices, putting an end to land grants for the priestly castes, having Buddhist/Jainist affiliations, and whose rule is termed as a dark period. Some Dalits too play word games like Kaala paraiyar meaning Paraiyahs of time, changed into Kala paraiyar (of field) and later kalapirar, twisting and implying that kalapirars are Dalits. Relating his aanda parambarai or the ruler’s dynasty to Dalits and bringing it down was not something Oorkoluthiyaan wanted. The silappathigaaram line ‘isaivilangu perungudi maasaathu vaanigan’ implied, Perungudi meant uyarkudi or higher castes, and Oorkoluthiyaan was careful not to tarnish the name.

He was worried, who will accept his ruler’s dynasty history if all he has is only the name ‘Mooventha Perungudi ko’ which can’t be related to any known king in history. The artist consoled him, Most the castes here claim to be dynasties who ruled, did anyone ask them for proof? Even if someone asks, Oorkoluthiyaan must be daring to ask them to show proof first before asking us. . . Nobody will dare open their mouths after that said the artist. Being emotional to have the support of the artist from his same caste, Oorkoluthiyaan decried that when they become the ruling party in 2021 the post of arts minister will be the artist’s. Hiding emotions with a straight face uninterested in ministerial positions, the artist said, let’s finish the history first brother, we’ll discuss all that later.

Both decided that Mooventha Perungudi ko was a king, so he asked the artist to draw an equestrian pose. Brother, every donkey out there has horse-riding paintings and statues, said the artist. Why should we do the same? Let’s try something different. Dazed by the complexities of painting an image. He stopped with merely saying, do something good brother.

Mooventha Perungudi ko sat majestically on top of a camel. A mix of kingly characters from Tamil films and Hindi serials, the face glowed without anyone being able to point out as resembling any. Furious eyes, throbbing mustache, muscular shoulders, large chest gave him valor that kings of no other caste had. His right hand was armed with a new weapon called ‘Bullet sword or Sword bullet’ which was a gun one side and sword in another. The gods themselves are modernizing as Tank Pillayar and Rocket pillayar, the artist felt it was right for the king also to bear modern weapons. The rightful rage felt by the artist, against his king who ruled over three great dynasties to bear the same weapons as those who can’t even cut vegetables with them will be an inseparable chapter of this history. Oorkoluthiyan might never learn that the artist merely copied and reversed the concept of bayonets.

Impressed by the painting Oorkoluthiyaan hugged the artist. Then steadied himself and doubted, Brother, a camel in our villages? Will people accept this? The artist replied Brother who is our king according to history? He who ruled over the three great dynasties. Say proudly that he with such a reputation and power had a camel force none of the other kings had. Or, tell that he waged wars traveling on top of a camel, gifted or given as gavel to him by a desert land’s king. Keep in mind that, if you talk louder, only their ears will work for the people.

The image was ready, only the land or country he ruled has to be decided. The artist who had a minister’s intelligence guided him on that too. Google showed various places with the name Perungudi spread across the state. They chose a Perungudi, which though fell under Kanchipuram district, was considered a part of current Tamilnadu capital Chennai. Oorkoluthiyaan was happy with the definition of Perungudi ko as the king who ruled with this Perungudi as capital. Many leaders today are called as aarkaattaar, vaazapadiyaar, veerapandiyaar, but where those names meant merely as someone from a certain town, Oorkoluthiyaan was exalted by the image inspired by Perungudi ko, the stature of a king.

As soon as Oorkoluthiyaan and artist arrived at Chennai and rented a room without hesitation, it started working as the national office of ‘Mooventha Perungudiko Development Front Party Movement’. It felt like the painting of Perungudi ko in the center of the office gave it a political glory. They were stunned by the welcome the movement’s Facebook page and the website www.perungudiko4king.com got. From a printer at the same street as the national office, letter pad, visiting card, membership forums, color flyers, manifesto with policies and petitions were printed with Perungudi ko’s image and the office was filled. They were excited by their manifesto which will be a weapon shocking the whole country in the days that follow.

‘Perungudi, of immense beauty, sugarcanes, and celestial damsels/ Perumal, who astrides there…’ The king, who ruled Perungudi so brilliantly to be praised thus by Arunagirinathar in Thirupugazh during the fifteenth century, and ruled over three great dynasties, Mooventha Perungudi ko’s direct bloodline are spread through this earth like banyan trees and rooted like lemongrass. This manifesto declared…

1. We are determined to re-establish his kingdom to praise the glory of his illustrious great life with Perungudi as capital.

2. We give one year time for state and central governments to create such a separate state. If any legal problems arise on creating an independent country, we want them to announce properly about the following petitions.

a. A memorial building must be built for Mooventha Perungudi ko in Perungudi. His life history must be included in textbooks. His statue must be placed on the state legislative assembly and his image in parliament. He must be honored with the country’s highest prize of Bharath Ratna. The rare weapon called bullet sword used by our great king must be brought to daily use of police and military.

b. A part of the tax collected from all commercial institutions, malls, tolls, pay to use toilets, educational institutions, hospitals, other profitable businesses, land, especially the government liquor shops inside our kingdom must be paid to us as gavel.

c. Right to distribute contracts for granite, sand and any mineral quarry auctions, highway and public works department contracts, government job appointments must be given to us.

d. Regular bribes sent by government staff and elected officials to higher echelons of the government, from our kingdom must handover half of it to us.

e. The legislative assembly, parliament, corporation seats from our kingdom must be allocated to our clan permanently. If someone dares to compete we won’t hesitate to beat them with the call ‘our vote is not yours.’

Decreed by,

Pride of the clan, rising revolutinary youngster Mooventha perungudi ko,

and pride of the clan, rising revolutionary youngster’s chief adviser Thoorigai vannan (Brush colored artist).

***

Oorkoluthiyaan offered the letter that reached his national office in his new name even before the printed manifestos were distributed, to his ancestral god and opened the cover in excitement.

Sir, Greetings. I started typing your manifesto as any usual work as a printing press employee. Used to see anything I type as a mere collection of letters, I started reading your manifesto because of some unknown motivation and felt it to be a personal letter you have written to me. It took me a lot of time to calm down from the initial excitement of reading it. What a strange phenomena, that history has brought us to the same point.

My ancestors lived with dignity hunting through dense forests and cultivating riverside plains. Dry rain looking lands growing rye and millet, and irrigated lands growing rice, sugarcane, coconut, and betel, became a village because of their work. Once, a king was touring through with his force and retinue. He was filled with mirth to see the river flowing loudly and the lawns filled with wealth on its banks. The court priest with him then advised that if he built a temple by the river, his glory and life will be lengthened. Then a temple came there. A priestly crowd followed to perform poojas there. The agraharam or the brahmin street formed for them to live ate our fields. Our village and its land were granted to the agraharam by the king’s order. Our land was there and our ancestors spent their lives working on it. But the harvest went to the agraharam.

Discussing under the elders’ leadership and deciding it is not possible to live in a village with a temple, left the village overnight with whatever they could carry with cattle following them. Like ending up where they started, the settlers became wanderers again and reached a new forest never inhabited by humans. They have lived farming on the drylands, various millet. After a few generations, a king through wondered about the new village and declared his night stay there. Hunting and raping the women of villages where he stays night is the king’s way of ruling. Our people have guessed that the king had decided to stay for his lust of our village’s women with bodies toned by work, and their style walking with forest flowers on their scented hair. They thought about the time they lost their lands because of a cunning priest, and whether they will lose their women now.

There was no time to think. Cheering noises can be heard from the king’s camp. Soon they will enter our houses. We know what happens when the army enters villages, right? In our times, with civilization and human rights developments, knowing what happened to villages where army entered in vaachaathi, Kashmir, northeastern india, and northeastern srilanka, it shouldn’t be hard for us to imagine how ruthless the armies of then would have been. So, anxious to save their women from being destroyed by the king and his army, my ancestors killed their women themselves and buried in their homes. Those who couldn’t bring themselves to kill, hid their women in dungeons and bunkers dug in their homes. Those who didn’t have time to do even that, hid their women in tall granaries outside the houses.

The army that entered the villages with priests to capture women suited for the king according to body feature saastras were disappointed. They destroyed our vessels and hanging pots with their spears. In the daze of liquor and fury of lust, the king lost his calm. All our men were arrested. Birds and animals of the forest took to running scared by their howl in agony tortured by the king’s army. They chased our cattle into fire and ate their meat. Started early in the night, their atrocity continued through the dawn. Breaking our granaries to burn our harvest, they found our women inside them dead by the heat and suffocation. They kicked around the dead bodies and roared with laughter. They shat and broke pots of lamp oil in our drinking and irrigation water sources. To mark our complete destruction they plowed our fields with donkeys and sowed sesame. Balded, shamed with black and red dots on the face, and dragged away like war criminals, what happened to our men after that, we haven’t learned yet.

A pregnant woman laid half-dead in the bunkers for days, tormented and hallucinated, she gave birth to a child in that ash heap whose descendant is me. I grew up hearing stories and songs of how our ancestors were destroyed, and I am searching for the king’s descendants all my life. When I was tired following many who claim to be of rulers’ dynasties and finding those claims are fiction and lie, I got a chance to read your manifesto. From the moment, It was clear that I am searching for you all this time. Equally interested as you in searching for ancestors, the records I have found point out that, the king who destroyed my ancestors is the same as the one you claim to be your ancestor. The ancestral history you have added before your petitions are similar to the king I was searching for. As I mentioned earlier, history has brought us both to the same point. But against each other. Yes, you belong to a ruler’s dynasty and me to a dynasty destroyed by you.

I am not thinking about avenging you. But I am determined to get proper justice and payback for the losses and injustice your ancestors unleashed upon mine. Since you claim the ancestry of a dynasty that ruled, I want you to take responsibility for the atrocities of the rulers’ dynasty too. I want to say that If I don’t receive a positive response within seven days from the delivery of this letter, I am prepared to take legal action against you too.

Regards,

The first enemy of your kingdom to come.

***

Reading the letter Oorkoluthiyaan felt his insides shaking. Feeling the crown snatched from his head, he gave the letter to the artist. The intelligent artist read it and consoled him, why should he fear when he is there.

***

Overnight, Oorkoluthiyaan and artist left all dreams of the rulers’ dynasty and was running back to their village from Chennai. It was then they saw that newspaper advertisement. The Mooventha Perungudi ko painting they orphaned in their national office was in the middle of it. Their manifesto’s final lines were below the camel’s legs.

‘Descendants of Mooventha Perungudi ko living across the country in the names and villages of Perungudi, get ready to sacrifice everything to re-establish our kingdom. Rise the bullet sword clan. Let your blood boil the descendants of camel force warrior. Come as the sea to our movement’s first meeting on the aadi month’s new moon day. Retrieve your pride. Rule in 2021. Rest of the world will watch this new rise.’

Reading the advertisement Oorkoluthiyaan and the artist laughed loudly. As the people nearby pitied if they have gone mad, they replied that their madness has only cleared now… and continued laughing. When will their laughter end, we can’t say.