Those who are familiar with Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan will remember the Chola era lighthouse in Kodiyakarai (Point Calimere).
“Fire has been lighted [on the light house]. It will burn through the night. It will warn the vessels not to approach the shallow shore.
“Catamarans and small boats could reach the shore. Big vessels and ships, however, will get struck in the soil and will break if they move fast. The light house is rendering a great service to the sailors,” says Kalki in his novel describing the light house.
But what was once a majestic monument has been reduced to a rubble now.
In fact, those who visit Kodiyakarai today can only see the remnants of the dilapidated brick structure. Even the notice board put up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has fallen and the writings are no longer visible.
“Three-fourth of the structure remained there in the 1960s. The storm that hit the coastal areas wrecked it. We could have saved it, but we failed it,” T. Sathyamurthy, former Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, told The Hindu.
While Kalki had written that the light house was constructed by Chola King Parantaka-I, historians feel it was much older.
Mr. Sathyamurthy said an analysis of the bricks provided clear proof that the base was constructed during the Pallava period.
A great structure lost
The upper part was developed during the Chola period, known for its maritime trade and the regime’s naval power.
“We could have constructed the light house again. A great structure and evidence of our history are thus lost,” said Mr. Sathyamurthy.
Former Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who had visited the spot as a student in the 1980s and again as a Minister later, said incursion of the sea was one of the reasons for the destruction of the structure.
“The Masilamaninathar temple in Tharangampadi was on the shore once. Now it is submerged in the water,” he said, adding that efforts should be taken to protect and reconstruct the structure.
“By converting Kodiyakarai as a wildlife sanctuary, we have protected the animals and birds,” he said.
In a similar manner, we should protect the light house, which is our bridge to a glorious past,” he added.