CHENNAI:The life history of Chola warrior king Rajendra Cholan will soon be included in the curricula of schools, according to BJP National Executive member from Tamil Nadu, L Ganesan, who spoke at a function organised by Sivasundari Kalai Koodam in Mylapore to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Rajendra Cholan’s accession to the throne on Sunday.
“Rajendra Cholan was a great figure and yet he is not well known in Tamil Nadu. Highlighting the achievements can arouse nationalistic sentiment in today’s youth. Other political parties are not pleased as we beat them to it,” Ganesan said.
The former RSS pracharak stressed that BJP and RSS did not expect any political gains from the public celebration of Rajendra Chola as against the speculation that this was an attempt by the Saffron party to breach the Dravidian fort in Tamil Nadu.
“In Rajasthan there is Maharana Pratap. In Maharashtra there is Shivaji. But in Tamil Nadu no warrior-king is celebrated despite the great achievements of Chola kings,” he said.
Even Vasco Da Gama, on his voyage to discover India, had been left awestruck by the Indian ships of the Chola king, said Ganesan, pointing out that this little known historical fact had been acknowledged by the Indian History Congress.
“These historical facts are being hidden from today’s India. If they are brought out, the youth will feel proud of an Indian hero,” he added.
Comparing the Chola king with Alexander the Great, Ganesan said that while the Greek emperor would exhort his soldiers to conquer, Rajendra Cholan would also involve his soldiers in spiritual activities for their all-round development.
Ganesan added that Thanjavur had been transformed thanks to Rajendra Cholan’s efforts in building more than 50 canals from the Cauvery river.