The titles used by the Cholas; An Examination (Part-I)

While researching for the three articles that I wrote (1, 2, and 3 respectively), I came across the interesting titles the Chola Kings used - which to an extent, serves as witness to their achievements- military & otherwise. Another problem I encountered is with Western Historiography - the use of the "Royal Noble and chivalric titles" as used by Western Scholars cannot be equated to the titles used during medieval/late antiquity periods in European History. What title can you give to, for example, the Zamorin or the Perumal? Are they "Kings?" or "Petty Kings"? Or are they something else entirely? (More on the Problem of Western Historiography in a later article)
So what I'm attempting to do here is not only to provide a window to Chola History, but also [attempt] to provide a ready reckoner for the Chola Emperors ( I'm only examining the titles used by the Medevial Cholas, as even this seems to be a gargantuan task for me. See Note 1 as well)
Below is the list of  the Chola Emperors & their titles, till Rajaraja Chola the Great. 
Vijayalaya Chola (848 C.E. to 871 C.E.)
After the fall of the ancient Chola Kingdom, it is not known what happened in the interregnum; from almost 200 C.E. to 848 C.E., it is a dark time for the Cholas, thus, historians have used the accounts of the Pandyas and Pallavas, and it is supposed that they ruled the Kaveri heartland as tributaries/feudatories of the the Pandyas/Pallavas.
Vijayala Chola conquered Thanjavur from Elango Mutharaiyar who was the final ruler of Mutharaiyar dynasty. It is said that in the year 852 CE Vijayalaya Chola waged war with the Muttaraiyar king Sattan Paliyilli (826–852 CE) in the neighbouring east, and captured his territory of Thanjavur. While Vijayalaya Chola was a Pallava feudatory, the Muttaraiyan chief was a Pandya feudatory. Making use of the opportunity during a war between Pandyas and Pallavas, Vijayalaya rose out of obscurity and captured Thanjavur. 
He used the title  Parakesarivarman, a title meant in part to honour his ancestor, Parakesari. Inscriptions under his son exclusively refer him by this name. 
Aditya Chola I (871 C.E. to 907 C.E.)
It was under him that the Cholas overthrew the Pallava yoke and achieved independence. He used the title Rajakesari as his primary title, In Inscriptions, he is also called "Tondainadu pavina Rajakesarivarman", "The Rajakesarivarman who overran Tondainadu" Tondainadu, as those ardent fans of Crusader Kings 2 would note, Is the North-Eastern region of Tamil Nadu (see note 2)
The inscirption of his successor, his son, notes him as Thondaimaanaruur thunjina udaiyaar (The King who died at Tondaimanarrur), Tondaimanarrur being the Capital of Tondai nadu. It is thought to be near Sriklahasti, in Chittor, Andhra Pradesh. 
Parantaka Chola I (907 C.E. to 955 C.E.)
As his Grandfather, Parantaka Chola I held the title "Parakesari". As early as his Third Regnal year, he is beleived to have invaded and occupied the Capital of the Pandyas, having been given the title "Maduraikondan",and later is described as "Madhurantaka",the destroyer of Madurai - This is after he conducted a successful raid on the Pandya Capital.
After defeating an alliance of the Pandya & Ceylon kings, and after further conducting raid on Lanka, he is described as " Maduraiyum Elamum Konda Parakesarivarman" – Parakesarivarman who conquered Madurai and Sri Lanka. He utilized his war loot to cover the roof of the celebrated Shiva Temple at Chidambaram to be covered with Gold, for this he is described as "Thillaiyambalathhukku pon koorai veiyntha thevan". See Note 3 as well.
Gandaraditya 

The reccords of the next 30 years of the Cholas are scant; and thus what we know of it is rather skewed ( Reasons noted in Note 4). However, we can reasonably conclude that Gandaraditya used the title : "Rajakesari"  as well as "Merkey elundarulina devar" - "the king/lord who was pleased to go west"- for He apparently went to Kerala.
Arinjaya 
It is not known for a certainty whether Arinjaya, the third son of Parantaka Chola I ruled, historians assume that he ruled for a short period, in all probability, as an intermediary between his nephew, Uttama Chola I. Arinjaya is described as  "Alvar Arikulakesarideva" Rajaraja Chola I, his Grandson. For the Purposes of Clearly understanding the succession of Kings, see Note 5.
Sundara Chola (Parantaka Chola II)
He is credited with laying the foundations of the success his younger son Rajaraja Chola I- he defeated the Pandyas, and assumed the title of Maduraikonatan,  as his Grandfather, Parantaka Chola did. He and his son, Aditya Chola II, defeated and routed the Rashtraukatas from Tondainadu. His heir and Co-regent, Aditya Chola II Karikalan was assassinated, (which remains an unsolved mystery), and Sundara Chola is remarked to have died of a broken heart - given the title  "Pon maligai thunjina thevar" – "the king who died in the golden palace".
Aditya Chola II
Aditya Chola was co-regent and firstborn son of Sundara Chola, and was co-regent as well. He is remarked to have fought valiantly at Chevur, having, at the age of 12, "played with Veera Pandyan", the title given to him is"Vira Pandyan Thalai Konda Adithha Karikalan" - "The Adithya Karikalan who took the head of Vira Pandayan": Historians state that this does not literally mean he cut the king to size, but rather that he humiliated the King at the battlefield. He is also described as a "Vira Abhimanyu": A brave Abhimanyu, the famous warrior son of Arjun of Mahabharta. (The calligrapher uses a tecchnique which is rather ingenious: Abhimanyu, of course, was a ferocious warrior, who died as he could not escape the Chakravyuha; and he died. Here, Aditya Chola was a ferocious warrior, but his death came in the fame of the Chakravyuaha that was his assassination.)
Uttama Chola
Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya, succeeded Sundara Chola upon his death. Sundara Chola's second son, Rajaraja Chola, was installed as his heir as compensation for being passed over. Uttama is described as Parakesari.  He also assumed to have the title "Vikrama".
Rajaraja Chola I "The Great"
Rajarja as I noted here, is one of the greatest Emperors of Indian History. His name is recorded at birth as "Arulmozhi Varman". He is said to have been elected by a democratic process, having served as heir-presumptive as "Yuva-raja" . He first attacked the Cheras at Kanathaur Salai, having used  the title "Kandalur -salaik-kalamautta", and "having beheaded the Malai Alargal", Malai Alargal being the Chera Warriors who must have defended Kandalur from the Chola attack ( For a more detailed understanding of the Kandalur War, see Note 6) . He also uses the title "Mummadi Chola-deva" which is thought to be "The Chola who had strength thrice over". He of course, took the title "Rajakesari"as his predecessors had.
After conquering/subjugating the Pandyas and the Cheras, he is called the "Mummudi Cholan" literally, the Suzerain of the 3 kingdoms: Chola, Chera and Pandya.
Rajaraja, by virtue of his tremendous success, is called a variety of titles in inscriptions.
He is also called "Keralantaka" for having subjugated the Cheras, and this Gopura is the Keralanthaka Gopura Constructed in front of the Brihadeeswarar temple:

the Keralantka Gopura

The other titles used by him are listed and its translations are listed in Table 1.

The Supreme, Alcohol and the Republic (and some kids)

The Headline and News story goes thus: An unlicensed (not that that mattered) beverages outlet (for the uninitiated, beverages sell alcohol) was shut down by the students of Holy Angels ISC, in Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum. Yay!!!! (News In Malayalam here)

But there are bad things in this feel good story.

So listen up, as I tell you a story of our Kritarchy [Rule of Judges] that is the Republic of India.

So the great and venerable Supreme Court in its most pious beliefs ordered (nay, commanded) that all liquor shops on National Highways and State highways be done away with, and no sign of Liquor shops displayed on them and that they keep a distance of more than 500 m from the NH or SH.

And other such like which the most blessed judges of the great court commanded in their great wisdom!

To the most preeminent court, the Right to Profession was no right available to those who sell these crude vapors, corrupting saintly men and women.

For it is but res extra commercium(1), no right to sell liquor, a divine aberration corrupting our souls. But forget that.

You might think that the court constrains itself to some directives that make sense to poor and common men like me!

But the Court is not you or me, the court is incorruptible and the source of all good in this most excellent Republic, with such wonders as the Emergency and The Enforced Patriotism. (Don't Forget Guha)

And  which has given orders that baffle my humble brain and indeed of many others.

But I Digress.

The liquor lobby, oh, but was unshaken by this most chivalrous display of righteousness by the most stately Supreme!

We'll move them of course, and people will still buy them. They said, Those who want their stuff get it. They always do.

Just ask Gujarat.

But let me come to the news at hand.

These young kids, O so beautiful! and O so lovely!

Protesting against an unlicensed liquor shop, which propped up there because the court think it ain't commerce.(to sell’em beverage liquor)

Bad indeed, and the children protested and got it closed down. No villains here, children against liquor.

But there is some bad. Not this particular case, but think about it.

Take into account the Five Star hotels & Alcohol in Kerala.

Only the rich can drink and that is how it should be!

The poor are but buffoons who can handle nothing but native white, German piss and divine blood.

Of course, of course, wine cannot be divine and an aberration at the same time.

Let me correct my earlier thought, Wine is not an alcohol.

Forgive me, divine one.

We must not allow such substances into our mind or body,

For it corrupts us from within, especially Young women!

What do you think will become of those babies you are destined to produce!

Oh the horror! oh the horror!

Do not be merry, do not drink!

Do not touch such stuff because too much is bad!

No need to control or regulate, just ban!

because some people are stupid.

Some people get addicted to it, so ban it!

Don't open de addiction centers or promote responsible drinking

Just ban them, outright.

Some men abuse it, so let all men beware

because some women use it and they get raped by men

Just ban it

Ban it outright.

because after you ban, the state, The state, so powerful and graceful will stop its flow.

No more of alcohol anywhere. No tragedies will be encountered. No spurious liquor or death no scam or such.

Just Ask Al Capone or Gujarat.

Let us not drink. Let us not be merry.

Let us not cheer. Let us be dead.

I pray for a day this malfeasance is dead, and no wrong plays the earth.

For that day I pray for.

O, But the Court! It is not to blame is it?

It is to court law, and law says res extra commercium, no right to sell liquor.

They are the Supreme! They are the divine!

But I tell the court: those who want to kill, will kill, those want to die will die, Those who want to drink will drink, and those who will drink and drive will still drink and drive.

Let us see, let us see, O, Supreme One, when thy grand order comes into full effect on April the first of Twenty-Seventeen whether no more drunk driving happens in NHs and SHs, but only in small bylanes and Panchayat Roads. Let us see, Let us see!

Note 1: Res Extra Commercium is a Legal Doctrine (Origin in the Roman Law) that sets out that some items cannot be subject to private rights, Alcohol is considered one such.

The Legacy of Barack Obama

As 8 years of the Obama Presidency comes to close, I look at his legacy, and what he leaves for Trump & the world at the large.

What is Obama's legacy?  When he became President 8 years ago,  he was elected on the idea of "Hope". How has this transformed in his Presidency?  And what is the legacy he leaves behind? 

Is it Obamacare, the first National healthcare plan in the US? Is it the Legalization and support for Same-Sex marriage?

or is it the continued fracture of American Politics, ending in the election of Trump? or Syria & Ukraine going to hell?

Inevitably,  both 'good' and 'bad' are part of his legacy. Obama's presidency rapidly transformed American society into a progressive one, yet with inevitable faults. While many gasped for a Post-Racial America, that dream is all but dead now. Not only has continued instances of Black Unarmed civilians being shot by Police officers bought into the forefront the implicit racism of law enforcement officers, but the response to the 'Black Lives Matter' Protesters, 'Blue Lives matter' shows the disconnect between the two major parties.

Race and racial issues- which by the 90s were no longer a source of conflict, have now become an issue again. The cultural wars, of course, are over, and the left has unequivocally triumphed. In my opinion, this is the most monumental achievement of the Obama Presidency: Marriage Equality & repeal of Don't Ask & Don't Tell. It would be most probably what his presidency would be remembered for in America. Other than being the first African American President.

In the international arena, Obama's strategic failure in the middle east cannot be discounted. and don't forget Russia. Obama's administration failed to counter Russia in Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria. On the other hand, Positives include the Paris climate deal, but is on the way to being  gutted(maybe).  

Don't forget the drones. Some even argue this was his worst legacy. Relations with India, of course, improved, but it would have anyways; India enjoys huge bipartisan support.

What about Obamacare, you may ask? Is that not his greatest legacy? It could have been: Obama achieved what Clinton and Democratic Presidents could not before: a National healthcare plan. But it is needlessly complicated, as a result of Obama trying  to find a consensus  with the Republicans.   And its well on the way to being repealed.

Obama failed the  Democrats domestically, and there is no doubt about that. His failure to help his party in domestic elections has led the democrats to a minority in State Governorships, Legislatures, and didn't get a democratic house since  2008-10.  Obama might have led the economy out of the 2008 recession, but the economic fracture led, in some ways, for the Trump Vote.

Is he the most successful Democrat since FDR?. the most consequential Democrat, yes. His success is debatable. One most however not forget that he was a dignified man, a humane person, who strived to do right by him.

Obama leaves a fractured world order, a hyperpartisian domestic arena, and a weak democratic party, which will be unable to preserve his legacy, or take a meanigful stand in the House.

Extra Reading

Politico:Re-Alignment of American Politics

NY Times: On race, silence is Bipartisian

The Atlantic: Racism by any other name

Brookings institution: America's Race relations

Foreign Policy: Barack Obama's Foreign policy failure

The System is broken.

Regarding the Mass Molestation at Bangalore & related incidents. 

The system is broken.

But you don’t need me to tell you that.

You know it.  You’ve experienced it.  You’ve seen & experienced things that you shouldn’t have.

When the Home Minister of a state says,  nay,  declares with impunity that “Such Incidents do happen”  and then an SP  MLA, then comes in with his own BS opinion,  and then men on twitter respond with #Notallmen,  you know the system is broken. It is not long ago that Mulayam Singh Yadav, the patriarch of the Samjiwadi Party said that “boys will be boys”.

I don’t need to point to more examples. You know it. Insensitive and undignified comment after comment.

But back to the issue at hand.

You have in all probability experienced it.  Or if you’re a boy,  you’ve (most probably) seen it.  It might have been your mother,  your sister or a friend.  You’ve seen how Women are treated in a public place.

I wouldn’t say that things haven’t improved.It definitely has. Women are given and afforded freedoms that they weren’t given even 25 years ago.  But that is not enough. Thre Nirabhaya Protests of 2012 resulted in an amendment in Criminal Law that was years past necessary. But that’s not enough.

To be a modern and developed country,  to give justice and equality to all sections of society, that isn’t enough.  That is never enough.

The Republic of India has not given its due to the female gender. We have failed in ensuring to our female citizens the states basic function: of providing the freedoms they are guaranteed. Forget that, we have ensured that our Police and Judicial system is apathetic to the victims of these crimes.

Our society, is patriarchal and conservative in its very nature. The response of the political class- that of shifting blame to the women, and that of men – that of shifting blame to a minority of men, exemplify its very nature.

Being Apathetic, being a mute spectator to such an  act is as big an offense as the actual one.

Back to the issue:

All these incidents follow a similar pattern now, doesn’t it?

An incident that is extremely shameful & undignified occurs, All of us collectively outrage, some idiotic politician make insensitive comments, we outrage over that, some protests happen- here there, We discuss this for one or two more weeks, then the next thing takes over the media circus & kills any further discussion.

This HAS  to change. We have to change this. Don’t abandon hope saying that Society can’t be altered. Keep in mind that you too are part of ‘society’.

Organize yourself.

Teach your children about the Importance of bodily autonomy.

Teach them that mental, physical and verbal abuse is wrong.

Teach them that all Humans have their dignity.

Support your local Women’s self help groups.

Support Women’s advocacy groups.

AND DON’T STAY SILENT. SILENCE IS THE FIRST STEP TO ACCEPTANCE.

NEVER NORMALIZE THESE INCIDENTS.

DON’T VOTE FOR POLITICIANS WHO DO.

IF they can’t accept that Men & women have the same rights under law, well, DON’T VOTE FOR THEM.

Never accept sexism & misogyny.If you find people accepting, or making such comments: Name them and Shame them.

NEVER LOSE HOPE. No person is irredeemable. No person is unreformable. NO goal is unachievable. 

The system is broken. But We can fix it.

As a person of the male gender, I cannot aspire to understand all the pressures and experiences that women experience as a result of misogyny, sexism & victim-shaming. I can only aspire to empathize with it. This privilege that I have – of being  a male in a patriarchal society must be kept in mind while assessing my opinion here.

धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah

Those who protect Dharma will be protected by it. 

Originally posted in Wordpress

Dhulgarh:The Great Deception

In a post on 31 December, blogger extraordinaire Arnab Ray noted that Media "[Do not report] anything that does not conform to their[media establishments] political narrative, of the fascism of the Hindu majoritarian rule in Delhi, no matter the human cost of what they choose to ignore."

The fact that most of us, constant news guzzling citizens are unaware of what happened in Dhulgarh is frightening: We know of the riot and the loss of life only due to the information spreading on Social Media. The Mainstream Establishments continue to gloss over the happenings in Dhulgrah almost 4 weeks after it occurred. This points to a political agenda to the Media that is pursuing.

If for a second imagine if these riots and attacks happened against Muslims in say, Madhya Pradesh. How would the media report it ? What would be the reaction of the great Rajdeep Sardesai, who tweeted with impunity:

Little later did his own news channel, India Today report the incident, probably mindful of TRPs that its competitor, Zee news would have gained. Zee, of course, is associated closely with the BJP and had its own agenda in covering the incident. Regardless, not many have condemned the FIR filed against Zee for reporting on the incident, probably because principles in Media is a rare commodity nowadays. The Editors Guild, otherwise the first to condemn any perceived violation of Freedom of speech: FakingNews, a satire website published this report, which might seem to be a satirical piece, but seems to be the real situation in Indian Media.

The Press Council of India, too, has been rather conspicuously silent on it.

All this information, of course has been facilitated and has come out in the open only because of the media-neutral entity that the Internet is. I shudder to think if we had no such source, how would we have known of these incidents? what would become of those who lost their home & hearth because of this?

This is the Great Deception. While the mainstream English Language Media assume itself to be the center of the Universe, continues to drone over the effects of Demonetization & air incoherent discussions on it, the real, human cost of Dhulgarh is lost to us. The belief in Media, of course, is at an all time low, as demonstrated by the success of Donald Trump & Brexit in the Western World.

In Urban Upper Middle Class India, the same phenomenon has been replicating. The trust in the Media is declining because of self inflicted injuries more than anything.

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minsiter of West Bengal, when asked what happened in Dhulgarh replied: "Nothing".  From the Hon'ble Chief Minister,  though, its a classic answer.

All these incidents create the violent perception of the "tyranny of the Minority", which will of course, result in more liberal members of the majority community being swayed to the BJP (Eh!, no surprises there)

Ironically, the creation of this perception and the continued appeasment of the Minority community results in Hindutva politics raising its head in Bengal.

In conclusion, Kudos to the Internet!

And I sincerely hope the communal Tinderbox that is Bengal changes.

(Note of appreciation to Sitaram Yechury & CPM, who attempted to conduct their own enquiry, but was stopped by the Police.)