Seminar on ancient Chennai from tomorrow


Chennai: A 10-day seminar on Ancient Chennai 2000 – Puliyur Kottam including field visits by Chennai 2000 Plus Trust will be held from 18 to 28 February.

The seminar will highlight the historical and cultural treasures of Chennai which is over 2,000 years old. Epigraphists, Tamil scholars, experts in the field of archaeology and history, will take part in the seminar to be held at various venues, a press release said.

Puliyur Kottam, the name of ancient Chennai, was the administrative unit of Chennai for over 2,000 years with a rich tradition of literature, sculpture, trade and commerce, fine arts, excellent administration including decentralised and democratic governance through elected local bodies. The seminar will throw light on all these aspects and help document them.

The valedictory function will be held at Chennai Nirupargal Sangam, Government Estate, Chepauk, on 28 February at 4.30 pm.
For details, contact Chennai 2000 Plus Trust president R Rangaraj at 9841010821 or [email protected]

The schedule
18 Feb: Field visit to Fort Museum, Secretariat complex. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Superintending Archaeologist, A M V Subramaniam, will speak on Ancient Chennai at 10.30 am.

19 Feb: Field visit to inscription sites, first Paleolithic site of Asia discovered by Dr Robert Bruce Foote, Tirusoolam, and Nanmangalam, Maangaanyam, Kundrathur and Pozhichalur: from Madura Travels, Egmore, opp Egmore station, 8 am.

20 Feb: Seminar on Tamil language and Puliyur Kottam at Chennai Nirupargal Sangam, Government Estate, near MLA hostel, Chepauk, 4 pm.

21 Feb: Seminar on References in Jainism to Ancient Chennai – Puliyur Kottam at Department of Jainology, Madras University, Second Floor at 10.30 am.

Feb 23: Field visit to Egmore Museum at 10 am and to Thiruvanmiyur Marundheeswarar temple at 4 pm.

24 Feb: Field visit to Mamandur, Thirumukoodal, Nilangarai, Manimangalam, Somangalam at 7.30 am.

25 Feb: Field visit to Adambakkam, Velacheri, Tirusoolam at 7.30 am and seminar on River Vegavathy at Oriental Research Institute Hall, Madras University campus at 2 pm.

26 Feb: Visit to waterbodies, lakes under rejuvenation programme of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), convenor Arun Krishnamurthy.