By
Ganesa Subramaniam
UPKAR PRAKASHAN, AGRA-2
www.upkar.in
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Code No. 367
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Contents
● Tamil Nadu : At A Glance
3–4
● Tamil Nadu : History
5–69
— Pre-Historic Age in Tamil Nadu…….....……………………………….
5
— Sangam Age—The Tamil Kingdoms…….....………………………..…
5
— Economy of the Sangam Age…….....………………………..…………
11
— Greek & Roman Contacts with Ancient Tamil Country…….....……….
13
— Post Sangam Age …….....………………………..……………………
13
— The Kalabhras…….....………………………..…………………………
14
— The Pallavas–Political History…….....…………………………………
14
— Literary Sources…….....………………………………………………..
15
— Central Government…….....……………………………………………
17
— Social, Economic and Religious Conditions under the Pallavas……….
18
— Economic Life…….....……………………….…………………………
19
— Culture, Literature, Art and Architecture under the Pallavas…………..
20
— First Pandyan Empire…….....………………………..…………………
22
— Chola Period–Sources–Rulers…….....………………………………….
23
— Later Chola Dynasty…….....……………………………………………
24
— Chola Administration…….....…………………………………………..
27
— Social, Economic and Religious Life of People…….....……………….
31
— Cultural Development Literature, Art and Architecture Under
the Cholas……………………………………………………………….
33
— Second Pandyan Empire Sources—Rulers…….....…………………….
36
— Development of Literature–Art and Architecture Under Pandyas……...
38
— Tamil Nadu Under Vijaya Nagar Empire–Social and Cultural
Impacts………………………………………………………………….
39
— Tamil Nadu Under The Nayak Rule–Madurai, Tanjore, Ginjee and
Vellore Nayaks–Social and Cultural Condition…….....………………..
41
( iv )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
The Nayaks of Tanjore 1532 A.D.–1637 A.D.…….....………………...
Maratha Rule–Culture, Development of Literature and Art……………
The Sethupathis, Thondaimans and Nawabs–Social Life of People……
Coming of Europeans to Tamil Nadu…….....………………………..…
English-French Colonial Rivalry…….....………………………………
Economic Condition of Tamil Nadu Under British...…………………..
Education in Tamil Nadu before Independence…….....………………..
Role of Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle…….....………………….
Civil Disobedience Movement…….....………………………..………..
19th and 20th Century Social Reform Movements in Tamil Nadu…….
Thanthai Periyar – The Socrates of South East Asia……………………
43
44
47
51
52
57
60
62
63
64
65
● Tamil Nadu : Culture
70–82
— Dances...……………………….....………………………..……………
70
— Music...……………………….....………………………..……………..
71
— Personalities...……………………….....………………………..………
72
— Paintings...……………………….....………………………..………….
74
— Festivals...……………………….....………………………..………….
74
— Tourism and Environment...……………………….…………………...
76
— Some Important Tourists / Holy Places...………………………………
78
● Tamil Nadu : Geography
83–88
● Tamil Nadu : Economic Indicators
89–108
— Human Resources Development...………………………..…………….
89
— Agro-Industries...……………………….....……………………………
95
— Services and Infrastructure...……………………….....………………..
98
— Energy Sector...……………………….....……………………………...
99
— Transport...……………………….....……………………….………….
100
— Tamil Nadu—11th Five Year Plan...………………………..………….
101
— Tamil Nadu Government–Welfare Schemes...…………………………
102
— Tamil Nadu Organisations and Institutions...………………………..…
104
● Tamil Nadu : Judicature
● Tamil Nadu : Administration and Politics
109–110
111–119
Tamil Nadu
General Knowledge
TAMIL NADU : AT A GLANCE
State
Capital
Old Name
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Madras State
Geographical Location
Latitude 8° 5' N and 13°
35' N
Longitudes 76° 15' E and
80° 20' E
Climate
Max. 46.6° C (Plains) &
32.3° C (Hills)
Min. 13.1° C (Plains) &
3.0° C (Hills)
Boundaries
Coastal Length
Road Length
Railway Route Length
Area
Total Population
Density
Male
Female
Sex Ratio
Population (0-6)
Boys
Girls
Sex Ratio (0-6)
Decadal Growth
Birth-rate per thousand
Death-rate per thousand
Infant Mortality Rate
(Per 1000 Live Birth)
Andhra Pradesh to the
North, Karnataka to the
Northwest, Bay of Bengal
and Puducherry to the
East, Indian Ocean to the
South, Kerala to the West
1076 (kms)
3851 kms (N.H.), 55796
kms (S.H)
3991 kms
130,058 km2 (50,216 sq. m)
6,24,05,679 (2001) (6th)
478 km2
3,14,00,909
3,10,04,770
987 females per 1000
males
72,35,160
37,25,616
35,09,544
942 girls per 1000 boys
11.19%
16.2
7.5
37
SC Population
SC to total Population
ST Population
ST to total Population
Literacy
Total Literates
Male Literates
Female Literates
Principal Language
No. of Newspapers and
Periodicals
Total Workers
Per Capita Income
1,18,57,504
19%
6,51,321
1.04%
73.45%
4,05,24,545
2,28,09,662
1,77,14,883
Tamil
35,90
2,78,78,282
32,733
Cultivated area to
Total area
38.86 %
Total Livestock
24.9 (in Lakh Nos: 2004)
Net State domestic product
(Base 1999-00)
2,14,18,671 (Lakhs)
Average Rainfall
Best Time to visit
961.8 mm
December to February
Unique Features
1. Highest Flag Pole : Flag Pole in St. George–150 ft
2. Highest Statue : Thiruvalluvar Statue, 133 ft,
Kanya Kumari
3. Longest Beach : Marina Beach, Chennai – 13 km
4. Largest Observatory : Kaavalur Vainnu Bapu
Observatory
5. Highest Peak in TN : Annaimudi (2697 m)
6. Longest River in TN : Cauvery (760 km)
7. Gateway of TN : Tuticorin Port
8. Queen of Hills : Nilgiris
9. Princess of Hills : Valparai
10. Manchester of TN : Coimbatore
11. First talkie : Kalidas (1931)
12. First Railway route : Royapuram to Walajah
(1856)
4 | Tamil Nadu
13. First Municipal Corporation : Chennai (26th Sep
1688)
14. First Newspaper of TN : Madras Mail (1873)
15. First Tamil Newspaper : Sudesamitran (1829)
16. First Radio Station in TN : Chennai Municipal
Corporation campus (1930)
17. First Women Chief Minister in TN : Janaki
Ramachandran
18. First Women Doctor : Muthulakshmi Reddy
19. First Women Judge : Padmini Jesudurai
20. First Women Governor : Fathima Beevi
21. First Women Chief Secretary : Tmt. Lakshmi
Pranesh
22. First Women Police Commissioner : T m t .
Lathika Charan
23. Rice Bowl of TN : Thanjavur
24. Largest Temple : Brahadeeswarar Temple
25. Tallest Temple Gopuram : Thiruviliputhur
26. Largest Temple Car : Thiruvarur
27. Oldest Dam : Kallanai
28. Smallest District in area : Chennai (174 sq km)
29. Largest District in area : Dharmapuri (9622 sq
km)
30. District with Highest literacy : Kanya Kumari
(88.11%)
31. District with least population : Perambalur
32. Largest Bridge : Pamban Bridge
33. Holland of TN : Dindugal (Flower production)
●
●
●
●
●
In Madras Presidency, there were 26 districts in the
year 1881.
In 1947, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala
came to be known as the ‘Madras Presidency’.
With the agitation of the people of Andhra Pradesh,
the states based on languages of the people were
organised.
Madras Presidency was bifurcated into Telugu
speaking Andhra Pradesh and Tamil speaking
Madras State.
Then there were 13 districts in Madras Presidency.
On January 14, 1969, Madras State was renamed as
‘Tamil Nadu’.
Fort St. George:
●
1639
●
1640
●
1772
●
1790
●
1796
State’s Evolution
●
●
For reasons of military and politics, British divided
the country into three provinces, namely, Madras,
Calcutta and Bombay Presidencies.
The three provinces came into being as a result of
an Agreement reached with the Princely States in
India in 1799.
Francis Day, an English trader and
representative of the Company received a
grant of land from Venkatadri Nayak of
Poonamalee to erect a trading outpost,
which grew into Fort St. George. (The
Nayak of Poonamalee was a vassal of the
Raja of Chandragiri, the representative of
the Vijayanagar King).
A trading outpost of the factory erected with
in the first enclosure of the 'inner walls'.
Beri Thimappa, the chief merchant,
established Black Town, a settlement of
weavers and other natives, to the north of
this walled enclosure. The Fort of Madras
named as Fort St. George.
Grand Arsenal constructed within the Fort
to store ammunition was built by John
Sullivan, designed by Patrick Ross and the
Armenian Church built on the site of the old
cemetery.
Fort Exchange established and built within
the Fort by Free Merchants. It was later
converted to Fort Museum in 1948.
First Lighthouse of the city was constructed.
TAMIL NADU : HISTORY
Pre-Historic Age in Tamil Nadu
✤ Robert Bruce Foote had first discovered the
Old Stone Age implements at Pallavaram near
Chennai.
✤ Paleaolithic Sites : Districts of Kanchipuram,
Vellore and Thiruvallur.
✤ Simple hand axes and pieces of stone tools
were found in the valley of river Koratalayar
near Chennai and in Vada Madurai.
✤ The New Stone Age potteries have been discovered in the districts of Tirunelveli, Salem,
Pudukottai and Tiruchirappalli.
Metal Age
✤ Iron implements have been found along with
stone implements in Perumbudur near
Chennai.
Megalithic Age
✤ Districts of Kanchipuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli and
Pudukottai.
✤ Urns without circular megalithic tombs have
been discovered at Adhichanallur in Tirunelveli district.
Sangam Age—The Tamil
Kingdoms
✤ The word Sangam means an association. Here,
it refers to the Tamil Sangam, an association
of Tamil poets, which flourished in ancient
Tamil Nadu. These Tamil poets had composed
the Sangam literature. The period in which
these literatures were composed is called the
Sangam Age in the history of Tamil Nadu.
✤ Sangam Age flourished from Third Century
B.C. to Third Century A.D.
✤ According to Tamil legends, there existed
three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in
ancient Tamil Nadu popularly called
Muchchangam, flourished under the royal
patronage of the Pandyas.
Chronology of the Sangam Age
✤ The First Sangam had flourished at Then
Madurai.
✤ The Second Sangam at Kapadapuram but the
all the literary works had perished except
Tolkappiyam.
✤ Since these two places were eroded into the
Indian Ocean, the Pandyan kings had established the Third Sangam at Madurai. The third
Sangam at Madurai was founded by
Mudathirumaran.
✤ The chronology of the Sangam literature is
still a disputed topic among the scholars.
✤ The sheet anchor of Sangam chronology lies
in the fact that Gajabhagu II of Sri Lanka and
Cheran Senguttuvan of the Chera dynasty
were contemporaries, this is confirmed by
Silappathigaram as well as the Dipavamsa
and Mahavamsa, and also the Roman coins
issued by Roman emperors of the first century
A.D were found in plenty in various places of
Tamil Nadu.
✤ The most probable date of the Sangam literature has been fixed between the third century
B.C. to third century A.D. on the basis of
literary, archaeological and numismatic
evidences.
Excavations
✤ Several monuments of Sangam have been
brought to light by the excavations conducted
at various places in Tamil Nadu.
✤ Robert Bruce Foote conducted excavations at
Adhichanallur where he had found a large
number of articles made of iron, bronze and
gold. They depict the life of the ancient
Tamils.
6 | Tamil Nadu
✤ Dubreuil and Mortimer Wheeler also made
excavations at Arikkamedu near Pondicherry.
Roman pottery, glass bowls, gems and coins
have been found there. These findings confirm
the commercial contact between the Roman
Empire and Tamil country during the Sangam
Age.
✤ A Buddhist Vihara was found at Kilaiyur near
Kaverippumpattinam. It belonged to the postSangam period also provides evidence of
Sangam Age also.
✤ Other important sites of excavations are
Uraiyur, Kanchipuram and Kodumanal.
✤ The under-water archaeology has also
developed recently and excavations have been
made under the sea near Poompuhar. A
shipwreck has been found there.
Coins
✤ The study of coins is called numismatics.
✤ The Tamil Kings of the Sangam period issued
gold and silver coins but they are not found in
large numbers. However, Roman coins made
of gold and silver are found all over Tamil
Nadu.
✤ These coins further confirm the trade relations
between Tamil country and Rome during the
Sangam Age.
✤ Foreign literary accounts remain useful sources
for the study of the Sangam Age.
✤ Greek and Roman writers had mentioned
about the society and economy of the Sangam
Tamils in their accounts.
✤ Megasthanes in his book Indica also referred
to the three Tamil Kingdoms.
✤ Other authors such as Strabo, Pliny and
Ptolemy provide valuable information regarding the Sangam Age.
✤ The Ceylonese books-Mahavamsa and
Dipavamsa–help to fix the date of the Sangam.
Sangam Polity : Tamil Kingdoms
✤ There were three important kingdoms, namely
Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms in the
Tamil country during the Sangam Age. They
were popularly known as Muvendar.
✤ In addition to these three kingdoms, there were
also local chieftains. The most famous among
the local chieftains were the Seven Patrons,
popularly known as Kadaiyelu Vallalgal.
Titles and Symbols
✤ The Chera kings assumed titles like
Vanavaramban, Vanavan, Kuttuvan, Irumporai
and Villavar, the Chola kings like Senni,
Valavan and Killi and the Pandya kings Thennavar and Minavar.
✤ Each of the Sangam dynasties had a royal
emblem–Carp for the Pandyas, Tiger for the
Cholas and Bow and Arrow for the Cheras.
Chera Kingdom
✤ The Cheras ruled over parts of modern Kerala,
capital was Vanji and their important seaports
were Tondi and Musiri.
✤ Their symbol in the flag was bow and arrow.
✤ They had the palmyra flowers as their garland.
✤ The Pugalur inscription of the first century
A.D refers to three generations of Chera rulers.
✤ Padirruppattu also provides information on
Chera kings.
✤ Perum Sorru Udhiyan Cheralathan, Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan and Cheran
Senguttuvan were the famous rulers of this
dynasty.
✤ The Chera kings of the Sangam Age were
known by many titles such as Vanavar,
Villavar and Malaiyar.
✤ There were two important lines of Chera
Kings. The first one started from Odiyan Cheralathan and the second from Irumporai.
✤ The kings belonging to these two lines ruled
the Chera kingdom.
✤ Cheran Senguttuvan was the most popular
king of the Sangam Cheras.
✤ The Sangam works, Padhithruppattu and
Ahananuru provide a lot of information about
Cheran Senguttuvan.
✤ The Tamil Epic Silappathigaram also tells
about his military achievements.
✤ Senguttuvan led an expedition up to the
Himalayas.
✤ Senguttuvan crossed the river Ganges and
defeated his enemies.
✤ Senguttuvan reached the Himalayas and
hoisted the Chera flag.