Iravatham Mahadevan, an epigraphist of international repute.

Iravatham Mahadevan, an epigraphist of international repute.
| Photo Credit: T.A. HAFEEZ

Iravatham Mahadevan was an administrator-turned-scholar who did acclaimed work on the Tamil-Brahmi and Indus scripts. His Early Tamil Epigraphy, published in 2003, was based on 40 years of labour on Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions. His earlier work Corpus of Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions created a wave when it was published. Mahadevan received the National Fellowship of the Indian Council of Historical Research in 1992 for his work. He received the Padma Shri in 2009. This interview was published in the July 17, 2009 issue.

Q. What is the relevance of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions in Indian history?

A. Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions are important not only in the history of Tamil Nadu and the rest of South India but for the whole country. They are the oldest writings in any Dravidian language. They are also the oldest Jaina inscriptions in India. I believe the Mankulam Tamil-Brahmi inscription of [Pandyan king] Nedunchezhiyan is older than the Karavela inscription at Udayagiri in Orissa. …

Recently, Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions have been found on hero stones in the upper Vaigai valley near megalithic graves, thus providing a link, for the first time, between the megalithic and the early historical periods of Tamil Nadu. …

It is, therefore, a great tragedy that the cave inscriptions of Tamil-Brahmi and Jaina sculptures [and beds] are being systematically vandalised by ignorant tourists and destroyed by granite quarries.

It is impossible to stop quarrying because of vested interests and the money power and the muscle power at their disposal. Already, in my lifetime, many Tamil-Brahmi cave inscriptions have been lost or have been damaged severely.

I understand that the destruction is now proceeding much faster. It is sad that the public are indifferent and the State and Central governments are helpless. Perhaps all the Tamil-Brahmi cave inscriptions will disappear within a decade.

Read the full interview here.

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