| |
| 
Dear reader, The 10th century Chola Empire has been in the news lately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ancient Shiva temple at the Chola capital of Gangaikondacholapuram. Modi, during his visit, announced the construction of grand statues of the two iconic Chola kings, Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola. He asserted that both the Chola rulers were synonymous with India’s identity and pride. The Cholas, he said, played a significant role in advancing India’s democratic traditions which have been overlooked by global history. Our story this week turns a leaf from this glorious period of South Indian history to understand who Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola were and why they remain so revered. Historians have noted that under these rulers, the Chola Empire reached the capacity of “Byzantine royalty”. Under Rajaraja I, the Chola Empire expanded all the way along the eastern coast up to Kalinga in the north. Yet another hallmark of his rule was the predominance of maritime trade. Under his son and successor, Rajendra Chola, the empire went overseas. Rajendra became one of the only Indian monarchs to capture territory outside the Indian subcontinent. In 1025 CE, he sent a naval expedition to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and the Srivijaya Empire or present-day Indonesia. The expedition was aimed to control key trade routes in the Indian Ocean region which were hitherto being controlled by the Srivijaya Empire. It is claimed that the Cholas were one of the longest recorded dynasties in world history. They were also the first empire with grand territorial and political ambitions outside the Indian subcontinent. At the same time, one must remember that the narrative about Chola grandeur is politically coloured. To know more about this fascinating imperial power, do read this story from our archives on the history of the Cholas. In international affairs, the border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours, Thailand and Cambodia, has been drawing global attention. At its core lies a border. Stretching across 508 miles, the boundary was drawn when the French occupied Cambodia in the late 18th century. Our other story this week looks at the French colonial history of Cambodia. Wishing you a pleasant weekend ahead. Thank you, Sincerely, Adrija Roychowdhury | | | |
| |
| |
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment