Kelambakkam in 1891 – Its earlier Avatar just about 135 years ago

 

“A cluster of trees consisting of the Tamarind, Mango. Coconut , Plantain and other useful Indian trees, a group of dwellings – some thatched and some tiled, a small temple in the center – these surrounded on all sides by about 500 acres of green fields and a large tank capable of watering those 500 acres of land for about six months – This is the village of Kelambakkam situated in the Chingleput district, midway between Conjeevaram and Mahabalipuram, two very old important towns ….”  

This is the description of Kelambakkam in the Year 1891, as seen in Page 29 of the book, ‘Life in an Indian Village’ – by Sri T Ramakrishna with a Foreword by Sir M Elphinstone Grant Duff.

Kothandarama Temple built centuries ago and the Temple of Angalamman formed center of life in the village of about 50 or 60 houses with a population around 300!!

Since Kelambakkam is situated on the road to Thirukkazhunkundram, it was a convenient halting place for the pilgrims.

The Munsiff   Mr. Kothandarama Muddelly distributed rice every day, and collected travellers halting for the night in his village and took supper with them.

Ramasamy Pillai, the Karnam or Accountant kept a register of accounts. He was expected to know the extent, rent, name etc. of every field in the village. He was to assist the Munsiff in preparing the accounts when money is remitted. Whenever the villagers had letters to write, documents to be executed, calculation of interest to be made, when disputes arose, the assistance of the infallible Karnam was invoked. He was considered to be the neatest writer and the most accurate accountant in the village. He was deeply admired in the village for his quick ability to make calculations, for his accurate memory and neat writing and execution.

 Muthu Naick, a tall person carrying a six-foot-long bamboo pole, the Thalayari, did the policing in the village. He had to assist the munsiff in cases civil and criminal and when persons were convicted by the Munsiff, Muthu Naick was the jailor. He had to watch the village at nights, patrol the fields when the crops were ripe and see no thefts occur. He also had to go to the treasury when remittances were sent from the village.   

 

The Village School

Nalla Pillai, a descendant of Nalla Pillai who had written the Mahabharata in Tamil Verses was the School Master. He could recite 14000 stanzas of this book just from his memory.

His school was located in the pial ( திண்ணை ) of his house. The attendance to his school was between 20 and 30. The school started and closed everyday with a prayer to Saraswathi and Vigneswara.

Unlike the English Schools, where the classes were separated, here each boy was taught separately. While the youngest ones were learning to write the alphabets, some were engaged in arithmetic, some reading a book from the Cadjan leaves and others reciting poetry. They learned to read and write in the Cadjan leaf and arithmetic to calculate simple and compound interest and verses from the Mahabharata.

The boys went to school before 6 am in the morning, returned home for breakfast at 9 am, went back at 10 and remained there till 2 pm. They then returned for lunch, went back at 3 pm and remained at school until it is dark.

The school closed for 4 days a month, the new moon and the day after and the full moon and the day after. There were holidays for festivals.

After 4 or 5 years of study in the village school, the student acquired these skills, armed with which he could choose to accumulate more information in the area of his choice.

If a boy fell ill and refused to take medicines, the school master was expected to go his house and see that the medicine is administered.

If a boy refused to take his meals or becomes troublesome or mischievous after school hours, the parents at once invoked the assistance of the teacher.

 

The Beautiful Tree: The Indigenous Indian Education in the Eighteenth Century 

– A book by Historian and Political Thinker Shri Dharampal based on the British records has brought out more information and data on the Education System that prevailed in India before it was replaced by the modern education system.

 

Medicine

Appasami Vaithier was the physician of Kelambakkam. He quoted verses from the Tamil work on Medicine,  Vaagadam (வாகடம் ) both in identifying diseases and prescribing the appropriate medicines. He suggested the diet based on this book. He was greatly respected for his skills.

The Carpenter, Blacksmith, Potter, Barber who was also the musician and surgeon, his wife who helped deliver babies, the Shepherd, the Agricultural Labourers, many other people of those times as seen by the author, along with the history and religion as understood by him are all described in the book.

It is wonderful that we as a society have retained our civilizational and cultural roots under most challenging circumstances. Festivals such as the Pongal are still being celebrated albeit in a different setting.

One cannot but help yearning for the Lakes, Groves and trees of the old Kelambakkam. The Asuric destruction of our ecology needs to be pondered upon to save what is left of our Lakes and Trees and Cattle holding on to our Dharmic principles.