I am currently reading ‘The Smile of Murugan. A South Indian Journey‘ by Michael Wood.
Here is part of the author’s introduction, which I’m sure will warm the cockles of any chauvinistic Tamil heart…
This book tells the story of a journey in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state in India, which stretches down to the tip of the subcontinent, opposite to Sri Lanka. This a land which many visitors since Marco Polo’s day have thought one of the most splendid and fascinating on earth, and my simple aim in writing was to give the general reader, and the traveller, a flavour of the beauties of Tamil culture, and of the southern landscape. I have called Tamil Nadu the last classical civilisation, by which I mean a civilisation in which the traditional ways of thinking - in beliefs, culture, music and literature, for example - are still alive in the mainstream, however pervasive the impact of modernity and global culture may be in India today.
I’m sure there will be many more excerpts and quotes as I read more.
When was the book written?
Recently?
I would love to go and see the place where the picture was taken.
later…
Hello TJ,
The book was first published in 1995 and the journey was in 1991-2. Though a lot of things have changed, I agree with the Mr. Wood’s opinion that despite some vigorous economic growth and modernisation, traditional values are still prevalent here in Tamil Nadu.
The picture shows the gopuram (temple tower) of the Nataraja temple in Chidhambaram, where Mr. Wood’s journey began.
Read this post by Arunn to get the feel of Srirangam, another temple town in Tamil Nadu.
Today’s English home page on Wikipedia was about Tamil Nadu.
Pretty cool!
Thanks Vijay.