One of the rarest art form of rock paintings discovered in South India is in a nondescript village, Kilvalai, located at around 55km from Puducherry.
Expressing concern over such rare arts of early mankind in Kilvalai and adjoining places in Villupuram district facing destruction due to various activities of vandalism, art lovers and researchers call for early steps by authorities to preserve them for the benefit of posterity.
The paintings on the small rock called ‘Rattapparai’ are in four sets. In the first set, three persons with a man mounted on a horse, another pulling that horse with a rope fastened to the animal while the third man is depicted with stretched hands welcoming others. The fourth group is a painting of six men standing and few others with outstretched hands.
Such paintings are found in the neighbouring villages -Setavarai, Alampadi, Nayanur, Pollur, Padiyanenthal, Thengunam and Siruvalai.
K.T. Gandhirajan, an independent art researcher said, “The paintings on rocks of Kilvalai are found in three rocky areas and painted in red-ochre. That might be 3000 years old. It is believed that a few symbols of paintings are similar to that found in the Indus Valley civilisation. This must be an ideal shelter for hunter-gatherer community. Among the three rocks, two are facing destructions due to vandalism such as mining in the nearby areas. Due to rampant mining in the nearby-areas and development of microorganisms, the pigment of painting is peeling off. ”
As a heritage rich site situated near Puducherry, where tourists troop in the weekends, art lovers also suggest that these sites can be promoted under heritage tourism.
R. Rajarajan, Assistant Professor of Painting, Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam said, “Several paintings are destroyed due to rampant illegal mining in nearby areas. Kilvalai and other two places are under the protection of the Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu but no staffs are deployed there either to protect or guide the visitors.”
