Did you know that Idaikazhinadu, on the way to Puducherry on the East Coast Road, had a connection to the Sangam age? From there hailed a poet, Nallur Nathathanar.
Since the birthday of poet Bharathidasan is also celebrated as Tamil Poets Day, poets of the Sangam age too were remembered on Monday.
Paying tributes
In Kancheepuram, District Collector P. Ponnaiah paid floral tributes to the statue of Nallur Nathathanar, that was installed in 1952, inside a temple-like structure.
The government in 1992 installed pillars in the memory of Sangam-era poets at Idaikazhinadu, Karur, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, where the poets were said to have lived.
These also explain the known history of the poets.
“Nallur Nathathanar penned the Sirupaanaatruppadai , that had 269 lines, and is one of the Pathu Paatu of the Sangam poems on King Nalliya Kodan. He also sang on the various character traits of the Tamils, including loving everyone equally and doing good to others,” explained Ma.Ki. Ramanan, Tamil scholar.
Idaikazhinadu is sandwiched between kazhuveli lands (marshy lands) on either side, and hence its name (in-between Kazhu lands). It is also known for its lush green fields and mango and jackfruit trees.
