Introduction
We tamizhans were more scientifically and culturaly more advanced that any other civilization in the world. We found the importance of water years back and lso the way how to manage it. That is why we used to worship the five elements of natire which includes water. Here is a proof that we had better knowlede than others in manging water resources, how to utilise it and constructin a well designed hydraulic structures. Let us begin with this story.Once upon a time, around 2nd century CE, aperson with well built shoulder and dark complexion ws walking along the banks of the beautiful river cauvery near Tiruchirapalli, in the tamil country ruled by the great cholas. He looked at the river in a surprising manner and even feared manner. This was because he saw the potential of the water flowing in the river and was feared of the roughly flowing river water which leads to floods in that region.
He thought that he had to do something to safegaurd the people and their well being. The person who thought this was none other than Karikala Cholan, popularly known as karikalan. He is the one who built one who built the oldest dam in the world, Kallanai(Stone Dam).
Geography of river Cauvery
The river cauvery originates at Talakaveri, Kodagu in Karnataka and flows into Tamil Nadu through Dharmapuri. Cauvery drains into Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar. It forms a deltaic region around. When it reaches Sri Rangam it splits into two channels. The nothern channel is called Kollidam or Coleroon river. But the southern channel retains with name Cauvery river. Again these two channels meet at a point.History of Kallanai
It was originally built by Karikala Chola around 2nd Century CE. The main purpose of this dam is to control the flood by diverting the water to the deltaic places to increase the yield and area under agriculture. It was later re-modeled during the british reign by Captain Caldwell. The lower anicut was built by Sir Arthur Cotton in 19th Century across the river Coleroon. It was a replicated structure of Kallanai.Description of kallanai
Kallanai is a advanced dam of that period used to control flood and divert water into the fertile deltaic regions for agricultural purpose. The dam actuully spilts the river into four river namely Kollidam Aaru, Cauvery, Vennaaru and Puthu Aaru. It is built with the help of stone and sand acroos cauvery which is 329m long, 20m wide and 5.4m high. It is a high rigid structure which can withstand for centuries.Purpose of building this dam
The main purpose for building this dam is to divert the flood waters into Kollidam river which is wider and steeper. Then the water is diverted into the deltaic regions for agriculture purpose. At that time the water for this dam was used to irrigate 600,000 acres of land. It is because of this dam Tanjore is known by the name 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu'.Lessons learnt from this dam
To control this flood for that time it is enough to have built a small dam. But, Karikalan keeping in mind about the future of people after centuries he built the dam. This shows that he is not only concerned about the present people but also about the future generation. He also did not build this dam for publicity or to get a name in history. But, he built it for the welfare of the people.
Conclusion
This showed how tamizhans were concerned about the people of future generation. It also showed that tamizhans were more scientifically advanced than others. We should also follow the same way and be more scientifically advanced by our ownselves rather than being taken by the science of the west.
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