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Dhanuskodi, a historically significant city at the southern tip of Ramesvaram Island, was once a thriving trade center with connections to Sri Lanka and other regions. The city suffered devastation from a cyclone in 1964, leading to a decline in its economic and cultural importance, despite its rich history and religious significance. The document calls for government action to restore Dhanuskodi and promote tourism and trade to revive its former glory.

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10_conclusion

Dhanuskodi, a historically significant city at the southern tip of Ramesvaram Island, was once a thriving trade center with connections to Sri Lanka and other regions. The city suffered devastation from a cyclone in 1964, leading to a decline in its economic and cultural importance, despite its rich history and religious significance. The document calls for government action to restore Dhanuskodi and promote tourism and trade to revive its former glory.

Uploaded by

firstylastynamy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CONCLUSION

Dhanuskodi is a city at the southern tip of Ramesvaram Island and famous


for the coastal trade. In the past, people came from north India to visit the coastal
city and performed yajnas and poojas to their ancestors.

Dhanuskodi has played a vital role in the history of southern Tamilnadu.


The rulers of India established ties with Srilanka through Dhanuskodi mainland.
Besides, plentiful of sources pertaining to Dhanuskodi is available from the
Sangam period upto the modern times.

Dhanuskodi city had trade contacts with Sri Lanka with other parts of India,
Rangoon and England. It is also famous for the pearl and the chunk fishing during
the period of Pandyas of the Sangam Age. On those days there were such a large
number of ports located near Dhanuskodi like Kilakarai, Pamban, Devipattinam
and Thondi. During the ancient times, Dhanuskodi was the only one way which
helped the people reach Sri Lanka.

Dhanuskodi had a permanent post office and a telegraphs office. But


unfortunately it was completely devastated by the cyclone of 1964. Serfoji II, the
king of Thanjavur built a Chattiram in Ramesvaram and Dhanuskodi. These
Chattirams are not in existence today. Brahmins, Christians and Muslims and
members of different communities stayed at Dhanuskodi when the city were
vibrating with life.

There are a lot of literary evidences and published works which speaks
about the economic wealth of Dhanuskodi and its contact with neighbouring
countries. The Government of Tamilnadu should take necessary steps to and
rebuild this ancient city and preserve its Puranic history.

Only the Parathavas’ had control over the sea and the coastal area.The
Iynkurunuru mentions that the Parathavars sold fishes and pearls they got. The
Akananuru also mentions that the Parathavars were a small group of people who
had fishing as their avocation.

The introduction of railways into the Ramnad Zamindari was a milestone in


the history of Tamilnadu. The British Government laid a railroad to connect India
and Srilanka with the help of the Railways and Shipping. On those days, there
were no transport facilities to reach Dhanuskodi. Most of the people came from
different parts of India reached Pamban and walked from the mainland of
Ramesvaram to reach Dhanuskodi.

The people of northern India nowadays frequent Ramesvaram and they


especially want to see the confluence of the two seas. Dhanuskodi is considered
as a sacred place because of sagara-sangamam i.e. two seas - Mahodadhi (Bay of
Bengal) and Rutnakara (Indian Ocean) meet. Hence the people are visiting here
from every nook and corner of India. Moreover, the island is situated in between
Ceylon and India. Further is there are no confluences of seas in North India. That
is why devotees as well as tourists come from various parts of India to
Dhanuskodi.

Once upon a time Dhanuskodi functioned as a great trading centre. During


the British rule in India they established South Indian Railway. This company also
introduced shipping service from Dhanuskodi to Talaimannar. At that point of
time members of the affluent section of the society wanted to pursue studies in
Yalpana University, Ceylon. So they prefer to use railway and Ship from
Dhanuskodi to Ceylon.

As per the geologists to Dhanuskodi began to submerge part by part in


1930’s itself. Some officers Quarters were not fit to stay because of soil erosion
due to the entry of sea water in to Dhanuskodi.

During the first half of the 20th century people had inadequate knowledge
about Tsunami, Cyclone, Earth Quake and natural climatic change. Nowadays one
can easily get information from the Meteorological Department regarding
Tsunami alerts and cyclones. After the devastation of Dhanuskodi in 1964, a
research article on Planets and the Dhanuskodi Disaster which was based on
astrology was published in Astrological Magazine. Unfortunately this article went
unnoticed. Very few people read that journal.

The people should be informed about the natural calamities and its impact.
Further efforts must be made to create awareness about the Cyclone among the
illiterates. Besides Tsunami is not a new one for Indians. It is said that the third
Tamil Sangam had its seat in northern Madurai, was devastated by tidal waves.

Bakruliyaru and Kumarikodu were submerged in the Indian Ocean. During


this calamity, Thenmadurai was situated on the banks of Bakruliyaru. Nediyon, a
Tamil king who ruled Then Madurai was mentioned in Tolkappiyam. After the
great disaster, Nediyon migrated into Kapatapuram and established his rule there.
The second Tamil Sangam had its seat in Kapatapuram. The Third Tamil Sangam
had its seat in Manavur. Besides, Manavur was also submerged in the Indian
Ocean. Finally the Pandya kings came to the present Madurai and established
their rule.
By and large all ancient flourishing towns, villages and important trading
cities including Dhanuskodi were submerged into sea. This town got religious
importance during the rule of the Sethupathi rulers of Ramanathapuram.
Whereas, during the rule of the British Dhanuskodi assumed economic
importance. During the British rule, Dhanuskodi reached its peak in trade and
commercial activities.

An issue was raised after the Dhanuskodi devastation. That is Rama Sethu
or Ramar Palam issue which got political importance. In 1860, Commander
A.D.Taylor of the Indian Marine of British India proposed the Sethu Samudram
Shipping Canal Project. Only in 1955 the proposal was taken up. The Government
constituted a committee to study the project. But nothing positive emerged. The
Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal Project was launched by the Government of
India in 1997. From 1997 onwards Dhanuskodi got importance politically as well
as religiously. The inflow of refugees to Dhanuskodi commenced in 1900.
Nowadays immigrants are sent to refugee’s camp located at Pamban and
Mandapam.

The Government of India should take necessary steps to improve the basic
facilities in Dhanuskodi. Today tourism plays an important role in Southern India.
Further, the Government of India should take steps to reconstruct the old
Dhanuskodi and re-launch the trade activities in Dhanuskodi. During the British
rule in India, they maintained law and order, established the railways, hospitals,
schools, marine department, postal services etc at Dhanuskodi. But after the
cyclonic devastation, Dhanuskodi is like a paradise lost. It stands as a mute
spectator which reminds one of the past heritage of Dhanuskodi.

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