The Maratha Kings during their expeditions to Tamil Nadu region left a rich legacy of Maharashtra there
S N Aiyer
Students of history would know that the Marathas of the Bhonsle dynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur areas of Tamil Nadu between the 17th and the 19th century. Their
heritage “Thanjavur Maratha Palace Complex”, known in Tamil as “Aranmanai”, is still the “official” residence of the descendants of the royal family. Controversy has often arisen owing to some vested interests who have tried time and again to unseat them from exercising what they see as their rights. But so far to no avail.
The sprawling palace complex in the heart of Thanjavur town has several historic ramparts and sections of interest. Of these, many require serious civil engineering attention such as the main Sadar Mahal, the old remnants of what was the Queen’s courtyard and the spacious Durbar Hall, where the Maratha rulers may have given audience to people.
There is, of course, the Royal Palace Museum and what is definitely worth seeing not just for the serious student of history but for any lay visitor is the magnificent repository of the traditional and world famous, Saraswathi Mahal Library.
Even the most ordinary visitor will soon realise why it is called the Saraswathi Mahal when the vast repertoire of rare and sacred manuscripts are seen here. There is no doubt that Mother Saraswathi blessed the patrons who were thoughtful to undertake this awesome project of an exceptional collection.
It also soon dawns that the Marathas were quite unlike other rulers, they were certainly keen seekers of arts,
scriptures and followers of the time- tested traditions of safely preserving and handing over of this knowledge. Indeed, here is seen “one of the oldest libraries in Asia”, although all parts are not accessible to everyone. It still has on display rarest of a rare collection of age-old palm leaf manuscripts and papers written in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and even Hindi. The collection is said to comprise far over 49,000 volumes.
What is notable—and is often forgotten by many—is that the Maratha rulers who captured Thanjavur in 1675 actually renewed the then dying forms of local culture, which now sadly are dying again.
Of interest and much inspiration to budding artists will be the Museum’s section on arts which houses several invaluable copies of the original drawings, mainly those relating to what is now popular as the Thanjavur-style. These are on various mediums such as canvass, wood and glass.
The locals do not visit the place as much as foreigners and research scholars as it is also a designated ‘Manuscript Conservation Centre’ (MCC) under the National Mission for Manuscripts of the Government of India. Indeed it would be tragic for the people of Tamil Nadu if such an internationally renowned treasure trove which embellishes and symbolises a rich and vivid portion of their recent history, is left neglected. n
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