Atlas Historique de l’Inde du Sud

Objectives

The objective of the project is to prepare a historical atlas of South India from prehistoric times to 1600 CE in digital format through a combination of maps, photographs, illustrations, texts and Geographical Information System (GIS) functionalities. The digital atlas should provide a novel and dynamic way of presenting latest historical knowledge on South India. The present project has been initiated on the experience gained from a pilot version of the Atlas developed for the Pudukkottai region (central Tamil Nadu) by the joint efforts of the Geomatic Laboratory of the French Institute of Pondicherry and the Tamil University Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology (http://www.ifpindia.org/histatlas/). Duration of the project is three years (2005-2008).

Materials and Methods

The primary data for the project comprise historical and geographical information collected from a large corpus of south Indian inscriptions and archaeological data collected from a series of field surveys supplemented with the data taken from archaeological reports of ASI and other institutions. A quite large database has been created for the Tamil Nadu part of the atlas in the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology. Work for the other parts has been started since August 2005. Workshop/review meetings, held every six months are to evaluate the progress of the work. The atlas is being developed as web-browser software allowing different basic GIS display and database querying functionalities necessary for a user-friendly usage of the Atlas. It uses W3C (WWW Consortium) compliant Graphics /Open GIS such that the system can be accessed through the internet.

Partners

• Tamil University, Thanjavur (Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology)
• Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam (School of Social Sciences)
• Mangalore University (Department of History)
• Hyderabad University (Department of History)

Collaborators

History and Archaeology

• Prof. Y. Subbarayalu, Epigraphy and History, French Institute of Pondicherry
• Prof. Aloka Parasher-Sen, Ancient History, University of Hyderabad
• Prof. Kesavan Veluthat, Medieval History, Mangalore University
• Prof. Rajan Gurukkal, History and Social Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
• Prof. K. Rajan, Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Prof. M.R. Raghava Varier, History and Malayalam Literature, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
• Prof. Rajaram Hegde, History and Archaeology, Kuvempu University, Shimoga
• Dr. V. Vedachalam, History and Epigraphy, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
• Dr. S. Rajagopal, History and Epigraphy, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
• Dr. S. Santalingam, Museology, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
• Dr. R. Pungunran, History and Epigraphy, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
• Dr. L. Thaiagarajan, History, Government Arts College, Ariyalur
• Prof. Francois Gros, Ancient Tamil Literature and History, EPHE,Paris
• Prof. R. Champakalakshmi, Ancient and Medieval History, Chennai
• Prof. N. Karashima, Ancient and Medieval History, Tokyo University.

GIS AND APPLIED INFORMATICS

• Dr. Frederic Borne, Head, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry
• D. Balasubramanian, System Manager, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry
• G. Muthu Sankar, GIS Engineer, LIAG, French Institue of Pondicherry
• R. Srilatha, Software Developer, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry
• N. Ravichandran, Graphics Designer, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry
• A. Garandeau, Software Developer, International Volunteer, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry
• V. Nandini, Software Developer, LIAG, French Institute of Pondicherry

DOCTORAL/POST-DOCTORAL STUDENTS

• R. Himabindu, History, University of Hyderabad
• Dr. Aruna, History, University of Hyderabad Sandeep Kumar Shetty, History, Mangalore University
• Ms. Veena Tandel, History, Mangalore University
• Dr. S. Darsana, Archaeology, M.G. University, Kottayam
• Suma, History, M.G. University, Kottayam
• G.Anil, GIS, M.G. University, Thanjavur
• Dr. M. Bavani, Epigraphy, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• Dr.A. Thulasendran, Epigraphy, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• M. Rajesh, Archaeology, French Institute of Pondicherry
• S. Selvakumar, Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• V. P. Yathees Kumar, Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur
• R. Yamuna Rani, History and Art, French Institute of Pondicherry

Funding

• French Institute of Pondicherry
• Ford Foundation

Main Results

The final product will be a computer-application, based on a CD (or DVD), on the lines of the prototype CD made for Pudukkottai (Access the online demo of the prototype), access to a spatially referenced historical/archaeological database through navigation by time periods, space and themes. The database, containing text, visual and, wherever necessary, audio material, will also be made accessible on the Internet to users worldwide.

Articles

• SUBBARAYALU Y., 2007. Ilayanputtur Copper-plates of Pandya king Nedumaran, Avanam, vol. 18, July (co-author with Dr. V. Vedachalam).

• SUBBARAYALU Y., 2006. Eriviratalam Inscription of Singalantapuram, Avanam, 17 : 14-18.

• SUBBARAYALU Y., 2005. Copper-plate of King Raman Ravivarman of Kolam, Avanam, 16 : 113-17.

Contact Persons

• Prof. Y. Subbarayalu, IFP
• Dr. Frédéric Borne, IFP