A Killing Sword

Ponniyin Selvan was published as a serial - novel in the Tamil Magazine Kalki from 1950 to 1954. It was written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, an award winning author, in Tamil. Art work by Maniam brought life to the characters.
This English translation by Indra Neelameggham maintains Kalki's "Nadai" or cadence of the original Tamil. Indra was the first to translate this epic into English as early as the 1990s.
This five part novel introduces the grandeur of the Chozla Dynasty of Tamil people, whose empire at one time spanned large areas of south east Asia. They were famous for art, architecture, irrigation works, administration, naval warfare and most importantly global trade because of their naval prowess.
The Grand Anaicut one of the oldest, still in use dams across any major river, was built by the Chozlas. The huge complex known as 'Big Temple ' in Tanjavur was built more than a thousand years ago by Rajaraja, the main character in this novel. He is...