Mahabalipuram,
If you take ECR stop at Tiger Cave a few miles short of Maahabs.
Off to your left will be a small boulder and an ancient structure surrounded by broken brickbats.
It was uncovered by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 Dec, '04
Some say it was a temple. An inscription on the boulder belongs to the Chola period, a thousand year old.
But the brick structure retains a lot of Pallava elements - probably half a millennium older. But the inside structure raised some doubts: The apse had an elevated platform at the rear leading to a few stepped chambers. There was no clear sign of any presence of an idol, or a Dagaba (Buddhist Model of Stupa).
The Tsunami that had uncovered the temple prompted a few archaeologists to study the sub soil of the beaches of Mahaabs. What they had found was a sign of a catastrophic tsunami around 1200 CE. Probably the one which had devastated the Carnatic coast and had reduced the cities like Puhar / Kaveripatnam; bringing to an end the mercantile empire of South East Asia.
History teaches.
But we refuse to be taught.
At this moment of great tragedy, in Honshu, I cannot but appreciate the efficient system and the civilian response to the calamitous event, there in Japan.
Kudos to their discipline.
I shudder when I think, of what would be our response to such disaster, god help if it ever occurs here.
