Rajaraja Chola
By Raghavan Srinivasan
This book can be considered as an academical take on the reign of the first imperial empire of the south India - The Chola Dynasty mostly focusing on the life and contemporary socio political and economic scenario during the reign of the great of the greatest RajaRaja chola.
There are huge expectations amoung the youth today to learn more about our rich heritage from authentic sources and I find this book a very insightful one backed by intense research for the learning process.
Each chapter discusses particular aspects of the reign and has been kept lucid throughout added with important figures and pictures as references.
Rajaraja Chola was born in 947 CE. As he came to power in 985 and ascended the throne, the lands of the Tamils entered grandeur. His reign has been compared to the great Maurayan Ashoka. An afford has been made to address divergences, controversies, allegations while providing us facts and insights into historical events from the rise of Cholas from 9th to 12th centuary till their ultimate dominance of the territory from Tungabhadra to kayanakumari till Sri Lanka and Maldives.
The works they did in terms of formulating and implimenting administrative strategies influencing sicio political structure through collection of tax, bringing socio-economic revolutions has been described.
The then scenario of religion, caste, types of assemblies, distinguished architecture in terms of construction of various temples in puding the largest of all in India and structure of marauding army, conquests and expeditions concluding to annexation of territories, trade and craft, rise of sangam literature all has been touched providing us a wholesome and deep insights into their established structure proving why Rajaraja Chola was considered one of the greatest rulers of the Indian peninsula.