History will remember those who build Dams, sings an ancient Tamil poet

Cenkāntal Cenkāntal

History will remember those who build dams. History will remember those who build dams.

The ancient Sangam poem Puranānūru 18, tells us that Poet Kutapulaviyanār sang thus to Pāndiyan Thalaiyālankānathu Cheruvendra Neṭuncheliyan. “O mighty king of ancient, prosperous Muthūr town where well-constructed walls reach to the sky… If you desire to establish your fame, let me tell you what you should do. Listen! To bodies that cannot survive without water, those who give food give them life. Food is foremost to this body built of food. Food comes from water mingled with the earth… O Cheliyan of murderous battles! You should not disdain my advice, but act quickly! Those who harnessed the flowing waters and built dams on land with depressions have established their glory! Those who have built none will have no enduring fame in this world!”

(Translation by Vaidehi)

In Tamilnadu three persons are remembered for building dams: Karikāla Cholan (c. 100 BC- 100 AD) built the Grand Anicut( Kallanai); Kālingarāyan built the Canal connecting Bhavani river with Noyyal river (1271-1283) in Kongu Nadu - 56 miles long; John Pennycuick built the Mullaiperiyar Dam (1887-1888). Karikāla Cholan

Kālingarāyan

John Pennycuick