POOLAMPATTI – The
Princess of nature, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.
( The right choice for a Picnic with family and friends )
The mettur dam forms like a head. The main river runs like
the main body.The first two barrage dams across the river describes like
diaphragm and peritoneum of the abdomen. The right and left canals swing like
arms .The huge Pala hill running from Mettur dam to Ammapetai to a distance of
16 kms on the west bank ,the small Pakkanadu mountain protects river. Herein
the mother Cauvery keeps her twins Poolampatti and Nerinjipettai on their hips
and sings lullaby through the sounds of emerging water from the dams. The cool
breeze along the river fans the babies for healthy air.
Oh! Abundant beauty of nature to the full view of
eyes pours honey into the lovely memory of the tourists .Enchanting full view
of green paddy fields all over . The chill breeze enthrills the body and gets
into the nerves to rent the heart .Dazzling water sounds flowing in the streams
run all along from the canal to the river
. Gleeing songs and counter songs by the women workers in the field
expressing their owes and happiness . Sweating men force in Gandhi dress,
ploughing and taming the bulls to go
faster and straight. The labourer group level the field for planting the nursery.
Children , happily throws nursery bundles to every woman workers for their
requirments. Groups cranes catches worms and insects emerging from ploughing.
Cow shepherds returning with cows of different shades and shapes for milking to
the dairy procurement.
Fishermen
with their spouses throwing nets in wide
circular form to net in enough fishes. The spouses row the boat rto other spots
for fishing. Sometimes groups of fishing boats encircle and throw nets collectivly to cover the entire fish catchment area in one
go. During such time, they sing merryly .
Weekly market opens on Mondays for the sale of townside
commodities needed for the villagers . The marketing women in the streets ,
sounding differently to catch the attention of the inmates to carry out their of farm products like
vegetables, fruits, leaves, dairy products, flowers and many such yields from
their fields visit every doorstep and sell .
The handloom weavers weave variety of clothes from dawn to
dusk singing and beating frame to get the weft into the fell of the cloth. Even
the sun may miss raising ,but the weavers legs will not miss a single lever for
its desing of weaving . It’s a wonder he
works on eight such levers without missing for the whole day to create
intricate designs in on the body of the saree.
Traditional
washermen , barbers, potters and Kongu families
never abandoned their profession but cling to their farmers families .
Aadi festival and Thai Pongal are celebrated with traditional get together of
all family members.Thousand’s of villagers invariably bring their deities, pooja materials,sacred water vessels to the cauvery river bank for cleansing ,bathing and conducting river side pooja to
their deity and carry them back in religious uniform attire. They chant the
names of their deity and pass the road singing and dancing. They use drums
,pipes ,corns , kombu , sekandi to please the god on the festive occasion.
Deepavali and Mariamman festival forms another festive season conducted in
their own homes and hamlets . Mariamman, Badrakali, Muniappan, Ayyanar and
Madurai veeran are considered to be village gods guarding the villagers from
all evils . The people consider the muniappan on horse with knife and spear
rides in to the street like police man to scare away theives and and bad
elements. With this hope they sleep aloud after very hard work. Mostly women devoties get into trance and
deliver godly instuctions to those who pray for? Please catch a tourist vehicle from Mettur
Dam (16 Kms), Bhavani (26 Kms), Sankari (22 Kms). Frequent public transport is
available from all directions.
TNEB has constructed a 40 feet high hydro electricity
generating Dam at Poolampatti in 1980s by which water bed is spread to 4 Kms *
1 Km area . Mechanised boat service is available to cross the river @ Rs 5
Smaller boats are avaliable for a merry ride. Many films like Pavunu
Pavunuthan, Raasukutti, Mutrukai
, Ninaithen Vanthai etc are shot here. The T.N.Govt considers
Poolampatti to be promote as a tourist centre. Poolampatti shall reach its
pinnacle again. Would you like to personally experience and express yourselves
to above fullest expressions ?
THE HISTORICAL VALUES
OF POOLAMPATTI
This tiny
village derived its name from the plant “POOLAM”
flower, which was abundantly
available on the river bank in Poolampatti, to cater to the needs of the whole
of Salem district during the ‘”Thai” Festival season.
The Chikka- Devaraya of Mysore rule,
constructed a huge stone Dam in Poolampatti to provide canal irrigation. Due to
heavy flood ,in 1825 the stone Dam
collapsed and the project miserably
failed. The weavers who were brought for weaving cloth to the Dam
construction workers stayed back and with their Deity Sree Chamundeeswari. They are- called Kannada Devanga Chettiars.
Their affinity with our people and the village is highly respected. The stone
Dam was an eye opener to Britishers to raise on the same spot but due to soe
technical grounds it was moved to Mettur and the dam was constructed exactly
after one century that is 1928 to 1932 . Subsequently Sri K Kamaraj funded for
the East and West Canals which was inaugurated in June 1957.
The west side of River Cauvery belonged to Mysore Rule and
the East to British. Trading was flourishing from this point. As such, British
India Opened a Customs office in Poolampatti. The Arya Vysyals from Salem
settled down here for trading. They have their state wide head Quarters in Nerinjipet to which Poolampatti Manickam
Chettiar was appointed as Dharmakartha for a period by the Court for a period .
During 1754 Gatti Mudali Chieftain ruled Taramangalam
Polygar. He used to visit Poolampatti for bathing in Cauvery. He constructed
Sree Kailasanathar and Sree Varatharaja
Perumal Temple in one acre compound area. A tall stone lamp post in the middle
of a large stone Peedam was erected by him infront of the said temple. It has
the gatti Mudali sculpture in the Peedam. All these are completely demolished
to raise a modern Shivalaya during 2010-2013.
In 1853 , Mr.Heath , an english entrepreneur has starter the
first public limited company in Salem district, namly East India Steel iron
company Ltd. ,which has it’s headquaters in London . The factory was situated
on the river bank at Poolampatti. He brought the Iron Ore from Salem Kanjamalai
by OX cart and melted in the poolampatti furnace .The wrought Iron was carried
by river boats to Tharangampadi port from where it was exported to London . The wrought Iron was blocks were carried by
river boats to Tarangambadi port and exported to London.The WI blocks were
melted and cleansed into steel in London and marketed for industrial use. Thus
Poolampatti became world famous. Due to a financial crisis it was closed down
in 1867. The ramnants of the factory and the furnace bottom hole were available
till 1980s. Keeping Mr. Heath’s
experiment in mind , the britishers exploited the Kanjamalai ore for several
years at last in 1972 Salem steel plant was inaugurated .Realising the
importance of Poolampatti , the SSP ltd. constructed a water pumping station at
poolampatti to cater the needs of the plant and Mohan nagar .
With the active
co-operation of Dr P.Subbarayan, C.M of
Madras Province (1926-30) and Mr K.A Nachiappa Gounder, MLC and MemberTaluk
board the first co-operative society was started on 31st JANUARY
1921 in1921 in Muthu Chettiar’s house . Later, in 1965, it was moved to present
permanent premise .
The first Primary school was opened on 26th
JANUARY 1926 and its present permanent building was constructed in 1937.
The first
electricity line was drawn from Nerinjipet across the Cauvery river by
constructing a huge tower in the middle
of river Cauvery. Many well motor, street lights, home lights were provided
power supply in 1938 . A public Radio
with Timing Siron was opened by the District Collector .The first
elected Village Panjayath was formed in June 1954 After five years term, it
released 25 paged Administrative Report containing the income and expenditure
accounts details . With the income five years income of Rs 88,235.06 the
panchayath could leave permanent assets like one acre botanical garden ,25 cents compounded Gandhi mandap they could
leave many immovable assets, park , gandhi mandap ., Which the other Mandrams
for the past 60 years could not do it. Mr.S.Kaveri Gounder dedicated his life
and majority of time and money for the development of Poolmpatti. As such he is considered to be
the father of Poolampatti and his bust size
large photograph was opened both in the halls of the town Panjayath office, farmers
co-operative society office and in the government higher secondary school.
SOURCES AND
REFERENCES;
1) Mr.Reed ICS collector Salem district .I,Poongurunal
Asokan certify that the above informations are based on government records
collected by the author who was a member in Salem cyclopedia book releasing
commity. The author is a writer in english and tamil , a national awardee for
his lifetime acheivement for literate works . The Salem gazateers-1926 pub...
2) Dr.Busnagi Rajannan’s SALEM CYCLOPEDIA (Eng )- 1990 -
(520 pages) Pub: Institute of Kongu Studies, Gugai. Salem.
3) Poongurunal Asokan
KAVERI THAALATTIDUM P.O. POOLAMPATTI -2013 (65 pages) Pub ; Iraiarul
Narpani Mandram, Poolampatti Ph: 04283
237 227, Mob: 9486866350 , Poongurunal
Asokan ,writer DECLARATION I, (e and
t),national awardee,Whose His bio data has been incorporated in WHOs WHO of
indian writers – 1999 which was published by Sakit Academy, New Delhi,declare
that the above informations about Poolampatti are based on government records
.The full text may kindly be incorporated in Wikipedia. - POONGURUNAL ASOKAN .
Natural scenary photos of poolampatti: https://theriveralongpoolampatti.blogspot.in/
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