Introduction-My Town (Parangipettai @ Porto Novo)

This is my first post and here I would like to introduce the town where I’m living.

Parangipettai also known as Porto Novo (meaning “New Port” in Portuguese) is located in coastal area of Tamilnadu, India. This is a historical and tourist place. The local population is (as of 2001 Indian Census) 20,901 and the total literacy average is 75% (Male-49% and Female-51%).

Porto Novo (Parangipettai) was one of the important and major trading destination for Arabs, especially Yemenis and Sultanate of Oman before colonial era and also traders from Porto Novo were trade over east to Malaysia, Indonesia and China during the rule of Tamil Dynasty called Cholas. During colonial era the Portuguese, British and Dutch colonial giants colonize this town in different time intervals. The below furnished historical denotations will get some attention to this little town.

First Iron and Steel Industry in Porto Novo, India (1830, British Colonial Era):
India’s first iron and steel industry was built by British in 1830s. Manufactured iron and steel materials were exported to England through port of Porto Novo and also it will helps British to establish the rail roads all over southern India. The raw materials were transported from Salem hills, Tamilnadu, India. Till now the iron pillars in The Egmore railway station in Chennai have the imprint ‘Made in Porto Novo’ as well as in Buckingham Place in England.

Iron and Steel industry in Porto Novo (1830)

Battle of Porto Novo – Indian Freedom Fighters in Porto Novo (1781, Second Anglo-Mysore war):
In 1781, during the second Anglo-Mysore war, the battle of Porto Novo was held between the Kingdom of Mysore and British East India Company. The Kingdom of Mysore was led by Karim Khan Sahib, accompanied by his father Hyder Ali and British gathered under Sir Eyre Coote. Today we can see the stone inscription about that battle.

Battle was fought on the plain about two miles to the west of this place between Hyder Ali and the English under Sir Eyre Coote on 1st July 1781.

Pakoda - Mint Factory (1783, Nawab of Arcot):
In nowadays as we are using currencies for commercial transactions, in those days coins were used in the place of currencies. Among many mint factories Porto Novo and Tiruchirappalli mint factory were acted as main under the rule of Arcot Nawabs. In the year 1783 even the budget of the Nawab of Arcot government were produced in “Pakodas” (coins manufactured in Porto Novo mint factory). Another proof for Porto Novo mint factory we got it from the monument (Charter) engraved by Ramasamy S/o Pethupattar work under the Nawab of Arcot.
(Reference: The international Numismata Orientalia, Coins of Southern India, Sir Walter Elliot, Cosmo Publication, Delhi-11 0006, 1975, Page 144).

Textile Trade and under the influence of Maraicar (1688 To 1720, Hamilton Notes):
Maraicar – the local Muslims, the name originally derived from the old Tamil term Marakkala Aayargal meaning Kings of Ships said to be given by the Southern Tamil Emperor Vijaya Raghunadha Sedhupathi Thondaiman called as King Sethu to the Arab traders from Yemen and Arabia.

Alexander Hamilton who travelled India in those days writes about the Moghul Empires installed a military post in Porto Novo proves Porto Novo had been one of the fertile, healthy and harmonious place in southern India. Here, abundant of quality cotton boutiques in many sizes and standards were manufactured and exported to the foreign countries like Pegu, Aceh, Johor and Sumatra (A letter written on 19th October 1691 by Alexander Hamilton is a proof). In this textile industry and export “Maraicar” were very influential businessmen.

In those days if any visitors ask or enquire any Portonovian about their profession the answer will be they were working under Maraicars’ or under Durai (British). The main reason for this British were powerful rulers whereas the Muslim Maraicars were influential landlords and traders. Even the rulers and other business people were depending upon Maraicars’ both in financial and political utilities.

The Kapitan Keling Mosque, Penang, Malaysia (19th Century):
The Kapitan Keling Mosque was built by Indian Muslim traders in early 1800s. This Mosques is located in George Town, Pinang, Malaysia. In 1801 Sir George Leith, Lieutenant Governor of Penang, appointed a prominent Indian Muslim leader, Cauder Mohudeen Merican, as Captain of the South Indian Muslim (“Keling”) community. Cauder Mahudeen Merican (born in 1759) was a ship mandoor / foreman from Porto Novo. He was also the founder of the Kapitan Keling Mosque and leader of the Chulias (Keling – Tamil Muslim) community. He was referred to as “Kapitan Kling”. The Kapitan Keling Mosque is a prominent Islamic historic center and it is part of the World Heritage Site of George Town.

Kapitan Keling Mosque, George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

The king of Maldives as refugee in Porto Novo (1715- 1717):
By then the Maldives were ruled by King Sultan Ibrahim Mudzhiruddine (1701-04). When he came to India forced by bad political circumstances in Maldives, he came to Porto Novo as a refugee by walk with his soldiers during the year 1715-17. The generous Porto Novo people treated him with due respect as a King and did many helps including financial helps. From here only the king of Maldives Sultan Ibrahim Mudzhiruddine went to Calcutta and got help from Mughal King Farrukhsiyar in 1713-1719 and declared war against Maldives.
(Reference: Regent, Usurpers and Judges 1687-1721, National Center of Linguistic and Historical Research, Male, Maldives).

Still I have more information to tell you with brief history about my place (Porto Novo). Since, this is my first post, I don’t want to make the readers tired and will continue in another post.

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Thanks for this wonderful opportunity Steemians.