Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Chola’s invasion of Southeast Asia for international trade purposes.

Tamil Nadu: J.R. Sivaramakrishnan, a history professor at Kundavai Nachiyar Government College in Thanjavur, stated that Emperor Rajendra Chola attacked Southeast Asian regions to establish international trade and eliminate pirates.

Speaking at the Thanjavur Periyakoil Foundation Lecture organized by the Department of Overseas Tamil Studies at Thanjavur Tamil University on Thursday, he further said:

The great king Rajendra Chola conquered Southeast Asia to eliminate the dominance of pirates and establish stable international trade. Rajendra Chola conquered the Indian coastal regions to facilitate his conquests of foreign lands.

This allowed more than 1,000 merchant groups from Tamil Nadu to easily trade with neighboring countries during Rajendra Chola’s reign. Sivaramakrishnan added that since Rajendra Chola’s rule extended to Southeast Asian regions, including Kalinga and Srivijaya, many archaeological pieces of evidence of his reign are found in those areas.

The event was presided over by the University Registrar (in-charge) K. Paneerselvam. I. Kurinjivendan, Head of the Department of Overseas Tamil Studies, delivered the introductory address. Advocate Manoharan of the Foundation and others participated.

Earlier, G. Palanivelu, Associate Professor of the Department of Overseas Studies, welcomed the gathering. Finally, T. Vetriselvan, Associate Professor of the Department of Overseas Studies, delivered the vote of thanks.