Don't curse the rain, please. It is looking for its lost rivers, lakes, and ponds In your concrete jungle.
Coimbatore: With its crystal clear water, when the stream Sanganur Odai flowed throughout the year, the boys of Ammankulam, who had plenty of time to play outdoors then, would enjoy a swim and catch fish in the brook. Since the advent of plastic covers and carry bags was little then, they would carefully transport their catch of one or two little fish to home in the water-filled coconut shells and empty 'Horlicks' bottles.
Nonetheless, their parents would have a tough job keeping tabs on the fun-loving boys and warn them not to venture to the 'Sanganur Pallam' in the rainy season, for the water flow would be much then.
“ The rainwater from Kuridi Malai is gushing out in Sanganur Pallam. Never think of going there”
It is surprising to know today how even an old woman's advice to her grandson contained the information on the geography of her habitation after her ancestors handed over to her the knowledge that the Sanganur stream's flooding was due to the rains in Kuridi Malai.
However, with modern man becoming a victim to nature's fury by constructing houses, corporate offices, and shopping malls, blocking the key waterways of rivers and lakes in Chennai, it is a pity that the present-day people hardly know anything about the physical features of their surroundings. Instead, they blame the rains for causing such hardships.
However, an anonymous poet searched for the root cause of the calamity thus:
“ Don't curse the rain, please
It is looking for its lost rivers, lakes, and ponds
In your concrete jungle”
As most Coimbatoreans of the bygone era had known the geography of their city, they were aware of the excellent water management system and could say how the lakes including Selva Cinthamani Kulam, Muthannan Kulam, Periya Kulam, Valankulam, and Kulatheri received the surplus water from river Noyyal.
Furthermore, in order to handover the knowledge of Coimbatore's geography to posterity, the scholars K.S.Vaidhyanathan, A.K.Naidu, and Kovai Kizhar documented them in their books The Ancient Geography of the Kongu Country, Poolaimedu Varalaru and Kanchi Maadevi respectively.
A.K.Naidu in his book Poolaimedu Varalaru writes thus:
“ Pillayar Kovil Kinaru was the first well dug after the founding of 'Poolaimedu' ( Peelamedu) over three centuries ago. While digging the well, the people discovered the water source within a depth of 10 feet”
The historian, who was also the first Tamil teacher of Sarvajana High School, has also recorded the names of lakes and ponds in the yesteryear Peelamedu.
“ The pond Ayyan Kuttai was located on 20-acre land northeast of Poolaimedu. The cattle would be seen grazing the green pastures near the pond, drinking water from it, and lying in the cool shades of Karuvelam trees ( Accacia Arabica). And it is sad that such charming visual treats have almost disappeared in Poolaimedu today” he reminisced in the book, which he authored in 1963.