08.04.2018 Views

113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

227<br />

clerks to be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed separately <strong>the</strong>re must have been several<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> S<strong>in</strong>halese k<strong>in</strong>g. It has been po<strong>in</strong>ted<br />

out earlier that <strong>the</strong>re is no etidence to sug est that Vijayabhu<br />

harboured any grievances aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> Tamils His battles were<br />

directed aga<strong>in</strong>st an empire that had annexed his country, but<br />

once <strong>the</strong> country was freed he appears to have treated his<br />

Tamil subjects with favour. The employment <strong>of</strong> Taniil mercenaries<br />

<strong>and</strong> clerks <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> patronage extended to aiva establishments<br />

at Kantaly, as implied by <strong>the</strong> P4amtai <strong>in</strong>scription, undoubtedly<br />

attest to <strong>the</strong> tolerant policy adopted by him towards Tamils.<br />

Such a policy would have encouraged <strong>the</strong> Tamila <strong>in</strong> Polonnaruva<br />

to stay beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> Cas were defeated <strong>in</strong> 1070. Presumably<br />

<strong>the</strong> Tamils who were <strong>in</strong> Polonnaruva dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Ca period<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ued to be <strong>the</strong>re <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Vijayabhu I.<br />

The South Indian population <strong>of</strong> Polonnaruva consisted<br />

not only <strong>of</strong> Tamils but also <strong>of</strong> Ker4as, Kannaas (Pli, Kaas)<br />

<strong>and</strong> Telugus. In. <strong>the</strong> aikkra <strong>in</strong>scription we are told that <strong>the</strong><br />

1aikkra mercenaries at Polonnaruva consisted <strong>of</strong> Telugus (Vaukar)<br />

<strong>and</strong> Ker4as(Ma1ay.ar) among o<strong>the</strong>rs The Va1ajiyar <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

1. See supra, p.7o.<br />

2. See supra, p. 173.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!