I Am Kannagi

Grandma's stories trump any novels that I will ever read. However, the following is not a work of fiction. It is an excerpt from one of the major epics of Tamil Literature "Silappadhigaram" written by the great author Ilango Adigal. 

The story of Silapadhigaram is well known by the Tamil masses, however, one of the scenes of the novel can never be forgotten. The entry of Kannagi into the court of the Pandiya King. 

A little backstory before delving into my grandma's story. Kovalan and Kannagi are a married couple in the Poompuhar district of Chozha region. When they go bankrupt, they leave their birthplace and move to Madurai which is in the Pandiya king's territory. By an array of confusions, the Pandiya king has Kovalan killed, falsely believing that he stole the Pandiya king's wife's anklet since they look alike. Enraged by the wrongful death of her husband, Kannagi goes to the court of the Pandiya king and protests her case. Since ruby is the official gemstone of Chozha, the anklet Kovalan held was filled with rubies on the inside. Pandiyas have pearls in their anklets. When the Kannagi breaks the retrieved anklet from Pandiya king, rubies scatter everywhere in the court instead of the expected pearls. Pained by the wrongness of his actions, the king asks for her forgiveness. Kannagi is not mollified by his words and in the end, she burns the entire town of Madurai to quench her rage. 

"Vaayir kadaimani naduna nadunga

Aavin kadaimani uguneer nenju suda

Thaan than arumperal pudhalvanai 

Aazhiyin madinthon

Perum peyar pugarenpathiye avoor

Esa sirappin isai vilangu perungudi

Masathu vaanigan maganai aagi

Vaazhthal vendi oozhvinai thurappa

Soozhkazhal manna nin-nagar pugunthee

Enkar silambu pagardhal vendi 

Ninpar kolaikala patta kovalan manaivi

Kannagi enbathen peyar"

These are the words she utters to introduce herself to the court of Pandiya. The translation is, 

"To ease the pain of the cow who lost her calf in the chariot driven his son, the Chozha king - Raja raja Chozhan, killed his son to ensure justice for the cow, in the wonderful town of Poompuhar. Hailing from such a virtuous town and born as the stellar child of the great Masathuvan, Kovalan entered into your town for the sake of earning a living due to the cruel twist of fate. I am the wife of that Kovalan who was wrongfully killed by you when he tried to sell my anklet for some money and my name is Kannagi."

Her introduction when she enters the Pandiya court has always been my favorite narration. My grandma used to utter it with such bravery and conviction in her voice, that I could almost picture the happenings of the place in my eyes. Kannagi could have spoken a simple intro but she chose to prove her origin and the importance of truth in the justice system. This will always be my most favorite memory.