By Robancy A Helen –
Tuticorin: The discovery of coins dating back to the 16th century has brought limelight to a Catholic village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The coins were discovered after Aasai Thambi, an officer of the Department of Archaeology, began excavation in Punnaikayal, a coastal village in Tuticorin district in the sourthern state of India from November 1.
Thambi discovered 14 copper coins from the shore, near St Xavier’s Church, the local parish church. Studies have shown that the greenish coins dated back to the 15th or 16th century, says Micheal Leoraj, a local social activist.
The excavation also unearthed pieces of Chinese ceramic pots, a well’s cover, and some tiles. The official also found the skull of Henrique Henriques (1520–1600), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and the first European Tamil scholar. He mastered Tamil and wrote several books, including a dictionary.
Henriques is called the Father of the Tamil Press because of his efforts to print Tamil, the first non-European language, in moveable type. He died February 22, 1600, at Punnaikayal and his mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica in Tuticorin.
Now, Punnaikayal, a parish under the diocese of Tuticorin, has 12,000 people whose ancestors had accepted Catholicism when the Jesuits arrived there in the mid-16th century.
Three of Father Henriques’ books were discovered in various libraries in the world, says Father Amuthan Adikal, a native of the village and the author of a book called “Punnaikayal in the History.”
The Jesuit missionary composed grammar and dictionary in Tamil, which, though never printed, were widely used by other Europeans.
The excavation began after the people of Punnaikayal under the leadership of the village head, took the initiative to collect evidence of its Portuguese links. They approached the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a research.
They submitted a petition to Thangam Thennarasu, the state minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology.
The villagers have pleaded with Aasai Thambi to continue the excavation to unearth the printing press. Related documents are handed over to the officer by the village leader and the local parish priest.
Historians say further research would lead to the discovery of more evidence as Punnaikayal was one of the oldest ports, with a toll booth. According to history, the place once housed the first hospital, first seminary, and the first printing press.
Punnaikayal was once the headquarters of the Dutch colonizers.