‘Chilai’
in Tamil means idol. ‘Mayam’ here means not illusory. It is neither magical nor
gorgeous like the Golden Dear that cheated Sita, the Crown Princess of Ayodya
and wife of Rama in the jungle of Dandakarunya. But it is a marvelous idol with
boundless beauty. We can’t see such an unique, matchless idol anywhere in the
world. This was the most famous image at that time. The icon is remarkable for
its grace and majestic for its expressions. The image is the ultimate in molded
casting with immense art, craft and workmanship. It belongs to the Tamil soil,
rooted with Tamil culture. It was few centuries ago the artifact idol disappeared
(Mayam) from its own soil.
We
all know that the Northern part of the Tamil Nadu is called Tondaimandalam. The
region is nourished by the river Palaar and flourished with Tamil culture and
tradition. Under the Chola rule from 9th Century A.D the arts,
poetry, dance, and temple building also
flourished here. A war of succession to the Chola thrown, led to the outbreak
of a war in this land like Kurushektra, some 1067 years ago. The war caused
greater destruction, awful bloodshed that killed five lake soldiers and thirty
thousand elephants, eleven thousand horses, than any other war took place in
this region before. The Trial of strength was between Rashtrakudas and the
rising Cholas in the year 949 A.D to prove their mighty and supremacy over this
region. The battle field was Thakkolam near Arokonam wherein the CISF camp is
now situated is also a co-incident.
Now
the curtain rises at this point and the first scene of the novel opens. It was
a Chitra Pournami day evening. (Full moon day). Arrangement for an engagement
ceremony was on at Thokkoolam. Vandana, daughter of a CISF Deputy Commandant
officer, is the bride and the groom is a CISF Inspector, Gowtham. CISF band
music fill the air! All ranks of the CISF staffs including the Inspector
General and the entire village were gathered there except one important
personality Vandhana’s affectionate brother, Navin SP, Economics offences wing
CID, IDOL Wing, Chennai. He could not attend the function because he is busy in
supervising the security arrangement of an International Antique exhibition at
Nandambakkam Trade centre, which is about to kick off by the Union Minister for Culture, Mr.
Duraisingam by the next day. The idea of the exhibition is conducted mainly
with an eye, to trap the ‘Mayach Chilai’, if it appears in the exhibition.
It
is because the idol is surfaced again in Europe after many decades. Now the
idol is in possession of an International mafia gang. They barely want to know
the era and period of the statue to sell the idol for huge price through the Auction
houses. Nithya a Berlin University Museology Research Scholar, followed the
track and history of the idol with help his grandfather and UNESCO Archeologist,
Sembian Tamilvel.
The
gang seriously discussed whether they could know the fact, if the image is
displayed in the exhibition? The CISF commandoes were also deployed in the
inner most circle of the security wing of the bronze gallery, including
Gowtham. At one stage Nithya’s life hangs between two options, either to
disclose the facts of the idol to the gang or to die at gun point. Gowtham’s
life also wait for her very word at this point, if she discloses the fact he
becomes a culprit before law! What ‘word’ can Nithya utter at this juncture for
her beloved Navin?
What
happened in the exhibition? Navin SP, Economics offences wing CID, IDOL Wing, locked
horn with the mafia. Thakkolam war was a great tragedy to the Cholas! Will the
history repeat here now? Whether the idol returns to its home land or not is
the mystery behind the story. Now let’s join to see minute by minute heroism of Navin and enjoy it.
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