Chapter 28
We were sitting late into the night with the Judge.
By that time, the press had come to know about our adventure and they had gathered in front of the judge’s residence, to get news. The area around the mandap on the riverside and the temple wall on the tunnel side were cordoned off by the police and no one was allowed to trespass. The press had already met Velu, the temple priest and many other villagers and had sufficient tidbits for their next day paper. They were waiting for the Judge to finish his dinner and brief them about the tunnel and the box we had recovered. The Judge had already warned us against interacting with the press for the time being.
After his dinner, he told the press people that everything was under control, that we and the material recovered from underground in the temple premises were in judicial custody, that the district administration had been informed, that the district collector was expected to visit the site, that statements had been taken from all of us, that we would be produced in the court the next morning, that the contents of the boxes were to be fully studied for their worth and implications, that the press could be taken on a tour of the tunnel the next day, if they didn’t mind the presence of snakes and insects and that until then, no further information could be given at this stage, as it might amount to speculation. The press seemed to be somewhat satisfied and left.
Somehow, for some strange unknown reasons, we were not handed over to the police by the judge. The police also did not seem to insist.
When everyone had left, Dharmalingam said, “I know a historian who had recently retired from his job. Fortunately for us, he is in Cheranmahadevi nearby. He is an authority on historical inscriptions, artifacts, and archaeological discoveries. He is also a scholar in ancient Tamil literature. He belonged to Cheranmahadevi and he is a very good friend of mine. Before things go out of our hands, I shall send for him right now.”
His driver rushed to Cheranmahadevi to fetch Dr.Meenakshi Sundaram. Cheranmahadevi was only another about ten miles or so. Dr.Meenakshi Sundaram arrived at midnight.
“I knew, unless the job was so serious and urgent, you wouldn’t send for me in the middle of the night.” Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram commented even as he entered the house.
Dr.Meenakshi Sundaram and Dharmalingam didn’t waste words and time in exchanging pleasantries. They straight away went into the job. The plates were already tied together with a copper wire inserted through a small hole on each plate. The writing on the plates was intact, thanks to the small rim on those plates. The writing was in Tamil, but the script was much different. They examined the copper plates and the writings on the leather canvas repeatedly and discussed among themselves for a long time. They also took notes from the writings on the plates. They questioned each of us once again on our involvement in this matter and we explained.
When Sudalai’s turn came, he narrated exhaustively about my role in the construction of dams in Podhigai hills and how those dams relieved the villages in the hills from their worry and anxiety about future floods. His eulogy on me went uninterrupted and they both listened with great patience.
I kept my description of my involvement in this matter sincere, simple, and straightforward, avoiding all superficialities. I was not able to offer much help while they questioned us about the involvement of Welsch and Donald. The judge chided me that I shouldn’t have asked them to go away from the scene. There might be legal complications involving foreign nationals, he said. I defended saying I was not keen to get them into any trouble in an alien country, as they have been commissioned by my very close friends in England. I also told them that probably once they return to their country, the news about the hidden treasure would be made public through their television channel.
Adhi Kesavan repeated whatever he had already told the judge at the temple.
When they thought they had all the information that was needed for the time being to go further, the judge told us, “We have been burning the midnight oil and it is early morning now. You all need to be produced in the court tomorrow. The police would charge you all under trespassing and other criminal laws. Any treasure found under the earth – oil, minerals, even stones and sand - belongs to the government. You might even be charged with stealing the national treasure. I don’t know. But I think I would be able to organize bail applications and you will all be out shortly. You may presume that for the time being the box and its contents are in the custody of the government.”
He turned to Adhi Kesavan and said, “The plates appear genuine and clearly mention about the endowments of properties to one Arunan and his descendants from a king in Venad to be taken care of as trustees for charitable and social purposes. You may have to establish your lineage to Arunan and prove that you are the beneficial owner of the contents of the box. The list of properties is really amazing to look at! Anyhow, we shall discuss it tomorrow in detail. Now it is very late and let us all have some sleep.”
“Sir, just one question before we go to bed. How can we establish the age of the contents of the box?” I asked.
“Yes, there are scientific methods like carbon dating, standard metallographic methods, and use of highly calibrated Scanning Electron Microscope, to test the age of any material recovered or found in the course of any excavations. We shall take care of it. Don’t worry,” answered Dr.Meenakshi Sundaram.
The judge made a few phone calls and in the in the next few minutes, we were taken away in a van to some other place accompanied by a few police personnel.
*****
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