Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c6.8

c6.8

A number of well-wishers have helped in my research work in various ways over the years. The foremost among them is Dr. N. Mahalingam, a noted industrialist, philanthropist and Tamil scholar. In particular, I must mention his generous assistance during the second field expedition in making available vehicles, material for steel scaffolding and technical support. Mr. R. Krishnamurthy, Editor, *Dinamalar*, who has led the numismatic revolution in Tamil Nadu in recent years, has been a longtime colleague who generously permitted me to study his valuable collection of coins and has made available enlarged photographs of coins with Tamil-Brāhmī legends for my study. These have since been published in his *magnum opus*, *Sangam Age Tamil Coins* (1997). Dr. Kodumudi S. Shanmugam, Superintending Engineer and noted Tamil scholar, rendered assistance to our team in the field work and copying of inscriptions. Among those who evinced keen interest in the progress of the work and kept encouraging me, I must single out the names of Prof. R. Narasimhan, formerly of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bombay, and Prof. R. Champakalashmi, formerly of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. My sincere thanks are due to both of them.