Book excerpt: Translation of the Tamil novel, Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki. This is volume 1 of 5. Introduction to the bounteous Chozla heartland, and culture. Indra Neelameggham brings the beauty of Tamil style into English while retaining the original cadence. There is intrigue, politics, murder, mystery, power of women, life of the nobility and ordinary folk, war and ambition. Tamil culture and and Chozla history from 1000 years ago comes to life. Ponniyin Selvan was published as a serial - novel in the Tamil Magazine Kalki from 1950 to 1954. It was written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, an award winning author, in Tamil. Art work by Maniam brought life to the characters. This English translation by Indra Neelameggham maintains Kalki's "Nadai" or cadence of the original Tamil. Indra was the first to translate this epic into English as early as the 1990s. This five part novel introduces the grandeur of the Chozla Dynasty of Tamil people, whose empire at one time spanned large areas of south east Asia. They were famous for art, architecture, irrigation works, administration, naval warfare and most importantly global trade because of their naval prowess. The Grand Anaicut one of the oldest, still in use dams across any major river, was built by the Chozlas. The huge complex known as 'Big Temple ' in Tanjavur was built more than a thousand years ago by Rajaraja, the main character in this novel. He is known as the Beloved of the River Ponni , the Tamil name for The Cauvery. The activities of common folk, nobility, ordinary soldiers, the power wielded by women, conniving statesmen, terrorists, treason, war, pirates, murder and turmoil for a throne are the core threads in this panoramic story. References to Tamil poetry and myth enrich the story.