The Recruits Training Centre (RTC) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Arakkonam has been renamed Rajaditya Cholan (RTC), Thakkolam, in memory of the Chola prince Rajaditya, who was killed in the Battle of Thakkolam in 949 CE. The name change was ordered by Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, Director General of CISF, on 24 February 2025.
The Legacy Of Rajaditya Chola
Rajaditya, the son of Parantaka I, met his heroic end during the battle between the Cholas and the Rashtrakutas. He was slain by an arrow from the Ganga prince Butuga, an ally of the Rashtrakutas. His bravery earned him the title ‘Yanaimel Thunjiya Devar’ (The king who died on the back of an elephant), as recorded in Chola inscriptions at Kumbakonam and Thirunageswaram.
Renowned historian K.A. Nilakanta Sastri documented the battle, noting that Rajaditya’s forces fought fiercely but ultimately lost due to the well-aimed arrow of Butuga. Citing the Thiruvalangadu plates, Sastri described Rajaditya as “the heroic ornament of the solar race,” who, despite shaking the enemy forces with his sharp arrows, was fatally pierced in the heart while atop a large elephant.
Commemoration Of A Warrior
The decision to rename the CISF training center highlights Rajaditya’s enduring influence on Tamil history. Dr. R. Kalaikkovan, director of the Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, emphasized that Rajaditya was not only a skilled warrior but also an able administrator. His father, Parantaka I, had stationed him at Thirunavalur to guard against potential Rashtrakuta invasions, where he also led socio-cultural advancements, including the construction of temples and the conversion of fallow land into cultivable areas.
The Battle of Thakkolam was a significant moment in Chola history. Though the Cholas lost the battle, Rajaditya’s heroic death left a lasting impact, and the Chola empire continued to expand for another 250 years. Successors of Parantaka I, including Gandaraditya and Arinjaya, attempted to restore Chola dominance, but it was under Sundara Chola and later Rajaraja I that the dynasty regained its imperial status.
A stone inscription at the Thiyagarajaswamy temple in Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, narrates the story of Vallabha alias Vellangumaran, a close friend of Rajaditya. He had been meant to fight alongside Rajaditya at Thakkolam but failed to do so. Overcome with guilt, he later became an ascetic as atonement for his absence in battle.
The renaming of the CISF training center serves as a tribute to Rajaditya’s valor and his place in Tamil military history, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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