Coimbatore A View
From ancient trade routes to the modern textile mills, the industrial city of Coimbatore, known as the Manchester of South India, has come a long way keeping in tune with developments, thanks to its expanding industrial base especially the bu rgeoning textile industry. With hundreds of cotton and textile units besides various other industrial units and being the natural gateway to the picturesque Nilgiris and Kerala, the city of 'Kovai' (as it is known in Tamil) in western Tamil Nadu has c ontributed to the economy in great measure over the years. Since the ancient times, Coimbatore has been a part of international commerce having been located on the spice route.Farm implements, cornelian jewellery, cotton textiles and Indian spices which passed through the city. It earned foreign exchange in gold coins belonging to 25 Roman Emperors - right from Augustus upto Constantine have been found in this region, according to Siruthuli, an NGO which last month celebrated Coimbatore Day coinciding with its elevation as a district headquarters by the British on November 24, 1804.
Mr Rajesh Govindarajulu, a member of the apex body member of Siruthuli, says trade routes had played an important role in the history and enhanced importance of several settlements. Due to the influence of several empires, dynasties and rulers, people fr om all regions and ethnic background have made Coimbatore their home, Mr Rajesh said. Coimbatore was once a small village and owes its name to Irula chieftain Kovan. Once the British acquired Coimbatore, they understood its strategic importance as it being the natural gateway to Kerala and Nilgiris.
