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Tranquebar - where time and tide dance in step

Tranquebar
A view of Tranquebar Fort, built by Danish settlers. The Danish enjoyed the support of the British and were more traders and missionaries than military colonialists. They, however, had their eye on the island of Nicobar. (The Green Ogre)

The lure of spices brought every European nation to India. Portugal, Holland, France, England -- they came one by one. Did you know that Denmark, too, was on that list? The little-known alcove of Tharangambadi, on Tamil Nadu's eastern coast, became Tranquebar to the Danish, who set up base there. One part of the Danes' mission was to evangelize the Protestant faith. Another was to colonize the island of Nicobar. Tharangambadi in Tamil means 'place of the dancing waves.' Today, time and tide dance in step among the ruins of Tranquebar.

ANAND YEGNASWAMI visited Tranquebar and returned with a slice of nearly forgotten history.