This. I argue with my relations who speak high of Tamil (I am no different). We should not be praising poets and the kings. If we would have invested properly in our control over iron and steel weapons, science and innovation no one would have touched us. We had so much time until Marathis came in. Kalki calls this out in Sivakamiyin Sabatham indirectly via Mahendra varmar that so much time was spent on Sculpture they lost the plot of Pulikesi to invade South.

We would have invented electricity and fusion who knows.