Question

Write an essay on the growth of tamil language and literature

Answer 1

The oldest of the Dravidian languages, Tamil is at once a classical language like Sanskrit and a modern language like other Indian languages. Tamil literature has had unbroken development over twenty centuries.

Dating ancient Tamil literature is however, a problem. Most scholars agree that the Tolkappiyam is the earliest extant Tamil grammar and literary work, as some of its archaic structures and considerations of style place it earlier than what has come to be called Sangam literature.

So it would be reasonable to accept its date as somewhere round the third century BC. But some scholars place it as late as fourth or fifth century AD. This work may be called the fountainhead of all literary conventions in Tamil literature. The influence of Sanskrit on it was peripheral. Tolkappiyar, who wrote it, is supposed to have been a disciple of Rishi Agastya, the purported author of the Agattiyam, a magnum opus and grammar of letters—which, however, is found only in small pieces quoted by medieval commentators.

The earliest known phase of Tamil literature is termed Sangam literature because the anthologies of odes, lyrics and idylls which form the major part of that literature were composed at a time when the Pandyan kings of Madurai maintained in their court a body of eminent poets, called ‘Sangam’ by later poets, who unofficially functioned as a board of literary critics and censors.

The Sangam anthologies are in two parts—the Aham (dealing with love) and Puram (dealing with war). Much of the earlier work is lost but the Sangam literature is generally dated between 300 BC and AD 200. The anthologies that were made in about the fourth century AD to preserve the works are the Ten Idylls (Patirruppattu) and the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthogai).

Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, accepted as a work of great importance, has drawn from the Dharmasastra, the Arthasastra and the Kamasutra and is written in a masterful style. The Naladiyar is an anthology in the venba metre. The Palamoli by Munrurai Araiyar adopts the novel method of exemplifying morals by proverbs.

Answer 2

Out of the oldest of the Dravidian dialects, earlier Tamil was also a classical language like Sanskrit and a contemporary language like other Indian dialects. Tamil literature has had a continuous improvement of over twenty centenaries.

Dating ancient Tamil poetry is, however, a dilemma. Most scholars accept that the Tolkappiyam is the primitive existing Tamil grammar and literary work, as some of its antiquated constructions and concerns of style place it ahead than what has come to be described as Sangam literature.

So it would be plausible to affirm its date as somewhere around the third century BC. But some authorities place it as later as fourth or fifth century AD. This work may be described as the source of all literary organizations in Tamil literature. The importance of Sanskrit on it was external. Tolkappiyar, who wrote it, is thought to have been a follower of Rishi Agastya, the purported founder of the Agattiyam, a magnum opus, and grammar of letters.

The earliest identified state of Tamil composition is termed as Sangam literature because the compilations of odes, hymns, and idylls which compose the major part of that history which was composed at a time when the Pandyan kings of Madurai sustained in their court a body of distinguished artists, called ‘Sangam’ by later poets, who unofficially performed as a board of learned critics and examiners.