Sangam Lit – Introduction

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Whenever I travel to distant lands, I’m intrigued by the traditions and customs of cultures I come across. I listen wide-eyed to the stories of the people’s quirks and philosophies. In many parts of the world, historic places and events, less than a 100 or 200 years ago are commemorated and celebrated. This makes me turn and look in the direction of my homeland. Here lies a living record of an Indian civilisation that lived 2000 years ago. I’m talking about the ancient Tamil culture as reflected in Sangam Literature. Even as I roam the world and feel a global citizen, a voice echoed within, ‘How well do you know your own culture?’ A spark was lit within me! What if I try to traverse through all the Sangam literature,  a collection of 18 literary works, comprising of more than 2000 poems? Seems a daunting task! For I’m no expert in Tamil literature. My vocabulary is limited to the few good books I have read in Tamil and to Tamil film songs, just like the average Tamil speaking person. And yet, the flame of curiosity burned bright within me. So, I decided to take this long and unique journey through the literary works of the Sangam period. These 18 works, which are further classified as ‘Ettuthogai’, a collection of 8 anthologies and ‘Paththupaattu’, which comprise of 10 long songs. Of this, Ettuthokai is said to be from a period before the Common Era (about 200 BCE) and comprise some of the oldest living works of Tamil literature. I think that anything that comes from that far ago belongs to humanity as a whole. It embodies something that the world entire can draw pride and inspiration from. Wherever it may be these treasures are found, it also falls upon all of us to preserve these glorious echoes of our collective history.

So, where shall we begin? I think we should let this Tamil verse lining up all the literary works of Ettuthokai to lay the path for us?

நற்றிணை நல்ல குறுந்தொகை ஐங்குறுநூறு
ஒத்த பதிற்றுப்பத்து ஓங்கு பரிபாடல்
கற்றறிந்தார் ஏத்தும் கலியோடு அகம்புறம் என்று
இத்திறத்த எட்டுத் தொகை

So, Natrinai, it is. ‘Natrinai’ portrays the ‘நல்ல’ or ‘excellent’ inner sphere of life in the five different lands of the Sangam period, that we will explore soon, as we travel onward. In each episode that follows, I will read a Tamil Natrinai poem first. Worry not if you don’t understand the words. I didn’t either, the first time over. Just let your ears be filled with the sounds of an ancient language and let your mind feel what it will feel. On this note, I’m reminded of an interesting snippet I came across in my readings. That is, the word ‘Tamil’ itself has been used synonymously in many Sangam poems with ‘Akam’ or the inner sphere of human life, the mind.

If you take many languages of the world, going even a few centuries backwards would make the language completely inaccessible. But in here, the Tamil seems to welcome you like the people of one’s native village. Strange faces with welcoming smiles! Indeed, it’s filled with uncommon words and expressions, not in frequent use anymore. However, with the aid of dictionaries like Karefo’s Chol, a beautiful world seems to reveal itself. The uniqueness of these Tamil literary works is that they focus on both the inner and outer spheres of life, delving deep into minute human emotions as well as the land and life of the ancient people. It’s an intimate portrayal of a way of life. 

Though these works, I wish to know the past, connect to the present and gather lessons for the future. This will be no hurried journey through tons of verse at a time but a slow savouring of every fruit in this forest of literature. I see myself in the role of a student, struggling and yet stimulated to make sense of it all. Why the struggle, you may ask, for there are excellent explanatory works in Tamil and quality translations done in English too, for these works. Instead of immediately turning to these explanations, my first attempt will be to unravel the beauty and meaning by myself. My interpretations are sure to be way off. Still, by myself, I want to try and piece together these words and attempt to make sense of life two thousand years ago. Once I have tried my best to understand it myself, then I will refer to the ‘urai’/ explanations. I will correct and update the gaps in my understanding and then try to place the whole verse in context. It’s this exploratory experience, I wish to share with you. And this exploration of Ancient Tamil Sangam Literature will be in English. This is just to share the shades of this landscape and stories from this ‘mindscape’ to the wider world. 

As I begin, I don’t know what I will find or where this will take me. It matters not, for the journey itself is the destination! I invite you to share this journey with me, through this podcast. Come, sit by the shore of this twenty-first century podcast media and bask in the warmth of the cackling fire of ancient Tamil poetry. I hope, like me, you will be lit with inspiration, savouring these images from two thousand years ago. A warm welcome again!