The Ethnographic Novels of C.M. Muthu
சி.எம். முத்துவின் இனவரைவியல் நாவல்கள்
Abstract
Ancient Tamil literature, namely Sangam literature, is fundamentally structured around land and time, centering on human existence. Literary texts have recorded over time how the unique characteristics naturally formed for each terrain on earth subtly determine the existence of all living beings residing there. The celebration of Mayon as the deity of the fertile Mullai land and Korravai as the deity of the barren Palai land is connected to the land. The hunting occupation of the Kuravar in the mountains and the highway robbery of the Eyinar wandering in the desert are, in one way, caused by the soil itself. The activities of a specific group of people living for generations in a particular geographical area inevitably possess ethnic group characteristics in an intensive manner. Even in today's environment dominated by globalization and corporate politics, Tamils consider caste identity as primary rather than being identified through the Tamil language.
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