Shanlax International Journal of Tamil Research

Kōnangki’s Words Floating in a Mental Space Where Land and Time are Blurred

N Murugesapandian — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It is necessary to initiate a discourse centered on the question of how to characterize the words of Konangi, a storyteller who holds a distinctive identity in the world of Tamil short fiction. The words welling up within Konangi in the realm of memory emerge, transforming at one level into stories and at another into fictions. Konangi’s world of stories expanding infinitely through words steeped in darkness and absurdity is, in a sense, an expression of a deranged state of mind. In Konangi’s creative work, language holds the primary position, while fiction embedded within the words occupies the secondary place. There is no one in Tamil to match Konangi, who has cast aside definitions constructed by words to forge a new narrative for himself and who, at a certain stage, even repudiates his own writing to reinvent the art of fiction.

‘Puniru’ in the Tamil Grammatical and Literary Tradition

K Sankara Narayanan — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Every word in a language embodies the records of the life, culture, and thought of a particular period. In this context, the word Puniru found in ancient Tamil stands as a significant lexical element. This word occurs in grammatical works, lexicons, and Sangam literature in various contexts. In the grammatical tradition, the grammatical category and usage of this word are worthy of examination. Lexicons record the meanings associated with Puniru and thereby expand its semantic field. The contexts in which this word occurs in Sangam literature help clarify its contextual meaning. Furthermore, the usages associated with Puniru reveal aspects of the life and culture of the ancient Tamils. The changes and expansions that have occurred in the semantic field of this word over time reflect the development of the Tamil language. Therefore, this article examines the origin, semantic field, and usage patterns of the word Puniru . Through this study, the linguistic and cultural significance of the word Puniru is brought to light.

Feminist Issues in Kavippithan’s Short Stories

G Ganapathi, SM Mariyappan — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In Indian society, the major obstacles that prevent women from attaining their rights and freedom are social institutions and practices such as family, marriage, culture, and religion. Through these institutions, the patriarchal society subordinates women, relegates them to an inferior position, and perpetuates their oppression. Furthermore, patriarchal forces determine how women should behave and function at every level of society, imposing restrictions on their lives. In his short story Thulirppu, Kavipithan portrays the plight of Chandra, who is expelled from her marital home by her husband and mother-in-law on the grounds that she is “maladi” (a barren woman), as she has not conceived even after eight years of marriage. The people of the village also turn against Chandra, reflecting the patriarchal mindset prevalent in society. Similarly, in the short story Kalabali, Shantha’s husband poisons his healthy daughter in an attempt to save his physically ill son. Even after learning the truth, Shantha remains powerless to oppose her husband’s cruel act. Through these narratives, the present study highlights how patriarchal society oppresses women, exercises dominance over them, and deprives them of their agency and freedom.

The Punnai Tree from an Ecological Perspective

R Mathanraj — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study of plants from an ecological perspective has emerged as an important interdisciplinary approach in literary research, enabling scholars to explore literary texts from multiple dimensions and uncover their underlying meanings. Sangam literature contains numerous references to plants that reflect the ecological knowledge and environmental awareness of ancient Tamil society. An ecological study of these plants helps to reveal their relationship with human life, culture, and the natural environment. In the present context of increasing environmental concerns, an examination of the plant ecological concepts embedded in Sangam literature is both relevant and significant, as it contributes to a deeper understanding of traditional Tamil ecological knowledge and its relevance for future generations.

Silappathikaram from the Perspective of Oral-Formulaic Theory

M Sankar — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Silappathikaram is one of the most celebrated epics in Tamil literature. It is a literary masterpiece that reflects the social, cultural, political, and moral values of the ancient Tamil people. The epic not only narrates the story of Kannagi and Kovalan but also presents a comprehensive picture of the life, customs, beliefs, and traditions of Tamil society. Owing to its literary richness and historical significance, Silappathikaram has been studied from various perspectives by numerous scholars. Among the many dimensions explored in this epic, the present study focuses on the conversational and communicative patterns embedded within the text. It examines how dialogue functions as a narrative device and how linguistic interactions contribute to the development of characters, themes, and events. The study seeks to identify the discourse structures that emerge through conversations and to understand their role in shaping the overall meaning of the epic.The research further investigates the linguistic features found in the dialogues, including speech forms, modes of communication, contextual expressions, and interactional strategies. Particular attention is given to the ways in which characters express emotions, intentions, and social relationships through language. By analysing these discourse elements, the study aims to reveal the deeper communicative mechanisms that operate within the narrative framework of Silappathikaram. In addition, the research explores how conversational exchanges reflect social hierarchy, cultural norms, ethical values, and interpersonal relationships. The study adopts an Oral – Formulaic Theory approach to demonstrate that the epic is not merely a literary text but also a valuable source for understanding the communicative practices and socio-cultural dynamics of ancient Tamil society.

The Cultural Evolution and Decline of Water Buffaloes in the Works of Kovai Sadasivam

K Mathesh, P Senthilkumar — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

From the earliest period of human civilization, the domestication of animals and their transformation into livestock have played a major role in the economic and cultural development of human societies. In this context, this study offers a detailed historical and anthropological analysis of the geographical distribution of water buffaloes, their treatment in the grammatical and literary traditions of the ancient Tamils, their cultural bonds with tribal communities across the world, and the effects of the commercialization of buffaloes in recent history. For this study, the descriptive methodology was applied to the primary data: the Tholkappiyam’s Marabiyal (the chapter on traditional usage) principles and the Sangam literary concordances Natrinai, Akananuru, and the “Erumaipathu” (the “Ten Verses on the Buffalo”) of Ainkurunuru. Analytical and comparative methodologies were applied to Indus Valley seals, the ways of life of the Toda, Gond, and North American Plains tribes, and statistics from India’s animal husbandry department. The study finds that in the life of the ancient Tamils, the buffalo was not merely a domestic animal. It was a symbol of wealth and was given as a wedding gift. Because of its majestic gait, it was also honored with the epithet “Annal” (noble one), which marks it as an exalted emblem of tradition. Further, in the Indus Valley worship tradition, the buffalo-horned “Pasupati” figure has a historical heritage of being worshipped either as the principal deity or as a shaman (saamiyaadi) who led religious rituals. Yet the study also reveals a historical contradiction: in later Aryan Puranic texts such as the Devi Mahatmyam, and in religious rituals, the buffalo was deliberately belittled and neglected. From an anthropological perspective, the study shows that the destruction of buffaloes, which serve as the totem and object of worship of the Toda tribe, is not merely a loss of biodiversity but becomes a disintegration of the cultural identity of an ancient human community. It also shows that the deliberate mass slaughter of buffalo (bison) in North American history was a political strategy used by the American government to destroy the economy of the Plains tribes and cripple them. According to the economic analysis, buffalo milk production contributes about 43% of India’s total dairy economy at the national level, making it a very important component. In contrast to this national trend, however, Tamil Nadu’s dairy sector has a markedly different structure. Dominated by cows, buffalo milk production there is recorded at a very low 2.4%. The study points out that this sharp decline in production is linked to socio-environmental factors such as the proliferation of crossbred cows, shortage of grazing land, and fodder scarcity in dry seasons. It also identifies, as indirect psychological factors, excessive spiritual and social constructs that exalt the cow, along with traditional devotional attitudes.

The Sacred Shrine of Kataragama in Colonial Records: A Study Focusing on the Period from 1658 to 1948

Nilanthini Chenthurran — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The sacred shrine of Kataragama, a preeminent multicultural worship center in Sri Lanka, has maintained its political and spiritual prominence since the 3rd century BCE. The colonial European accounts, notably by Robert Knox, depicted Kataragama as a mysterious wilderness, highlighting a unique socio-spiritual defense where the fear of the deity deterred Portuguese and Dutch forces from invading the Kandyan Kingdom from the South. However, during the Dutch and British colonial rule (1658–1948), the shrine’s hereditary administrative structure and religious autonomy encountered severe subversions. Employing a historical methodology, this study demonstrates that the colonial state perceived Kataragama not merely as a religious site, but through the dual lenses of a ‘political security threat’ and a ‘public health hazard’. The research intensively analyzes how the British administration, under the pretext of preventing cholera outbreaks that threatened the lucrative plantation economy, enforced the Gazette notification of 1893. This regulation drastically restricted pilgrims to a mere 150, introduced a modern visa like permit system, and weaponized police surveillance, thereby converting the centuries-old traditional Pada Yatra (Foot Pilgrimage) into a heavily militarized state-controlled procession. Consequently, this study exposes how the colonial government violated Clause5 of the Kandyan Convention of 1815 by covertly dismantling the traditional rights of the Kapuralas and the autonomy of the Basnayake Nilame to serve fiscal and imperial interests. Concurrently, it notes that despite these interventions, European chroniclers documented with fascination the shrine’s resilient pluralistic identity, which harmoniously accommodated Veddas, Buddhists, Hindus and Sufi Muslims.

Sangam Literature Land, Family Structure and Kinship

A Sagayaa Susi, S Ilamaran — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sangam literature is the main source of information for understanding the social history of Tamil Nadu during the Sangam period. There are various relationships in the family such as mother, father, son, daughter. Such relationships existed not only in the contemporary era but also in Sangam literature. Their relationships such as friend-nurse, friend-leader, and servant-leader were intertwined. The mother is obedient to her sons and husband and carries out every action. When the daughter grows up and comes of age, she is seen as a very good role model in the task of protecting and nurturing her.

The Centre and the Margin in The Novel Kovaeru Kazhuthaigal

G Thirumoorthy, K Kasimariyappan (Retd.), A Selvarasu — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Imayam (b. 1964) is a notable writer who has recorded the lives of marginalised people in modern Tamil literature, and his novel Kovaeru Kazhuthaigal (1994) is among his most important works. This article examines how the novel constructs the “centre” and the “margin” and how spatial power operates through them. In the novel, the village is organised as a caste-based structure of power. The streets and public spaces of the dominant castes form the centre, where land, water, livestock, and the means of production are concentrated. The washerman and Chakkiliyar settlements and the Dalit colony (cheri) are pushed to the margin. The article shows that this division is not merely geographical. It expresses social authority, economic domination, and cultural supremacy. The analysis shows that the centre depends on exploiting the labour of service castes, who are denied fair wages and due respect. It also shows that the opposition between purity and impurity shapes the spaces themselves: the dominant-caste streets are regarded as clean and honourable, while the marginal settlements are associated with scrub forest, filth, and unsafe surroundings. The article further considers women, who are doubly oppressed by caste and gender and can be called the “margin of the margin”. Their movement and bodies are controlled by caste power, as the sexual threat faced by Mary and the restriction of her movement show. The article concludes that the novel presents space as a socio-political structure formed by caste, power, labour, and gender, and that the prosperity and power of the centre are built on the labour of the margin.

The Lifestyle of the Kurinji People

K Gayathri — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Human life can be understood through literature. The way of life of the people of the Sangam period was based on land. The ancient Tamils divided the lands into Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neythal, and Palai and lived according to the characteristics of those lands. The lifestyle of the Kurinji people included marriage, occupation, hunting, agriculture, food habits, hospitality, art, clothing, accessories, domestic life, worship, beliefs, etc. They lived a refined lifestyle.

Tolkāppiyam’s Meyppātu in the Creation of Characters

T Kavitha — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Tolkāppiyam does more than lay down the rules of grammar; in its own way, it also offers an account of human psychology and of how that psychology expresses itself in action. This article examines how far this framework holds when it is applied to the analysis of modern novels. The study is based on novels that have won the Yuva Puraskar award.