Context: Recently, the Minister of State for Education, released the Hindi translation of Tolkappiyam and the Kannada translations of 9 books of Classical Tamil literature.

• Note: Tamil literature goes back to the Sangam Era, named after the assembly (sangam) of poets.

Sangam literature

• Sangam literature is the name given to the earliest available Tamil literature.
• The Sangam age roughly extends between 300 BC and 300 AD.
• The word ‘Sangam’ means association.
• Here, it implies an association of Tamil poets that flourished in ancient southern India.

Three Sangams: According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called Muchchangam.

• The First Sangam, is believed to be held at Madurai, attended by gods and legendary sages. No literary work of this Sangam is available.
• The Second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram, only Tolkappiyam survives from this.
• The Third Sangam was also held at Madurai. A few of these Tamil literary works have survived and are a useful source to reconstruct the history of the Sangam period.

Sangam Literature: The Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and two epics named – Silappathikaram and Manimegalai .

• These literary works were the earliest specimens of Dravidian literature. South India, during the Sangam Age, was ruled by three dynasties-the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.

According to the context and interpretation, Sangam literature is divided in 2 sections:

• Aham: It includes feelings about love, relations etc.
• Puram: It includes heroism, social life, etc.

Some of the most notable works during the Sangam age are:
Tolkappiyam

• It was composed by Tolkappiyar.
• It is the oldest extant Tamil work till date.
• It discusses Tamil grammar and also offers information on social life, human psychology, political and economic conditions during the Sangam Age.
• Influence of Sanskrit on this work is peripheral and very little.

Silapathikaram

• It was composed by Ilango Adigal.
• The story revolves around an anklet.
• The name means the tale of an anklet.
• The poem gives insight into contemporary Tamil society, polity, values and social life of the people.

Manimekalai

• It was composed by Chithalai Chathanar.
• It is a sequel to Silapathikaram.
• The author’s aim was to propagate Buddhism in South India as the work espouses the values of Buddhism over other religions of the time.

Patinenmelkanakku

• The Eighteen Greater Texts, known as Patinenmelkanakku, is the collection of the oldest surviving Tamil poetry.
• This collection is considered part of the Sangam Literature.
• It is a series of eighteen major anthologies, which includes the Eight Anthologies (Ettutokai) and the Ten Idylls (Pattuppattu).
• The songs are set in the Akaval style.