Book:
Ancient Tamils Lifestyle and Multifactorial Management
(Based on Literature - Archeology -
Anthropology)
Author
:
DR.A.MANAVAZHAHAN
M.A.,M.A.,M.Phil.,Ph.D.
PREFACE
Literary evidences are the
primary data for Tamil history. At the same time, recent archaeological
discoveries authenticate the literary evidence and dates further back to the
antiqueness we have given to them.
Historian Dr. J.A. Toynbee, who studied the world's most ancient
civilizations, concluded that 'Tamil Nadu was one among the lands where ancient
civilizations of the world originated and nurtured. So far, twenty - three
civilizations had budded, blossomed and spread their fragrance across the
world. Twenty - one of these civilizations had withered, shrunk, dried up and
fallen off by the test of time. Out of that only two civilizations still exist
today. They are Chinese civilization and
Tamil civilization. 'Similarly, the history of agriculture states that
'Agriculture began in eleven parts of the world ten thousand years ago, Tamil
Nadu is one among them.
Above all, the stone tools used by primitive man found in the
Aththirappaakkam, Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu had caused tremendous
amazement. They were estimated to be about 3, 85,000 years old. Prior to this,
the technique of using stone tools was considered to have lasted from about
90,000 years to 1,40,000 years. This astounding discovery of stone tools found
at the site had changed the course of research in human history. This
breakthrough showed a whole new perspective to the study of the human race. It
was believed that the human race originated in East Africa and spread across
the world, but this discovery confirmed that migration must have begun from
here about a million years ago. All
these confirm the profoundness in the literary references of the lifestyle of
ancient Tamils.
Therefore, it is
impossible to dismiss that literary reference on ethics of Tamils as mere
myths. Hence, there is a wide array for
researchers who approach the antiquity, civilization, culture, values,
heritage, science, management, etc. of Tamil Nadu through literary evidence to
further deepen, expand, and confirm with field evidence.
On that
basis, the book 'Ancient Tamils life style and multifactorial Management'
presents ancient Tamils lifestyle, ethics, genetic science, versatile
personality etc. with literary, archeological and anthropological
evidence. The bibliography of this book
is based on Classical Tamil literary references as well as field research
conducted across various mountains, coastlines and terrains of Tamil Nadu. I am
happy that this book is being published both in Tamil and English which is the
need of the hour.
With the
help of the Government of Tamil Nadu, I had the opportunity to produce ten
documentaries to show the world that the specialties and techniques of ancient
Tamil life. The documentary work I had
done before was the foundation for the field research work done in various
parts of Tamil Nadu. I would like to thank the Government of Tamil Nadu for
providing such a golden opportunity and Dr. C. Vijayaragavan, Director,
International Institute of Tamil Studies, for facilitating and promoting it.
My
sincere thanks to my friends Mr. Jeba, Mr. Silambarasan, Dr. Kamaraj and Mr.
Susilkumar who travelled with me on field work in various parts of Tamil Nadu,
they are always dear to me. We stayed for several days in the Nilgiris and
searched for fossils. We sought the
habitats of the tribes. The Nilgiris Adivasi Wefare Association (NAWA) made all
the arrangement for accommodation, transport and guidance. I would like to
extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organisation and a special thanks to Mr.
M. Alvas who was also from the organisation.
I would
like to express high appreciation to Mr Mohana Vasanthan and Mr Hari and their
family for making all the necessary arrangement including voyage while
conducting field research around coastline of Rameswaram . Many thanks to all the informants who
provided the necessary datas for the field study.
No language
can ever exude the magic of emotions which Tamil only can. This content is a
book of knowledge which aims in publishing the Intelligence and personality of
the world's oldest inhabitants. Therefore, this text is based on subtle
messages rather than expressing emotions.
Although this avoided the problem in translation to some extent, there
were problems in delivering domain specific vocabulary. There is no point in giving terminology as it
is to those who do not have the knowledge of ancient tradition of Tamils. Therefore, in such places explanation was
given along with the words.
Similarly,
the nuances in the poems have been conveyed as messages. The poems have been
transliterated considering the need for a research methodology to provide the
poems as evidence.
Rather
than a language being hailed as the language of love and the language of
devotion, it is the identity of the language of knowledge that will carry that
language unhindered for generations to come. We have failed to advance the
identity of Tamil as language of knowledge that in turn preserves the language
intact. We have marveled at the love and
heroism in Tamil classical literature and have largely forgotten to identify
the traditional knowledge, technology and management ideas embedded in
them. If we had spoken out loud about
the fact that Tamil heritage literature is the world's leading treasury of
knowledge, this language would have been the primary language spoken and loved
in many countries of the world today.
My
previous books, documentaries, and even the creation of Ancient Tamils Art
Gallery were the result of a series of attempts to bring out recognition to the
ancient Tamils traditional knowledge, ethics, visionary thinking, and
multifaceted personality. This English
book is a new venture in this series.
This book has been published by sincere
efforts of many individuals. My deepest regards to the whole team. Lot of love to my daughter, Ezhilmadhi who
helped me in checking the translation of the poems and ordered to put my name
in the book.
With Love,
Dr. A. Manavazhahan
9789016815
CONTENTS
1. Tamils are pioneers of world
civilization 15
2. Ancient Tamils Global Vision in Space and
Time Management 20
3. Tamils Taught Agricultural Techniques to
the
World 34
4. Ancient Tamils Clothing Management And
Weaving Technology 45
5. Ancient Tamils Architecture Management 53
6. Ancient Tamils Management of Medicine 67
7. Ancient Tamils Water Management 72
8. Ancient Tamils Regime Management 78
9. Ancient Tamils warfare 83
10. Conventional Arts of the Ancient Tamils 89
11. Appendix
