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TAMIL SANGAM Sangam was the ancient academy, which enabled Tamil poets and authors to gather periodically to publish their work. The Sangam met periodically in the city of Madurai in South India under the patronage of the Pandyan kings. The current estimate is that the Sangam period lasted between 100 B.C.E. until 300 C.E. The word ''Sangam'' is probably of Indo-Aryan origin, coming from ''Sangha'', the Buddhist and Jain term for an assembly of monks. In Tamil the word means "assembly" or "academy". Unfortunately no scientific proof is available to substantiate whether these academies existed at all and if so, the dates, the participants or their works. However it is probable that quite a few scholars could have met periodically at different times and discussed literary works either formally or informally. The last Sangam ended around the 3rd century C.E. with the invasion of Kalabhras from the north. SANGAM LITERATURE Sangam literature comprises of some of the oldest extant Tamil literature, and deals with love, war, governance, trade and bereavement. Unfortunately much of the Tamil literature belonging to the Sangam period had been lost. The literature currently available from this period is perhaps just a fraction of the wealth of material produced during this golden age of Tamil civilisation. Classification of Literature The available literature from this period has been broadly divided in antiquity into three categories based roughly chronology. These are: ''The Major Eighteen Anthology Series'' (பதினெண்மேல்கணக்கு) comprising ''The Eight Anthologies'' (எட்டுத்தொகை) and the ''Ten Idylls'' (பத்துப்பாட்டு), '''''The Minor Eighteen Anthology Series''''' (பதினெண்கீழ்கணக்கு) and the ''Five Great Epics'' (ஐம்பெருங்காப்பியம்). There are also Aincirukappiyam like Udhayanan Perunkathai and others, and individul works including Thakadoor Yaaththirai, Ilanthiraiyam, Nalavennba, Nannool Viruththi, Yapparunkala Kaarikai, Needhinool Kovai, Porul Mozhi Kaanci, Purapporul Vennbamaalai, and Iraiyanaar Agapporul . LITERARY PHILOSOPHY Sangam age is considered by the Tamil people as the golden era of Tamil language may be ascribed not so much to its antiquity as to the fact that their ancestors were indulging in literary pursuits and logical classification of the habitats and society in a systematic manner with little to draw from precedents domestically or elsewhere. The fact that these classifications were documented at a very early date in the grammatical treatise Tolkappiyam (c. 200 B.C.E.), demonstrates the organised manner in which the Tamil language has evolved. Language identified with People See Also: Tolkappiyam Tolkappiyam is not merely a textbook on Tamil grammar giving the inflection and syntax of words and sentences but also includes classification of habitats, animals, plants and human beings. The discussion on human emotions and interactions is particularly significant. Tolkappiyam divided into three chapters: Orthography , Etymology and subject matter (''Porul'' - பொருள்). While the first two chapters of Tolkappiyam help codify the language, the last part, Porul refers to the people and their behaviour. The grammar helps to convey the literary message on human behaviour and conduct, and uniquely merges the language with its people. Agam and Puram Porul is subdivided into subjective (''Agam'' - அகம்), and objective topics (''Puram'' - புறம்). Subjective topics refer to the personal or human aspect of emotions that cannot be verbalized adequately or explained fully. It can only be experienced by the individuals and includes Love and Sexual Relationship . The division into akam and puram is not rigid but is flexible depending upon the interpretation used in a specific context. Objective topics discuss all other aspects of human experience such as Heroism , Ethics , Benevolence , Philanthropy , social life and customs. The division of literary works into subjective and objective topics has enabled the poetic minds to discuss all topics under the sun from grammar to love, all within the framework of well-prescribed, socially accepted conventions. Environmental Classifications Recognizing that human activities cannot take place in vacuum and are constantly influenced by environmental factors, human experiences, in general, and subjective topics in particular, are assigned to specific habitats. Accordingly land was classified into five divisions, thinai. These are: ''kurinji'' (குறிஞ்சி) - mountainous regions, ''mullai'' (முல்லை) - forests, ''marutham'' (மருதம்) - agricultural lands, ''neithal'' (நெய்தல்) coastal regions, ''paalai'' (பாலை) - deserts. TAMIL REVIVAL The credit for bringing these long forgotten literary gems to light should go to the Tamil Scholar U.V.Swaminatha Iyer . He took upon himself the arduous task of collecting the palm leaf manuscripts of great literary works that lay scattered not only in Tamil Nadu but even outside. As part of this mission he undertook long journeys, interesting and fruitful sometimes and unrewarding at others. Ultimately, he succeeded in gathering palm leaf manuscripts of many immortal Tamil works. With the objectivity and detachment of a scientist and the imagination of an artist and critic, he made comparative studies of various manuscripts. He printed and published Manimekalai ( 1898 ), Cilappatikaram ( 1889 ), Pattuppaattu ( 1889 ) and Purananuru ( 1894 ), all appended with scholarly commentaries. Although he brought out about 100 works in all, including minor poems, many of the manuscripts that he gathered remain unpublished. REFERENCES
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