Tamilmanam Journal

A society's beliefs serve as powerful indicators of its deep-rooted cultural traditions, reflecting collective values, social needs, and historical continuity across generations. Historically, when early human communities encountered the mysterious operations of nature or untangible existential troubles, the mind constructed imaginative explanations to mitigate fear and instill order. Over time, these conceptual frameworks solidified into enduring cultural beliefs and social customs. While many ancient Tamil beliefs may appear irrational or unscientific through a modern lens, they remain deeply interwoven into the region's historical ethos, daily practices, and social fabric. Examining these traditions reveals how early intellectual adaptations continue to shape cultural identity, offering valuable insights into the psychological and sociological evolution of Tamil civilization.

Discourse refers to language in use, and discourse analysis is the systematic study of language as it is used in social contexts (Brown and Yule). Within educational settings, Classroom Discourse Analysis (CDA) emerged as a means of examining classroom interaction and student participation (Allwright). This paper presents a literature review of 30 studies on second-language classroom discourse conducted in Singapore and other countries. The review examines prevailing research questions, theoretical frameworks, and patterns of classroom interaction that have attracted scholarly attention. Analysis of the selected studies reveals that second-language primary classrooms are predominantly teacher-centred. Teacher talk constitutes the largest proportion of classroom discourse, followed by students’ choral responses. Classroom interactions are often characterised by the teacher’s control over topics, turn-taking, and participation structures, resulting in limited opportunities for natural communication. Teachers frequently employ display questions aimed at assessing students’ existing knowledge rather than facilitating the construction of new knowledge. Furthermore, questioning practices tend to emphasise lower-order thinking skills, with limited wait time provided for student responses. The findings of this review are consistent with those reported in previous classroom discourse studies and provide valuable insights into the nature of interaction within second-language classrooms. The review highlights the relationship between teacher discourse practices and student participation and suggests the need for pedagogical strategies that promote more meaningful interaction, higher-order thinking, and opportunities for authentic language use. These insights have important implications for enhancing the teaching and learning of second languages.

As described in the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam, while Pusalar conceived the idea of building a temple in his mind and constructed it for Lord Shiva, the Pallava King Rajasimha began constructing the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. The outer surrounding walls of this temple, along with all the sculptures within it, are crafted as if narrating a devotional epic. The revelation brought out through this study is the event recorded by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, stating that the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) of the holy temple built by Rajasimha and that of Pusalar's temple—which he built tirelessly day and night within his mind—occurred on the exact same day.

Based on the aforementioned core narrative, this research paper systematically categorizes and analyzes the poetic descriptions from the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam. Furthermore, it compares the similarities and differences between the mind-built temple and the royal temple constructed of stone and brick using tables and explanatory figures. The central theme of this study focuses on how this puranic section establishes the Saiva Siddhanta principle that devotion relies primarily on internal devotion and thought rather than external wealth.

As described in the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam, while Pusalar conceived the idea of building a temple in his mind and constructed it for Lord Shiva, the Pallava King Rajasimha began constructing the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. The outer surrounding walls of this temple, along with all the sculptures within it, are crafted as if narrating a devotional epic. The revelation brought out through this study is the event recorded by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, stating that the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) of the holy temple built by Rajasimha and that of Pusalar's temple—which he built tirelessly day and night within his mind—occurred on the exact same day.

Based on the aforementioned core narrative, this research paper systematically categorizes and analyzes the poetic descriptions from the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam. Furthermore, it compares the similarities and differences between the mind-built temple and the royal temple constructed of stone and brick using tables and explanatory figures. The central theme of this study focuses on how this puranic section establishes the Saiva Siddhanta principle that devotion relies primarily on internal devotion and thought rather than external wealth.

English has travelled a long road in India, from a colonial medium to a powerful public language used in politics, media, and international diplomacy. In contemporary India, political speeches delivered in English carry symbolic value, shaping public attitudes and national identity. This review paper explores how English functions as a foreign language in Indian political communication and how leading political figures use it to project authority, credibility, and identity. The study brings together theoretical ideas from EFL studies, Sociolinguistics, and Critical Discourse Analysis to understand how Indian politicians handle English in their public speeches. The paper reviews iconic figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and J. Jayalalithaa, and moves toward unavoidable contemporary personalities like Shashi Tharoor and Narendra Modi, who stand at two ends of the English-proficiency spectrum. Their unique linguistic choices show how English in political life is not just a language but a tool of image-making. The review highlights code-switching, rhetorical moves, pronunciation patterns, vocabulary choice, and audience design. The conclusion argues that English in Indian politics is a living, shifting performance, revealing how power, identity, and language walk hand-in-hand in the public sphere.

Konangi is a significant contemporary Tamil writer whose short stories exhibit distinctive postmodern narrative practices through innovative language, fragmented structures, and unconventional modes of representation. This article examines selected short stories of Konangi from a postmodern theoretical perspective, focusing on the ways in which his narratives challenge conventional literary structures and established modes of meaning-making. Particular attention is given to the dismantling of dominant centres, deconstruction, non-linear narration, plurality, linguistic experimentation, and the reconstruction of reality. The study also explores the representation of regional life, marginalised voices, power relations, social tensions, and individual experiences within his fictional world. Konangi’s narratives often disrupt chronological continuity and create multiple layers of meaning, thereby encouraging readers to participate actively in the process of interpretation. The study argues that his distinctive narrative strategies expand the possibilities of Tamil short fiction and demonstrate significant postmodern tendencies in contemporary Tamil literature. Through this analysis, the article highlights the aesthetic, linguistic, and ideological dimensions of Konangi’s short stories and establishes their relevance to the study of postmodern literary practices in Tamil.

The COVID-19 pandemic constituted not merely a global public health crisis but also a significant socio-cultural disruption that transformed everyday life and human relationships. Measures such as lockdowns, quarantine, social distancing, and travel restrictions, implemented to contain the spread of the disease, profoundly altered patterns of social interaction and interpersonal relationships. Physical separation from family and loved ones, restricted mobility, prolonged waiting, and disruptions in communication emerged as significant dimensions of human experience during the pandemic.

Against this contemporary backdrop, the present study offers a rereading of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet through the lens of pandemic isolation and human relationships. In the concluding episodes of the play, the outbreak of plague creates social and spatial restrictions that prevent Friar John from delivering Friar Laurence’s message to Romeo. This interruption in communication initiates a chain of misunderstandings that ultimately contributes to the tragic deaths of the lovers. Thus, disease in the play functions not merely as a medical condition but also as a social force that restricts mobility, disrupts communication, and profoundly affects human relationships.

The study examines the experiences of isolation, separation, waiting, communicative disruption, love, and human connectedness in Romeo and Juliet in relation to the lived experiences of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a comparative rereading of pandemic experience and Shakespearean tragedy, the study demonstrates how a contemporary experience of global crisis can generate new interpretive possibilities for a canonical literary text. The article argues that the pandemic context enables a deeper understanding of the play’s representation of isolation, failed communication, emotional separation, and the vulnerability of human relationships during periods of social crisis.

The images of television serials bring changes in the minds of the women viewers. The researcher conducted a study on the influence of Indian serials in special reference to Tamil Television serials on women viewers in particular. The study aimed to find out different kinds of portrayals of women in Tamil TV serials. This article explains the portrayals of the emotional status of women. The researcher took into consideration the opinions of women viewers to find out how women are portrayed in Tamil TV serials. The author extended the study further, based the study on cultivation theory and analysed the resonance level of TV serial images to which women viewers from Northern Tamilnadu were exposed. The study explored whether women are shown in Tamil TV serials as ‘bold & intelligent’ or as ‘weak/helpless’   during a crisis. The researcher has done a Survey which is Quantitative in nature and proceeded with an In-depth interview. Here, the SPSS software has been used for the analysis of the data regarding viewers’ opinions on the portrayals and their real-life experiences, and to find out the congruence levels.  These results were analysed in three ways: Percentile, Kendall’s Tau b correlation statistic, and Factor Analysis. Though the opinion of the viewers on the portrayal of women as bold & intelligent was above average (75%) the real-life experiences do not match with that level. Because the viewers opined that they were not bold and intelligent at the time of crisis. Hence, there was a below-average resonance level.

In the Tamil Siddhar tradition, the concept of “Jeeva Samadhi” is presented as a spiritual state in which body and life are integrated through yogic practice so as to transcend time and death and attain permanence. Drawing on the traditional accounts of Thirumoolar, Agathiyar and Bogar, this paper examines the philosophical meaning of Jeeva Samadhi and the ethical life principles that underlie it. Its principal finding is that five components — dietary discipline (pathiyam), pranayama-yoga, moral integrity, detachment, and guru-mediated learning — together prepare an aspirant for this state. The paper further shows that Jeeva Samadhi functions not only as an individual attainment but also, through sacred seats (peedams), as a collective institution that offers continuing spiritual energy to society. It concludes that the Siddhar tradition’s holistic approach, which integrates physical health, mental well-being and social justice, remains relevant to contemporary inquiry.

Humanity originates from the natural and fundamental quality of humanness. Tamil traditional works such as Thirukkural, Tholkappiyam, and Siddhar poems testify that the defining characteristic of humanity is acting without any expectations when helping others. In the 21st century, as humanistic values fade amid a mechanized lifestyle, modern Tamil short stories engage in an effort to reclaim those traits. Based on the short stories "Thunikkara Sami" and "Nalla Manithar" from S. Gandhi Durai's collection Puthu Vaazhkai, this paper analyzes the humanistic thought reflected in them. The act of Thunikkara Sami, who identified a child's basic needs—food, clothing, and shelter—to help them pursue an education and lovingly provided them, is described as the pinnacle of humanity. Similarly, through an unknown man who helped a helpless mother and daughter, it is highlighted that humanity remains alive today in some corner of the world. By comparing quotes from Thiruvalluvar, Thayumanavar, Vallalar, and poet Pratap, this article establishes that S. Gandhi Durai's short stories emphasize the virtues of compassion, love, and gratitude in human life. The conclusion of this study is that these short stories instill confidence that humanity has not completely perished in a mechanized life.

This study examines the continuity, transformations, and conflicts between ancient Tamil educational traditions and contemporary learning paradigms through a historical and analytical lens. Historically rooted in Sangam literature, the Thirukkural, and religious scholarly traditions, traditional Tamil education prioritized ethical grounding, holistic humanism, social responsibility, and practical life skills. In contrast, modern educational systems emphasize outcome-based learning, student-centered frameworks, and digital modalities—ranging from hybrid platforms to artificial intelligence—which often accelerate cognitive and technical development at the expense of moral and attitudinal growth. By analyzing primary historical texts alongside modern educational data, the research investigates how this shift toward result-oriented and technological learning impacts Tamil cultural identity and social cohesion. Ultimately, the abstract underscores the necessity of a balanced pedagogical approach that integrates traditional humanistic values with modern technological advancements to ensure sustainable educational and cultural progress for future generations.

Jayakanthan is an author who made a unique mark for himself in the world of Tamil literature. He realistically captured the lives of the downtrodden and the mental struggles of the middle class. Notably, female characters in his novels are not portrayed merely as objects of pleasure or as weak individuals. Instead, they shine with independent thought, courage, and financial independence. This paper analyzes his feminist perspectives through Jayakanthan's major novels such as Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal, Oru Nadigai Nadagam Parkiral, and Innum Oru Pennin Kadhai.

Each of the traditional martial sports of Tamil society possesses its own unique individuality. The heritage sports of the Tamils were not created merely for entertainment; they were designed to simultaneously provide joy to the mind and strength to the body. These traditional sports also speak to the pride of our land. It is through Sangam literature that we are able to understand the nature of the traditional sports of that era today. The roots of all martial arts practiced around the world today can be traced back to the heritage sports of the Tamils, such as Malladal (wrestling, Mallakhamb), Silambam, combat wrestling (Marpor), Adimurai, and Kalaripayattu. The primary objective of this research study is to highlight these traditional sports, which are currently facing extinction, so that today's society living in the modern world may come to know and understand them.

Thirumoolar's Thirumandhiram considers Yoga not merely as a system of physical exercise, but as a philosophical-spiritual path aimed at the holistic development of human personality. Emphasizing the integrated development of the body, mind, intellect, and soul, Thirumoolar's yoga philosophy explains morality, self-discipline, mental purity, and spiritual awareness as essential components of human progress. Viewing the human body as a sacred temple where divine grace resides, Thirumoolar highlights the necessity of maintaining physical health, mental balance, and a elevated state of consciousness through moral conduct and yoga practices.

Using descriptive and qualitative research approaches, this research paper examines the philosophical foundations of Thirumoolar's yoga philosophy and its contribution to holistic human personality development.

Sangam literature serves as primary evidence reflecting the lifestyle and culture of the ancient Tamils. Kuruntokai, one of the love-themed anthologies of the Ettuthokai (Eight Anthologies), not only expresses the emotions of people within love conventions (Akapporul) but also records rare historical data regarding the religion, rituals, worship methods, and mythical beliefs of ancient Tamils. This article comprehensively examines the worship myths of deities featured in Kuruntokai against the background of the etymological growth of the term "Myth," the grammatical definitions in Tolkappiyam, and scholarly explanations. This study presents detailed evidence structured under four major divisions: the myth of Lord Murugan (god of the Kurinji landscape) destroying the Avunas (demons), references to Kollipavai, natural worship practices such as crescent moon adoration rituals, and valor-based hero stone (Nadukal) worship.

This research paper extensively examines the role of nature in Sangam literature and its deep bond with human life. Sangam poets did not view nature merely as an object of beauty, but portrayed it as a reflection of human emotions and an indispensable part of inner (Akam) and outer (Puram) life. Based on the Tolkappiyam principle that the world is an amalgamation of the five elements, this paper clarifies how nature is inextricably interwoven into the Tinai concepts of Mutharporul (time and land), Karupporul (native elements), and Uripporul (human emotions/behavior).

In Akam literature, to convey psychological states such as the separation, longing, and waiting of the hero and heroine, Vengai and Punnai trees, along with monsoon flowers, are utilized as messengers, witnesses, and symbols. In Puram literature, forests, Parambu mountain, and Mullai flowers are employed as metaphors to express the valor, generosity, and tragic grief (Kaiyarunilai) of kings. Drawing evidence from various Sangam works such as Kurinjippattu, Tirumurukattuppadai, and Purananuru, this paper comprehensively synthesizes the nature-integrated lifestyle of the ancient Tamils and the intricate natural descriptions of the poets.

Education is the fundamental tool for the holistic progress of human life. It is considered not merely a means of acquiring knowledge, but a way of life that enables individuals to live with ethics, character, and social responsibility. Such educational thoughts hold an ancient place in the cultural tradition of Tamils (Varadarajan; Velupillai). In particular, the Pathinenkilkkanakku (Eighteen Lesser Texts) ethical literature produced during the Post-Sangam period clearly highlights the nobility of education and its practical purpose in life (Elangumaran; Vaiyapuri Pillai). Ethical works such as Thirukkural, Naladiyar, Iniyavai Narpathu, Inna Narpathu, Acharakovai, Palamoli Nanuru, Sirupanchamoolam, and Elathi do not treat education solely as intellectual growth; rather, they view it as a noble instrument to cultivate human morality, social responsibility, good governance, humility, rationality, and ethics for living. This paper examines the educational thoughts found in ethical literature, explaining their developmental background, the various objectives of education, and their role in individual and social progress. Furthermore, it compares these principles with modern educational policies (Government of India) and highlights the timeless relevance of the educational concepts emphasized in ethical texts. The study reinforces that value-based education, which shapes a human being into a complete personality, forms the foundation for sustainable social progress. This paper will be useful for researchers, teachers, and students interested in understanding the educational traditions of Tamil society.

In the tradition of Tamil literature, ornament has long been considered a symbol of a woman's beauty and wealth. This research article re-reads that assumption through Jeyamohan's novel Venmurasu. Statements regarding the ornaments of the female characters in Venmurasu have been taken as primary data. In particular, the study discusses in depth a woman's feeling of saying ‘as a woman, I am bearing these ornaments,’ the bitterness she feels upon seeing her decorated image in the mirror, the shudder she feels — as if touching a dead body — at the place where the ornaments touch her, the desire to change into simple clothes while being unable to do so, the burden of chastity carried in the statement ‘jewellery is to show that your heart has blossomed for your husband,’ and the command of authority that ‘a queen must always be adorned with ornaments.’

This paper seeks to establish, through evidence from Sangam literature, that the palmyra palm has been a plant deeply intertwined with the everyday life, culture, and economy of the Tamil people (Varadharajan 45–52). The study explains the distinctive significance of the palmyra palm, its relationship with the people and the land during the Sangam period, and its long-standing status as a valuable economic crop. The various uses of the palmyra palm and its 34 identified varieties are also examined. The paper provides an extensive analysis of its uses not only as a source of food and medicine but also as a marker indicating the boundaries of settlements, along with the various useful products obtained from the palmyra palm. Furthermore, the lifespan of the palmyra palm and its ability to remain closely integrated with Tamil life are discussed. The paper also presents the traditional belief that palmyra palms help raise the groundwater level and highlights the understanding that, for this reason, earlier generations protected and cultivated palmyra palms near water bodies. It is intended to convey this traditional ecological knowledge to the younger generation of today.

Although the origin of this world cannot be asserted with certainty, the manner of investigating its operational system is known as science. The perspective of operating through the realization of cause-and-effect relationships is the scientific viewpoint. Viewed from this perspective, the ideas presented about nature, the body-life relationship, sensory development, and culture in Sangam literature, such as Tolkappiyam and Purananuru, are scientific in nature.

This paper analyzes the scientific outlook held by the ancient Tamils through the five elements theory, the evolutionary theory of living beings from one-sensed to six-sensed organisms, and the analogy between the human body and nature. This article attempts to establish that such an ancient Tamil perspective is applicable to contemporary human life and serves as a relevant living ethic.

In the Ettuthokai anthology of Sangam literature, secondary characters play a crucial role in explicating the nuances of Akam (interior/love) and Puram (exterior/heroic) life. Beyond the key figures like Thozhi, Sevilithai, Paangan, Paanan, Virali, and Parathai, characters such as Kandoor (wayfarers), Nattray (biological mother), Velan (shaman), and Paagan (charioteer) serve as pivotal literary catalysts. This research paper presents an expanded analysis of the structural, socio-psychological, and narrative functions of these secondary characters in Ettuthokai with relevant poetic evidence.

In its historical journey of over two thousand years, Tamil literature has developed various literary genres. Branching into several sub-forms under the two major divisions of traditional and modern literature—such as Sangam literature, didactic literature, epic literature, devotional literature, minor literature (Chittrilakkiyam), and contemporary literature—the category of 'Children's Literature', which focuses on children and adolescents, originated in Tamil at the end of the nineteenth century and grew into a distinct genre during the twentieth century. This article historically analyzes the origin, development, pioneers, journalistic contributions, thematic shifts, and awards associated with children's literature from the era of Tolkappiyar to the present day.

In the tradition of Tamil film music, Na. Muthukumar is a notable poet who seamlessly combined poetic nuance with life philosophy. In simple language and deep emotional nuance, he expressed the subtleties of human relationships, the complexities of the family structure, and the affectionate bonds that exist in society. This research paper analyzes the social portrayals in Na. Muthukumar's film songs, particularly focusing on family relationships such as mother, father, elder brother, sister-in-law, elder sister, younger brother, younger sister, grandmother, grandfather, and paternal relatives. This article analyzes the writer's technique in expressing the hardships and pressures occurring in society through his songs, using dictionary definitions, scholars' opinions, and original song lyrics.

Perumal Murugan stands out as a writer who has deeply documented the regional life and linguistic style of the Kongu region in modern Tamil literature. Across his nearly thirty years of literary output—particularly in the novels Koolamadhari, Madhorubagan, Aalandapatchi, and Pookuzhi—Kongu dialect usages, agriculture-related vocabulary, ritual and traditional terms, and word clusters related to food, clothing, and occupation appear in dense concentration. This article examines the Kongu regional linguistic elements found in these novels and the local knowledge traditions they reveal (agricultural knowledge, ecological knowledge, knowledge of the social-caste system, and folk-medical knowledge) using Corpus Linguistics and Digital Humanities methodologies. By employing computational linguistic tools such as text corpus construction, frequency analysis, word-cloud visualization, and collocation analysis, the article attempts to bridge the gap between traditional literary-critical reading and data-based quantitative reading. Finally, the article puts forward the need for and possibilities of documenting regional dialect literary works through digital humanities tools.

This paper re-evaluates the history of medieval Tamil temples by shifting the focus from dynastic kings and monumental architecture to the ongoing institutional participation of women. Drawing on epigraphic evidence carved into temple walls, the author highlights women omitted from conventional royal chronicles who actively managed property, donated gold and land, and supported ritual life. The study nuances the retrospective categorization of temple-affiliated women (often broadly grouped as devadāsīs) by showing their diverse roles as independent donors and economic actors, while framing their involvement through historical agency—their ability to allocate resources within existing social structures—rather than modern concepts of gender resistance. Ultimately, the paper argues that integrating these inscriptional records into traditional art and architectural histories provides a more complete and complex understanding of female agency in medieval Tamil Nadu.

V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, a freedom fighter who raised the pride of Tamils and a Tamil scholar, served the Tamil language across four domains: translation, creative writing, commentary, and publishing. He translated James Allen's book "Out from the Heart" into Tamil under the title "Agame Puram" (Chidambaram Pillai). Centered on the idea that the inner mind and outer world are not different, and that if the inner self becomes pure, the outer life will also become refined, this article analyzes the publishing history of this work alongside its views on morality, virtue, and mindset using comparative and descriptive critical methods. Furthermore, this paper highlights how historical details about the book risk being lost due to the removal of prefaces in subsequent editions.

Our Indian tradition possesses a deep-rooted history in fields such as astronomy, architecture, ecology, agriculture, and medicine. Within this tradition, Tamil heritage holds a primary position by virtue of its antiquity and literary richness. Tamil literature explains not only lifestyle based on land classification (Thinai) but also science. Just as traditional medicine holds immense importance in the Indian Knowledge System, the Tamil knowledge tradition remains incomplete without Tamil Siddha medicine. Various types of Siddha formulations form the core foundation of Siddha medicine, which was created by the Tamil language and Tamil Siddhas, and preserved by Tamils. The objective of this paper is to analyze and explain the Tamil literature that details the technologies behind the sixty-four categories of Siddha medicines. This paper explores various Tamil medical texts of the Siddhas and the information embedded within them regarding drug potency, ingredients that reduce potency, ingredients that enhance potency, and pharmaceutical preparation rules.

Freedom of the press is not separately guaranteed by the Constitution of India; it is implied within the freedom of speech and expression secured to every citizen under Article 19(1)(a) and qualified by the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2). This paper examines the constitutional foundations of press freedom in India, the judicial reasoning through which the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the press as an essential pillar of democracy, and the recurring tension between a free press and governmental restraint, most starkly illustrated by the pre-censorship imposed during the National Emergency of 1975. Drawing on constitutional text, landmark judgments, and classical and contemporary theories of free expression, the paper argues that an independent press — free to inform, investigate, expose abuse, and educate — remains indispensable to a functioning democratic order, even as it acknowledges the genuine costs and dangers that unrestrained speech can carry.

Fieldwork refers to the location chosen by a researcher for their study and the collection of data from that site. Such fieldwork is conducted across disciplines like science, history, folklore, and social sciences. Among these, fieldwork holds a prominent position in the field of folklore.

Here, fieldwork is undertaken to collect folklore genres such as songs, ballads, oral tales, proverbs, riddles, folk deities, worship traditions, festivals, beliefs, rituals, traditional medical practices, performing arts, handicrafts, and the usage of material culture objects.

In literary/textual research, primary source texts already serve as data, so fieldwork presents no challenge there. However, for a researcher who chooses a topic related to folklore, the place where people live serves as the primary source of data. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how folklore-based fieldwork is conducted.

The antiquity and historical-civilizational development of Tamils are considered among the oldest traditional cultural heritage streams in the Indian subcontinent. This research article comprehensively examines the civilization's growth through the origin of ancient Tamils, the greatness of their historical antiquity, historical evidence, Sangam literature sources, socio-political structures, medical-scientific achievements, and modern archaeological excavation findings such as those from Keeladi.

Furthermore, the ancient Tamils' nature-aligned Ainthinai (five landscapes) lifestyle, international maritime trade, irrigation techniques, virtue-based righteous governance (Sengol rule), contributions of Sangam-era female poets, and the living challenges and achievements faced by the modern Tamil diaspora are subjected to in-depth historical analysis. This article expands upon prior research by incorporating new Keeladi excavation reports published in 2019, 2023, and 2024, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating results, and updated research data published in international journals.

The conclusion of this study posits that Tamil civilization is neither mere literary imagination nor mythological lore; rather, it is a scientifically validated history supported across four distinct dimensions: epigraphical, archaeological, radiocarbon dating, and literary evidence..

Kuruntokai, the second anthology among the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai) of Sangam literature, is a remarkable collection of short poems dealing exclusively with akam (interior/love) experience. Comprising roughly 401–402 poems ranging from two to ten lines, the anthology renders the subtle dimensions of human emotion through a highly condensed poetic form. Although grounded in the akam conventions of the Tolkappiyam, Kuruntokai poets do not follow those conventions mechanically; instead, they create distinctive emotional landscapes within the five-tinai framework — Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, and Palai. This study extends existing scholarship — which has concentrated largely on tinai classification and hero–heroine ethics — by examining how linguistic compression itself becomes an aesthetic strategy, how ullurai uvamai (implicit metaphor) and iraichi (suggested meaning) transform natural imagery into psychological expression, and how deliberate narrative silence invites active reader participation. The paper argues that Kuruntokai achieves exceptional poetic intensity through compression, suggestion, and silence, offering a model comparable to later short-form poetic traditions worldwide.

In the history of Tamil short stories, Tamilavan's works hold a prominent place for shifting the emphasis from traditional author-centric storytelling to the reader's interpretive experience through postmodern narrative strategies. Grounded in Roland Barthes' concept of the "Death of the Author" and Michel Foucault's ideas on authorial power, the primary objective of this research paper is to examine how Tamilavan's stories deconstruct the singular authority of the writer over the text. Based on Tamilavan's five major short story collections, this paper analyzes how he avoids confining stories to fixed conclusions, structuring them instead as 'open texts' that allow readers to derive meaning across multiple levels according to their own perspectives. In addition, this study situates Tamilavan's narrative strategies within a broader comparative frame by drawing on Western reader-response theorists such as Wolfgang Iser, Stanley Fish, and Louise Rosenblatt, thereby extending the theoretical scope of the original enquiry. Ultimately, these works possess a unique approach that freely grants the authority of textual interpretation to the reader, transforming them into the central focus of the reading process.

Exposing the technical limits of existing early warning systems after a devastating August 2026 flash flood in Nepal's Trisuli–Bhote Koshi basin, this paper proposes a multi-hazard early warning framework to address rising Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and avalanche-induced flash floods in the climate-sensitive Himalayas. The framework combines risk prediction, GIS risk mapping, and early warning layers by using Transformer/LSTM deep learning models to integrate six distinct data sources: satellite imagery, glacier temperature, snowmelt rate, rainfall, seismic signals, and river water levels. Additionally, it incorporates Digital Twin technology for real-time basin modeling and "what-if" simulations, demonstrating through the 2026 Nepal disaster case study how lead times can be improved across South Asian Himalayan regions and similar high-risk zones.

Sangam literature holds a distinct place among the ancient literary treasures of Tamil. It meticulously records the lifestyle, culture, romantic emotions, social relationships, and nature-integrated living of the Tamils of that era. Kurunthogai, one of the works of the Ettuthogai (Eight Anthologies), is a prominent text centered on Akam (inner life and love poetry). When examining the position of the heroine (Thalaivi) in Kurunthogai, her romantic feelings, patient waiting, grief of separation, love spats (Oodal), sense of shyness, mental fortitude, conversations with her companion (Thozhi), connection with nature, and her sense of agency in love are prominently expressed.

Kurunthogai conveys deep inner emotions through brief poetic lines. Through Akam characters such as the hero, heroine, companion, foster mother, and biological mother, the subtle nuances of the human mind are articulated. The heroine in Kurunthogai is not merely a passive or silent female character; she realizes her love, honors it, grieves over separation, expresses her expectations to the hero, and conveys her views through her companion when necessary. Thus, the heroine in Kurunthogai emerges as a complete female personality endowed with deep emotions and thoughtful agency.

Sangam literature serves as the primary literary evidence for understanding the ancient lifestyle of the Tamils. Kalithokai, one of the Ettuthokai (Eight Anthologies), is a collection of Akam (interior/love) poems composed in the Kali metre. Within it, Maruthakkali highlights the lifestyle elements of the Marutham landscape (tinai) across various dimensions. The songs of Maruthakkali range from 66 to 100 and were composed by Maruthan Ilanaganaar. The primary thematic essence (Uripporul) of Marutham is oodal (love sulking) and its causes. Consequently, Maruthakkali reflects diverse aspects of life, including the relationship between the hero and heroine, courtesanhood (parathaimai), the heroine's sulking, the friend's conciliation efforts, family relationships, resolution of conflict through the son, social life, nature, and festivals.This study approaches Maruthakkali not merely as love literature, but as a document of life that reveals the family structure, women's psychology, male-female relationships, social morality, economic background, nature-centric living, and ethical thought of the Sangam period. In particular, the lifestyle values presented in Maruthakkali are analyzed based on songs 66, 91, 92, 98, 99, and 100. Grounded in descriptive and analytical methodologies, this study establishes Maruthakkali as a vital literary record aiding the understanding of the psychological, social, and economic life of the Sangam people.

Tamil literature encompasses multifaceted dimensions of human knowledge, including religion, devotion, politics, sociology, medicine, and scientific thought. Among these works, the Kamba Ramayanam, authored by Kamban, stands as a peak of Tamil imaginative literature. In the current context of rapid advancements in fields such as nanotechnology, nanomedicine, metamaterials, and intelligent sensors, certain descriptive scenes in the original text of the Kamba Ramayanam can be conceptually compared with these modern technological ideas. This paper analyzes five selected scenes from the Kamba Ramayanam—the subtlety of the atom, Hanuman's transformation of form, revival through the Sanjeevani herb, precision missiles, Indrajit's illusory warfare, and Hanuman's espionage operation—by linking them with original verses and comparing them to modern nanotechnology, metamaterial science, targeted drug delivery systems, precision weapons technology, and micro-surveillance technology. These comparisons should not be regarded as historical evidence proving the direct existence of modern scientific knowledge in ancient times; rather, the objective of this paper is to illustrate how a poet's imaginative capacity can conceptually converse with modern scientific hypotheses.

Sangam literature is a rich document that illustrates the natural observation skills of ancient Tamils and their close relationship with the animal kingdom. Focusing on descriptions of animals such as the elephant, deer, wild boar, monkey, and tiger featured in Sangam poems, this article examines how their physical structure, diet, family attachment, and conflicts with enemies were meticulously observed by poets and recorded in poetic language. Poetic conventions—such as comparing an elephant's tusk to the crescent moon and screw-pine bud, a wild boar's head to a mortar, and a monkey's infant to a human child—are taken as examples for analysis. The knowledge of animal classification provided in Tolkāppiyam's Marapiyal is also comparatively analyzed in this paper. The ultimate conclusion of this article is that the intellectual dimension of natural observation, combined with the artistic dimension of connecting it to human emotions, together form the zoology of Sangam literature. It presents this as a rich dataset of the ancient Tamils' living knowledge and linguistic wealth, useful for contemporary ecological and cultural studies.

This research paper examines the profound contributions of French scholar Jean-Luc Chevillard to Classical Tamil studies, focusing on his extensive work in Tamil grammar, historical linguistics, and classical literature. Chevillard's academic trajectory shifted toward classical Tamil grammar through his detailed investigation of the Collatikāram of Tolkāppiyam and Cēnāvaraiyar's commentary. Utilizing modern Western linguistic theories, historical linguistics, and comparative approaches, Chevillard analyzed core grammatical features including deixis, ideophones, ticai-c-col, Eluttatikāram, and Tamil metrics (Ceyyuḷiyal). His interdisciplinary methodology bridged traditional Indian commentary traditions with international linguistic frameworks, opening new analytical vistas for Tamilology. This study highlights Chevillard's critical role in advancing Classical Tamil research on global academic platforms, leading to his recognition with the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Semmozhi Tamil Award.

Based on data from six rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted over a 32-year period from 1992 to 2024, this study examines early marriage trends in India. The child marriage rate among women aged 20–24 dropped from 49.4 percent in NFHS-1 (1992–93) to 20.1 percent in NFHS-6 (2023–24) (IIPS & ICF, 2026). The median age at first marriage for women has increased from 17.2 years to 19.2 years. However, the rate remains high in states such as West Bengal (36.4%), Bihar (34.6%), and Rajasthan (34.0%), while it is very low in states like Kerala (2.9%) and Goa (6.8%) (Gausman et al., 2024). Among uneducated women, 48 percent married before the age of 18, and 58 percent in the poorest households did so; in contrast, only 10 percent of women with higher education and 20 percent from wealthy households fall into this category. Logistic regression analysis confirms that female education and household wealth are the strongest determinants (Singh et al., 2024). Early marriage is directly linked to adolescent motherhood, maternal mortality, child health deficits, and restrictions on education and employment opportunities (Shri et al., 2023; Subba, 2025). These findings emphasize the necessity of strong enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, affordable educational opportunities, and financial support for poor families. Eradicating early marriage is essential to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality (UNICEF, 2023).

Although modern engineering education relies heavily on advanced digital tools, access alone does not ensure success for rural students, who often experience psychological resistance to new technologies. Rather than a lack of technical capability, this resistance is an emotional and cognitive defense against fear of failure, identity threat, and social judgment. By synthesizing theories of self-efficacy, technology acceptance, technophobia, and impostor syndrome, the paper introduces a "psychological friction layer" that explains how a student's socioeconomic and linguistic background creates anxiety in laboratory environments. Through case studies across multiple engineering disciplines, the authors contrast rural-transitioning students with urban-exposed peers and offer a four-phase institutional roadmap—spanning psychological readiness assessments, low-friction foundation modules, gamified error handling, and full system integration—to help educators transform initial anxiety into long-term technical competence.

Tamil is not merely a language; it embodies a culture deeply connected to nature. Through profound experience, Tamils gained an indisputable understanding of how nature functions in daily life and how it shapes human existence, basing their way of life upon this knowledge. Accordingly, they tracked the movements of planets and stars, categorising time into eras, years, months, and nakshatras based on natural cycles; they established temples and agricultural systems as the focal points for observing these rhythms. They practised agriculture in alignment with the seasons and utilized the resulting harvests to provide offerings for the worship of deities in temples, scheduled according to the months and star-based travels. Driven by the desire that their endowments should benefit the public, donors recorded their endowments in inscriptions for all to see. Tamil months and Nakshatras (asterisms) played a significant role across various spheres-including kingship, individual life, politics, temple affairs, and agriculture-and inscriptions serve as the evidence that reveals this to us. Drawing upon specific temple inscriptions as primary sources, this study provides details regarding festival endowments-identifying the donors, the timing, the beneficiaries, and the underlying purposes of these gifts. While it is not feasible to examine every single temple inscription, the study of a select few allows us to understand the significance of Tamil months and Nakshatras, as well as the festivals associated with them.

Tiruvaḷḷuvar kāviyam is a unique Tamil poem of the twentieth century. It was composed by Coimbatore scholar A. Krishnasamy Naidu. The author's fictional kāviyam Thandiyalangaram also contains elements of kāviyam. In such a society, there should be separate educational institutions for men and women. Academic learning alone is insufficient; students must also acquire proficiency in various arts. Thiruvalluvar’s epic embodies the vision that both genders should excel by engaging in diverse forms of training—such as agriculture, vocational skills, physical exercise, *asanas* (yoga postures), martial arts, spinning, and arithmetic. The objective of this article is to highlight these educational ideals.

The Kakshya provide the next level of detail in decoding Ashtakavarga. Based on the Rekha provided by a planet in the Rasi of the Bhinna Ashtakavarga (BAV), the Kakshya is classified as Rekhaprada Kakshya or Karnaprada Kakshya. Rekhaprada and Karnaprada Kakshya give important information about the transit effect of the Graha, based on which prediction accuracy can be increased. This paper examines the structure of Kakshya within the Ashtakavarga system, explains the classification of Kakshya as Rekhaprada or Karnaprada, and demonstrates, through worked examples and a natal chart case study, how Kakshya-level analysis refines transit prediction beyond the conventional Rasi-level Ashtakavarga assessment.

The physiological phenomenon known as the "Refractory Period," which occurs post-coitus in human sexual behavior, serves as a significant subject of research in modern neuroscience. Thiruvalluvar, belonging to the BC era, described the pleasure of this interval/rest period in his Thirukkural under the section Kamathupal (The Book of Love), specifically in the chapter titled "Udaluvagai" (The Delight of Sulking / Quarrel, Chapter 133).

Centering on four specific couplets—Kurals 1325, 1326, 1328, and 1330—this research paper analyzes the hidden neuroscientific truths within them by comparing them with modern research papers published in databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Nature Portfolio (Communications Biology). The study discusses the fluctuations of neurochemicals like oxytocin, prolactin, dopamine, and gonadotropin, sex-based physiological differences, and evolutionary factors. This paper represents an interdisciplinary effort to bridge the observational scientific insights embedded in ancient Tamil literature with modern medical science.

This study examines Vasanthan Koothu as a vital folk art form and cultural symbol within the Batticaloa Tamil community, highlighting its role in fostering social unity, moral values, and cultural continuity through oral tradition and community participation, especially among youth. Grounded in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage framework and comparative analysis with regional folk traditions like Tamil Nadu’s Therukoothu, the research details how Vasanthan Koothu drives social cohesion and identity formation despite modern disruptions such as wartime impacts, displacement, economic pressures, and media influence. Ultimately, the findings reaffirm Vasanthan Koothu's enduring function as a repository of collective memory and a resilient anchor of socio-cultural identity amidst changing societal dynamics.

As a key work within Sangam literature's Eight Anthologies, Natrinai offers a profound window into ancient Tamil society by capturing the intimate world of human love and emotion across its 400 akam poems. Anchored in Tolkappiyam poetic conventions—such as ullurai uvamam (implicit similes) and the foundational elements of muthal, karu, and uri—the text uses Tamil literature's five distinct landscapes (Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, and Palai) not merely as backdrops, but as vital symbols to express union, separation, longing, and anxiety. Through the distinct perspectives of the hero, heroine, friend, and mother figures, Natrinai masterfully integrates nature and social relationships, demonstrating how concise imagery and ecological consciousness can convey complex psychological and cultural experiences.