Abstracts of the Lectures
The Sangam Period
The Sangam literature contains classical poems. Its style is unique, which was not followed subsequently as the language of Tamil poetry went through several changes. Basically, it portrays life during that period – from wars to intimacy, full of nuances and drama. The divide between the elite and the poor is seen even during those times. From expressing angst to appealing to God, this literature teaches how to celebrate life with all the emotions and angularities intact!
Thiruvalluvar, Ilango and Kamban
One is a saint-poet teaching us a way of life by obtaining the right attitude through 1330 cryptic couplets, the other is a dramatist who gives vivid details of a variety of arts and Gods worshipped during his time, and the last one is a combination of Valmiki, Kalidasa, and Shakespeare who rendered the epic Ramayana through his 10,000 plus verses which never cease to amaze the reader.
The Bhakti Element to Bharathi
If you remove the element of devotion, very little will be left of Tamil literature. The Saivite and Vaishnavite savants and their like contributed richly to Tamil. Their verses contain heightened romance which is what devotion is all about. The poems and prose of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi contain all that is mentioned above! He was a trailblazer as he forcefully influenced the very thinking process of litterateurs and even common men who came after him.
2. Introduction to Sangam literature by Professor A. Dakshinamurthy
3. A complete translation of Thirukkural in English
4. Subramania Bharathi and English renderings of some of his poems