Ancient Tamils Lifestyle and Multifactorial Management

Ancient Tamils Lifestyle and Multifactorial Management

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

 

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

admin

ஆய்வாளர், பேராசிரியர், கவிஞர்.

error: Content is protected !!