India has been criticised by developing countries like America that we have been using an ample amount of chemical fertilisers to maximise food production. However, our agriculture department has stated our land is not suitable for another green revolution and that we ought to use only natural fertilisers. When the late author Tho Paramasivan was a little boy, he recollects seeing posters outside a few fields with the words, “This field is subjected to modern fertilisers.”
The author believes that changes in the agricultural field has had a parallel effect on our deep rooted culture. As the usage of modern fertilisers have been promoted extensively on digital media, he questions the knowledge of youngsters who participate in Twitter debates. Will the verdict hold ground when both the parties carry only half-baked internet knowledge?
He said that this book, “Ariyapaadatha Tamizhagam” is written for the vanguard of young Tamil blood. Some modernists may consider this as a patronage of those good old times but the author reinstates that knowing one’s roots is also part of science.
He criticises the era of commerce in the evolution of mankind. The population has been reduced to two categories - buyers and sellers. Magnifying consumerism has become the sole propriety of human race. Man was never made for this. Though the author proclaims that his knowledge is limited to the land he belongs to which is Tamizhnadu, he reinstates that his path is towards humanity as a whole.
He begins the chapter with the wonder of a language that is Tamil. A language that is believed as the oldest and primeval language spoken by the indigenous people who lived and nurtured the land of Tamilnadu 1000s' of years ago. Many historians believe that this land gave birth to the first civilisation that ever walked the earth. The rocks with inscription, houses with pottery and soil with flourishing vegetation was Tamizhagam centuries ago.
Tamil was seen as a way of life. A language that grew above and beyond scholarly poetry. In Devaaram, an ancient spiritual text, Tamil is referred as a “song” and not as a language. He mentions that ancient Jains and Shaivites gave a Godly stature to Tamil language.
It is believed that this language descended from the Adi Yogi, Lord Shiva and was passed on to Sage Agasthiyar who frequents all Indian Mythological Texts. The Great Poet Kambar, author of Ramayana. also agrees that Tamizh is a God-sent language.
Unlike the current times, the medieval Tamils stayed true to their roots and continued to worship their language. Tamil created a magic that brought large masses of people together in utter surrender. The world is aware of one person in this sea of patrons. A social activist and poet, Bharathithasan who repeatedly sung about the greatness of Tamil and called the language "a divine mother."
Tamil was loved and praised to the heavens that it preceded every street’s name, city’s name and as a state’s name. The state where Tamizh is spoken, is still called Tamizhnadu. The first ever Chola, a King of Southern India, renamed his War General as TamizhVell. This was considered as a great honour to have one's name entwined with the word Tamizh. This particular story was found as an inscription in a Jain temple.
These are some of the aspects of ancient Tamils and their way of life. If you wish to read more about the greatness of Tamilnadu, you can find the book, “Aripadaatha Tamizhagam” on Flipkart & Amazon.
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