The challenge of writing about Tamils in English starts with the very word Tamil (I prefer Tamizh, though), as it is impossible to get it right phonetically. It is inconceivable that justice could be done to the ancient, multifaceted civilisation of Tamils through a book of 300-plus pages; unimaginable that so much depth and width could be so comprehensively covered without appearing like a railway timetable. That the author has managed to pull off this feat is truly commendable.

An objective, well researched book on Tamils is timely and necessary, to let the needle rest right, when political rhetoric is pulling uninformed citizens either to one extreme picture of an ancient, unpolluted civilisation that preceded every other in Bharat, or to the other of it being merely a satellite culture, that drew its inspiration from the Vedic civilisation, centred around the Gangetic plains. The book tells the story of Tamils as it is. The author walks on egg shells effortlessly.

History is but an assembly of random dots, consisting of archaeological evidences, inscriptions, living customs, written texts and most importantly, oral traditions. The dots can be connected to form the picture of the devil or the divine, depending on what the historian’s agenda is. What is remarkable about the book is that the author does not betray her agenda or her bias. Where there is disputed history, she is careful to disclose such contestations.

In the cocktail of oral legacy of India, it is futile to attempt to separate history and mythology. Agasthya, the sage who migrated from the north and supposedly compiled Agathiyam, the book on Tamil grammar, could be both a mythological and a historical figure, as also the early Pandyas, one of whom is supposed to have participated in the swayamvara of a maiden in the ancestry of Sri Rama, or even Kannagi, the heroine of Silapathikaram, who burnt down the city of Madurai to avenge the death of her husband due to a miscarriage of justice.

The author deftly handles all such ambiguities. This is a rare book of a civilisational history that leaves no seeds of controversy, even if you closely search for one.

Facts presented dispassionately

The book is not just a political history of Tamils, although that is the unavoidable anchor in most part of the book. The archaeological history dating back to at least 1,500 years before Christ, as evidenced by the recent excavations in Adhicchanallur and many other places, have thrown up evidences of a flourishing society that thrived on the banks of Vaigai river, complete with urban infrastructure, farming and trade.

These facts have been presented precisely and dispassionately. The written history of Tamils begins with poetry (the Sangam literature) and not politics. The chieftains of the Sangam age show up in the context of the lyrical beauty of the poems, and not as political figures. The political history moves to centrestage of the narrative only with the advent of the Pallavas, followed by the Pandyas, Cholas and the Cheras. If the book starts the story of the Tamils at midnight, Independent India arrives at 9.30 p.m. the next day.

Every facet of the Tamils, besides politics, has found proportionate coverage, be it literature, music, religion or industry. Agananuru to Anandavikatan, Kamban to Kannadasan, Thyagaraja to Ilayaraja, Karikala Chozhan to Karunanidhi, agriculture to automobile industry, have all been allotted their position in this mammoth parade of the Tamils.

The story of Tamils can never be complete without their temples. It is amply evident that the author deeply enjoys her visits to temples and she takes us through well conducted tours of temples big and small, ranging from the Meenakshi temple of Madurai to the relatively unknown rock-cut temple at Vettuvankoil, with flawless descriptions.

The history of castes carrying in its sweep, the evidence of jati nearly two millennia ago, the rather ambiguous prevalence of idangai, valangai divisions from the time of Cholas, the fluidity of the caste system that existed for many centuries and the sad emergence of caste hierarchy and untouchability have all been covered with sensitivity, yet analysed with clinical precision. The Dravidian movement, the author rightly points out, while decimating the Brahmin hegemony, has not succeeded in eliminating the caste system and the atrocities that it unfailingly provokes.

Host to syncretic cultures  

Tamilagam (or Tamil Nadu, if you have strong political views) has seen the worst of religious warfare, whether the plundering of temples by Muslim invaders or the destruction of Buddha Viharas by Hindu kings; the infamous strife between Vaishnavites and the Saivites or the conflict between Jainism and Brahminism.. Tamilagam has also played host to syncretic cultures where Muslim men tied black beads on a bride, looked after the accounts of the temple at Kombai and Christian missionaries donned saffron and sported a poonool.

The author has cited these interesting nuggets of harmonious co-existence of multiple cultures quoting unimpeachable sources.

It is generally believed that the South, particularly Tamil Nadu, has been shielded — due to its geographical location — from invaders. The truth is, Tamil Nadu has had its share of marauders, invaders, migrants and settlers. Between the 16th century and the 20th century, the Andhras, the Marathas, the sultans, the Portugese, the Dutch, the Danish, the French and the British have all ruled some part of Tamilagam during some years.

What is proudly held aloft by the Tamils as markers of Tamil culture are often amalgams of various foreign cultural influences, arising both from the debris of war and the pursuit of maritime trade. Yet, Tamils have stood out with their unique identities, as the book diligently argues.

It is evident that the author has done enough research and gathered enough material for a dozen companion books. When she writes those, I would urge her to do one on the unique Tamil cuisine, one on the village gods and one, most definitely, on its textiles including the inimitable Kancheepuram silk.

(The reviewer is Chairman, Asian Paints and a former MD of Ashok Leyland)

Book details

Book name: The Tamils by Nirmala Lakshman

Pages: 464 Price: ₹999

Published by: Aleph Book Company

Find the book here.

Published on March 29, 2025