Ecological References in Tamil Classical Literature

Abstract

Tolkappiyam is the foremost grammatical treatise among all Tamil literary works. This grammatical text serves as a guide to the lifestyle of the Tamil people. Following the conventions of the Tolkappiyam's 'thinai' (landscape) traditions, Sangam literature and subsequent literary works, including contemporary ones, are structured with new principles, theories, and modern schools of thought. Specifically, Sangam literature is deeply intertwined with the life and ancient thought of the Tamil people. Furthermore, most of these works are constructed in harmony with nature. To that extent, nature and ecology have held a dominant influence in the realm of Tamil environmental literature. Identifying these ecological imprints in literature across different periods is crucial because it allows us to understand the extent to which the natural environment has gradually deteriorated over time, thereby helping us identify the causes of environmental degradation in the present day.