Tamil Texts
Large volumes of Tamil classical literature have little or no English translations compared with those of other classical/heritage languages (such as Sanskrit). Search for a translation of the Bhagavad Gita, or an Upanishad, or a Ramayana and you’ll come across hundreds of translations. Search for a translation of Manimekhalai or Thiruvasagam, and you’ll come across only one or two.
Already, I just find it at odds to relate to the culture now to what it was then (as reflected in classical Tamil literature). Tamil culture was vibrant with creative activity, contributing to numerous classical works. Their was beauty, imagination, spiritual expression, and it was flourishing in all forms of arts (classical dance, music, poetry, literature, temple architecture). Many schools of thought on logic, reasoning, epistemology, philosophy, governance, and poetical expression converged in the great debate halls of the Tamil people. Not to mention the profound contribution of numerous Siddhars and the impact of the Bhakti Movement (the 63 Nayanaars and 13 Allvaars) that produced a sweeping revival of bhakti in India (which at that time was reeling from about eight centuries of devastation by invaders).
While the Tamil people, like most societies back then, had their share of kings and feudal conflicts, the flourishing nature of the culture was hardly compromised. In fact each successive ruler took pride in nourishing it further. One might say that they fought a good deal of their battles not just in the battle grounds, but in the great debate halls. In fact, the Buddhists and the Jains, while they were indeed tragically persecuted, they also lost their following because their philosophies did not stand up to the mark in debates. At the same time the overarching culture (today known as “Hinduism”) absorbed many of the key ideas from Jain and Buddha philosophies, including some of the humanistic philosophy of Jains (it was the Jains that took the concept of ahimsa to new heights) and the compassion of Buddhists.
The only thing you carry with you to the end of your life (and to your next life) is what you’ve done to nourish your soul. Not what you’ve materially accomplished in your in your life. These are the things that have churned your soul: the illumination or uplift of a spiritual teachings, a bhakti song, a piece of Indian classical music, a raga, meditation, seva, and nature. In essence any form of yoga (union with [God]).
“The following works of art and literature are among the most remarkable contributions of the Tamil creative genius to the world’s cultural treasure and should be familiar to the whole world and admired and beloved by all in the same way as the poems of Homer, the dramas of Shakespeare, the pictures of Rembrandt, the cathedrals of France and the sculptures of Greece:… The school of Bhakti… Saiva, which is one of those most sincere and passionate efforts of man to grasp the Absolute; and its supreme literary expression in the works of Manikkavasagar…”
- Tamil Contribution to World Civilisation, Professor Dr. Kamil Zvelebil in Tamil Culture, Vol. V, No. 4. October, 1956
Rather than taking on a “defensive” attitude (which is often directed against Sanskrit), there is no better way to express your Tamil pride than to share it with the rest of the world. It is sad that our education system puts a disproportionate emphasis on Wordsworth, Yeats, Blake, Shakespeare, etc. than our own classics. The sense of urgency is far more today then ever before — as the last generation of Tamil experts are dying out (whose caliber cannot be compared with the self-proclaimed experts of today).
If you are well versed in classical Tamil and have a reasonable command of the English language, then just take up your favorite text and translate it, and put it out on the web (or publish it). I feel the translation should be such that it assists people in learning Tamil directly from the classical text and to appreciate it in the original instead of in the English translated version (which hardly does any justice, as it hardly renders the same depth and beauty as the original). I learned Sanskrit by reading the Bhagavad Gita directly in Sanskrit script accompanied by word-for-word breakdown with multiple meanings for each word. I want to recreate a similar experience for learning Tamil (which is very much lacking even though scores of potential texts await).