UPSC Prelims 2022 Q93: Sangam Literature and Early Tamil Society
Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?
- Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
- The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
- Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
- Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.
Answer: (b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
Statement-wise explanation
- a: incorrect — Sangam poems are full of material culture. They describe ports such as Puhar and Korkai, exports of cotton cloth, pepper, pearls and ivory, foreign traders, ornaments, weapons and the crafts of each landscape. Roman coins found across the Tamil country back up the trade the poems describe.
- b: correct — Sangam poets knew about varna. The poems mention Brahmanas and kings who held Vedic sacrifices, and the Tolkappiyam names four groups: anthanar (priests), arasar (rulers), vanigar (traders) and vellalar (cultivators). Historians add that the four-fold varna order did not shape Tamil society deeply. Even so, the poets were aware of it, and that is all the statement claims.
- c: incorrect — Warrior ethic is a core theme. Puram (heroic) poems, gathered in anthologies such as the Purananuru, praise kings' battles, cattle raids, courage and death in war. They also record the custom of setting up hero stones (nadukal) for fallen warriors.
- d: incorrect — The poems treat magical and sacred forces as real powers in daily life. Ananku, a sacred and potentially dangerous force believed to live in objects, places and people, is one example. Calling such beliefs 'irrational' is a modern judgement that the poets themselves never made.
How to eliminate
Two statements use absolute wording. 'Devoid of any reference' to material culture and 'no reference' to warrior ethic would each be false if even one poem mentioned trade or war. Anyone who knows that puram poems are heroic poetry about kings and battles can strike out the warrior-ethic statement at once. Poems that describe ports and goods rule out the material-culture one. The statement on magical forces calling them 'irrational' assumes a modern, rationalist view. Ancient poets describing their own beliefs would not judge them that way, so it can be eliminated too. That leaves the varna statement, which is also the only one that does not deny something outright. Fact to remember: Sangam texts mention Brahmanas and Vedic sacrifice, and the Tolkappiyam lists four social groups. Varna was known in the south but had shallow roots there.
Know more
Sangam literature is the earliest body of Tamil poetry. It is usually dated to about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The surviving corpus runs to about 2,381 poems by 473 poets, some of them anonymous. Later tradition links the poems to three assemblies (Sangams) of poets at Madurai under Pandya patronage. Historians treat that story as legend.
| Part of the corpus | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Tolkappiyam | The oldest surviving Tamil grammar; also covers poetics and social conventions |
| Ettuttokai (Eight Anthologies) | Short poems, e.g. Kuruntokai, Akananuru (love), Purananuru (heroism) |
| Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls) | Longer poems describing towns, ports, kings and landscapes |
Akam and puram. Akam ('inner') poems are about love. Puram ('outer') poems are about war, kings, generosity to poets and death. Akam poems are set in five landscapes (tinai): kurinji (hills), mullai (forest/pasture), marutam (farmland), neytal (coast) and palai (dry land). Each landscape has its own occupation, deity and mood.
Society in the poems. The poems divide people mainly by occupation and landscape. In farming areas they name large landowners (vellalar), ploughmen (uzhavar) and slaves (adimai). Brahmanas and Vedic sacrifice appear, so varna was known, but it sat lightly on Tamil society. Chiefs and the three crowned kings (Chera, Chola, Pandya) are praised for generosity to bards.
Material life. The poems describe Indo-Roman trade through ports such as Puhar, Korkai and Muziris. Archaeological finds such as Roman coins and sites like Arikamedu support these descriptions.
Do not confuse. Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are post-Sangam epics, not part of the Sangam anthologies.
NCERT Concepts to Revise
- Sangam literature: Every statement is a claim about what the earliest Tamil poems contain, so first know what this corpus is.
- Varna: One statement asks whether Sangam poets were aware of this four-fold Brahmanical ranking of society.
- Tolkappiyam: This grammar text lists social groups and poetic conventions, so it is key evidence on early Tamil society.
- Tamil Sangams: Explains the legend of the three poets' assemblies that gave Sangam literature its name, and why historians doubt it.