Hiphop Tamizha - #Tamizhi | Episode 4 | The Sangam Era

Summary

The script explores the rich history of the Tamil language, dating back 2500 years, and its continuous use through inscriptions and literature. It highlights archaeological findings, such as memorial stones and pot sherds with Tamil inscriptions, which confirm the literacy and civilization of ancient Tamil people. Excavations in Keezhadi reveal urban civilization and the existence of a government, contradicting previous beliefs. The script also connects ancient Tamil inscriptions with names of kings from Sangam literature, proving the historical accuracy of these texts and the advanced society of the time.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Tamizh language and script have been in use for over 2500 years, as evidenced by deciphered inscriptions.
• 🌐 The Sangam literature, which discusses ancient Tamizh language and culture, is not a myth but a reflection of the ancient people's way of life.
• 🏺 Memorial stones found in Tamil Nadu, particularly those from the 4th Century BC in Pulimaankombai, confirm the use of the Tamizh script during the Sangam era.
• 📝 The pure Tamizh language found on these stones, without any Prakrit influence, indicates a high level of literacy among ancient Tamizh people.
• 🏛️ Archaeological excavations in Tamil Nadu have revealed a rich script culture, with over 800 pot sherds and coins bearing Tamizh inscriptions.
• 🏢 The Keezhadi excavation near Madurai provided evidence of urban civilization in ancient Tamil Nadu, contradicting previous beliefs.
• 🏆 The discovery of coins from the Keezhadi excavation suggests the existence of a government and organized polity in ancient Tamil Nadu.
• 👑 Names of kings mentioned in Sangam literature, such as Nedunchezian, have been found in Tamizh inscriptions, proving the historical existence of these rulers.
• 🔍 The script found on pot sherds and other materials indicates a literate society where even common people were well-versed in writing.
• 🌟 The Graffiti script found in both the Indus Valley Civilization and Tamil Nadu shows a striking similarity, hinting at cultural or historical connections.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Tamizh language and script as discussed in the script?

The Tamizh language and script are significant because they have been in use for over 2500 years, as evidenced by the deciphering of ancient inscriptions. This makes it one of the oldest languages still in use today.

How do the ancient Tamizh inscriptions prove the existence of the Sangam literature?

The ancient Tamizh inscriptions prove the existence of the Sangam literature by showing that the language and script discussed in these ancient texts were actually used by people at the time, thus validating the historical and cultural accounts provided by the literature.

What is the importance of the memorial stones found in Pulimaankombai?

The memorial stones found in Pulimaankombai are important because they are among the most ancient memorial stones ever found in India, dating back to the 4th Century BC. They contain inscriptions in pure Tamizh without any Prakrit language influence, which supports the idea that the Tamizh script and language were well-established during the Sangam era.

How do the pot sherds with Tamizh inscriptions contribute to our understanding of ancient Tamizh society?

The pot sherds with Tamizh inscriptions indicate a high literacy rate among the common people in ancient Tamizh Nadu. This suggests that writing was a part of everyday life and not just limited to the elite or rulers.

What evidence did the Keezhadi excavation provide for the existence of an urban civilization in ancient Tamizh Nadu?

The Keezhadi excavation provided evidence for the existence of an urban civilization in ancient Tamizh Nadu by uncovering brick constructions, which are characteristic of urban civilizations, and coins, which indicate the presence of a government or ruling authority.

Why were historians skeptical about the existence of a civilized kingdom during the Sangam era?

Historians were skeptical about the existence of a civilized kingdom during the Sangam era because not many brick constructions, which are indicative of urban civilization, were found in previous excavations in Tamizh Nadu.

What does the term 'Second Urbanization' refer to in the context of the script?

The term 'Second Urbanization' refers to the period following the Indus Valley civilization, where urban civilizations are believed to have developed further. The Keezhadi excavation challenged the notion that Tamizh Nadu did not experience this phase of urban development.

How do the inscriptions found in Keezhadi confirm the existence of kings mentioned in Sangam literature?

The inscriptions found in Keezhadi include the names of kings mentioned in Sangam literature, such as King Nedunchezian, providing strong evidence that these kings and the civilization they ruled over were real and not merely mythological.

What was the mystery surrounding King Athiyamān and how was it resolved?

The mystery surrounding King Athiyamān was whether he was the same person referred to as 'Sadhiyabudho' by King Ashoka. This was resolved by an inscription found near Thagadur, confirming that Ashoka indeed referred to Athiyamān by this name.

What does the script found in the Indus Valley Civilization have in common with the script found in Tamizh Nadu?

The script found in the Indus Valley Civilization, referred to as 'Graffiti,' is almost the same as the Graffiti found in Tamizh Nadu, suggesting a possible cultural or linguistic connection between the two regions.