Is it true that Tamil culture is the flagship culture among all human cultures?

 

Let’s check it out.Here’s a list of salient features of Tamil culture that are unique to it:

Language& Literature

• Tamil is the oldest spoken language of the world still surviving. Read Alvaro Hans's answer to What language is closest to the oldest language ever spoken?
• All major languages in the world are related to Tamil ,in a way.Read Alvaro Hans's answer to What would be the first language if all languages were born from the Tower of Babel?
• Tamil is the only language which has 3 independent branches each for Iyal(Prose),Isai(Music),Koothu(Drama).
• Tamil is the only language which has 2 independent wings of literature Aham(Love life) and Puram(War life).
• Tamil is the only language in the world which has classified its land into 5 types,namely: Kurinji(mountainous),Mullai(forest),Marudham(farm lands),Neithal(coastal),Palai(desert).
• Tamil is the only language in the world which has the unique universal book for righteous living called Tirukural written 2500 years ago.
• Tamil is the only language in the world which had 3 Sangams(Academy) for development of Tamil,over a pretty long period of more than 10,000 years,
• Tamil is the only language in the world which claims that it originated from ‘within’ தம் +உள் Tham(within)+Ul(in).While all other languages are spoken from tongue,Tamil is believed to be spoken from the heart.
• Tamil is the most logical/scientific language with least myths ruling word formation.E.g:

#Thalai(head)>Thalaivan(leader)>Thalayaya(prime)>Thalai sirantha(famous)

#Aan(male)=one who rules

#Penn(female)=one who cares

• Tamil is the only language in the world which has the unique letter ழ with a special pronunciation.

• Tamil is the only language in the world which is based on pure natural phonetics.Most of its core sounds may be made easily without any effort.
• Tamil is the only language in the world which has words beginning with A அ for calling all family members who are elder to the baby learning Tamil. The baby learns these words fast as they are based on natural sounds.

Amma—Mother

Appa—-Father

Anna—Elder Brother

Akka—Elder Sister

Athai—Aunt

Anni—Anna’s wife

• Tamil is the only language in the world which has no more than 3 or 4 letters for most of its core words.

Anbu அன்பு Love ,

Panbu பண்பு Character,

Soru சோறு Food ,

Paal பால் Milk ,

Thannee தண்ணீர் Water,

Thagamதாகம் Thirst ,

Odu ஓடுRun,

AaduஆடுDance ,

PaaduபாடுSing ,

PaduபடுLie(down) ,

Iruஇரு Sit

etc

• ‘Tamil has the gravity of expression ,not found in any other language’ according to Russian Tamil scholar Alexander Dubiansky.Read “Tamil has gravity of expression not found in any language'' .One has to know Tamil intimately to know what he means.Such is the ease,beauty and soul appeal of Tamil expressions.A few examples may help:

#Look at how the simple word ‘Polama’(shall we go?)sounds in this ad !

In another ad,the husband presents a gold ring to his wife and the wife asks how he got it.Husband replies’Summa koduthanga!’சும்மா கொடுத்தாங்க !(they gave it free just like that!).Wife replies cutely but sarcastically ’Aama,summa kodupaanga!ஆமா !சும்மா கொடுப்பாங்க !’The beauty of this expression can be felt only if one understands Tamil.

# Melodious pair of words that are unique to Tamil makes expressions smooth,easy and good on ears.

‘I was so angry,I gave him left and right’in Tamil is,’Enakku ketta kobam,parthukka! Kanna pinnanu veluthu vaangitten!எனக்கு கெட்ட கோபம் ,பார்த்துக்க .கன்னா பின்னான்னு வெளுத்து வாங்கிட்டேன் ! (I had bad anger,you see!I washed him ‘kanna pinna’!) the phrase ‘Kanna pinna’sounds musical but with no meaning except being onomatopoeic .But the flow sounds so effective for the situation.

Mom warns her daughter,’Don’t bring a boy and tell me tthat I’m in love’ in Tamil sounds beautiful!”Kathal keethalnu yevanayavathu1kootittu vantha1,mavale,appa irukku unakku !’ காதல் கீதல்னு எவனையாவது கூட்டிட்டு வந்தே ,மவளே ,அப்போ இருக்கு உனக்கு ! Don’t miss the phrase ’Kaathal keethal’ which sounds melodious but means ‘love like’.

Some more such phrases

Sandai,sacharavu

Nalum,kizhmayuma

Piranthanalum,athuvuma

Pandiyana,kokka

Velai vetty

Pulu poochi

Etc.

Arts & Music

Tamil boasts of the most advanced forms of arts,performing arts and music.

Tamil Art forms:

Bharatha Natyam—The flagship dance of India

Credit:Tamil news

Folk Dance

Credit:Tour My India

Karagattam

Kummi

Image Credit:Tipota

Kolaattam

Image Credit:Getty Images

Mayilaattam

Image Credit:Coastweek

Folk Songs

Credit:Youtube

Parai Attam/Thappattam

Image Credit:Youtube

Many more!

Carnatic Music

The flagship music of India,Carnatic Music is of Tamil origin.

Tamil Dress forms

Men— Vetti

Image Credit:Nick Pipers Blog

Women— Saree

Image Credit:Myntra

Girls-Paavadai Thavani

Makes her look like a beautiful butterfly!

Image Credit:Lehenga

Many more !

Tamil Music:

Linguists specialising in music trace most of the ‘core musical terminology’to Tamil roots.Here are a few examples:

Mettu(Tamil)>Metre

Thembu>Tempo

Attam>Alto

Abaranam>>Ornament

Etc.

Unlike other languages,Tamil has a separate branch for music called ‘Isai Tamil’. For example,languages like Hindi just sing some prose lines with a tune and make it as music.Tamil,however has separate rules like Ethugai,Monai etc. for composing songs.

Just listen to this Tamil song!

Every word ends with ‘thaan’sound but carries a different meaning!

Rich pun in Tamil.Take a look at this poem by Kalamegam.

காளமேகப்புலவர் பெண்ணிடம் போட்டப் புதிர்.........

பூநக்கி ஆறுகால்; புள்இனத்துக்கு ஒன்பதுகால்;
ஆனைக்கு கால் பதினேழ் ஆனதே; மானே! கேள்!

English Translation:

Cat has 6 legs:birds have 9 legs!

Elephant has 17 legs!

He goes to explain what he means by the pun words!

Poonakki=cat ,also Poo+Nakki =That which sucks flower i.e. honey bee!

• Values Of Life

Tamil people have unique concepts/values for righteous living which no other culture has. Aram is a value package that regulates the Tamilian’s life.What is Aram? Please read ‘ARAM’- The unique Tamil prescription for a righteous and worthy living ! by Alvaro Hans on Alvaros Mind for an intro to the subject.

Money is NOT a driving force for the Tamilians

Since the Tamil life is driven by values,money has little role in Tamilian’s life.This does not mean that Tamilians were not advanced in matters of finance. In fact,all core English words in finance trace their origin to Tamil only.Please read Alvaro Hans's answer to What is the etymology of the word (money related) 'bank'? & Alvaro Hans's answer to The Tamils were the top traders of the ancient world. Why are they not figuring in the top billionaires of the world now? for more in this regard.

Relationships

Tamilians attach much importance to relationships within the family. Each relative has a specific title and role attached to it.

Title—Role—-Values learnt

Amma—Mother—-Love,Care

Appa—-Father—-Discipline,Survival,Earning money

Anna—Elder Brother—Second Appa

Akka—Elder Sister——Second Amma

Athan-Sister’s husband—Brother-like

Athai—Aunt————-Friendly lap,loving aunt

Anni—Anna’s wife—-Next to Amma

Thatha—Grand Father—Source of love,teaching values of the family

Patti—-Grand Mother—Big Mom,more liberal

Periamma-Mom’s elder sister—Large size Mom !

Chitti——-Mom’s younger sister—Liberal little Mom

Mama——Mom’s brother——Closest uncle

Rules for war engagement

Tamils are pioneers in framing ethical rules for war engagements.Few interesting rules are:

• Pre war warning by a herald
• War declaration by capturing the cattle of the enemy nation ‘Aanirai kavarthal’.
• Women,children,Nobles not to be harmed.
• Ambassadors should be treated with respect.
• Soldiers should not be hit on the back.
• Soldiers should not turn to their back as it is a sign of cowardice
• Wounded should be treated
• POW should be treated well.

Home Values

• Hospitality —Every beggar should be fed with kanji food with pickle.
• Thinnai——Every house had ‘thinnai’ for travellers to sleep overnight apart from free lodges called’chathiram’.
• Respect elders especially Grandpa,Granny.

Tamil unique names

Tamil names are original and mostly logical with understandable meanings.A few examples:

Women:

Thean Mozhi(Honey like speech)

Maan Vizhi (Doe eyed)

Thendral(Breeze)

Men:

Mathi Maran(Wise man)

Eppodhum Vendran(Invincible)

Veerasami(God of boldness)

Affinity for Tamil in names

Tamil Selvan(Tamil wealth)

Tamil Magal(Tamil’s daughter)

Medicine

• Siddha is the only system in the world based on the principle,’Unave marunthu;marunthe unavu’ meaning’Food is the medicine;medicine is food’
• Yoga,the well-known global form of exercise is of Tamil origin.

Alvaro Hans's answer to What does the word yoga mean in Sanskrit?

Other fields

Read:

• Alvaro Hans's answer to What are the unique Tamil names for ornaments worn on the ear?
• Alvaro Hans's answer to Question to people from India: Who is a famous author from your state/native language whose works that you think are most influential? Why?
• Alvaro Hans's answer to Why is Tamil so sweet and why does it sound like music by default?
• Alvaro Hans's answer to What language is closest to the oldest language ever spoken?
• Alvaro Hans's answer to What are the in-built cultural safeguards in Tamil culture that protect women from sexual exploitation?
• Alvaro Hans's answer to Why do Tamilians say "Tamilanda"? What does it mean?

(Originally published in Quora in July 28,2018)