அறிவியக்க நோக்கில் சஞ்சீவி பர்வதத்தின் சாரல்

An Intellectual Movement Perspective on 'Sanjeevi Parvathathin Saaral'

Abstract

The Tamils led a natural lifestyle deeply integrated with nature. However, Sanskrit Puranas and epic narratives exerted a significant impact on the self-respecting intellectual tradition of the highly civilized Tamil society. Consequently, Varnasrama concepts infiltrated the Tamil tradition, giving rise to caste and religious divisions. At the peak of this influence, superstitious practices became dominant, creating a thoughtless societal trend that led to a setback for Tamil society.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, influenced by Western art and literature, Tamil scholars rediscovered their rich heritage. They began opposing the Puranic and epic literatures responsible for these divisions and ventured into creating counter-rationalist literature. This resulted in a massive social revolution on Tamil soil.

Among those who laid the foundation for this social revolution, Pavendar Bharathidasan is highly prominent. His work ‘Sanjeevi Parvathathin Saaral’ (The Slopes of Sanjeevi Hills) can be considered a piece of literature that directly countered the epics and Puranas to create a powerful impact. This research article lucidly presents the concepts of equality, women's rights, rationalism, and universal humanism expounded in this short epic poetry with appropriate evidence.