Lesson - 6 : A04146

HISTORY OF TAMIL LITERATURE
IN THE 20th CENTURY- Part II

    Post - independence India was marked by an all - round growth in the fields of arts and science. Regional languages developed as never before. Research in literature assumed great importance and hence, new branches of study such as translation, ancient manuscripts, folk literature, stone inscriptions, temple architecture, journalism and linguistics appeared. The study of Tamil language itself grew into television Tamil, computer Tamil, Stage tamil, Cinema Tamil, advertisement Tamil and so on.

    As mentioned in the Previous lesson, there was a tremendous growth in prose works during this period. The following writers and their work will tell you all about the different forms of prose and their growth:

    In addition to these, mention must be made of Kundrakkudi Adigalaar, C. Rajagopalachari, M.M. Ismail, Akilan, C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, Jayakanthan and Su. Samuthiram, who have made significant contributions to Tamil literature.

    The most revolutionary change in the use of Tamil letters was brought about by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, fondly known as E.V.R. since then, 17 works have been written on the subject of reforms in the use of Tamil letters. There have been radical changes in the writings of poetry too, with Haiku poems becoming popular in modern times. Although stage plays declined in their appeal towards the end of the century, efforts were made to redeem them through theatre workshops, street plays, pariksha and so on.

    Thus, from this lesson we can see that the second half of the 20th century has been marked by a tremendous growth and diversification in the use of the Tamil language, its study and its literature.