by these foreign scholars. They decisively showed that for cultural survival, native literature cannot be abandoned. Translating from English to Tamil and vice versa was profitably encouraged.

Native scholars imbibing their methods and ideas began to flourish and exert themselves. Arumuka Navalar now considered as the father of modern Tamil prose and Thandavarāya Mudaliar were responsible for Tamil prose development. V. P. Subramania Mudaliar stands out with his translations from English to Tamil. Many other also followed in their wake. J. M. Nallaswamy Pillai was reputed for his translations from Tamil to English. The beautiful and monumental drama adapted from Lord Lytton’s “The Secret Way” by P. Sundaram Pillai was an outstanding work. Sampantha Mudaliar translated many plays of Shakespeare into Tamil. Dr. U. V. Swāminātha Aiyer and C. W. Damodaram Pillai rummaged and dragged out the Tamil masterpieces from deplorable depth.

Originally kindled by a spark of interest to further their respective causes and later enveloped by an over-powering attraction, not one but several foreign scholars were magnetically drawn towards Tamil. Danish Missionary Ziegenbalg, Jesiut Missionaries Robert-de-Nobili and Beschi, Anglican Missionaries Dr. Rottler and Dr. Caldwell, Dissenters Hoisington, Rhenius and Winslow, administrators like Ellis and Stokes and last but not least Dr. Pope and many more scholars channelled their attention towards the study of Tamil grammar, vocabulary, poetry etc.

To sum up, we have to emphasise the facts that European scholars declared to the world the great culture inherent in Tamil and introduced a new scientific way of studying her. Through Tamil, the great scientific discoveries were introduced to her people and they were awakened from a long slumber to an era of activity and advancement.