John Murdoch says, “The first Tamil types seem to have been cut at Amsterdam in 1678 to express the names of some plants in the large work “Horti Indici Malabarici.”³⁰

Regarding the various statements of the printing press given above, we know nothing much that is definite. Prior to Ziegenbalg’s efforts to bring the press, from abroad, there probably was some sort of an improvised press since Ziegenbalg in his “Grammatica Tamulica” mentions in the Preface “that they were so bad, that even the Tamils themselves could not make them out.”³¹ But here we must remember that he was talking about the Tamil letters cut at Amsterdam. Considering Ziegenbalg’s writings we are led to conclude that until he wrote for a press to Halle there was no press in India.³²

With all the above points in view, one may not be wrong to conclude that probably these books were all printed abroad and transported to India or that some sort of printing on a small but experimental basis did take place and probably due to delay in communications and transport, Ziegenbalg was not aware of the small presses. Nevertheless, until future researches came to a conclusive decision about this, we cannot assert anything.

Whatever the origin and date of the press in India, it was brought to this country by Europeans. This in one of their great contributions to India as a whole and to Tamil is particular. In this connection, Ziegenbalg stands out most conspicuously since he, apart from bringing the press to India, had the Tamil letters cut in type, well formed and engraved, to make clearer and easier reading.

Books were now available at acceptable prices and they were hence accessible to almost all classes. Books no longer were the monopoly of the rich; the poor also could buy and study them.

30. John Murdoch. op. cit.

31. John Murdoch. Preface “Grammatica Damulica”-(This is pointed out by John Murdoch).

32. Mayilai Seeni Venkadaswamy, op. cit. P. 44.