The scope of this topic is very wide. I have tried to summarize the views of various scholars when they try to Introduce Tamil to readers in their respective books. I feel this essay would be the right place to start my mini series on Tamil Literature studies.

Tamil Etymology:
What does the word Tamil mean? Let’s have a look at the Tamil Lexicon entry for the word Tamil.

தமிழ் tamiḻ
, n. perh. தமி¹. cf. dramiḍa. 1. Sweetness, melodiousness; இனிமை. (பிங்.) 2. Refined quality; நீர்மை. (பிங்.) 3. Tamil language, being divided into iyaṟ-ṟamiḻ, icai-t-tamiḻ, nāṭaka-t-tamiḻ; இயற்றமிழ், இசைத்தமிழ், நாடகத் தமிழ் என மூவகையாக வழங்கும் மொழி. 4. Tamil literature, Tamil work; தமிழ் நூல். 5. The Tamils; தமிழர். அருந்தமி ழாற்ற லறிந்திலர் (சிலப். 26, 161). 6. The Tamil country; தமிழ்நாடு. தண் டமிழ் வினைஞர் (மணி. 19, 109).

Please visit http://festival2009.ponniyinselvan.in/ to get more details

How it started ?

6th June 2009

by R Venkatesh

We had a small gathering in chennai on 5th reputed author vishwaksenan was here. Sps, sivaram, muruganantham turned up. Satheesh from kuwait, Vijay from singapore and author Venkatram Diwaker from Vizag called up

We sort of decided that a get together needs to be planned for PS members. August 15 , 16 should be ideal days both being holidays. Request outstation members to plan a visit to chennai during that time. A stay could be arranged.

Narration by Thirumalai Vinjamoor Venkatesh, Thanks Venkatesh

ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ
திருமகள் போலப் பெருநிலச் செல்வியும்
தனக்கே (தநக்கே) உரிமை பூண்டமை மனக்கொளக்
காந்தளூர்ச் சாலை கலமறுத் தருளி
வேங்கை (வெங்கை) நாடும் கங்க பாடியும்
நுளம்ப பாடியும் தடிகை பாடியும்
குடமலை நாடும் கொல்லமும் கலிங்கமும்
முரட்டொழில் சிங்களை ஈழமண்டலமும்
இரட்ட பாடி ஏழரை இலக்கமும்
முந்நீர் பழந்தீவு பன்னீரா யிரமும்
திண்திறல் வென்றித் தண்டாற் கொண்ட தன்

Thanks to Vijay

http://www.ifih.org/SouthIndianInfluenc ... arEast.htm

PDF Version can be downloaded here

http://www.ifih.org/images/South%20Indi ... 20East.zip

Neettal alavai

kAdam - Distance of about 10 Miles

Origin of the Northern Brahmi

In chapter XV.1.53 of Geographica, Strabo quotes the testimony of Megasthenes on the absence of writing in India, as observed by him during his stay in Pataliputra during the days of Sandrocottus ( Chandragupta Maurya ):

1) Uttama Chozan
2) Chozendra simhan
3) Vikarama Chozan
4) Mudikonda Chozan
5) Panditha Chozan
6) Kadaram Konda Chozan
7) Gangai Konda Chozan
8) Veera Rajendran
9) Poorva Desamum Gangaiyum Kadaramum Konda Ayyan
10) Athisaya Chozan
11) Jayasimha Saraban
12) Malai Naadu Kondaan
13) Mannaik Konda Chozan
14) Magipaala Kula Kaalan
15) Veera Chozan
16) Raja Rajendran
17) Madhuranthakan
18) Iratta Paadi Konda Chozan
19) Nirupathivaagaran
20) Paarthivendiran
21) Manukula Chozan
22) Raja Vidyaatharan
23) Uthaaravidangan
24) Thaanavinotharan
25) Paraakirama Chozan

Madras day is celebrated on August 22nd.

The events mentioned below taken and formatted from

http://www.chennai.tn.nic.in/chnhistevents.htm

Thanks to Vijay on providing the link and details.

Wiki

Human Prehistory

If we were to ask, a geologist would say that we are living in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era. This period started at the trail of the Pliocene epoch. The Pliocene epoch gave way to the Pleistocene epoch. It is the Holocene epoch, we are currently living. Some scientists are suggesting an Anthropocene epoch beginning at the 19th Century AD to mark the period in which the human activity began to make significant impact on the climate and eco-system.