How Tamil was traced to Ancient Lanka...

Students learning ancient history must have an open mind and see all sides of development all around and not be carried away by whimsical interpretations by various people with an agenda from whatever corner they come from.

Recently I read an article written in Tamil by a Lankan historian, Prof S Pathmanathan, who in turn relies his findings based s on another Lankan born historian Prof K Indrapala.

Reading Pathmanathan's article published in Sangamam in the Virakesari of January 19, 2013, I felt I should share the interesting details given with young readers who care to seek the truth from actualities.

These are some observations from the article that may make you think:

* 2000 years ago- first and second centuries B C- Tamils have lived in ancient Lanka and it was a spoken language among certain section of the population.

* In Lanka most of the Brahmic inscriptions were written in Prakrit language. This language consisted of words that were a mixture of foreign languages. Among those words were Tamil words and words from ancient Dravidian languages.

* According to Brahmic inscriptions, when Buddhism was introduced into Lanka, a section of the population was Tamil speaking people. Some of these people were referred to as Thamaeda, Thamale, Thamida in the inscriptions.

* Such inscriptions are found in the eastern and northern provinces

* In the Brahmic inscriptions are found evidences regarding the method of marriages between nephews and nieces. These methods were common to Dravidian communities. In the Sanskrit traditions of Dharma Sastras such marriages were taboo.

* As far as social divisions were concerned, the "Bharathar" community is mentioned in the inscriptions.

* There is some evidence for this in Polonnaruwa. In an inscription is found letters meaning -"The cave of Seaman Bharathan Thissan."

* A ship belonging to him is drawn in the inscription to confirm this.

* In a coin found in Akurugoda, on one side it is written "Bharath Thissaha". On the other side of the coin are drawn figures of two fishes.

* The insignia of the Bharatha clan was the Fish.

* Prof Indrapala identified two kinds of Brahmic inscriptions - Tamil (Dravidian) usage and Prakrit usage.

According to Indrapala there were differences between the northern and southern archaeological artifacts of the early Iron Ag in Lanka. Archaeological evidences available in the northern half of the island are the same as the evidences of culture that spread into Lanka from neighbouring Thamilnadu.

These include burial in pots, burial between stones, darkish red clay utensils, iron implements, paddy cultivation and irrigation facilities. Inscriptions to this effect are few in the south. These cultural traits got mixed with the cultures of the indigenous people's cultures.

In southern Lanka the Prakrit and Tamil languages were influential says Pathmanathan.Tamil gained a strong influence in Lanka's northwestern and eastern sea belt area. Indrapala adds that a greater part of Lanka was Prakrit was the language of the elites. It was also a written language. The elites accepted Prakrit names... In the same way Tamil was influential and mother language among many tribal clans.

Students of Lankan ancient history must take into account archaeological and inscriptional evidences to understand history as it happened and must not rely only on written scripts by varied writers.

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