* சிந்தனைக் கட்டுரைகள்
9
The Aryanized brahmins have not as yet found ample scope for colonizing there. Vestiges of ancient Tamilian life and civilisation can still be seen there, although those who have imbibed western education have undergone a marked but undesirable change in their costumes, customes and manners, Nevertheless, the love for their mother-tongue, Tamil, has not altogether died out from their hearts; still there are visible signs of its being rekindled into an intenser form and of extending its light to all other Tamilians wherever they are. It was this love of theirs that prompted some of their learned men to recommend without my asking for it, this book of mine to the Cambridge University. For this and similar acts of kindness and substantial help, I take this opportunity to express my deep indebt- edness to the Ceylon Tamils, especially to my friend Mr. C. Ariyanayakkam and my late lamented friend Sir P. Arunachalam. I also tender my thanks to the syndics of the Cambridge University for prescribing my book as a text to the Intermediate-in-arts-ex- amination.
Outside the circle of University students, it is not possible to get a good sale for high class Tamil books poetry or prose, ancient or modern; for, the tide of vernacular education in this country is at its very lowest ebb. Even one in thousand knows not to read and write Tamil. Why is it so? The cause is worth considering, as in the case of well-sinkers a correct knowledge of the mass of matter that blocks the passage of an ever-flowing spring, will help them how to remove it and make way for the life-element to issue forth. I, therefore, venture to say a few words on it, even at the rist of over stepping the bounds of a preface.
The reason for this deplorable state of ignorance in South India is not far to seek. Before the immigration of northern brahmins that is before the mediaeval and ancient periods of the South In- dian history, the Tamil people studied Tamil much, for their mon- archs encouraged its learning in every way. All the varied forms of literature written in pure Tamil prior to the twelfth century A.D., bear ample testimony to the great literary activity of the Tamils and the vast extent of culture they had acquired in almost every branch of learning. Entire absence from old Tamil literature of all mythi-
