* INTRODUCTORY NOTE ON TWO TAMIL SONNETS
A time comes in the history of a language when there are set before if the ways of life and death. If it cannot burst the bands which enfold it it dies ; if it can find freedom of movement and expression it lives. It is generally agreed that as a literary language Tamil is now at this critical stage. The danger to its life is increased by the presence side by side with it of that mighty rival, English. But apart from that competițion, literary Tamil in itself has the Seeds of a diseasé which may prove mortal unless it is checked. Pedantry, conventionalism, artificiality and imitativeness are among these seeds of decay. The remedy is a return to natural simplicity.
"Many can speak Tamil with power and grace, who when they take pen in hand are the slaves of arbitrary standards of composition.” Happily there are some in whom nature and true literary instinct and inspiration have begun to work, forcing them to seek deliverance from narrowing and cramping canons of art and to express themselves in modern forms, in natural tones, in language “understanded of the people.” This movement this magazine desires to further. Whatever may be the future of Tamil, at present at any rate it has every thing to gain from attempts to create a simpler and more living literature. These whom this movement has caught are but pioneers and may be less free and natural than those who will come after them, but their efforts deserve welcome and encouragement. We shall endeavour month by month in some way or other to help forward the creation of more simple and natural composition in ' Támil or Some otber Vernacular. .
This month we have pleasure in presenting two sonnets by a writer who has drawn from Dr. Pope praise which marks him off from all other living Tamil writers. In the preface to his great edition of the Tiruvacagam, just published , Dr. Pope says:- . - t “I am afraid I cannot recall more than two recent works which seem to me to give promise of a veritable re-descent in modern attire of the Tamil Saraswati. .
The distinguished author of Manonmaniyam P. Sundaram Pillai, has—too early for us- passed into the unseen. r The little anonymous volume—a first instalment—entitled “Tami-paouratogai" seems to herald the advent of a new School to be hearbily welcomed.”
In a foot-note, added later, Dr. Pope says:
“The author's name is now given. The verses are by W. G. Suryanarayana Sastriar, B.A., Head Tamil Pandit of the Madras Chrisţian College.“-Editor. .
Madras, - - F. W. KELLET,
1901. Editor, Madras Christian College Magazine.
- Reprimfed from the Christian College Magazine -
