Research Article No. 2084

Written by London swaminathan
Date : 19 August  2015
Time uploaded in London :–  14.24

Please read the first part and then read this second part.

I have given the following matter in Tamil in the first part:–

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF TAMIL NOVELS

Since the days of Vedanayakam Pillay’s PRATAPA MUDALIYAR CHARITAM

Tamil novels have developed much. There are lot of interesting differences between now and then.  Following differences are found in the pages posted below:

1.In those days, Tamil novels had wrapper printed in English. Only the inside page contained the Tamil title, author’s name in Tamil etc.. This was done probably to convince the ruling British Government that it was just fiction and no anti-government matter was included. But yet one must remember Bengali novels such as Ananda Math by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay which kindled patriotic feelings. The British government banned such novels. Patriotic poets like Bharatiyar published National Songs in those days. Bharati published his patriotic songs first in 1908.

2.No pictures were found inside the Tamil novels

3.The back wrapper had advertisement about the books written by the same author or different authors

4.People belonging to different castes wrote novels.

5.Women also wrote many novels in Tamil ( I will give the list separatey)

6.Novels began with prayer to Hindu Gods and finished with auspicious words such as Subham, Mangalam or Om Tat sat.

7.Vedanayakam Pillays novel even had wished the readers a Healthy life like the Hindu Hymns

8.Novels had prefaces where in the author explained why he wrote it.

9.At the end they added all the press reviews or reader’s views, letters etc. (in later editions)

10.Novels were priced between 3 Annas and One Rupee and Four Annas which was exorbitant considering the monthly salary of 8 to 10 rupees in 1900s.

11.Novels were printed 1000 copies at a time and the pages went up to 400 pages.

12.They were about families and social problems, mainly of the Hindus.

13.Novels contained lot of Sanskrit words and philosophical discussions.

14.Tamil Novels published 100 years ago had ‘Contents’!

15.Some translations of Bengali Novels were also published at the early stage.

I have borrowed some old Tamil Novels from the British Library, London and the following pages are used as examples to illustrate the above points:–

only sample pages are given (not full)

In the final part (Part 3) we will look at Vedanayakam Pillays Pratapa Mudaliyar Charitam.

to be continued………………………………