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Book Reviews
(1) by Professor George Hart ...
Dr. V. S. Rajam's A Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry : 150
B.C.-pre-fifth/sixth Century A.D is indispensable for all students of Tamil literature. It
is an exhaustive work that gives a clear explanation for
every form that occurs in Tamil before the sixth century. Its carefully thought-out
indices and contents make it extremely easy to locate each form. Each citation is
accompanied by several examples so that the reader
can see how a form is used in various contexts. In addition to the reference section
grammar, the work includes a long chapter on meter in Sangam literature that is by far the
best -- and most detailed -- thing written on the subject in English. The book is
completed with a wonderful study of syntax in the old poems: the author takes three poems
and describes in great and illuminating detail exactly how each one works. This is a book
that no lover of Tamil should be without. It is not only enjoyable and illuminating; it is
a companion to reading the literature
that will be used and appreciated again and again.
(2) by Andrew Looker, M.D ...
As a Child Psychiatrist studying Tamil rather late in the game, I found Dr. V.S. Rajam's
"Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry" an invaluable resource. I used it
originally as an introduction to the field before embarking on reading Sangam poetry- and
then as a reference book while translating. In both capacities the book is superb.
The many morphological forms present in Old Tamil are thoroughly and encyclopedically
elaborated in the text. There are many examples of all forms presented as quotations from
original sources.
In addition to all this there is an extensive chapter on the theory of classical Tamil
poetry . This is invaluable, both as an introduction to Tamil poetics and as a reference
tool. Other chapters on specific grammatical issues are included-a chapter on the Verb
"A" is especially thought-provoking .
A final chapter, examining in detail the structure of three Old Tamil poems, superbly
pulls together in a practical way, all the previous material of the book. The poems
themselves are well worth reading and this chapter would be useful in a general course on
the literature of South Asia.
As a final note: the "feel" of the book, its format, the Tamil fonts, the
quality of the paper, its "heft" makes it a pleasure to own.
