இயற்கையும் வாய்மொழி இலக்கியமும்: ஈழத்து வாய்மொழி இலக்கியங்களை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்ட ஆய்வு / Nature and Oral Literature: A Study Based on the Oral Literary Traditions of Eelam

Much similar to the immense and diverse realms of the natural world, literature has also extended across many languages and cultures. Oral literature forms an essential part of diversity by emerging among many communities that live in close connection to nature. Every social group has its own oral tradition and Eelam is no exception of it. Across many regions of Eelam, oral literature appears to be very close to the lifestyle and cultural practices of the Tamil people. The variety of oral literature is extensive, it includes folk tales, ballads, occupational songs, kangaṇi songs, arivivettu songs, tea estate songs, fisherfolk songs, and many other forms that have developed over many generations. Among them, oral songs are notable for its rich descriptions of natural scenes. It is one of the key a characteristics seen in Eelam’s oral traditions. Yet, due to the social transformations made by globalization, the oral songs are diminishing gradually. As a result, the ecological knowledge and understanding of natural resources are embedded in them and has been declining among present-day communities. So, identifying them as the central research problem, the study investigates to preserve these vanishing oral songs and would like to highlight the representations of nature found in them. The study gives awareness on the important role of nature in shaping community life. Even though oral songs exist throughout Eelam, this study focuses on selected regions. The research study will use cultural-anthropological approach based on fieldwork by decoding the listening content to the recorded oral songs from authentic resources.