CAPF AC 2020 Q106: Ancient History – Ancient India
Tamilakam was the name of the ancient Tamil country that included
- (a) present-day Tamil Nadu as well as parts of Sri Lanka
- (b) land between present-day Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula
- (c) present-day Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra
- (d) present-day Kerala, Telangana and Karnataka
Answer: (b) land between present-day Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula
Explanation
Tamilakam
How to think: Sangam poems give the limits of the Tamil land as Vengadam to Kumari.
Vengadam is the Tirupati hills and Kumari is Kanyakumari.
That is option (b).
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka | Incorrect | Sri Lanka was outside Tamilakam |
| (b) Land between the Tirupati hills and the southern tip of the peninsula | Correct | Vengadam to Kanyakumari |
| (c) Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra | Incorrect | Maharashtra is far to the north |
| (d) Kerala, Telangana and Karnataka | Incorrect | It leaves out Tamil Nadu itself |
Facts on Tamilakam:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Covered | Present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka |
| Three kingdoms | Chera, Chola and Pandya, together called the muvendar |
| Literature | Sangam poems |
Answer: (b) land between present-day Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Sri Lanka was not part of Tamilakam.
- (b) CORRECT. Tamilakam ran from the Tirupati hills to Kanyakumari.
- (c) Incorrect. Maharashtra was never part of the Tamil country.
- (d) Incorrect. Any list without Tamil Nadu cannot be Tamilakam.
Key point
Tamilakam: from Vengadam (Tirupati hills) to Kumari (Kanyakumari); present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala and nearby parts; ruled by the muvendar: Chera, Chola, Pandya.
Remember
Tamilakam = Tirupati hills to Kanyakumari; Chera, Chola, Pandya.
Common mistakes
- Taking Tamilakam to be only present-day Tamil Nadu; Kerala was part of it.
- Adding Sri Lanka because Tamil is spoken there.
- Forgetting the three crowned kings, the muvendar.
Exam tip
Educated guess: (d) has no Tamil Nadu and (c) has Maharashtra, so both go. Between the rest, the mainland option is the safe one.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part I (Kings, Farmers and Towns)
- NCERT Class VI History — Our Pasts I (Kingdoms, Kings and an Early Republic; Sangam age)