CAPF AC 2022 Q78: Ancient History – Ancient India
Which one of the following statements about Tolkappiyam is not correct?
- (a) It is a treatise on grammar.
- (b) It was composed between first to fourth century CE.
- (c) It was part of the Sangam corpus.
- (d) It was composed by Panini.
Answer: (d) It was composed by Panini.
Explanation
Tolkappiyam
How to think: Tolkappiyam is the oldest surviving work of Tamil grammar.
The title itself carries the author's name: it was written by Tolkappiyar.
Panini wrote the Ashtadhyayi, the great grammar of Sanskrit.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Language | Tamil |
| Subject | Grammar and poetics |
| Author | Tolkappiyar |
| Period | Part of the Sangam literature; early centuries CE |
| Three books | Ezhuttu (letters), Sol (words), Porul (subject matter of poetry) |
Grammarians to remember:
| Author | Work | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Panini | Ashtadhyayi | Sanskrit |
| Patanjali | Mahabhashya | Sanskrit |
| Tolkappiyar | Tolkappiyam | Tamil |
Answer: (d).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This is true: Tolkappiyam is a treatise on grammar.
- (b) Incorrect. This dating to the early centuries CE is the one generally accepted.
- (c) Incorrect. This is true: it belongs to the Sangam corpus.
- (d) CORRECT. This is wrong: it was composed by Tolkappiyar, not Panini.
Key point
Sangam literature: Tolkappiyam (grammar, Tolkappiyar), Ettutogai (eight anthologies), Pattuppattu (ten idylls), Tirukkural (Tiruvalluvar); epics Silappadikaram (Ilango Adigal) and Manimekalai (Sattanar).
Remember
Tolkappiyam: Tamil grammar by Tolkappiyar.
Common mistakes
- Linking every ancient grammar with Panini.
- Thinking Tolkappiyam is an epic like Silappadikaram.
- Missing the word not and marking a true statement.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the book's name gives away its author: Tolkappiyam by Tolkappiyar. Panini belongs to the north-west and to Sanskrit.
Sources
- NCERT Class VI History — Our Pasts I and R. S. Sharma, India's Ancient Past — The Dawn of History in the Deep South
- Upinder Singh, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India — Sangam literature