Literature mirrors life. It reflects the tradition, culture and art of the people. And so does the literature of Kongu region. In Tamil literature, Kongu region remains a “little known angel” when compared to other regions. But history reckons this rocky land as a very ancient one.
Ancient Tamil literatures like Silappathikaram and Sangam age poems mention Kongu region.
Silappathikaram speaks about the ‘Kongilamkosarin Pathini (Kannaki) vazhibadu.' Moreover, literary works of Kongu poets are found in Puranaanuru, Aganaanuru, Kurunthokai and Natrinai. Perunthalai sathanar of Perunthalaiyur near Bhavani, Andhi keeranar of Andhiyur, Karuvur Kathapillai, Karuvur Perunsathukkathu bhoodhanathanar, Karuvur Kosanar, Urodagathu Kantharathithanar of Ulagadam, near Bhavani, are some poets who contributed to Sangam literature.
Kongu chieftains of that period like Paari, Adhiyamaan, Kumanan also supported the poets.
From the second century to the ninth century, a major part of Kongu region was conquered and brought under the rule of the Ganga dynasty. Most of them were followers of Jainism. By this, Jainism got steeped into the history of Kongu region Several archeological evidences explain the impact of Jainism on this region.
During that period, great literary works were done and they still remain as worthy contributions to Tamil literature. Nirambaiyur Adiyaarkku Nallar wrote an excellent interpretation for Silappathikaram. Pavanandhi Munivar's, Nannool, a famous grammatical work is praised for its excellence.
The poems of the Siddhars are in the form of folk literature of medieval period. They speak in depth of philosophy and medicine in a simple way. Karuvur siddhar, Kanjamalai siddhar (Salem), Bogar (Palani), Kongana siddhar (Oodhiyur ,Dharapuram), Paampaatti siddhar (Marudhamalai) belonged to Kongu region.
In the Bakthi era, Paadals (poems) of Nayanmars decorated Kongu region. A number of literary works called sitrillakkiangal (like Pallu, Kuravanji, Pillaithamizh, Sadhagam) and puranams also came into being. All the parts of the Kongu region like Thiruchenkode, Avinashi, Thirumuruganpoondi, Sevur, Bhavani, Kodumudi, Karur, Thenseri,Karamadai, Thudisai, Kouasai, Perur, Appirayameyam, Dharapuram ,Palani, and Thirimurthimalai were associated with puraanams as sthala puraanams. Apart from them Devanga puraanam, Kshathriya puraanam and Balijavaaru puraanam were also written. Perur Shanthalingar's philosophical works like Kolai maruthal, Vairakkia sadhagam, Vairakkia deepam Avirodha undhiyaar and Kachiyappa munivar's Perur puraanam were found to have literary values.
By the end of the 19th century, a new education system and book publishing were introduced and the print era started. S.P Narasimhalu Naidu was a great scholar of that time and he penned more than 90 books on various subjects. Ariya Divya Desa Yaathirai, Dakshina Indhia Saridham and Hindu Bible were his major ones. His ‘Coimbatore Abimani' of 1879 was said to be the first magazine of the region. In the academic arena, scholars like Vaidyalingampillai and Thiruchitrambalampillai taught Tamil providing new dimensions. Thiruchitrambalampillai was the founder of the Kovai Tamil Sangam. (After his demise, it was restored by his disciples C.K.Subramania Mudaliar and C,M, Ramachandran Chettiar ).
Twentieth century, saw the emergence of Kovai Kizhar C.M.Ramachandran Chettiar as a morning star of the region. As a versatile personality, he contributed to Tamil with more than hundred books. He authored books on various subjects like Tamil literature, history, epigraphy, geography, religion, philosophy,travelogue, etc. His “Kongu Naattu Varalaau” was the magnum opus of Kongu region which pioneered the history of kongu region.
After 1960s, a new form of literary genre in Kongu vernacular started emerging. Shanmugasundaram, K.C.S. Arunachalam and many others entered the arena. Periasamy Thooran and Poovannan are the pioneers of the Children's literature in Tamil. Due to the initiative of T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar in 1954, the encyclopedia were successfully published in 1968. Thooran played an important role in this regard. As a result of continuous efforts, Children's Encyclopedia in Tamil was published in 1975. In the science and technology area, G.R.Damodaran's Kalaikkathir, a science magazine of Coimbatore, played a crucial role in coining the technical terms in Tamil.
By 1960, a modern literary movement called “Vaanambadikal” emerged in the Kongu region with new ideas. It advocated that concerns of the Tamil poetry should be for the common people and society. It was against the meaningless conventions. Puviasrasu, Sirpi, Gnani, Akkiniputhiran, Mullai Adhavan, Tamilanban, Tamilnadan, Ilamurugu and Murugu Sundaram were some young turks of the movement. Even after the collapse of the movement they continued their works individually in their own styles.
Puviarasu and Sirpi bagged Sahithya Academy awards twice. C.R.Ravindran, Suriyakandhan, Perumal Murugan, Vaa.mu.Komu, and Mu.Harikrishnan are some notable writers of this region.
In late seventies, different types of novels emerged, thanks to the print media. Vimala Ramani and Rajesh kumar are the main contributors for the masses.
After the globalisation as well as advancements in communications, the trend of the tamil literature got changed. Environment issues, cinema, international issues and current social issues became the priority. Young writers like Subrabharathy Manian, Marabin Mainthan Muthaiah and many others are emerging now. Many individuals and literary organizations in Kongu region enthusiastically propagate art and literature. For example, the Nerunchi Ilakkia utram has conducted regular meetings and brought out four poetry books and a magazine. To say a few like Nerunchi, Noyyal ilakkia vattam, Tamilnadu Ilakkia peravai, Tirupur Tamil sangam, Pollachi Tamil sangam and many more are here to mirror the life in kongu region. (A plenty of others, who contributed for this 2000-year-old literary tradition, pardon me for my fading memories).
