The first ever attempt perhaps to compile the folktales of Puducherry in Tamil by a professor has fetched him the prestigious Best Book Award from the Tamil Nadu government.
A.Thirunagalingam, professor, Subramania Bharathiar School of Tamil Language and Literature, Pondicherry University, made the compilation of folktales that are popular in and around the Puducherry region.
The compilation consists of 50 stories narrated by 31 persons in the 11-85 age group.
The editor of the book criss-crossed several villages and interviewed villagers to compile the book. The dialect in the villages has been documented without any change and the book sticks to the style of the language used by the villagers. Mr. Thirunagalingam said, “This is the first book in Tamil that explains how folktales are intact in the culture of Puducherry. Oral narrators use the medium of folktales to express their views on the social milieu in a village.”
The editor of the book recalled his experiences while collecting tales.
Mr. Thirunagalingam said one of the oral narrators refused to accept money and said, “I have not explained the customary folktale of this village for money. I won’t accept your money.”
Mr. Thirunagalingam received a cash award of Rs.30,000 and a certificate. He has authored 11 books and presented 48 research papers in his 27 year-old teaching experience. He has also received best teacher award twice from the Pondicherry University.
