With reference to the picture given alongside, answer the following:

(a) Identify the lady whose statue is depicted in the picture. Why was the lady revered?

(b) What was the position of women during the Sangam Age?

(c) What does the Tolkappiyam say about ways of living of the people during the Sangam age?

(picture)

(a) The lady in the picture is Kannagi.

Kannagi, a legendary Tamil woman is revered for her Chastity and Loyalty. Kannagi is described as a chaste woman who stays with her husband Kovalan despite his adultery. When Kovalan was wrongfully executed by the Pandya king for a crime he did not commit, Kannagi fought for justice. This made Kannagi a symbol of justice throughout the kingdom.

(b) The status of women in Sangam society was not equal to that of men. However, women enjoyed freedom of movement in society and the number of women poets of the age is a proof that the women were provided with good education. The Sangam society consisted of different kinds of women. There were married women who had settled down as dutiful housewives looking after their husbands and children. There were female ascetics belonging to Buddhist or Jain tradition like Kaundi Adigal and Manimegalai. There were a large number of courtesans.

(c) The Tolkappiyam was written by Tolkappiar, in second Sangam. It has mentioned four castes, namely, Brahmanas, Kings, Traders and Farmers. It ignores most of the other names of people. This show the influence of the Sanskritic social ideal. The Brahmans during the Sangam Age were a respectable and learned community. They served the king occasionally as judicial officers and always as priests and astrologers. The Vaishyas were assigned the duties of learning, performing sacrifice, making gifts, agriculture, protection of cows etc. The Vellalars were landed aristocrats who cultivated wetlands. The ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar and the landless labourers were known as kadasiyar and adimai.