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 22 Development of. Literature

studied the language with assiduous industry and ardent love and gave valuable works which were the result of his scholastic pursuits. Chaldwell’s “Comparative Philology of the Dravidian langu ages” is a work which is very important both for scholars and students.

The Saivate and Vishnava saints of the last two or three centuries did their best to the deve- lopment of Tamil literature. Of the ever so many poems, the songs of Thayumanavar are worthy of special consideration. They are religious songs, highly devotional, capable of evoking in us feelings to which we have hitherto been’ strangers and elevate us to a solemn and sacred mood of contemplation.

The last great poet that this country saw before its independance was Bharathi. He was a poet, philosopher, mystic and social reformer. He was the one who had the integral vision of India. He was the poet who creafed a Renaissance in Tamil poetry. His poems compare favourably with any of those in Tamil literature for the intensity of thought and force of expression. His patriotic songs have a powerful appeal to all thinking souls. His philosophical poems like the ‘Kuyil’ teach us of more things than are dreamt of in our philosophy. His range has been the widest and his expression the simplest. He was one who �