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No doubt this must partly be attributed to prejudice, racial feelings, and mistaken faith. With the spread of Western culture and the study of scientific methods they seem to be gradually disappearing.

Mr. Damodaram Pillai's Classification :- Among the pandits of the old type we must undoubtedly include Mr. Damodaram Pillai, the learned editor of Tolkapyam, Virasoliyam, Kalittogai and other works. Though a lawyer and judge by profession, his zeal and admiration for his native literature and his Tamil race have not only blurred his judgment but also carried him away from the sacred precincts of historic truth. In a lengthy introduction to his edition of Virasoliyam he has attempted to give a brief history of Tamil literature, besides making some uncalled for remarks on the non-Saivites in his violent Jaffnese style. His reputation as a good Tamil scholar and the valuable service he has rendered to the Tamil nation by his publications make it necessary to notice his views along with those of Dr. Caldwell and others. According to him there were eight periods in the history of Tamil literature namely:—

I. அபோதகாலம் Before Agastya. There was (Pre-historic), then no alphabet.