It is a welcome addition to the genre of Thirukkural Related literature.. that too in English language by a woman’s view of Kamathuppal of Thirukkural.
In the name of Post modern interpretation Thirukkural Kaamattuppal cannot be stretched to justify the present variations in the sexual relationships.
In my view it is absurd to interpret as under .. definitely not intended by Thiruvalluvar
//“This book is more than just [the] love between [a] husband and wife. It is not all familial or even heterosexual. It only has words like ‘him’ and ‘her’, which could be men talking to men or women talking to women,” she expresses.//
What is stressed by Thiruvalluvar is 1-1 relationship between a man and woman..
it is so intricate that one cannot exist without the other..there is no meaningful existence of one without the other.. one complets the other…one complement the other..
The simile used in Kural 1122 is very unique in my view..
It is a relationship between hardware and software in computer terminology
The bond between me and this damsel Is like the union of body and soul. 1122
உடம்பொடு உயிரிடை என்னமற் றன்ன
மடந்தையொடு எம்மிடை நட்பு. ( குறள்- 1122)
இம் மடந்தைக்கும் எமக்கும் இடையிலுள்ள நட்பினது நெருக்கம், உடம்போடு உயிருக்கும் இடையேயுள்ள நட்பினது நெருக்கம் போன்றது ஆகும் .. புலியூர் கேசிகன்
The word நிறை nirai has to be interpreted in the context of meaning as understood in those days.
தொல்காப்பியர் அகத்திணை..
தமிழ்க் காதல்.வ சுப மாணிக்கனார் …
காதல் வாழ்வு .மு வரதராசனார்..
All these are a must read to correctly interpret Kaamattuppal
‘Only thing you read to your lover in bed’—Meena Kandasamy’s modern book on ancient Tamil text
C Rajendiran
16/02/2023
www.voiceofvalluvar.org
