The Livelihood of Paravas in Tamil Novels

மூன்று கவிதாயினிகளை முன்வைத்து அல்லது பின்வைத்து ஒரு பின்நவீனத்துவப் பகடையாட்டம் (சல்மா, சுகிர்தராணி, குட்டி ரேவதி)

Abstract

Fisherfolk constitute one of the major ethnic communities living in the southern districts. They are known by various names such as Parava, Fernando, Mukkuvar, and Nulayar. Literary evidence about them has been available since the Sangam period. Neythal Tinai poems are among the most renowned in ancient Tamil literature. ‘Senbagharaman Pallu’ is considered an important text that described the lives of fisherfolk during the medieval period. Even with the emergence of modern literature, fisherfolk have been discussed extensively. Notable works include Rajam Krishnan’s Alaivaaykaraiyile, Bodhi Sattva Maitreyava’s Sippiyin Vayittril Muthu, Vannanilavan’s Kadalpurathil, Thoppil Muhamuthu Meeran’s Oru Kadalora Kiramatthin Kathai and Thuraimugam, Ponneelan’s Thedal, Sridara Ganesan’s Vaangal, Joe D. Kurus’s Azhisuzh Ulagu and Korkai, Christopher Anthony’s Thuraivan, Kurumbanai Berlin’s novels, and Varithaya Constantine’s stories. These fictional works hold great significance. This paper examines the space given to fisherfolk in these narratives, their livelihood challenges, and cultural aspects.