THE BOOK OF VANCI (Worldview Critical Editions)

Ilango Atikal employs the conventions of Akam and Puram poetry in his Cilappatikaram. Taking ahead the form of the longer, narrative/descriptive poems of Pathupattu, Ilango's work combines prose, verse and narrative to create an epic vision of Tamil life, its myths, legends, its attainments in music, dance, varied musical instruments and folk arts to depict diverse communities inhabiting a pluralist society where multiple religions is the norm. Although Cilappatikaram comes close to the western conceptualization of an Epic, it follows a different, indigenous module in terms of form, structure, characterization and narrative This edition carries R. Parthasarathy's translation of Book III of Cilappatikaram, The Book of Vanci. In addition to a critical Introduction and an annotated commentary, this volume carries essays on history of Sangam Literature, Pattini cult, folk tradition and feminist readings on this epic.B. MANGALAM teaches English at Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi. Her research work is on the interface of caste and gender in Tamil Dalit literature (JNU). She translates from Tamil and Hindi into English. She has also edited Pride and Prejudice (Worldview, Delhi).