The Natural Life of the People of Mudhuvar Ethnic Community through the novel 'Valasai (Animal Migration)'

Abstract

Tamil literature of this period plays a major role in speaking of the current scenario. In that sense, it can be said that there is no equivalent to novels in telling contemporary social problems and their solutions. No wonder today's Tamil novels are mirrors of time. Among such novels is Su. Venugopal's novel 'Valasai' is one of them. The novel speaks of the problems of the life of elephants; And as another storyline, it also talks about the life of the tribal people, the Mudhuvars. The novel reveals that the Mudhuvars have their own unique way of life and that they are ecologically concerned. This article shows how the way of life of the Mudhuvars revealed by the novel 'Valasai' is naturalistic. This paper describes the way in which natural life manifests itself in elements such as food, shelter, harmony with elephants, and practical recreation of the Mudhuvars.