Satire in Vanampaadi Poems

Abstract

Due to the westernization of literature many new strategies have been used in Tamil poems. Although many strategies are in use still many new strategies become influential over time. Various kind of strategies are used in the poems of this period but the strategies like, symbol, paradox and so on are used in abundance. During Sangam period satire is used to show the moral values of the protagonist. Scholars rarely use satire in their works. The writers of Vanampadi poems directly mocks the politics, economy, education, justice, spirituality, caste, religion, superstition. Ignorance and hypocrisy. Laws which upholds justice are now corrupted. Now-a-days we can buy education and degrees. Like the proverb ‘All that glitters is not gold’ fakes are worth more than the real thing today. World is filled with forgeries. Forgeries in object, spirituality, education, politics, medicine, law and so on. People in high positions are not doing their duties because of caste system and religious problems. Vanampadi poets used satire as a literary technique to criticize all these problems. Satire can be seen as the voice of marginalized people to reconstruct society. Satire is a tone of humorous criticism.