RAS question
Silappadikaram, a Sangam-era epic, was written by:
Correct answer: (B) Ilango Adigal.
Silappadikaram, the Sangam-era Tamil epic about Kannagi and Kovalan, was written by Ilango Adigal.
Explanation
Silappadikaram means The Tale of the Anklet and is attributed to Ilango Adigal, a Jain prince-monk and brother of the Chera king Cheran Senguttuvan. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) places Silappadikaram among the major surviving works of the Sangam period and states that Silappadikaram and Manimekalai were authored by Ilango Adigal and Sattanar respectively. That pairing is useful for the MCQ: Ilango Adigal is linked to Silappadikaram, while Sattanar belongs to Manimekalai. The story of Kannagi and Kovalan is therefore associated with Ilango Adigal, not with the authors of Tamil grammar or ethical literature.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Tiruvalluvar is linked by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to Thiru Kural, not to Silappadikaram.
- (C) Tolkappiyar is associated by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) with Tolkappiyam, a grammar text, whereas Silappadikaram is attributed to Ilango Adigal.
- (D) Sattanar authored Manimekalai according to National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), so he is the paired but different epic author, not the author of Silappadikaram.
Concept
This tests Sangam literature, especially the ability to match classical Tamil works with their authors. RAS repeatedly asks such pairs because ancient literature is a compact way to test chronology, language traditions and cultural history.