I attended a seminar on Sangam Age and Archaeology at the University of Madras yesterday, and I attended another one on the same title conducted by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil at the Institute of Engineers (on Swami Sivananda Salai, next to Doordarshan HQ) today from 10-6. The morning session was addressed by Dr Nagaswamy who talked about Sangam era, Brahmins, Paarpanar, Sramanas, Buddhists, Tholkaapiyam, Arangottu Aasan, Asoka, his edicts, karana (as a written document, not the dance sculptures - hence karnam, writers). He quoted "Satyam Vadha, dharmam chara, maatru devO bhava, pitru devO bhava:" from Taitreeya Upanishad, and said Asoka has inscribed this in his edicts, even after he converted to Buddhism. His thrust today seemed to be on denying someone's (unnamed) thesis that the Sangam literature was possible because Brahmins were not allowed to take control of the royal courts then. It was a very interesting talk. He also SEEMED to imply that Asoka created kharoshti and Brahmi by borrowing from the scripts of the Balkan area (please note: I may have misunderstood this point); and that numerals were in use at Asoka's time.
{Gopu's comment: Lack of numerals in astronomy texts seem to imply otherwise. Also another archaeologist said Megasthenes said Indians did not know writing. }
Anyway this seminar will continue tomorrow at the same location. Today's topics included 1. Velirs - non-Gujarati origin; 7th century BC 2. Pattanam (aka Muziris) - excellent talk on its excavation by Prof Selvakumar, Tamil University 3. Death and Funerals by Marxia Gandhi 4. Bloodshed Sacrifice Sati Growth and Fertility (I'm paraphrasing) in Sangam era tamilakam 5. Cattle rearing in sangam era - commonality among Tamilakam, Deccan, tribals 6. Pre-Iron age megalithic and Iron-age megalithic culture 7. Gold artifacts of Karur and Kongu land (wow! incredible pix of intricate art) 8. Muruga in sangam age 9. Dating Tolkappiyam to 7th century BC 10. Engineering terms and aspects of dolmens, cairns, township names, agricultural tools, water management etc. by Prof Athiyaman of Tamil Univ.
Also there is another seminar on Arts and Indian archaeology at Dhyana Mandapam, Matha Koil Street, Santhome on March 29 & 30. Tomorrow and day after. Inaugaration is 10-11.30 tomorrow and Nagaswamy is again keynote speaker. Several interesting topics scheduled, including two on Painting (upto 600 AD; after 600AD), sculpture, temples - but sorry I dont have a proper list.