Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s27.1

c23.s27.1

The Brāhmī script reached Upper South India (Andhra-Karnataka regions) and the Tamil country at about the same time during the 3rd century b.c. in the wake of the southern spread of Jainism and Buddhism. However, the results of introduction of writing in these two regions were markedly different. The most interesting aspects of Tamil literacy, when compared with the situation in contemporary Upper South India, are: (i) its much earlier commencement; (ii) use of the local language for all purposes from the beginning; and (iii) its popular democratic character.¹