CHENNAI: Tamil literature is a treasure trove on a variety of topics — from age-old systems of society and the changing landscape to celebrating the geography of Tamil Nadu. “Tamil literature defines landscape into five: Ainthinai — Kurunji, Mullai, Neidhal, Marutham, and Palai. More than 100 poems have been written based on these classifications,” points out Meenakshi Devraj, a historian.
Now, picture the tough mountains, dense forests, green farmlands, widely spread desserts, and chilly coasts woven into six yards of elegance. Each thread captures the essence of ancient Tamil poetic verses and in each fold lies the soul of Tamil culture and heritage.
Meenakshi has created concept-based designs and launched a sari series in association with Hastha Happiness, a hand-block-printed apparel and accessory store. “I have always wanted to do something with Ainthinai. When I delved more into the subject, I understood the role of women in the functioning of society.
I locked my idea on women. Then, it took me only a week to design. The motif is inspired by chikku kolam,” she shares. A few designs on the saris include a woman catching a fish, churning curd, holding a spear, and guarding fields from parrots and other animals.
Coming back to Ainthinai, Meenakshi says these poems talk about the flora and fauna related to that area. “It talks about the human beings who live there, their occupation, food habits, and the activities they undertake,” she says, adding that in Neidhal (seashore) salt making or fishery or drying the fish is their everyday job.
Similarly, in Kurinji (hilly region), hunting was their primary line of work, in Mullai (forest) it was cattle rearing, in Marutham (cultivation) it was agriculture and in Palai (desert), men were involved in fighting.
Women were on par with their counterparts in all these landscapes. While fishermen brought the day’s catch, the fisherwomen sold those fish. In Marutham, women protected the fields from insects and animals that destroyed the produce.
In Mullai, women pushed carts of curd and milk products, calling out the prices. “They (women) were equally contributing to society, to their particular landscape. With this concept sari, I am paying tribute to the women who lived more than 1,000 years ago,” she adds.
This project has a value attached to it. Meenakshi says, “For a language to have this kind of classification and poems that talk about the social rituals, geographical attributes or the social life of that particular landscape, that livelihood should have existed for that many years.
That is the richness of Tamil culture.” Meenakshi designed these saris with a purpose — to take this treasure to the world. “I want to take this concept to the future generation to take pride in the culture they are born in,” she concludes.
Sari sales
You can even customise it based on their needs regarding colour, fabric, and number of designs. The saris start from `5,000, and orders are delivered in a week. For orders, connect with Nam Payanam at 8807672735.