We, the part of
the human race living at the initial segment of the 21st century,
and descendants of one of the most ancient of human civilizations – the Tamils
are currently gliding across an unprecedented form of crossroad. Unfortunately,
a belittling approach towards Classical Tamil Literary works has forced itself
into the thought process of the younger generation – a similar scenario faced
by other classical languages as well. We need to counter; we need to develop
innovative strategies to bridge the unhealthy divide that has developed between
our past and future.
The Philocine module of Medical and Health Education was
constructed based upon the principle portrayed by the Evolutionary Biologist
Sir.Charles Darwin that “the constant struggle that exists between various life
forms also holds true for languages, and for the words in it as well; the
Better, the Shorter, the Easier forms will gain an upper hand over others”,
this fascinating concept forms the core of the Philocine learning module.
Mining the
scientific wisdom embedded in ancient literary works in classical languages
like the Purananooru in Tamil is a highly potential area for modern research.
Critically analyzing and enumerating the scientific insights embedded in it is
an important task. The module of mixing
science and literature during lectures has always been existent but it was
unorganized and pushed to the tail end, but Philocine reiterates this style a
dedicated system of its own.
APPLICATIONS:
The 400 individual songs placed in the
collection denoted by the term “Purananooru” can be used one by one to
elaborate about the fundamental scientific concepts across various scientific
disciplines. Scientific Insights
embedded in the Purananooru can be critically analyzed word by word. Extreme
care is to be taken during the process of analysis to remove bias in the
interpretation process. E- Learning utilizing the free video hosting services like
the you tube via Educational videos explaining the Ancient Literature in
intricate details admixed with scientific facts can be created and be made
accessible to the students and the common man as a medium of intervention to
nullify the unhealthy changes in the attitude of the generation next towards
ancient Tamil Literature.
EXPECTED
OUTCOME:
Philocine
module admixes literature with science and delicately explores the option of
imparting science and technology to the students using literature as a tool;
the advantages of the Philocine style to the Tamil language are manyfold.
[1] This ultimately creates a generation of Tamil students
endowed with high quality scientific acumen and at the same time oriented to
the ancient roots of the great Tamil culture.
[2] This will enable the formation of Integrated Medical
Linguistic Research units involving teams of medical professionals and Language
scholars across the Universities of the World.
[3] Emergence of a new branch in medical education, Philocine
– The Philosophical Aspect of Medicine and its establishment as a sub
speciality of its own.
[4] The outlook and expectations of the modern-day Tamil
youth towards classical Tamil Literature will get a radical change and outlook
for betterment.
[5] This will form the foundation of establishing Tamil as
the “Most Scientifically qualified and oriented of all the classical languages”
an attribute well deserved by Tamil.
[6] Establishing the idea that science can be learned via
ancient Tamil texts, will obviously enhance the self esteem levels of Tamil
students and this will increase their learning potentials.
[7] The classical literary works crafted at the dawn of
the human civilizations traverse through the frontiers of neurology, the arenas
when explored leads to the world of Neurobehavioural Evolution.
[8] The study material generated in Tamil during the
course of the research in fields like Psychophysiology will establish Tamil to
gain the status as the first and only Indian Regional Language to be equipped
so.
TECHNICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS:
Multiple goals
spanning from Regional Language development to priming the masses towards the
traditional roots and awareness to scientific concepts - all can be
accomplished by this Innovative E-Learning methodology, this module can be
gradually expanded to other literary works in other classical languages of the
world’s great ancient civilizations.
This and the
series of articles that follow are drafted based upon the concept of
"Philocine".
Dr.M.Semmal
Psychophysiology
Research Scholar,
Associate
Professor, Department of Physiology, Sri
Ramachandra University
Managing
Director, Scientific Tamil Foundation
