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madhupria's review
4.0
Manimekhalaï is one of the most interesting characters written in mythology. While the epic itself is not free from reducing women’s ideals to being just a ‘chaste wife’ who should follow their husbands to the funeral pyre, the protagonist actually subverts this ‘ideal’ and chooses her own path. Silapathikaaram and Manimegalai are unique, and are in contrast to the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. In the latter two Sanskrit works, a 'man’s world' is depicted with men driving everything, and woman, without meaningful agency, are caught in this whirlwind of (toxic) masculinity. However, the Tamil works feature a variety of female characters that demonstrate meaningful agency to navigate this 'man’s world'.
Manimegalai, in particular, is refreshingly unique to portray a young women (who was supposed to be a courtesan), who chooses monkhood and serves the downtrodden, all while battling with her feelings for the Prince she loved. This also is the only ancient epic I’ve read that talks extensively about poverty and particularly hunger and the agony of hunger. This epic venerates characters such as Aaputhiran and Manimekhalaï, because they wanted to feed others and made it their lives’ work. Philosophically, almost everything Manimekhalaï articulated resonated with me.
Manimegalai, in particular, is refreshingly unique to portray a young women (who was supposed to be a courtesan), who chooses monkhood and serves the downtrodden, all while battling with her feelings for the Prince she loved. This also is the only ancient epic I’ve read that talks extensively about poverty and particularly hunger and the agony of hunger. This epic venerates characters such as Aaputhiran and Manimekhalaï, because they wanted to feed others and made it their lives’ work. Philosophically, almost everything Manimekhalaï articulated resonated with me.
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