புதுமைப்பித்தன் சிறுகதைகளில் அகலிகை: தொன்மக் கட்டுடைப்பும் மறுவாசிப்பும் / Agaligai in Puthumaippithan’s Short Stories: A Deconstruction and Rereading of Mythology

Abstract

In the realm of literature, Valmiki, through his “Ramayana”, introduces the earliest rendition of Agalya's tale. Delightfully, Kambar in Tamil Literature who was inspired by Valmiki's “Ramayana”, wrote an adaptation of “Ramayana” often called “Kambaramayanam” uses the story of Agalya with the rich heritage of Tamil cultural tradition. This retelling by Kambar sets the stage for a multitude of creative minds in the 20th century who engage with the story of Agalya across different mediums, yielding diverse and remarkable outcomes in modern literature. Within the realm of Tamil short story literature, Pudhumaipiththan is a visionary writer, a luminary of the 20th century Tamil literature who revolutionized the norms of this narrative art ushering it into a transformative medium. He penned two exquisite tales, "Agalyai" and "Saaba Vimosanam," casting their intricate shadows upon the enigmatic figure of Agalikai. Through these masterpieces, Pudhumaipiththan deftly manipulates the contours of the mythical Agalikai, threading her essence with nuanced adjustments in his story. This article delves into the reimagining of Agalikai within 20th century Tamil literature, offering a nuanced exploration of its profound implications. It also endeavours to scrutinize the profound metamorphosis that befalls Agalikai and intertwines with the resonant threads of contemporary Tamil intellectualism, engendering a compelling renaissance of thought in the arena of 20th century Tamil Literature.

Keywords

• : agaligai
• puthumaippithan
• tamil short stories
• deconstruction
• rereading
• myth.