women in the Sangam Age a reflection of what was in fact the practice, the reality in existence? Are the various facets of the portrayal of the Status of Women normative standards set forth or descriptions of conditions as they existed. On the capacity for verbalisation, we, as a people, seem to possess somewhat unique abilities. Anyone reading through two thousand years from now - say in 4001 A.D.-- our laws, exhortations, economic, social and juridicial writings and political manifestos and rhetoric that issued between 1970-75 about eradicating poverty would naturally come to the conclusion that we had abolished poverty in this land by the nineteen seventies. Again our sacred literature is really a series of normative essays in the nature and being of God, man and the duties and obligations incumbent on us as a consequence of the God-Man equation. It has little relation to how we conduct our religious and secular life in the daily round which makes up our being. And so the question is whether we can slow down on our capacity for verbalism and practice a little of what we preach, can we close even a little the yawning and growing gap between the normative and positive in our lives?
If we can move a little further forward on both these issues-learn from our history and live by what we say - then, I believe this monograph by Dr. Balasubramanian would have served a useful and necessary purpose.
University Buildings, 31st May 1976. MALCOLM S. ADISESHIAH, Vice-Chancellor.
