PANIMALAR ENGINEERING COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)

TAMILS AND TECHNOLOGY (SUBJECT CODE: 23TA1201)

QUESTION BANK
SEM – II
PART–A QUESTIONS
UNIT-1 WEAVING AND CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY

1. What are the evidences of clothing in sangha period?

In the sangha period, the reference of wearing Thazhaiyudai, Marauri and kachai is found
in kurunji Thinai songs.
Kuravars wore dresses woven from Kartazhai and the Kurinji land Kodichiyars wore leaf
dresses made from the shoots of Ashoka tree.
2. What are the names of clothes in sangha period?
1.Thazhai dress 2.Thugil -Kalingam 3.kachai-Kachu 4.Padam -Meippai
5.Sithar-Sitharvai 6.Kazhagam 7. Aruvai 8. Kandam
3. Who were the weaving women or cotton women?
The women who plucked the cotton and cleaned it by removing the nuts and seeds from it
were called” Cotton Women”. Bow was used to extract the cotton from its cocoon. Sangam
literature states that cotton cocoon was thoroughly pounded to remove the outer skin and dust.
Cotton Women were engaged in this work even at night with lanterns.
4. Give the meaning of Kachai and Kachu

(i) Sirupanartupadai tells us that Archunan wore a broad Kachai having flower designs.
(ii) Nedunelvadai says that the queen had tied ‘Vambu’(katchu) on her chest.
5. Give the meaning of Thughil and Kalingam
The king was wearing thughil which was washed with mush. The queen during separation
from her husband wore Kalingam a garment made by dirty thread.
6. What are the various steps involved in making garments?

The various steps involved in making garments are as follow

1. Ginning
2. Spinning
3. Processing (Paavottudhal)
4. Dyeing
5. Weaving Cloth
6. Selling Women Garments
7. What is the meaning of Pavu?
Keeping the threads to the required width and wrapping the threads in a cylinder to the
length of 10,15 sarees or dhotis is called ‘Pavu’.
8. What is meant by spinning and paavottudhal?

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 Spinning is the process of converting cotton balls into fibers or yarn.
Paavottudhal is the process of converting the yarn into a suitable form to manufacture cloth.

9. What are called as Kurukai?

Larger size pots are called as Kurukkai. Grains like paddy are stored in these.

10. What mineral was used for the red and black color in black red pottery?
Spectroscopic analysis test showed that hematite an iron mineral was used for the red
color of black red pottery and Charcoal an organic material was used for the black color.
11. What are the types of rotators?
There are two types of Thiruvais in Tamilnadu and they are
(i) Ball tipped rotator
(ii) Cone-slot rotator
12. What is Pre-Tamil Brahmi script?
Brahmi is the earliest Indian alphabetical script. It reflected the thinking of the Paleolithic
and Iron age people.

PART – B QUESTIONS
1. Explain the different types of clothes worn by people during sangha period?
2. How was the weaving industry during the sangha period and explain in detail the various
steps involved in making garments.
3. What is polished and unpolished pottery? Explain the method of making pottery in
detail.
4. Give a detailed accout on Black and Red potteries.
5. Write in detail the scratch marks engraved on potteries in ancient India.

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 UNIT – 2
PART –A
1.What is architecture?
Architecture is a science that combines technology, art and science.

2.Name some construction materials of the sangam period.

Limestone, bamboo,grass, palm leaf.

3.What are ramparts?

A rampart is one of the structures erected to protect the people of the country from enemies.

4. What are trenches?

An excavated (dug) water rampart outside the fort or a natural moat surrounding the fort is a water
trench.

5. Types of temple built in india:

Nagaram

Vesaram
Dravidam

6.Which is considered to be the tallest temple tower in tamilnadu.

Tiruvarangam Aranganathar temple tower near Tirchy is considered to be the tallest temple tower in
Tamil Nadu. The Raja Gopuram of this temple is also known as the 2 nd tallest tower in Asia at 236 feet.

7. Mention the six stages of the herostone mentioned by Tolkappiyar.

Kaatchi, Kaalkol, Neerpadai, Nadukal, Perumpadai and Vaazhthu.

8. Name some of the big temple built by Cholas:

Thanjavur Peruvudaiyar Temple in Tanjavur,
Gangaikonda Cholapuram

The Airavatesvarar Temple in Dharasuram

9. Write a note about Thirumala Nayakkar Palace.

Thirumala Nayakkar Palace was built by King Tirumala Nayak in the 17 th century. The palace was
built based on Dravidian and European styles.

10. Who built Mamallapuram Shore Temple?

Mamallapuram Shore Temple is the first constructed temple in Tamil Nadu. It was built in the 7 th
century AD by Narasimhavarma Pallava II alias Rajasimman.

11. Other names of Mamallapuram.

It is known by names lkike kadalmalla, Mamalla, Mamallapuram and Mahabalipuram.

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12. What are the chariots of the Pancha Pandavas?
Dharmaraja Ratha
Bhima Ratha
Arjuna Ratha
Nakula Sahadeva Ratha

Draupadi Ratha

13. In which district is the famous Mamallapuram shore temple located?

Chengalpattu District

14. Who built the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple?
It was built by Ariyanatha Mudaliyar ,the minister of Tirumala Nayak who ruled Madurai.

15. Write a note on Indo-Saracenic architecture.

It is a blend of Mughal architecture, British architecture and Indian classical style.

PART –B
1. Explain in detail the temple architecture of pallava period.
2. Explain the contemporary building materials during sangha period.
3. Explain in detail the herostones.
4. Write of the technical values of the stage setting as given in silapathikaram.
5. Describe the great temples and other places of worship of the Chola period.
6. Describe the typical architecture of Nayak period temples
7. Describe the architectural features of Chettinad houses
8. State the salient features of Indo-Saracenic architecture during the British period.
9. Describe in detail the beach temples and cave temples at Mamallapuram.

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 UNIT III

PART-A (2 Marks)

1. Write down the different types of ships used in Sangam illakkium.

(i)Kattumara, (ii) Dhoni, (iii) Vallam, (iv) Odam, (v) Theppam.

2. Describe the Iron smelting techniques employed by palandamizhar.

Iron ore mixed with carbon was heated to 1400o C in fire
clay vessels

3. Mention the names of navarathnams.

1. Diamond
2. Cat's eye
3. Pearl
4. Emerald
5. Ruby
6. Coral
7. Topaz
8. Garnet
9. Sapphire

4. What were the methods of coin making in the Sangam period?

The Sangam period coins were minted manually using hammers from pieces of metals
such as gold, silver and copper. The metals were placed in a die mounted on a solid
surface. When one coin is hammered a second coin is placed on the die and hammered on
the top of it.

5. Define Damascus Sword and Beta Bronze.

The sword 'Damascus Sword', famous all over the world, stands for the excellence of high
organic steel made in South India.

This type of bronze cast at high heat is called 'beta bronze'. In metallurgy, the
'inter-metallic compound' state between two metals is known as the beta state.

6. What is coin minting?

Coins were first minted 2000 years ago in Lydia (Turkey) during the sangam period.
Coins of the Sangam period were minted by bare hand using hammers from pieces of
metal such as gold, silver and copper.

7. What are terracotta beads?

The most ancient art form of mankind is flint figurines. This art appeared before the casting
of art forms in stone, wood, ivory, metal etc. These fling figures don’t require greater
technology or better tools to make them. They make handmade.

8. Mention the different kinds of glass-beads.

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 Grobo bells, Agoso beads, Metaii beads, Adeyun beads, Kata Ausi beads and Kifa beads.

9. Define Chennakkhuzi.
Chennakkhuzi is a combination of the word 'chen' which refers to the colour characteristic of
red (a) red fire and the name 'na' which refers to the flame of fire and the place name 'guzhi'.
Chen + Na + Pit = 'Chennakkhuzi'.

10. List out the different types of coins used in ancient India.
Stamps, Pandyar coins, Peruvaluti currency, Chola coins, Cherar coins of the sangam period,
Malayan coins, Punch coins, Coinage of the Mauryas, Coins of the Indo-Greeks, Kushana type
coins and coins of the Guptas.

PART-B (16 marks)

1. Write a note on coins and their historical importance.

2. Explain metallurgical potential of ancient Tamils with evidence.
3. Explain the patterns/types of beads with evidences.
4. Elaborate the art of ship building.
5. Discuss the method of sailing in ancient India.

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 UNIT 4
Agriculture and Irrigation technology
PART A

1. Write a note on kallanai dam?

Kallanai Dam [Stone dam (Grand anicut)]

During the sangam period CholaKarikalan, built the Kallanai Dam [Stone dam (Grand anicut)]
in South India,across the Cauvery river flowing from Tiruchirapalli District to Thanjavur district, Tamil
Nadu .The Cauvery River splits into two at a point 32 km west of Kallanai. The two rivers form the
Srirangam before joining at Kallanai. The northern channel is called the Kollidam. A large amount of
water passed onto the Kollidam leaving behind a small volume for irrigation purposes. It is considered
to be the greatest technical achievement and it has been used for more than 2100 years.Kallanai Dam is
the fourth oldest water reclamation system in the world. The idea behind the construction of the dam
was to divert the river to the delta districts thereby boosting irrigation.

2. Mention various types of ponds

Type of ponds:

The ponds are different in terms of length, depth, water storage area, method of receiving water
and discharge method. Ponds also differ based on the usage Use of irrigation for agriculture, Drinking
water and temples. Ponds are divided into two types, based on how they receive water.Rainwater
ponds/ Maanavari Ponds (collect and fill with rainwater) River water ponds (canals or sluices).

3. Define animal husbandry.

Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture that deals with animals that are reared for fiber,
milk and other products. So they tamed wild animals to do their work and used them in many ways to
generate income.

4. Write a note on madai.

Madai is the lifeline of the lake. ‘Madai is like an open flood’. A dam /lake/ pond is a structure
in which the water stored in is released by the support of the bank through Madai. Opening a Madai is
not an easy task. It has one door, if it is opened, water gushes out in full. The amount of water cannot

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be increased or decreased, and cannot be controlled. Madai is found not only in ponds/dams/lakes but
also in river channels.

5. Write anote on fisheries.

A fishery may be an enterprise that raises (or) harvests fish and other aquatic life. Usually the
site where such an enterprise was held was called a fishing ground.

Types of Fisheries

Two types based on sources of water resources

Marine Fisheries (a) Brackish water fisheries

Inland Fisheries (a) Freshwater Fisheries

About 500 million people worldwide depend economically on fisheries.

6. Write four benefits of ponds?

Four benefits of a pond

1. Conservation of water, 2. Drought prevention, 3.Flood control, 4.Protect environment

It was carried out by collection of water, storage, drainage and water supply.

7. What is neerodi and serodi?

Below the ground level of the lake, a pipe system is laid so that the water flows through the hole
in the box/kalpetti. 'Dumpukkal' / pebble is used to close and open the hole for water to flow into the
tank. There is a stoneframe to move the pilaster up and down.

When water is needed for irrigation, the pebble in the hole is sunk into the water and taken away. It is
set up like astone box to let out only the required amount of water. There is a half-foot diameter hole at
the top of this stone.The name of this hole is Neerodi. This hole is covered with a stone like a pipe.
There are two or three small holes inthe floor of the box. These are called Cherodi. It will be connected
to the irrigation canal outside the lake by atunnel.

8. Write a note on salabam, muthusalabam and pavalasalabam.

Places where pearls were grown in the sea were called salapam. Muthukulupu was also known
as MuthuSalapam/pearl diving.Thus Pavalkulpu was called PavalakSalapam.

9. Mentions various uses of cattle for work.

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  To produce milk.
 To increase the production of crops, pull the plough,
 To bring home the produce from the field
 To pull the cart, Cows were used to do similar work in the Middle East around 4000 BC.
10. Name various types of land scapes.

It is widely known for its five types of thinais (landscapes) namely Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham,
Neithal and Paalai, each with its own floraand fauna, and other distinct traits that find a due place in the
literary works.

PART B

1. Explain about Water management in sangam period.

2. Explain in detail about the kallani dam.

3. Write about agriculture of Tamils during Sangam period.

4. Explain in detail about pearl, pearl diving carried out.

5. Describe Animal husbandry/cattle management /care during sangam period.

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 UNIT-5
SCIENTIFIC TAMIL & TAMIL COMPUTING
PART-A (2 MARKS)
1. What are the file types of Tamil e-books?
The files of Tamil e-texts are divided into three categories and used accordingly. They are
 e-pub,
 mobi,
 pdf
2. Write any two advantages of e-books.
Anywhere in the world, at any time, we can easily search and use the required parts with the help of
search engines on the internet. The necessary e-books can be purchased and used through e-
commerce.
3. What is a keyboard? What is it used for?.

A keyboard is a peripheral device.

It enables the user to enter the text into a computer or any other electronic machine.

4. What is the function of encoding?

• Determining which key to press and which letter should appear is encoding.
• It is the multiple information processing of converting data into the format which are essential for
the requirements.

5. What is bilingual code?

• Bilingual code is developed to use the same fonts for both Tamil and English languages.

6. What is Unicode?"
The universal code was created by the Unicode Consortium in 1991.
• The software development companies came together to set up a coding system needed to handle
multiple languages at the same time.

7. What are the three levels of the Tamil Internet Education Corporation?
i) E-learning programs
ii) E-library
iii) Development of computerized Tamil

8. Define dictionary.
 A book that compiles all the words in a language in alphabetical order and explains the
meanings is called Agaramuthali.
 It is also called a dictionary.

9. What is Sorkuvai (Word Corpus) Project?

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 The Sorkuvai (Word Corpus) Project is a project to collate all Tamil words, alphabetize them,
convert them into proper words, arrange them into meaningful words and try to preserve and
develop the language.

10. State three objectives of Sorkuvai Project.

i) Conservation of vocabulary in Tamil language.
ii) Enlarging the vocabulary of Tamil language.
iii) Helping to avoid foreign language intrusion in Tamil language.

11. What are the functions of Science Tamil magazines?

 The Science Tamilmagazines enable the readers to a different way of thinking.
 They help us to explore things in different dimensions and in different contexts.
 They help, to develop understanding of the Tamil Community.
 They support us to develop the department related matters neglected by the English world.
They help to make science, technology, medicine and the information related to that
available Tamil language.

12. What are the five concepts of electronic library system?

(i) Digital

(ii) Network

(iii) Interactive

(iv) Multimedia

(v) Measurable

13. Write any two advantages of Tamil e-library.

(i) E-libraries are now a favorite sector of businesses and governments as they provide easy
access to books, documents and various audio and visual information.

(ii) A limited amount of information can be stored in traditional libraries. As minimum space is
enough to set up an e-library, it is possible to store much more information.

14. Write any two disadvantages or problems of Tamil e-library.

(i) Technology is changing from time to time. Accordingly e-library should also improve its
technology.
(ii) Migration from stateless data, storage to a more stable system, programming language or
operating system.

15. Write any two uses of Sorkuvai (Word Corpus) scheme.

(i) The website sorkuvai.com launched under this scheme has been made to clarify the doubts regarding
terminology.
(ii) Doubts related to Tamil vocabulary can also be resolved through the toll-free phone which will be
launched soon.

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 PART-B
(16 MARKS)

1. Describe and write about the development of mathematics

2. Describe and write about the fields of study of Computer Tamil

3. Describe and write about e-books

4. Explain about internet dictionary or e-dictionary

5. Describe and write lecture programs and their objectives

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