“Seek Wealth Even by Crossing the Seas” – Trade Management in Sangam Literature
Author : A Punitha
Abstract :
The Tamil proverb "Thiraikadal Oodiyum Thiraviyam Thedu" means "Seek wealth even by crossing the seas." Tamil proverbs are not merely ancient sayings; they are expressions of human experience. Life is built upon experiences. It is these experiences that give life meaning and purpose. The moment we think of "wealth" or "meaning," a famous saying comes to mind: "We need wealth to live, and our lives themselves must have meaning.” Indeed, life is centered around wealth and meaningful living. In the early tribal society, people exchanged the goods they possessed for the goods they needed. This gradually evolved into the barter system, which later developed into a monetary system of trade. It is in pursuit of such trade that people even crossed the seas. Agriculture and commerce are considered the two greatest occupations of a nation. A country prospers only when both flourish. The prosperity of these occupations is one of the reasons why the Sangam Age is celebrated as the Golden Age in Sangam literature. These classical works contain remarkable insights into trade and commercial management.
Keywords :
Sangam Literature, Trade Management, Ancient Tamil Commerce, Maritime Trade, Overseas Trade, Barter System.
