Innovative Learning Module
Many Publications in National and International journals has been made and Oral presentations were done in various International podiums explaining the concept, one project (2, 00,000) funded by the central government organization – Central Institute for Classical Tamil has been successfully completed in the Year 2014.
Module Explained in Detail Previous works done by Dr.Semmal Since 2008
The Academic Community of the 21st century needs to intervene and thereon to responsibly develop innovative educational strategies to alleviate the unhealthy belittling approach in the attitude of generation next towards ancient texts. The core of the learning module, the 21st Century Approach towards Ancient Literary works (Philocine) is constructed based upon the fascinating principle portrayed by the Evolutionary Biologist Sir. Charles Darwin, that “a constant struggle exists between various life forms as well as various languages and amongst the words in it as well; the better, the shorter, the easier forms will gain an upper hand over others”. Enumeration of the embedded scientific insights in individual segments of ancient language assemblages by conducting critical analysis by a committed team inclusive from various scientific disciplines is a highly potential area for modern research. Extreme care is to be exercised during analysis to nullify bias in the interpretation process, admixing science and literature in education must be reiterated as a dedicated system of its own.
Benefits of implementing this module with regards to Tamil and the domains of medical and health education are multiple and includes,
[1] Creating a generation of Tamil students endowed simultaneously with high-quality scientific acumen and oriented to ancient roots of the great Tamil culture.
[2] Formation of Integrated Medical Linguistic Research units involving teams of medical professionals and Language scholars across the Universities.
[3] Emergence of a new branch in medical education, Philocine – The Philosophical Aspect of Medicine and its constitution as a subspecialty of its own.
[4] Achieving a radical change in outlook for betterment among the modern youth towards classical Tamil Literature.
[5] Forms the foundation of establishing Tamil as the “Most scientifically qualified and oriented of all the classical languages” an attribute well deserved by Tamil.
[6] Establishing that science can be learned via ancient Tamil text, enhances the learning potentials and self-esteem levels of Tamil students.
[7] Ancient literary works in Tamil crafted at the dawn of human civilizations traverses through the frontiers of Neurobehavioral Evolution.
[8] Study material generated in nascent fields of Medical Science like Psychoendoimmunoneurology allows Tamil to gain positive ground among other Indian Regional Languages.
[9] E-Learning via Educational videos can be created and hosted in free video hosting services like youtube.
[10] Creation of International Scientific Publications in English.
Few domains already traversed includes; Elaborating the Insight regarding Freudian Slip of the Tongue phenomenon using the Thirukkural 1391; Describing social norm prevalent among ancient Tamils of Tolkappiyam period to propagate sex education related to fertile period of menstrual cycle via literary works2; Insight related to Genetics of Telomere in relation to Human longevity in Thirukkural numbered three3; Comparison of thought process of Hippocrates and Thiruvalluvar and Insights regarding Etiology of Obesity in Thirukkural4; Analysis of Neurophysiological Insights regarding Consolidation on Negative Memory in Thirukkural5; Scientific Insights in Periyapuraanam6;Understanding Co - Evolution of Language and Human Brain using Thirukkural numbered one7;Understanding the Neurophysiological Basis of Education Enhancing Spirituality based on Insight in Thirukkural numbered two8
Summary of domains traversed via the Philocine Module (June 2010 - December 2014)
1. Elaborating the Insight regarding Freudian Slip of the Tongue phenomenon using Thirukkural 139
Thirukkural is first work of the Dravidian literature that focuses on ethics; it stands as a classical literature truly unique in its anatomical architecture amongst all the literary works of the world. It is a highly organized collection up of 1330 rhyming Tamil couplets placed into 3 sections spread over 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets. The timeline in which Thirukkural was written is believed to be between 200 BC and 30 BC. Critical analysis of the Kural allows us to comprehend a clearer picture about the intellectual acumen of the ancient Tamils who inhabited our landscape some twenty centuries earlier. Critically analyzing and enumerating the insights is a task that would lead the modern medical world to appropriately acknowledge the greatness of this classical literature.
Language plays a critical and central role in various aspects of human life. It is a specific human capacity, universal to all humans and it is innate in nature, the scientific study of it is denoted by the term ―Linguistics, for a metamorphic relation exists between "Language" and the "Tongue". Study of the neural mechanisms that control comprehension, production, and acquisition of language is a separate interdisciplinary field in neurophysiology called ―Neurolinguistics. Sigmund Freud introduced the word "Parapraxis" in 1901 to encompasses the range of mistaken perceptions, actions or speech occurring when the subconscious and the conscious mind work in non-aligned agendas.
Enumerating the scientific wisdom in the ancient Indian literature is a high potential area for integrating medial and linguistic research. Conducting a Psychophysiological linguistic medical research by doing a critical analysis on Kural numbered 139, in the 14th chapter of Thirukkural elucidates the embedded insights which relate to the neuropsychological phenomena of ―Word processing in the Human brain. Word by word critical analysis was done in an unbiased manner based on the authenticated English translations by Rev. Dr. G. U. Pope, Rev W. H. Drew, Rev. John Lazarus and Mr. F. W. Ellis and M.S. PurnalingamPillai. From the research, it was learned that Valuvar portrays the idea that “by the slip of the tongue”, it is possible for humans to utter inflammatory words which can otherwise be preferentially avoided consciously by virtue of the physiological function of suppression.
Multiple areas of the brain play an established role in the multiple-demand system, which mediates all tasks of high executive requirements irrespective of domain. Neuroimaging studies portray that a distributed set of brain regions is activated by multiple executively demanding tasks, both semantic and nonsemantic, including inferior frontal sulcus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor areas, adjacent cingulate cortex, and areas in and around the intraparietal sulcus. Recent neuroimaging studies report the activation of posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) alongside IFG during situations of high semantic control demand, the IFG-pMTGactivation is complemented by increased neural responses in dorso and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, angular gyrus, and/or superior parietal cortex. The research work concludes that in Kural 139, Valluvar has put forward a concept which was reflected by Sigmund Freud in the beginning of the 20th century and proved by Neurolinguistics in the 21st century. Astonishingly the words that carry the literal meaning of ―SLIP was used by both Valluvar and Freud in their own languages.
2. Analysis of Neurophysiological Insights regarding Consolidation of Negative Memory in Thirukkural
Memory can be facilitated by emotion, leading to enhanced consolidation across increasing time delays. Emotional memory is preferentially modulated across periods of sleep. The insights embedded in the Thirukkural numbered 108 are critically analyzed word by word from the Neurophysiological point of view. Valluvar has classified memory into two types, positive and negative. Valluvar glides through the Neurophysiology related to negative memory and dwells into the process of consolidation of memory. Careful exploration of the second line reveals that Valluvar mentions about a concept that is fascinating and relevant to the modern neurophysiology related to memory research. Insights related to the Neurophysiological concepts like Positive and Negative memory, the relationship between emotions and memory, the significance of sleep in the consolidation process of memory, the idea that memory can be recalled and remodeled are embedded in the Kural 108.
3. Describing social norm prevalent among ancient Tamils of Tolkappiyam period to propagate sex education related to fertile period of menstrual cycle via literary works
Women's health is currently defined to be a multidisciplinary approach to the health and care of women; the hormones that emanate from the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis controls the reproductive function in the human female, the physiological process of the release of a mature ovum from the confines of the ovary, termed as "Ovulation", is the most dominant event of the menstrual cycle. Knowledge about the menstrual cycle and the fertile period were prevalent in the ancient world as well, enlightening the modern generation of medical students and medical professionals about the scientific wisdom of the ancient world using the innovative E-Learning module of Philocine allows us to decipher a clearer picture about our own perception of our legends who ruled the literary world during the past. The word Tolkāppiyam which stands for Ancient (Tonmai) and Literature (kāppiyam) is the earliest extant work in Tamil; It is world-renowned for its inputs about grammar in the Tamil language; it was penned by Tholkappiyar around the timeline of three hundred years before the birth of Christ. It is written in the form of short formulaic compositions and it comprises three books – the Ezhuttadikaram, Solladikaram and Poruladikaram. Each book is further divided into nine chapters each.
By virtue of climbing along the ladder of evolution, the human female has developed the ability to ovulate spontaneously and the physiological process is regulated by the cyclic functional interactions among the hormonal signals emanating from hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and the ovaries, this physiological process ultimately orchestrates the female reproductive biology leading to the cyclical output of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids during the menstrual cycle to ensure that ovulation occurs at a time when the female reproductive tract is in the optimal state to receive and nurture a conceptus. Critical analysis of the Physiological insights related to the fertile period during the menstrual cycle in the Ancient Tamil Literary Work, the Tolkāppiyam song numbered 46 in Karpiyal section was conducted. The various interpretations of the ancient texts were critically analyzed for the physiologically relevant insights embedded in them related to the menstrual cycle and the concept of safe period. The song describes a situation when a female informs another female about her separation from her male partner. The song is “Pooppinpurappaadeerarunaalum” (பூப்பின் புறப்பா டீரறு நாளும்) (apart from the 6 days that proceeds and the 6 days that succeeds the menstrual flow , a total of 12 days). “Neethakandrurayaarenmanaarpulavar” (நீத்தகன் றுறையார் என்மனார் புலவர்) (on all the remaining days my male partner will not leave me and will not stay away from me). “Paraththayinpirindhakaalayaana” (பரத்தையின் பிரிந்த காலையான) (my male partner who has separated from me, during the present time) (Tolkappiyam; Karpiyalnool; song 46) (தொல்.கற்.நூ.46)
The insight regarding the menstrual cycle and the fertile period depicted in the literary work under consideration coincides with the current physiological consensus of the modern-day physiologists that when the dominant follicle from a cohort of follicles fails to be fertilized the menstrual bleeding will eventually ensue on day 1 of the menstrual cycle. Avoidance of intercourse during the fertile period for 4 days before ovulation and 3 days afterward prevents conception; However, the failure rate of following the calendar for contraception may be as high as 25 % per year. Gliding through the Linguistic Medical analysis we could conclude that the ancient Tamils were aware of the fertile period of the menstrual cycle and the social norm that was prevalent at that time period was to suggest and couples to cultivate healthy reproductive practices via literary works for successful propagation of the species; such a delicate insight into the complicated physiological process of menstrual cycle which sprung due to the fine hormonal dialogue between the ovaries and the brain is a physiological aspect for us to ponder from the intelligence of our past.
Similarly, elaboration can be done on the remaining themes as well.
4. Insight related to Genetics of Telomere in relation to Human longevity in Thirukkural numbered three
5. Comparison of thought process of Hippocrates and Thiruvalluvar and Insights regarding Etiology of Obesity in Thirukkural
6. Scientific Insights in Periyapuraanam
7. Understanding Co-Evolution of Language and Human Brain using Thirukkural numbered one
8. Understanding the Neurophysiological Basis of Education Enhancing Spirituality based on Insight in Thirukkural numbered two
References:
1 Semmal Syed Meerasa M; 2011; Insights regarding Parapraxis in Classical Tamil Literature Thirukkural; Languages in India; Volume11: Pages 221 – 230; ISSN 1930-2940.
2.Semmal Syed Meerasa M; 2013; Insights Regarding the Physiological Fertile Period across the Menstrual Cycle in the Ancient Tamil Literary Work – Tolkāppiyam; International Interdisciplinary Journal of Modern Tamizh Research; page 14 - 16; ISSN 2321 – 984 X.
3.Semmal Syed Meerasa M;2012; Telomere to Thirukkural, Insights regarding Longevity in an Ancient Tamil Script- Thirukkural numbered 0002; International Conference of Yoga in Education Souvenir; Tumkur University, Karnataka; page 133 – 134.
4.Semmal Syed Meerasa M;2011; Insights regarding Etiology of Obesity in Thirukkural; International Conference of Yoga for Lifelong Fitness; Alagappa University; ISBN 978-93-80400-11-2.
5.Semmal Syed Meerasa M;2010; Analysis of Neurophysiological Insights regarding Consolidation on Negative Memory in Thirukkural; Bulletin of Association of Physiologists of Tamilnadu BAPT; Volume 4; Issue 1; Pages 52-55; 2010; ISSN 0974-1968.
6.Semmal Syed Meerasa M; 2010; Scientific Insights in Periyapuraanam;6th International Sekkizhar Conference; March 25-27; 2011.
7.Malathy.SSemmal Syed Meerasa M;2012; Understanding Co-Evolution of Language and Human Brain using Insights from the Classical Tamil Literature - Tirukkural 0001”; Conference Proceedings of the International Conference of Yoga; Tamilnadu Physical Education and Sports University.
8. Abirami; Semmal Syed Meerasa M;2012; Education Enhances Spirituality – Understanding the Neurophysiological Basis based on Insights from a Classical Literature”; Conference Proceedings of the International Conference of Yoga; Tamilnadu Physical Education and Sports University.
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