2022 · Q53
Which one of the following statements about Tolkappiyam is not correct?
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- AIt is a treatise on grammar.
- BIt was composed between first to fourth century CE.
- CIt was part of the Sangam corpus.
- DIt was composed by Panini.
Explanation
The Tolkappiyam is the oldest extant Tamil grammatical treatise, traditionally attributed to Tolkappiyar (a disciple of the sage Agastya) — not to Panini, the Sanskrit grammarian of the Ashtadhyayi, making option D the incorrect statement. It is dated broadly between the first and fourth centuries CE and belongs to the Sangam corpus of classical Tamil literature. Its three books (Ezhuttatikaram, Sollatikaram, Porulatikaram) cover phonology, morphology/syntax and poetics. Hence the statement that is NOT correct is D.