<P> In the context of printing, Arumuka Navalar or Arumuga Navalar was an editor of old Tamil texts . Among his editions the most important are Mantalapurutar's lexicon cutamani nikantu with commentary (first printed in 1849), the standard medieval grammar Nannūl with a commentary (1851), the early devotional poem Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai, Manikkavacakar's great devotional poems Tiruvacakam and tirukkovaiyar, the text of Tirukkuṛaḷ with Parimelazhagar's detailed gloss in 1861 . </P> <P> Arumuga Navalar apparently introduced few novel features in the area of Tamil editing . He was probably the first to use punctuation marks like the semicolon, the question mark and the exclamation mark . He produced the first "split" complex sandhi forms to facilitate reading and comprehension . </P> <P> The Calcutta School - Book Society was established under the patronage of the Marquis of Hastings in 1817 . Soon after a similar society was set up in Madras . The association in South India soon languished, and for many years it virtually ceased to exist . It was revived around 1850, when prizes were offered for the best school book on specified subjects . Several new publications were thus secured of which, The History of India by H. Morris Esq., was very successful . </P> <P> The publications of the Madras School Book Society being chiefly used in Government Schools such that religious sentiments were adapted accordingly . The committee of the Madras Tract Society issued some books with Christian elements intended specially for mission schools Classified catalogue of Tamil printed books, with introductory notices . Though reading books of the Madras School Book society were prepared with special reference to the government schools, the committee was not restricted to non--Christian publications . The Rev. A.R. Symonds suggested that the society should make an effort to provide wholesome and attractive literature . Prizes were also offered for the best translation of Robinson Crusoe . </P>

Who printed the first tamil book in 1579 at cochin