History of Tamil Olai Uk The origins of Tamil Olai Uk date back to the 2nd century BCE, during the Sangam period, when the Tamil civilization was at its peak. The script was used to write on palm leaves, which were abundant in the region. The leaves were first cleaned, dried, and then inscribed with a stylus made of iron or bamboo. The written leaves were then tied together with a thread, forming a book-like structure known as an “Olai book.”