The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Antiquity makes Tamil a classical language'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 07, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Antiquity makes Tamil a classical language'

The antiquity of Tamil came in for praise at a meeting organised by the Faculty Academic Forum of the Sri Kaliswari College, Sivakasi, last week.

Speaking on `Significance of Tamil as a classical language', P. Periyavar, lecturer, Department of Tamil, said its characteristics and antiquity made Tamil a classical language.

Though scholars across the globe recognised it as a classical language, the declaration from the Union Government was delayed, he added.

T.S. Senthil Pandian, lecturer, Department of English, spoke on various innovative techniques to make the language learning easy. The lectures were followed by an interactive session.

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A first-year M. Sc. student of the Gandhigram Rural Institute, K. Venkatesan, bagged the Tamil Nadu State NSS best volunteer award for 2002-03 for his humanitarian service to the society.

He motivated more number of volunteers to donate blood and created an awareness of AIDS among the rural youth. The student's participation in anti-plastic drive and in rainwater harvesting was appreciated.

A medal, a scroll and Rs.2,000 were given to Mr. Venkatesan at a function held in Chennai recently.

The State Government instituted state-level NSS awards for best volunteers, best programme officers and coordinators for their outstanding contribution to the well being of the community with an aim of encouraging service-minded students and teachers.

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A State-level seminar on `Recent trends in Indian financial system' was held at the Women's Christian College in Nagercoil recently.

Thanulingam, former Head, Department of Commerce, Madurai Kamaraj University, inaugurated it. V.K. Vijaya Kumar, a professor, Sree Krishna College in Guruvayur, gave a lecture on new trends in the capital market and V. Raman Nair, Chief Manager, State Bank of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram, also delivered a lecture on electronic banking.

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The Scott Research Forum (A multi-disciplinary research forum) of the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, organised a national-level seminar for M. Phil students recently.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University, Vilanilam, inaugurated the seminar.

More than 200 students from various colleges in Tamil Nadu and Kerala participated in the seminar and over 75 research papers on Tamil, English, Commerce, Biology, Zoology and Chemistry were presented by research scholars.

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The silver jubilee of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul celebrated at the St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai, recently.

Competitions organised on the occasion helped the people witness the adoption of two poor families by students of the society and the distribution of authorisation letters to three poor students for learning computer education with assistance from members of the society.

John Britto, a member, reviewed its performance in the past 25 years, particularly its contribution to the development of the poor.

The former co-ordinator of the society, Ambrose, shared his experiences and appealed to the members to work tirelessly for the betterment of the society and the poor.

The highlight was an inspiring special address by the noted gynaecologist, Rajam Authilingom.

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The Postgraduate Department of Computer Science and the Engineering Association of the National Engineering College, Kovilpatti, conducted its maiden intra-collegiate technical symposium, `MECANAC '04', recently.

The Chief Executive of the Alps Software Solutions spoke on the present scenario in the field of information technology.

He stressed the need for improving communication skills, as it was playing a major role in getting right job opportunities."

Nearly 200 students participated in the symposium, which included events such as paper presentation, quiz, and word-hunt.

Meanwhile, a free computer awareness and training programme was conducted at the college for revenue officials of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

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(Contributed by

S. Sundar in Madurai, K. Raju in Dindigul,

P.S. Suresh Kumar

in Nagercoil and

P. Sudhakar

in Tirunelveli.)

(Contributed by