The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `I will support making Tamil an official language'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`I will support making Tamil an official language'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 10. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M. Karunanidhi, today said he would lend his voice for the demand to make Tamil an official language and expressed confidence that the Union Government would be receptive to his demand.

Addressing a meeting convened here to thank him for his efforts to get Tamil declared a classical language, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party would make a case for making Tamil a language of governance. In fact, all languages in the eighth schedule of the Constitution should be declared official languages. His party would work towards this objective, he said.

There were countless Tamil scholars and poets who fought to get due recognition for the language and the declaration of Tamil as classical language was a culmination of all these efforts.

A language should have eleven characteristics to be acknowledged classical. Tamil possessed these and even more, Mr. Karunanidhi said. A language could prosper and grow only if the rulers gave adequate attention to it, he said. Rulers in the past, including the Pallavas and kings such as Raja Raja Chola did not accord the attention the language required, he said.

Recalling the days of the anti-Hindi agitation, he said though there were members from many political parties in the agitation, the common bond that held the people together was not their political affinities: it was their love for the language.

Thanks Manmohan

The credit for giving Tamil the classical status should go to the United Progressive Alliance Government, he said and placed on record his thanks to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi.

The Tamilmozhi Academy patron, M.A.M. Ramasamy, recalled Mr. Karunanidhi's ``untiring efforts'' to the cause of promotion of Tamil. The declaration as a classical language was a result of a long struggle.

The academy president, R. Gandhi, said Mr.Karunanidhi should work towards getting Tamil declared a language of governance. He said it should also be the language used in courts since it would benefit people tremendously.

The secretary, Manimekhalai Kannan, said no political colour should be attached to the function.

The meeting was held to celebrate the declaration and to felicitate the person who had taken pains to get it declared a classical language.

The MGR Kazhagam president, R.M. Veerappan; the academician V.C. Kulandaisamy; Tamil scholars, Surada, Vairamuthu and Sellappan, were among those who highlighted finer aspects of the language.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

'Law to regulate admissions only with State Government consent'

'Government not showing interest in disbursing crop loan'

70 illegal prawn farms to be closed down

Camps for taxable service providers from today

Sticking together despite friction

Vasan hopes to make Congress numero uno in State

Lanka IOC to go public

`I will support making Tamil an official language'

Nationalise rivers, MDMK tells Centre

Win back double voting system: DPI tells Dalits

`Mentally ill should be treated with dignity'

4 new M.Com degree courses

Briefly