The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rulers have no respect for Tamil: Ramadoss

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 25, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rulers have no respect for Tamil: Ramadoss

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 24. The present rulers of Tamil Nadu are trying to erase the glory of Tamil language, the Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, S. Ramadoss, said today.

"They have no respect for the language. It is they who did not allow the reading out of the Tamil translation of the Governor's address to the Assembly," he told a party meeting at Ayanavaram here.

Golden era of Kamaraj

Delivering a talk on the state of affairs in Tamil Nadu, the PMK leader said if one were to call a "golden era" in recent times, it was the Chief Ministership of K. Kamaraj (1954-63). He was not just a development-oriented leader but also a great promoter of Tamil. It was on the efforts of Kamaraj and the then Education Minister, C. Subramaniam, that Tamil was adopted as the official language of the State nearly five decades ago. "Still, Tamil is yet to be given the pride of place by the present rulers," Dr. Ramadoss alleged.

When Kamaraj was Chief Minister, the State represented the best features of public life. Decency and dignity in politics, a yearning to take the State to the top position in every sphere, a "missionary zeal" to execute developmental projects and prominence to "true sons of the soil" ("Pachai Tamizhargal") in administration characterised Kamaraj's tenure. Many of his contemporaries including E. V. Ramasamy, C.N. Annadurai and M.G. Ramachandran praised the leadership qualities of the late Chief Minister.

"But, today, the conditions are just the reverse," Dr. Ramadoss remarked.

However "when the Democratic Progressive Alliance forms a good government here, Tamils will hold their head high again."

Addressing a meeting organised by the Tamil Padukappu Iyakkam (Tamil Protection Movement) here on Saturday, Dr. Ramadoss, who is its patron, called for adoption of a "one-language formula," meaning Tamil alone should be the medium of instruction from the pre-school stage to higher education. However, students could learn other languages, he said.

The Iyakkam would hold agitations `peacefully' from November 2 to December 27 demanding the use of Tamil in all spheres. These included putting up Tamil nameboards in all shops, urging devotees to offer "archanai" in Tamil, appealing to people to conduct marriage proceedings in Tamil and holding of demonstrations in front of television stations urging them to adopt proper pronunciation of Tamil. The authorities concerned would have to face serious consequences if they failed to honour the sentiments of the Iyakkam, Dr. Ramadoss cautioned.

Its president, Thol. Tirumavalavan, said that only by removing the caste structure, could Tamil nationalism be retrieved.

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