The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tamil not just language of a region, says Kalam

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Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tamil not just language of a region, says Kalam

Special Correspondent

Tamilians all over the world working for its development

COIMBATORE: Tamil is just not language of a region. It is all encompassing and contains the culture and ethos of many people spread across vast areas, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here on Monday.

Inaugurating the World Tamil Literary Meet, organised by the Kalachuvadu Trust and Sri Krishna Sweets, the President said that Tamilians settled in different parts of the world excelled in various fields and yet worked for the development of the language.

There were many Tamil associations worldwide and it was heartening to note their efforts.

Quoting from the poem, "Panchali Sabatham," written by Subramania Bharathi in 1910, he said: "The country will develop if we work relentlessly for it. At the same time, life should be purposeful and peaceful too".

"Bharathiar lives in our hearts for 125 years," Mr. Kalam said in reference to the meet organised to highlight the works of Subramania Bharathi, poet Pudumaipithan and short-story writer Sundara Ramaswamy. The President felicitated R.A. Padmanabhan who chronicled the life history of Bharathiar, titled "Chithira Bharathi."

It contained 220 photographs of various stages of the poet's life and also interviews of his contemporaries. A.R. Venkatchalapathy who translated the works of Pudumapithan was also felicitated.

The copies of these books and also of the works of Sundara Ramaswamy were handed over to the President.

Indebted to Bharathiar

Writer D. Jayakanthan said modern Tamil literature was born from the turban of Bharathiar. "The State is indebted to him, Pudumaipithan and Sundara Ramaswamy," he said.

Website launched

Mr. Kalam handed over awards to the winners of the Pudumaipithan Centenary Memorial Short Story Competition held by the trust for young women writers. The President launched a website on Sundara Ramaswamy.

Those present at the function included the Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy, District Collector Neeraj Mittal, City Police Commissioner C.K. Gandhirajan, Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, scientist Y.S. Rajan, Managing Director of Krishna Sweets M. Krishnan and Managing Trustee of the Kalachuvadu Trust Kannan.

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