The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Union government ready to fund Tamil encyclopaedia project: Chidambaram

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Tamil Nadu

Union government ready to fund Tamil encyclopaedia project: Chidambaram

Special Correspondent

Says Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam can be involved in the venture

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

REMEMBERING THOORAN: Central Institute of Classical Tamil vice-chairman V.C. Kulandaisamy; Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram; industrialist N. Mahalingam; Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan and Justice Gokulakrishnan, at Periyasamy Thooran birth centenary celebration in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said that the Centre was ready to fund the project to publish the second edition of the Tamil encyclopaedia, originally compiled by Periasamy Thooran 40 years ago, with new additions.

“Let the Tamil Nadu Government contribute whatever it can. The Centre will take care of the rest,” he said while addressing the birth centenary celebrations of Periyasamy Thooran.

He said it was a shame that the second edition of the encyclopaedia could not be brought out even after 40 years, though there were six crore Tamils living in many parts of the world. “We have to perform atonement by bringing out the second edition.” He said the Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam could be involved in the project by appointing an editorial team.

Earlier, State Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan mooted the idea of publishing the encyclopaedia through the Central Institute of Classical Tamil. Describing Thooran as the reincarnation of national poet Bharathiyar, Mr Anbazhagan said if Tamil music could not gain popularity in Tamil Nadu, it was because Tamils lacked the fervour.

Managing Director of The Hindu and the president of Music Academy N. Murali denied that Tamil compositions were not being given their due in Chennai’s music sabhas. “In all sabhas, including in the Music Academy, Tamil songs are rendered,” he said adding that it was wrong to suggest that language alone was important.

Mr. Murali conferred the Isai Kalai Vaarithi award on vocalist T.K. Govinda Rao, who set music for many of Thooran’s compositions.

A documentary on Thooran was screened. Justice P.R. Gokulakrishnan, industrialist N. Mahalingam and vice-chairman of Central Institute of Classical language V.C. Kulandaisamy participated.

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