The Hindu : Front Page : Hopes, expectations, opportunities

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Wednesday, Jun 23, 2010
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Hopes, expectations, opportunities

Ramya Kannan

K. Salma

V. Arasu

The World Classical Tamil Conference has created a certain buzz, not only among those who will be attending it but also among those who will not. Anyone with an abiding interest in Tamil as a language — and this group comprises not only scholars but also people who speak Tamil — has many expectations from the event. Here are some responses:

V. Arasu, Head of the Department of Tamil, University of Madras

What we expect is the establishment of a strong base for research. This essentially means setting standards. For instance, in 1930, Vaiyapuri Pillai compiled a seven-volume lexicon for Tamil. It still remains solid reference material for the language across the world. During the second conference (in Tamil Nadu) the International Institute of Tamil Studies was set up. There are a lot of benefits coming from that as well.

Classical Tamil literature really has no reference material so far: we need handbooks, dictionaries and the like. These should evolve as a by-product of the conference.

Salma, novelist

It is true that Tamil writers do not get the attention or prominence that writers in English get.

Language is the basic tool for creators like us. Unless that language becomes a subject to celebrate, we will not get any prominence either. We hope the language will get importance, during and after the conference.

Gopinath

Gopinath, TV talk show host

From my point of view, a language grows as it grows with the development of the world. For example, English has grown because it is a business language. This conference should take Tamil to non-Tamils too. The way to do that is to encourage scientific Tamil and Internet Tamil and link them with industry, business and scientific growth.

Meer Mustafa Hussain, former Vice-Chancellor, MGR Medical University

M.M. Hussain

As a member of the Maruthuva Tamizh Membadu Kazhagam, our group took efforts to render medical texts into Tamil. Those students who want to learn either medicine or engineering through Tamil, must have an opportunity to do so. Why cannot we have Tamil as the medium of instruction in these two professional segments, especially in medicine?

Some people worry about transliterations for medical terms, but even the terms in English are derived from Greek or Latin. It should not be an issue.

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