People's Democracy

TAMILNADU

CPI(M) Demands GO Declaring Tamil A Classical Language

S V Venugopalan

WELCOMING the commitment made in the UPA government’s Common Minimum Programme and the announcement made in the presidential address to the parliament, the Tamilnadu state committee of the CPI(M) has demanded that formal orders be issued by the central government declaring Tamil a classical language.

Presiding over the special convention on “Tamil, A Classical Language,” held at Chennai on August 12, veteran freedom fighter and the senior party leader N Sankariah recalled the centuries old voices raised by great Tamil scholars, the consistent initiative and efforts taken by progressive and democratic sections over a long period, and especially the role played by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association in this regard. He urged the party cadres to dwell deep into the rich ancient Tamil literature, study them in the Marxian perspective and contribute with this knowledge to an advancement of the movement towards building a classless and exploitation-free society.

It was left to Dr V S Kulandaisamy, former vice-chancellor and an erudite scholar and educator, to explain at length as to what makes a language classical. Narrating the origin of such a classification in a lucid and flowery manner, he told the audience that there were as many as 2000 languages the world over and only 600 are being used among the people. The list of ancient languages with a rich tradition of literature and civilisation comprise only 6 languages, and India has the privilege of having two such languages, viz, Sanskrit and Tamil.

The Sangam literature in Tamil dates back to second century BC to second century AD, and this period of 400 years is marked by enlivening verses composed by as many as 900 persons of different hues and shades, from kings to merchants, peasants to artisans. That reflects the all pervasive literacy among the mass of people of that era, celebrated as the golden age for Tamil.

Speaking on the NDA government’s elusive standpoint on declaring Tamil a classical language, Dr Kulandaisamy was forthright in driving home the point that governmental judgement on the matter is no basic requirement for declaring a language classical. Rather, the truth is that this recognition comes due to wide acceptance by the scholars across the world on certain established parameters. What the central government is expected to do is to just include Tamil in the list of classical languages that has only three other languages, viz, Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian, as approved already by the Indian government.

Answering the queries regarding the demand, Dr Kulandaisamy was categorical that declaring Tamil a classical language cannot offend any other language in the country, nor could any other language claim similar credit or precedence. For, the earliest literary works in other Indian languages came up only about a thousand years later than those in Tamil. And the history of Tamil civilisation has the credit of non-imposition of its language on any other civilisation.

Tracing the advantage enjoyed by Sanskrit to the early translation of a lot of Sanskrit literature at the initiative of Max Mueller into English and many European languages, Dr Kulandaisamy pointed at the bleated translation of Tamil works on a similar scale. Nearly 70,000 Tamil palm leaf manuscripts are there in India and outside, most of them in a very dilapidated condition, and not even 20 per cent of them have been brought into print. The speaker expressed concern that the committee formed by the centre for retrieving, preserving and maintaining the old manuscripts in various languages did not have a single Tamil scholar.

Extolling the status of Tamil as one among the three ancient languages, along with Greek and Chinese, that are still being spoken by people, the former vice-chancellor said Thomas Heart, famous linguist and research scholar, had noted that any reading on Indian civilisation cannot become complete without a study on Dravidian culture which is again measured by the study on Tamil, the oldest language.

He added that recognising Tamil should therefore be seen not just as an honour to that language; it is the recognition of an ancient civilisation of this country.

The unfortunate thing with the former government headed by the BJP was that the HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi and others went to the extent of wondering as to how a “living” language could be accorded a classical language status. Now that the UPA government has declared its resolve positively it is welcome, the scholar complimented.

Enlisting the new avenues that would open up if Tamil is formally accorded the classical language status, Dr Kulandaisamy registered his confidence in the CPI(M) and exhorted the party to play a dynamic role in ensuring that the consequent benefits follow.

Earlier, delivering the keynote address, advocate Senthilnathan, a senior functionary of Tamilnadu Progressive Writers Association, traced the demand originally mooted by the great Tamil scholar Suriyanarayana Sastri, better known as Parithi Maal Kalaingar (literal translation of his name into Tamil), Poornalingam Pillai and Sankaralinganar. The latter died after a fast unto death for the cause of Tamil and had written a will that his body be handed to communists for performing last rites.

Senthilnathan recalled the rich contributions made for advancement of Tamil by prominent leaders of the communist movement like Jeevanandam (who called himself Uyir Inban in chaste Tamil) and P Ramamurthi in exerting pressure on the rulers to declare Tamil as official language.

Turning critical on the pursuance of a non-constructive language policy by Dravidian parties, best explained by their slogan of yesteryears, “English ever and Hindi never,” Senthilnathan contrasted the clear line of the communist movement in favour of imparting education in mother tongue and equal respect for all languages in the country.

Arunan, Tamilnadu Progressive Writers Association’s state secretary, recorded the contributions made by different movements in the interest of advancing Tamil and highlighted the lead role played by the TPWA including an impressive rally in the capital after mobilising people from down south Kanniyakumari.

Quoting profusely from early Tamil literature, Arunan touched upon certain scintillating references to the advanced tones or intense arguments and counter arguments in philosophy. Neelakesi, named after its poetess, challenges with authority the arguments of the theists and establishes the materialistic viewpoint convincingly, Arunan cited.  It is such a qualitative literary enrichment, in the beauty and sweep of the verses, in the variety of tastes and store of knowledge, that entitles Tamil for being classified as a classical language.

Cherishing his memorable maiden speech on the floor of the house, Mohan, an MP, accredited the state party leadership for guiding him to raise the demand for Tamil as part of his first speech.

The special convention adopted a resolution demanding formal issuance of a government order declaring Tamil as a classical language and allocating funds for advancement of various research and expansion works for the growth of the language.  By another resolution, the party demanded that the state government issue its GOs in Tamil, make Tamil compulsory medium of instructions up to the 5th standard, make moves for technical education in Tamil, reserve jobs for those who study through medium and adopt other encouraging measures with involvement and commitment.

Nandagopal, the CPI(M)’s Chennai South district secretary, welcomed the gathering and Pattabiraman proposed the vote of thanks. Hundreds of party activists and Tamil lovers attended the special convention. The Puthu Yugam cultural troupe set an inspiring tone for the occasion.