ദി ഹിന്ദു, 25-06-2010
2010, ജൂൺ 27, ഞായറാഴ്‌ച
2010, ജൂൺ 25, വെള്ളിയാഴ്‌ച
മലയാളി കണ്ട് പഠിക്കുമോ...?
ലോക തമിഴ് സമ്മേളനത്തോടനുബന്ധിച്ച് വന്ന പത്രവാര്‍ത്തകളില്‍ ചിലത്.
ജൂണ്‍ 25, 2010
2010, ജൂൺ 23, ബുധനാഴ്‌ച
2010, ജൂൺ 20, ഞായറാഴ്‌ച
കോടതി ഭാഷ
തമിഴ് നാട്ടില്‍ ഹൈക്കോടതിയിലെ ഔദ്യോഗികഭാഷ തമിഴ് ആയിരിക്കണമെന്ന് അഭിഭാഷകര്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നു. കോടതി വ്യവഹാരങ്ങള്‍ സാധാരണക്കാര്‍ക്ക് പ്രാപ്യമാകാന്‍ അവശ്യം വേണ്ട ഈ നടപടിയെക്കുറിച്ച് പ്രതികരണങ്ങള്‍ അറിയിക്കുക. നമ്മുടെ കീഴ്ക്കോടതികളില്‍ പോലും മലയാളം രേഖകളില്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ?
മദ്രാസ് ഹൈക്കോടതിയില്‍ നടന്ന സമരത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് ദ ഹിന്ദു പത്രത്തില്‍ വന്ന വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍...
Lawyers boycott court proceedings
MADURAI BUREAU
TUTICORIN, June 19, 2010
Advocates boycott court
: Lawyers of the Tuticorin Bar Association boycotted court proceedings and staged a demonstration in front of the court premises on Friday, urging the Government to implement Tamil as the official language of the court in the Madras High Court and its Bench in Madurai.
T.M. Prabu, secretary, Tuticorin Bar Association, led the agitation. U.S. Sekar, district secretary of Advocates Wingand others took part.
Nagercoil
Around 2,000 lawyers belonging to Nagercoil, Boothapandi, Eraniel, Padmanabhapuram and Kuzuthurai boycotted the court proceedings.
Lawyers attached to Tamil Nadu Pondicherry Lawyers' Federation from Nagercoil also staged a demonstration in front of the Nagercoil court. President of Lawyers FederationVettrivel led the agitation. Bala Janathipathi, vice-president, and others participated in the agitation.
Advocates boycott court
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, June 19, 2010
Restriction on entry into High Court
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Advocates boycotted courts on Friday in response to a call by the Madras High Court Advocates Association in support of the demand to make Tamil the language of the High Court.
The indefinite fast by a group of advocates in the High Court building to press the demand entered the second day on Friday. However, some advocates attended to court work.
Leaders of various political parties met the fasting advocates and expressed their solidarity with them.
Restriction on entry into High Court
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, June 20, 2010
The gates of the Madras High Court here were closed on Saturday as a section of lawyers continued with their agitation demanding that Tamil be made the language in the High Court.
Only the staff of a bank, post office, the press and telephones office located on the High Court premises were allowed entry.
A notice put up by the Registrar-General at the gates said that in view of the prevailing situation, all the gates of the High Court would remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. The gates would be kept open on June 21 (the next court working day.) The closure of the gates was done as a precautionary measure.
On Friday, seven advocates who were continuing their fast in the High Court building for the second day in support of the demand were arrested and remanded to custody.
In Madurai, the main gate was closed and lawyers and court staff were allowed only after verification.
4 more advocates held
Meanwhile, four advocates were arrested on Saturday after they attempted to go on a fast. According to police, the advocates tried to undertake a fast near the High Court gate on the NSC Bose Road, George Town. They were remanded to custody.
The lawyers arrested in Madurai on Friday continued their fast in the hospital on Saturday.
In a statement here, the president of the Tamil Nadu unit of BJP, Pon. Radhakrishnan, urged the State and Central governments to expedite action on the lawyers' demand. To begin with, Tamil could be introduced in Family Courts and Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said the Tamil Nadu government was trying to suppress the advocates' agitation for a genuine demand. He condemned the arrest of advocates. Cases against them should be withdrawn immediately, he said.
High Court lawyers argue cases in Tamil
Tamil Nadu Bureau June 23, 2010
MADURAI/CHENNAI: An oral statement made by the First Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday that it was not opposed to advocates arguing in Tamil prompted lawyers to use Tamil in the principal seat and at the Madurai Bench.
In Madurai, a large number of lawyers continued court boycott for the ninth day on Tuesday in support of the six lawyers, who were arrested on June 18 after they went on a fast demanding the use of Tamil in the High Court.
Only a small group of lawyers attended the court proceedings besides the government counsel. A.K. Ramasamy, secretary of Madurai Bar Association, appeared in plainclothes as a party-in-person to argue a public interest litigation petition filed by him to provide adequate medical treatment for the six lawyers. Initially, he pleaded in Tamil before a Division Bench, comprising Justice K. Suguna and Justice C.S. Karnan, seeking permission to move the PIL on the same day considering the urgency in the matter. The judges, who also spoke in Tamil, conceded his request and said the matter would be heard by the Bench comprising Justice M. Chockalingam and Justice M. Duraiswamy.
When the matter came up before the other Bench, Mr. Ramasamy argued the case entirely in Tamil but for two English words: ‘prayer' and ‘para' (paragraph). However, Mr. Justice Chockalingam stuck to English. When the lawyer thanked the Bench at the end of the arguments, the judge, in a lighter vein, asked: “What for ‘nandri' (thanks)? You are doing your duty and we are doing our duty.”
P. Rajendran, a government advocate, too began his arguments in Tamil before Justice R. Mala, who was hearing bail and anticipatory bail petitions. However, he switched over to English later.
In Chennai, a lawyer's request to the first Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday to speak in Tamil was given a patient hearing by the Judges.
Advocate Ramesh, whose case was listed to be taken up on Tuesday, appealed that his petition be speeded up. He had challenged a State government order, which said that MA degree obtained from an open university would not be considered for appointment to government service.
After the advocate sought permission from the Bench comprising Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice D.Murugesan, he presented the facts of the case in Tamil. The second Judge on the Bench translated the advocate's request for the benefit of Justice Eqbal.
The Bench then said that the petition would be taken up next week.
2010, ജൂൺ 8, ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച
ഒമ്പതാം ക്ലാസ്സിലെ ഹിന്ദി പാഠപുസ്തകം മാതൃഭാഷയെ അപമാനിയ്ക്കുന്നു
ഒരു പുതിയ ഭാഷ ഒരാള്‍ പഠിക്കുക അയാളുടെ മാതൃഭാഷയിലൂടെ ആയിരിയ്ക്കണമെന്നറിയാന്‍ വലിയ ശാസ്ത്രപരിജ്‍ഞാനമൊന്നും ആവശ്യമില്ല. എന്നാല്‍ ഇതിനെ പോലും തെറ്റിച്ച് നമ്മുടെ സാമാന്യയുക്തിയെ പോലും ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യുകയാണ് ഇവിടെ ചിലര്‍. നാളെ ഇവര്‍ "മലയാളം പഠിയ്ക്കുന്നതും ഇംഗ്ലീഷിലൂടെ വേണമെന്ന് പറയും!!! " ഇത് എതിര്‍ക്കപ്പെടേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. 'മതത്തിനെതിരെ' പരാമര്‍ശം വന്നപ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടായ പ്രതികരണങ്ങളും നിയമങ്ങളും ഇവിടെ ഓര്‍ക്കുക.
പ്രയോഗതലത്തിലുള്ള ഇത്തരം അവഗണനകള്‍ ഒരു ഭാഷയെ ഇല്ലാതാക്കാനേ ഉപകരിക്കൂ... അതുവഴി ആ ഭാഷ ഉള്‍ക്കൊള്ളുന്ന സംസ്കാരത്തെയും. പുതിയൊരു കോളനീകരണത്തിനുള്ള ഈ ശ്രമം പൊതുസമൂഹം തിരിച്ചറിയുകയും പ്രതികരിയ്ക്കുകയും ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. ഈ പോസ്റ്റിനുള്ള കമന്‍റായി താങ്കളുടെ പ്രതികരണം ചേര്‍ക്കുക.
മലയാള ഐക്യവേദി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്കും വിദ്യാഭ്യാസമന്ത്രിക്കും നിവേദനം നല്‍കി. തുടര്‍ന്ന് ഭാരവാഹികള്‍ നടത്തിയ മാധ്യമ സമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ നല്‍കിയ കുറിപ്പ്.
വിവിധ പത്രങ്ങളില്‍ വന്ന വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍
2010, ജൂൺ 7, തിങ്കളാഴ്‌ച
മലയാളിയും മലയാളവും - പി.ജി.
"സ്വന്തം കല്യാണക്കത്തുപോലും ഇംഗ്ലീഷില്‍ തയ്യാറാക്കുന്ന അശ്ലീലം മലയാളികളല്ലാതെ മറ്റൊരു നാട്ടുകാരും കാണിക്കില്ല. പെണ്ണും ചെറുക്കനും ബന്ധുക്കളും മലയാളികള്‍. സദ്യയുണ്ണാന്‍ വരുന്നതും മലയാളികള്‍. എന്നിട്ടും കത്ത് ഇംഗ്ലീഷില്‍. ഇങ്ങനെ മറ്റൊരു നാട്ടുകാരും താഴില്ല."
പി. ഗോവിന്ദപ്പിള്ള
2010, ജൂൺ 5, ശനിയാഴ്‌ച
ക്ലാസിക്കല്‍ തമിഴിനായി എന്തെല്ലാം...
Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Although Tamil and a few other languages such as Greek, Latin and Sanskrit enjoy the status of classical language in the academic world thanks to their antiquity and rich literary heritage, Tamil is the first living language to be given the official status of a classical language.
He wrote the theme song for which A.R. Rahman composed the music.
Our sagacious leader, Arignar Anna [C.N. Annadurai], conducted the Second World Tamil Conference in Chennai in 1968, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, on a very grand scale with the participation of lakhs of Tamils from all over the country and abroad. The First World Tamil Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur in 1966, the Third in Paris (1970), the Fourth in Jaffna (1974), the Fifth at Madurai (1981), the Sixth again in Kuala Lumpur (1987), the Seventh in Mauritius (1989), and the Eighth in Thanjavur (1995) were, relatively speaking, on a moderate scale.
Following our success in getting the rightful status of Classical Language for Tamil declared and notified by the United Progressive Alliance government – a landmark achievement in the development of Tamil and in the restoration of its prestige and glory – succeeding in our efforts to establish the Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai, and facilitating the award of the President's ‘Kuralpeeda Award' and ‘Tholkappiar Award' on nationally and internationally renowned Tamil scholars, we thought it fit to conduct the first World Classical Tamil Conference. We decided to hold it for five days from the 23rd to the 27th of June 2010 at Coimbatore in a grand manner.
Demand for classical status
For more than 150 years, Tamil scholars and those conscious of their Tamil heritage have been demanding that the classical character of Tamil be recognised. They claimed that Tamil has rich and hoary literary and grammatical traditions, its own script system, and an unbroken lengthy history. In addition, the language has continuously been a spoken language at least for more than 2,000 years in Tamil Nadu. It has essentially kept its age-old character intact, even though it is an effective modern language.
The demand for classical status arose in the context of the British Indian administration treating Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic as classical languages and making special provisions and support mechanisms for the learning and development of these languages. The demand arose also in the context of the strong Tamil tradition and tendency, even now easily discernible, to maintain its own distinct character through various linguistic, literary, religious, anthropological, sociological, cultural, and architectural means and contributions.
In recent years, George Hart, Professor of Tamil Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, reiterated with sound arguments the demand that Tamil should be declared or recognised as a classical language. He wrote in 2000: “First, Tamil is of considerable antiquity. Second, Tamil constitutes the only literary tradition indigenous to India that is not derived from Sanskrit. Third, the quality of classical Tamil literature is such that it is fit to stand beside the great literatures of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Persian and Arabic.”
Dr. Robert Caldwell (1814-1891) established beyond the pale of controversy the reality of the Dravidian family of languages and the high antiquity of Tamil. According to him, it is the most highly cultivated of all Dravidian idioms; it can dispense with its Sanskrit altogether, if need be, and not only stand alone but also flourish without its aid.
Caldwell's study provided the base for the formation of the Pure Tamil Movement, founded by the great Tamil savant, Parithimaal Kalaignar (V.G. Suryanarayana Sastri), a Professor of Tamil at the Madras Christian College. He first gave the clarion call to recognise Tamil as a classical language. His view was further nurtured by the renowned scholars, Maraimalai Adigal (1876-1950) and Devaneya Paavanar, who opined that Tamil was the primary classical language of the world.
In 1918, the Saiva Siddhanta Samajam passed a resolution demanding that the University of Madras grant classical language status to Tamil. This was done at the initiative of Maraimalai Adigal, Professor of Tamil at the Madras Christian College, and a proponent of the Pure Tamil Movement, whose original name was Vedachalam. Two years later, the Thanjavur-based Karanthai Tamil Sangam petitioned the university to raise the status issue with the provincial government. After that, not much was heard of the demand for a long time.
The 1970s again saw a champion of the cause in Manavai Mustafa, then Editor of UNESCO Courier (Tamil). But he did not have much organisational backing. Since 1975 he has been writing consistently in newspapers and magazines pressing the demand. Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran asked him to send a petition detailing how Tamil qualified to claim the status.
Mustafa said it took him two years to collect the necessary data, which included the features a language should have to qualify for classical status. He presented a petition to the Chief Minister in 1982, but no action was taken. Years later, he said, he learnt that the petition was rejected by a top government official on the ground that if Tamil was given the status on a par with Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit, which are no more spoken languages, Tamil would also be considered a `dead' language.
Movement gains momentum
The movement to classify Tamil as a classical language gained momentum about ten years ago when major political parties took up the issue. A few months before the 1996 general elections, the DMK adopted a resolution at its Tiruchi conference demanding that Tamil be made one of the official languages of the Union government. The demand was also included in the DMK's manifesto for the Assembly elections held along with the general elections.
In 1998, when the BJP captured power at the Centre, many academics felt that the BJP-led government, which declared 1999 as Sanskrit Year and caused a flow of funds to universities and Sanskrit organisations, was not keen on giving classical status to Tamil. The DMK, as a constituent in the government, pressed Tamil's case. It organised hunger strikes and demonstrations and thousands of people courted arrest.
The DMK conference at Villupuram also adopted a resolution to that effect. Its election manifesto for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections stated: “The DMK will continue to insist on the declaration of Tamil as a Classical Language as it would enable the allocation of funds for Tamil research by the Central government and would also facilitate Tamil research in various universities in India and abroad.”
The DMK-led alliance swept the polls and the DMK became an important constituent of the UPA government formed at the Centre. We could get this demand included in the National Common Minimum Programme. In the very first joint session of Parliament in June 2004, the declaration of Tamil as a Classical Language by President APJ Abdul Kalam, a Tamil scholar himself, was not just symbolic. It was a victory for Indian democracy and the federal polity as well.
On September 17, 2004, Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy announced that the government's decision to accord classical language status was taken on the recommendation of an Expert Committee of the Sahitya Akademi that a category of “classical languages” be created. Since Tamil fulfilled the set of criteria the Committee had evolved, it won the honour of being the first to get into this prestigious category. Although Tamil and a few other languages such as Greek, Latin and Sanskrit enjoy the status of classical language in the academic world thanks to their antiquity and rich literary heritage, Tamil is the first living language to be given the official status of a classical language.
On October 12, 2004, the UPA government issued a notification declaring Tamil as a classical language. Thus Tamil won the distinction of being the first classical language declared by the independent Government of India.
I expressed my overwhelming feeling of joy at the DMK conference in Tiruchi on March 5, 2006, in the presence of Congress president Thirumathi Sonia Gandhi. I said the letter she wrote to me about the decision was not just a letter but an ageless copperplate. She had stated in her letter of November 8, 2005: “Dear Thiru Karunanidhiji, I have received your letter of 28th October. I am glad that all the formalities for declaring Tamil as a Classical Language have now been completed. This is an achievement for all the constituents of the UPA Government, but particular credit goes to you and your Party. With Regards, Yours sincerely, Sonia Gandhi.”
The century-old dream of Tamils turned true and the first part of the history of classical language came to an end. I wrote a series of epistles to my party brethren under the heading ‘Some pages in the history of Classical Language' in our party organ Murasoli, explaining the historical development of the demand for classical status for Tamil and the stalwarts and scholars who contributed to it.
Significance of conference logo
The image of Thiruvalluvar's statue in Kanyakumari, being lashed by waves caused by the tsunami and encircled by seven icons from the Indus Valley Civilisation, forms part of the logo of the World Classical Tamil Conference. The logo emphasises the ideal of humankind, that it should always be free of narrow walls of race, creed, and caste. The message is found in a palm leaf manuscript at the bottom of the statue. This concept (“pirapokkum ella uyirkkum” = All living humans are one in circumstances of birth) has been declared to be the motto of the meet. The Indus Valley Civilisation icons, found in the logo, symbolise the Dravidian civilisation, which is regarded as the most ancient civilisation of the world. The number of icons stresses the importance of ‘seven' in the lives of Tamils.
Theme song
I wrote the theme song for the Conference, which has been set to tune by Oscar and Grammy Award winner A.R. Rahman. The DVD was made by leading film director Gautham Menon.
The World Classical Tamil Conference will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil in the forenoon of June 23, 2010. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala, and scholars like Professor George Hart, Dr. V.C. Kulandaisamy, and Dr.K. Sivathamby will participate in the inaugural function, which I will preside over.
The “Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award” will be presented to the world renowned Indologist, Dr. Asko Parpola of Finland, for his magnum opus, Deciphering the Indus Script (1994), proposing Dravidian as the language of the Indus Script, close to old Tamil. This Award has been instituted by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil making use of the endowment created by me from my personal contribution of Rs.1 crore.
Academic sessions
The Conference will feature comprehensive academic sessions in which research papers in Tamil language, literature, culture, and so on will be presented by scholars and researchers. As many as 1,020 delegates from 49 countries have registered for participation at the conference. They will present their papers on various subjects under 55 titles.
General sessions for the public
The general sessions will have various literary programmes to benefit and attract the public. The public will get an opportunity to listen to presentations on classical Tamil in the form of various programmes like literary speeches, poetry sessions, and scholarly debates by renowned personalities. We expect thousands of people to attend these sessions. Further, dance operas, music performances, and so on will be organised in the evenings to showcase Tamil culture to the delegates and the general public.
Exhibition on Classical Tamil
A grand exhibition is being organised for the World Classical Tamil Conference. There will be exhibits depicting Tamil arts, culture, language, literature, and the history of Tamil. The exhibition will present objects of pottery, figurines, bricks, and seals, bathtubs etc., which were excavated from the Indus Valley apart from Chola bronzes, stone inscriptions, and statues from various ages.
Pageantry procession
A massive pageantry procession will be organised on June 23, the day of inauguration. It will cover 9 km. from VOC grounds in the heart of the city of Coimbatore to CODISSIA grounds, the venue of the Conference. The procession will have 40 floats displaying paintings and models of sculptures depicting the glory of Tamil culture. The floats will portray rare and resplendent scenes from the ancient Sangam classics and reflect the richness of the Tamil people and their culture. What is more, 40 cultural troupes consisting of 2,000 artistes will participate in the procession.
Tamil Internet Conference
Another unique aspect will be the Tamil Internet Conference 2010, which the Government of Tamil Nadu decided to hold alongside the first World Classical Tamil Conference. The objectives of the former are to showcase the development of Tamil Internet up to the present time and to identify the steps needed to increase the use of the Tamil language on the Internet; to establish a wide network between Tamil literary scholars and Tamil Internet developers; and to motivate the younger generation to use Tamil on the Internet.
We expect about 350 special invitees, speakers, delegates, and experts from 15 countries to participate in the Tamil Internet Conference. A “Tamil Computing Internet Exhibition” is being organised as an interactive module to expose and explain the latest developments and technology in Tamil Internet to common folk.
Much thought and consultation has gone into formulating the programmes of this specialised Conference. I am confident it will take Tamil to the 21st Century, based on its requirements and having in mind the rapid developments in science and technology, information technology, linguistics, anthropology, epigraphy, and other fields of knowledge.
THE HINDU (June 3)
Karunanidhi's article “World Classical Tamil Conference — a perspective”
2010, ജൂൺ 3, വ്യാഴാഴ്‌ച
പ്രാഥമിക വിദ്യാഭ്യാസരംഗത്ത് മലയാളം നിര്‍ബന്ധമാക്കുമെന്ന് മന്ത്രി
ജൂണ്‍ രണ്ടിന്റെ ഹിന്ദുവില്‍ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച വാര്‍ത്ത.
ഇതിനായി സബ്‌സ്ക്രൈബ് ചെയ്ത:
പോസ്റ്റുകള്‍ (Atom)