The State Government is according priority for the welfare of minority communities, said Geetha Jeevan, State Social Welfare Minister, here on Sunday.
Delivering the valedictory address of the three-day sixth World Christian Tamil conference organised by the World Christian Tamil Academy and the Church of South India of Tiruchi-Thanjavur Diocese at Bishop Heber College here, the Minister said that the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is all praise for the contributions made by the Christian community for the Tamil language. She explained in detail the contributions made by Christian scholars and poets several centuries ago for the development of Tamil language and recalled the works of Veeramamamunivar, G.U. Pope and others.
She said that a number of research articles by Chritistian Tamil scholars were received for the souvenir to be released at the World Tamil Classical Conference to be held in Coimbatore next month. The Minister pointed out that she was very happy that the conference had discussed several important issues for the development of Tamil language.
Christian Tamil scholars honoured
The Minister presented awards to four Christian Tamil scholars for rendering yeoman service for the development of Tamil language at the conference. Bhagavathar Clement Vedanayagam Sastriyar of Chennai was presented with the ‘Arulisai Maamani’ award, Ref. Fr. Amudan Adigal with ‘Christhuva Ilakkiya Kavalar’ award, Dr. Gnanavaram of Madurai with ‘Arulurai Chemmal’ award and Dr. Y.R. Chelladurai of Malaysia with ‘Arul Tamizh Maamani’ award. CSI Bishop Paul Vasanthakumar and Bishop Esra Sargunam presented the awardees with a shawl and certificates respectively.
Book released
Mrs. Geetha Jeevan also released a book on Tamil literature written by Rev. Paul Vasanthakumar, Bishop of CSI, Tiruchi-Thanjavur Diocese and the first copy was received by N. Siva, MP.
Mr. Siva, MP, in his address, spoke about the contributions made by Christian Tamil scholars for the development of Tamil language.
Co-operation to World Classical Tamil Conference
CSI bishop Paul Vasanthakumar who presided over the conference said that the conference had passed a resolution to extend full co-operation and support for the ensuing World Classical Tamil Conference to be held in Coimbatore next month and appreciated Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for his efforts to conduct the conference.
He said that the conference had adopted a resolution to take special efforts for promoting the classical Tamil literature and also to adopt pure Tamil words in the prayers in the churches. The conference has decided to create a separate chair in the Bharathidasan University for research in Tamil Christian literature works and also establish a separate wing by the World Christian Tamil Academy in the Bishop Heber College library to enable the students and scholars to get all Christian Tamil literature works, etc.
