Classical status for Tamil and the recent World Classical Tamil Conference at Coimbatore have helped the language gain more respect, according to the vice-chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur, M. Rajendran.
Self-respect stemming from a sense of belongingness to territorial soil and individual liberty through exercise of political rights, which the Tamils gained owing to the leadership of Periyar and Anna, was also applicable to language.
The vice-chancellor cited the sidelining of Tamil at temple rituals and in the process of administration to explain how respect was denied to the language.
In securing the classical status for the language and holding the conference, the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has accomplished the task initiated by V.G. Suryanarayana Sastri popularly known as Parithimar Kalaignar who as the professor of Tamil in Madras Christian College in 1902 was the first to raise the voice for declaration of Tamil as a classical language.
Dr. Rajendran was addressing a function organised by the Tamil and English departments of St. Joseph's College to inaugurate the activities of the Vallanar Tamil Peravai and release a book in Tamil on ‘Education, Culture, Literature – the scenario today: a post-modernist perspective'.
He complimented the author A.S.D. Pillai, former dean of Arts and Vice-Principal, St. Joseph's College, and currently dean, Parisutham College of Arts and Science, Thanjavur, for enriching Tamil literature.
Dr. Rajendran handed over the first copy of the book to the chairperson of the Parisutham College of Arts and Science S.P. Anthonysamy; the principal of St. Joseph's College M. Rajarathinam; Writer and critic Prema Nandakumar; and the head of the Department of Tamil A..Kulandaisami.
The former head, Department of English, Bharathidasan University, K Chellappan; former head of the Department of Tamil, Dravidian University, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamizhavan, and former secretary of Tamil Ilakkiya Kazhagam, Tiruchi and Rev. Fr. Amuthan Adigal were present.
Integrating emerging thoughts into Tamil literature was the responsibility of Tamils, said Dr. Chellappan. He applauded Dr. Pillai for presenting in his book a short and clear picture of the societal orientation and philosophical basis of post-modernism at the world-level.
Dr.Tamizhavan observed that the Tamil book by Dr Pillai on post-modernism was unique owing to the latter's capacity to write on the topic drawing from the strengths accruing from an in-depth knowledge of English literature.
