Writers have a great responsibility towards addressing social issues, said noted writer S. Ramakrishnan at a function to review books and release books organised by Kalam and Uyirmai here on Sunday.
He said that there was a strong case for protecting Tamil language. In this context, he explained a letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to the late Rajaji about the importance of mother tongue, which influenced the late Rajaji to author several literary works in Tamil.
Mr. Ramakrishnan expressed concern over the declining habit of reading books among people.
“The home library is not to be seen and the habit of reading books has been on the wane among youth,” he said.
“In the past, poverty deterred people in spending on books, but they well utilised the libraries. In contrast, despite economic affordability, the tendency to buy books and the habit of using libraries, have been on the wane,” he said.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said that a majority of Tamils used alien language in their day-to-day conversation. Devadachan, M. Selvaraj, S. Mohammed Rafi, and B. Sathyamoorthy released books.
Manushyaputhiran, poet and writer, spoke. S. A. Perumal, Shaji, and poet Nandalala of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artistes Association reviewed 10 books.
