The mega World Classical Tamil Conference is on. Tamil scholars from across the globe have assembled under a single roof to deliberate on literary and cultural issues affecting the Tamil community. This is indeed a decisive moment for all Tamils to rejoice and reflect.
As Tamils, we feel proud about the antiquity and rich heritage of our language. Antiques often lack life and lustre. Tamil language is a rare exception to this cardinal rule. Tamil is as young as it is old! Tamil is as new as it is ancient! Tamil has withstood the test of time and has retained most of its major literary relics and compilations without much distortion.
Today anyone can easily access, read and understand the 2,000-year-old Tamil masterpiece Thirukkural in its original form. At the same time, the depth and density of Tamil vocabulary has enabled the Tamil scholars to coin Tamil equivalents for every technical and scientific term as it blooms in the respective arena. There is constant and consistent addition to this ever increasing glossary of new Tamil words. This twin trait of restoration and eternal rejuvenation has made Tamil immortal over the ages.
Tamil as a language has always been unique in its approach, outlook and contents. Languages like Latin, Sanskrit and Arabic are some of its contemporaries. These languages allowed their literature to be dominated by a single religious philosophy and professed a closed exclusive approach. Tamil on the other hand enriched its literature with an open inclusive outlook and encouraged the creation and compilation of heterogeneous religious thoughts.
A Tamilian enjoyed the privilege of gaining a clear insight about various religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam through his mother tongue. Tamil can be rightfully declared as the ‘most secular' of all languages!
The secular approach did not dilute the divinity of the Tamil language. This is evident from the miracles performed by Hindu Saints Thirumazhisai Alwar and Thirugnana Sambandar through their Tamil compositions. These miracles nullify the propaganda of Sanskrit fanatics that Sanskrit alone has the divine status and temple rituals can be effectively fulfilled only by reciting Sanskrit hymns.
Tamil language has a distinctive edge over the other languages. Each letter of the Tamil alphabet has a distinctive pronunciation. Occasionally there may be minor variations in sound due to regional modulations. In languages like English, a single letter is subjected to various pronunciations leading to a lot of confusion for the learners and users. This being the existing profile and stature of the great Tamil language, it is time for us to reflect upon its future prospects and growth.
Tamil at present is under certain subtle yet serious threats. Commercial-minded media barons and artistes have no qualms about adulterating and polluting the great language to suit their commercial intent. Grammatical blunders, faulty pronunciations and translations dominate the media output. These in turn infiltrate into our households and get incorporated into the young impressionable minds. The government should act on a war footing to put an end to this menace. Another major assault on Tamil language has been launched by the public in the form of parental prejudice. Parents are obsessed with the English medium of learning preferably with a foreign/ Hindi language option! Tamil is being systematically eliminated from mainstream education. This will have long term repercussions on the survival and growth of our language.
Tamil language is our most precious legacy. As responsible adults we need to hand it over to the future generations. Parents and teachers are its trustworthy custodians. The parents have abandoned the legacy as unworthy. Hence the onus of custodianship and transfer of the great Tamil legacy to youngsters rests solely on the shoulders of dedicated Tamil teachers. The will of the government and the dedication of Tamil teachers will determine the future destiny of Tamil, the undisputed Queen of languages!
