Chennai: “Medavakkam Cholinganallur Link Road, where the new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies is located, will be renamed as ‘Classical Road’. Classical Award Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced at the presentation ceremony.
Speech delivered by the Chief Minister at the Classical Tamil Awards Ceremony presented by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies from 2010 to 2019 at the Anna Centenary Library, Chennai, today: I am standing on the stage. The late former chief minister Karunanidhi fulfilled that dream. We are holding the Classical Tamil Awards, which may be named after such a leader, as a ceremony, and in particular, in the arena of this library, which may be named after Anna.
I am standing on the stage of this festival carrying the memory of two great people who volunteered for Tamil from brother and sister. Tamils do not need to know that Tamil is an ancient language. That is what linguists and ethnographers around the world are saying. This is a great fact that has been accepted by archaeologists.
Tamil is not only the language spoken by the people of a particular country, our Tamil language is a symbol of a culture. Language that could have divided grammar into land, soil, nature, people, culture. It is sweet when you speak Tamil. Tamil is sweet to listen to. Why, it’s sweet when you say ‘Tamil’. Tamil means sweetness. ‘Sweetness and fluidity is the Tamil language,’ says Pingalanikandum. Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. Tamil is not a branch language derived from any language. Many languages have evolved from Tamil. Tamil, our mother tongue, is the only language capable of creating so many languages. There is enough devotion in our race to keep the name of the language as Tamil, Tamilarasi, Tamilarasan. Our Tamil language is also the language of the martyrs who gave their lives for the language.
Many years ago, there was a demand among Tamil scholars for the declaration of a language rich in literature and grammar as a superior classical language. The late former chief minister Karunanidhi made that dream come true. Tamil was declared a Classical Language on October 14, 2004 by the Central Government during the Congress rule. Following this, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies was started by the then Central Government on August 18, 2007. Initially the company operated from the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore. The company has been relocated to Chennai since 19th May 2008. It was then that the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies was renamed. Leader Karunanidhi was also responsible for this.
He opened the office of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies at Balaru House, Kamarasar Road, Chennai Beach on June 30, 2008. He wanted to have a separate building for the Classical Institute, for which on November 5, 2007 they were given 16 acres of land in the greater part of Chennai. We leveled the space at a cost of about 1 crore 45 lakh rupees.
The central government has set up a huge building on the site at an estimated cost of 24 crore 65 lakh rupees. The building was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 12th. Speaking on the sidelines of the video conference, I said, ‘The Prime Minister of India has inaugurated the new building of the Institute of Classical Tamil Studies. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, on behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I would like to express my gratitude for that. ” After that I and the Minister of Tamil Development Thangam Thennarasu went to most of the Tamil Studies Institute. In fact, the company is doing very well. On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have worked for its development from its inception to date.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies is leading the study of 41 classical Tamil texts. From antiquity to AD. The institute, which may have been formed to study literature and grammar dating back to the 6th century, focuses on the study of the Tamil language and its development. The main objective of the institute is to explore and preserve the antiquity and uniqueness of Classical Tamil and their heritage. This series honors those who have made significant contributions to classical Tamil.
On July 24, 2008, President Karunanidhi donated one crore rupees from his own funds to the Institute of Classical Tamil Studies. He established a foundation called ‘Artist M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Foundation’. He wanted the award to be given to deserving Tamil scholars on behalf of the Foundation.
This is the highest award in India with a prize money of ten lakh rupees. A commemorative magazine and a memento engraved with the image of President Karunanidhi will be presented. The first award was presented to ‘Professor Ascobarpola’ from Finland by the then President of the Republic at the World Tamil Classical Conference held in Coimbatore on June 23, 2010. This award should be presented annually by the respective governments. I do not want to politicize it by talking about this platform.
The awards were not given from 2011 to 2019 due to political infiltration, even in the respect and appreciation of Tamils and Tamil scholars. The awardees have been selected after the DMK government took over. The DMK, which has always worked for Tamil, has always been in charge of various projects for the development of Tamil. Notably, our state was nicknamed ‘Tamil Nadu’ by the language, but only under the DMK regime. It was under the DMK rule that Tamiltai established life and made it the state anthem.
Anna led the World Tamil Research Conference and conducted the World Tamil Classical Conference, taking Tamil worldwide. Ayyan Valluvar, Avvaiyar and other ancient Tamil poets, such as Caldwell, G.U. Pope Tamil scholars Until then, the DMK was in power when the statue was erected. It was the DMK regime that reserved higher education for students studying in the Tamil way through social justice. It was the DMK regime that established the Institute of Education and made Tamil online accessible to all, anywhere in the world today, so that everyone could read Tamil grammar and literature.
I would like to make some announcements on this occasion as a continuation of the work done by the DMK regime for Tamil. Medavakkam – Cholinganallur Link Road, where the new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies is located “Classical Road” The name will be changed to. In the first phase, steps will be taken to set up ‘Classical Tamil Seats’ in 5 universities in Southeast Asian countries to incorporate classical specialties around the world. The Classical Institute is carrying out a number of important projects to enrich the Tamil language. The Government of Tamil Nadu will always be supportive in achieving the goals set by the Classical Institute Tamil scholars I heartily commend and congratulate everyone. The Classical Institute is proud to present you with the award, why, I am also proud and the Government of Tamil Nadu is also proud. I am obliged to ask you to pursue various creative endeavors to further enhance the Tamil language through this award.
Our Tamil language is a language that can be old to old and ever new to new. Studies on this language should be global, not limited to Tamil Nadu and the Indian border. Our research should be inclusive of world linguistic theories. Speaking the language as a culture is a world tradition.
World-renowned scholars such as Noam Chomsky have begun to say that language is an organ of the brain. “There is a language in the child’s brain, which belongs to the human race,” he says. The revolutionary Bharathidasan once said, ‘Tamil is the milk of our youth’.
Your research should be not only intellectual but also emotional. If so, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies will definitely become a place where all the linguists of the world can come looking. I ask you to stand up like that. ‘Tamil everywhere, Tamil in anything!’ On the path shown by Anna, the government, which is walking with the vision of President Karunanidhi, will continue to give a voice to further elevate Tamil as the official language and the language of litigation, Long live Tamil! He said goodbye and wished to live classical Tamil.
Awards: Earlier in the ceremony, Prof. Pon presented the award for the year 2011. Kothandaraman (Menal Vice Chancellor, University of Chennai) and Prof. E. Sundaramoorthy (Menal Vice Chancellor, University of Tamil Nadu), Prof. P. Marudanayakam (Director, Mainal, Puduvai Linguistic and Cultural Institute, Registrar, Mainal, University of Puduvai) received the award for the year 2014 from Prof. Ku. Mohanaras (Professor & Chair, Menal Research Center, University of Chennai, Chennai, Chennai) and Prof. Maraimalai Target (Menal Tamil Professor, State College, Chennai) for the year 2015. Rajan (Professor, Menal, Department of History, University of Puduvai) will receive the award for the year 2018. Poet Erode Tamilanpan (Professor, Menal Tamil, New College, Chennai) will receive the award for the year 2019. Sivamanikum (Mainal Chief Minister, Karanthai Puluvar College, Thanjavur & Thiruvalluvar College, Nellai) Chief M.K. Stalin’s artist M. Karunanidhi presented the Classical Tamil Awards. The Chief Minister presented the awardees with a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs, a certificate of appreciation and a bronze portrait of M. Karunanidhi. The function was attended by many including ministers, legislators, parliamentarians, secretaries of state and officials.