செம்மொழியான தமிழ்மொழியாம்!
Disclaimer:Sorry for typing this in English.I do not have a Tamil keyboard and I find transliteration tedious.
I want to discuss the future of Tamil in this space.For those who ask "How dare you?you are not even a Tamil!",I have to answer that inspite of having born as a Sourashtrian,I adopted Tamil quite early.When all those who were born Tamils took foreign languages(It still baffles me as to what purpose can French serve other than ending up as the curator in Louvre or a French tutor a la Esha Deol in "Ayudha Ezhuthu"?) in their higher secondary level just for the extra marks,I took Tamil just to revel in those delightful short stories in the supplementary reader.I prefer Sujatha to Dan Brown,Pudhumaipithan to O.Henry and Barathiyar to Shakespeare.Strong credentials indeed!
As with anything major,questions arise as to what is the need for wasting taxpayers' money on an ego exercise like WCTC?When Tamizhans are dying daily somewhere near our feet,why should our heads be wearing fake crowns?Is not Our CM a Nero and WCTC his fiddle?I beg to differ.
We are living in an era where it has become almost a birthright to speak in English.An era in which "Daddy mummy veetil ila" passes off as a Tamil song.An era in which even the WCTC theme song video has a father calling his daughter "come".(Call it the GVM effect!).
I want to discuss the future of Tamil in this space.For those who ask "How dare you?you are not even a Tamil!",I have to answer that inspite of having born as a Sourashtrian,I adopted Tamil quite early.When all those who were born Tamils took foreign languages(It still baffles me as to what purpose can French serve other than ending up as the curator in Louvre or a French tutor a la Esha Deol in "Ayudha Ezhuthu"?) in their higher secondary level just for the extra marks,I took Tamil just to revel in those delightful short stories in the supplementary reader.I prefer Sujatha to Dan Brown,Pudhumaipithan to O.Henry and Barathiyar to Shakespeare.Strong credentials indeed!
As with anything major,questions arise as to what is the need for wasting taxpayers' money on an ego exercise like WCTC?When Tamizhans are dying daily somewhere near our feet,why should our heads be wearing fake crowns?Is not Our CM a Nero and WCTC his fiddle?I beg to differ.
We are living in an era where it has become almost a birthright to speak in English.An era in which "Daddy mummy veetil ila" passes off as a Tamil song.An era in which even the WCTC theme song video has a father calling his daughter "come".(Call it the GVM effect!).
I do not support some extreme views like "even engineering education should be Tamilised".Engineers need to perform in a globalised platform and Tamil would become a liability then.Engineering is best taught in English only.
But one must realise the difference between a tool and a birthright.English is just a tool like Mathematics.We must use only where it is required.English is an umbrella acquired to survive the heat.We would look foolish using an umbrella inside our house.It annoys me when my cousin calls "mummy" when there is such a beautiful "Amma".It annoys me further when "Amma" becomes "mummy" by replying back,"wat my dear son?"
It is indeed heartening to see Andhra guys in class trying to speak in Tamil reminding me of the conversation in"Dasavatharam" where Balram Naidu asks" Tamil epdiya vaazhum?" and Govind replies "vidunga!ungala madiri telugu aalunga vaazha vaipanga".A Kerala guy from my college asks,"semm (struggles) ma-na-du preparation epdi poyitu iruku?"Therein lies the need for an ego exercise like WCTC.
With grand processions so sweetly named "iniyavai narpathu",a glorious past is being reminded evoking surprise and pride in the Chetan Bhagat brigade.Only because WCTC is happening,we had a first-time all-tamil public function in our college.("alaipesiyai amaidhiyana murayil vaikavum")We had our college technical magazine released in Tamil.We see court cases being argued in tamil.We see youngsters getting to know about our rich heritage to make them realise that talking in Tamil is,after all,a cool thing to do.
The best thing that can happen to Tamil is a call centre guy using English for his work when his mother gives a ring.He attends the call,says "Amma!velai mudichitu vara neram aagum!Ingaye saptukuren" and gets back to his world of English.
LBNTL-Before he is history,our CM should ensure something resembling a bright future for our Tamil brothers in Srilanka.That will be a bigger achievement than WCTC.Tamil needs Tamizhans for it to survive.
P.S:Apologies if I had been narrow-minded anywhere.I don't see the point in eating in a neighbour's house when our Amma is cooking just for us.
But one must realise the difference between a tool and a birthright.English is just a tool like Mathematics.We must use only where it is required.English is an umbrella acquired to survive the heat.We would look foolish using an umbrella inside our house.It annoys me when my cousin calls "mummy" when there is such a beautiful "Amma".It annoys me further when "Amma" becomes "mummy" by replying back,"wat my dear son?"
It is indeed heartening to see Andhra guys in class trying to speak in Tamil reminding me of the conversation in"Dasavatharam" where Balram Naidu asks" Tamil epdiya vaazhum?" and Govind replies "vidunga!ungala madiri telugu aalunga vaazha vaipanga".A Kerala guy from my college asks,"semm (struggles) ma-na-du preparation epdi poyitu iruku?"Therein lies the need for an ego exercise like WCTC.
With grand processions so sweetly named "iniyavai narpathu",a glorious past is being reminded evoking surprise and pride in the Chetan Bhagat brigade.Only because WCTC is happening,we had a first-time all-tamil public function in our college.("alaipesiyai amaidhiyana murayil vaikavum")We had our college technical magazine released in Tamil.We see court cases being argued in tamil.We see youngsters getting to know about our rich heritage to make them realise that talking in Tamil is,after all,a cool thing to do.
The best thing that can happen to Tamil is a call centre guy using English for his work when his mother gives a ring.He attends the call,says "Amma!velai mudichitu vara neram aagum!Ingaye saptukuren" and gets back to his world of English.
LBNTL-Before he is history,our CM should ensure something resembling a bright future for our Tamil brothers in Srilanka.That will be a bigger achievement than WCTC.Tamil needs Tamizhans for it to survive.
P.S:Apologies if I had been narrow-minded anywhere.I don't see the point in eating in a neighbour's house when our Amma is cooking just for us.
see... wat we need is a change in the mindset....! when the govt said to put up de boards in Tamil, it is transliterated...!
ReplyDeleteExample: "Raj Hardwares" to "ராஜ் ஹார்டுவேர்ஸ்"
In de name of writing in Tamil, they are raping her.. If this is the case, better not write in Tamil... Even when speaking!
"Mummy, நான் homework complete பண்ணிட்டு tiffin சாப்பிட வர்றேன்...." this is the condition of Tamil homes today...!! this was reflected by the ppl in de WCTC too! Either talk fully in Tamil or English.. Don't mix!
ThirumaVazhavan says "Tamizhai Indhiyaavin aatchi mozhi aaka vaendum"!!!
ReplyDeleteis this feasible? a language spoken(?!?) by 6 crore people is gonna b the official language of India??
by saying so, he is not making our language proud, he is making us look like fools in front of the rest!!!
@Goutham:
ReplyDeleteU have a nice point!Fusion works in music but not in language!!
@Sathish
ReplyDeleteThirumavazhavan tries all tricks to garner attention.The mad race for 15 minutes of fame!
You have highlighted what Tamil means (or rather should mean) to the people of TamilNadu.But, my questions are
ReplyDelete*Is spending 400cr the only way to highlight the importance of Tamil?
*And is June-23rd-to-27th the only time to discuss on it? What are we going to do the rest of the 360 days?It is going to be Tanglish!
I even fear TN will run out of Tamizhans.The DMK party have always had an eye on CBE as it never had won its votes."400cr for WCTC" is POLITICS!
Bala!
ReplyDeleteto ur qn 1:If there are other equally significant methods to highlight the importance of Tamil,suggest me some.
qn 2:So wat do u want to do?conduct a tamil conference year?
Politics may be the reason but good results do arise out of not-so-good motives!
The second sentence in the P.S. is wonderful! The first is unnecessary (to me, you didn't sound parochial). Call any engaged BSNL Landline and you get the Semmozhi song, followed by "தாங்கள் அழைத்த எண் தற்சசமயம் BUSY ஆக இருப்பதால் தயவு செய்து சிறிது நேரம் கழித்து DIAL செய்யவும்". What an irony!
ReplyDeleteWhatever is required to induce respect for Tamil, this conference is not one of the best. The pageantry was awesome. But,how many would have been impressed enough to change their lifestyle? Are the crowds thronging the exhibitions there as much for the Tamil literature as for getting photographed by a newspaper camera-person or for getting a glimpse at the celebrities.
Your post is more effective in making people realize the value of this lovable language. Kudos! :)
@Shilpa
ReplyDeleteI know that am too impractically optimistic about this WCTC.But when everything is bleak around you,optimism is a nice branch to cling on to :)
Cut the conference thing! Why do you want A WORLD CLASSICAL TAMIL CONFERENCE in the first place when the language is pleading for mercy within TN itself?? Your qn of "conduct a tamil conference year?". Answer to this:
ReplyDeleteNot at all necessary.I am asking why a conference?There are so many indirect methods to keep Tamil alive/active.Yeah..those Tamil veterans who weren't known before came to the limelight.Agreed.Why should this happen at the expense of so much money?You mean to say every state should spend 400cr for its own language when there are many things to be done within the state itself?
"Glorious past is reminded". Why do you want to have
*pukka roads being laid.
*2 big malls coming up.
*walking pavements for every road possible.
*a park at Avinashi road
*stylish street lamps and signals
*road dividers the height of a scooter which were never present before
*Mofussil bus stop in MTP road
*Luxurious mofussil buses
for HIGHLIGHTING TAMIL?? Past is not highlighted.Present is being beautified.Being a Coimbatorean, all I wish to say is: you have beautified CBE.Thanks..
@Umesh: You are being self-satisfied that the WCTC has won its motives.I am saying their very motive is different!
@Bala:Dai I am also saying that WCTC is reaping fruits not because of it's motive but inspite of it.
ReplyDelete"Superb infrastructure for Coimbatore plus national spotlight on tamil" is a decent tradeoff for 400 crores.
And Bala thambi!yedho Tamil yeludha therinjavan madhiri pesura!romba over!!(Goutham should not mind this fusion)
Too much! I never expected you to take that mode of talking.
ReplyDeleteGood post.
"Am here! Born...not in a land with no heritage...with no culture...no civilised people!! Am Born not as an orphan!! I have my own identity, worth to be proud of!! Am I not born in the land which wrote the Code of Living on Virtue when the rest of the worlds were busy making slaves?!! Are my ancestors were those who settled up in the Indus Valley?! Arent they the one capable of Thinking, living with a civilization?....If my DNA can carry the History of the ancestors, dont I have this great civilisation incorporated in me...with me!!Am Proud To be Born here!! To be here, in this moment!! To be a son of this glorious Mother!! Am Proud of Myself!!" This was the cry I heard from my heart wid DTS effect wn I watched thru d WCTC. Is this feeling not worth the 400 crores?!! True. MKs (no politicians) motive is not the promotion of Tamil or the upliftment of Tamil lives. Bt this conference is the best done way for the dissipation of knowledge. Look around u for the effects. Ppl discuss other ways to promote Tamil (as arguments set against d WCTC), v think f d IT professionals 4 their contribution in Tamil Transliteration soft wares (in contrast to their renowned 5 digit salaries), Tamil translations, translators being praised. I remember my domestic maid asking “Athu enna ma Semmozhi?!” n my dad givin a big lecture to her on d glory of Tamil, gaily. If my taxes b spent on my ppl to make them to Think, to give them a break frm their routines to question abt their rich origin, am ready to pay double d amount taxes with my head held high. Umesh!! Very gud post da ! Neverever thought u cn gv such a serious topic a big hit. Go on posting articles f this kind admist ur reviews n personal blablas!! ( P.S (Umesh’s style :) ): dai. My comment came nearly 3/4th d size f ur article. Sry)
ReplyDeleteu love tamizh.... ok.... but sad that u ask "what purpose can French serve other than ending up as the curator in Louvre or a French tutor a la Esha Deol in "Ayudha Ezhuthu"?.... ur an IAS aspirant!.... hmmm if by chance u get marks less than the marks you should get for "IAS", u mite want to/like to/have to take up IFS... for which knowing a foreign language will b very helpful. u love tamizh alright.... but DO NOT TALK/WRITE AS IF PEOPLE LEARNING OTHER LANGUAGES ARE GODDAMN FOOLS...... I know tamizh,english,french and japanese..... but i find beauty in tamizh the same way u do...... everything has a purpose and there is a purpose for everything.... so u dnt have to be "still baffled"
ReplyDeleteP.S 1( its not a la esha deol, its comme esha deol)
P.S 2 good article
@anonymous
ReplyDeletei think u didnt read my apologies in the end of the post.when did i talk abt others being fools?being a fool has nothing to do with languages one knows.
and no I wont be taking up IFS.thank you.