Chennai: In a major fillip to the literary fraternity and to boost Tamil writers and scholars, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced on Tuesday several awards aimed at development of Tamil language.
Making a suo moto announcement on the last day of the Assembly session, Jayalalithaa said Tamil classic Tirukkural will be translated into Korean and announced awards for foreign Tamil scholars. A two-day seminar at a cost of Rs 5 lakh would be held next year to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of poet Bharathidasan and his birth anniversary on April 29 will be celebrated as a state event under the title “Tamil Kavignar Naal” (Tamil Poets Day), the AIADMK leader said.
“From the current year, a new award, the Amma Literary Award, will be given to a woman writer devoted to women’s literature on Tamil New Year’s Day and will carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh with a citation,” she said. Similarly three foreign Tamil scholars excelling in language, literature and linguistics would also be identified and honoured with Ulaga Tamil Sanga Virudhu (World Tamil Sanga Award). The award will carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and citation, she said. Rs 15 lakh will be allocated to translate the Tamil work “Aathichoodi” into Chinese and Arabic. Besides, the state will also confer awards on the ten best translators.
