Lively debate on who nurtured Tamil language, contributed to Tamil pride
Chennai: The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed a vivacious debate on who nurtured Tamil language and also contributed to Tamil pride. While the opposition DMK claimed credit for ensuring the status of classical language for this ancient language, the Treasury benches asserted that the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for establishing Tamil Chair at Harvard University besides instituting 54 awards to honour Tamil scholars.
Initiating a discussion during the demand for grants for Tamil development, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and Youth Welfare & Sports departments in the Assembly on Wednesday DMK former Minister K.R. Periyakaruppan (representing Tiruppattur constituency) commenced his speech by referring to his party chief M. Karunanidhi as “utsava murthy.” At this Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar taunted, “Have you given up you atheistic stand?” Replying, Mr Periyakaruppan remarked, “He has denied the existence of god and never frequented temples.”
Former DMK Minister Thangam Thennarasu (Tiruchuli constituency) remarked that Mr Karunanidhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were instrumental in ensuring classical language status to Tamil in 2004. At this, Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture Minister K. Pandiarajan, replied the successive AIADMK governments under former CMs MGR and J. Jayalalithaa had not only nationalised the books of authors but also promoted Tamil language.
“The present AIADMK government under CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami is engaged in setting up a chair for Tamil in Harvard University,” he said and added that out of 60 awards instituted to honour Tamil scholars, 54 awards were established by the AIADMK.
“You have removed Thiruvalluvar's couplets and replaced them with your leader's (M. Karunanidhi) quotes. You don't have the locus standi to talk about Tamil,” a visibly piqued Pandiarajan said. He claimed the DMK's atheistic stand had isolated the contribution of religious literature in Tamil, especially the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham and other greatest works of Saivaite and Vaishnaivite saints who had promoted Tamil by composing religious hymns.
When the DMK members geared up to reply, Speaker P. Dhanapal brought the issue to happy ending saying “You both have shown your love and respect for Tamil. We are all Tamils here. So, let's take up other subjects for discussion too.”
