World Classical Tamil Conference 2010
Encyclopedia
The World Classical Tamil Conference 2010 was an international meet by Tamil
Scholars, Poets
, Political leaders
and Celebrities from all around the world. It was held in Coimbatore
, Tamil Nadu
between 23 June and 27 June, 2010.
, a city located in the western region of Tamil Nadu state was chosen for the meet. CODISIA has been selected and announced as the venue of the world classical Tamil conference. Tamil Internet Conference was also organized along the Tamil conference. The chairman of the conference is Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi
.
The conference was organized by Government of Tamil Nadu
. Tamil people from all over world participated in the event.
To spread awareness, all new buses and government advertisements are to sport the conference logo.
. Finnish Tamil scholar Asko Parpola was awarded to Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi
Classical Tamil award. Tamil scholar V. Sivathambi from Sri Lanka
, UNESCO Director Arumugam Parasuraman, MP and political leader Sitaram Yechury
of Communist Party of India (Marxist), D. Raja of Communist Party of India
, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol. Thirumavalavan and Pattali Makkal Katchi
founder S. Ramadoss
are participating in the ceremony. Dignitaries and Tamil scholars will be gifted with an exquisitely engraved Thanjavur' plate.
from the United States
, will present a paper on Sangam literature and Indian epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan
will chair a debate on scripts. Rononjoy Adhikari and Kavitha Gangal from Institute of Mathematical Science, who are currently working on a mathematical model to relate the Indus script with the Dravidian language will be involved in the debate on scripts.
“Iniyavai Naarppathu” a parade depicting depth of Tamil Literature was appreciated by all and it was witnessed by few lakhs of people. In the conference venue, exhibition containing crucial elements of Tamil literature; culture was highly appreciated and the support was so high that it was extended for few more days.
" was penned by Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi
with music by A.R. Rahman
.
The conference and associated activities also faced oppositions and criticisms from various political parties and public. Many felt that the event lacked academic and intellectual rigor. Others viewed it as a partisan event. The Sri Lankan participants felt ignored.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Scholars, Poets
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, Political leaders
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Celebrities from all around the world. It was held in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
between 23 June and 27 June, 2010.
Venue
CoimbatoreCoimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, a city located in the western region of Tamil Nadu state was chosen for the meet. CODISIA has been selected and announced as the venue of the world classical Tamil conference. Tamil Internet Conference was also organized along the Tamil conference. The chairman of the conference is Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
.
The conference was organized by Government of Tamil Nadu
Government of Tamil Nadu
The Government of Tamil Nadu, headquartered at Chennai is the governing authority for the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at the Fort St. George...
. Tamil people from all over world participated in the event.
Preparation
More than 400 journalists from India and other countries took part in the conference. A 12000 sq ft (1,114.8 m²). media centre is to be established at a cost of Rs.71.25 lakh. It will have telephone and fax connections, 75 Internet-connected computers, televisions and closed-circuit cameras. A special place is being designated for parking outdoor broadcast vans of television channels. A marathon is planned from various places to Coimbatore, and a short marathon in other places all over the State. Students are expected to participate in these.To spread awareness, all new buses and government advertisements are to sport the conference logo.
Participants
The conference was inaugarated by the president of India, Pratibha PatilPratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
. Finnish Tamil scholar Asko Parpola was awarded to Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
Classical Tamil award. Tamil scholar V. Sivathambi from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, UNESCO Director Arumugam Parasuraman, MP and political leader Sitaram Yechury
Sitaram Yechury
Sitaram Yechury is an Indian politician and one of the most prominent communist leaders in the country. He is a senior member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India and the party's Parliamentary group leader....
of Communist Party of India (Marxist), D. Raja of Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol. Thirumavalavan and Pattali Makkal Katchi
Pattali Makkal Katchi
Paattali Makkal Katchi is a Tamil political party.-History:PMK was founded by Dr. S. Ramdoss and the state president is G. K. Mani. Ramdoss had earlier worked with the Vanniyar Sangham founded by him in 1980. PMK is based amongst the Most Backward Class Vanniyakula Kshatriyas community...
founder S. Ramadoss
S. Ramadoss
Dr. S. Ramadoss is the founder and president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi Indian political party. Dr Ramadass had earlier worked intensively with the Vanniyar Sangham ....
are participating in the ceremony. Dignitaries and Tamil scholars will be gifted with an exquisitely engraved Thanjavur' plate.
Events
Tamil scholar George HartGeorge L. Hart
George L. Hart is a professor of Tamil language at the University of California, Berkeley.Hart received his Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Harvard University and taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before joining the faculty at Berkeley...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, will present a paper on Sangam literature and Indian epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan
Iravatham Mahadevan
Iravatham Mahadevan is an Indian epigraphist, specializing on the Indus script and Early Tamil epigraphy.-Biography:Iravatham Mahadevan was born in 1930 in a Smartha Tamil Brahmin family of Thanjavur district. He was born in British Burma where his father Iravatham was practising as a...
will chair a debate on scripts. Rononjoy Adhikari and Kavitha Gangal from Institute of Mathematical Science, who are currently working on a mathematical model to relate the Indus script with the Dravidian language will be involved in the debate on scripts.
“Iniyavai Naarppathu” a parade depicting depth of Tamil Literature was appreciated by all and it was witnessed by few lakhs of people. In the conference venue, exhibition containing crucial elements of Tamil literature; culture was highly appreciated and the support was so high that it was extended for few more days.
Theme Song
The theme song, "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh MozhiyaamSemmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam
"Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" is a Tamil song composed by A. R. Rahman, penned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and performed by several leading Tamil artistes of over three generations. It is the official theme song for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010,...
" was penned by Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
with music by A.R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
.
Controversies
This conference didn't get the approval from the International Association for Tamil Research.Not all agreed with the academic and intellectual rigor of the latter event.The conference and associated activities also faced oppositions and criticisms from various political parties and public. Many felt that the event lacked academic and intellectual rigor. Others viewed it as a partisan event. The Sri Lankan participants felt ignored.
External links
- http://www.dinakaran.com/semmozhi/ -(உலகத் தமிழ்ச் செம்மொழி மாநாடு 2010)
- lconference2010.wordpress.com world tamil conference 2010
- ulaka thamizh chemmozhi - Tamil
- World Classical Tamil Conference – a perspective
- The Indus script and the wild ass
- World Tamil conference 2010 (உலகத் தமிழ்ச் செம்மொழி மாநாடு)