Prime Minister Narendra Modi stirred the Tamil language pride once again. Speaking to the public in Salem on 19 March 2024, he said that he was appalled at the fact that a language as old as Tamil did not get its due. He shared a video on his official X handle with the caption, “Tamil language is India’s pride but for many decades, no effort was made to popularise it globally. I am determined to change this.”
Tamil language is India’s pride but for many decades, no effort was made to popularise it globally. I am determined to change this. pic.twitter.com/iWyi5tM1a6
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2024
Immediately, Dravidianists and supporters of the DMK shared posts and videos saying Annadurai conducted the 2nd World Tamil Conference in Madras in 1968.
2nd World Tamil Conference in Madras, 1968 by DMK Chief Minister Annadurai
While you were studying in school. https://t.co/ZqiAruSfJv pic.twitter.com/ZwZ2It8Bof
— Dravidian Insights (@dstock_insights) March 19, 2024
They also claimed Karunanidhi conducted the 3rd World Tamil Conference in France in 1970.
3rd World Tamil Conference in France, 1970 – While you were faking your political science degree. https://t.co/ZqiAruSfJv pic.twitter.com/lxStDCnqsJ
— Dravidian Insights (@dstock_insights) March 19, 2024
Netizens questioned the Dravidianists if organising a parade was the only contribution Dravidianists made for Tamil in 55 years. They questioned why no effort had been put into translating medical, engineering, and scientific literature into Tamil, like in German, Korean, Japanese, and the rest of the world.
Is organizing a parade the only contribution u Dravidiyas made for Tamil in 55 years? Why has no effort been put into translating medical, engineering, and scientific literature into Tamil, like in German, Korean, Japanese, and the rest of the world?
Is it bcos somone was busy… pic.twitter.com/VEJo8JoRyh
— Aryabhata | ஆர்யபட்டா 🕉️ (@Aryabhata99) March 19, 2024
What did these 'conferences' achieve ? Has there been any serious research done on Tamil literature or history ? Any of the Sangam literature republished with detailed commentary which can be understood by the current generation ? How many authentic Tamil scholars are even… https://t.co/z1uUZV3EFz
— 𑀓𑀺𑀭𑀼𑀱𑁆𑀡𑀷𑁆 🇮🇳 (@tskrishnan) March 20, 2024
The reality of the 3rd World Tamil Conference came to fore as this discussion ensued, the 1970 conference was actually organised by Reverend Xavier S. Thani Nayagam. The driving factor of the organiser in his recorded works was Xavier S. Thani Nayagam who was praised as follows:
“He is now identified with a new movement in India, which represents the apostolate of thought. As founder and Director of the Tamil Literature Society of India and Ceylon, in 1949 and 1950 he undertook a lecture tour of the United States. With his knowledge of East and West, his extensive travels, and his scholarship, his movement is bound to have a great future and affect methods of evangelisation in the Orient, and open new vistas of thought to all those interested in World Christianity.”
Xavier Stanislaus Thaninayagam, born in British Ceylon, dedicated his life to promoting Tamil language and literature. Despite initially focusing on European languages, he mastered Tamil while teaching in Tirunelveli. His global tour to advocate Tamil took him to various countries, where he collected medieval Tamil manuscripts and early printed books. He founded the journal Tamil Studies and served as a university dean, notably at the University of Malaya. Thaninayagam co-founded the International Association for Tamil Research and organized the inaugural World Tamil Conference. His contributions were recognized posthumously with an honorary doctorate from the University of Jaffna.
Netizens believed that it was the BJP and Narendra Modi who celebrate the Tamil language while the DMK wants to evangelise it.
So they say this leader of Dravidian party M. Karunanidhi organized a Tamil Conference at 1970 in Paris.
Less they know it was actually organized by Reverend Xavier S. Thani Nayagam. And ‘surprise’, ‘surprise’!! Guess what was the driving factor of the organizer in his recorded… https://t.co/Fi6U1wKaWo pic.twitter.com/eU9cxqGgt1— Bharathiyinbharatham (Modi ka Parivar) (@bharatha_desam) March 20, 2024
It is noteworthy that such World Tamil conferences have been held at an irregular pace at various parts of the world and the 1st, 3rd, 4th conferences were organised by Thani Nayagam as mentioned above. In this table, you can check the huge gaps between two conferences in the list. Also notable that neither former CM Karunanidhi nor present CM Stalin have taken an effort to organise such a conference in recent times.
For his credit, Karunanidhi did conduct a World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010. This was organised by the Government of Tamil Nadu under Karunanidhi. But it faced criticism for lacking approval from the International Association for Tamil Research. While some questioned the academic rigour of the event, it garnered widespread appreciation for its portrayal of Tamil language and culture. The conference’s theme song, “Semmozhiyana Thamizh mozhiyam,” composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Karunanidhi, incorporated popular quotes from Sangam poetry, adding cultural significance to the event.
Despite these many “world conferences”, it is a matter of wonder that most of the Tamilians in TN are unable to speak, write or read properly in Tamil. Even the Chief Minister carries a piece of paper with notes to avoid fumbling during speeches.
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