Tamil language politics seems to be boiling over again and again and at this time, a video of DMDK founder actor turned politician Vijayakanth speaking in support of learning multiple languages surfaced on social media. Speaking on 1 May 2007 at a May Day public meeting in Tiruppur, Vijayakanth narrates an anecdote of someone telling him, “Had we studied Hindi, today Tamil Nadu would have been entire India. They did not let us learn the language. Because I do not know Hindi, I am finding it difficult here. AN Englishman also works where I work. I remember your words. You said, protect the mother tongue and learn all languages. I remember that thought.”
Vijayakanth continued, “I also experienced something similar like that sister. I am not finding fault with Tamil. We need Tamil. Tamil is like our two eyes, I am not denying that. Tamil is like our breath, I am not denying that. But in today’s scenario, we must know all languages. Today there are 2 lakh Tamilians, there are 5 lakh Tamilians in Bombay, did they learn and go there? No, they went there and learned it because they had to converse in Hindi with others, to help the family, my mother, and sister who are living in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tiruppur and are dependent on them. So many Tamilians learned Hindi because of that need for survival. I went to Bengaluru and asked someone why they were working there. They said no one was employing them here but somehow learnt Kannada and survived there. Those near Krishnagiri speak that language. They say TN welcomes and helps those who come here to thrive. But today, the Tamil Nadu is eating up those who are natives. This is the truth.”
He added, “If DMDK comes to power, everyone should learn all languages, Tamil will be the first and important language, there are no second thoughts on that, but my people must have the knowledge of all the languages and succeed.”
கேப்டன் விஜயகாந்த் 2007 ல் (அன்றும் திமுக ஆட்சிதான்) பேசிய பேச்சு… “அன்னை மொழி காப்போம், அனைத்து மொழியும் கற்போம்”
இதைத்தானே தேசிய கல்வி கொள்கை வலியுறுத்துகிறது? மூன்றாவதாக, தனியார் பள்ளிகளை போல அரசு பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கும் ஒரு மொழியை கற்றுத்தர வாய்ப்பளிக்கிறது… இதில்… pic.twitter.com/QTku4k7Hru
— Vij Sriram (@sriramchennai07) March 12, 2025
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