News Tamil Nadu

TN CM writes to PM Modi to include experts from the state in committee studying Indian culture

September 23, 2020
The Commune

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (September 23) urging him to personally intervene and direct the Ministry of Culture to reconstitute the expert committee that has been constituted for studying the origin and evolution of Indian culture.

CM Palaniswami wrote that while it was a welcome move to deepen the understanding of the country’s rich and varied cultural roots, he said that the composition of the committee in itself was a matter of deep concern.

He said that the committee had no member from any of the southern states especially from Tamil Nadu, adding that the state has a glorious past and is home to one of the oldest civilisations, viz, Dravidian civilization, a living and thriving culture in south India.

Highlighting the recent Keezhadi excavations, Palaniswami said that it revealed how the Sangam era can now be dated back to as early as 6th century BCE placing the Tamil culture and language as one of the oldest surviving heritages in the world.

CM Palaniswami also recalled Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Mahabalipuram last year where he hosted and played guide to Chinese President Xi Jinping by showing around the monuments.

“If you recall, Sir, around this time last year, you visited Mahabalipuram, where you had observed the awe-inspiring timeless monuments and glorious legacy of Tamil heritage in full splendor. You will, therefore, agree with me that any chronicle of Indian history and culture would be grossly incomplete without giving its rightful place to Tamil culture and language”, CM Palaniswami wrote.

He expressed his dismay about the Ministry of Culture having chosen to ignore experts from Tamil Nadu and urged him to reconstitute the expert committee by including scholars from Tamil Nadu.