Tamil classical language

[Guest guest]

HinduThought, Srinivasan Kalyanaraman

<kalyan97@g...> wrote:

Classical language: Letter to The Hindu, Sept. 22, 2004

 

Sir, â€" The Cabinet decision to declare Tamil a classical language and

to establish professorships and a centre for its study cannot but meet

with full approval.

 

Given its ancient, original Sangam literature, second in age to, but

independent of, (Vedic) Sanskrit, it was long overdue.

 

It is hoped that other classical languages such as Ardhamagadhi and

Maharastri of the Jaina canon, and Pali of the Buddhist canon will

also get the honour.

 

This way, the rich cultural inheritance of India will be given its

proper recognition and support.

 

Michael Witzel,

Cambridge, U.S.

 

 

* * *

Sir, â€" Tamil occupies a distinctive position among the Dravidian

languages owing to its geographical expansion (spoken and written by

several millions of Tamils living in many parts of the world) and

sound grammatical basis. I hope Tamil is also declared a world

classical language.

 

P. Sivakumar,

Bareilly, U.P.

 

http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/22/stories/2004092203151002.htm

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