1965 TAMIL LANGUAGE STRUGGLE

REMEMBRANCE OF 

1965 TAMIL LANGUAGE STRUGGLE

Rajaji in a letter to Jawaharlal Nehru describing him as the faithful servant of the nation urged that the Constitution should be amended so as to make English indefinitely the language of the central administration and for inter state purposes. But his sane advice was not heeded. The Constitution of India Part XVII includes Articles 343 to 351, of which 343 and 344 form Chapter 1 –Language of the Union : The official language of the the Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari Script .The English language shall continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution. When 15 years lapsed and time for review in Parliament arrived . 

Aringnar Anna was in Rajya Sabha and his views on Hindi is summarized by Dr.A.Ramasamy Former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University in his book Struggle for Freedom of Languages in India . “ It would not  be a wonder if anyone gets angry about the high status given to one language in a country of many languages. We only oppose the adoption of Hindi as the Official language of India. We reject Hindi and prevent its imposition when it attempts to exercise authority on us. We call Hindi the language of oppression”  Meanwhile when Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Indira Gandhi and all in the Union Cabinet were behind theUnion Home Ministry circular of 5 th December 1964 which stated : From January 26^th of 1965 Hindi will become the official language of the Union. Although provision had been made in the Official Language Act 1963 for the continued  use of English in addition to Hindi, it is expected that Hindi will be used for all official purposes of the Union after January 26 of 1965 “ . This news triggered the Anti Hindi Agitation of 1965.  

      

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Executive under General Secretary Navalar Ira.Nedunchezhian on 8 th January 1965 declared “ Though DMK understands the importance of the Republic Day 26 January 1965  as the Union Government has chosen that day for the imposition of Hindi to thwart the wishes and destroy the welfare of the people of South and as the party has realized that if opposition to Hindi is not shown on that day , Union Government may indulge in a false propaganda that the South had accepted Hindi , it is resolved to observe Republic Day as a Mourning Day as a symbolic portrayal of the feelings and anguish of the people of South against Hindi.

On January 17 : 1965 : Tamilnadu Anti Hindi Conference was held in Trichy Devar Hall. All political parties except Congress and Communists participated.  Rajaji inaugurated the conference. Karumuthu Thiagaraja Chettiar unfurled the.Tamil flag with bow, fish, and tiger representing the ancient Chera, Chozha Pandyan kingdoms of Tamilnadu.. Chairman of Reception Committee Scientist G.D.Naidu welcomed the audience. P.T.Rajan who presided over the conference recalled the assurance given by Pandi Jawaharlal Nehru to non Hindi speaking states and chided over its silent burial.K.A.P.Viswanathan was the Convener A student leader Prakasam who worked for this conference is one of the forgotten heroes.  The student leaders who have found in history books includes Law College Students A.Ravichandran, L.Ganesan, N.V.N.Somu, P..Srinivasan who later defeated K.Kamaraj in 1967 polls, Madurai Thiyagaraja Arts College Students K.Kalimuthu, N.Kamaraj,P.Jeyapragasam, Chennai Thiyagaraja Arts College student N.Navalavan, Pachaiappas College Student Duraimurugan,S.Duraisamy,  American College Student A.Rahmankhan, Presideny College Student M.M.Raman , Thanjavur Raja Sarfoji College Student M.Natarajan [ Sasikala’s husband] , K.Rajamanickam, Saint Josephs College Trichy S.Ragupathy, M.Ponniraivan, A.N.Dhayaneswaran, Annamalai University M.Rajendran shot dead in police firing, T.M.Iraikuruvan, Madurai Medical College student R.Sethu, Madras Medical College student Rex Sargunam, Alagappa Arts College student Jeevakalaimani who organized Karaikudi Anti Hindi Conference in 1966 in which Pondicherry Tagore Arts College Student N.Nandhivarman spoke in the presence of Scientist G.D.Naidu ,A.Ramasamy the author of two books on Language Struggle and Former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University A.Ramasamy, Coimbatore Agricultural College student Thenkatchi Swaminathan, the list goes on. Few are mentioned here and some went to become Ministers and Members of Parliament and some went into oblivion.

Aringnar Anna was arrested and taken in a police lorry.  Black flags fluttered from DMK headquarters to Murasoli office and throughout Tamilnadu in DMK members houses. In non violent agitations DMK cadres like Keezhapavoor Chinnasamy, Aranganathan etc showed to the world that Tamils will sacrifice themselves to save their mother tongue.

Professor C.Ilakuvanar who translated Tholkappiam, Tamil Grammar in English was arrested and removed from service. Kalaignar M.Karunanithi was sent to solitary imprisonment in Palayam Kottai.

Usually though emotional Tamils are peace loving, but in the face of police firing and oppression violent incidents erupted all over Tamilnadu. This Tamil uprising brought down the Congress regime in 1967 and even after 50 years Congress could not capture power in Tamilnadu.

Looking back at the struggle I feel we were self content with putting neon lights in Government buildings like Rippon Buildings etc proclaiming Lon Live Tamil. J.Jayalalitha too put up a Tamil Mother Statue in Madurai Vaigai River. Symbolism only is shown, real development of Tamil is in the wane. When few students of Dhaka University of East Pakisthan who were shot dead in police firing protesting against Urdu and for Bengali, independent Bangladesh could lobby in UNESCO to make it declare that day a World Mother Languages Day. We Tamils though being power in center and states have failed to make Human Resources Development Ministry send a request to UNESCO failing to which and Government be it Singapore, Malaysia, or Australia can take it up with UNESCO to get legitimate place for Tamil struggle. One who wrote to UNESCO and got their reply is praying this.

N.Nandhivarman

Thamizhmaamani Awardee of Pondicherry Government in 2010 

HISTORICAL IMPRINTS IN PONDICHERRY

PERIYAR IN WORLD RATIONALIST MAINSTREAM

MOTHER TONGUE AS MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

MOTHER TONGUE AS MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

N.Nandhivarman

If anyone says, “I will not speak English” in England he or she won’t, say it in English. They will say “ Me na vyn cows sawsnak”. Who are these people? They were the speakers of Cornish, a language of Cornwall England, which became extinct in 1777. A Primary school in Pondicherry Chief Minister’s constituency “Periyavar Swaminathan Ninaivu Palli” has a motto. Study English but not Study in English. Both these language speakers by such assertions are for one goal. Preserving their native tongues. The first case is for revival of Cornish language, in which they are showing signs of achievement. Second case is an experiment to impart primary education in mother tongue fearing disappearance of Tamil in the thinking process and expressions. United States of America annexed Hawaii in 1898 and banned teaching of Hawaiian in schools. The Anglicization of education led to almost extinction of Hawaiian language. So to revive their mother tongue as medium of instruction Hawaiians created in 1983 “Aha Punana Leo” which means language nest. Aha Punana Leo was created to reintroduce their native language throughout the state including its public schools. Hawaiian language pre schools were opened in 1984 followed by secondary schools. By 1999 the first graduates in Hawaiian language came out of their colleges. This is a success story at the revival of a mother tongue. Linguists all over believe that out of 6120 languages spoken in the world 3400 will disappear by 2100. Many languages had become extinct. Manx, the language of Isles of Man disappeared in 1974 when its last speaker breathed his last. In the Caucasus region the death of a farmer in 1992 resulted in the death of Ubykh language. UNESCO had prepared a Red Book on Endangered Languages and to promote multilingualism had been celebrating International Mother Language Day on Febraury 21^st every year from 2000. UNESCO adopted Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which “ encourages international community to take steps to protect intangible heritage, including languages, in the same way natural and cultural treasures of tangible heritage are protected”. This is the way wind is blowing globally.

Every mother tongue must be preserved seems to be the driving force for intellectual growth of humanity. In a rare coincidence, in spite of being classical language efforts are needed to revive the Tamil medium of instruction, for fear of extinction of Tamil in everyday usage. And the primary school situated in the Chief Minister N.Rangaswamy’s constituency is a school with a difference. They teach Spoken English to nourish the proficiency of English language but at the same time want to stimulate thinking process in Tamil. To commemorate the memory of Late Swaminathan who was the President of Dravida Kazhagam in Pondicherry state during seventies, his son S.Nedunchezian had donated land to Senthamizh Trust for starting this school.  N.M. Thamizhmani who runs the Trust ran from pillar to post at every step to cross hurdles and raised the finances to build this school. With the approval of the Government of Pondicherry this school is conducting classes in PRE-KG, LKG, UKG and from 1 st to 4 th standard.

A tiny baby Ashwini walks out of a class, we ask her “ In which class you are studying? She replies I am doing “Arumbu” which means pre-kinder garden. Lower Kinder garden (LKG) class is named as Mottu, UKG is known as Malar. The children call the Head Mistress as Amma, teachers as Akka and Annan. The star performer of the school Nilavarasi who studied from pre kg here and now in IV th standard states that “Our teachers never used cane, never threatened us, we are brought up with love and care”. Nilavarasi now is the star dancer of the school that teaches Music, Dance, Painting and Computers too. She and all the children are proud of their school. It is surprising that amidst craze for English education in the mushrooming private primary schools, parents are willing to send their children to a Tamil medium primary school. If the history of education in Pondicherry is written from the days of French many institutions have come up and grown with the help of philanthropists. This Tamil Primary School is another example of the public contribution in education. It is surprising to find these children doing well in spoken English classes, and justifying their motto “Study English but not Study in English”. They are proficient in both languages. A pre-kg student is able to recite 30” Thirukural “stanzas with ease.

Looking to America, the speakers of 540 Native American languages admit that language is essential for perseverance of a culture of the past generations and that culture in turn is important to the future of native peoples. Many cultures and languages are racing with times to preserve their languages. Washington Post publishes a story ( 31.3.2003) about Northwest Tribe Struggles to Revive Its Language. Indian Country Today report ( 23.10.2002) speaks about a Meeting to preserve the Lakota language. Squeamish Nation puts together CD-ROM to teach its language. Native Language Institute works to stave off decline of traditional tongues. Linguist begins effort to preserve native Alaskan language. Christian Science Monitor story (11.6.2002) speaks about Tribal immersion schools rescuing language and culture. Research is on the Effects of Including Native Language and Culture in the Schools. You will be surprised at the attempts made at preserving the 540 native languages in America where we all think English is the undisputed monarch. Like preservation of flora and fauna, preservation of all languages is the goal of human race now. None wants uniformity but crave for unity amidst diversity. If we clone all human race as one alike, then the world will become the asylum of the mad. The Periyavar Swaminathan Memorial School is a living testimony for such struggle to preserve the native tongue and Senthamizh Trust led by N.M.Thamizh Mani shows the aspirations of miniscule sections of society who are torchbearers of the Gandhian concept to impart education in one’s mother tongue.

REUNION REPRESENTATIVES and RATIONALISTS of PONDICHERRY

GANDHI _PERIYAR_ CHEDDILAL IN PONDICHERRY