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Fourth International Tamil Conference Seminar
January 1974, Jaffna, Tamil Eelam
Inaugural Presidential Address by Professor S.Vithiananthan,
President, International Association of Tamil Research, Eelam National Unit
I take great pleasure and pride in welcoming on behalf of the Eelam National Unit of the
International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) the research scholars assembled here
and the general public.
Jaffna has had a continuous tradition of
literature from the poet Poothanthevanar to Pandithamani Kanapathipillai. It has also
been a centre of learning where councils have met under the auspices of kings to further
the cause of Tamil.
Once again we welcome you all into our midst. Even at the conclusion of the conference
when you depart with the words ' Good bye ' we do not reply ' Good bye ' Instead we say
'Will you be coming again '.
Next to South India, Jaffna retains the right and fitness to hold a conference of Tamil
research. Yogi Suddhananda Bharathiar from South India says
"Jaffna is the land of brave Tamils. It has intellect and it has valour. From time
immemorial it has withstood the onslaught of foreigners. The Tamils are second to none
They stand at the forefront in all fields "
Saalai Ilanthirayan who wrote to us regarding the conference has this to say
"It is my belief that more than the Tamils of South India it is the Tamils of
Eelam who possess great concern about the welfare of the Tamils. The
political and social conditions in Eelam might have contributed
towards this but one cannot under-estimate their fervour"
It is only right that we who have elicited the admiration of South India with our love
for Tamil should have the conference in Jaffna. It is our right too. All those who love
Tamil with sincerity and are conscious of the heritage of Eelam Tamils and their
contribution to Tamil literature will welcome this.
The contribution of Eelam Tamils towards the development of Tamil is substantial. Eelam
scholars have been pioneers in various fields of literary activities.
Old manuscripts on the verge of extinction were rescued by Sri Lankans.
Arumuga Navalar from Eelam edited a number of old texts
and contributed substantially through his lucid prose works It is a Eelam Tamil who first
revealed the cultural splendour of the Tamils and brought to light the greatness of Tamil
literature and paved the way for research on the history of Tamils. The author of the
first encyclopaedia in Tamil was from Jaffna . A Tamil from Eelam published the first
Tamil dictionary based on Western models. The history of Tamil music was made known by
Swami Vipulananda from Sri Lanka. He was also the first Professor of Tamil. A
number of books on science were written here. Eelam pioneered the teaching of science in
Tamil as well. A Eelam Professor brought the spoken idiom into literary use through his
dramas. Thus in diverse ways Eelam has been a source of strength to Tamils.
In short, both in the 19th century and in the early part of the 20th century Sri Lankans
were in the forefront of literary development in Tamil. During the last 25 years too Eelam
Tamils have excelled in poetry, the short story and the novel. The University of Sri Lanka
has done considerable research in Tamil literature, grammar, linguistics, history of
Tamils, archaeology, economics and geography. The research efforts undertaken by scholars
of the University of Sri Lanka have been praised by Western Scholars for their
intellectual calibre
Further, next to South India it is in Eelam that the Tamil language lives with dynamism.
Tamils live in South India,
Sri Lanka,
Malaysia,
Singapore,
Burma,
Mauritius, Indonesia, Vietnam,
Fiji,
South Africa,
Rhodesia, Guadeloupe,
Reunion and
Trinidad.
But in many of these lands, they do not live as Tamils. Although they may comprehend Tamil
they cannot express themselves in this language. Some are Tamils only in terms of ethnic
identity. In this context Tamil could be said to be alive only in South India and Sri
Lanka. It is the medium of instruction for Tamils in Universities. Seen against this
backdrop it is most fitting that the conference be held in Sri Lanka.
It is necessary at the present juncture to reflect on the birth and development of the
I. A. T. R. This association reaches its 10th birthday in another four days. In January
1964 the conference of International Oriental Scholars took place in New Delhi and
on the seventh day of the same month the I.A T.R was formed. Scholars from 15 countries
met to establish this association Prof. K. Kanapathipillai represented Eelam and
Fr X. S. Thaninayagam represented Malaysia.
Pandit K.P. Katnam too was present. Thereafter conferences took place in Malaysia, India
and France. On Monday next week the 7th January this association will celebrate its 10th
birthday in Jatfna.
What has this Association achieved during the past ten years ? First it has dispensed with
the theory that only native speakers of Tamil can do research on Tamil literature or
language. Research in Tamilology has broken through narrow confines and broadened in
various ways. Instead of confining research merely to Tamil literature and grammar,
projects have been undertaken in Tamilian History, Tamil Culture, Archaeology and
Sociology. New facts have been unearthed about the greatness of Tamil literature, the
antiquity and development of Tamil culture and linguistics. The I.A. T. R. has provided a
common platform for scholars dedicated to research in various countries to give expression
to their findings. This is no mean achievement.
Not only did interchange of ideas take place but they also enabled observers to take a
keen interest in Tamil research. After every conference greater numbers have shown
interest in Tamil research. This would become evident when we compare the names of
scholars who participated in the past three conferences and those who wished to take part
in the 4th conference. New scholars joined hands with old delegates. Thus not only did
these conferences foster research in Tamil, they also enlarged the number of research
scholars in Tamih
Further the I.A. T. R. has been instrumental in making Tamil part of the curriculum in
foreign Universities and in making foreign Professors take a keen interest in Tamil
research. There was a time when Western Universities did research on Sanskrit and
Indo-Aryan languages. Now the situation has changed and the study of Tamil language Tamil
literature, Tamilian history and culture has become a popular one. Earlier westerners
studied Tamil for purposes of religious propaganda, commerce and political domination. Now
they study for the purpose of research and to discover the intrinsic greatness ot Tamil.
We recoonize their love and respect for Tamil in their act of giving to themselves and
their children Tamil names - scholars in Russia have been enamoured to the extent of
calling themselves 'Sembian'. and ' Iyngurran'. A Czechoslovakian research scholar has
christened his daughter 'Kannamma'. It fills us with shame to think that instead of Tamil
names some of us give our children the names of film stars. The scholars mentioned above
want the words ' student of Tainil ' as their epitaph.These scholars not only love Tamil
but if they were to be bom again they would love to be born as Tamils. We bow our heads in
shame when we refect on how some of our folk tried to prevent them from attending
the conference.
As we recapitulate the role played by this association in fostering Tamil
research and love for Tamil among foreigners
one
cannot help praising one of its founders Fr. Thaninayagam. He is the Ambassador of the
Tamil language. Although be has rejected material pleasures, his love for Tamil remains.
Wherever he went he gave speeches, wrote articles, spoke over the air and stressed to
natives of those lands the greatness and antiquity of the Tamil language. Ho edited the
quarterly "Tamil Culture" as a means of spreading the greatness of Tamil. Above
and beyond this he brought together the Tamil scholars of Europe, Africa, and Asia on to a
common platform through the I. A. T. R.
Thus
the I. A. T. R. is his brain
child. For the last ten years it grew under his loving care and now he celebrates its
10th birthday in the midst of many foreign scholars. The hazards of bringing up a child
are not unknown to you. This child was destined to face an acid test at the end of its
10th year. People accused Fr. Thaninayagam of having deserted the child at this crucial
moment. He is a custodian of Tamil culture that knows not the betrayal of children.
That is why he struggled with us to save this child. By consenting to inaugurate the 4th
conference he has proved that his ideals lie in the growth of this child. We are deeply
indebted to him.
We thank the delegates of foreign countries such as India, Malaysia, England, Italy,
Switzerland, Sweden, America, Canada, Hungary and Australia for having come in the midst
of so many impediments and proved that this conference is not a parochial affair but
an International Conference of Tamil Research.
This conference does not aim at promoting communalism. It is a national conference and we
welcome with all humility both Sinhalese and Muslim scholars who are present, as delegates
and observers. To those who have come from Batticaloa, Trincomalee, the hill country,
Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu, and to those who have stood by us in the task of keeping
to the schedule we are deeply grateful.
This is the first occasion on which a conference like this is being held in Sri Lanka. It
gained international recognition even before it began. That the recognition will rise
tenfold after the conference is evident. Therefore we seek your co-operation to ensure
that this conference which has elicited the attention of the entire world be held smoothly
God bore me well
To serve the cause ot Tamil
3 January 1974 |
