Changing Face Of Tamil Nadu
S. Sivathasan
In Praise of Tamil
In the eye of a Tamil poet how does Tamil Nadu appear? To Prof.
Sundarampillai scholar and poet; “The sea girt globe is a damsel draped
in blue. Bharat is her face ever beaming with beauty. Therein shining in
all radiance is her crescent like forehead, the Dravidian State. As
central attraction is the tilakam that is Tamil Nadu and Tamil is the
fragrance emanating therefrom. Perched in this setting is the Tamil
Maiden full of perennial charm, spreading mirth all around with glory
effusing in every direction”.
Change and Renewal
This is Tamil Nadu, the land of Tamil and of the Tamils into whose
serenity modernity is entering at an incredible yet welcome pace. A
blend of the old and the new has made for a harmonious balance at all
times and in many spheres. Literary evidence accessible to all who
inquire makes it clear that continuity is a hallmark in the history of
the Tamils. They have displayed a resilience to retain the valued of the
past while absorbing the best of the modern. A line from an ancient
grammatical treatise conveys succinctly their attitude and approach:
“There is no inconsistency in the exit of the old and the entry of the
new. They are but an index of the time”. The ancient, the medieval and
the modern thriving coterminously in Tamil Nadu show both telescoping
and supersession. This induces the erroneous notion among some that if
Tamils change perpetually, they cannot remain the same. Herein lies
their uniqueness in retention, absorption, adaptation and
transformation.
Golden Times
Ramanujan City on the right with Conference Hall and Residential Complex
under construction in the foreground. On the left is Tidel Park. Both
are at Tharamani in the heart of the city.
In the vibrancy of the language and in
exquisite literature is portrayed the genius of the people. Two
millennia of assimilation, growth and continuity have made Tamil both
classical and modern, conferring the prestige of the oldest living
language. The land, her people their language and literature have seen
many a vicissitude. Sangam Age – circa 1 to 3 AD – and Chola Period – 9
to 12 AD, were golden times. The third, wished for with independence is
set to be reached in less than half a century. A composite range of
attributes have now begun to seep into the people’s consciousness, their
values, outlook, attitude and lifestyle. They have now begun to factor
them into their present and for their future.
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