Karunanidhi announces road map for Tamil promotion

COIMBATORE: The first World Classical Tamil Conference came to an end here on Sunday with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announcing a plan of action for Tamil promotion and development.

Delivering the valedictory address of the five-day conference, Mr Karunanidhi said a Rs.100-crore fund would be established for Tamil development. This would be a follow-up to the “good work” done at the meet. [On Wednesday, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated the conference].

The Chief Minister said efforts would be taken for translating well-known Tamil works into other Indian, Asian and European languages. Significant works of other languages would also be translated into Tamil. The government would create “genetic heritage gardens” in five distinct zones of the State as spelt out in the Sangam poetry.

Noting the presence of Union Ministers for Finance and Home Affairs Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram on the occasion, the Chief Minister appealed to the Centre to extend financial assistance for a number of initiatives announced by him.

The proposed Tholkappiyar Classical Tamil Sangam at Madurai would conduct the World Classical Tamil Conference periodically. Referring to the 15-year long gap in holding a mega Tamil meet, he assured people that this would not recur. On the Sri Lankan Tamils question, Mr Karunanidhi said no political solution had been found so far.

He called for a detailed plan to carry out marine archaeological research on the mythical Kumari continent and Poompuhar.

He reiterated his request made earlier to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for locating the proposed Indian National Institute of Epigraphy in Chennai.

Presiding over the function, Mr. Mukherjee expressed the hope that lessons from the conference would inspire many more accomplishments in future. Referring to the popular response to three exhibitions held as part of the WCTC, he said this was evident in the fact that the duration of the exhibitions was extended by a week.

Mr. Chidambaram wanted Tamil books to be published in different disciplines such as science, law, economics and geology.