Chennai, June 14 (UNI) Asserting that Tamil is the oldest living language in the world and one of the richest in terms of literature and spoken by more than 100 million people, while rightfully standing as

a language of immense pride and glory, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Saturday averred that comparing Tamil literature with English literature was disturbing.

Participating as Chief Guest at his “Think to Dare Series-18:Interaction with Tamil Scholars” organized at Bharathiar Mandapam in Raj Bhavan, he said sometimes, people try to compare Tamil literature with English literature.

"I find this disturbing. We must not compare Thiruvalluvar (Saint Tamil Poet) with Shakespeare - this mindset must end", he said.

"In early 2023, when I started learning Tamil, I suggested that professors begin translating engineering and medical textbooks into Tamil. We must never let down Mahakavi Bharathi. The legacy of the Tamil language must be carried forward with pride and purpose", he said.

Stating that unfortunately, there is still a belief in the superiority of English, Mr Ravi said this must change. "Every one of us must take responsibility for restoring pride in our mother tongue. Learning other languages is not wrong, but we must first take pride in our own", he added.

Noting that the beauty of Bharat lies in its many mother tongues, he said each language must be allowed to blossom, and Tamil must lead the way.

"We have been encouraging more people across the world to learn Tamil. We have introduced Tamil in the North-Eastern states, and young boys from those regions are now coming to Tamil Nadu for work, embracing the language and culture", he pointed out.

"Bharat is the mother of democracy, and the glory of the Tamil language must rise to its rightful heights", he added.

The Governor said the National Education Policy now emphasizes learning in one’s mother tongue. Learn English - but do not consider it superior. Learning becomes easier and more effective when done in the mother tongue.

"We are committed to taking Tamil to the world", he said.

Observing that Tamil is the oldest living language in the world and one of the richest in terms of literature, he said it was spoken by more than 100 million people, and rightfully stands as a language of immense pride and glory.

"Bharat is proud of Tamil...This ancient and rich language endured significant hardship during

British colonial rule. There was a deliberate attempt by the British to suppress mother tongues, including Tamil. They dismantled the traditional education system, disrupted local industries, and imposed heavy taxes on agriculture, making it unaffordable for farmers to sustain their livelihoods",

he said.

Industries were forced to shut down, and many youth were pushed into company jobs. English education became the only viable path forward, and schools established by the British did not

encourage the learning of Tamil, he said, adding, through this education system, they subtly propagated the idea of British superiority.

Language is not just a medium of communication - it is a carrier of culture and identity. At that time, the government directed district collectors to submit detailed reports. These reports classified students into four categories: Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras, etc. In most schools, Shudra students were the majority. There was no concept of untouchability in education until the British introduced

a sense of inferiority among communities, he said.

Mr Ravi said Tamil society was vibrant and culturally rich.

The revered Tamil Thatha (U. V. Swaminatha Iyer) rediscovered and preserved many ancient literary works and passed them on to future generations.

Subramaniya Bharathi was a champion of the Tamil language. Kalki Krishnamurthy was not only a freedom fighter but also a great advocate for Tamil. Figures like Jaganathan, Vinayagam Pillai, and T.S. Rangarajan followed in the footsteps of the Tamil renaissance, he pointed out.

"After independence, this momentum continued for a while, but eventually it slowed down. The

British had by then firmly established English as the only medium for scientific education. When

they claimed that Tamil was incapable of expressing scientific knowledge, it was Bharathi who

gave a powerful rebuttal", he said.

"But sadly, we have not fully realized his vision to this day", the Governor said.

UNI GV 2220