Dignitaries at the event

International Mother Tongue Day was observed by the ‘Tamil Peravai’ of the Madras Christian College, here on Thursday.

Every year,  February 21 is being observed as ‘International Day of Mother Tongue’ since  2000.

The day is observed every year to promote and create awareness on linguistics, cultural diversity and multilingualism. MCC, which has students from all the 28 States of the country and 17 countries in the world, observed the day for the first time on its campus.

The function was organised by the Department of Tamil, under its Tamil Peravai.

Various literary personalities such as writer Lena Tamilvanan, poet Alandur Mohanarangan and Ravindranathan of Kannadasan Ilakkiya Mandram, Paris, were present as chief guest in the occasion.

In his address, Lena Tamilvanan said, “Even Tamils in Tamil Nadu are reluctant and unable to speak in their mother tongue. But Tamils displaced and living as migrants in other countries like France, Mauritius, South Africa study Tamil and teach the Tamil language to their children through transliteration”.

Ravindranathan said, “Since Sri Lankan Tamils were displaced in other countries like France during the ethnic war in the island nation, many of them had abandoned their mother tongue. But to save our mother tongue Tamil, we started a radio, through which we spread Tamil literature such as Thirukkural, Tholkappiyam, among others.”

Alandur Mohanarangan recited a poem lauding Tamil language. During the event, students from other States and countries spoke about their mother tongue, in transliterated Tamil.

Principal R W Alexander Jesudasan and Moses Michael Faraday, Head, Department of Tamil, were also present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Services- Chennai / February 23rd, 2013