Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur hosted the 11th World Tamil Research Conference. With the initiative of Dr. Xavier Thaninayagam. World Association for Tamil Research was established at New Delhi in 1964. The first conference was held in Malaysia in 1966. Including the 11th conference, Malaysia has hosted the conferences four times.
In Tamil Nadu, the conference was hosted three times by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, India.The second conference was by the initiatives during the rule of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under the short period of Anna (shortened form of C.N. Annadurai) as the Chief Minister in 1968. The other two conferences were held in 1981 and 1995 when M.G.Ramachandran and J. Jayalalitha were the Chief Ministers.
The significant exclusive conference was held when classical language status was conferred on Tamil by the Government of India, the first of its kind in India when Kalaignar Dr. M. Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister in 2010. The other international Tamil conferences were held in France(1970), Sri Lanka(1974) Mauritius(1989) and Chicago, USA(2019).
The 11th World Tamil Research Conference was held on 21, 22 & 23 July 2023 with grandeur and participation of about 700 delegates from Tamil Nadu, and about 200 from other countries.The present day Malaysia is endowed with the Tamil population emigrated from the parental Tamil Nadu from 13th century onwards. Thanthai Periyar visited Malaya, which included Singapore, in 1929 and 1954. The visit and iterated appeal by Periyar brought substantial change in the life style of Tamil labourers, toiling in Rubber plantations of Malaya. The Tamil lineage has occupied a sizable strength in the social, political and economic landscape of Federal Malaysia.
Inauguration
The formal inauguration of the Conference was made by Hon’ble Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 22nd July.While inaugurating, the PM had recalled and recognised the contribution of Tamil citizens in building the Federal Malaysia over many centuries along with the Malayas and the Chinese.
The PM had liberally announced the financial support for conducting the conference to institute special discipline for Tamil in the Department of Indian studies at Universiti Malaya and to provide infrastructure facilities and teachers’ support for the well functioning of Tamil Schools in Malaysia.The PM showed his affinity towards Tamil, unmindful of the political opposition in Malaysia branding him as a Tamil.
Hon’ble Minister Respectful, V. Sivakumar, Ministry of Human Resources Development had narrated the ups and downs in the number of Tamil schools in Malaysia. From 1930’s, the significant rise in the strength of the schools was due to the visit of Periyar to Malaysia. The succeeding generations consider Periyar instrumental in the uplift of Malaysia Tamil population. Hon’ble Deputy Minister Respectful Ms.Sarawathy Kandasamy, Ministry of Entrepreneur and Co-operation Development of Malaysia had spoken on the support provided by the Government of Malaysia to Tamil language and population.
Datuk Seri. M. Saravanan, a Member of Parliament, listed out the contribution he made as people’s representative to the people and the country.Datuk Seri Prof. Marimuthu, the Chairperson of the 11th World Tamil Research Conference briefed the plan and execution of the proceeding of the conference.
The Secretaries, Nandan Masilamani, who organised the foreign delegates for their participation and Dr. Krishnan Maniam who organised Malaysian delegates were helpful in providing the comforts and the specific needs of the delegates.
Mr. P.Thiagarajan, the founder of OMS foundation Malaysia, donated Gold medals to the high scoring Tamil students in Tamil schools of Malaysia. The students were appreciated by the PM.
Special Invitees
Many personalities associated with political and social activities of Tamil Nadu were invited as Special Invitees and they participated in the conference. Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani (Dravidar Kazhagam) Vaigai Selvan (AIADMK), C. Mahendran (CPI), Balabarathi & Madhukkur Ramalingan (CPM), Dr.Thol. Thirumavalavan M.P. (VCK), Vel Murugan M.L.A. (TVK), Suba Veerapandian (Dravidian Tamil Federation), P. Maniarasan (TDI), Dr.Amarnath Ramakrishna (Renowned Archaeologist), Dr. Lakshman Tamil (Dallas, USA), and many others participated and addressed the opening session.
Paper presentations took place simultaneously on all the three days in separate lecture halls.
All the three days proceedings went on well and the conference concluded, with the accomplishment of the objective.
Compiled by : nietzsche
