World Classical Tamil Conference 2010

Venue

The WCTC was held at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore and chaired by then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi and was organized by his government.

Participants

The conference was inaugurated by the President of India, Pratibha Patil. Finnish Tamil scholar Asko Parpola was awarded the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil award. Tamil scholar V. Sivathambi from Sri Lanka, UNESCO Director Arumugam Parasuraman, MP and political leader Sitaram Yechury of Communist Party of India (Marxist), D. Raja of Communist Party of India, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol. Thirumavalavan and Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss participated in the conference. Dignitaries and Tamil scholars were gifted with an engraved Thanjavur plate.

Events

US Tamil scholar George Hart presented a paper on Sangam literature and Indian epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan chaired a debate on scripts. Rononjoy Adhikari and Kavitha Gingal from the Institute of Mathematical Science, who were working on a mathematical model to relate the Indus script with the Dravidian language were involved in the debate.

Theme Song

Main article: Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam

The theme song, "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" was written by then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with music by A.R. Rahman. The video was directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon featuring artists, musicians, singers.

Controversies

This conference was not approved by the International Association for Tamil Research. Not all agreed with the academic and intellectual rigor of the event.

The conference and associated activities faced opposition and criticisms from various political parties.

References

References

1. (June 22, 2010). "World Tamil Conference begins on Wed in Coimbatore". ND TV.
2. (June 22, 2010). "World Tamil Conference-2010". Dinamalar.
3. (June 16, 2010). "Coimbatore decked up for world classical Tamil conference". Deccan Herald.
4. (June 23, 2010). "Pratibha Patil inaugurates World Classical Tamil Conference". The Hindu.
5. (June 11, 2010). "Exquisite Thanjavur plate for participants in World Tamil Conference". TimesofIndia.
6. (June 23, 2010). "5-day world Tamil conference begins". [[The Times of India]].
7. (May 20, 2010). "World Classical Tamil Conference Theme Song". The Hindu.
8. "Karunanidhi and the politics of Tamil culture". Sri Lanka Guardian.
9. Dr. Noboru Karashima on July 23, 2010 12:27 AM. (2010-07-27). "IATR and the World Classical Tamil Conference". The Hindu.
10. transCurrents on June 15, 2010 05:22 AM. (2010-06-15). "World Tamil Classical Conference in Tamil Nadu Will Boost Chief Minister Karunanidhi's Image". transCurrents.
11. (2010-06-25). "The political uses of Tamil". Indian Express.
12. Iqbal Mohideen. [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/06/karunanidhi-and-politics-of-tamil.html Karunanidhi And The Politics Of Tamil Culture]
13. {{usurped
14. [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-political-uses-of-tamil/638301/0 The political uses of Tamil]