Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manifesto NUSTLS Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2016 Manif | Page 17

Issue 2: Role of Tamil Community Leaders
Post-Panel Discussion
How can Tamil Language Festival see a more active youth population?
• For famous TLF events like Sorkalam and Sorchilambam, only the best and interested
students are selected to participate due to the competitive nature of these events. It is thus
a challenge to get hold of those who are sitting on the fence. Make it prestigious and
package it well. Similar to how conferences offer a certain level of prestige when
participating. This will create a friendly competition among students to fight for a placement
in the debate team.
• Event publicity is not reaching the students. Youths do not watch TV much as they come
home late and are busy with other things. Most of the TLF publicity is done via TV.
• Organisers can talk to the Tamil teachers to get the word out about Tamil events or
programmes. There can be a collaboration between the Tamil teachers and TLF event
organisers. Different schools can go for different events. However, the students should not be
forced to attend as this will result in the students viewing the events in a negative light.
• There are a lot of TLF events but it appears that they are doing it for namesake. We need to
tackle the question on what is the purpose of the event and what are they trying to achieve.
• We should not only emphasize about speaking in Tamil. We should also spend more effort to
teach the youths about Tamil values and traditions such as respecting the elderly, Tamil arts
and serving food (Virunthombal).
• There are events like Barathiyar Vizha and Kanadasan Vizha, etc. Youths are not able to relate
to the speakers or the content. The organisers can attempt to bridge the gap. Revamping
older scriptures (e.g. The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature) by removing the mythical
aspect and making them more relevant and presentable to the Youths. Many lessons about
Tamil history and culture can be learnt from these texts.
• Acknowledge (without trying to be politically correct) that there is indeed a problem, that
will lead to an immediate change. SINDA: Can coordinate with schools/JCs more. Right now,
events and Tamil exposure is concentrated in Little India, this should change and move more
towards the heartlands.
• Many leaders are fixated on maintaining language purity by hosting events only in pure
Tamil. Singapore Youths are not able to relate and connect with that standard of Tamil. They
should encourage speaking in spoken Tamil and even a bit of English as a means of slowly
introducing the Tamil language to those who do not speak much Tamil. Hence, when trying
to appeal to youths, they need to ensure that the event or programme is something youth
will like, even the selection of speakers make a huge difference.
• Drama groups hold dramas as well as drama trainings. We could have more dramas like
those presented by Ravindran Drama Group, where English stories are presented in Tamil.
Use school spirit to get more people involved. Stage have a good reach (especially jovial and
comedy ones). Local speakers taking light take on local issues for example would interest the
Tamil youths.
• Attempts can be created to break the barriers between masses and community leaders. For
example, platforms to get feedback. For example getting people to come together and
discuss and eventually produce it as a report (similar to STYC but on a larger scale) Leaders
need to be less defensive and instead of accommodate and acknowledge other views.
Issue 2: Role of Tamil Community Leaders
PAGE 17