மெருகேற்றுகின்றனவ�ோ அவ்வாறே ம�ொழியும் நம்
அழகியல் அனுபவத்தைத் தூண்டி எழுப்புகின்றது.
சிறந்த
இலக்கியங்களைக்
க�ொண்ட
வெகுசில
செம்மொழிகளுள் ஒன்று என்ற அடிப்படையில் தமிழ்
ம�ொழி நமது வாழ்க்கைக்கு அழகியலைக் க�ொண்டு
சேர்க்கிறது.
எனவே இந்த நாட்டில் நாம் உண்மையிலேயே
தமிழ் ம�ொழியைப் பாதுகாக்க வேண்டும் என்று
விரும்பினால், அது நமது பிள்ளைகள் அவர்களது
தாத்தா,
பாட்டிகளிடம்
பேச
வேண்டும்
என்பதற்காகவ�ோ,
சென்னையில்
நாம்
இன்னும்
சிறப்பாக வியாபாரம் செய்யலாம் என்பதற்காகவ�ோ
இருப்பது
ப�ோதுமானதாகாது.
மாறாக,
அது
நமது அடையாளத்தின் ஒரு குறியீடு என்பதாலும்
நமது வாழ்க்கைக்கு அது மிகுந்த விவேகத்தையும்
அழகியலையும் க�ொண்டு சேர்க்கிறது என்பதாலும்
இருக்க வேண்டும்.
There are those in Singapore who believe that if Tamil
language lives well, Tamils will live well. And there are
others who claim that if Tamils live well, then Tamil will
live well. Neither group is on the mark. Life is not that
simple. Nor is the evidence on the ground supportive of
their claims.
Tamil language has been living well, indeed very
well, among a small segment of the Tamil population
here, especially among those who hold their language
as an essential part of their being. Many Tamil poets,
authors and Tamil activists can be counted among this
group. However, there is little evidence that all their passion and commitment to Tamil language and literature
have added to the economic and political wellbeing of
Tamils in this country. That is because Tamil language
has little economic or political power. On the other
hand, there are any number of Tamils in the highest
echelons of this country, in the professions and business,
living well and making major contributions in many
ways and, yet, there is no evidence that they have in any
way helped Tamil language, literature or culture. Their
Tamil identity does not embrace those aspects of life.
It is too simplistic to establish a causal relationship between the well-being of the language and of the
ethnic community. Nor is it right to accuse anyone who
does not contribute to the wellbeing of one or the other
of being a Tamil Throgi (Tamil Traitor).
What is generally accepted in theory and practice is that a language cannot survive for long without
a community using it actively and effectively. And languages do not live by bread alone. Anyone who argues
we must learn a language for its economic value is focusing on a very different purpose of language from
those who cherish it as part of their cultural identity.
Besides, for those to whom language is part of
their being, it is much more than a communication tool.
If communication is the only reason to learn a language,
in the case of Singapore, there is hardly any reason for
TAMIL HAS DEVELOPED AN
AESTHETIC DIMENSION THAT IS
A VALUE IN AND OF ITSELF. IT
BRINGS GREAT BEAUTY INTO OUR
LIVES
anyone to learn Tamil. English is the first language here
and the most effective communication tool for reaching
the largest number of people. Even if we argue that there
are old parents and grandparents who can only speak
Tamil and the younger generation must learn Tamil to
communicate with them, that argument will die soon
too.
Language is much, much more than a communication tool, let alone an economic one. It is a manifestation of a certain culture, a philosophy of life and a way
of thinking and expressing. And because Tamil is an
ancient language and used effectively over thousands of
years, it has acquired a veritable treasure of life experiences and insights that are relevant and useful even today. It brings great wisdom into our lives.
There is another critical aspect to languages that
is non-utilitarian. It is the aesthetics of a language. Language elevates our aesthetic experience much like what
great music, dance or art does. As one of the few classical languages of the world with rich literature, Tamil has
developed an aesthetic dimension that is a value in and
of itself. It brings great beauty into our lives.
Therefore, if we really want to preserve Tamil
language usage in this country, it is not just for our children to speak to grandparents nor for us to do better
business in Chennai but because it is an essential part
of our identity and because it brings great wisdom and
beauty into our lives.
சிங்கப்பூர்த் தேசிய பல்கலைக்கழகத் தமிழ்ப் பேரவை
35ம் செயற்குழு
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