Tamil language is very old, Hindi can’t be imposed on it: TN Guv

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, on Thursday, said that Hindi was imposed in the 1960s out of ignorance and emphasised the need for the spread of the Tamil language and the wisdom of Tamil literature across the country, to the Tamil language learning students.

The governor was interacting with the non-Tamil students, learning Tamil, at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as part of the Tamil Nadu Darshan event at Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Darshan visit is organised to provide an opportunity for non-Tamil students learning Tamil to have a first-hand experience of Tamil culture, traditions, cuisine, and artifacts and to understand the unique role Tamil plays in shaping India’s incredible cultural, spiritual, and economic heritage, said in a statement on Thursday.

During their visit to Chennai, the Governor invited and interacted with the students at Raj Bhavan.

While citing the richness of the Tamil language and literature, the Governor mentioned that, out of ignorance, Hindi was imposed in 1960.

“Tamil is the oldest language, and the Sanskrit language in antiquity is close to Tamil,” he said and also mentioned that epics such as ‘Thirukkural’ are so deeply enlightening that they must be kept by side.

He assured full scholarships for non-Tamil students who are willing to pursue higher studies in Tamil. He also assured that Raj Bhavan will organise ‘Tamil Nadu Darshan’ regularly.

Later the Governor distributed copies of Thirukkural to the students and faculty members.