Classical Tamil in Arts, Science colleges

Updated on: Thursday, July 22, 2010

All Arts and Science colleges in Tamil Nadu would have Classical Tamil as second language from second semester this year, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy announced today

Talking to reporters at Anna University in the presence of Vice-Chancellors of universities, he said from this year, Tamil prose would be introduced as a subject in the second semester.

''From next year, Tamil prose, poetry and grammar would be introduced from the first year courses,'' he said, adding, the syllabus for the second year would be history of Tamil grammar and classical Tamil.

Mr Ponmudy said Classical Tamil as the second language was being introduced based on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's announcement during the valedictory function of World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore last month.

The Chief Minister, while delivering the valedictory address at the Tamil meet had said the government would take steps to introduce study of Classical Tamil in schools, Colleges and universities in the state.

''Following this announcement, state Higher Education Council and Vice-Chancellors jointly came up with a decision to introduce Tamil as second language,'' he said. The coordinator of this programme would be Vice-Chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University Rajendran, who had been entrusted with the task of preparing the syllabus in consultation with professors by August 31.

He said students would have comparative studies of world classical languages from next year for BA and MA Tamil degrees. This would be implemented in arts and science colleges affiliated to various universities in the state.

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