Prof S Thillainathan on education and research in Thamil
 This week’s column focuses on a talk delivered in Thamil and
published as booklet recently and published by the Kolumbu Thamil Sangam,
Wellawatta. This was the first talk in a series on the late Thamilveal R
K Kanthaswamy, (1919-2008), a pioneer activist in the Kolumbu Thamil
Sangam
The talk by Emeritus Professor S. Thillainathan gains significance
because he sees Education in Thamil in this country differently. This
columnist felt that this should be brought to the notice of the non-Thamil
readers.
The full title of his subject was “Thamil Education, Study,
Continuity and Growth in Lanka” The speaker had a long stint at the
University of Peradeniya having been the Head of the Department of
Thamil.
He is a progressive writer and author of few books and a critic and
playwright. Most importantly, he was working for the then Ceylon
Observer as a journalist along with Nihal Ratnaike before he became an
academic.
Presently he is a Consultant of the National Integration Progrmme
Unit of the Ministry National Integration of Sri Lanka.
Prof. Thillainathan in is Preamble pays tribute to the late
Thamilverl Kanthsamy attributing him as a scholar and the man who built
up the Kolumbu Thamil Sangam and the fine library it has. He said that
there is evidence to the fact that the Thamilians had lived in Lanka for
more than 2000 years.
However, there are no evidences regarding the education and the
advancement in studies regarding them until the 13th century when the
Arya Chakravarthis established a kingdom in Yaalppanam.
There were books on medicine, astrology, history and religion
available during this period. This shows that there must have been a
long tradition of developed education preceding the period.
After the advent of the Europeans, tradition embraced modernity.
Scholars and poets engaging in discourses in temples and homes produced
a trend of critical appreciation and their earnestness led to the spread
of knowledge and studies.
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The dethroning of English has made the children antipathetic
towards learning a second or third language |
Continuing S T mentioned that development of Thamil language,
literature and grammar came about with the establishment of Yaalpaana
Thamil Sangam by T. Kailasapillai and also with the existence of
Aarya-Dravida Bhasha Abiviruthi Sangam, the Koapaai Teachers Training
College, Thirunelvely Saiva Teachers School, the Epics Study School
instituted by Pandithamani S Kanapathipillai.
The speaker also said the newspapers that were available in the
middle of 19th century also furthered Thamil scholarship and critical
studies.
People came to know a lot of details about Thamil poets through the
writing of Simon Casie Chetty, A. Sathaivampillai, A.Kumaraamy Pulavar,
A. Mutthu Thambi Pillai, S. Ganesha Iyer et al. C.Y. Thamotharam Pillai,
Aarumuga Naavalar and others led the way for the Thamilnadu scholars.
In fact S T’s whole speech should be translated into English, but to
exigencies of space, I avoid doing that and leave at that as far as the
contributions rendered and will now give a few of his observations in
the latter part of his talk in brief.
Prof S. Thillainathan’s critical comments
In recent times there is a paucity of research and traditional
scholarship. Many write their books under their names and without proper
understanding of what they consider as new there are only padding of
words in their writing.
Many of these writers want to project their own image. There is no
impartial and vigorous criticism now compared to what had been there
three decades ago. In spite of consumerism a few research material on
education has been made possible.
However, job-oriented mode of education seems to be in force now is
now in the teaching profession now centering on giving tuition and
concerned with earning more and more rather than its ideals.
Text book writers are irresponsible. There are grammatical, spelling
and punctuation mistakes. Translations are a mess-up. Checking facts,
proof reading and accuracy are all lacking.
The dethroning of English has made the children antipathetic towards
learning a second or third language. Favouritism and the like have
hampered education and the mode of research. The National Education
Commission prepared a book called Eluthaatupadai to train and improve
proper writing skills.
But it is learnt that one particular official in the Education
Ministry objected this endeavour and as a result this publication was
not sent to school for the students to learn. In competent people try to
convince their imagined superiority. This is somewhat like “Fools rush
in which angels fear to tread” [email protected] |
