World Classical Tamil Conference 2010

The WCTC was held at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore and chaired by then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi and was organized by his government.{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/world-tamil-conference-begins-on-wed-in-coimbatore-33198| title=World Tamil Conference begins on Wed in Coimbatore| publisher=ND TV| date=June 22, 2010| access-date=June 22, 2010}}{{cite news | url=http://tamil.dinamalar.com| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617191139/http://tamil.dinamalar.com/| url-status=dead| archive-date=June 17, 2010| title=World Tamil Conference-2010| publisher=Dinamalar| date=June 22, 2010}}

The conference was inaugurated by the President of India, Pratibha Patil. Finnish Tamil scholar Asko Parpola was awarded the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil award. Tamil scholar V. Sivathambi from Sri Lanka, UNESCO Director Arumugam Parasuraman, MP and political leader Sitaram Yechury of Communist Party of India (Marxist), D. Raja of Communist Party of India, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol. Thirumavalavan and Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss participated in the conference.{{cite news | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75662/coimbatore-decked-up-world-classical.html| title=Coimbatore decked up for world classical Tamil conference| publisher=Deccan Herald| date=June 16, 2010| access-date=June 22, 2010}}{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article482292.ece| title=Pratibha Patil inaugurates World Classical Tamil Conference| work=The Hindu| date=June 23, 2010| access-date=June 23, 2010}} Dignitaries and Tamil scholars were gifted with an engraved Thanjavur plate.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Exquisite-Thanjavur-plate-for-participants-in-World-Tamil-Conference/articleshow/6034536.cms| title=Exquisite Thanjavur plate for participants in World Tamil Conference| publisher=TimesofIndia| date=June 11, 2010| access-date=June 22, 2010}}

US Tamil scholar George Hart presented a paper on Sangam literature and Indian epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan chaired a debate on scripts. Rononjoy Adhikari and Kavitha Gingal from the Institute of Mathematical Science, who were working on a mathematical model to relate the Indus script with the Dravidian language were involved in the debate.{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-06-23/india/28281036_1_indus-script-asko-parpola-dravidian-language| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811075324/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-06-23/india/28281036_1_indus-script-asko-parpola-dravidian-language| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 11, 2011| title=5-day world Tamil conference begins| date=June 23, 2010| work=The Times of India| access-date=June 23, 2010}}

{{Main|Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam}}

The theme song, "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" was written by then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with music by A.R. Rahman. The video was directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon featuring artists, musicians, singers.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article434205.ece| title=World Classical Tamil Conference Theme Song| work=The Hindu| date=May 20, 2010| access-date=June 22, 2010}}

This conference was not approved by the International Association for Tamil Research. Not all agreed with the academic and intellectual rigor of the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/06/karunanidhi-and-politics-of-tamil.html |title=Karunanidhi and the politics of Tamil culture |publisher=Sri Lanka Guardian |access-date=2012-08-04}}{{cite web|author=Dr. Noboru Karashima on July 23, 2010 12:27 AM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/IATR-and-the-World-Classical-Tamil-Conference/article16206321.ece |title=IATR and the World Classical Tamil Conference |work= The Hindu |date=2010-07-27 |access-date=2021-08-02}}{{cite web|author=transCurrents on June 15, 2010 05:22 AM |url=http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/world_tamil_classical_conferen.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619004541/http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/world_tamil_classical_conferen.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |title=World Tamil Classical Conference in Tamil Nadu Will Boost Chief Minister Karunanidhi's Image |publisher=transCurrents |date=2010-06-15 |access-date=2012-08-04}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-political-uses-of-tamil/638301/0 |title=The political uses of Tamil |publisher=Indian Express |date=2010-06-25 |access-date=2012-08-04}}

The conference and associated activities faced opposition and criticisms from various political parties.Iqbal Mohideen. [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/06/karunanidhi-and-politics-of-tamil.html Karunanidhi And The Politics Of Tamil Culture]{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619004541/http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/world_tamil_classical_conferen.html World Tamil Classical Conference in Tamil Nadu Will Boost Chief Minister Karunanidhi's Image]}}[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-political-uses-of-tamil/638301/0 The political uses of Tamil]

• World Tamil Conference
• Tamil diaspora

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.worldtamilconference2010.wordpress.com World Tamil Conference 2010]
• [http://www.ulakathamizhchemmozhi.org ulaka thamizh chemmozhi - Tamil]
• [http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article444941.ece World Classical Tamil Conference – a perspective]
• [http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article481104.ece The Indus script and the wild ass]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100617191139/http://tamil.dinamalar.com/ World Tamil conference 2010 (உலகத் தமிழ்ச் செம்மொழி மாநாடு)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamil World Classical Conference}}

Category:2010 in India

Category:Tamil diaspora

Category:International conferences