TIME FOR TAMIL SCRIPT REFORM IS LONG OVERDUE

Periyar EVR thought of Tamil script reform, a part of which was adopted by the Government of Tamilnadu then headed by Thiru.M.G.Ramachandran.Now yesterday's Deccan Chronicle broke a story in its first page.Let me reproduce that below in verbatim.

8 YEAR SEARCH FAILS FOR TAMIL CODE.

An 8 year search for an encoding language that would make possible the representation of all characters of the script on computers and make them applicable to creating software may have failed. Mr.N.Anbarasan, Chief Executive Officer of the Bangalore based Apple soft and member of the task force constituted by the State Government to coordinate activities relating to the development of 16 bit character code, revealed that the encoding scheme being tested is not usable in any of the suggested applications. Speaking to this newspaper Mr.Anbarasan said the Level -I encoding had not enabled the use of Tamil in application software. " The claims made to the contrary during the Conference on Tamil 16-bit character encoding held on September 2,2006 and on all earlier occasions were misleading" Mr.Anbarasan alleged.

The State Government had in 1999 conducted a conference to discuss issues involved in emerging font based standards for Tamil and to seek more code space for the language in the Unicode standard. However, the idea, had become unrealistic, Mr.Anbarasan said.

He wanted to know why the state Government was not able to get the required code space although it claimed that the proposed encoding scheme was efficient,scientific and cost effective. In his view the government had sought more code space merely on some hypothetical assumptions and submitted a proposal to UNICODE through the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

The Unicode Consortium, which studied the proposal observed in the UTC document [L2/01-430] that it should be justified by scientific studies. The Tamil Virtual University however tested the proposed scheme and called it efficient without even considering the scientific views of the members of the task force constituted to monitor the test results, he said.
The State Government displayed the proposed scheme on the Internet for the comments of the Tamil community. After receiving the comments for the proposal, a conference was held in the city on September 21 last year to review the scheme and make its recommendations to the state government.

Courtesy : Deccan Chronicle 30/11/2007 First Page

Speaking at Mahakavi Bharathiar's 125 th birth anniversary organized by Bharathy Ilakiya Peravai, N.Nandhivarman said while we captured Chennai Corporation we installed neon lights with a board Thamizh Vazhga, instead of making Tamil medium of instruction in our educational institutions. At that time the Anti Hindi Movement was fresh and people would have easily assimilated Tamil medium in educational institutions, tamil language usage in courts and elsewhere. We missed the chance at the ripe time to realise the Tamil \naspirations.Now it appears we will be losing if Tamil is not getting accepted in Unicode. Instead of conferences and public shows researches should be done silently encouraging pioneers like Kaniyathamil Software Private Limited, and assembling real scholars to argue the case for Tamil Unicode.

The Kaniyatamil Software's web site http://www.kaniyatamil.com/

/periyar.html/u003c/a/>/u003c/div/>/n/u003cdiv/">www.tamilminulagam.com\u003cWBR\>/periyar.html\u003c/a\>\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Professor V.C.Kulandaisamy had written about Tamil script reform mooted by Periyar EVR. Is it not appropriate to deliberate whether Tamil script reform could make Tamil acceptable to codification in Unicode Consortium. Let us ponder and debate.



-- nandhivarman

STONE INSCRIPTONS SPEAK

STONE INSCRIPTIONS SPEAK

N.Nandhivarman

Monuments, Inscriptions and copper plates speak. They reveal the past. Epigraphists unearth history hidden in these. There are around 535 stone inscriptions found out till date which includes Sanskrit (4), Kannada (2), Latin (1), French (2), Armenian (1) and most of the ones in Tamil. Late Pulavar Kuppusamy and Villianur Venkatesan did the compiling of these epigraphs. Professor Vijayavenugopal Senior Research Fellow of the Epigraphy Section of Ecole Francaise D’ Extreme-Orient of Pondicherry had translated these and a new book is on the anvil.

For more than 1000 years of our history could be traced in these stone inscriptions. The rule of Rastrakooda king Kannaradevan comes to light through 16 inscriptions. Similarly sixteen Chozha Emporers have ruled Pondicherry region, which is recorded in 220 inscriptions. Eight Pandyan kings (18), Two later Pallavas (13), Thirteen Vijayanagara Kings (27) and under Sambuvaraiyer (3) are the break up of the total 535 stone inscriptions found in and around Pondicherry.

Almost all major villages of Pondicherry and Karaikal regions have these inscriptions namely Thirubuvanai (188), Madagadipattu (83), Thirunallaru (51), Villianur (50), Thiruvandarkoil (42), Bahour (45), Pondicherry (30). In Karaikal region at Karaikal (10), Thirumalairayanpattinam (6), Nallambal (7), Mathur (1), Nedungadu (1), Sethur (3), Sorakudi (1), Melponsethi (1) Pandasozhanur (7), Thirukanji (3), Kariamaniccam (2), Keezhkasakudi (2), Melkasakudi (1) and Dharmapuram (1).

Coming to recent past a monument of a brave soldier reminds us about the year 1778 when Pondicherry was under siege by the British. The brave sons of Pondicherry with only 1000 soldiers defended their soil fiercely against the 24,000 attackers. An isolated commemorative stele of a brave Englishman Captain Aug de Morgan killed by the French artillery on 11 th October 1778 stands on a barren terrain near Jipmer Hospital. This monument reminds us of not only the bravery of Pondicherrians but also their nobility to pay due respects even to the enemy warrior.

Another Tomb of Pauline de Kerjean nephew of Dupliex, a little girl who served in the Deccan wars epitomizes brave French womanhood.” The skulls, bats and tibia are symbols more sinister than comforting flames that represent the eternal soul,” writes M.Bourdat, Professor of Literature in Lycee Francaise.

The Annual Reports of Indian Epigraphy 1887-1905 is the first of its kind in Indian subcontinent on listing out the various stone inscriptions. J.Burges, the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India and E.Holtzsch, the Epigraphist of the Archaeological Survey of South India are the pioneers who laid down the foundation for epigraphic studies. In French India at the same time French scholars have unearthed many stone inscriptions. Jouveau Dubaille found a stone monument in the garden in front of present day Raj Niwas which speaks about the fortifications on the shore together with“ Port Marine” built by Joseph Françoise Dupliex, the Governor of Pondicherry.

While these speak about recent history stone inscriptions are useful to know how this area was ruled. Though 535 epigraphs speak about various rulers at most of the period Pondicherry was part and parcel of Nadu Nadu, which means middle country. There are historical reasons for this region to be called as Nadu Nadu. The Pallava rule did not extend up to Pennaiyaaru and Chozha rule was up to Vellaru. In between these around 10 small states were there such as Vanagoppadi, Singapuranaadu, Oymanaadu, Vesalipadi nadu etc. These areas ruled by small states were called Nadunadu. The Saivite book of hymns Thevaram calls the pilgrimage centers in this region as Nadu Naattu thirupathigal.

From these inscriptions we understand how the territory was divided into Mandalam, Kottam, Kootram similar to District, Taluk and Panchayat. The subdivisions for purpose of revenue have been divided into 28 valanaadugal. Athiraja valanaadu was named after Rajathirajan I. This comes to public notice while epigraphists found this inscription at Tirunallar which belonged to the regime of Rajendra II.

The book by the Ecole Francaise D’Extreme Orient had generated lot of interest among public, as they were hoping that this book will throw more light on how this region was ruled and what were the social customs prevailing during that period etc. For instance in one inscription dating back to 1000 years in Bahur the word untouchable (Theendathagar) is used, wherein the tank desalting work was forbidden to untouchables since that water reaches the deity. That may be the first instance of that word being used, scholars opine.

Anyhow stones reflect the societal practices of those days be it good or bad. A true historical perspective emerges, and Pondicherrians come to understand their region more with scholars throwing more light.

Under Sea Exploration of Lost Tamil Lands

குமரிக் கண்ட உண்மையை உலகம் அறியக் கடலடியில்தொல்லியல் ஆய்வுகள் தேவை (நா. நந்திவர்மன், பொதுச்செயலர், திராவிடப்பேரவை)

ஈராயிரமாண்டுப் பழமை பற்றிய பெருமிதம் சொற்பொழிவாற்றும் தமிழறிஞர்கள் உரையின் உள்ளீடாகத் திகழும். அடிக்கடி நாம் பயன்படுத்தும் இச்சொற்றொடரில் மாற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியவர் கிரகாம் அன்காக் (Graham Hancock). பூம்புகார்க் கடலடியில் ஆய்வு செய்தவர். அரிய சான்றுகளை வெளிக்கொணர்ந்தவர். அந்தத் துறைமுக நகரம் 9500 ஆண்டு முந்திய சிறப்புக்குரியது என்று தினமணி நாளேட்டின் வழி அவர் கூறி இருந்தார். அவர் அண்மையில் வெளியிட்ட நூல் தமிழர்கள் படித்தறிய வேண்டிய அரிய நூலாகும். Under world: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization என்ற 760 பக்கமும் 27.50 டாலர் விலையும் கொண்ட இந்நூல் 2002 இல் அமெரிக்காவில் வெளியிடப்பட்டது.
அந்நூல் எழுத அவருக்குச் சான்றாகக் கிட்டியவை டர்காம் பல்கலைக் கழகப் பேராசிரியர் கிளென் மல்னி உருவாக்கிய கடற்கோள்களால் மூழ்கடிக் கப்பட்ட நாடுகள் பற்றிய வரைபடங்களாகும். இன்றைக்குச் சற்றேறக்குறைய 17.000 ஆண்டுக்கும் 8000 ஆண்டுக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட காலக்கட்டத்தில் மூன்று கடற்கோள்கள் பல நாகரிகங்களை, நாடுகளை மூழ்கடித்து அழித்து விட்டதை அந்த வரைபடங்கள்வழி அவர் விளக்கியுள்ளார்.
உலக நிலப்பரப்பில் ஐந்திலொரு பங்கு நீரில் மூழ்கியது. 25 மில்லியன் சதுரக் கிலோமீட்டர் நிலப்பரப்பைக் கடல் விழுங்கியது. இந்த வரைபடங்கள் நூற்றுக்கு நூறு சரியானவை அல்ல. எனினும் கடல்கோள்கள் உலகமும் தமிழரும் இழந்த நிலப்பரப்பை உய்த்துணர உதவக் கூடியவை.
15ஆயிரமாண்டுக்கும், 14ஆயிரமாண்டுக்கும் இடையேயும், 12,000 ஆண்டுக்கும், 11,000ஆண்டுக்கும் இடையேயும், 8000ஆண்டுக்கும் 7000 ஆண்டுக்கும் இடையேயும் மூன்று கடல் கோள்களும் நில அமிழ்வும் நடந்துள்ளன என அறிஞர் பலர் கருதுகின்றனர். இதில் இரண்டாம் கடல் கோள் நிகழ்ந்த 12 ஆயிரமாண்டுக்கும் 11,000 ஆண்டுக்கும் இடையில்தான் பூம்புகாரும் குமரிக்கண்டமும் கடலால் விழுங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. அறிஞர் பிளாட்டோ எழுதிய Timaeus and Critias என்னும் நூல் நிலநடுக்கங்களாலும் கடல்கோள்களாலும் அட்லாண்டிசு அழிந்ததைக் கூறும் இலக்கியச் சான்றாகும். அந்தக் காலக்கட்டத்தில் தான் குமரிக்கண்டம் மூழ்கியது.
பிளாட்டோவின் இலக்கியச் சான்றை ஏற்பார்கள். ஆனால் பைந்தமிழ்ப் பாவலர்களின் இலக்கியச் சான்றுகளை ஏற்க மறுப்பார்கள். எனவே கடலடியில் அகழ்வாய்வு முயற்சிகள் நடந்தாகவேண்டும். கடலடியில் மூழ்கிய கப்பல் களைத் தேடி வந்துள்ளது மாந்த இனம். கடலடியில் நாகரிகங்களைத் தேடும் குறிக்கோளுடன் விரைந்து செயல்பட்டாக வேண்டும்.
கிரகாம் அன்காக் அவர்களும் சென்னையில் உள்ள தேசியக் கடலியல் நிறுவனத்தின் நீரில் மூழ்கித் தேடும் வல்லுநர்களும் இணைந்து பூம்புகார் அருகே கடலுக்குள் தேடிய பொழுது ஆங்கில U எழுத்து வடிவிலான கட்டிடங்களை 23 மீட்டர் ஆழத்தில் கரையில் இருந்து 5 கி.மீ. தூரத்தில் கண்டுபிடித்தனர். இந்நகரம் 11,000 ஆண்டுக்கு முன்பு மூழ்கி இருத்தல் வேண்டும் என்ற முடிவுக்கு அன்காக் வருகிறார். இது தொடக்கம், தொடர வேண்டிய பணியின் தொடக்கம். குமரிக் கண்டம் இருந்ததாக இலக்கியங்கள் கூறும் இந்துமாக்கடலில் எந்த ஆய்வும் தொடங்கப்படவில்லை. தொடங்கினால் மூழ்கித் தேடினால் தமிழர்தம் பழம் புகழை ஞாலமறிய முடியும்!
எத்தனை நாளுக்குத்தான் சிந்துவெளி ஆய்வுகளை மட்டுமே பேசிக் கொண்டிருப்பது? புதிய ஆய்வுகளுக்கு உலகின் பல நாடுகளும் பல்கலைக் கழகங்களும் ஆர்வம் காட்டும். ஊக்கமளிக்கும், ஆயின் அவர்களுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுப்பதும் அரசின் பங்களிப்பை உறுதி செய்வதும் நிலையான புகழெய்திட முத்தமிழ் அறிஞர்களுக்குக் கிடைத்த நல்வாய்ப்பாகும்?
முதல்வர் இருக்கையில் உள்ளபோதே குமரிக்கண்டம் பற்றி முதல்வர் சிந்திப்பாரா?

TAMIL EELAM WILL ONLY ENSURE LASTING PEACE

APPEAL TO ALL NATIONS TO SUPPORT

TAMIL EELAM INDEPENDENCE

The United Nations website categorically states that the Secretary-General is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them. And it is logical for Tamils spread across the globe to expect the Secretary General to be the spokesperson of the victims of a genocidal war in Srilanka, which sees no abating ever after it had consumed 70,000 lives.

The bleeding of the Tamil Eelam must end and like all other peace loving people's Eelam Tamils should live in peace in their homeland, the Indian Tamils expect everyday for the dawn of peace and pin their last hopes on the conscience of the member states of the United Nations and its Secretary General to voice support for the cause of independent Tamil Eelam.

In the developed world particularly Europe has twelve small states, five of which are islands or island groups. Monaco, a small urban enclave on the northern Mediterranean coast, is one of the most prosperous and best known of all small states. With just 32,000 permanent residents (8,000 of whom are citizens) and 500 acres of territory, Monaco is a sovereign state, its independence is somewhat limited, since its big neighbor, France, manages its foreign relations, postal services and defense, while the French franc has served as its official currency. When Monoco can be independent nation with restrictions, why not that option be given to Tamil Eelam, for argument sake, we are asking the world community. Though we wont support independence with restrictions as is the case of Monaco, why not even for debate sake no one proposes Monaca model to resolve Tamil Eelam struggle.

In addition to Monaco, the smaller European territories of this type are: the Principality of Liechtenstein (pop. 31,000), the semi-independent state lets of Andorra (pop. 64,000) and San Marino (pop. 24,000) and four British territories -- the Isle of Man (pop. 70,000), the Channel Islands (pop. 150,000), the Faeroe Islands (pop. 45,000), and Gibraltar (pop. 29,000) – as well as Vatican City State. With just 700 residents and 109 acres, the Vatican may be the only state in the world with a diplomatic corps larger than its resident population. When Vatican with such miniscule population is independent nation what is wrong in Tamil Eelam being independent nation ?

The Caribbean area has a number of small states, the majority islands. According to our adjusted World Bank figures there are 14 states and 15 territories in this class in the Caribbean region, ranging in size from Montserrat (pop. 6,400) to Trinidad and Tobago (pop. 1,300,000). Belize (pop. 236,000), Suriname (pop. 431,000), French Guiana (pop. 168,000) and Guyana (pop. 705,000) are all located on the mainland. Some of the better-known islands include Aruba (pop. 80,000), Barbados (pop. 257,000), the Bahamas (pop. 284,000), Martinique (pop. 412,00), and Grenada (pop. 94,500 ). If these tiny countries can be independent nations, what prevents all these countries from endorsing the right to independence to Tamil Eelam.

The Netherlands Antilles (pop. 208,000) is home of George Soros' famous Quantum hedge fund, while Bermuda (pop. 63,000) has recently become an important center for the global insurance industry. The tiny British self-governing territory of Cayman Islands (pop. 23,000) has risen to special prominence in recent decades.

The Pacific Ocean region has two dozen island states, ranging in size from Fiji (pop. 773,000) to tiny Tokelau, an atoll with just 1,700 residents. If with 1700 people an atoll be independent, why not Tamils of Eelam have their independent nation ? Some of the territories embrace hundreds of islands scattered over more than a thousand miles of ocean. The Indian Ocean is site of four large island groups, including the Maldives (pop. 245,000) and the Seychelles (pop. 79,000), as well as a number of other territories including the French island of Reunion (pop. 718,000). Among the smallest Pacific SSTs, Nauru (pop. 10,000) and Niue (2,100) have specialized in offshore finance, a field where newcomers can have an advantage.

Africa, too, has a number of SSTs – 12 states according to the World Bank count, including the islands of Cape Verde (pop. 416,000) and Sao Tome and Principe (pop.142, 000), coastal Djibouti (pop. 636,000) and continental Swaziland (pop. 969,000), as well as a number of territorial remnants of colonialism, like Ceuta (pop . 69,000) and Melilla (pop. 60,000), Spanish territories on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.

Asia, by contrast, has relatively few SSTs, many of which are quite prosperous. The island of Bahrain (pop. 629,000), peninsular Qatar (pop. 724,000), and coastal Brunei (pop. 323,000) are all petroleum-rich monarchies .

Thirty-two of the Commonwealth's 53 member countries are small states - mostly with populations of less than 1.5 million They range in size from micro-states such as St Kitts and Nevis, Nauru, Niue, and Tuvalu with less than 50,000 people each, to countries like Botswana, The Gambia and Mauritius.

The world's political map, dominated by large states, includes many lesser-known small states and territories. Using the World Bank benchmark of 1.5 million population, there are 56 small states, as well as more than a hundred small territories under the sovereign control of others. A substantial majority of these small political units are islands or island federations, like Fiji in the Pacific or Barbados in the Caribbean. But others are located on the continental mainlands, sometimes as coastal enclaves, like Monaco or Brunei, and sometimes as landlocked (often mountainous) territories, like Swaziland or Liechtenstein. A large number of the SSTs have emerged only recently from colonialism.

If this is the world scenario, Eelam can be independent, can sustain as independent nation, and its demand for independence does not lack logic. Hence Dravida Peravai appeals to all the member states of the United Nations to arrive at a consensus to extend support to the independent nation of Tamil Eelam. If it is true that the Secretary General is the spokesperson of the suppressed people we urge him to muster support for the cause of Independent Tamil Eelam among the member states of the United Nations.

We appeal to the following 192 Member States of the United Nations Organization.
ased on "Basics facts about the UN", DPI, 2004, and Press Release ORG/1469 of 3 July 2006 ]
SO MANY SMALL STATES HAVE INDEPENDENCE.WHAT IS WRONG WITH TAMIL EELAM GAINING INDEPENDENCE ?

We appeal to all the 192 countries in the list of United Nations, including the war mongering Srilankan state, to look at the list of independent states, which are having independence with very thin population. When whole world witnesses people everywhere being independent why Tamils of Eelam alone should live under Sinhalese colonialism and suppression. Let all in humanity render help to see the dawn of Tamil Eelam in 2007.

N.Nandhivarman

General Secretary Dravida Peravai, Puducherry 605001, India