The Nithyananda Swamilavaru Foundation Endowment Lecture, organized by the Centre for Advanced Tamil Studies at Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, was held on Tuesday, bringing together students and faculty to celebrate the richness and enduring legacy of the Tamil language.
The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. C. Gayathri Devi, Head and Associate Professor of the Centre for Advanced Tamil Studies and the event coordinator. Dr. A. Ramasubbaiah, Principal of the college, presided over the function.
The event was attended by M. Vijayaraghavan, Chairman of the college; Er. S. Rajagopal, Honorary Chairman; Er. S.R. Sridhar, Secretary; and A. Azhwarsamy, Treasurer. The chief guest was introduced by Dr. S. Muniyasamy, Assistant Professor.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. S. Naganathan, Principal (In-charge) of Ramasamy Tamil College, Karaikudi, spoke on the topic "Tamil That Withstands the Test of Time." He emphasized that Tamil, recognized as a classical language, possesses a profound history and cultural heritage that has endured for centuries and influenced linguistic and cultural exchanges across the world.
He highlighted the significance of the Tolkappiyam, describing it not merely as a grammatical treatise but as a comprehensive record of ancient Tamil society, literature, culture, and way of life. He also explained how Sangam literature vividly portrays human emotions such as love, courage, generosity, friendship, and separation while capturing the beauty of nature and everyday life.
Dr. Naganathan noted that literary collections such as the Ettuthokai and Pathuppattu stand as enduring testimonies to Tamil's poetic excellence and linguistic richness. He stressed that despite this invaluable literary heritage, preserving and promoting Tamil in the modern era remains a collective responsibility.
Expressing concern over the declining use of Tamil among younger generations, he urged students to actively learn, use, and create in Tamil. He emphasized that Tamil is not merely a language but a culture, a history, and a way of life, and called upon everyone to preserve its legacy while encouraging its relevance in the contemporary world.
Concluding his address, he appealed to students to study Tamil deeply, contribute to its literary growth, and ensure that the language continues to flourish. He ended with the message, "Long live Tamil! May Tamil continue to prosper!"
A total of 254 students participated in the lecture and benefited from the interaction.
The vote of thanks was delivered by V. Kanimozhi, a second-year Economics student, while Subiksha Devi, a second-year Commerce student, compered the programme.
Faculty members Dr. K. Devi Bhooma, Dr. T. Mallika, and Dr. P. Thirugnanasambandam from the Centre for Advanced Tamil Studies also participated in the event. Research scholars V. Monika Yazhini, P. Suresh, and S. Sowmiya were among those present.
The programme concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem.