http://rajbhasha.nic.in/dolruleseng.htm
Official languages rule, 1976 !
(ii) They shall extend to the whole of India, except the State of Tamilnadu.
How the rule is broken:
http://coal.nic.in/ann0304chap16.pdfhttp://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN012136.pdfhttp://mohfw.nic.in/kk/95/id/95id0101.htmhttp://envfor.nic.in/report/0203/chap-12.htm#12-9
The percentage of work being done in Hindi during the period in the Ministry was:
61% in Region ‘A’
46% in Region ‘B’
34% in Region ‘C’.
Region c denotes states like TN where hindi is not so popular. Communications in a central govt institute within these regions are "stipulated to be in hindi". In this case out of every 100 documents/letter, 34 has to be in hindi.
Some innovative imposition schemes by the central govt.http://chemicals.nic.in/annrep03-04.pdf
Section 7 of this document talks about hindi propagation - use about 20,000 words in hindi and win cash prize !
http://steel.nic.in/Annual%20Report%20(2002-03)/Chapter%20XV.pdf
http://www.geocities.com/tamiltribune/02/0501.html
Sections of the Ministries/Departments where entire work to be done in Hindi - Minimum 7 Sections.
Originating Correspondence in Hindi (including Telegrams, Wireless, Telex, Fax, Drawings etc.)From C to C 55%From Region C to Offices/ individuals in States/UTs of A & B region 85%
More:
http://rajbhasha.nic.in/annualeng.htm
FOR C-region:Originating Correspondence in Hindi (including Telegrams, Wireless, Telex, Fax, Drawings , E-mails etc. ) From C to A 55%From C to B 55%From C to C 55%Sections of the Ministries/Departments where entire work to be done in Hindi - Minimum 08 Sections.
The above is for C-regions that includes places like TN, WB. This also includes communication within a state in the c-region, like from Madras to Trichy. Now, why should they (non-hindi regions) communicate within their own regions in an alien language ?
(D) Hindi Typist / Stenographer - Minimum one in each office. Indirect means of job creation for the hindi ppl.
(E) Arrangement of Interpreters - Arrangements of interpreters from local language in Hindi & vice-versa should be made in every Mission/ Embassey.
Crap - why would someone wanna have an interpreters for local language (say, chinese to hindi ???) in Indian consulate in China ?
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Economic Discrimination
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/12/23/stories/2004122304681200.htm
The AIADMK member, S. Gokula Indira, today raised in the Rajya Sabha the ``plight'' of non-Hindi speaking candidates appearing for Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations.
Speaking during Special Mentions, Ms. Indira said the new system, introduced in 1999, required candidates to answer descriptive questions either in English or Hindi. ``Because of this medium bias, 95 per cent of the candidates who secure appointments hail from Hindi-speaking States,'' she said, adding that more candidates from non-Hindi speaking areas would qualify if they were given the choice of writing their examinations in their mother tongue.
The above article is just a simple example of how the non hindi speaking people are being deprived of opportunities for jobs.
The AIADMK member, S. Gokula Indira, today raised in the Rajya Sabha the ``plight'' of non-Hindi speaking candidates appearing for Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations.
Speaking during Special Mentions, Ms. Indira said the new system, introduced in 1999, required candidates to answer descriptive questions either in English or Hindi. ``Because of this medium bias, 95 per cent of the candidates who secure appointments hail from Hindi-speaking States,'' she said, adding that more candidates from non-Hindi speaking areas would qualify if they were given the choice of writing their examinations in their mother tongue.
The above article is just a simple example of how the non hindi speaking people are being deprived of opportunities for jobs.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
மனு
http://tsivaram.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post_24.html
சிவா, லொடுக்கு, வல்லி, கொத்தனார், அறியாதவன், ஜி, கீதா, பொன்ஸ், கவிதா, இம்சை அரசி, கதிர், vsk, சந்தோஷ், மை ப்ரண்ட், சியாம், அருண், உங்கள் கேள்வி/கமண்ட்ஸ்க்கு மனுவை எழுதியவன் என்ற முறையில் என்னோட பதில்:
ஐ.நா மொழிகள் பற்றிய உங்கள் கருத்து உண்மையே. ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழியாக இந்தி பயண்ப்படுத்தப்படுவது குறைவாகவே இருக்கும்.
ஆனால், இது ஆட்சி மொழி என்ற நிலையை மட்டும் எதிர்த்து கொண்டுவரப்பட்ட மனு அல்ல என்பதை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/india-does-not-have-national-language.
இந்தியாவில் முதலில் தமிழ் மற்றும் பிற மொழிகளுக்கும், இந்திக்கு அளிக்கப்படும் அதே அளவு $$$ அளிக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து.
சரி, அப்போ அதை எதிர்த்து மனுப் போட வேண்டியது தானே, ஏன் ஐ.நா மொழியாக இந்தி உயர்வதை எதிர்த்து மனு என்ற கேள்வி வரும்.
1) ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழியாக இந்தி மாறினால், இந்தியா என்றால் இந்தி, இந்தி என்றால் இந்தியா என்ற நிலமை உலகத்தில் உருவாகும்.
2)இப்போதே, தமிழுக்கு இந்தியாவில் என்ன நிலமை என்று இதில் விளக்கியுள்ளேன்.
http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/tamil-vs-sanskrit-discrimination-aட்.html http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2007/03/tamil-tn-high-court-language.html
3) 1965 ல், இந்தியா முழுவதும், ஆங்கிலத்தை அகற்றி விட்டு இந்தியை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும் என்று கூறியவர்கள், இந்தி ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழி என்ற நிலை வந்தப்பின், இந்தியா முழுவதும் இந்தி அவசியமாக கற்ப்பிக்க வேண்டும் என்று கூறுவார்கள்.http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/articles-on-1965-hindi-imposition.html
4) உலக நாடுகளில் நடக்க கூடிய மொழி மற்றும் மொழி சார்ந்த நிகழ்ச்சிகளில், இந்திக்கு மட்டுமே முக்கியத்துவம் இருக்கும். அதற்க்கு கிடைக்க கூடிய $$$, உலக அரங்கில பெயர் பிற மொழிகளுக்கு கிடைக்காது. சரி, கிடைத்தால் என்ன என்று என்னுபவர்கள், இதனை மனதில் கொள்ள வேண்டும்:
ஐ.நா என்பது, "நாடுகளின் கூட்டமைப்பு". இதில், இந்திய அரசு சொல்லும் மொழிதான் ஆட்சி மொழியாக வாய்ப்பு உண்டு. தமிழக அரசு சொல்லும் மொழி ஆட்சி மொழி ஆக வாய்ப்பே இல்லை. தமிழக அரசு தமிழுக்காக குறள்க் கொடுத்தாலும், மத்திய அரசு அதை ஆதரிக்காது. அப்படி ஆதரித்தால் பிற மொழிகளும் தமிழுக்கு இனையான நிலயை கேட்கும் என்று காரணம் சொல்லும். மத்திய அரசு தமிழ் மொழியை ஆதரிக்காதப் போது, ஐ.நா வில், தமிழ் மொழி இடம் பெற வாய்ப்பே இல்லை. போட்டியில் தோற்றால் பிரச்சனை இல்லை, ஆனால் போட்டியில் பங்கு பெறவே இந்திய அரசு தடையாக இருக்கும் போது, எப்படி அது நியாயமான போட்டி ஆகும் ???
எப்படி, இந்திக்கு இவ்வளவு மவுசு இந்தியாவில் ?இதற்க்கும் காரணம் உண்டு.இதைப் படிக்கவும்:http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2007_02_04_archive.html
Even in 1965, when the literacy rate was a paltry 24 % and when we were importing 2 shiploads of wheat/day to barely survive the govt spent 2.1 Million US dollars for hindi propagation. This was the time when shashtri gave the famous call for fellow Indians to skip one meal a day since we were short on food supplies - this is the best possible example of "forceful imposition / usurping common resources for the benefit of a single language"
To spread Hindi, the government is spending $2,100,000 this year. - this is in 1965 !!!http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839158,00.html
இந்த மாதிரி, ஒரு மொழிக்கு மட்டும் செலவு செய்வதனால் தான் இந்த நிலை. இது மாற வேண்டும், பிற மொழிகளுக்கும் மத்திய அரசு $$$ செலவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து.
நான், இந்த மனுவை எழுதும் போது, மேலே கூறியவற்றை மனதில் வைத்து கொண்டு எழுதினேன்.மொழி பிரச்சனை பற்றி மேலும் படிக்க இந்த பதிவு: http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/
இந்தியாவில் முதலில் தமிழுக்கு நல்ல நிலைக் கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து. இப்போது, இந்தி ஐ.நா ஆட்சி மொழியாக வருவதை எதிர்ப்பதன் மூலம், தமிழ்/தமிழர்களுக்கு உலகள்வில்/இந்தியாவில் ஒரு குறள்க் கிடைக்கும் என்பதும் என் நம்பிக்கை.
நான் ஏதாவது கேள்விக்கு பதில் அளிக்கவில்லை என்றால், திரும்ப கேட்கவும். விறைவில் அதற்கும் பதில் அளிப்பேன்.
நன்றி.
சிவா, லொடுக்கு, வல்லி, கொத்தனார், அறியாதவன், ஜி, கீதா, பொன்ஸ், கவிதா, இம்சை அரசி, கதிர், vsk, சந்தோஷ், மை ப்ரண்ட், சியாம், அருண், உங்கள் கேள்வி/கமண்ட்ஸ்க்கு மனுவை எழுதியவன் என்ற முறையில் என்னோட பதில்:
ஐ.நா மொழிகள் பற்றிய உங்கள் கருத்து உண்மையே. ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழியாக இந்தி பயண்ப்படுத்தப்படுவது குறைவாகவே இருக்கும்.
ஆனால், இது ஆட்சி மொழி என்ற நிலையை மட்டும் எதிர்த்து கொண்டுவரப்பட்ட மனு அல்ல என்பதை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/india-does-not-have-national-language.
இந்தியாவில் முதலில் தமிழ் மற்றும் பிற மொழிகளுக்கும், இந்திக்கு அளிக்கப்படும் அதே அளவு $$$ அளிக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து.
சரி, அப்போ அதை எதிர்த்து மனுப் போட வேண்டியது தானே, ஏன் ஐ.நா மொழியாக இந்தி உயர்வதை எதிர்த்து மனு என்ற கேள்வி வரும்.
1) ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழியாக இந்தி மாறினால், இந்தியா என்றால் இந்தி, இந்தி என்றால் இந்தியா என்ற நிலமை உலகத்தில் உருவாகும்.
2)இப்போதே, தமிழுக்கு இந்தியாவில் என்ன நிலமை என்று இதில் விளக்கியுள்ளேன்.
http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/tamil-vs-sanskrit-discrimination-aட்.html http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2007/03/tamil-tn-high-court-language.html
3) 1965 ல், இந்தியா முழுவதும், ஆங்கிலத்தை அகற்றி விட்டு இந்தியை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும் என்று கூறியவர்கள், இந்தி ஐ.நா வின் ஆட்சி மொழி என்ற நிலை வந்தப்பின், இந்தியா முழுவதும் இந்தி அவசியமாக கற்ப்பிக்க வேண்டும் என்று கூறுவார்கள்.http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2006/12/articles-on-1965-hindi-imposition.html
4) உலக நாடுகளில் நடக்க கூடிய மொழி மற்றும் மொழி சார்ந்த நிகழ்ச்சிகளில், இந்திக்கு மட்டுமே முக்கியத்துவம் இருக்கும். அதற்க்கு கிடைக்க கூடிய $$$, உலக அரங்கில பெயர் பிற மொழிகளுக்கு கிடைக்காது. சரி, கிடைத்தால் என்ன என்று என்னுபவர்கள், இதனை மனதில் கொள்ள வேண்டும்:
ஐ.நா என்பது, "நாடுகளின் கூட்டமைப்பு". இதில், இந்திய அரசு சொல்லும் மொழிதான் ஆட்சி மொழியாக வாய்ப்பு உண்டு. தமிழக அரசு சொல்லும் மொழி ஆட்சி மொழி ஆக வாய்ப்பே இல்லை. தமிழக அரசு தமிழுக்காக குறள்க் கொடுத்தாலும், மத்திய அரசு அதை ஆதரிக்காது. அப்படி ஆதரித்தால் பிற மொழிகளும் தமிழுக்கு இனையான நிலயை கேட்கும் என்று காரணம் சொல்லும். மத்திய அரசு தமிழ் மொழியை ஆதரிக்காதப் போது, ஐ.நா வில், தமிழ் மொழி இடம் பெற வாய்ப்பே இல்லை. போட்டியில் தோற்றால் பிரச்சனை இல்லை, ஆனால் போட்டியில் பங்கு பெறவே இந்திய அரசு தடையாக இருக்கும் போது, எப்படி அது நியாயமான போட்டி ஆகும் ???
எப்படி, இந்திக்கு இவ்வளவு மவுசு இந்தியாவில் ?இதற்க்கும் காரணம் உண்டு.இதைப் படிக்கவும்:http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/2007_02_04_archive.html
Even in 1965, when the literacy rate was a paltry 24 % and when we were importing 2 shiploads of wheat/day to barely survive the govt spent 2.1 Million US dollars for hindi propagation. This was the time when shashtri gave the famous call for fellow Indians to skip one meal a day since we were short on food supplies - this is the best possible example of "forceful imposition / usurping common resources for the benefit of a single language"
To spread Hindi, the government is spending $2,100,000 this year. - this is in 1965 !!!http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839158,00.html
இந்த மாதிரி, ஒரு மொழிக்கு மட்டும் செலவு செய்வதனால் தான் இந்த நிலை. இது மாற வேண்டும், பிற மொழிகளுக்கும் மத்திய அரசு $$$ செலவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து.
நான், இந்த மனுவை எழுதும் போது, மேலே கூறியவற்றை மனதில் வைத்து கொண்டு எழுதினேன்.மொழி பிரச்சனை பற்றி மேலும் படிக்க இந்த பதிவு: http://vetri-vel.blogspot.com/
இந்தியாவில் முதலில் தமிழுக்கு நல்ல நிலைக் கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என்பது என் கருத்து. இப்போது, இந்தி ஐ.நா ஆட்சி மொழியாக வருவதை எதிர்ப்பதன் மூலம், தமிழ்/தமிழர்களுக்கு உலகள்வில்/இந்தியாவில் ஒரு குறள்க் கிடைக்கும் என்பதும் என் நம்பிக்கை.
நான் ஏதாவது கேள்விக்கு பதில் அளிக்கவில்லை என்றால், திரும்ப கேட்கவும். விறைவில் அதற்கும் பதில் அளிப்பேன்.
நன்றி.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Tamil - TN High Court Language
Article 348, Constitution of India:
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the Governor _304*** of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of the Hindi language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State:Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any judgment, decree or order passed or made by such High Court. Source:http://astsun.astro.virginia.edu/~sk4zw/india-const/p17348.html
1) As seen in the above link from the constitution of India, it is legal to introduce an "Official Language" of a state(Tamil in TN) as a "High Court Language" of that state.
2) Tamil would be used along with English - the intention is NOT to replace English.
3) If the Judge is NOT comfortable with Tamil, he can choose English.
4) States like Bihar, Rajasthan, UP, MP use one of their "Official Language" - Hindi as an "High Court Language" along with English.
5) In TN, 87 % of the population has Tamil as Mother Tongue. Of the remaining 13 % a significant number would be fluent in Tamil. This move would enable the "Tamil-literate/English Illiterate population to follow the proceedings of the High Court.
More Info:
Karunanidhi stands firm on Tamil in High Court:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-clause (a) of clause (1), the Governor _304*** of a State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of the Hindi language, or any other language used for any official purposes of the State, in proceedings in the High Court having its principal seat in that State:Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any judgment, decree or order passed or made by such High Court. Source:http://astsun.astro.virginia.edu/~sk4zw/india-const/p17348.html
1) As seen in the above link from the constitution of India, it is legal to introduce an "Official Language" of a state(Tamil in TN) as a "High Court Language" of that state.
2) Tamil would be used along with English - the intention is NOT to replace English.
3) If the Judge is NOT comfortable with Tamil, he can choose English.
4) States like Bihar, Rajasthan, UP, MP use one of their "Official Language" - Hindi as an "High Court Language" along with English.
5) In TN, 87 % of the population has Tamil as Mother Tongue. Of the remaining 13 % a significant number would be fluent in Tamil. This move would enable the "Tamil-literate/English Illiterate population to follow the proceedings of the High Court.
More Info:
Karunanidhi stands firm on Tamil in High Court:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/12/stories/2007031205180100.htm
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Unravelling the Myths - VI
9) Southies need to be thankful that the northies are NOT forcing hindi.
First, Southies are NOT immigrants in India - their ancestors have ruled the land that can be to some extent associated with present day linguistic states. For example, TN associated with places where the Tamil kingdoms, Chola, Chera, Pandyan, Pallavas ruled.
Second, southies, if they move up north, they have picked up the language of that region and they expect the same from the northies when they move down south.
Third, India is NOT like France or Germany or Britain - its more like the European Union. - that is also why it is called the Indian union. What you are saying is like asking the French to speak English in France for the sake of numbers of english.
Fourth, northies do tend to "force" their language or hindi on southies and also on fellow northies wherever they go or some are like you - trying to act as if they are doing a favour by NOT forcing their language on others - which aint a favour by any means.
Fifth, even now, the govt spends around 100 crores a year for hindi evangelization and the rest of the languages combined together get less than 10 crores for their development - which is lopsided and biased to say the least.
Even in 1965, when the literacy rate was a paltry 24 % and when we were importing 2 shiploads of wheat/day to barely survive the govt spent 2.1 Million US dollars for hindi propagation. This was the time when shashtri gave the famous call for fellow Indians to skip one meal a day since we were short on food supplies - this is the best possible example of "forceful imposition / usurping common resources for the benefit of a single language"
To spread Hindi, the government is spending $2,100,000 this year. - this is in 1965 !!!
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839158,00.htm
First, Southies are NOT immigrants in India - their ancestors have ruled the land that can be to some extent associated with present day linguistic states. For example, TN associated with places where the Tamil kingdoms, Chola, Chera, Pandyan, Pallavas ruled.
Second, southies, if they move up north, they have picked up the language of that region and they expect the same from the northies when they move down south.
Third, India is NOT like France or Germany or Britain - its more like the European Union. - that is also why it is called the Indian union. What you are saying is like asking the French to speak English in France for the sake of numbers of english.
Fourth, northies do tend to "force" their language or hindi on southies and also on fellow northies wherever they go or some are like you - trying to act as if they are doing a favour by NOT forcing their language on others - which aint a favour by any means.
Fifth, even now, the govt spends around 100 crores a year for hindi evangelization and the rest of the languages combined together get less than 10 crores for their development - which is lopsided and biased to say the least.
Even in 1965, when the literacy rate was a paltry 24 % and when we were importing 2 shiploads of wheat/day to barely survive the govt spent 2.1 Million US dollars for hindi propagation. This was the time when shashtri gave the famous call for fellow Indians to skip one meal a day since we were short on food supplies - this is the best possible example of "forceful imposition / usurping common resources for the benefit of a single language"
To spread Hindi, the government is spending $2,100,000 this year. - this is in 1965 !!!
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic
Friday, February 9, 2007
Future !
Most tend to see this as “allowing a language”.
This is NOT as simple as it seems !!!
1) Suppose if we do NOT question the “unbalanced/biased” allocation of funds favoring one language, then hindi will develop its technical and other vocabulary to meet the future demands BUT our language will be stagnant.
2) As we all know, anyone/language that fails to evolve would eventually DIE.
3) One of the reasons , English is dominating is because of its ability to absorb other words and evolve.
4) The central govt spends 100 crores/ year to bring this technical evolution and development to Hindi BUT it NEGLECTS other languages.
Which means, over a few decades, our language will LAG behind hindi in terms of Technical background and any language which lacks this would eventually wither away and Tamil would face such a situation unless there is some serious funding to develop its “vocabulary/language” with the evolving Techie world.
Fortunately, there are many Tamils who do this, One of the major irony is that the Sri Lankan Tamils dominate in bringing Tamil to the web and internet BUT we eventhough majority in number fail to promote Tamil.
The very anti-Tamil riots in SL that chased them away to other countries enables them to be in touch with technology and also develop Tamil while we from TN contribute comparatively lesser even when we have the luxury of a "stable/war-free life" !!!
This is NOT as simple as it seems !!!
1) Suppose if we do NOT question the “unbalanced/biased” allocation of funds favoring one language, then hindi will develop its technical and other vocabulary to meet the future demands BUT our language will be stagnant.
2) As we all know, anyone/language that fails to evolve would eventually DIE.
3) One of the reasons , English is dominating is because of its ability to absorb other words and evolve.
4) The central govt spends 100 crores/ year to bring this technical evolution and development to Hindi BUT it NEGLECTS other languages.
Which means, over a few decades, our language will LAG behind hindi in terms of Technical background and any language which lacks this would eventually wither away and Tamil would face such a situation unless there is some serious funding to develop its “vocabulary/language” with the evolving Techie world.
Fortunately, there are many Tamils who do this, One of the major irony is that the Sri Lankan Tamils dominate in bringing Tamil to the web and internet BUT we eventhough majority in number fail to promote Tamil.
The very anti-Tamil riots in SL that chased them away to other countries enables them to be in touch with technology and also develop Tamil while we from TN contribute comparatively lesser even when we have the luxury of a "stable/war-free life" !!!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tamil Women in Tamil society, Early 1900s - Part 3
Neelambikai Ammaiyar and Her Works:
This is the third part giving a brief introduction to the role of women during the colonial times, specifically the early 1900s in the Tamil society. This part specifically deals with the works of Neelambikai Ammaiyar whose works survived the various direct and indirect attempts to suppress the works of women folk which were blatant acts of opposing the entrenched social structure.
Neelambikai Ammaiyar’s writings survived the overt and covert social cleansing. Sarada Nambiarooran, grand niece of Neelambikai chronicled Neelambikai’s writings as “Neelambikai Ammaiyarin Padaipugalil Samuga Chintanaikal”. Her works involved the translation and incorporation of literary works of Thiruvaasagam, Thevaram, writings of Ramalinga Adigal and also Periyar and thus was an amalgam of freedom movement, Tani Thamizh Iyakkam, Religious and Atheist work, a wide spectrum indeed. Her work also extended to English, she compiled a book ‘Six hundred parallel proverbs” in Tamil-English in 1931. Neelambikai’s works were influenced by Subbulaksmi and Panditai Krishnaveni who guided her through her home-schooling years. She was the daughter of Vedachalam Pillai who later changed his name to Maraimalai Adigal. She also contributed to the Tani Thamizh Iyakkam with many of her works like the Tamil/Sanskrit dictionary (Vadatchol-Tamil Agara Varisai) which was an effort to provide Tamil equivalent terms of Sanskrit words. “Thamizhil Vadamizhi Kalakkal Aagadu” was one of her seminal essays.
Neelambikai Ammaiyar’s works were also influenced by Elizabeth Browning and Stowe, specifically by Stowe’s work that was a factual report of the escape of a slave, Dred Scott. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is also subjected to a sympathetic handling in her biography. “Navalanteevin Pazhaiya Kudigal” (The ancient inhabitants of navalan island) is a work questioning the definition of cultural superiority as defined by the attitude to classify the “dasyus” and “meat-eating tribes’ as barbarians in Sanskrit scriptures. “Thamizh Nadum, Thamizhum Munneruvadu Eppadi” (How Tamil Nadu and Tamil can develop) is a book with her ideas for the improvement of the Tamil society in general.
While some of her works appreciated the women who stepped away from the traditional role of women in a patriarchal society and took up challenging roles, she also mothered thirteen children in fifteen years of married life. This personal ambiguity also shows up in her works. Apart from works that promoted and praised women who stepped over the traditional feminine social boundaries, she wrote “Muppennmanigal Varalaru” (Three-women’s history). This work talks about hagiographies of three women, two of whom belong to the Savaite Nayanar Pantheon. Karaikal Ammaiyar and Mangayarkarasiyar were chaste wives who possessed enormous spiritual powers. The third woman was Tilakavatiyar who undertook voluntary widowhood when her betrothed passed away. In the introduction to this book, Neelambikai Ammaiyar emphasizes that women should be given a spiritual outlook in life.
“Penmakkalin Arivum Aanmayum” (Women’s Intellect and Masculinity/Courage”) was one of her important works that questioned the established standards in the society of those days. In her work the word “Aanmai” denoting masculinity (aan is Tamil for Man) was used to represent “courage” common to man and woman instead of just a “manly character”. She used the old Tamil literary work “Tolkappiyam” in which “Aanmai” was used as a common term for courage commonly used for both the sexes as an example to promote “aanmai” among women.
Ironically she believed that widows over the age of twenty should not marry again while promoting re-marriage in the case of child widows. She gave birth to thirteen kids, eleven of whom survived during fifteen years of married life. Neelambikai Ammaiyar died in 1945 at the age of 42 during childbirth.
Neelambikai Ammaiyar’s life can be considered to be a pretty good example of the various women who challenged the patriarchal society during the freedom struggle, Tani Thamizh Iyakkam and other Dravidian Movements. A complex amalgam of interests and culture influenced and directed their ideas. Nevertheless, their contribution was important in mobilizing the women and uprooting entrenched ideas of female subjugation.
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