DRAFT PROPOSAL
(subject to alterations and deletions)
THIRUKKURAL
AWARENESS WEEK
26th
July to 1st August 2019
Objective
To increase the awareness of the morals,
ethos, values and culture embedded in the 2050 year old intellectual master
piece, the all-faith embracing Thirukkural towards betterment and enhancement
of the social, cultural and philosophical civilisation of Sri Lanka.
Material
Thirukkural carries 1330 two lined verses in
simple and comprehendible Tamil language under 133 chapters in 3 cantos.
Composed by the Tamil scholarly poet Thiruvalluvar, 2050 years ago, during the
era of Vattagamini of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, has now been translated to more
than 82 languages, with 57 versions available in English. Translations are in
Assamese, Burmese, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Fiji, Finnish, French,
German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Latin, Malay, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi,
Polish, Rajasthani, Russian, Sanskrit, Saurastra, Sinhalese, Swedish, Telugu
and Urdu.
Three translations are available in Sinhalese.
1. Thirukural in Sinhalese by Sissigamy
Govokgada, M., Colombo, 1961; 2. Sirigiya (Thirukural in Sinhalese) by De
Silva, Charles, Colombo, 1964 and 3. Jiwithaya hada wenna thirukkural kiyawanna
by Wajira Prabath Wijayasinghe, Godage, Colombo, 2015.
Thousands of Tamil scholars have
rendered interpretations to Thirukkural through many centuries. Musicians,
dancers, dramatists, cinematographers, painters, sculptors and other artists
have rendered Thirukkural in their respective artistic forms.
Jaffna Kingdom of the Arya
Chakravarthis happened to be the repository of the thousands of palm leaf manuscripts
on Thirukkural (apart from other literature) during the atrocious south Indian
invasion of Malik Kaffoor, the Marshal of Delhi Sultan Allaudin Kilji during
1309 to 1370 CE.
Two significant memorials are in
Tamil Nadu. One is a mandapam in Chennai, with Thiruvalluvar statue in a
granite chariot and all the 1330 verses inscribed in the granite walls. The
other is a 133 feet tall granite statue for Thiruvalluvar at the southernmost
land-end of the Indian sub-continent at Kanyakumari.
I had the privilege of importing
16 statues (each 8 feet tall) of Thiruvalluvar as a gift from VGP International
Association, its president V G Santhosam, to be installed in 16 districts of Sri
Lanka with the active support of the Ministry of Education through its then
Minister of State, Hon S. Radhakrishnan.
12
point Work Plan
1.
Publications.
1.1 A pocket size edition of the
text of original Tamil verses to be provided to Tamil students at the 8th
year level.
1.2A Singhalese edition with Tamil original to be provided to all
libraries in schools and local councils in the island.
1.3 A colour portrait of Thiruvalluvar to be provided for display
in all schools of the island.
2.
Statues
25 statues of Thiruvalluvar to
be made in fibre-glass to be provided to 25 schools, one in each of the 25
districts in Sri Lanka. Mr. V G Santhoasam will support.
3.
Competitions in 1. memorising,
2. essay writing, 3. oratory at 3 levels among all Tamil students in Sri Lanka,
at 3 age levels, under 10, 10 to 14 and 14 to 18 with prizes for the first
three at Educational zones, at district and at national levels. Certificates at
zonal level and certificates plus 25 gold medals, 25 silver medals and 25
bronze medals as prizes at district levels. National winners will in addition
to medals a tour of the places of interest of Thiruvalluvar in Sri Lanka and
India.
4.
Five male and five
female scholars specialising in Thirukkural be identified for awards at
national level.
5.
An exhibition on
Thirukkural to be organised during the week in the major cities where functions
are to be held. Support to be sought from Government of Tamil Nadu in
organising the exhibition.
6.
Each evening during the
week to have musicians, dancers and dramatists to perform on Thirukkural.
Support to be sought from Government of Tamil Nadu in organising the art
events.
7.
Tamil departments in
every University in Sri Lanka to organise seminars in their campuses on
Thirukkural during two days of the awareness week, with emphasis on Sinhala
scholastic participation. Proceedings of the seminars to be filtered, edited
for later publication.
8.
All the 400 plus
divisional secretaries, 25 district secretaries, all local council secretaries
to observe Thiirukkural week by organising a lecture meeting on Thirukkural at
their respective offices.
9.
In major cities of Tamil
presence, during one day of the week, there shall be 10 to 15 km long procession
parading elephants carrying Thirukkural on its back preceded by performing
Kandyan dancers and folk dancers.
10.
In major cities of Tamil presence, the Tamil
Sangams to organise, paddi mantram, kavi arangam and similar scholastic
manifestation on Thirukkural. Scholars form Tamil Nadu also to participate.
Tamil Nadu Government to support by providing orators who could keep the
audience in spell bound attention.
11.
In major cities of Tamil presence, seven
public meetings, with orators and cinema actors participating. Tamil Nadu
Government to support. Each function to end with fireworks display. HE
President to be at the grand finale of the week in one of the seven cities or
for the inauguration in one city and the grand finale in another city.
12.
The weeklong event to be followed by an
announcement of competitions in 1. memorising, 2. essay writing, 3. oratory at
3 levels among all Sinhalese students in Sri Lanka, at 3 age levels, under 10,
10 to 14 and 14 to 18 with prizes for the first three at Educational zones, at
district and at national levels. Certificates at zonal level and certificates
plus 25 gold medals, 25 silver medals and 25 bronze medals as prizes at
district levels. National winners will in addition to medals a tour of the
places of interest of Thiruvalluvar in Sri Lanka and India.
Methodology
1.
National Coordinator with
programing cum monitoring group
2.
Communication with Tamil
Nadu government for support (mostly gratis) for 1. Exhibition, 2. Artists, 3.
Fireworks display, 4. Scholarly orators for public meetings, patti mantrams and
Kavi arangams.
3.
Communication with Mr.
V. G. Santhosam for the supply (mostly gift) of 25 statues.
4.
Implementation oriented
conclave of Tamil Sangams.
5.
Implementation oriented
conclave of Heads of Departments of Tamil in Universities
6.
Implementation oriented
conclave of the Provincial Governors.
7.
Implementation oriented
conclave of the 25 District Secretaries.
8.
Implementation oriented
conclave of Provincial Education Ministry Secretaries and / or Directors of
Education.
9.
Implementation oriented
conclave of Provincial Cultural Ministry Secretaries related to cultural
programs and procession plans.
10.
Implementation oriented conclave of elephant parade
organisers.
11.
Implementation oriented conclave of selected
Sinhala and Tamil Publishers.
12.
Financial allocations / Media Publicity
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