Classical Tamil texts' edition to be printed this year end

Chennai, Aug 18 (UNI) Union Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh today said a set of critical edition of the classical Tamil texts are being given final shape and it would be printed by the end of this year.

Speaking at a function at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) here, he said a number of informative television episodes on classical Tamil would be produced before the end of this year.

''We will then get back to you, Mr Karunanidhi, to perhaps release them on the Thiruvalluvar Birthday on January 14 2008,'' he added.

''The Centre has agreed to the suggestion of Mr Karunanidhi and raised the amount for the National Award, which will be called the 'Tolkappiyar Award' from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh, apart from the two international Awards, which will be called the 'Kural Peetam' awards for which it will be raised from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh,'' he said.

''Similarly, it has been decided to select five young scholars for an award of Rs one lakh each.'' ''The desire of the people of Tamil Nadu to establish a CICT in the city during the 11th five year plan will now be fulfilled,'' he said, pointing out that the State Government had already taken the first step in this direction by allotting about 29 acres of land for setting up the institute.

Mr Singh said ''It has also been suggested that the institution, apart from undertaking research, should also teach so that more students could take up research on classical Tamil.'' ''Perhaps the Tamil Nadu Government can take steps to introduce paper on Classical Tamil at the Graduate and PG level courses,'' he suggested.

UNI