Tamil language committee marks 15 years with book
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Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran, seen here with Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee chairman and MP Vikram Nair (right), lighting a lamp at the launch of the book Naavil Thamizh Naalum Thamizh (Speak Tamil, Speak It Every Day) yesterday.
PHOTO: TLLPC MOE/YOUTUBE
Sivakami Arunachalam
Mr Manogaran Suppiah, 61, learnt Tamil only from a tutor at home for three years when he was in primary school.
But that did not deter the Anderson Serangoon Junior College principal and chairman of the Tamil Language Council from honing his interest in the language.
Today, he believes the language has a more vibrant future here, thanks to the efforts of a high-level committee. His views, and that of other educators and community leaders, are featured in a book published by the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC) to mark its 15th year.
Titled Naavil Thamizh Naalum Thamizh (Speak Tamil, Speak It Every Day), the book was launched at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre near Bendemeer yesterday by Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran, who chaired the TLLPC from 2006 to 2016. Also at the event was TLLPC chairman Vikram Nair, who is also an MP for Sembawang GRC.
The book includes a foreword by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and highlights the work of educators, youth and the community, through interviews. It also details future plans of the TLLPC.
Speaking at the event which was live-streamed, Mr Iswaran said that for Tamil to continue thriving as a living language in Singapore, lessons for students should be designed impactfully to cultivate a lifelong love for it.
He added that the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education to introduce Higher Tamil language in Primary 3 and 4 will also create opportunities for pupils to sharpen their language proficiency and deepen their understanding from a young age.
Said senior teacher Baskaran Ganga, 47, from Chua Chu Kang Secondary: "I am very proud of 15 years of TLLPC. The Government provides us huge financial support to run programmes for students."
The book launch also included cultural and dance performances and a poetry recital by student Ahila Anbazhagan, 17, from Yishun Innova Junior College.
She said: "Youth must start speaking Tamil from home as practice makes perfect, and cultivate a habit of reading literature books. It is extremely important to speak Tamil as it is an aspect of our identity in a multiracial country."
