Home » Tamil Nadu » Tamil Nadu Budget Lays Special Emphasis On Development Of Tamil Language And Culture

Tamil Nadu Budget lays special emphasis on development of Tamil language and culture

The Minister announced translation of two Tamil literary epics, 'Silappathikaram' and 'Manimegalai', into 25 Indian and foreign languages.

BySouth First Desk

Published Feb 19, 2024 | 3:42 PM ⚊UpdatedFeb 19, 2024 | 3:51 PM

Tamil Nadu Budget lays special emphasis on development of Tamil language and culture

Tamil Nadu FM presenting budget. (Supplied)

The Tamil Nadu Budget for 2024-25, presented on Monday, 19 February unveiled a series of initiatives to foster the development of and global recognition for Tamil language and culture.

The government announced a significant allocation of ₹2 crore for translating two pivotal Tamil literary epics, Silappathikaram and Manimegalai, into 25 Indian and foreign languages.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu emphasised, “These epics elaborate on the cultural traditions and social tenets of the Tamil community, including unity, integrity, citizen rights, excellence in trade, communal harmony, hunger eradication, and feminism.”

Other allocations

The following are the other allocations for the development of Tamil language and culture:

The Tamil Digital Library, boasting over 90,000 books, periodicals, and rare publications, will undergo a digitisation project costing ₹2 crore.
An allocation of ₹5 crore will enable start-ups to develop Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models based on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
₹2 crore to document and preserve the Saurashtra and Baduga languages, along with linguistic resources and phonetic forms of various tribes in Tamil Nadu.
The government has allocated ₹5 crore for archaeological excavations in eight locations across Tamil Nadu, along with exploration in key sites outside the state.
An open-air museum will be constructed at the Keezhadi excavation site — at a cost of ₹17 crore — showcasing the findings.
A genetic study — pegged at ₹3 crore — will delve into the genetic antiquity, migration patterns, agricultural practices, cultural traditions, and dietary habits of the Tamil people.
With a budget allocation of ₹65 lakh, a pilot study for deep-sea excavation will be conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Ocean Technology and the Indian Maritime University, focusing on the ancient ports of Korkai and Alagankulam.

Highlighting the state government’s focus on further promoting Tamil literature internationally, the Finance Minister said the Chennai International Book Fair was successfully organised for the second consecutive year. More than 75 publishers and literary agents from 40 countries participated, resulting in the signing of 752 Memoranda of Understanding, with 483 dedicated to translating Tamil works into various languages.

To commemorate the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation by Sir John Marshall, an “Indus Valley Civilisation Centenary Conference” will be convened in Chennai, drawing renowned scholars from around the world, announced the Finance Minister.