Sunday, September 11, 2011

Why I write Thamizh names & words differently?


You may have noticed that I write Thamizh names & words with different spellings:

Tamil - Thamizh (தமிழ்)
Trichy - Thiruchchi (திருச்சி)
Bhagavan - Bhagavaan (பகவான்)
Ramana - Ramanaa (ரமணா)
Nammalwar - Nammaazhwaar (நம்மாழ்வார்)

I just reproduce exact Thamizh pronunciation in English.

Let's see some of the corrupt names in English:

Triplicane - Thiruvallikkeni (திருவல்லிக்கேணி)
Tuticorin - Thooththukkudi (தூத்துக்குடி)
Trivandrum - Thiruvanandhapuram (திருவணந்தபுரம்)
Tanjore - Thanjaavoor (தஞ்சாவூர்)
Tranquebar - Tharangambaadi (தரங்கம்பாடி)

When we have such beautiful Thamizh names, why should we still stick to ugly English versions? Several people still take pride in uttering these corrupt versions. Why? How would an English man feel if we corrupt his words? Do you think he will repeat after us and take pride in doing so?

This was one of the several techniques employed by the then ruling Britishers to impoverish us mentally. Of course, the Britishers achieved this with the help of the then upper class Indians. 

A form of intellectual slavery which still continues. How else would you equate the general belief still prevalent that speaking English fluently means intelligence/highly-educated?

Please remember that English is not one of the classical languages. Thamizh & Sanskrit are.

Sometimes in order to draw attention one has to do something different, something abnormal, something unconventional. That's what I am doing in my blog. This may sound stupid. Well, if it drives home the point, I don't mind accepting the adjective.


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