Yahoo and Microsoft have agreed to an online search and advertising partnership, in an attempt to stand against the web search engine Google. The deal would be announced soon within the next 24 hours.
Under the term of the deal, Microsoft, which made a failed takeover bid of $47.5 billion for Yahoo last year, would access to the volume of search queries that run through Yahoo's search engine. Yahoo has agreed to use Microsoft's new Bing search engine on its own sites. Also, Yahoo will handle the advertising sales, using Microsoft technology. Yahoo Chief Executive Carol Bartz said, "I think Bing is actually a good product and Microsoft deserves kudos for Bing."
The deal would give Bing a boost in competing with Google's search engine. Google's search engine dominates the marketplace with 65 percent of the U.S. Internet searches, according to the figures provided by research firm ComScore. It is followed by followed by Yahoo with 19.6 percent and Microsoft with 8.4 percent.
According to a technology blog, All Things Digital, the deal is "less sweeping than originally conceived" and does not involve upfront payments by Microsoft to Yahoo. "This makes the deal much smaller than ones previously envisioned, which included Microsoft taking over both Yahoo's search and its text-based search advertising businesses, in exchange for large payments and guaranteed revenue."
However, the deal may also face privacy issues, said Colin Gillis, an Analyst at Brigantine Advisors. "Any agreement where Microsoft powers search and shares the search data to Yahoo! is open to scrutiny from the U.S. and EU justice departments," he added. It can trigger the federal regulation limiting the ability of companies like Yahoo to collect data from users' searches and share it with partners, which would remove a key advantage of the partnership, said Gillis.
Courtesy :http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Yahoo_and_Microsoft__to_strike_a_deal_in_next_24_hours-nid-59873.html
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Gay Rights – The disparity between logics and Morals
“The Delhi High Court pronounced a historical judgment decriminalizing homosexuality”
I’ve kind of lost my hope in our judicial system when I heard one of the High Court’s judgments about smoking on screen by celebs. I had many friends in College who started smoking just because their favorite hero on screen smoked and did many stylish tricks which attracted the heroine much. I was able to clearly see that the judicial system in India does not have a clear distinction between logics and morals. Logically, smoking on the screen is right but morally, it’s perilous. But the court had to succumb to logics more than morals. FYI, that’s where we are heading to!
I would like to pose a scenario where a mother of two, living happily with her husband and family, met with another man whom she thought was “the man of her dreams”. Logic may suggest that she should follow her heart’s desire, but morals would just keep her from deserting the family structure and live faithfully as a great mother. Same with another man who met a “woman of his dreams” but unfortunately she was married then. He being an extremely successful person, smart-looking, could allure her and shatter her commitment with her husband and strike an affair, “logically”. Yet morally, he backed up.
I’m trying to quote these two scenarios as this is very much our society and we ourselves. Though there are so many secret desires, lures and temptations, morals keep us on track. That’s what our families are made up of; morals and not logics. It is a moral commitment for a father to look after his children. Logically, why should a man strive hard for another human! It is very clear that morals are pivotal to a society and especially ours.
Who decides the standards for morals - What is moral and immoral? The answer is no one! Society frames the morals. It would try various things and eventually a basic moral framework would be set. Anything below that line would be immoral. For e.g. sex between legitimate couples is morally accepted. But if they are not, it’s the same sex, but the act is immoral. Why? No one knows! But that’s how the society is. Culturally rich countries like India, thankfully, even today have these moral values “as a society”. Please note the quoted phrase “as a society” because no one can claim that all Indians individually are morally, culturally rich. But fortunately our society still is. That’s why we still have strong family bonds. Parents don’t decide to separate at will…they try to mend inconsistencies and carry forward. Children grow up seeing parents, their commitments and they know the value of a family and that is what has been driving India morally.
The difference between LGTB and Eunuchs.
I would like to request the Honorable Supreme court of India not to relate the LGTB community with the eunuchs. These two are two different cases. The former is a handicap mentally where as the latter is a handicap, biologically. The Eunuchs deserve the right to live like other humans…there is absolutely no doubt about that. It’s the same as a physically challenged person and they need to be treated loyally. But why are the LGTB involved in this reservation. They have a problem mentally… against nature. It is natural for a man to love a woman and vice versa … Same sex attraction is unnatural and a mental disability. Even if there has to be special laws for the Eunuchs, the LGTB community needs to be exempted for the law to make sense.
How does this Law for LGTB bring down the morals of our society?
As I have told before, the moral standards of our society has been set. Often different thinkers may prop up claiming to revisit the moral standards to make sure it really is humanitarian. If it doesn’t there would be voices raised and depending on the justice it makes, would be accepted or discarded. But the reforms brought up and widely accepted till today, made sense…like abolishing sati, widow discrimination which has taken our moral values up. LGTB is a mental issue, unnatural feeling for which a law cannot be proposed. It would then justify persons having unnatural attraction within own family members (incest) also. Terrorist killings could be justified as they could claim they have a natural tendency to kill people. Even child abusers could justify their natural instinct towards children which could later breed into a great community claiming rights for their own.
Where is our society heading to?
It’s high time we decide whether to be logically correct or morally correct. The government and the court would stay silent because of the 70 million vote bank. Educated mass may also choose to be neutral to pacify the LGTB community which is mostly the elite. When it comes to making a decision, logics might be most admired than morals as morals are a little old fashioned in our current vibrant sophisticated social framework. Slowly, moral laws would be modified to make logical sense. The end is for you to presume!
Religiously, is it correct?
I follow the Bible and the Bible treats the act of homosexuality as an abomination, a curse that is detestable before the eyes of God. Read it in the Holy Bible. Do you know why? It’s because God instituted a Holy and most divine institution called “Marriage” between a man and a woman. So far this institution has worked wonders and we are what we are because our forefathers and our parents relentlessly held on to the morals established. I know there is no widely accepted religion that legalizes or supports homosexuality.
I believe when there are riches, intellect and sophistications in abundance, the human mind tries new theories like these just because their basic needs are already met. People in most down trodden countries today have no time fighting for gay rights as they are fighting for their next meal. Even in India, not long ago, 15 years back when India was counted as an underdeveloped country by westerners, none dared to bring these issues up as we were struggling for our basic necessities. Fathers had no choice than to earn little and mothers wisely used that little to raise their children. But today with globalization and international exposure, earning exuberant salaries has become easy. The concept of living content is gone and craving for new sophistications is talk of the town. Western lifestyle is the new mantra; “breaking-up”, pizzas, burgers, harmful beverages, branded apparels, swanky cars and gadgets have become an invincible part of our lives. There’s no doubt a lot of these new theories are propping up. Wait and see… worse is yet to come!
A Word to LGTB
The law says more than the law breaker the one who instigated to break the law should suffer more punishment. Please do not conduct a Pride rally or something of that sort, primarily because there is nothing to be proud about and secondly you create a lot of unwanted publicity. Many ignorant young people may want to follow you just because of this publicity. After all who has the right to supervise your secrecy but don’t make it public. But remember, there is a time coming very soon when the gold will be put to test and refined. Only what is pure and moral would stand and all impurity would be cast out.
Malachi 2:17 says “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
And Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;”
The people during Noah’s time were very similar to this age… No moral values and when the test of time came, there was no time to repent. I’m praying for you to repent!
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” – Romans 6:12-13
- John Manoah
I’ve kind of lost my hope in our judicial system when I heard one of the High Court’s judgments about smoking on screen by celebs. I had many friends in College who started smoking just because their favorite hero on screen smoked and did many stylish tricks which attracted the heroine much. I was able to clearly see that the judicial system in India does not have a clear distinction between logics and morals. Logically, smoking on the screen is right but morally, it’s perilous. But the court had to succumb to logics more than morals. FYI, that’s where we are heading to!
I would like to pose a scenario where a mother of two, living happily with her husband and family, met with another man whom she thought was “the man of her dreams”. Logic may suggest that she should follow her heart’s desire, but morals would just keep her from deserting the family structure and live faithfully as a great mother. Same with another man who met a “woman of his dreams” but unfortunately she was married then. He being an extremely successful person, smart-looking, could allure her and shatter her commitment with her husband and strike an affair, “logically”. Yet morally, he backed up.
I’m trying to quote these two scenarios as this is very much our society and we ourselves. Though there are so many secret desires, lures and temptations, morals keep us on track. That’s what our families are made up of; morals and not logics. It is a moral commitment for a father to look after his children. Logically, why should a man strive hard for another human! It is very clear that morals are pivotal to a society and especially ours.
Who decides the standards for morals - What is moral and immoral? The answer is no one! Society frames the morals. It would try various things and eventually a basic moral framework would be set. Anything below that line would be immoral. For e.g. sex between legitimate couples is morally accepted. But if they are not, it’s the same sex, but the act is immoral. Why? No one knows! But that’s how the society is. Culturally rich countries like India, thankfully, even today have these moral values “as a society”. Please note the quoted phrase “as a society” because no one can claim that all Indians individually are morally, culturally rich. But fortunately our society still is. That’s why we still have strong family bonds. Parents don’t decide to separate at will…they try to mend inconsistencies and carry forward. Children grow up seeing parents, their commitments and they know the value of a family and that is what has been driving India morally.
The difference between LGTB and Eunuchs.
I would like to request the Honorable Supreme court of India not to relate the LGTB community with the eunuchs. These two are two different cases. The former is a handicap mentally where as the latter is a handicap, biologically. The Eunuchs deserve the right to live like other humans…there is absolutely no doubt about that. It’s the same as a physically challenged person and they need to be treated loyally. But why are the LGTB involved in this reservation. They have a problem mentally… against nature. It is natural for a man to love a woman and vice versa … Same sex attraction is unnatural and a mental disability. Even if there has to be special laws for the Eunuchs, the LGTB community needs to be exempted for the law to make sense.
How does this Law for LGTB bring down the morals of our society?
As I have told before, the moral standards of our society has been set. Often different thinkers may prop up claiming to revisit the moral standards to make sure it really is humanitarian. If it doesn’t there would be voices raised and depending on the justice it makes, would be accepted or discarded. But the reforms brought up and widely accepted till today, made sense…like abolishing sati, widow discrimination which has taken our moral values up. LGTB is a mental issue, unnatural feeling for which a law cannot be proposed. It would then justify persons having unnatural attraction within own family members (incest) also. Terrorist killings could be justified as they could claim they have a natural tendency to kill people. Even child abusers could justify their natural instinct towards children which could later breed into a great community claiming rights for their own.
Where is our society heading to?
It’s high time we decide whether to be logically correct or morally correct. The government and the court would stay silent because of the 70 million vote bank. Educated mass may also choose to be neutral to pacify the LGTB community which is mostly the elite. When it comes to making a decision, logics might be most admired than morals as morals are a little old fashioned in our current vibrant sophisticated social framework. Slowly, moral laws would be modified to make logical sense. The end is for you to presume!
Religiously, is it correct?
I follow the Bible and the Bible treats the act of homosexuality as an abomination, a curse that is detestable before the eyes of God. Read it in the Holy Bible. Do you know why? It’s because God instituted a Holy and most divine institution called “Marriage” between a man and a woman. So far this institution has worked wonders and we are what we are because our forefathers and our parents relentlessly held on to the morals established. I know there is no widely accepted religion that legalizes or supports homosexuality.
I believe when there are riches, intellect and sophistications in abundance, the human mind tries new theories like these just because their basic needs are already met. People in most down trodden countries today have no time fighting for gay rights as they are fighting for their next meal. Even in India, not long ago, 15 years back when India was counted as an underdeveloped country by westerners, none dared to bring these issues up as we were struggling for our basic necessities. Fathers had no choice than to earn little and mothers wisely used that little to raise their children. But today with globalization and international exposure, earning exuberant salaries has become easy. The concept of living content is gone and craving for new sophistications is talk of the town. Western lifestyle is the new mantra; “breaking-up”, pizzas, burgers, harmful beverages, branded apparels, swanky cars and gadgets have become an invincible part of our lives. There’s no doubt a lot of these new theories are propping up. Wait and see… worse is yet to come!
A Word to LGTB
The law says more than the law breaker the one who instigated to break the law should suffer more punishment. Please do not conduct a Pride rally or something of that sort, primarily because there is nothing to be proud about and secondly you create a lot of unwanted publicity. Many ignorant young people may want to follow you just because of this publicity. After all who has the right to supervise your secrecy but don’t make it public. But remember, there is a time coming very soon when the gold will be put to test and refined. Only what is pure and moral would stand and all impurity would be cast out.
Malachi 2:17 says “You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
And Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;”
The people during Noah’s time were very similar to this age… No moral values and when the test of time came, there was no time to repent. I’m praying for you to repent!
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” – Romans 6:12-13
- John Manoah
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Bangalore Traffic police cannot catch you and fine you often for silly reasons
Information you cannot miss out! Not knowing this may leave a big hole in your pocket
If you are getting caught quite often by Bangalore's traffic police, then this will be the article you cannot miss out on. From now onwards, the Traffic Police cannot catch a motorist just to examine the driving licence or vehicle documents. He can catch you only if you have violated any traffic laws or if you are driving drunk.
"Remember that when caught for traffic violation, the fine you pay must be limited to the violation. In other words, the police can't bloat the bill saying that you have no insurance cover or emission certificate, etc."
Many motorists do not know this. According to the State's Road Transportation Act, no policeman can slap a penalty on you just because you have no insurance or emission certificate. If you have not purchased insurance cover for your vehicle, then the police officer must issue a notice, not impose penalty. You must be given 15 days' time to purchase insurance cover and one week for obtaining the emission certificate. Days later, meet the sub-inspector at his station with the insurance cover or emission certificate, so that he will annul the charge at once. Police can fine you only if you fail to produce these documents within the stipulated period. If your vehicle is brand new, then you need not bother about obtaining the emission certificate for one full year.
In response to a question as to why policemen fine people instantly without giving them time to obtain insurance cover or emission certificate, Additional Commissioner for Traffic Praveen Sood said, "Yes, it is a mistake. People must force policemen to issue notice or complain to me at least the following day. I have suspended the Indiranagar sub-inspector for catching people for silly reasons," he said.
The best way to teach the police a lesson is filing a written complaint with their higher officials and, a week later, using the Right to Information Act (RTI) to know the action taken against them.
Remember, any question or application filed under RTI cannot be ignored and no official is bold enough to ignore the RTI Act.
Praveen Sood (Additional Commissioner for Traffic) -+91 080 22942276.
According to - http://www.jagrancityplus.com/Utilities.aspx?articleid=14403&catgid=24&cityid=11&Bool=h
If you are getting caught quite often by Bangalore's traffic police, then this will be the article you cannot miss out on. From now onwards, the Traffic Police cannot catch a motorist just to examine the driving licence or vehicle documents. He can catch you only if you have violated any traffic laws or if you are driving drunk.
"Remember that when caught for traffic violation, the fine you pay must be limited to the violation. In other words, the police can't bloat the bill saying that you have no insurance cover or emission certificate, etc."
Many motorists do not know this. According to the State's Road Transportation Act, no policeman can slap a penalty on you just because you have no insurance or emission certificate. If you have not purchased insurance cover for your vehicle, then the police officer must issue a notice, not impose penalty. You must be given 15 days' time to purchase insurance cover and one week for obtaining the emission certificate. Days later, meet the sub-inspector at his station with the insurance cover or emission certificate, so that he will annul the charge at once. Police can fine you only if you fail to produce these documents within the stipulated period. If your vehicle is brand new, then you need not bother about obtaining the emission certificate for one full year.
In response to a question as to why policemen fine people instantly without giving them time to obtain insurance cover or emission certificate, Additional Commissioner for Traffic Praveen Sood said, "Yes, it is a mistake. People must force policemen to issue notice or complain to me at least the following day. I have suspended the Indiranagar sub-inspector for catching people for silly reasons," he said.
The best way to teach the police a lesson is filing a written complaint with their higher officials and, a week later, using the Right to Information Act (RTI) to know the action taken against them.
Remember, any question or application filed under RTI cannot be ignored and no official is bold enough to ignore the RTI Act.
Praveen Sood (Additional Commissioner for Traffic) -+91 080 22942276.
According to - http://www.jagrancityplus.com/Utilities.aspx?articleid=14403&catgid=24&cityid=11&Bool=h
Friday, April 24, 2009
Bangalore Autorickshaw Complaints
I'm so excited to recieve this email from BTRAC (Bangalore Traffic Review and Action Commitee). I had previously mailed to almost all complaint email ids about the auto drivers' attitude near our place (Whitefields). Of late few of them wouldn't budge even for Rs.100 from our place to KR Puram station which is not even 5 kms. Still worse, while I look for an auto early mornings in the KR Puram station, they demand rs.150 or more, mercilessly. I had demanded the following and have received a response from BTRAC saying those would be looked into (please read below).
Please note these no's 22943381 and -IVRS 25588444/25588555 and don't forget to register a complaint anytime an auto driver misbehaves.
I would encourage you to send complaints to the following ids and also forward it to as many friends you could. I'm sure most of us are frustrated by these auto drivers. Let the officials and the auto drivers know our demand.
dcptrafficeast@gmail.com, acat@kslmd.com, clm@kslmd.com, transcom@kar.nic.in
Happy to see something happening!
***************************************************
The mail that I sent and the response from BTRAC.
From: Automation centre
Date: Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: Complaint - Greedy Auto drivers
To: John M Stephen
Dear sir
We will try to set up prepaid auto stand. We issue display card to all auto where the complete details will be available and it is pasted backside of driver seat. In case of such problems you can note down the reg no of that auto and complaint to 22943381 and -IVRS 25588444/25588555. We will send notice to the auto driver. Under BTRAC (Bangalore Traffic Review and Action Commitee) we are planning to have easy auto by sms auto will come to you.
Enforcement officer
On 4/21/09, John M Stephenwrote:
>Dear Sir/Madam,
My house is located at Hoodi circle, Basavanna Nagar Main Road. It is really a pain to get an auto rickshaw as they refuse to put on the meter but demand Rs.100 to 250 rupees for just 5 kms to KR puram station. No one would even listen even if I plead them that I have to reach KR Puram station urgently. I've paid Rs.250 from Hoodi circle to KR Puram station once as I had to somehow catch my train. The same is with the KR Puram auto drivers. As soon as we come out of the railway station a flock of drivers offer to take, but demand atleast rs.200 or more to Hoodi circle.
I feel very bad as the auto drivers take advantage of our needs and exploit it. I sincerely request you to take necessary action.
My humble requests are :
1. Please put a PRE-PAID auto counter at KR Puram station.
2. Please introduce receipts so that every time I travel in an auto I get a reciept for the money I paid with all the details of the auto rickshaw and the driver.
3. Please make it compulsory to have a complaint number printed on the auto-rickshaws so that the customers know whom to call in case the auto driver is misbehaving
4. Please conduct surprise visits to these auto drivers to catch them red-handed. In this way auto richshaw drivers would know that they are being watched and would behave well with us.
Thank you for your cooperation. Any improvement in this regard would be highly helpful to every common man living in Bangalore.
regards
John Manoah
Please note these no's 22943381 and -IVRS 25588444/25588555 and don't forget to register a complaint anytime an auto driver misbehaves.
I would encourage you to send complaints to the following ids and also forward it to as many friends you could. I'm sure most of us are frustrated by these auto drivers. Let the officials and the auto drivers know our demand.
dcptrafficeast@gmail.com, acat@kslmd.com, clm@kslmd.com, transcom@kar.nic.in
Happy to see something happening!
***************************************************
The mail that I sent and the response from BTRAC.
From: Automation centre
Date: Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: Complaint - Greedy Auto drivers
To: John M Stephen
Dear sir
We will try to set up prepaid auto stand. We issue display card to all auto where the complete details will be available and it is pasted backside of driver seat. In case of such problems you can note down the reg no of that auto and complaint to 22943381 and -IVRS 25588444/25588555. We will send notice to the auto driver. Under BTRAC (Bangalore Traffic Review and Action Commitee) we are planning to have easy auto by sms auto will come to you.
Enforcement officer
On 4/21/09, John M Stephen
>Dear Sir/Madam,
My house is located at Hoodi circle, Basavanna Nagar Main Road. It is really a pain to get an auto rickshaw as they refuse to put on the meter but demand Rs.100 to 250 rupees for just 5 kms to KR puram station. No one would even listen even if I plead them that I have to reach KR Puram station urgently. I've paid Rs.250 from Hoodi circle to KR Puram station once as I had to somehow catch my train. The same is with the KR Puram auto drivers. As soon as we come out of the railway station a flock of drivers offer to take, but demand atleast rs.200 or more to Hoodi circle.
I feel very bad as the auto drivers take advantage of our needs and exploit it. I sincerely request you to take necessary action.
My humble requests are :
1. Please put a PRE-PAID auto counter at KR Puram station.
2. Please introduce receipts so that every time I travel in an auto I get a reciept for the money I paid with all the details of the auto rickshaw and the driver.
3. Please make it compulsory to have a complaint number printed on the auto-rickshaws so that the customers know whom to call in case the auto driver is misbehaving
4. Please conduct surprise visits to these auto drivers to catch them red-handed. In this way auto richshaw drivers would know that they are being watched and would behave well with us.
Thank you for your cooperation. Any improvement in this regard would be highly helpful to every common man living in Bangalore.
regards
John Manoah
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Why Tamil is a Classical Language
Statement on the Status of Tamil as a Classical Language - by Prof.George L Hart, Berkeley University, California
Professor Maraimalai has asked me to write regarding the position of Tamil as a classical language, and I am delighted to respond to his request.
I have been a Professor of Tamil at the University of California, Berkeley, since 1975 and am currently holder of the Tamil Chair at that institution. My degree, which I received in 1970, is in Sanskrit, from Harvard, and my first employment was as a Sanskrit professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1969. Besides Tamil and Sanskrit, I know the classical languages of Latin and Greek and have read extensively in their literatures in the original. I am also well-acquainted with comparative linguistics and the literatures of modern Europe (I know Russian, German, and French and have read extensively in those languages) as well as the literatures of modern India, which, with the exception of Tamil and some Malayalam, I have read in translation. I have spent much time discussing Telugu literature and its tradition with V. Narayanarao, one of the greatest living Telugu scholars, and so I know that tradition especially well. As a long-standing member of a South Asian Studies department, I have also been exposed to the richness of both Hindi literature, and I have read in detail about Mahadevi Varma, Tulsi, and Kabir.
I have spent many years -- most of my life (since 1963) -- studying Sanskrit. I have read in the original all of Kalidasa, Magha, and parts of Bharavi and Sri Harsa. I have also read in the original the fifth book of the Rig Veda as well as many other sections, many of the Upanisads, most of the Mahabharata, the Kathasaritsagara, Adi Sankara’s works, and many other works in Sanskrit.
I say this not because I wish to show my erudition, but rather to establish my fitness for judging whether a literature is classical. Let me state unequivocally that, by any criteria one may choose, Tamil is one of the great classical literatures and traditions of the world.
The reasons for this are many; let me consider them one by one.
First, Tamil is of considerable antiquity. It predates the literatures of other modern Indian languages by more than a thousand years. Its oldest work, the Tolkappiyam,, contains parts that, judging from the earliest Tamil inscriptions, date back to about 200 BCE. The greatest works of ancient Tamil, the Sangam anthologies and the Pattuppattu, date to the first two centuries of the current era. They are the first great secular body of poetry written in India, predating Kalidasa's works by two hundred years.
Second, Tamil constitutes the only literary tradition indigenous to India that is not derived from Sanskrit. Indeed, its literature arose before the influence of Sanskrit in the South became strong and so is qualitatively different from anything we have in Sanskrit or other Indian languages. It has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, its own esthetics, and, above all, a large body of literature that is quite unique. It shows a sort of Indian sensibility that is quite different from anything in Sanskrit or other Indian languages, and it contains its own extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition.
Third, the quality of classical Tamil literature is such that it is fit to stand beside the great literatures of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Persian and Arabic. The subtlety and profundity of its works, their varied scope (Tamil is the only premodern Indian literature to treat the subaltern extensively), and their universality qualify Tamil to stand as one of the great classical traditions and literatures of the world. Everyone knows the Tirukkural, one of the world's greatest works on ethics; but this is merely one of a myriad of major and extremely varied works that comprise the Tamil classical tradition. There is not a facet of human existence that is not explored and illuminated by this great literature.
Finally, Tamil is one of the primary independent sources of modern Indian culture and tradition. I have written extensively on the influence of a Southern tradition on the Sanskrit poetic tradition. But equally important, the great sacred works of Tamil Hinduism, beginning with the Sangam Anthologies, have undergirded the development of modern Hinduism. Their ideas were taken into the Bhagavata Purana and other texts (in Telugu and Kannada as well as Sanskrit), whence they spread all over India. Tamil has its own works that are considered to be as sacred as the Vedas and that are recited alongside Vedic mantras in the great Vaisnava temples of South India (such as Tirupati). And just as Sanskrit is the source of the modern Indo-Aryan languages, classical Tamil is the source language of modern Tamil and Malayalam. As Sanskrit is the most conservative and least changed of the Indo-Aryan languages, Tamil is the most conservative of the Dravidian languages, the touchstone that linguists must consult to understand the nature and development of Dravidian.
In trying to discern why Tamil has not been recognized as a classical language, I can see only a political reason: there is a fear that if Tamil is selected as a classical language, other Indian languages may claim similar status. This is an unnecessary worry. I am well aware of the richness of the modern Indian languages -- I know that they are among the most fecund and productive languages on earth, each having begotten a modern (and often medieval) literature that can stand with any of the major literatures of the world. Yet none of them is a classical language. Like English and the other modern languages of Europe (with the exception of Greek), they rose on preexisting traditions rather late and developed in the second millennium. The fact that Greek is universally recognized as a classical language in Europe does not lead the French or the English to claim classical status for their languages.
To qualify as a classical tradition, a language must fit several criteria: it should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich body of ancient literature. Unlike the other modern languages of India, Tamil meets each of these requirements. It is extremely old (as old as Latin and older than Arabic); it arose as an entirely independent tradition, with almost no influence from Sanskrit or other languages; and its ancient literature is indescribably vast and rich.
It seems strange to me that I should have to write an essay such as this claiming that Tamil is a classical literature -- it is akin to claiming that India is a great country or Hinduism is one of the world's great religions. The status of Tamil as one of the great classical languages of the world is something that is patently obvious to anyone who knows the subject. To deny that Tamil is a classical language is to deny a vital and central part of the greatness and richness of Indian culture.
(Signed:)
George L. Hart
Professor of Tamil
Chair in Tamil Studies
Source: http://tamil.berkeley.edu/Tamil%20Chair/TamilClassicalLanguage/TamilClassicalLgeLtr.html
Friday, March 13, 2009
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