‘Help scholars researching in classical Tamil’

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday urged the Centre to facilitate the Tamil scholars from Tamil Nadu as well as those from foreign countries to do research on Classical Tamil in India and abroad. Speaking at the first meeting of the governing council of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) held at Fort St George here, Karunanidhi, who is also the chairman of the Institute, said the Central government should extend necessary assistance to those scholars from Tamil Nadu who wish to conduct researches abroad as well as those from foreign countries who desire to come to Tamil Nadu for research activities. Dr Anita Bhatnagar Jain, Joint Secretary with the Union Human Resources Development Ministry who was also present at the meeting, promised that the Centre would consider this request and do the needful. The CICT, now functioning at Palar House, would be shifted to Fort St George soon and the State government is collecting just Rs 10 per year as token lease amount for the Bharathidasan Classical Tamil Library and the CICT, Karunanidhi observed. Meanwhile, the committee for selecting scholars for Tholkappiar award, Kuralpeetam award and Young Tamil Scholar award considered many names and selected certain scholars for the awards. The names would be sent to the President for her approval soon.