Did Tamil & Sanskrit have common origin?
Are the Tamils suffering from the deep rooted inferiority complex, after 1967?

I shall not be surprised if any objective probe revealed the colonial mischief (like introducing ‘caste’ & ‘race’ into Tamil, replacing the original meanings of ‘சாதி’- cAthi- & ‘இனம்’ –inam-  in Tamil) behind the anti-Tamil sentiments found among a section of pro-Sanskrit supporters, and the anti-Sanskrit sentiments among a section of pro-Tamil supporters, especially in Tamilnadu.

Prior to the phase before 1967, pro-Tamil scholars like Somasundara Bharathiar were experts both in Tamil and Sanskrit; to the extent of pointing out the mistakes in the rendering of the Sanskrit Manthra by a priest during a marriage ceremony. Had such scholars been alive today, would they maintain silence to the following wrong observations w.r.t Tamil, by a world renowned scholar?

For example;

In his book 'The Language of the Gods in the World of Men - Sanskrit, Culture and Power in Premodern India', Sheldon Pollock had observed that like other Indian languages, Sanskrit was solely responsible for the development of literature in Tamil; which I had refuted with the evidences,(https://www.amazon.com/DECODING-ANCIENT-TAMIL-TEXTS-TRANSLATION/dp/9811419264)

And also mailed to him, with no response, or any rejoinder from pro- Sheldon Pollock supporters.

Interestingly none of the scholars working in Tamil University, The International Institute of Tamil Studies, Chennai, and the Tamil depts. In the universities in Tamilnadu, seemed to have refuted the above wrong observation of a world renowned Indologist. I shall be thankful and happy, if anyone proved that I was wrong on this point.

Worse, I doubt if they are even aware of the damages done to Tamil, in view of the scholarly status of Sheldon Pollock in the world media.

Also I doubt, if pro-Tamil supporters had become intellectually weak, as the result of the rule of the Dravidian parties in Tamilnadu, after 1967.

Also I wonder if the Tamil scholars working in the above mentioned institutions are aware of the following researches of late Dr.K.Loganathan.

‘Sumerian is primitive or Archaic Tarnil with a surprising degree of closeness to Classical Tamil.’ ( http://www.heritagewiki.org/index.php?title=Sumerian:TAMIL_of_the_First_CaGkam  )

‘Tamil as the Base Language of Sanskrit-‘ (http://www.heritagewiki.org/index.php?title=SumeruTamil:_The_Base_of_Sanskrit-1 )

Though I am not an expert in the above field of research, I was surprised to come across a music related technical word, employed as a verb in the researches of late Dr.K.Loganathan. I just published my view for a discussion.

Contrary to the understanding of the pro-Tamil music scholars like late Dr.V.P.K Sundaram & many others, w.r.t the Tamil words ‘curam’- சுரம்-  and ‘curuthi’ – சுருதி, my application of ‘Physics of Music’ to the ancient Tamil texts revealed that the music related Tamil words ‘curam’ and ‘curuthi’, were not Sanskrit origin words. Also their music related meaning in Tamil, conveyed a significant musicology clarification, as to how ‘curam’ functioned as a musical path, leading to ‘curuthi’, and ‘aththam’ –அத்தம்-, another music related discovery meaning musical pitch, in the ancient Tamil texts. One can understand my pleasant surprise, when I came across the following text in the researches of late Dr.K.Loganathan.

" யாழ் கால் சுருதிய ஈனே இயமிடினே. "  ( yaz kAl curuthiya InE iyamitinE)

Note that the word ‘curuthi’ was employed as a verb- சுருதிய- in music related context.

(http://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2015/01/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html)

In the above post, one Mr.Vanpakkam Vijayaraghavan (வன்பாக்கம் விஜயராகவன்; http://vijvanbakkam.blogspot.in/ ) had disputed through his comment, that the world reputed scholars, had not accepted the above mentioned findings of late Dr.K.Loganathan. As mentioned already, I am not an expert in that field to refute the above comment. Unless such comments are taken seriously by the pro-Tamil scholars with expertise in that field, Tamil & Tamils face the danger of getting branded, as those suffering from the deep rooted inferiority complex, camouflaged by the unsubstantiated exaggerated claims.

When some of the findings of the scientist Newton was later proved wrong, it was considered as the progress in Science. In case Newton’s fans refused to acknowledge it, they will be ridiculed, for which they will not appeal to the government to punish those ridiculing them.

But in Tamilnadu, such jokes had taken place, to my surprise. (‘தேவநேய பாவாணர், 'பெரியார்' ஈ.வெ.ரா போன்றவர்களை 'கேலிக்குள்ளாக்கும்' செயல்நுட்பம்?’; https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2015/03/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_22.html  & http://vijvanbakkam.blogspot.in/2012/08/blog-post.html  )

Unfortunately the followers of ‘Periyar’ EVR do not seem to update themselves w.r.t the disproved ‘Aryan invasion theory’ & the research developments in Tamil ancient texts, etc , entrapping themselves into the ‘prospective objects of ridicule’.

Also the failure to refute with proper evidences, to the above mentioned wrong observations on Tamil, by a world renowned Indologist Sheldon Pollock, may suggest the decline of the real experts in Tamil, after the 50 years rule of the Dravidian parties in Tamilnadu. Did anyone who had taken part in the above mentioned joke, refute the above wrong observations by Sheldon Pollock? What prevented them to refute Sheldon Pollock?  The deep rooted inferiority complex? Or the following process introduced after 1967? Did anyone of the above ‘group’ of ‘scholars’(?), oppose the threats to the Tamil scholar A.Nakkeeran, who lived with the security of his friends till his death, for publishing his book ‘tholkAppia poongavil kaLaikaL’, pinpointing the defects in ‘tholAppiya poonga’ written by DMK leader M.Karunanidhi? or kept quiet as a probable result of the following process ? (http://www.connemara.tnopac.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=350802   )  

‘After joining in a college or university, to ensure career elevation, one must use all the energy and time to develop ‘useful’ political ‘contacts’ without ‘wasting’ efforts to gain the intellectual strength. Will not those, appointed through corrupt means, excel in ‘developing the contacts’, to have ‘fast elevation’ in their career? Did we feel guilty or happy, when those in our family or friends had such ‘career elevation’? When such persons occupy most of the key posts in education, will there be any social incentive for the intellectual growth? Did we feel guilty or happy, when those in our family or friends had such ‘career elevation’? In fact those who shun such career elevation to focus and enjoy in gaining intellectual strength, are ‘ socially neglected’ and branded as having no ‘intelligence’ for leading a ‘good life’(?). ‘ Also misusing the ‘social gaps’ of the prominent leaders, I had come across ‘intellectual prostitutes’, who simultaneously ‘benefit’ by ‘sharing their expertise’, for example, to both the groups supporting & opposing DMK leader M.Karunanidhi. When time permits, I plan to probe, if this too was one of the ‘consequences’ of the ‘Dravidian rule’ of Tamilnadu after 1967 ?  I shall not be surprised, if history, in the near future, proved that  unware of the leaders’ ‘social gaps’, the Dravidian top leaders had digged their own grave, by encouraging such ‘intellectual prostitutes’. That proof may awaken the sincere pro-LTTE persons in TN, to verify, a similar blunder by V.Prabakaran, leading to the Mullivaikkal tragedy.(https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2014/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_6.html ) Fortunately present college students, educated youth & even villagers, easily identify & shun such ‘intellectual prostitutes’.

Also are the Tamil scholars in the universities & colleges, aware that the present expertise criteria in Tamil, are under drastic transformation in the digital age? (தமிழின்  அடுத்த கட்ட(Next Phase) புலமை? (1); https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2014/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_8.html & https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2016/11/normal-0-false-false-false-en-in-x-none.html )

Unaware  of the relationship between the social changes and the corresponding due changes in the grammar rules of Tamil, all pro-Tamil forums are becoming the unconscious culprit obstacles, forcing the demise of Tamil grammar first and Tamil later; (http://tamilsdirection.blogspot.in/2016/07/fetna.html ), encouraging the socially divisive Tamil chauvinism. Failing to sense this socially destructive dimension of the support from such groups, LTTE leader Prabakaran ‘sailed on the waves’ of such support, ultimately ending in the ‘Mullivaikkal Tragedy’. (https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2014/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_6.html )

Though pro-Tamil chauvinists may have their counter parts in the other Indian languages including Sanskrit (I had distanced myself from one such pro-Sanskrit chauvinist joker, though he had treated me with great respect);

I had come across open minded scholars in the field of Sanskrit, a pleasant surprise for me, with anti-Brahmin & anti-Sanskrit associations, prior to the entry into my music research present phase.

If anyone tries to refer to my significant research findings w.r.t the ancient Tamil texts, they will have to visit http://musicresearchlibrary.net/omeka/ (search S.A.Veerapandian) a great treasure trove, for music research students.

Also the following observation was published in a Sanskrit research journal.

“During ancient times Sanskrit and Tamil had mutually beneficial complimentary interactions. The great works of Buddhist and Jain scholars in the form of epics like ‘perungkathai’ (having more musicological details on string instruments than chilappathikAram) and grammar works like ‘cEnhthan thivAkaram’ (with valuable musicology details including the earliest reference –Sanskrit references seem to be later- for the seven music LETTERS sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, & ni) might be the results of such healthy interactions. Of all the ancient languages, Tamil and Sanskrit may be the only two languages to have such unique complimentary relation. Aware of this complimentary relation, the rules of tholkAppiam were pragmatic while ensuring distinct Tamil language identity by treating the sound format of vatacol as an exception to the rules applicable to the sound format of the normal Tamil word. While Manipravalam violated the rules of tholkAppiam in one extreme, the pure Tamil movement extremism also violated the rules of tholkAppiam in the opposite extreme. Languages can grow, not in total insulation, but by practising healthy interactions with other languages while ensuring the distinct identity. “ 

-           ‘tholkAppiam and the use of Sanskrit words in Tamil’ – The Journal of Sanskrit Academy; Volume XX – 2010; ISSN-0976 089X

Note that the earliest reference –Sanskrit references seem to be later- for the seven music LETTERS sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, & ni) found in the Tamil text  ‘cEnhthan thivAkaram’, was published in a Sanskrit Research Journal.

Also in Sanskrit, “Tamil pulavars not only have produced Tamil masterpieces of poetry and learning, but also have contributed much in Sanskrit to Literature and Philosophy.” (Jean Filliozat - Presidential Address - First International Tamil Conference – Seminar, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia 18 - 23 April 1966 )

While researches can continue to explore if Tamil and Sanskrit had common origin, the complimentary mutually beneficial relationship between Tamil and Sanskrit, was well established. Also I like to share that I have prima facie evidences to form a hypothesis that both Tamil and Sanskrit languages may have alien origin, which I propose to reveal in my future post. The following news, in my view, is encouraging to the above hypothesis.

‘Unexplained radio signals are coming from space, not Earth, scientists confirm’; http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/unexplained-radio-signals-are-coming-from-space-not-earth-scientists-confirm/articleshow/58033963.cms?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=digest_section

Probably had ‘Periyar’ E.V.R was aware that of all the ancient languages including Tamil, “Sanskrit and Pali have a larger atheistic and agnostic literature than any other classical language” ( Page 35, ‘Identity and Violence’ by Amartya Sen), he might not have encouraged the anti-Sanskrit phobia in Tamilnadu.

While 1938 anti-Hindi agitation in Tamilnadu, initiated by the pro-Tamil scholars like Somasundara Bharathiar & later led by ‘Periyar EVR’, had removed the compulsion to learn Hindi, it retained the option to learn Hindi in the schools. Unfortunately the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation, encouraged by C.N.Annadurai & Rajaji, removed the option to learn Hindi in TN schools, after 1967. Opposition to the imposing of a language, if extended to developing hatred towards that language, it will lead to linguistic Xenophobia. 

I welcome the non-mother tongue option to learn Sanskrit and other Indian languages to all the students in India, and I appeal to both the central and state govts to ensure the facility to learn the non-mother tongue Indian languages in the schools all over India. We need to replace the linguistic Xenophobia hate politics to the pro-love to all the Indian languages; rescuing our students from the English language mania. That will strengthen the Indian nation building process, now under threat from the vested interests in India & abroad.(‘Is BJP aware of the derailing of the Indian nation building process?; https://tamilsdirection.blogspot.com/2016/07/normal-0-false-false-false-en-in-x-none_18.html )