Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam to be fully reactivated: Chidambaram

Madurai: The launch of Tamil Studies Encyclopedia marks a significant revival of academic activities of Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam, said the body's chairman of board of trustees and Congress leader P Chidambaram ."After a decade-long period of decline in activity, efforts are being made to end the period of stagnation," he said at the launch of the encyclopedia on Saturday at Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai. He said the academy's board of trustees and general body are fully reactivated."Plans are now underway to expand the collection to include the literary and historical milestones of the last 50 years. While this massive undertaking requires significant capital, I continue to remain optimistic," Chidambaram said. He added that Rs70 lakh has already been received in the form of private donations, bringing them very close to their targeted Rs1 crore."With a goal to publish a new work every three months in collaboration with university Tamil departments, the academy is on a mission to bring Tamil literature back into the heart of the home, encouraging parents to foster a deep-rooted love for the language in the next generation," he said, adding they are also aiming to democratise access to Tamil education. "We are planning to launch a student edition of Tamil encyclopaedia being released, to make them more accessible to everyone," he said."It is an ambitious roadmap, but with your support, we can achieve it," he added.