Articles
9th
Annual FeTNA/TNF Tamil Convention Souvenir (Malar)
Article (Translation)
The
Potential Benefits of Learning Thamil
The
city of Karur is one of the ancient business centers of Thamil Nadu.
The fact that Thamils had trade relations with foreign lands
is documented in classical literature.
Even today, Roman coins are found near Karurs river
beds. Just like the Thamils of old, todays Thamils are embracing
business in search of profit. The main industry of present-day Karur
is clothing export. Twoels, undergarments, and other cloth varieties are prepared
in large quantities for foreigners and shipped for a profit. In a number of Karurs clothing export
companies, I have seen the word for profit scribbled
in paint on the wall next to pictures of gods.
Its with this profit-seeking attitude in mind that
Thamils leave Thamil Nadu for America. Their one and only reasonmoney.
Everyone
in Thamil Nadu is of the opinion that the Thamil language doesnt
put food on the table. (As a result, no one respects the study
of Thamil.) This point
of view doesnt change after emigrating to America.
But the situation in America is different.
Thamil language education is beneficial to children growing
up here in America. I will explain how the Thamil language
can be of use in the fields listed below:
Medicine
I
am going to start medical school next year.
Last school year, I spent the entire year in Thamil Nadu
learning Thamil. I also learned about the customs and culture of Thamils.
Each time I went to interview at medical schools, I was asked
about my experiences in Thamil Nadu.
The interviewers told me openly that this was an added credential
to my application for admission. Some people may doubt the relevance of
Thamil language proficiency to medicine.
In America, doctors may be required to see patients with
different customs and from different cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it is a necessity for treatment of patients to be
in agreement with their specific customs and cultural background.
Medical schools believe that doctors who know two different
cultures can more easily understand this need and treat patients
accordingly.
I
was granted both admission and a scholarship to study medicine.
I would not have received the scholarship if I had not spent
one year studying Thamil.
Information
Technology
With the industrial revolution finished, we are now in the
middle of the information technology revolution.
Many people in Thamil Nadu are getting trained in information
technology. Of all the states in India, Thamil Nadu
is the leader in information technology education and awareness.
People from Thamil Nadu keep coming to America to get jobs
in the information technology sector.
In addition, American information technology companies are
setting up branches over there. Therefore, Thamil language proficiency
will help in any efforts to start a new company in the field of
information technology.
Business
Thamil nadu is in first or second place among Indian states
in business investment. People in America who desire to start
doing business in Thamil Nadu will require knowledge of the Thamil
alngauge. When the new country of Thamil Eelam is
born, there will be countless new economic opportunities.
Here too, a person must know Thamil in order to do business.
I
have a detailed knowledge of teaching Thamil to second-generation
Thamils. Once a student,
I am now a teacher. I
am currently writing lessons and distributing them via the Internet.
You can access them at the following Internet address: www.tamilclass.com
|