Two short films made by college students released
Staff Reporter
State level workshop on science popularisation concludes
— Photo: G. Moorthy
Innovative: L. Kannan, Vice-Chancellor of Tiruvalluvar University, third from right, releasing the video CDs of short films and presenting it to industrialist K.P. Navaneetha Krishnan at a function held in Yadava College in Madurai on Sunday.
MADURAI: Two short films in Tamil produced with college students as artistes were released at a function held at the Yadava College here on Sunday. The films- “Puthiya Jathagam” and “Paarvai” were produced on issues of HIV/AIDS and environment respectively during the State level workshop on science popularisation through digital media organised by the college from December 10 to 16.
Nearly 70 students from various colleges and universities took part in the workshop that was sponsored by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in the Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
L. Kannan, Vice-Chancellor of Tiruvalluvar University, Vellore, released the video and audio cassettes at the valedictory function and presented the first copies to K.P. Navaneetha Krishnan, industrialist and former treasurer of Yadava College. Addressing the students, Prof. Kannan said that the two themes chosen for short films were very relevant and carried important message to the society.
While the short film ‘Puthiya Jathagam’ said that a HIV/AIDS test should be made mandatory at the time of marriage, the other cassette conveyed a message that every citizen should play his or her role in protecting environment and cleanliness and not just confine to speeches or rallies.
Mr. Navaneetha Krishnan, in his special address, pointed out that a country’s progress depends on the development of science and a good initiative was taken through this workshop to take science to rural areas.
According to P.S. Navaraj, college faculty and principal coordinator of the workshop, the next process on the short films is to give sub-titles in English and send them to the Ministry so that there would be better reach to the students’ efforts.
He thanked former professor, V.M. Shajahan, who directed the short film and S. Vijayakumar who assisted in the making of the students’ film. P. Rengan, college Principal, and C. Narayanan, ex-committee member of Yadava College, were among those who spoke.
Scholars defend decision on Tamil New Year’s Day
Special Correspondent
Thiruvalluvar Day celebrations organised by university
— Photo: D. Gopalakrishnan
TRADITIONAL START: S. Agathiyalingam, former Vice-Chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur, lighting the traditional lamp at the Thiruvalluvar Day and Pongal celebrations at Thiruvalluvar University in Vellore on Thursday. L. Kannan, Vice-Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar University (centre) and A. Sivaperuman, Reader in Tamil, Annamalai University, are in the picture.
VELLORE: “There are several reasons behind the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to announce the first day of the Tamil month of ‘Thai’ as Tamil New Year’s Day,” according to A. Sivaperuman, Reader in Tamil, Annamalai University.
He was speaking on the topic, ‘Thai Thingal,’ at the Thiruvalluvar Day and Pongal celebrations organised by Thiruvalluvar University here on Thursday.
Dr. Sivaperuman said that the month was marked by activities aimed at cleanliness such as whitewashing houses, continuous festivals, commencement of the journey of the sun from the south to the north (Utharayana Punyakalam) – an occasion which is considered auspicious for all good events – and the fact that Makara Sankaranthi was celebrated on this day in north India to mark the movement of the sun from the Dhanusu (Sagittarius) ‘raasi’ to the Makara (Capricorn) ‘raasi.’ Even way back in 1921, a special meeting presided over by seven Tamil experts at Pachayappa’s College, Chennai, adopted a resolution that the first day of ‘Thai’ should be announced as the Tamil New Year’s Day. The experts included Maraimalai Adigalar and Somasundara Bharathi, he said.
S. Agathiyalingam, former Vice-Chancellor of Tamil University, Thanjavur, who spoke on ‘Thirukkural, a classical literature,’ said that though Thirukkural was in Tamil, Thiruvalluvar had written it for the benefit of entire humanity.
This had been proved by the commentaries written by foreigners. Even when ‘Tholkappiyam’ was written, Tamil had attained the status of classical language. What was obtained in 2004 was only the official recognition of Tamil as a classical language, he said.
A piece of literature which was written more than 2,000 years ago and one which attracts the attention of the people of the entire world alone can be called classical literature, according to philosopher Aristotle.
While the English language dated back to seventh century A.D., French to the 10th century A.D., German to 11th century A.D. and Russian to 18th century A.D., Tamil originated more than 2,000 years ago, Dr. Agathiyalingam said.
L. Kannan, Vice-Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar University, who presided, said that Thirukkural was known as ‘ulaga podhu marai’ as the message contained in it was universally applicable to people of all countries.
Thiruvalluvar University Syndicate members D. Gajapathi and A. Karunanandan spoke.
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Thiruvalluvar University able to produce two short films Puthiya Jathagam and Paarvai on issues of HIV/AIDS and environment L. Kannan, Vice-Chancellor of Tiruvalluvar University has released the video CDs which it has been given the chance to the students.
All the story about the two films is to that the HIV/AIDS test should be made mandatory at the time of marriage and another one shows that every india citizen should play his or her role in protecting environment and cleanliness and not just confine to speeches or rallies.
Two short films of 25-minute duration The participants for the Vision for the Visionless who cast in this short films were mostly college students from different places in the State, including Madurai Kamaraj University.
Tags: HIV/AIDS and environment, Thiruvalluvar UniversityRead also
