SINGAPORE – Singapore intensified efforts to keep Tamil alive as a everyday language on March 29, launching the 20th Tamil Language Festival with a focus on youth engagement and innovation.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated the month-long event at Mediacorp’s Studio 1, organized by the Tamil Language Council under the theme ‘Engagement’. Running until April 26, the festival offers 43 programs blending traditional arts, literature, and culture with modern tools like artificial intelligence.
A major highlight was the renaming of the 20-year-old Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee to the Tamil Promotion Council. Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash, who chairs the council, unveiled its new red-and-gold logo featuring ‘Tamil’ centered against a banyan tree silhouette—symbolizing roots, wisdom, and continuity.
Dash stressed the urgency of reversing declining home use of Tamil among families. “The council will study strategies to equip parents with resources, fostering early love for the mother tongue,” he said. Plans include targeting youth via digital platforms, AI, and innovative initiatives, while directly consulting them on keeping the language relevant in a fast-changing digital world.
The launch featured interactive moments, such as President Tharman starting a Tamil story relay completed live by students on stage. TLC chairman Naseer Ghani called for integrating Tamil into daily life: “Only by practicing and breathing life into it will Tamil endure as a living language.”
Ghani reflected on the festival’s legacy, noting past student participants now lead community organizations. The evening wrapped with vibrant music, storytelling, and dance previews from partner groups, setting an energetic tone for the festival ahead.