Date:19/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101903301200.htm

National

Mauritius seeks help in promoting Tamil culture

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 18. A delegation from Mauritius led by its Art and Culture Minister, Motee Ramdass, today called on the Pattali Makkal Katchi leader and Union Health Minister, R. Anbumani, and sought his help in the promotion of Tamil art and culture in the island nation.

The delegation, which included the chairman and vice-chairman of the Tamil Cultural Centre Trust there, explained that though there was a vibrant Tamil population in that country and activities such as singing of Tamil kirtans and songs had been initiated at the school level, the younger generation was by and large ignorant about Tamil culture.

The delegation particularly urged for accreditation of Tamil music schools being run in the island nation to a university in Tamil Nadu so that proper degrees could be awarded. They also sought assistance in setting up a world-class eye care hospital.

Dr. Anbumani said that all possible assistance would be provided by his party and other partners in the Democratic Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. The DPA, he noted, had been able to convince the Centre on the importance of Tamil, resulting in it being declared a classical language recently.