Tamil: The Mother of All Languages?

When certain reputed speakers are handed a microphone and an eager audience, they sometimes say whatever comes to mind. I’ve previously discussed this in my article Removing the Past and Introducing the New, where I critiqued a talk by Sri S. Venkatesan. While he shares many commendable thoughts, particularly with students, not everything he says is entirely relevant. As someone relatively unknown, my critiques may not reach a wide audience, but I believe it’s important to continue voicing them. I even sent my comments to Junior Vikatan, which publishes Venkatesan’s talks. While I don’t expect them to publish my critique, I hope they at least forwarded it to Sri Venkatesan.

In one recent lecture at S.D. Hindu College in Nagarcoil, Venkatesan, like many zealous Tamil enthusiasts, claimed that “Tamil is the foundation of all other languages” (“அனைத்து மொழிகளுக்கும் அடிப்படை நம் தமிழ்தான்,” Junior Vikatan, 28-12-14, pp. 24-25). It’s unclear whether he meant that Tamil is the mother tongue of all languages globally or only within India. Many elite Hindus claim the same for Sanskrit. Interestingly, after making this statement, Venkatesan quoted the Greeks, saying, “Indians are greater in culture and civilization than us.” He then argued that, given our rich culture, we should learn and master our mother tongue.

While I agree with many of Venkatesan’s thoughts—India’s culture and civilization are indeed among the finest in the world—I find the claim that Tamil is the mother tongue of all other languages unreasonable. I am proud to call Tamil my mother tongue, and while I’ve read literature and scripture in various languages, their full beauty often escapes me unless I rely on translations. However, when I read Tamil literature in the original, the experience is completely different—it is rich and profound. That being said, I, unlike many overzealous Tamil enthusiasts, won’t go as far as claiming Tamil as the mother of all languages.

Interestingly, in the same meeting, Sri Bharati Krishnakumar emphasized the importance of reading widely, while Venkatesan, without offering authentic or documented evidence, made sweeping claims about Tamil’s linguistic supremacy. There are numerous scholarly books based on extensive research on the origins, development, and influence of the Tamil language. These works provide a balanced view, showing how Tamil has influenced other languages while also being influenced by them. Venkatesan’s failure to read and incorporate such findings before making bold claims renders his statements not only erroneous but somewhat laughable. Love for one’s mother tongue is crucial, but it should not reveal ignorance of its history.

Dayanand Bharati 

25-12-14

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Further Reading on Tamil and Language Relationships:

1. Passages: Relationships Between Tamil and Sanskrit, ed. Kannan M. Jennifer Clare, Institute Francais De Pondichery, Tamil Chair, Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California at Berkeley, 2009.

2. Bilingual Discourse and Cross-Cultural Fertilisation: Sanskrit and Tamil in Medieval India, ed. Whitney Cox and Vincenzo Vergiani, Pondichery, Institut Francais De Pondichery Ecole Francaise D’extreme-Orient, 2013.

3. Sumathi Ramaswamy, Passions of the Tongue: Language and Devotion in Tamil India, 1891-1970, University of California Press, Ltd., London, 1997.

Additionally, the renowned archaeologist Sri Amarnath Ranakrishnan suggests that Tamilians were the first to introduce script to India, citing ancient Tamil script found on mud pots. However, while archaeological evidence can be compelling, such claims should be verified by other scholars before being accepted as definitive. [Reference: Facebook Video Link: [https://www.facebook.com/share/v/PQUt3KepoaYY9mzZ/?mibextid=EIwMfA]