CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday released the fourth volume of the comparative etymological dictionary project on root words of Tamil and Indo-European languages, jointly developed by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation and Oxford University Press.
He also inaugurated an international conference on the project at Victoria Hall in Chennai.
Releasing the fourth volume of the Comparative Etymological Dictionary of Tamil and Indo-European Languages, Udhayanidhi Stalin said he was proud to release the latest volume of the dictionary series on a day dedicated to linguistic diversity. Recalling the anti-Hindi imposition protests led by Periyar in 1937-38, he noted that the order making Hindi compulsory in schools was officially withdrawn on February 21, 1940, underscoring the historical significance of the day for Tamil Nadu’s language movement.
The Tamil-Indo-European root words comparative dictionary project was announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin in the 2022-23 Budget, with an allocation of Rs 8 crore. The four-year initiative, launched in July 2022 and implemented under the supervision of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, involves 20 scholars. According to an official release, the team has identified links between Tamil and 300 of the 461 roots examined.
The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation signed a contract with Oxford University Press on January 13, 2025, to publish the findings in 12 volumes. Chief Minister MK Stalin released the first volume of the dictionary series on March 25, 2025. The second and third volumes were released at the Chennai International Book Fair held in January at the Kalaivanar Arangam. He said the 12-volume project involved extensive study of root words across language families.
Releasing the fourth volume, Udhayanidhi Stalin said he was happy to launch the publication at Victoria Hall and expressed hope that the international seminar on the released volumes would be fruitful. He said the project would further enrich linguistic research and deepen understanding of the historical connections between Tamil and Indo-European languages.
The volumes have been edited by Arasendran, a recipient of the State’s Mozhinayiru Devaneya Pavanar Award. The Deputy Chief Minister congratulated him and the team involved in the project, describing such research as essential to affirm the antiquity and pride of Tamil.
Ministers MP Saminathan, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and Sekarbabu, Mayor R Priya and orator Dindigul Leoni were among the participants at the event.