Call to declare Si Pa Aditanar birth anniversary as ‘Tamil Development Day’

“The reading practice improved a lot due to Daily Thanthi, established by Aditanar, and because of the simple language adopted by the daily, 70 per cent of people learnt to read and write Tamil more efficiently. Because of his contribution to the language, the Tamil community fondly remembers him as ‘Tamilar Thanthai’ (father of Tamil people)”, said Hari Nadar, state coordinator, Nadar Makkal Sakthi.

The birth anniversary of Aditanar is celebrated on September 27. Aditanar, one of the pioneers of Tamil journalism, contributed immensely to the growth of the language through the Daily Thanthi and helped common people acquire reading skills, said Hari Nadar.

He also said that before Independence, a majority of Tamil people could only speak Tamil but could not read or write. “As much as 90 per cent of the people could not read or write Tamil and all these people started to acquire language skills after Aditanar founded the newspaper Tamilan in 1942, followed by Daily Thanthi the same year,” said Hari Nadar. After Independence, middle-class people and those living below the poverty line had little idea about their rights and the new laws. The Daily Thanthi, through its simple presentation of news, helped them gain political knowledge and their rights in the newly emerged India, said Hari Nadar.

He further said Aditanar had participated in various protests and had gone to prison. He had also served in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in various capacities. 

“From 1947 to 1953, he served as a member of the Upper House of Tamil Nadu and from 1957 to 1962, he served as a member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In 1967, he was elected as the Speaker of the Assembly and in 1969, he was appointed the state Cooperative Minister,” he said. 

The Tamil Nadu Milk Traders’ Welfare Association has demanded that the State government establish a university for journalism in the name of Dr B Sivanthi Aditanar.

“Sivanthi Aditanar had carved a name for himself in journalism, spirituality and sports and is a treasure of Tamil Nadu from the southern districts. Recognising his contribution to the field of journalism, the State government should establish a journalism university in his name,” said Ponnusamy, founder and State president, Tamil Nadu Milk Traders’ Welfare Association. 

He said journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy and to strengthen journalism, a specialised university should be set up in the State.

“While we have dedicated universities for medicine, engineering and law, a dedicated university for journalism should also be set up and it should in the name of Sivanthi Aditanar,” said Ponnusamy.