Pluralistic Society - Why I am happy to be in Singapore

I am Tamil by ethnicity and I am happy to be in Singapore. Tamil is one of Singapore's four official languages.An official language is a language that is designated as "official" by a state, or other legally-defined territory, usually by legislation, and required in all official government communications - spoken and written. Its required uses can extend to national traffic signs, product labels, storefront signage, voting materials, driving license exams, and other official and legal forms.(wikipedia.com)

The basis for Tamil being one of the official languages, taught in schools, is that Tamils are the majority( 61%) of the Indian community. As such, it stands to reason, why the teaching of Tamil in schools was opted over say Malayalam, another Indian language of another ethnic group, the Malayalees.

I have no qualms with this premise of selection because I happen to be one of those who get the better end of the deal, being Tamil myself. It is rather unfortunate though, that the minority amongst the Indians. a minority group itself, do not get the privilige and benefit of understanding their own ethnic cultures and roots, by means of mainstream schooling.

Professor S Jeyakumar in his opening speech of the upgraded premises of Umar Pulavar in 2001, said that language was a very powerful tool for the communication of ideas and feelings. I quote him, "Learning two languages, Tamil and English, will give our children access into two different cultural worlds. English, as our common working language, gives all students access into the world of commerce, science and technology, while their mother tongue language gives them direct access to their cultural heritage and helps them retain their cultural roots and identity. Their mother tongue gives them a world-view that complements the perspective of the English-speaking world."

Therefore, not learning a language in detail would probably be tentamount to not having access to one's cultural heritage or identity or the thoughts and feelings of one's indegenous community.As a Tamil, I who has had the privilige of studying the language, I know enough to say, it would have been very sad indeed if Tamil wasn taught in schools. There is such a wealth of literature and political and philosophical thought in the Tamil language; so much to learn and think about which is not provided in western schools of thought.I can only imagine the loss Tamils would have been subjected to if the status quo wasn as such.

With that said, there is a great deal of Malayalee literature which I wasn even aware existed till I checked online today. I wonder, if Malayalees or any other minority ethnic Indian sub groups are aware, of the expanse of literature that has been produced in their own respective languages.

I can relate to the English speaking world as a Tamil, because of my education in Tamil.I cannot speak for the other minority ethnic sub groups, but I feel it is something worth thinking about.

I met a Malaysian Tamil recently and was shocked to hear that he does not learn Tamil in school. He can speak Tamil, but he can neither write nor read Tamil. He is therefore, effectively shut off from this wealth of information generated by a group of people I can proudly call my own. The sad irony is that he too, has every right to call this group his own, only he isnt able to, because of the language policy of where he comes from.

Which is why I, a Tamil, am happy to be in Singapore. Which is why I can say chicago jango and enjoy every moment of me and my culture..

ps. If you happen to be interested in the state of Tamil in Singapore, issues like prestige, etc..you could refer to, http://ullnokam.tripod.com/