It was refreshing to read the contents of the letter entitled [#1] Language with the 'richest' traditions [/#] (April 3) by Malaysian. As a research student in Dravidian history, culture and language, I just cannot but agree that Tamil language has one of the richest literary traditions in the history of mankind. The evidence for this claim can be seen if one reads the Thirukkural and some of its associated books such as Ulanganeethi , Athichudi , Kondraiventhan and Nallvalli .

The beauty and maturity of the Tamil language is peerless, for instance in the Thirukkural which has 1,330 couplets, each couplet has seven words and its depicts a complete concept. To be able to present 1,330 concepts each in seven words is unique only to the Thirukkural which was written in Tamil with exquisite poetic beauty by Thiruvalluvar more than 2,000 years ago in South India.

The Thirukkural , in which the greatness of the Tamil language is propounded, is the repository of the eternal truths, formulated and expounded to propel the civilising process of the community of mankind. The knowledge it reveals transcends the human limitations of time, race, culture and beliefs.

M Ariel, an eminent scholar in oriental studies, in a letter published in the Journal Asiatique (Nov-Dec 1848) speaks of Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural as "one of the highest and purest expressions of human thought".

He further states: "that which is above all wonderful in the Kural is the fact that its author addresses himself, without regard to castes, peoples or beliefs, to the whole community of mankind; the fact that he formulates sovereign morality and absolute reason; that he proclaims in their very essence, in their abstractedness, virtue and truth; that he presents, as it were, in one group the highest law of domestic and social life; that he is equally perfect in thought, in language and in poetry, in the austere metaphysical contemplation of the great mysteries of the Divine Nature, as in the easy and graceful analysis of the tenderest emotions of the heart".

Tamil language must be preserved and developed, so that the beauty and wisdom enshrined in the Thirukkural can be learnt for the benefit of all mankind. Translations will not be able to portray the beauty and power of the original Tamil text.

The Malaysian government, and in particular the Indian leaders, must be able to appreciate the Tamil language, its greatness, endeavour to promote it so that the Tamil people in Malaysia and others can acquire the teachings of the Thirukkural and lead a moral life.