No proof of Thai 1 as New Year: Jayalalithaa
Chief minister Ms J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday said DMK president M. Karunanidhi during his rule had imposed his decision to shift Tamil Nadu New Year from Chithirai to Thai without caring for public sentiment or seeking truth through proper research.
Backing her statement with references to history, Ms Jayalalithaa in response to a question raised by MLA C. K. Thamizharasan said there was no evidence to prove that Tamil New Year falls in Thai.
“Karunanidhi refers to the book Vaazhviyar Kalanjiyam. It only says Thai Piranthaal Vazhi pirakkum (When Thai is born, a new way is born).
It does not say that a New Year is born in Thai. Renowned Tamil scholar Mu.Va only says in a essay in 1960 that the first day of Thai is the day of thanksgiving and does not mention it as the day of New Year.”
“He passed an Act unilaterally. It hurt the sentiments of the people and they did not accept it,” the chief minister said. The DMK regime’s New Year shift was “an improper one that hurt public sentiments” and an “imposed one” so much so many refused to fall in line and had continued with their practice of celebrating New Year on the first day of Chithirai, she said.
On the other hand, she had (after coming to power this term) only cancelled the (DMK government’s) Act and did not impose anything on the people, Ms Jayalalithaa pointed out.
Also, she recalled, Mr Karunanidhi had declared his intention to alter the Tamil calendar at the launch of Chennai Sangamam, the cultural festival coordinated by his daughter Kanimozhi, even before making a formal announcement in the Governor’s address.
“He perhaps thought that only if Thai is officially announced as the month of a New Year, Chennai Sangamam will be conducted every year and it would gain recognition,” the chief minister said.
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