Our Family and the Magic of Tamil


Host - Srinidhi (REVT - Radha - Jayaraman - Srinidhi) 
Speaker - Karthick ( RESU - Sundareswaran - Anjana - Karthick)
Moderator- Shreyas (REVT - Lakshmi - Uma -Brinda- Shreyas)

Not long ago, a very large and special family called the Ramassery family had a big meeting on Zoom. They called it "Ramassery Talks." It was a very special day because it was the first time family members from all different ages and different cities came together to talk about one thing: their language, Tamil.

Here is the story of their meeting, written so you can understand every part!

The meeting began with a loud, cheerful shout called the "Ramassery Cheer." Everyone was smiling! Srinidhi then welcomed everyone. She explained that for the Ramassery family, Tamil isn't just a way to talk - it’s a way to remember their stories and feel like they belong together. She said, 

"For some of us, it’s not just a language, it’s an emotion."

The Word Game: What is Tamil? 

Two cousins, Karthick and Shreyas, led the talk. They played a game using a tool called "Mentimeter" where everyone could type in words that reminded them of Tamil. Here is what the family said:
  • A Feeling of Home: It makes them feel safe.
  • Yummy Food: Like Saapadu (a big meal).
  • Famous People: Like the leader MGR or the poet Bharathiyar.
  • Happy Memories: Like singing songs with their moms and dads.
A Very Old Secret Treasure 

Karthick told a cool story about how old Tamil is. He said it is thousands of years old! A long time ago, regular people like people who looked after cows or sheep wrote beautiful songs in Tamil. This was special because back then, usually only very fancy people knew how to write. Because they wrote like "normal" people, we can still understand some of their songs today!

Did you catch these famous names from the talk? Learning about them helps us understand our history:
  • Andal & The Alwars: Ancient poets who wrote beautiful songs for everyone to enjoy.
  • Bharathiyar: The brave poet with the famous mustache who wrote songs about freedom.
  • MGR: A legendary hero and leader who everyone in Tamil Nadu loved!
Since Kartick mentioned the great poet Bharathiyar in the talk, I thought it would be nice to share his most famous song for children! It’s called "Odi Vilayadu Papa," and it teaches us to be active, kind, and brave.

(Note : This is not a part of the talk, I am just sharing it as it is related to the talk) 

(Just a small part of the poem)

Odi Vilayadu Papa (Run and Play, Child)
By Subramaniya Bharati (Bharathiyar) 

Tamil Lyrics: 
Odi vilayadu papa - nee Oyndhirukka lalaadhu papa 
Koodi vilayadu papa - oru Kuzhandhayai vaiyadhe papa
Chinna chiru kuruvi polay - nee Thirindhu parandhu vaa papa 
Vanna mayilgalai polay - nee Adi kudhithu vaa papa
Maalai muzhudhum vilayattu - pin Madhi kooru dhavvum padippu 
Kaalai Ezhundhavudan padippu - pin Kanivu kodukkum nalla paattu

What it means in English:
  • Run and play, little child! Never be lazy or sit still for too long.
  • Play together with everyone! Never say mean words to other children.
  • Be like a tiny, happy bird! Fly around and explore the world.
  • Be like a colorful peacock! Dance and jump with joy.
  • The Golden Rule: Spend your whole evening playing, then study to make your mind sharp. Start your morning with reading, and listen to kind songs that make your heart happy!

            

The "Brain Flip" Challenge 

Shreyas shared something very honest. He said that even though he loves his family, speaking Tamil can be hard.
  • Thinking in English: At school and with friends, he speaks English. So, when he wants to speak Tamil, his brain has to do a "fast flip" to translate the words.
  • The Summer Camp Story: Shreyas remembered being a little boy at a camp. Back then, he only knew Tamil! He had to learn English to talk to his teachers. But as he got better at English, he found he spoke less and less Tamil.

Why Did People Fight for Tamil? 

Karthick showed some very old newspapers from 1965 (that’s when your grandparents were young!). He explained that some people tried to tell the Tamil people they had to speak a different language called Hindi. The Tamil people said, "No! Our language is part of who we are." They were worried that if they lost their language, they might lose their jobs or their special history.

Why Should We Keep It? 

At the end, everyone thought about the future. They asked: "If we all speak English now, why do we still need Tamil?"

The family decided that Tamil is like a secret family treasure. It’s the "golden thread" that connects a kid today to a great-grandparent from a long time ago. It’s how they share secrets, jokes, and love in a way that no other language can.

You might speak English at school, but Tamil is the language of your heart and your family. Even if you only know a few words, you are helping to keep a 2,000-year-old treasure alive!

Do you have a favorite Tamil word? Maybe today you can ask a grown-up to teach you a secret word that only our family uses!

Ready to test your knowledge? Check out the Family Trivia link below to see how much you remember from our session!