Keep Tamil language vibrant for next 50 years: Singapore Minister Shanmugam
A Singapore Minister has called on the next generation to keep the Tamil language vibrant for the next 50 years.
Calling on the cosmopolitan city's next generation to take charge, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said: 'To keep Tamil vibrant for the next 50 years, we need young pioneers like you to lead the way.' The Minister, who speaks fluent Tamil shared his views as the National University of Singapore Tamil Language (NUS TLS) Society celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 17, reflecting on five decades of language promotion, student leadership and cultural innovation.
Mr. Shanmugam, who was guest-of-honour and NUS TLS alumnus, commended the society's contributions over the past five decades but also voiced concern about the future of Tamil in public life, a Singapore weekly reported on Friday (May 23, 2025).
'We have to ask ourselves if, in 20 or 30 years, we'll still have Ministers who can speak fluent Tamil on stage,' he said, noting a broader decline in Tamil usage, even beyond Parliament. Tamil is one of the four official languages in Singapore, the other being English, Chinese and Malay, and was spoken widely in the island state, with some of the Parliamentarians in the 1960s-70s debating in Tamil in the house. Mr. Shanmugam pointed out that many young people speak primarily English, a trend that affects not only Tamil but also other mother tongue languages such as Mandarin (Chinese) and Malay.
Currently, there is one Tamil language newspaper, Tamil Murasu, that has been in circulation since it was launched in May 1936.
'We also need to ask ourselves whether Tamil can continue to be regarded as a respected language by those who do not speak it,' the Minister was quoted as saying by Friday weekly Tabla! He stressed the need to make Tamil accessible and engaging, even for non-speakers, and highlighted the importance of hearing the language in informal spaces beyond classrooms and community centres.
Stalin congratulates Singapore PM on poll victory
Held at the Serangoon Gardens Country Club in the suburb housing conclave, the celebration brought together past and present members of the society, many of whom reunited after years. The evening featured student performances and nostalgic recollections of landmark programmes that shaped Tamil cultural engagement on campus and beyond. Founded in 1975 with only a handful of members, the society has since grown significantly, with the current 46th executive committee continuing its tradition of combining language advocacy with student-led community initiatives.
Multi-national Singapore's six million population has 75% Chinese, mostly speaking Mandarin, over 15% Malays, and more than 7% Indians as well as others.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
"Why are you wasting time on a quack?": Pawan Khera hits out at Nishikant Dubey for questioning Indira Gandhi over Shimla Agreement
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday slammed BJP MP Nishikant Dubey , who questioned former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi over the Shimla agreement . Pawan Khera called Nishikant Dubey a "quack" and urged the media not to pay attention to him. Taking a dig at Nishikant Dubey, the Congress leader said that he is not even a student from " WhatsApp University " but of "WhatsApp Nursery". Khera further asked Dubey to go to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and discontinue the Shimla Agreement. "Why are you (the media) wasting time on a quack? These are not even students of WhatsApp University but of WhatsApp nursery. Ask him to go to the PMO and tell them to discontinue the Simla Agreement. Why is he wasting time?", Pawan Khera told ANI. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey targeted former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, alleging that she signed the Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan under the pressure of the United States. Sharing a document of a Rajya Sabha debate on 'X', Nishikant Dubey questioned why Indian governed 5000 square mile territory was given to Pakistan by India's "iron lady".The BJP MP further queried why 57 Indian soldiers killed in Pakistan's jail dispute were returning the 93000 Pakistsoldiers, who had surrendered after the 1971 war. Live Events Nishikant Dubey mentioned that former Defence Minister Mahavir Tyagi had raised these questions, but former Indian PM Indira Gandhi left them unanswered. Earlier on Sunday, Nishikant Dubey slammed Rahul Gandhi , questioning the motives of the Congress leader to encourage learning English rather than local languages while also alluding to the "hypocrisy" of opposing the National Education Police (NEP) 2020 for language choice, stating that the 1986 NEP had similar goals. "Rahul Gandhi ji, your investigative advisor is hell bent on destroying you. This is the education policy of 1986 given by your father to the country. in this, your father is promising the country to promote Hindi, teach the Sanskrit language and translate English into regional languages. This same education policy is almost in place now. Students should also grow with regional languages, changes in this have been made by Prime Minister Modi ji in 2020," Dubey said in a post on X in Hindi.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
After taking $60 billion from China, Pakistan offers critical mineral assets in Balochistan to US during Asim Munir–Trump meet
General Asim Munir's meeting with Donald Trump explored potential US access to Balochistan's mineral wealth, challenging China's dominance in the region. Discussions included trade, AI, and energy, signaling a broader strategic partnership. This move aligns with US efforts to diversify critical resource supply chains, mirroring a similar deal being discussed with Ukraine. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Balochistan: Rich in minerals, light on development Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US signals interest amid push to reduce dependence on rivals The deal with Ukraine Broader Scope of Cooperation Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, recently held a closed-door meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Washington, where discussions reportedly included a potential offer of access to critical mineral assets in Balochistan. This comes after China has already invested an estimated $60 billion in Pakistan, much of it focused on infrastructure and mining under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ).While neither side has officially confirmed the terms, reports in Pakistani media and statements in parliament suggest that Washington may now be exploring commercial entry into Balochistan's mineral-rich zones—long seen as strategically important and previously dominated by Chinese covering nearly 43 per cent of Pakistan's land area, is home to some of the world's most sought-after raw materials. These include copper, lithium, rare-earth elements, gold, coal, and chromite. Despite its natural wealth, the province remains underdeveloped and politically the centre of attention is the Reko Diq project , one of the largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits globally. Canadian mining company Barrick Gold estimates it holds 7.3 million tonnes of copper and 15 million ounces of gold, with an additional 8.4 million tonnes in inferred copper to media reports and parliamentary comments in Pakistan, the Munir–Trump meeting touched on strategic access to Balochistan's minerals. This aligns with the United States' ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chains for critical resources, reducing dependence on countries it considers adversarial.A Pakistani lawmaker also raised the issue in the National Assembly, indicating that General Munir's US visit may have included negotiations involving Balochistan's rare-earth reserves. While the US has not made any official announcements, the development hints at a potential shift in mineral diplomacy in the to its interest in Balochistan, the U.S. is also in discussions with Ukraine for a $500 billion deal focused on critical minerals. The agreement aims to secure vital resources such as lithium and rare earths, essential for U.S. defense systems, emerging technologies, and green energy solutions. Ukraine, with its vast mineral wealth, is seen as a key partner in diversifying the U.S. supply of these crucial materials. This deal is expected to provide significant economic benefits to Ukraine, attracting investment for its mineral extraction industries. Ultimately, the collaboration aligns with U.S. interests in reducing dependence on adversarial nations and enhancing global influence over critical resources essential for technological and national security has been a dominant economic player in Balochistan, investing in ports, roads, and mining projects through CPEC. China has invested nearly $60 billion in CPEC corridor in Pakistan, the majority of which lies in Balochistan. It has been involved in copper and gold mining, including earlier phases of the Reko Diq project. However, Chinese investments have faced setbacks due to rising attacks by Baloch separatist groups, who oppose foreign exploitation of local entry of the United States into the picture could complicate the geopolitical equation in the region and potentially trigger concerns in Beijing, which has committed billions in strategic Inter-Services Public Relations said Munir's discussions with Trump also 'explored collaboration in trade, artificial intelligence, energy and emerging technologies.' The statement added that both sides want broader strategic and economic ties, with Trump 'indicating a willingness' to deepen engagement across sectors.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Iran-Israel war: Tehran moves to shut Strait of Hormuz after US strikes. How will it impact India?
Iran-Israel war: Following the US strikes at Iran's three nuclear sites - Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow - the Islamic Republic's parliament has called for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, its Supreme National Security Council will take the final decision. Such a move could be unprecedented as the Islamic Republic has not done it before in any war or conflict. 'I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil. If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, according to Fox News. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is the only maritime passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. It is considered one of the world's most strategically vital choke points, serving as the main export route for key Gulf oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait. It permits nearly 20 per cent of the world's daily oil consumption, around 20 million barrels, to pass through it. At its narrowest point, the Strait is only 33 kilometres wide, with the shipping lanes in each direction measuring just 3 kilometres across. As per media reports, nearly 50 large oil tankers are currently attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's renewed threats in response to recent US strikes have intensified fears about the extent to which a conflict in the Gulf region could disrupt the global oil supply. US Energy Information Administration (EIA) believes 'flows through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 made up more than one-quarter of total global seaborne oil trade and about one-fifth of global oil and petroleum product consumption'. In addition, around one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade also transited the Strait of Hormuz in 2024, primarily from Qatar. Due to its strategic geographic location, there is no alternative sea route to the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, any disruption to shipping through the strait would have significant consequences for the global oil and LNG trade, likely causing prices to surge. Since oil prices influence a wide range of goods and commodities, such fluctuations would have a ripple effect across the global economy. '84% of the crude oil and condensate and 83% of the liquefied natural gas that moved through the Strait of Hormuz went to Asian markets in 2024. China, India, Japan and South Korea were the top destinations for crude oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz to Asia, accounting for a combined 69% of all Hormuz crude oil and condensate flows in 2024,' EIA said. More than two-thirds of India's oil imports and nearly half of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Out of the 5.5 million barrels of oil India consumes daily, approximately 1.5 million are transported via this crucial waterway. Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev informed news agency ANI, 'If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, India will definitely suffer. About 20 per cent of the world's crude oil and 25 per cent of the world's natural gas flow through these.' He added that India will face challenges as rising oil prices lead to higher inflation. It is estimated that for every $10 increase in crude oil prices, India's GDP could be affected by 0.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India, Hardeep Singh Puri, is confident that there is enough oil in the global market. 'The oil price for a long time was between 65 and 70 (USD per barrel). Then it was between 70 and 75. Today is a Sunday. When the markets open tomorrow, the consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will be factored in. But as I've been saying for a long time, enough oil is available in the global markets,' ANI quoted Puri as saying. He added, 'More and more oil is coming on the global markets, particularly from the Western Hemisphere. Even traditional suppliers would be interested in keeping the supplies because they also need revenue. So hopefully the market will factor that in.' In a statement to Madhavi Arora, Chief Economist, Emkay Global Financial Services said, 'We have $70/bbl Brent assumption for FY26 with Q1FY26 likely to average at $67-69/bbl. However, with OPEC+ announcing another higher than expected production hike in July, fundamentally oil markets remain well supplied and further Iranian supply cuts can be accommodated.' She further said, 'As of now, we are not changing our forecasts and continue to see CPI inflation undershooting RBI's estimate of 3.7% to average much lower 3.3-3.4%* in FY26. We note that every $10/bl increase in oil leads to an annualised gain of 35 bps in CPI inflation. ' 'We maintain FY26E CAD/GDP at 0.8%, at Brent 70/bbl, with every 10$/bbl leading to upside risk of 0.4-0.5%, ceteris paribus Our FY26 Growth est at 6.0% could see a downside risk of 16-20bps if oil averages $80/bl through the year vs $70/bl assumed,' Arora asserted.
