The Maperum Tamil Kanavu event, which is being conducted across the State of Tamil Nadu in multiple phases, with the aim of sensitising college students to Tamil tradition and culture, was held at Women's Christian College, on 28 July 2023. The event unfolded in two phases, with career guidance stalls arranged for students and a lecture by the filmmaker and famous TV personality Mr. Karu Palaniappan.
Mr. Komagan, Joint Director of Tamil Nadu Virtual Academy addressed the students about the core objective of this initiative, following which there was an AV screening about the event. "The younger generation needs to familiarize themselves with the legacy of Tamil, from the latest archeological discoveries in Tamil Nadu to the industrial and economic growth in Tamil Nadu and its contribution to India", he said.
Mr. Karu Palaniappan spoke on the topic, Mangayarai pirappadharke. In his speech, he highlighted the various challenges that women face in modern society and emphasized the importance of financial independence for women. He also added that the compulsory Tamil courses for college students in UG for varying proficiency levels aim to ensure that students who engage with Tamil speaking people at the grassroots level in future, have a functional knowledge of the language in order to facilitate easier communication. He also mentioned that "most college students do not get enough opportunities to mingle and interact with their peers belonging to different disciplines in college, to hold meaningful conversations and discussions with them".
The stalls provided students with resources pertaining to government welfare schemes, loans for aspiring entrepreneurs, and guide books for students who wish to appear for competitive exams seeking government employment opportunities. Two free booklets were provided to the participants: one was a brief guide regarding various potential career paths and another containing short notes on various highlights in Tamil history and developmental milestones of Tamil Nadu. Participants who read a few chapters from the latter and shared their own insights on it were awarded prizes along with the ones who participated in the Q and A session with the speaker.
