Karunanidhi's dream Tamil conference begins, it'll cost 380 crores

Coimbatore: For close to 400 crores, Tamil Nadu gets to celebrate its language for a period of five days with Tamil scholars from all over the world -4000 of them.  It's all part of the extravaganza that is the first World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore. (Forum:Is the 382-crore bill worth it? Comment here)

The event was inaugurated this morning by President Pratibha Patil.  Its aim - to celebrate and popularize the Dravidian language and Tamil culture.

This conference has been the pet project of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.  He had earlier hinted that he would retire after the conference was held. In more recent interviews, however, he has denied that he is ready to exit politics- the change of heart influenced, no doubt, by the succession war between his two sons, MK Stalin and M K Alagiri.

Defending the giant bill for the conference- a state-sponsored event -  Kanimozhi, a DMK MP and Karunanidhi's daughter, said the money has been "spent on the infrastructure for Coimbatore...people who are very cynical will also appreciate that. A conference for language and identity of people is not waste of money."

Some of the people we met had no complaints. "As a Tamil, I'm very proud," said one.

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For some idea of the scale of the event - consider this.  There are 20 conference halls for discussions and debates.  10,000 policemen are handling the event.  Special trains have been organized.  AR Rahman has composed the theme song of the conference. Schools and colleges across the state have closed to ensure that the conference draws large crowds.  Managing those crowds means the state's senior-most bureaucrats and policemen are stationed now in Coimbatore.

The opposition AIADMK, and its leader J Jayalalithaa are boycotting the event.  "Are they going to contribute to the growth of Tamil?  Are they going to speak sense? The Chief Minister wants a big crowd, that's all," says Ramaswamy, a political commentator.

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The timing of the conference is significant. Assemby elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held in 2011.

Also read:Lawyers take battle for Tamil to Supreme Court