Guwahati: The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), under the Union ministry of education, in collaboration with the department of modern Indian languages and literary studies at Gauhati University, on Thursday launched a translation initiative to bring Assam’s classical Vaishnava literature to Tamil readers in Classical Tamil.The 15-day workshop aims to build a literary and cultural bridge between Assam and Tamil Nadu by translating Assam’s rich Vaishnava literary heritage into Classical Tamil.Speaking at the inaugural event, Gauhati University vice-chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta highlighted the deep cultural and intellectual links between the Vaishnavite traditions of Assam and Tamil Nadu. He noted similarities in their devotional ideals and Bhakti traditions associated with the Tamil Alvars. Stressing the need to translate the works of Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva into Tamil, he said, “This would carry the contributions of Assam’s Neo-Vaishnavite tradition to a broader national and literary community.”CICT director Prof. R Chandrasekaran stressed the need for sustained academic collaboration among scholars and institutions working on Classical Tamil and other Indian languages.Chief guest and Vaishnavite scholar Dayananda Pathak reflected on the long history of literary exchange between Tamil and other Indian languages and highlighted the significance of Madhav Kandali’s Assamese translation of the Ramayana in the history of Indian literary translation in India. He also underscored the spiritual similarities between the Bhakti traditions of South India and Assam’s Neo-Vaishnavite movement led by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva.B Vijayakumar, assistant professor in the department of modern Indian languages and literary studies at Gauhati University, said Assam’s distinctive Vaishnava literary tradition, shaped largely by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva, has played a vital role in defining the state’s cultural identity through its philosophy, drama, songs and religious writings.“Translating these works into Classical Tamil will provide an opportunity for Tamil scholars and readers to engage with the intellectual, spiritual and literary heritage of Assam,” Vijayakumar said.Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, has a long and influential tradition of Bhakti literature, he said. From the early medieval period, the Alvars and Nayanars expressed devotion through Tamil poetry and contributed significantly to the development of Tamil religious literature, temple traditions, music and cultural practices.“The Vaishnava tradition of the Alvars, particularly the devotional compositions associated with the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, represents one of the important foundations of Tamil Vaishnava literary culture,” he said.“Despite their geographical distance, both traditions demonstrate the power of devotion, vernacular literature, music and artistic expression in reaching wider sections of society,” Vijayakumar added.The CICT has been extending academic assistance to Gauhati University through research projects, translation initiatives, scholarly publications, workshops and cultural exchange activities.
