Minor Language Conference held in New Delhi on 24th March 2007.

Minor Language Conference held at New Delhi on 24th March 2007.

2007, the Golden Jubilee Year of Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities
was celebrated by conducting Minor Language Conference on 24th
March 2007 at New Delhi at India International Centre (Annex). Max Muller Road, New Delhi.

The representatives of Minor Languages came to a central place to know their counterparts from other centres and enrich their knowledge by finding the ways and means to improve their Language and Literature.

The Meeting was addressed by Sri Shiv Raj Patil, Minister for Home Affairs and Sri A.R.Antulay, Minister for Minority Affairs.

On behalf of Sourashtra Vidya Peetam, Madurai, its Secretary Sri O.S.
Subramanian attended the Conference [thanks to reimbursement of 2 A/C.
fare, free Hostel accommodation and an allowance of Rs.500].

The extract of the memorandum submitted to the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities by Sourashtra Vidya Peetam is given below.

“Respected Commissioner Sir,
At the outset, on behalf of SOURASHTRA VIDYA PEETAM, MADURAI we would like to say that we are very happy to participate in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations and in the Minor Language Conference being held in New Delhi. We thank you for extending your kind invitation to our Institution representing Sourashtras, one of the Linguistic Minorities of Tamil Nadu.

2. We are of the view that such conferences are to take place periodically to take stock of the developments taken place in implementing the rights guaranteed by Constitution of India.

3. At the State level, every year, a meeting of Representatives of Linguistic Minorities is to be held to assess the progress made in redressing the grievance of Linguistic Minorities.

4. In the State of Tamil Nadu, we are representing Sourashtras and we should be given a place in the Committee of Linguistic Minorities of the State.

5. We have been giving Memoranda to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities as and when they visit Tamil Nadu right from the year 1963 when Sri G.S.Tewari, Asst. Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, visited Madurai on 3.10.1963.

6. We are pained to record here that so far nothing has been done by both Central Government and State Government in introducing the teaching of SOURASHTRAM, our Mother Tongue. The State Government’s TWO LANGUAGE formula comes in the way of teaching of Mother tongue in the Schools. A way should be found out.

7. There are some instances where we have to approach the COURTS to ensure our rights guaranteed in the Constitution of India, especially in running Educational Institutions.

8. Census Centenary Monograph No.10 – Language Handbook of mother tongues in census – Census of India 1971—clearly lists “saurashtra” as item No.68 in page No.334. But in the latest Census figures, Saurashtra language is omitted in the list of mother tongues spoken by more than 10000 people. Such lapses should not take place.

9. Very meager time is allotted in All India Radio for the broadcast of Sourashtra programs. We request more time is to be allotted for the broadcast / telecast of Sourashtram programs in AIR/ Doordharshan to quench the cultural thirst of Sourashtras living in Tamil Nadu.

10. The Asst. Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities of respective States should arrange for a meeting of the representatives of Linguistic Minorities with the State Officials to redress the grievance.

11. We trust soon our grievance of not teaching our Mother tongue Sourashtram in Schools will be redressed. THANKING YOU.”


A copy of “MINOR LANGUAGES SPECIAL REPORT by Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, presented in December 2005” was given to the participants.

On Page 64 of the Special Report under the head “Sourashtram” the following is stated.

Sourashtram is an Indo Aryan language spoken in Tamil Nadu Spoken by the persons who migrated there from Gujarat about Seven hundred years ago. Grierson called it Patnuli and included It as a dialect of Gujarati. The people refer to it as Sourashtra or
Sourashtra or Sourashtri. It is claimed that their number is ten Lakhs or more. They mostly reside in MADURAI and Dindigul Districts. The language is not used in the educational stream. Though there is long pending demand for it. The community publishes a magazine in the language. The language has a Script of its own in which some epics were written long ago. Presently the people use the modified form of Tamil script. But a few pages in the magazine are from their own script.


Sri O.S.Subramanian has got the addresses of some of the representatives of other
Minority Languages. He has plans to contact them and learn from their past experience, which will be made use of for the development of Sourashtra Language.

In this connection, he extends invitation to all the enthusiasts of Sourashta Language
for development and introduction of the same in the school curriculum.

Please e-mail your suggestions to upamanyuoss@yahoo.co.in

O.S.Subramanian,
Secretary, Sourashtra Vidya Peetam,
21-A Pacharisikara No.2 Lane, South Masi Street,
Madurai-625001.