27September
The Centre for Social Justice and Equity (CSJE), Madras School of Social Work (MSSW), jointly with the Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, organized a two-day National Conference on “Tholkudi – Preservation and Promotion of Tribal Cultural Heritage” on September 27–28, 2024, at Hotel Westin, Velachery, and MSSW, Egmore. The conference was inaugurated by Tmt. N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, Honourable Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, who emphasized the government’s commitment to tribal welfare through initiatives such as Nannilam and Tholkudi Puththaaivu Thittam. Tmt. G. Laxmipriya IAS, Secretary to Government, highlighted the importance of Tholkudi in improving the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Tribes while preserving their cultural heritage. She underscored the conference’s role in facilitating dialogue among scholars, policymakers, and tribal representatives to shape sustainable frameworks for tribal language and cultural preservation. The keynote address by Prof. Garapati Uma Maheshwar Rao (University of Hyderabad) explored linguistic reconstruction and the importance of technology in preserving indigenous languages.
The conference featured plenary sessions, six panel discussions, tribal exhibitions, and cultural performances, engaging experts from institutions such as JNU, IIT Madras, IGNCA, and UNESCO. Panels addressed key themes including endangered tribal languages, language documentation, archiving, and safeguarding speech communities. Tribal art forms such as Toda embroidery, Kurumba paintings, and Palliyar dances were showcased, highlighting the cultural richness of Tamil Nadu’s indigenous groups. The valedictory session, held at MSSW, was presided over by Tmt. G. Laxmipriya IAS and featured addresses by Hon’ble Justice K. Chandru (Retd.) and Thiru T. Udhayachandran IAS, who emphasized the need for legal protection and linguistic revitalization. Dr. R. Pavananthi Vembulu, Director, CSJE, presented the conference report, summarizing policy recommendations for the Tholkudi framework. The event concluded with a commitment to establish working groups to design actionable schemes for safeguarding and promoting Tamil Nadu’s diverse tribal cultural heritage.
