Bonsai Bumblings: Meena Speaks about Ireland Muthamizh Mandram – Spreading Tamil Culture through the Tamil Language

Monday, September 13, 2021

Meena Speaks about Ireland Muthamizh Mandram – Spreading Tamil Culture through the Tamil Language

Meenaranjani joined her husband Maruthi Nambi in Ireland in 2002 to further explore their careers. Both of them being Tamilians, while in Ireland, they observed that once children in a Tamil family entered a crèche or primary school, they lost touch with the Tamil language. Meena and Maruthi felt that it was their responsibility as parents to teach Tamil to the next generation here and it was the right of a child to know about the language and culture. They wanted the children to understand why their parents felt so happy when they talk about a Tamil game or a song.

It was then, their friends who had similar thoughts approached them to start the Ireland Muthamizh Mandram - an organization that promotes Tamil culture through the Tamil language for the children of the Tamil diaspora in Ireland. Let us hear from Meena about how IMM was conceived and the various activities they do to promote the love of Tamil in children.

Meena and Maruthi

1. How did you get an idea to start IMM. Who are the founders? Which year did you start?

I am a core member of UNITAS, a non-profit organization that specializes in the celebration of Indian festivals in Ireland. I manage the rangoli and art team at UNITAS for the past 10 years. Later, we formed a group along with our friends called “Nanben Da”. This group helped children to see the world of their Amma and Appa through the Tamil language. Nanben Da conducted the “Oor Thiruvizha” which had a lot of cultural activities and competitions for the younger generations.

Our experiences in these two groups and the passion to spread the rich and ancient language of Tamil to the children led to the formation of the Ireland Muthamizh Mandram(IMM) on July 7^th, 2013. The founders of IMM are Maruthi, Rajkumar, Rajesh, and I. Initially, 40 Tamil families became members of IMM. IMM Vidiyal was the name of the inaugural event of IMM. The children were the chief guests for the event and they were dressed like famous Tamil personalities.

Initially, we communicated about IMM through Facebook, Viber, and emails. I used the commute time between home and office to speak with everyone about IMM.

Inaugural Function of IMM

2. What are the various concepts covered in the IMM syllabus?

We help the children to speak, read, write, and play games in Tamil through activity-based teaching. To follow an organised and structured form of teaching, a syllabus was customised creatively with a potpourri of language, festival, culture, values, and Tamil-based games. Iyal, Isai, and Nadagam were included. The kids found the syllabus both intriguing and interesting and their parents were nostalgic. The feather on the cap was the accreditation of the IMM Tamil Syllabus 1 (Agaram 1) by the Bharathidasan University, Tamilnadu, and the book was published by IMM on the Tamizhar Thirunaal Event on Feb 23rd, 2014. This customised Tamil syllabus was written and compiled by me.

3. Where do you conduct the classes?

Initially, there were 4 IMM schools across Dublin at Lucan, Maynooth, Santry, and Edenderry. There were two teachers for each school and the classes were conducted in other school halls usually on Saturdays.

We also sometimes took up space in temple buildings. We had a membership fee of 40 Euros per student in the first year. The children could show the membership cards at Indian electrical shops, hardware stores, homes stores, and Indian grocery shops and get a discount. But, from the second year, there was no membership fee and education was free. To maintain the momentum, we also started monthly workshops.

Due to practical challenges in handling classes across Dublin, we started having the classes at the large Eurasia Supermarket at Lucan, Dublin. The supermarket hall and the parking space was given free for us. But we had some mutual benefits. Because people were coming for the classes, it was an additional business for the supermarket. My husband Maruthi also created advertising movies for Eurasia.

Due to the pandemic, the classes for the last 2 years are conducted online on Zoom.

IMM Class in Progress

4. What were the age groups attending IMM and what is taught to each group?

The age group of children was from 5 years onwards. We grouped the children into Beginners, Juniors, High Juniors, and Seniors. Beginners learnt uyirezhuthu, meiyezhuthu, Tamil rhymes and stories, and pronunciation. Juniors learnt uyirmei ezhuthu, irandu ezuthu varthai, moondru ezhuthu varthai, and oru vari kathaigal. High juniors learnt bigger stories, paragraphs, and vocabulary for a topic. For Seniors, we present lessons on slides and have interactive reading sessions. We encourage them to form their own sentences.

The different games taught to all age groups are kaya pazhama, thatha thatha mani enna, othaiya retaiya, amma kuthu appa kuthu, and oru kodam thani eduthu oru poo poothatham, pallanguzhi, kalangai, and nondi, We also teach the kulavai sound, gummi, and uriyadithal. We use the Tamil word ‘Oi’ like a whistle word. Whenever the IMM students hear the word ‘Oi’ they assemble together.

5. Can you tell us about any special technique you used to teach Tamil to children?

Yes. We used the code-switching method to teach Tamil. In this method, we first tell a new word in Tamil. Then we switched to the English language to tell the meaning of the word. Then, we again switched back to Tamil to teach the word.

We also ask the children to speak with emphasis on the Tamil syllables and not speak with the tip of the tongue like English.

IMM Class

6. Can you tell us more about the different activities and events of IMM.

We have the annual event on Pongal festival day of every year. We conduct exams in May. The certificates, mark sheets, and medals for performance are given on Pongal day. The children participate in a fashion dress competition based on Tamil leaders and dress up as moovendargal, Sundar Pichai, Abdul Kalam, Kadai Ezhu Vallalgal, Sports personalities, and famous people from the sangam period to the latest.

Children Dressed as Famous Tamil Personalities

We taught children to express Thirukkural in actions. Children created a scrapbook with those Thirukurral actions as drawings. We conducted Storytelling sessions about moovendar history and related stories.

Kural 69 as a Drawing for the Scrapbook

We taught the children to simulate Vivasayam in 7 steps. They also made models about the Tamil marriage ceremony etc. We taught them to write and draw the wishes for a Pongal card.

Simulating 7 Steps of Vivasayam

We also had the name of each student painted on ceramic plates in Tamil and baked it and gave it to the students as a gift.

Plates with Names of Children in Tamil

7. Hi Maruthi. Can you share a few words about IMM?

Maruthi adds his own perspective. “The Tamil population here is a rotating or moving population. Only 50 families stay here permanently. The other families just stay for a period of 1 year or 6 months and then move on. So, some children and parents stay for a short period in IMM. So, we don’t have a fixed structure. We unite as a family and everyone does everything. If there is a need, we come up with a budget and people volunteer to contribute. But, the staff are vetted and the insurance of the training halls is checked.

By teaching Tamil and the culture we try to establish an emotional connection for the children with their motherland. This connection is usually not found in the third or fourth generation of Indians living abroad.

Maruthi during an IMM activity

If IMM is like a Banyan Tree, Meena makes up the roots, branches, and leaves. I just have a bird’s eye view and offer suggestions and strategies. Now, my daughter reads ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and I’m a proud and happy parent.”

Meena was given the Social Contribution Award in 2019 by ITM for her Tamil activism. Meena says, “When I hear the children speak in Tamil, the happiness is immeasurable.”