Promotion of Tamil language in Hindu Religion Services By Mr S Premachandra
The influence of religion on migrant language maintenance among Tamil community is importance in its’ development. In the case of Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus, studies have found that religious devoutness has a positive influence on the maintenance of Tamil in the home domain. In the religious domain, an ideology which links the Tamil language to the Tamil Hindu (Saiva) religion works in favor of maintaining Tamil in temple spaces. However, this language-religion ideology is challenged by observations that, for the second-generation Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu migrants growing up in Western World, a shift to English and disengagement from the religion is occurring.
Mr Premachandra engaged on this challenge and believed that the roles of Tamil language in the temples and contributing to maintenance in the religious domain for the second generation. He highlighted some of the issues faced by temples in engaging young generations in their heritage language and religion; as well as ways that temples are adapting, in a Western setting, in order to establish the religion for the long-term. He worked tirelessly to introduce and implement his thoughts in rendering support in establishing temples and performing Hindu religious services in Tamil, includes Uchchi Mrugan Temple, High Wycombe, United Kingdom, Ganalinkeswarar Temple in Switzerland and Ganalinkeswarar Temple, Inuvil, Jaffna, Srilanka.
kanaga Thurkkai Amman London
கனக துர்க்கை அம்மன் லண்டன்
Touching upon the lotus feet of Shri Kanagadurga, I would like to express a few words about our beloved trustee member S. Premachandra on his rememberance day. Although he may not be with us physically today, his warmth, vision and impact is still very much present. His heart of gold and willingness to make a genuine impact on our community are amongst the most prominent memeories I have of Mr Premachandra. Mr Premachandra was an ardent devotee of ambal and a fundamental part of the growth of our temple. What I particularly admired about Mr Premachandra was his silent nature but his immense service to the temple and community. He was renowned as a kind and compassionate man and has contributed endlessly to our community. He has helped individuals in poverty to establish a career and has provided an education to numerous children. In addition to this with his establishment ; ‘Saiva Neri Kudam’, he has educated a number of students on our culture and fine arts. He has achieved this by arranging various competitions and other platforms to enable these students to showcase their talent. I had the pleasure of working with him since I arrived in this country and he has been a supportive figure in my development. Above all this, I feel proud to say that he was an exceptional friend and human being. It is also essential that on this occasion I mention Mrs Premachandra. She has been a pillar of strength and support through all his endeavours and to this day is dedicated to carrying forward how vision and ambitions. She has also been pivotal in ensuring that the service he was doing is still carried out without any compromise. On this second remembrance day I pray to our beloved kanagadurga ambaal that his vision and service is carried forward by generations to come. May ambal bless his soul for eternal peace.
Balakumara Gurukal (Ealing Kanagadurga Temple)
kanaga Thurkkai Amman London 1st Fundraising Program
