The Naming of Tamil Nadu: A Historical Insight

Tamil Nadu, also known as Thamizh Naadu to the natives, has a rich history that goes beyond just its title. Dr. M. Muralidharan (commonly known as Annadurai or Arignar Anna) changed the name of Madras Presidency to Tamil Nadu in 1969. However, the name has historical roots that extend well before this transformation.

Historical Background and Pronunciation

Maha Kavi Bharathi, a renowned poet, had written the famous song 'Senthamizh Naadenumpodhinilay inbath thane vandhu paayudhu Kadhinilay' nearly 125 years ago. This song suggests that the collective name of the state existed long before Dr. Annadurai's leadership. The actual pronunciation 'Thamizh Naadu' was altered to 'Tamil Nadu' to make it more accessible and easier for non-Tamil speakers to pronounce. This decision was made by the DMK government, which was in power during the 1960s.

The Announcement and Reasoning

On 14th January 1969, Shri. C.N. Anna Durai, then the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, announced the renaming of the state from Madras to Tamil Nadu. The philosophical reasoning for this decision was perceived as paradoxical and silly. The rationale was that if Bengalis reside in Bengal, Gujaratis in Gujarat, and Punjabis in Punjab, then Tamil people should reside in 'TN'. A closer look at other state names further exposes this reasoning's infeasibility. For example, Telugus live in Andhra, and Hindi speakers inhabit states like UP, MP, and Bengal.

It is argued that Amricans speak American and not Amrican, and this shows the ignorance and verbosity in the thinking behind the name change. The move was so significant that it necessitated amending the constitution, leading to numerous renaming exercises in the following years.

Consequences and Controversies

The decision to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu had far-reaching implications. The main reason behind the retention of the name 'Madras' during the linguistic reorganization was to ensure that a significant portion of Madras city, which was Telugu-speaking, would not move to Andhra Pradesh. This led to the creation of the Kanyakumari district, including Nagercoil, a rice granary, to prevent it from going to Kerala.

The name 'Tamil Nadu' was not the first name given when the DMK formed the government. It was initially called 'Tamizhagam' and later renamed 'Tamil Nadu'. The linguistic reorganization of India during this period was complex and involved significant political and social debates.

Conclusion

The transformation of Madras into Tamil Nadu is a testament to the evolving identity and political landscape of Tamil Nadu. The name change reflects the deep-rooted cultural and linguistic pride of the Tamil people and the political movements that sought to reflect this identity in a more inclusive manner.