:''This article covers the Tamil people as an ethnic group. For other uses of the word 'Tamil', see Tamil.'' [[Image:Tamil girls in Tiruvanamalai.jpg||thumb|Tamil girls in Tiruvannamalai]] The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back almost two millennia. The oldest Tamil communities are those of southern India and north-eastern Sri Lanka. In addition, there are also a number of Tamil emigrant communities scattered around the world, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, and South Africa, with more recent emigrants also found in Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe. [[Image:Tamil man in mullaitivu.jpg|thumb|A Tamil man in Sri Lanka]] Unlike many ethnic groups, the Tamils have at no point of time been under one political entity - ''Tamil̲akam'', the traditional name for the Tamil lands, has always been under the rule of more than one kingdom or state. Despite this, the Tamil identity has always been strong. The identity has historically been primarily linguistic, with Tamils being those whose first language was Tamil language. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to also include emigrants of Tamil descent who maintain Tamil traditions though they no longer speak the language. Tamils are ethnically, linguistically and culturally related to the other Dravidian race of South Asia. There are an estimated 74 million Tamils around the world.
==History== ===The pre-classical period=== The origins of the Tamil people, as with the other Dravidian peoples, are unknown, although genetic and archeological evidence suggest a possible migration into India around 6000 BC (Gadgil 1997). Connections with the Elamite people of ancient Iran have been suggested, but there is little solid evidence to support this view. It has also been suggested that the people of the Indus Valley civilisation were either Tamil or another Dravidian race (see e.g. Parpola 1974; 2003), but this theory is deeply controversial and there is at present no academic consensus on the identity of the Indus people. The earliest clear evidence of the presence of the Tamil people in modern Tamil Nadu are the megalithic urn burials, dating from around 1000 BC onwards, which have been discovered at various places in Tamil Nadu, notably Adichanallur. These burials conform in a number of details to the descriptions of funerals in classical Tamil literature, and appear to be concrete evidence of the existence of Tamils in southern India during that period. Recent excavations at these sites have also provided samples of early Tamil writing, dating back to at least 500 BC. (''The Hindu'', 2005) [http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm] ===The classical period=== From around the 3rd century BC onwards, three royal dynasties - the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas - rose to dominate the Tamil country. Each of these dynasties had its own realm within Tamil̲akam. In addition, classical literature and contemporary inscriptions also describe a number of ''vēlīr'' or smaller chieftains, who collectively ruled over a large part of central Tamil Nadu. War between the kings and the chieftains were frequent, as were wars with Sri Lanka, but these appear to have been fought to assert might and demand tribute, rather than to subjugate and annex those territories. The kings and chieftains were patrons of the arts, and a significant volume of literature exists from this period. The literature shows that many of the cultural practices that are considered peculiarly Tamil date back to the classical period. Agriculture was important during this period, and there is evidence that irrigation networks were built (including the Kallanai dam, considered to be one of the oldest dams still in use). The economy, however, was centred around foreign trade, and there is evidence of significant contact with Europe. Large hoards of Ancient Rome coins and evidence of the presence of Roman traders have been discovered at Karur and Arikamedu, and there is evidence that at least two embassies were sent to the Roman Empire Augustus by Pandya kings. Potsherds with Tamil writing have also been found in excavations on the Red Sea, attesting to the presence of Tamil merchants there (Mahadevan 2003). An anonymous first century traveler's account written in Greek, ''Periplus Maris Erytraei'', describes the ports of the Pandya and Chera kingdoms and the trade with them in substantial detail, and indicates that the chief exports of the Tamils in those days were pepper, malabathrum, pearls, ivory, silk, spikenard, diamonds, sapphires, and tortoise-shell (Casson 1989). The classical period ended around the 4th century AD with invasions by a northern people referred to as the ''kaḷvār'', who are described as coming from lands to the north of Tamil̲akam and being evil and oppressive rulers. This period, commonly referred to as the dark age of Tamil̲akam, ended with the rise of the imperial Pallava dynasty. ===The imperial and post-imperial periods=== ''Main article: Tamil Nadu#History'' [[Image:Temple Tangore 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Detail from a temple in Thanjavur. The Tamil kings were patrons of the arts, and built many ornate temples.]] Although the Pallavas are mentioned in records from the 3rd century, they did not rise to prominence as an imperial dynasty until the 6th century. The dynasty does not appear to have been Tamil in origin and, although they rapidly adopted Tamil ways and the Tamil language, Tamil society was transformed during their reign. The Pallavas sought to model themselves on the great northern dynasties such as the Mauryas and Guptas. They therefore transformed the institution of the kingship into an imperial one, and sought for the first time to bring vast amounts of territory under their direct rule. The Pallavas also encouraged the growth of devotional worship centred around Siva and Vishnu, and began the culture of building large, ornate temples with many murals and sculptures. The caste system is thought to have been formalised and institutionalised during this period (Hart 1987). The Pallava dynasty was overthrown in the 9th century by the resurgent Cholas and Pandyas. The Cholas become dominant in the 10th century and established an empire covering most of southern India and Sri Lanka. The empire was sustained by strong trading links with China and South East Asia. A major and successful naval campaign was conducted against the Srivijaya Empire as a result of trade disputes. Chola power declined in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Pandya dynasty enjoyed a brief period of resurgence thereafter, but repeated Muslim invasions from the 15th century onwards placed a huge strain on the empire's resources, and the dynasty came to an end in the 16th century (Sastri 2002). [[Image:EttayapuramPalaceRemains.jpg|thumb|left|350px|The remains of a palace of Ettappan, a Nayak who ruled Ettayapuram]]No major empires arose thereafter, and Tamil Nadu was for a while ruled by a number of different Nayaks from the present day Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh regions, and other local chiefs. From the 17th century onwards, European powers began establishing settlements and trading outposts in the region. A number of battles were fought between the United Kingdom, France and Denmark in the 18th century, and by the end of the 18th century most of Tamil Nadu was under British rule. The western parts of the Tamil lands became increasingly politically distinct from the rest of the Tamil lands after the Chola and Pandya empires lost control over them in the 13th century. They developed their own distinct language and literature which grew increasingly different from Tamil, and evolved into modern Malayalam by the 15th century (Chaitanya 1971). === The Tamils of Sri Lanka === ''Main article: History of Sri Lanka'' There is little consensus on the history of the Tamil-speaking parts of Sri Lanka prior to the Chola period. The most radical Sinhalese historians argue that there was no organised Tamil presence in Sri Lanka until the invasions from southern India in the 7th century, whereas Tamil historians contend that Tamils are the original inhabitants of the island. The historical evidence is not conclusive either way. A few poems from the sangam period are attributed to a poet called "Pūtan̲r̲evan̲ār from īl̲am". Il̲am, also spelled Eelam, is an old Tamil name for Sri Lanka, and this is generally used by Tamils as evidence that there were Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka at that time. Sinhalese historians, however, do not accept that and claim that there is no archeological evidence of Tamil settlement in Sri Lanka until much later. Accounts from that period, whilst not offering conclusive evidence either way, demonstrate that Tamils fought wars against the Sinhalese kingdoms and occasionally ruled over parts of Sri Lanka, and served as counsellors to Sri Lankan kings from a fairly early date. It is, however, unclear whether these Tamils came from India or were native to Sri Lanka. The historical record does, however, establish that the Tamil kingdoms of India were closely involved in Sri Lankan affairs from a very early date. Tamil adventurers invaded the island as far back as 75 BC. From the 7th century onwards, the empires of Tamil Nadu played a significant role in Sri Lankan politics and there is concrete evidence of Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka in that period. Tamil wars against Sri Lanka culminated in the Chola annexation of the island in the 10th century, which lasted until the latter half of the 11th century. The decline of Chola power in Sri Lanka was followed by the re-establishment of the Polonnaruwa monarchy in the late 11th century. In 1215, the Arya Chakravarthi dynasty established an independent kingdom in the Jaffna peninsula and parts of northern Sri Lanka. The dynasty ruled over large parts of the northeast of Sri Lanka until 1619, when it was conquered by the Portuguese. The island was then taken by the Netherlands, and in 1796 became part of the British Empire. ===The modern period=== [[Image:Tamil brahmin couple circa 1945.jpg|thumb|A colonial-era photograph of a Tamil Brahmin couple]]The British colonists consolidated the Tamil lands in southern India into the Madras Presidency, which was integrated into British India. Similarly, the Tamil parts of Sri Lanka were joined with the other regions of the island in 1802 to form the Ceylon colony. They remained in political union with India and Sri Lanka after independence in 1947 and 1948 respectively. When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Kerala, and the southwest coast of Karnataka. The state was subsequently split up along linguistics lines. In 1953 the northern districts formed Andhra Pradesh. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Madras State lost its western coastal districts. The Bellary and South Kanara districts were ceded to Mysore state, and Kerala was formed from the Malabar district and the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin. In 1968, Madras State was renamed ''Tamil Nadu''. There was some initial demand for an independent Tamil state following independence. However, the Constitution of India in practice proved to grant significant autonomy to the states. In addition, protests by Tamils in 1963 led to the government adopting a new policy (called the "three language formula in India") which protects speakers of regional languages against the imposition of Hindi. These have cumulatively led to Tamils in India being largely satisfied with the federal arrangement, and there is little support for secession or independence today. In Sri Lanka, in contrast, the unitary arrangement led to the slow growth of a feeling amongst Tamils that they were being discriminated against by the Sinhala majority. This resulted in a demand for federalism, which in the 1970s grew into a movement for independence. The situation deteriorated into civil war in the early 1980s. A ceasefire has been in effect since 2002, and a final peace settlement is currently being negotiated. ==Geographic Distribution== ===Tamils in India=== [[Image:Women farm workers in coimbatore.jpg|thumb|Women farm workers in Coimbatore]] Most Indian Tamils live in the state of Tamil Nadu, which includes most of the historic Tamil lands, and was created after independence as a linguistic homeland for them. There are also Tamil communities in other parts of India. Most of these are fairly recent, dating to the colonial and post-colonial periods, but some - particularly the Hebbar and Mandyam Tamils of southern Karnataka, the Tamils of Palakkad in Kerala, and the Tamils of Pune, Maharashtra - date back to at least the mediaeval period. ===Tamils in Sri Lanka=== ''See also: Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka'' [[Image:Teaplant40.jpg|thumb|200px|Most hill-country Tamils in Sri Lanka still work on tea plantations like this one near Nuwara Eliya.]]There are today two groups of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The first are the ''Ceylon Tamils'', who are descended from the Tamils who lived in the old Jaffna kingdom. The second are the ''Indian Tamils'' or ''hill-country Tamils'', who are descended from bonded labourers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th century to work in tea plantations there. Ceylon Tamils mostly live in the northern and eastern provinces, whereas hill-country Tamils largely live in the central highlands. The hill-country Tamils and Ceylon Tamils historically saw themselves as separate communities. Under an agreement between the Sri Lankan and Indian governments in the 1960s, around 60% of hill-country Tamils were stripped of their Sri Lankan nationality and many were repatriated to India. However the ethnic conflict has led to the growth of a greater sense of common Tamil identity, and the two groups are now more supportive of each other (Suryanarayan 2001). There is also a significant Tamil-speaking Muslim population in Sri Lanka. Unlike Tamil-speaking Muslims from India, however, they do not identify themselves as ethnic Tamils and are therefore usually listed as a separate ethnic group in official statistics. ===Tamil emigrant communities=== Tamil emigration began in the 18th century when many poor Tamils were sent to far-flung parts of the British Empire as bonded labourers, especially Malaya, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean. At about the same time, Tamil businessmen also emigrated to other parts of the British Empire, particularly Burma and East Africa. Tamil communities still exist in these countries. The Tamil communities of Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa have retained much of their culture and language. Many Malaysian children attend Tamil schools, and a significant portion of Tamil children in South Africa and Singapore are brought up with Tamil language as their first language. The other Tamil communities no longer speak Tamil, but they still retain a strong Tamil identity. A large number of Sri Lankan Tamils also emigrated in the 1980s and thereafter to escape the ethnic conflict there, particularly to Australia, Europe, North America, and South-east Asia. Many young Tamil professionals from India, particularly computer programmers, have also emigrated to Europe and the USA in recent times in search of better opportunities. These new emigrant communities tend to be better integrated in their host communities than the older ones, and many of them have established cultural associations to protect and promote Tamil culture and the Tamil language in their adopted homes. ==Culture== ===Language and literature === ''Main articles: Tamil language, Tamil literature'' Tamils have strong feelings towards the Tamil language, which is often venerated in literature as "tamil̲an̲n̲ai", "the Tamil mother." It has historically been, and to large extent still is, central to the Tamil identity (Ramaswamy 1998). Like the other languages of south India, it is a Dravidian languages, unrelated to the Indo-European languages of northern India. The language has been far less influenced by Sanskrit than the other Dravidian languages and preserves many features of proto-Dravidian. Tamil literature is of considerable antiquity, and the language was recently recognised as a classical language by the Government of India. Classical Tamil literature, which ranges from lyric poetry to works on poetics and ethics, is remarkably different from contemporary and later literature in other Indian languages, and represents the oldest body of secular literature in South Asia (Hart 1975). The written language has changed very little over the years, with the result that much of classical literature remains easily accessible to modern Tamils and continues to influence modern Tamil culture. Modern Tamil literature is considerably diverse, ranging from historical romanticism in the works of Kalki Krishnamurthy, radical and more moderate social realism in the works of Pudhumaipithan and Jayakanthan respectively, and feminism in the works of Malathi Maithree and Kutti Revathi. In more recent years, Sri Lankan Tamil literature has produced several powerful pieces reflecting the civilian tragedy caused by decades of war. There is also an emerging diaspora literature in Tamil. ===Visual arts and architecture=== [[Image:Tanjore_Painting_Saraswati.jpg|thumb|150px|A Tanjore painting depicting Saraswati]] Tamil art displays considerable unity across its three main forms, architecture, sculpture and painting, and is clearly situated within the South Asian artistic tradition. As with other South Asian arts, Tamil art stresses the plasticity and fluidity of forms. Most traditional Tamil art is at least nominally religious, usually centred on Hinduism, although the religious element is often only a means to represent universal - and, occasionally, humanist - themes (Coomaraswamy 1946). The classical artforms continue to be practiced, and therefore represent a living tradition. The most important form of Tamil painting is Tanjore painting which, as the name suggests, originated in Tanjore (now Thanjavur) in the 9th century. The paintings are prepared on a base of cloth coated with zinc oxide, over which the image is painted using dyes and decorated with semi-precious stones and gold or silver thread. A style which was related in origin, but which exhibits significant differences in execution, is used for painting murals on temple walls, the most notable example being the murals on the Meenakshi temple of Madurai. Tamil painting is in general known for its stylistic elegance, rich colours, and small details. Tamil sculpture is usually worked with bronze (using the lost wax technique) or stone (usually associated with temples), and surviving pieces date from the 7th century onwards. Unlike Western art, the material does not influence the form taken by the sculpture; instead, the artist imposes his vision of the form on the material. As a result, one often sees in stone sculptures the sort of flowing forms that would normally be reserved for metal (Sivaram 1994). As with painting, these sculptures show a fine eye for detail, with great care being taken in sculpting minute details of jewellery worn by the subjects of the sculpture. The lines tend to be smooth and flowing, and many pieces capture movement with great skill. The cave sculptures at Mamallapuram are a particularly fine example of the technique, as are the bronzes of the Chola period. A particularly popular motif in the bronzes was the depiction of Siva as Nataraja, in a dance posture with one leg upraised and a fiery circular halo surrounding his entire body. Meenakshi_temple">Image:Gopuram-madurai.jpg|thumb|200px|The gopuram of the Madurai Meenakshi templeTamil temples were often treated as being sculptures on a grand scale. The temples are most notable for their high spires, consisting of a number of stepped levels, each with its own minature shrine. These spires tended to be simple and elegant in the earliest temples, and only sparsely adorned with sculpture, but they became progressively more elaborate and ornate, as exemplified by the Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur. From the 13th century onwards, the entrance gates to the temples - called gopurams in Tamil - also began to grow bigger and more elaborate. The temples at Chidambaram and Srirangam have particularly impressive gopurams, covered with sculptures and reliefs of various scenes and characters from Hinduism mythology (Pillai 1976). As with Indian art generally, Tamil art does not traditionally aspire to portraiture or realism. Much more emphasis is placed on the representation of ideal prototypes and on depicting the symbols with which the theme of the artistic work is associated. This means that small details, such as the direction which a hand faces, the animals or trees portrayed, or the time of the day depicted, are often of critical importance to understanding the meaning of a work of art. ===Performative arts=== The traditional Tamil performing arts have ancient roots. The royal courts and temples have been centres for the performing arts since at least the classical period, and descriptions of performances in classical Tamil literature and the ''natyashastra'', a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, indicate a close relationship between the ancient and modern artforms. In common with other Indian traditions, Tamil tradition stresses the unity of the various performative arts, and their symbiotic relationship with the visual arts and literature. The aim of a performance in Tamil tradition is to bring out the ''rasa'' - flavour, mood, or feeling - inherent in the text, and its quality is measured by the extent to which it induces the mood in the audience. Tamil shares a classical musical tradition, called carnatic music, with the rest of south India. Carnatic music evolved from the ancient music forms of South India, some of which are recorded in classical Tamil literature, and was influenced by the musical theory of the natyashastra. It is primarily oriented towards vocal music, with musical instruments either being accompaniments or imitating the role of the singer. Carnatic music is organised around the twin notions of melody types (''rāgam'') and cyclical rhythm types (''thāḷam''). Unlike the northern Hindustani music tradition, carnatic music is almost exclusively religious. In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant. Popular form of Tamil folk-music include the Villup Pattu, a form of music sung with a bow, and the Naattupurapaattu, folk ballads that convey folklore and folk history. [[Image:Bharathanatyam.jpg|frame|right|A Bharatanatyam dancer]]The dominant classical dance amongst Tamils is bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is performative rather than participative. A dance is an exposition of the story contained in a song, and is usually performed by one performer on stage, with an orchestra of drums, a drone and one or more singers backstage. The story is told through a complicated combination of hand-gestures or ''mudras'', facial expressions, and bodily posture. The dance form evolved from a specialised form of temple-dancing, and was only performed in temples until the 1930s. Dancers used to be exclusively female, but the dance now also has several well-known male exponents. Tamils also have a large number of folk dances. The most celebrated of these is karakaattam. In its religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamma. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakāṭṭam is usually performed to a special type of song known as ''themmangu pattu'' or ''thevar pāṭṭu'', a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and ''melam''. Other Tamil folk dances include mayilaattam, where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waist, ōyilāttam, danced in a circle waving small pieces of cloth of various colours, poykkaal kuthirai aattam, where the dancers use dummy horses, maanaattam, where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer, paraiyaattam, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and theeppandaattam, a dance involving play with burning wooden torches. (Sharma 2004). Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. Most artforms include a blend of both. The kuravaci is a type of dance-drama, performed by between four and eight women. The drama is opened by a woman playing the part of a female soothsayer of a wandering kurava tribe, who tells the story of a lady pining for her lover. The songs themselves have a lyrical beauty, which is amplified by the performance. The therukkoothu (which literally means "street play") is a form of village theatre or folk opera. It is traditionally performed in village squares with no sets and very simple props. The performances involves songs and dances, sometimes at the same time, and the stories can be either religious or secular. The performances are not formal, and performers often interact with the audience, mocking them or involving them in the dialogue. Therukkūthu has in recent times been very successfully adapted to convey social messages, such as abstinence and anti-casteism, and information about legal rights, and has spread to other parts of India. The village of Melatur in Tamil Nadu has a special type of performance, called the bhagavatamela, in honour of the local deity, which is performed once a year and lasts all night. Tamil Nadu also has a well developed stage theatre tradition, which has been heavily influenced by western theatre. A number of theatrical companies exist, who repertoire includes absurdist, realist and humorous plays. Both classical and folk performative arts survive in modern Tamil society. The folk arts declined during the middle of the 20th century, but have seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly in southern Tamil Nadu, although their popularity continues to be largely confined to rural regions. The Tamil Nadu Folk Arts Society (or "''Tamil̲nāṭu iyalisai nāṭaka man̲r̲am''") is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the folkarts, and has played a significant role in the continuance of the tradition. ===Religion=== Most Tamils are Hindus, but Islam and Christianity also have a long history in Tamil Nadu. According to popular legend, the last Chera king is said to have converted to Islam and travelled to Arabia to become a Sahaba of Muhammad, and the mother of one of the early Pallava kings is believed to have been Christian. Native Tamil Christianity was entirely replaced by European Christianity during the 16th century, and most Tamil Christians today are either Catholic or Protestant. Jainism was at one time a major religious force in Tamil Nadu, but it declined substantially during the Pallava period, and there are now only a few thousand Tamil Jains. Tamil Hinduism, like other regional varieties of Hinduism, has many peculiarities. The most popular god is Murugan, who has from a very early date been identified with Karthikeya, the son of Siva, but who may in origin have been a different god (Hart 1979). The worship of Amman or Mariamman, thought to have been derived from an ancient mother goddess is also very common. Kannagi, the heroine of the cilappatikaram, is worshipped as Pattini by many Tamils, particularly in Sri Lanka. There are also many temples and devotees of Vishnu, Siva, Ganapathi, and the other common Hindu gods. Kolams, a type of drawing made outside one's house with rice flour, are a typical characteristic of Tamil hinduism. The system of siddha medicine is also associated with Tamil Saivism. In addition, the popular religion of rural Tamil Nadu has many local gods called aiyyanar, who are thought to be the spirits of local heroes, who have the power to protect the village against harm. Their worship often centres around nadukkal, stones erected in memory of heroes who died in battle. This form of worship is mentioned frequently in classical literature and appears to be the survival of an ancient Tamil tradition. The most important Tamil festivals are Pongal, a harvest festival that occurs in mid-January, and varuḍapir̲appu, the Tamil New Year, which occurs around mid-April. Both are celebrated by all Tamils, regardless of religion. Important Tamil Hindu festivals include Dipavali and Thaipusam. ===Martial arts=== According to Tamil legend, the Chola, Chera and Pandya kings fought a hundred-year war at the beginning of the 1st century, during which they perfected the art of fighting. Four martial arts are believed to have evolved out of this, Kalaripayattu, silambam, maankombukkalai and varmakkalai, all of which are still practised today in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. silambam is the art of staff combat, and uses a staff 1.6 metres long. Its techniques were designed to enable a person to use a traveller's walking-staff to defend himself against an attack by several enemies. Its techniques focus on techniques of using the staff without stopping its movement, and synchronising staff, foot and body motion. Varma Kalai is a martial art, which trains people to attack the vital points of an opponent's body with hands or weapons. maankombukkalai involves fighting with a weapon made from the antlers of a stag tipped with metal. Kalariaṭṭam focus on all aspects of fighting, including unarmed combat, combat with wooden weapons and with metal weapons. The Kalaripayattu tradition is strongest in Kerala where it is known as ''kalaripayattu''. The ancient Tamil art of unarmed bull-fighting, popular amongst warriors in the classical period, has also survived in parts of Tamil Nadu, notably Alanganallur near Madurai, where it is known as Jallikattu or ''macuviraṭṭu'' and is held once a year around the time of the Pongal festival. ==Institutions== Because Tamils have been spread over several countries for much of their history, there are few formal pan-Tamil institutions. The most important national institutions for Tamils have been the governments of the states where they live, particularly the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Sri Lanka, which have since the 1950s collaborated in developing technical and scientific terminology in Tamil language and promoting its use. Politics in Tamil Nadu is dominated by the Dravidian movement, a movement founded by Periyar, popularly known as Periyar, to promote self-respect and rationalism, and fight casteism and the oppression of the lowest castes. Every major political party in Tamil Nadu bases its ideology on the Dravidian movement, and the national political parties play a very small role in Tamil politics. In Sri Lanka, Tamil politics was until the early 1980s dominated by the federalist movements, led by the Federal Party (later the Tamil United Liberation Front). In the 1980s, the political movement was largely succeeded by a violent military campaign conducted by several militant groups. The LTTE emerged as the most important force amongst these groups in the 1990s, and is currently negotiating a final settlement with the government. The LTTE controls parts of Sri Lanka, and has established its own government there, which it calls the government of Tamil Eelam. In the 1960s, the government of Tamil Nadu convened a World Tamil Conference which has met periodically since then. In 1999, a World Tamil Confederation was established to protect and foster Tamil culture and grow a sense of togetherness amongst Tamils in different countries. The Confederation has since adopted a Tamil flag and Tamil song, to act as trans-national symbols for the Tamil people. == See also == * Tamil language * Tamil literature * Tamil Nadu * Dravidian race * Self-respect movement * Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka * List of people from Tamil Nadu ==References== * Bowers, F. (1956), ''Theatre in the East - A Survey of Asian Dance and Drama'' New York: Grove Press. * Casson, L. (1989). ''The Periplus Maris Erythraei: Text with Introduction, Translation and Commentary''. Princeton, Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691040605. * Chaitanya, Krishna. (1971). ''A history of Malayalam literature''. New Delhi: Orient Longman. ISBN 8125004882 * Coomaraswamy, A.K. (1946). ''Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought''. London : Luzac & Co. * Gadgil, M., Joshi, N.V., Shambu Prasad,U.V., Manoharan,S. and Patil, S. (1997). "Peopling of India". In D. Balasubramanian and N. Appaji Rao (eds.), ''The Indian Human Heritage'', pp.100-129. Hyderabad: Universities Press. ISBN 8173711283. *Hart, G.L. (1975). ''The Poems of Ancient Tamil: Their Milieu and their Sanskrit Counterparts''. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0520026721. * Hart, G.L. (1979). "The Nature of Tamil Devotion." In M.M. Deshpande and P.E. Hook (eds.), ''Aryan and Non-Aryan in India'', pp. 11-33. Michigan: Ann Arbor. ISBN 0891480145 * Hart, G.L. (1987). "Early Evidence for Caste in South India." In P. Hockings (ed.), ''Dimesions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David B. Mandelbaum''. Berlin: Mouton Gruyter. * Mahadevan, Iravatham (2003). ''Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Cambridge, Harvard University Press''. ISBN 0674012275. * Parpola, Asko (1974). "On the protohistory of the Indian languages in the light of archaeological, linguistic and religious evidence: An attempt at integration." In van Lohuizen, J.E. de Leeuw & Ubaghs, J.M.M. (eds.), ''South Asian Archaeology 1973'', pp. 90-100. Leiden: E.J. Brill. * Parpola, Asko (2003). ''Deciphering the Indus script''. 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521795664. * Pillai, Suresh B. (1976). ''Introduction to the study of temple art''. Thanjavur : Equator and Meridian. * Ramaswamy, Sumathi. (1998). ''Passions of the Tongue: language devotion in Tamil India 1891-1970''. Delhi: Munshiram. ISBN 8121508517. * Sastri, K.S. Ramaswamy. (2002). ''The Tamils : the people, their history and culture. Vol. 1 : An introduction to Tamil history and society''. New Delhi : Cosmo Publications. ISBN 8177554069. * Sharma, Manorama. (2004). ''Folk India : a comprehensive study of Indian folk music and culture. Vol. 11: Tamil Nadu and Kerala''. New Delhi : Sundeep Prakashan. ISBN 8175741414. * Sivaram, Rama (1994). ''Early Chola art : origin and emergence of style''. New Delhi: Navrang. ISBN 8170130794. * * Suryanarayan, V. (2001). [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1816/18160950.htm "In search of a new identity"], ''Frontline'' 18(2). * Swaminatha Iyer, S.S. (1910). ''A brief history of the Tamil country. Part 1: The Cholas''. Tanjore : G.S. Maniya. * Varadpande, M.L. (1992). ''Loka ranga : panorama of Indian folk theatre''. New Delhi : Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170172780. * Zvebil, K. (1974). ''The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India''. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9004035915. ===Population data=== All population data has been taken from [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tam Ethnologue], with the exception of the data for Sri Lanka, which was taken from the CIA World Factbook's Sri Lanka [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html page]. Tamil people Tamil language ka:ტამილები
/archive0 (discussions on the previous version, which has now been completely rewritten) == Important proposal == I feel that the current article is in a bad shape. Shall we rewrite the article from scratch following the :Wikipedia:WikiProject Ethnic Groups Template? Volunteers please signup below. -- 05:27, Mar 30, 2005 (UTC) # User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 21:03, 2005 Mar 30 (UTC) (Yes, good idea.) # 05:06, Mar 31, 2005 (UTC) (Signing up myself.) # user:Vadakkan 00:45, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)(Yes, will help as much as I can) :I've copied the template to Tamil people/temp. -- User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 23:01, 2005 Apr 1 (UTC) Well done by Arvind (Vadakkan) and Brhaspathi in improving the article. -- 05:06, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) Following is the discussion from Talk: Tamil people/temp: ===Mauritius=== Should Mauritius be listed here? From what I know, Tamil language is not spoken there extensively, but many of the residents are of Tamil origin. Does this qualify? -- User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 23:17, 2005 Apr 1 (UTC) :Take a look at my edits - does that fix it appropriately? User:Vadakkan 22:21, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Yes! That seems to describe the situation perfectly. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 22:58, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ===General comments=== *I've made a start on the "History" and "Geographical distribution" sections. The problem I'm having is that I'm not too sure how to intelligibly separate "History" from "Geographic distribution". Should the Sri Lankan conflict go under "History" or "Geographic distribution? Should the "svaya mariyadai iyakkam" (and the Dravidian movement generally) go under History, Geographic Distribution, or Culture? My instinct is to put everything after independence under "Geographic distribution", but I'm not sure how logical that is. *As I was writing, I kept thinking that we will have to proof all of this very carefully for NPOV. *Should we put a notice on the Tamil people page saying that the article is being rewritten, and asking them to make changes here? *Religion figures for India are Hinduism (88.7%), Christianity (5.7%), Islam (5.3%), Jainism (<0.1%). Does anyone know where we can get figures for Sri Lanka? And (eek) do we or don't we count Sri Lankan Muslims as Tamil, given the huge amount of politics associated with that question? :-- User:Vadakkan 22:21, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC) :My personal opinion is to list the Dravidian movement etc under History. Geographical Distribution should probably only say where Tamil people are found today, while History should mention when and why. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 22:58, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::I'm thinking it may be useful to have a section on "Society", covering the family structures, the caste system, festivals, and so on - things that don't fit readily within culture, but are nonetheless important and interesting. If we do that, the Dravidian movement will probably fit well into that. We should also discuss at least briefly the so-called "Dravidian" religious beliefs - the aiyyanars, nadukals, amman, pattini, and so on, and that too may fit better within "society" than "culture". There's enough to talk about under "culture" on language, literature, and classical arts! --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :NPOV - we can probably remove any alleged POV if we quote the source immediately after each "bold" statement. This should probably deflect criticism from the article to the references. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:10, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::I see your point. The difficulty is going to be finding sources that aren't biased. Perhaps we could solve it by citing a fair balance of biased sources. --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :The CIA World Factbook mentions [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%] for Sri Lanka. It has a different idea of Sri Lankan history though. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:14, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::Thanks. What I've not been able to find is a breakup of Sri Lankan Tamils by religion (how many are Christians and how many are Hindus). I guess we'll just leave that out. I'll try to find some sources to cite for the history, to justify the "divergence" from the CIA World Factbook. --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :::Well, the overall religion breakup for Sri Lanka is [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)]. We don't know exactly how these are correlated with the ethnicities. Eg: are the Sinhalese largely Buddhist and Tamils largely Hindu? And other questions like this. But omitting this for now should probably be OK. I'll hunt around for data. If we find anything we can add it with a citation. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:17, 2005 Apr 11 (UTC) ===History=== Please take a look at the history section. Is it too long? I think it's fine largely because I don't think I'll be able to condense 2500 years of history into anything shorter! But do others think it would it better to hive it off into a separate Tamil history article, with just two or three paragraphs here? --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :Continue your good work with the history section. In due course, when it becomes too long (2500 years' history!), we can hive off a separate article like History of Russia etc. -- 04:34, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) ===Indian Tamils were stripped of their nationality?=== Arvind, in Tamil people/temp#Tamils in Sri Lanka, you seem to have added "Indian Tamils were stripped of their nationality and were forcibly repatriated to India" which is confusing. Where did this happen? Shall I presume in Sri Lanka? -- 04:34, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) :I've copyedited that section. Can you check if that version is OK? -- User:Sundar 08:44, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) ::Take a look at [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1816/18160950.htm]. I've reworded the section a bit more - it was a little too strong. User:Vadakkan 11:24, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC) === Shall we update the main article? === Hi, as you might know, Tamil language is being featured on April 14. We can expect some visitors to visit Tamil people that day. It would be good if the article is reasonably good that day and also if the skeleton was in place, it might help in improving the article. So, if we can wrap up the culture section, we can update the actual article with the temp one. For the arts section, can we take a summary of the arts listed currently in the article? -- 08:48, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) :I thought this was a good idea, so I went ahead and did it - hope that was OK. Could you please read and edit that article? Also, would it be a good idea to shift this discussion page there as well? User:Vadakkan 22:32, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Sure. -- 04:37, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) : Wow. Great Stuff. -- User:Ram Mallika 14:37, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) == Comments by an anon moved from the article space == The articles in this web site are so nice.but, i think we can improve the speed of downloading the pages by eliminating the background pictures of the web pages.B'coz personnaly i feel that those pictures doesnt play a major role in publising the information about the great Tamilians -- A Tamilian == Religion == Kudos goes to Sundar and Arvind for the *great* work. But, the religion part is messed up, IMHO. Tamil culture was originally free from religion. I understand that the word "Tamil hinduism" is used to handle neutrality--but unfortunately no truth; the Tamil gods and worships are still not accepted as "Hinduism" by orthodox hindus. I don't want to edit/mess your great your; just thought of pointing out the technicall error. --User:Rrjanbiah 18:21, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC) :I had little part in the recent improvement. I do agree that the gods worshipped by ancient tamilians and the methodology of worship are not standard "vedic hinduism". But, that doesn't mean the tamilians were rationalists/atheists all along. Think of the "ayyanaar temples" in every village, "iRai vaNakkam" in most clasical works etc. AFIK, only after the "pakuththaRivu iyakkam" by Periyar and others did atheism take hold. So "Tamil hinduism" is just a convenient and approximate name for "Tamil religion". AFIK, hinduism was never an "organised" religion. Any body, who doesn't practise any other organised religion and lives in India was called, though loosely, a Hindu. But these days, the ancient practices are currently subsumed under hinduism. This is what the section tells i.e. in present tense. Though I'm no big fan of religion, we need to accept the reality. -- 03:46, Apr 29, 2005 (UTC) :I'm afraid I'm responsible for that section. Basically, as Sundar points out, I was trying to describe Tamil religion as it is today and give a very brief idea of its historical roots. ::''the Tamil gods and worships are still not accepted as "Hinduism" by orthodox hindus.'' :I don't think orthodox hindus have a problem with accepting it as Hinduism, only hindutva-people. But that's not a very important issue. The worship of the aiyyanars, Murugan, and Amman have things in common with the forms of worship of northern Indian gods, so it also (to me) makes logical sense to treat it as a Tamil variant of a broader hinduism. After all, even the shamanistic practices of many Himalayan tribes is called Hinduism. ::''Tamil culture was originally free from religion.'' :I've heard this, but I'm not too sure about it - there is plenty of religion in the ettutokai, for example. But I think we should have an article on the Tamil sangam period, where we can also discuss Tamil religious beliefs in that period. I would love to see a good article about how Tamil religious beliefs evolved over the years, how Murugan came to be identified with Karthikeya, and so on, but I don't know enough to write that effectively. Incidentally, what is your opinion on this article[http://tamil.berkeley.edu/Research/Articles/Caste2.pdf] by Professor George Hart? User:Vadakkan 00:45, 11 May 2005 (UTC) ::Even I would love to see such articles. While we are at it, let me ask Arvind a couple of things that I always wanted to. :1. Where did you get to read all the books and research papers that you cite in these articles. If you've soft copies of any of them, can you send it over to me by e-mail to my yahoo.com id sundarbecse. ::I have a collection of books and articles on Tamil culture, many inherited from my grandfather (and great-grandfather), and several of my own. There are a few good resources online too - [http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/journal/kolam/index.htm New-Kolam] has some very interesting articles, for example. And there is the article by George Hart I linked to above. User:Vadakkan 11:14, 18 May 2005 (UTC) :Thanks. -- 05:55, May 23, 2005 (UTC) :2. minor suggestion: while editing sections, do not put your comment within/* */ as in /* Religion - a couple of points */ because the /* */ creates an automatic link in the recent changes. To me it appears like #Religion - a couple of points, which is a non-existent section. You can write your edit summary outside /* */ like /* Religion */ - a couple of points. -- User:Sundar 05:57, May 11, 2005 (UTC)
::Ooops! Noted. User:Vadakkan 11:14, 18 May 2005 (UTC)
''The last Chera king is said to have converted to Islam and travelled to Arabia to become a companion of Muhammad, and the mother of one of the early Pallava kings is believed to have been Christian.''
Would be nice if a link is provided to the document that supports this. ''Companion of Mumammad'' - sounds implausible.
User:Calvinkrishy
: I've qualified it as a "popular legend" (which it is) - does that fix your concern? User:Vadakkan 00:07, 26 May 2005 (UTC)
::Haven't heard about this one! Informative, thanks.User:Calvinkrishy 15:36, May 27, 2005 (UTC)
How about adding reference to Alwars, Nayanmars in the religion section? User:Calvinkrishy 15:36, May 27, 2005 (UTC)
== Statistics on distribution of Tamils in India ==
An anonymous user added these statistics in the article. They're more than 30 years old, and a little too much detail for this article in my opinion, so I've removed them. If anyone has more up-to-date statistics, there may be a case for an artice on Language distribution in India or some such thing. -- User:Vadakkan 14:04, 21 May 2005 (UTC)
State/Union Territory Tamil-Speaking
The distribution of Tamil-speaking population found in the States of India according to the book Distribution of Languages in India in States and Union Territories, 1971, is given below
* Andhra Pradesh 552,42 1.27
* Assam & Meghalaya 2992 0.02
* Bihar 15,167 0.03
* Gujarat 15,995 0.06
* Jammu & Kashmir 823 0.02
* Kerala 505,340 2.37
* Madhya Pradesh 28,735 0.07
* Tamil Nadu 34,817,421 84.51
* Maharashtra 233,988 0.46
* Karnataka 990,409 3.38
* Orissa 9160 0.04
* Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. 6128 0.02
* Rajasthan 3564 0.01
* Uttar Pradesh 9222 0.01
* West Bengal 21,454 0.05
* Andaman and Nicobar Islands 14,518 12.62
* Delhi 37,343 0.92
* Lackshadeep, and Minicoy Islands 113 0.35
* Manipur 834 0.08
* Tripura 82 ----
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli 11 0.01
* Goa, Daman, and D 3347 0.39
* Pondicherry 419,830 88.95
* Nagaland 469 0.09
* Arunachal Pradesh 638 0.14
===Canada too?===
Phenomenal work to all those who have contributed to this article. I hadn't looked at it in awhile, and when I came back it was like a butterfly that had come out of its cocoon.
Under the section of the table with 'significant populations in', I wonder if Canada would qualify? There are many Tamils in the Toronto area, specially Sri Lankan emigrants and their descendents. There are at least one or two Tamil Hindu temples I know of in the Toronto area. Does anybody have any population figures? User:QuartierLatin1968 17:44, 24 May 2005 (UTC)
== Cuisine ==
''The first paragraph is an adaptation of cuisine section of Chennai. Feel free to improve this draft so as to be included in the article.''
The staple food of most of the Tamils living in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka is rice. (Should add info on emigrant populations).This is usually steamed and served with about two to six accompanying items. Typically the items are sambar (dish), dry curry, rasam, kootu and ''thayir'' (curd) or ''moru'' (whey or buttermilk). Lighter meals usually include one or more of pongal, dosa, idli or vada, and are often served for breakfast or as an evening snack. Coffee is a popular beverage in the metros in general and Chennai in particular. Another popular beverage is strongly brewed tea found in the thousands of small Tea stalls.
Each region in Tamil Nadu (someone should add info about other places) has its own distinct variant of the common dishes and also a few dishes native to itself. The Chettinad region comprising of Karaikudi and adjoining areas is known for both traditional vegetarian dishes like appam, uthappam, paal paniyaram and non-vegetarian dishes, made primarily using Chicken. Chettinad cuisine is now popular even in non-Tamil speaking areas as well. Madurai and the other southern districts of Tamil Nadu are known for non-vegetarian food made of goat meat, Chicken and fish. Parota made with maida, perhaps an adaptation of the north Indian Paratha, is also commonly eaten from food outlets in Tamil Nadu, more popularly in districts like Virudhunagar, Madurai and the adjoining areas. Parota is not commonly prepared at home as it is a laborious and time-consuming process.
**I have created a new page Tamil cuisine with an introductory paragraph. I propose to further develop the page during next 2/3 days.--User:Bhadani 18:12, 26 May 2005 (UTC)
***I'd been asked to contribute talk here, but it looks like I wouldn't be much help. I've done some research and found a few interesting things, but that's it. If I think any of it might be useful, I guess I'll put it in as notes on the discussion page of your Tamil cuisine. --User:Mothperson 18:31, 26 May 2005 (UTC)
== Recent images added ==
Someone has added a couple of images. But the copyright status is unverified and also I'm sure the actress Sneha image is not copyright free. Moreover, since there is a picture of a female dancer is already given down below, I would like to have the image of a couple (male+female) in the traditional dress than the current one, which gives a synthetic look. -- 04:11, May 27, 2005 (UTC)
:I don't like the Sneha image either. Commons has a number of images of Tamils and Tamil Nadu. Perhaps we could substitute the Sneha image with :commons:Image:Tamil couple working on a farm.jpg (or any of the others at :commons:Category:Tamils). We could also use :commons:Image:Farm in tamil nadu.jpg or :commons:Image:View of coimbatore in tamil nadu.jpg for a picture of Tamil Nadu if the one in there at the moment isn't GFDL. I'll leave it to you to decide. -- User:Vadakkan 15:04, 27 May 2005 (UTC)
::Furthur, the image, Tamil Nadu landscape, looks like the aerial picture of a flood affected region :(! User:Calvinkrishy 15:27, May 27, 2005 (UTC)
::I've added some of the images from commons. Someone please check the formatting. Also, I would like to see :Image:HandLoomInEttayapuram.jpg somewhere. -- 06:51, Jun 1, 2005 (UTC)
List of Tamil people (called Tamils or Tamilians) and the articles about Tamil people: Tamil Indian people South India
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Tamil_people:
Tamil_people
Tamil_people
Tamil_people
Tamil_people/archive0
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Tamil people
:''This article covers the Tamil people as an ethnic group. For other uses of the word 'Tamil', see Tamil.'' [[Image:Tamil girls in Tiruvanamalai.jpg||thumb|Tamil girls in Tiruvannamalai]] The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back almost two millennia. The oldest Tamil communities are those of southern India and north-eastern Sri Lanka. In addition, there are also a number of Tamil emigrant communities scattered around the world, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, and South Africa, with more recent emigrants also found in Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe. [[Image:Tamil man in mullaitivu.jpg|thumb|A Tamil man in Sri Lanka]] Unlike many ethnic groups, the Tamils have at no point of time been under one political entity - ''Tamil̲akam'', the traditional name for the Tamil lands, has always been under the rule of more than one kingdom or state. Despite this, the Tamil identity has always been strong. The identity has historically been primarily linguistic, with Tamils being those whose first language was Tamil language. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to also include emigrants of Tamil descent who maintain Tamil traditions though they no longer speak the language. Tamils are ethnically, linguistically and culturally related to the other Dravidian race of South Asia. There are an estimated 74 million Tamils around the world.
==History== ===The pre-classical period=== The origins of the Tamil people, as with the other Dravidian peoples, are unknown, although genetic and archeological evidence suggest a possible migration into India around 6000 BC (Gadgil 1997). Connections with the Elamite people of ancient Iran have been suggested, but there is little solid evidence to support this view. It has also been suggested that the people of the Indus Valley civilisation were either Tamil or another Dravidian race (see e.g. Parpola 1974; 2003), but this theory is deeply controversial and there is at present no academic consensus on the identity of the Indus people. The earliest clear evidence of the presence of the Tamil people in modern Tamil Nadu are the megalithic urn burials, dating from around 1000 BC onwards, which have been discovered at various places in Tamil Nadu, notably Adichanallur. These burials conform in a number of details to the descriptions of funerals in classical Tamil literature, and appear to be concrete evidence of the existence of Tamils in southern India during that period. Recent excavations at these sites have also provided samples of early Tamil writing, dating back to at least 500 BC. (''The Hindu'', 2005) [http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm] ===The classical period=== From around the 3rd century BC onwards, three royal dynasties - the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas - rose to dominate the Tamil country. Each of these dynasties had its own realm within Tamil̲akam. In addition, classical literature and contemporary inscriptions also describe a number of ''vēlīr'' or smaller chieftains, who collectively ruled over a large part of central Tamil Nadu. War between the kings and the chieftains were frequent, as were wars with Sri Lanka, but these appear to have been fought to assert might and demand tribute, rather than to subjugate and annex those territories. The kings and chieftains were patrons of the arts, and a significant volume of literature exists from this period. The literature shows that many of the cultural practices that are considered peculiarly Tamil date back to the classical period. Agriculture was important during this period, and there is evidence that irrigation networks were built (including the Kallanai dam, considered to be one of the oldest dams still in use). The economy, however, was centred around foreign trade, and there is evidence of significant contact with Europe. Large hoards of Ancient Rome coins and evidence of the presence of Roman traders have been discovered at Karur and Arikamedu, and there is evidence that at least two embassies were sent to the Roman Empire Augustus by Pandya kings. Potsherds with Tamil writing have also been found in excavations on the Red Sea, attesting to the presence of Tamil merchants there (Mahadevan 2003). An anonymous first century traveler's account written in Greek, ''Periplus Maris Erytraei'', describes the ports of the Pandya and Chera kingdoms and the trade with them in substantial detail, and indicates that the chief exports of the Tamils in those days were pepper, malabathrum, pearls, ivory, silk, spikenard, diamonds, sapphires, and tortoise-shell (Casson 1989). The classical period ended around the 4th century AD with invasions by a northern people referred to as the ''kaḷvār'', who are described as coming from lands to the north of Tamil̲akam and being evil and oppressive rulers. This period, commonly referred to as the dark age of Tamil̲akam, ended with the rise of the imperial Pallava dynasty. ===The imperial and post-imperial periods=== ''Main article: Tamil Nadu#History'' [[Image:Temple Tangore 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Detail from a temple in Thanjavur. The Tamil kings were patrons of the arts, and built many ornate temples.]] Although the Pallavas are mentioned in records from the 3rd century, they did not rise to prominence as an imperial dynasty until the 6th century. The dynasty does not appear to have been Tamil in origin and, although they rapidly adopted Tamil ways and the Tamil language, Tamil society was transformed during their reign. The Pallavas sought to model themselves on the great northern dynasties such as the Mauryas and Guptas. They therefore transformed the institution of the kingship into an imperial one, and sought for the first time to bring vast amounts of territory under their direct rule. The Pallavas also encouraged the growth of devotional worship centred around Siva and Vishnu, and began the culture of building large, ornate temples with many murals and sculptures. The caste system is thought to have been formalised and institutionalised during this period (Hart 1987). The Pallava dynasty was overthrown in the 9th century by the resurgent Cholas and Pandyas. The Cholas become dominant in the 10th century and established an empire covering most of southern India and Sri Lanka. The empire was sustained by strong trading links with China and South East Asia. A major and successful naval campaign was conducted against the Srivijaya Empire as a result of trade disputes. Chola power declined in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Pandya dynasty enjoyed a brief period of resurgence thereafter, but repeated Muslim invasions from the 15th century onwards placed a huge strain on the empire's resources, and the dynasty came to an end in the 16th century (Sastri 2002). [[Image:EttayapuramPalaceRemains.jpg|thumb|left|350px|The remains of a palace of Ettappan, a Nayak who ruled Ettayapuram]]No major empires arose thereafter, and Tamil Nadu was for a while ruled by a number of different Nayaks from the present day Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh regions, and other local chiefs. From the 17th century onwards, European powers began establishing settlements and trading outposts in the region. A number of battles were fought between the United Kingdom, France and Denmark in the 18th century, and by the end of the 18th century most of Tamil Nadu was under British rule. The western parts of the Tamil lands became increasingly politically distinct from the rest of the Tamil lands after the Chola and Pandya empires lost control over them in the 13th century. They developed their own distinct language and literature which grew increasingly different from Tamil, and evolved into modern Malayalam by the 15th century (Chaitanya 1971). === The Tamils of Sri Lanka === ''Main article: History of Sri Lanka'' There is little consensus on the history of the Tamil-speaking parts of Sri Lanka prior to the Chola period. The most radical Sinhalese historians argue that there was no organised Tamil presence in Sri Lanka until the invasions from southern India in the 7th century, whereas Tamil historians contend that Tamils are the original inhabitants of the island. The historical evidence is not conclusive either way. A few poems from the sangam period are attributed to a poet called "Pūtan̲r̲evan̲ār from īl̲am". Il̲am, also spelled Eelam, is an old Tamil name for Sri Lanka, and this is generally used by Tamils as evidence that there were Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka at that time. Sinhalese historians, however, do not accept that and claim that there is no archeological evidence of Tamil settlement in Sri Lanka until much later. Accounts from that period, whilst not offering conclusive evidence either way, demonstrate that Tamils fought wars against the Sinhalese kingdoms and occasionally ruled over parts of Sri Lanka, and served as counsellors to Sri Lankan kings from a fairly early date. It is, however, unclear whether these Tamils came from India or were native to Sri Lanka. The historical record does, however, establish that the Tamil kingdoms of India were closely involved in Sri Lankan affairs from a very early date. Tamil adventurers invaded the island as far back as 75 BC. From the 7th century onwards, the empires of Tamil Nadu played a significant role in Sri Lankan politics and there is concrete evidence of Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka in that period. Tamil wars against Sri Lanka culminated in the Chola annexation of the island in the 10th century, which lasted until the latter half of the 11th century. The decline of Chola power in Sri Lanka was followed by the re-establishment of the Polonnaruwa monarchy in the late 11th century. In 1215, the Arya Chakravarthi dynasty established an independent kingdom in the Jaffna peninsula and parts of northern Sri Lanka. The dynasty ruled over large parts of the northeast of Sri Lanka until 1619, when it was conquered by the Portuguese. The island was then taken by the Netherlands, and in 1796 became part of the British Empire. ===The modern period=== [[Image:Tamil brahmin couple circa 1945.jpg|thumb|A colonial-era photograph of a Tamil Brahmin couple]]The British colonists consolidated the Tamil lands in southern India into the Madras Presidency, which was integrated into British India. Similarly, the Tamil parts of Sri Lanka were joined with the other regions of the island in 1802 to form the Ceylon colony. They remained in political union with India and Sri Lanka after independence in 1947 and 1948 respectively. When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Kerala, and the southwest coast of Karnataka. The state was subsequently split up along linguistics lines. In 1953 the northern districts formed Andhra Pradesh. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Madras State lost its western coastal districts. The Bellary and South Kanara districts were ceded to Mysore state, and Kerala was formed from the Malabar district and the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin. In 1968, Madras State was renamed ''Tamil Nadu''. There was some initial demand for an independent Tamil state following independence. However, the Constitution of India in practice proved to grant significant autonomy to the states. In addition, protests by Tamils in 1963 led to the government adopting a new policy (called the "three language formula in India") which protects speakers of regional languages against the imposition of Hindi. These have cumulatively led to Tamils in India being largely satisfied with the federal arrangement, and there is little support for secession or independence today. In Sri Lanka, in contrast, the unitary arrangement led to the slow growth of a feeling amongst Tamils that they were being discriminated against by the Sinhala majority. This resulted in a demand for federalism, which in the 1970s grew into a movement for independence. The situation deteriorated into civil war in the early 1980s. A ceasefire has been in effect since 2002, and a final peace settlement is currently being negotiated. ==Geographic Distribution== ===Tamils in India=== [[Image:Women farm workers in coimbatore.jpg|thumb|Women farm workers in Coimbatore]] Most Indian Tamils live in the state of Tamil Nadu, which includes most of the historic Tamil lands, and was created after independence as a linguistic homeland for them. There are also Tamil communities in other parts of India. Most of these are fairly recent, dating to the colonial and post-colonial periods, but some - particularly the Hebbar and Mandyam Tamils of southern Karnataka, the Tamils of Palakkad in Kerala, and the Tamils of Pune, Maharashtra - date back to at least the mediaeval period. ===Tamils in Sri Lanka=== ''See also: Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka'' [[Image:Teaplant40.jpg|thumb|200px|Most hill-country Tamils in Sri Lanka still work on tea plantations like this one near Nuwara Eliya.]]There are today two groups of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The first are the ''Ceylon Tamils'', who are descended from the Tamils who lived in the old Jaffna kingdom. The second are the ''Indian Tamils'' or ''hill-country Tamils'', who are descended from bonded labourers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th century to work in tea plantations there. Ceylon Tamils mostly live in the northern and eastern provinces, whereas hill-country Tamils largely live in the central highlands. The hill-country Tamils and Ceylon Tamils historically saw themselves as separate communities. Under an agreement between the Sri Lankan and Indian governments in the 1960s, around 60% of hill-country Tamils were stripped of their Sri Lankan nationality and many were repatriated to India. However the ethnic conflict has led to the growth of a greater sense of common Tamil identity, and the two groups are now more supportive of each other (Suryanarayan 2001). There is also a significant Tamil-speaking Muslim population in Sri Lanka. Unlike Tamil-speaking Muslims from India, however, they do not identify themselves as ethnic Tamils and are therefore usually listed as a separate ethnic group in official statistics. ===Tamil emigrant communities=== Tamil emigration began in the 18th century when many poor Tamils were sent to far-flung parts of the British Empire as bonded labourers, especially Malaya, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean. At about the same time, Tamil businessmen also emigrated to other parts of the British Empire, particularly Burma and East Africa. Tamil communities still exist in these countries. The Tamil communities of Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa have retained much of their culture and language. Many Malaysian children attend Tamil schools, and a significant portion of Tamil children in South Africa and Singapore are brought up with Tamil language as their first language. The other Tamil communities no longer speak Tamil, but they still retain a strong Tamil identity. A large number of Sri Lankan Tamils also emigrated in the 1980s and thereafter to escape the ethnic conflict there, particularly to Australia, Europe, North America, and South-east Asia. Many young Tamil professionals from India, particularly computer programmers, have also emigrated to Europe and the USA in recent times in search of better opportunities. These new emigrant communities tend to be better integrated in their host communities than the older ones, and many of them have established cultural associations to protect and promote Tamil culture and the Tamil language in their adopted homes. ==Culture== ===Language and literature === ''Main articles: Tamil language, Tamil literature'' Tamils have strong feelings towards the Tamil language, which is often venerated in literature as "tamil̲an̲n̲ai", "the Tamil mother." It has historically been, and to large extent still is, central to the Tamil identity (Ramaswamy 1998). Like the other languages of south India, it is a Dravidian languages, unrelated to the Indo-European languages of northern India. The language has been far less influenced by Sanskrit than the other Dravidian languages and preserves many features of proto-Dravidian. Tamil literature is of considerable antiquity, and the language was recently recognised as a classical language by the Government of India. Classical Tamil literature, which ranges from lyric poetry to works on poetics and ethics, is remarkably different from contemporary and later literature in other Indian languages, and represents the oldest body of secular literature in South Asia (Hart 1975). The written language has changed very little over the years, with the result that much of classical literature remains easily accessible to modern Tamils and continues to influence modern Tamil culture. Modern Tamil literature is considerably diverse, ranging from historical romanticism in the works of Kalki Krishnamurthy, radical and more moderate social realism in the works of Pudhumaipithan and Jayakanthan respectively, and feminism in the works of Malathi Maithree and Kutti Revathi. In more recent years, Sri Lankan Tamil literature has produced several powerful pieces reflecting the civilian tragedy caused by decades of war. There is also an emerging diaspora literature in Tamil. ===Visual arts and architecture=== [[Image:Tanjore_Painting_Saraswati.jpg|thumb|150px|A Tanjore painting depicting Saraswati]] Tamil art displays considerable unity across its three main forms, architecture, sculpture and painting, and is clearly situated within the South Asian artistic tradition. As with other South Asian arts, Tamil art stresses the plasticity and fluidity of forms. Most traditional Tamil art is at least nominally religious, usually centred on Hinduism, although the religious element is often only a means to represent universal - and, occasionally, humanist - themes (Coomaraswamy 1946). The classical artforms continue to be practiced, and therefore represent a living tradition. The most important form of Tamil painting is Tanjore painting which, as the name suggests, originated in Tanjore (now Thanjavur) in the 9th century. The paintings are prepared on a base of cloth coated with zinc oxide, over which the image is painted using dyes and decorated with semi-precious stones and gold or silver thread. A style which was related in origin, but which exhibits significant differences in execution, is used for painting murals on temple walls, the most notable example being the murals on the Meenakshi temple of Madurai. Tamil painting is in general known for its stylistic elegance, rich colours, and small details. Tamil sculpture is usually worked with bronze (using the lost wax technique) or stone (usually associated with temples), and surviving pieces date from the 7th century onwards. Unlike Western art, the material does not influence the form taken by the sculpture; instead, the artist imposes his vision of the form on the material. As a result, one often sees in stone sculptures the sort of flowing forms that would normally be reserved for metal (Sivaram 1994). As with painting, these sculptures show a fine eye for detail, with great care being taken in sculpting minute details of jewellery worn by the subjects of the sculpture. The lines tend to be smooth and flowing, and many pieces capture movement with great skill. The cave sculptures at Mamallapuram are a particularly fine example of the technique, as are the bronzes of the Chola period. A particularly popular motif in the bronzes was the depiction of Siva as Nataraja, in a dance posture with one leg upraised and a fiery circular halo surrounding his entire body. Meenakshi_temple">Image:Gopuram-madurai.jpg|thumb|200px|The gopuram of the Madurai Meenakshi templeTamil temples were often treated as being sculptures on a grand scale. The temples are most notable for their high spires, consisting of a number of stepped levels, each with its own minature shrine. These spires tended to be simple and elegant in the earliest temples, and only sparsely adorned with sculpture, but they became progressively more elaborate and ornate, as exemplified by the Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur. From the 13th century onwards, the entrance gates to the temples - called gopurams in Tamil - also began to grow bigger and more elaborate. The temples at Chidambaram and Srirangam have particularly impressive gopurams, covered with sculptures and reliefs of various scenes and characters from Hinduism mythology (Pillai 1976). As with Indian art generally, Tamil art does not traditionally aspire to portraiture or realism. Much more emphasis is placed on the representation of ideal prototypes and on depicting the symbols with which the theme of the artistic work is associated. This means that small details, such as the direction which a hand faces, the animals or trees portrayed, or the time of the day depicted, are often of critical importance to understanding the meaning of a work of art. ===Performative arts=== The traditional Tamil performing arts have ancient roots. The royal courts and temples have been centres for the performing arts since at least the classical period, and descriptions of performances in classical Tamil literature and the ''natyashastra'', a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, indicate a close relationship between the ancient and modern artforms. In common with other Indian traditions, Tamil tradition stresses the unity of the various performative arts, and their symbiotic relationship with the visual arts and literature. The aim of a performance in Tamil tradition is to bring out the ''rasa'' - flavour, mood, or feeling - inherent in the text, and its quality is measured by the extent to which it induces the mood in the audience. Tamil shares a classical musical tradition, called carnatic music, with the rest of south India. Carnatic music evolved from the ancient music forms of South India, some of which are recorded in classical Tamil literature, and was influenced by the musical theory of the natyashastra. It is primarily oriented towards vocal music, with musical instruments either being accompaniments or imitating the role of the singer. Carnatic music is organised around the twin notions of melody types (''rāgam'') and cyclical rhythm types (''thāḷam''). Unlike the northern Hindustani music tradition, carnatic music is almost exclusively religious. In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant. Popular form of Tamil folk-music include the Villup Pattu, a form of music sung with a bow, and the Naattupurapaattu, folk ballads that convey folklore and folk history. [[Image:Bharathanatyam.jpg|frame|right|A Bharatanatyam dancer]]The dominant classical dance amongst Tamils is bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is performative rather than participative. A dance is an exposition of the story contained in a song, and is usually performed by one performer on stage, with an orchestra of drums, a drone and one or more singers backstage. The story is told through a complicated combination of hand-gestures or ''mudras'', facial expressions, and bodily posture. The dance form evolved from a specialised form of temple-dancing, and was only performed in temples until the 1930s. Dancers used to be exclusively female, but the dance now also has several well-known male exponents. Tamils also have a large number of folk dances. The most celebrated of these is karakaattam. In its religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamma. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakāṭṭam is usually performed to a special type of song known as ''themmangu pattu'' or ''thevar pāṭṭu'', a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and ''melam''. Other Tamil folk dances include mayilaattam, where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waist, ōyilāttam, danced in a circle waving small pieces of cloth of various colours, poykkaal kuthirai aattam, where the dancers use dummy horses, maanaattam, where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer, paraiyaattam, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and theeppandaattam, a dance involving play with burning wooden torches. (Sharma 2004). Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. Most artforms include a blend of both. The kuravaci is a type of dance-drama, performed by between four and eight women. The drama is opened by a woman playing the part of a female soothsayer of a wandering kurava tribe, who tells the story of a lady pining for her lover. The songs themselves have a lyrical beauty, which is amplified by the performance. The therukkoothu (which literally means "street play") is a form of village theatre or folk opera. It is traditionally performed in village squares with no sets and very simple props. The performances involves songs and dances, sometimes at the same time, and the stories can be either religious or secular. The performances are not formal, and performers often interact with the audience, mocking them or involving them in the dialogue. Therukkūthu has in recent times been very successfully adapted to convey social messages, such as abstinence and anti-casteism, and information about legal rights, and has spread to other parts of India. The village of Melatur in Tamil Nadu has a special type of performance, called the bhagavatamela, in honour of the local deity, which is performed once a year and lasts all night. Tamil Nadu also has a well developed stage theatre tradition, which has been heavily influenced by western theatre. A number of theatrical companies exist, who repertoire includes absurdist, realist and humorous plays. Both classical and folk performative arts survive in modern Tamil society. The folk arts declined during the middle of the 20th century, but have seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly in southern Tamil Nadu, although their popularity continues to be largely confined to rural regions. The Tamil Nadu Folk Arts Society (or "''Tamil̲nāṭu iyalisai nāṭaka man̲r̲am''") is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the folkarts, and has played a significant role in the continuance of the tradition. ===Religion=== Most Tamils are Hindus, but Islam and Christianity also have a long history in Tamil Nadu. According to popular legend, the last Chera king is said to have converted to Islam and travelled to Arabia to become a Sahaba of Muhammad, and the mother of one of the early Pallava kings is believed to have been Christian. Native Tamil Christianity was entirely replaced by European Christianity during the 16th century, and most Tamil Christians today are either Catholic or Protestant. Jainism was at one time a major religious force in Tamil Nadu, but it declined substantially during the Pallava period, and there are now only a few thousand Tamil Jains. Tamil Hinduism, like other regional varieties of Hinduism, has many peculiarities. The most popular god is Murugan, who has from a very early date been identified with Karthikeya, the son of Siva, but who may in origin have been a different god (Hart 1979). The worship of Amman or Mariamman, thought to have been derived from an ancient mother goddess is also very common. Kannagi, the heroine of the cilappatikaram, is worshipped as Pattini by many Tamils, particularly in Sri Lanka. There are also many temples and devotees of Vishnu, Siva, Ganapathi, and the other common Hindu gods. Kolams, a type of drawing made outside one's house with rice flour, are a typical characteristic of Tamil hinduism. The system of siddha medicine is also associated with Tamil Saivism. In addition, the popular religion of rural Tamil Nadu has many local gods called aiyyanar, who are thought to be the spirits of local heroes, who have the power to protect the village against harm. Their worship often centres around nadukkal, stones erected in memory of heroes who died in battle. This form of worship is mentioned frequently in classical literature and appears to be the survival of an ancient Tamil tradition. The most important Tamil festivals are Pongal, a harvest festival that occurs in mid-January, and varuḍapir̲appu, the Tamil New Year, which occurs around mid-April. Both are celebrated by all Tamils, regardless of religion. Important Tamil Hindu festivals include Dipavali and Thaipusam. ===Martial arts=== According to Tamil legend, the Chola, Chera and Pandya kings fought a hundred-year war at the beginning of the 1st century, during which they perfected the art of fighting. Four martial arts are believed to have evolved out of this, Kalaripayattu, silambam, maankombukkalai and varmakkalai, all of which are still practised today in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. silambam is the art of staff combat, and uses a staff 1.6 metres long. Its techniques were designed to enable a person to use a traveller's walking-staff to defend himself against an attack by several enemies. Its techniques focus on techniques of using the staff without stopping its movement, and synchronising staff, foot and body motion. Varma Kalai is a martial art, which trains people to attack the vital points of an opponent's body with hands or weapons. maankombukkalai involves fighting with a weapon made from the antlers of a stag tipped with metal. Kalariaṭṭam focus on all aspects of fighting, including unarmed combat, combat with wooden weapons and with metal weapons. The Kalaripayattu tradition is strongest in Kerala where it is known as ''kalaripayattu''. The ancient Tamil art of unarmed bull-fighting, popular amongst warriors in the classical period, has also survived in parts of Tamil Nadu, notably Alanganallur near Madurai, where it is known as Jallikattu or ''macuviraṭṭu'' and is held once a year around the time of the Pongal festival. ==Institutions== Because Tamils have been spread over several countries for much of their history, there are few formal pan-Tamil institutions. The most important national institutions for Tamils have been the governments of the states where they live, particularly the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Sri Lanka, which have since the 1950s collaborated in developing technical and scientific terminology in Tamil language and promoting its use. Politics in Tamil Nadu is dominated by the Dravidian movement, a movement founded by Periyar, popularly known as Periyar, to promote self-respect and rationalism, and fight casteism and the oppression of the lowest castes. Every major political party in Tamil Nadu bases its ideology on the Dravidian movement, and the national political parties play a very small role in Tamil politics. In Sri Lanka, Tamil politics was until the early 1980s dominated by the federalist movements, led by the Federal Party (later the Tamil United Liberation Front). In the 1980s, the political movement was largely succeeded by a violent military campaign conducted by several militant groups. The LTTE emerged as the most important force amongst these groups in the 1990s, and is currently negotiating a final settlement with the government. The LTTE controls parts of Sri Lanka, and has established its own government there, which it calls the government of Tamil Eelam. In the 1960s, the government of Tamil Nadu convened a World Tamil Conference which has met periodically since then. In 1999, a World Tamil Confederation was established to protect and foster Tamil culture and grow a sense of togetherness amongst Tamils in different countries. The Confederation has since adopted a Tamil flag and Tamil song, to act as trans-national symbols for the Tamil people. == See also == * Tamil language * Tamil literature * Tamil Nadu * Dravidian race * Self-respect movement * Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka * List of people from Tamil Nadu ==References== * Bowers, F. (1956), ''Theatre in the East - A Survey of Asian Dance and Drama'' New York: Grove Press. * Casson, L. (1989). ''The Periplus Maris Erythraei: Text with Introduction, Translation and Commentary''. Princeton, Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691040605. * Chaitanya, Krishna. (1971). ''A history of Malayalam literature''. New Delhi: Orient Longman. ISBN 8125004882 * Coomaraswamy, A.K. (1946). ''Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought''. London : Luzac & Co. * Gadgil, M., Joshi, N.V., Shambu Prasad,U.V., Manoharan,S. and Patil, S. (1997). "Peopling of India". In D. Balasubramanian and N. Appaji Rao (eds.), ''The Indian Human Heritage'', pp.100-129. Hyderabad: Universities Press. ISBN 8173711283. *Hart, G.L. (1975). ''The Poems of Ancient Tamil: Their Milieu and their Sanskrit Counterparts''. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0520026721. * Hart, G.L. (1979). "The Nature of Tamil Devotion." In M.M. Deshpande and P.E. Hook (eds.), ''Aryan and Non-Aryan in India'', pp. 11-33. Michigan: Ann Arbor. ISBN 0891480145 * Hart, G.L. (1987). "Early Evidence for Caste in South India." In P. Hockings (ed.), ''Dimesions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David B. Mandelbaum''. Berlin: Mouton Gruyter. * Mahadevan, Iravatham (2003). ''Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Cambridge, Harvard University Press''. ISBN 0674012275. * Parpola, Asko (1974). "On the protohistory of the Indian languages in the light of archaeological, linguistic and religious evidence: An attempt at integration." In van Lohuizen, J.E. de Leeuw & Ubaghs, J.M.M. (eds.), ''South Asian Archaeology 1973'', pp. 90-100. Leiden: E.J. Brill. * Parpola, Asko (2003). ''Deciphering the Indus script''. 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521795664. * Pillai, Suresh B. (1976). ''Introduction to the study of temple art''. Thanjavur : Equator and Meridian. * Ramaswamy, Sumathi. (1998). ''Passions of the Tongue: language devotion in Tamil India 1891-1970''. Delhi: Munshiram. ISBN 8121508517. * Sastri, K.S. Ramaswamy. (2002). ''The Tamils : the people, their history and culture. Vol. 1 : An introduction to Tamil history and society''. New Delhi : Cosmo Publications. ISBN 8177554069. * Sharma, Manorama. (2004). ''Folk India : a comprehensive study of Indian folk music and culture. Vol. 11: Tamil Nadu and Kerala''. New Delhi : Sundeep Prakashan. ISBN 8175741414. * Sivaram, Rama (1994). ''Early Chola art : origin and emergence of style''. New Delhi: Navrang. ISBN 8170130794. * * Suryanarayan, V. (2001). [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1816/18160950.htm "In search of a new identity"], ''Frontline'' 18(2). * Swaminatha Iyer, S.S. (1910). ''A brief history of the Tamil country. Part 1: The Cholas''. Tanjore : G.S. Maniya. * Varadpande, M.L. (1992). ''Loka ranga : panorama of Indian folk theatre''. New Delhi : Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170172780. * Zvebil, K. (1974). ''The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India''. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9004035915. ===Population data=== All population data has been taken from [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tam Ethnologue], with the exception of the data for Sri Lanka, which was taken from the CIA World Factbook's Sri Lanka [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html page]. Tamil people Tamil language ka:ტამილები
Tamil people
/archive0 (discussions on the previous version, which has now been completely rewritten) == Important proposal == I feel that the current article is in a bad shape. Shall we rewrite the article from scratch following the :Wikipedia:WikiProject Ethnic Groups Template? Volunteers please signup below. -- 05:27, Mar 30, 2005 (UTC) # User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 21:03, 2005 Mar 30 (UTC) (Yes, good idea.) # 05:06, Mar 31, 2005 (UTC) (Signing up myself.) # user:Vadakkan 00:45, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)(Yes, will help as much as I can) :I've copied the template to Tamil people/temp. -- User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 23:01, 2005 Apr 1 (UTC) Well done by Arvind (Vadakkan) and Brhaspathi in improving the article. -- 05:06, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) Following is the discussion from Talk: Tamil people/temp: ===Mauritius=== Should Mauritius be listed here? From what I know, Tamil language is not spoken there extensively, but many of the residents are of Tamil origin. Does this qualify? -- User:Brhaspati (User talk:BrhaspatiSpecial:Contributions/Brhaspati) 23:17, 2005 Apr 1 (UTC) :Take a look at my edits - does that fix it appropriately? User:Vadakkan 22:21, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Yes! That seems to describe the situation perfectly. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 22:58, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ===General comments=== *I've made a start on the "History" and "Geographical distribution" sections. The problem I'm having is that I'm not too sure how to intelligibly separate "History" from "Geographic distribution". Should the Sri Lankan conflict go under "History" or "Geographic distribution? Should the "svaya mariyadai iyakkam" (and the Dravidian movement generally) go under History, Geographic Distribution, or Culture? My instinct is to put everything after independence under "Geographic distribution", but I'm not sure how logical that is. *As I was writing, I kept thinking that we will have to proof all of this very carefully for NPOV. *Should we put a notice on the Tamil people page saying that the article is being rewritten, and asking them to make changes here? *Religion figures for India are Hinduism (88.7%), Christianity (5.7%), Islam (5.3%), Jainism (<0.1%). Does anyone know where we can get figures for Sri Lanka? And (eek) do we or don't we count Sri Lankan Muslims as Tamil, given the huge amount of politics associated with that question? :-- User:Vadakkan 22:21, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC) :My personal opinion is to list the Dravidian movement etc under History. Geographical Distribution should probably only say where Tamil people are found today, while History should mention when and why. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 22:58, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::I'm thinking it may be useful to have a section on "Society", covering the family structures, the caste system, festivals, and so on - things that don't fit readily within culture, but are nonetheless important and interesting. If we do that, the Dravidian movement will probably fit well into that. We should also discuss at least briefly the so-called "Dravidian" religious beliefs - the aiyyanars, nadukals, amman, pattini, and so on, and that too may fit better within "society" than "culture". There's enough to talk about under "culture" on language, literature, and classical arts! --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :NPOV - we can probably remove any alleged POV if we quote the source immediately after each "bold" statement. This should probably deflect criticism from the article to the references. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:10, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::I see your point. The difficulty is going to be finding sources that aren't biased. Perhaps we could solve it by citing a fair balance of biased sources. --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :The CIA World Factbook mentions [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%] for Sri Lanka. It has a different idea of Sri Lankan history though. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:14, 2005 Apr 10 (UTC) ::Thanks. What I've not been able to find is a breakup of Sri Lankan Tamils by religion (how many are Christians and how many are Hindus). I guess we'll just leave that out. I'll try to find some sources to cite for the history, to justify the "divergence" from the CIA World Factbook. --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :::Well, the overall religion breakup for Sri Lanka is [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)]. We don't know exactly how these are correlated with the ethnicities. Eg: are the Sinhalese largely Buddhist and Tamils largely Hindu? And other questions like this. But omitting this for now should probably be OK. I'll hunt around for data. If we find anything we can add it with a citation. -- User:Brhaspati\User talk:Brhaspati/Special:Contributions/Brhaspati 23:17, 2005 Apr 11 (UTC) ===History=== Please take a look at the history section. Is it too long? I think it's fine largely because I don't think I'll be able to condense 2500 years of history into anything shorter! But do others think it would it better to hive it off into a separate Tamil history article, with just two or three paragraphs here? --User:Vadakkan 18:39, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC) :Continue your good work with the history section. In due course, when it becomes too long (2500 years' history!), we can hive off a separate article like History of Russia etc. -- 04:34, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) ===Indian Tamils were stripped of their nationality?=== Arvind, in Tamil people/temp#Tamils in Sri Lanka, you seem to have added "Indian Tamils were stripped of their nationality and were forcibly repatriated to India" which is confusing. Where did this happen? Shall I presume in Sri Lanka? -- 04:34, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) :I've copyedited that section. Can you check if that version is OK? -- User:Sundar 08:44, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) ::Take a look at [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1816/18160950.htm]. I've reworded the section a bit more - it was a little too strong. User:Vadakkan 11:24, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC) === Shall we update the main article? === Hi, as you might know, Tamil language is being featured on April 14. We can expect some visitors to visit Tamil people that day. It would be good if the article is reasonably good that day and also if the skeleton was in place, it might help in improving the article. So, if we can wrap up the culture section, we can update the actual article with the temp one. For the arts section, can we take a summary of the arts listed currently in the article? -- 08:48, Apr 12, 2005 (UTC) :I thought this was a good idea, so I went ahead and did it - hope that was OK. Could you please read and edit that article? Also, would it be a good idea to shift this discussion page there as well? User:Vadakkan 22:32, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::Sure. -- 04:37, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) : Wow. Great Stuff. -- User:Ram Mallika 14:37, Apr 14, 2005 (UTC) == Comments by an anon moved from the article space == The articles in this web site are so nice.but, i think we can improve the speed of downloading the pages by eliminating the background pictures of the web pages.B'coz personnaly i feel that those pictures doesnt play a major role in publising the information about the great Tamilians -- A Tamilian == Religion == Kudos goes to Sundar and Arvind for the *great* work. But, the religion part is messed up, IMHO. Tamil culture was originally free from religion. I understand that the word "Tamil hinduism" is used to handle neutrality--but unfortunately no truth; the Tamil gods and worships are still not accepted as "Hinduism" by orthodox hindus. I don't want to edit/mess your great your; just thought of pointing out the technicall error. --User:Rrjanbiah 18:21, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC) :I had little part in the recent improvement. I do agree that the gods worshipped by ancient tamilians and the methodology of worship are not standard "vedic hinduism". But, that doesn't mean the tamilians were rationalists/atheists all along. Think of the "ayyanaar temples" in every village, "iRai vaNakkam" in most clasical works etc. AFIK, only after the "pakuththaRivu iyakkam" by Periyar and others did atheism take hold. So "Tamil hinduism" is just a convenient and approximate name for "Tamil religion". AFIK, hinduism was never an "organised" religion. Any body, who doesn't practise any other organised religion and lives in India was called, though loosely, a Hindu. But these days, the ancient practices are currently subsumed under hinduism. This is what the section tells i.e. in present tense. Though I'm no big fan of religion, we need to accept the reality. -- 03:46, Apr 29, 2005 (UTC) :I'm afraid I'm responsible for that section. Basically, as Sundar points out, I was trying to describe Tamil religion as it is today and give a very brief idea of its historical roots. ::''the Tamil gods and worships are still not accepted as "Hinduism" by orthodox hindus.'' :I don't think orthodox hindus have a problem with accepting it as Hinduism, only hindutva-people. But that's not a very important issue. The worship of the aiyyanars, Murugan, and Amman have things in common with the forms of worship of northern Indian gods, so it also (to me) makes logical sense to treat it as a Tamil variant of a broader hinduism. After all, even the shamanistic practices of many Himalayan tribes is called Hinduism. ::''Tamil culture was originally free from religion.'' :I've heard this, but I'm not too sure about it - there is plenty of religion in the ettutokai, for example. But I think we should have an article on the Tamil sangam period, where we can also discuss Tamil religious beliefs in that period. I would love to see a good article about how Tamil religious beliefs evolved over the years, how Murugan came to be identified with Karthikeya, and so on, but I don't know enough to write that effectively. Incidentally, what is your opinion on this article[http://tamil.berkeley.edu/Research/Articles/Caste2.pdf] by Professor George Hart? User:Vadakkan 00:45, 11 May 2005 (UTC) ::Even I would love to see such articles. While we are at it, let me ask Arvind a couple of things that I always wanted to. :1. Where did you get to read all the books and research papers that you cite in these articles. If you've soft copies of any of them, can you send it over to me by e-mail to my yahoo.com id sundarbecse. ::I have a collection of books and articles on Tamil culture, many inherited from my grandfather (and great-grandfather), and several of my own. There are a few good resources online too - [http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/journal/kolam/index.htm New-Kolam] has some very interesting articles, for example. And there is the article by George Hart I linked to above. User:Vadakkan 11:14, 18 May 2005 (UTC) :Thanks. -- 05:55, May 23, 2005 (UTC) :2. minor suggestion: while editing sections, do not put your comment within
Tamil people
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