Portal:Tamils

The Tamils portal

The Tamils (/ˈtæmɪlz, ˈtɑː-/ TAM-ilz, TAHM-), also known by their endonym Tamilar, are a Dravidian ethnic group who natively speak the Tamil language and trace their ancestry mainly to the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Tamil language is one of the longest-surviving classical languages, with over two thousand years of written history, dating back to the Sangam period (between 300 BCE and 300 CE). Tamils constitute about 5.7% of the Indian population and form the majority in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. They also form significant proportions of the populations in Sri Lanka (15.3%), Malaysia (7%) and Singapore (5%). Tamils have migrated world-wide since the 19th century CE and a significant population exists in South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, as well as other regions such as the Southeast Asia, Middle East, Caribbean and parts of the Western World.

Archaeological evidence from Tamil Nadu indicates a continuous history of human occupation for more than 3,800 years. In the Sangam period, Tamilakam was ruled by the Three Crowned Kings of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. Smaller Velir kings and chieftains ruled certain territories and maintained relationship with the larger kingdoms. Urbanisation and mercantile activity developed along the coasts during the later Sangam period with the Tamils influencing the regional trade in the Indian Ocean region. Artifacts obtained from excavations indicate the presence of early trade relations with the Romans. The major kingdoms to rule the region later were the Pallavas (3rd–9th century CE), and the Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century CE).

The island of Sri Lanka often saw attacks from the Indian mainland with the Cholas establishing their influence across the island and across several areas in Southeast Asia in the 10th century CE. This led to the spread of Tamil influence and contributed to the cultural Indianisation of the region. Scripts brought by Tamil traders like the Grantha and Pallava scripts, induced the development of many Southeast Asian scripts. The Jaffna Kingdom later controlled the Tamil territory in the north of the Sri Lanka from 13th to 17th century CE. European colonization began in the 17th century CE, and continued for two centuries until the middle of the 20th century. (Full article...)

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A postcard image of a Sri Lankan Tamil woman, 1910

Sri Lankan Tamils (Tamil: இலங்கை தமிழர், ilankai tamiḻar or ஈழத் தமிழர், īḻat tamiḻar), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, form the plurality in the Eastern Province and are in the minority throughout the rest of the country. 70% of Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka live in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Modern Sri Lankan Tamils descend from residents of the Jaffna kingdom, a former kingdom in the north of Sri Lanka and Vanni chieftaincies from the east. According to the anthropological and archaeological evidence, Sri Lankan Tamils have a very long history in Sri Lanka and have lived on the island since at least around the 2nd century BCE. (Full article...)

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General images

Image 1A megalithic burial jar from north-western Sri Lanka, 5th-2nd century BCE, similar to the ones found in South India. (from Tamils)
Image 2Painting of Madras with Fort St. George by Jan Van Ryne (1754) (from Tamils)
Image 3Murugan Temple, Sydney (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 4A Malbar temple in Réunion. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 5Celebrations of Murugan by the Sri Lankan Tamil community in Paris, France (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 6Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama and his mount Garuda (12th–13th century CE) (from Tamils)
Image 7A traditional meal served on a banana leaf (from Tamils)
Image 8Tamil people in Medan, Indonesia (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 9Tamils decorate their homes with colorful Kolams. (from Tamils)
Image 10The large gopuram is a hallmark of Dravidian architecture (from Tamils)
Image 11Kanchipuram silk saris worn by women on special occasions. (from Tamils)
Image 12A Bharatanatyam performance (from Tamils)
Image 13Sri Kandaswamy Temple, Brickfields, Malaysia. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 14Distribution of Tamil speakers in South India and Sri Lanka (1981) (from Tamils)
Image 15The Chola Empire at its greatest extent, during the reign of Rajendra Chola I in 1030 (from Tamils)
Image 16Tamil written in Tamil script (from Tamils)
Image 17Tamil girls in Malaysia (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 18Tamilakam during Sangam period (from Tamils)
Image 19Rock cut monuments in Mahabalipuram built by the Pallavas in 7th-8th century CE (from Tamils)
Image 20Extent of Jaffna kingdom (from Tamils)
Image 21Tharai and Thappattai, traditional music instruments (from Tamils)
Image 22One of the most popular overseas branches of Chennai-based Saravanaa Bhavan, the world's largest Indian vegetarian restaurant chain, is located in Edison, New Jersey, U.S. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 23Major trade routes and cities in the 1st century CE as per Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (from Tamils)
Image 24A 12th century statue of Agathiar, a poet from the first Sangam period (from Tamils)
Image 25Distribution of Tamils (2013) (from Tamils)
Image 26Aiyyan̲ār, guardian folk deity of Tamils (from Tamils)
Image 27Expatriate Sri Lankan Tamil children in traditional clothes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 28Silambam is an old martial art originating in Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 29Sri Kamakshi Ambaal temple in Hamm, Germany (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 30The northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka with majority Tamil population. (from Tamils)
Image 31Extent of the Pandyas in 13th century CE (from Tamils)
Image 32The New York City Metropolitan Area, including Central New Jersey, as well as Long Island and Staten Island in New York, is home to the largest Tamil American population. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 33Jallikattu, a traditional bull taming event. (from Tamils)

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Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam (Tamil: செல்வராசா பத்மநாதன்; alias Selvarasa Pathmanathan, Kumaran Pathmanathan, or simply KP; born 6 April 1955) is a former prominent member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Pathmanathan was on Interpol's most wanted list for various charges including arms smuggling and criminal conspiracy. He is also wanted by India's law enforcement agencies in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and for violation of the Terrorist Act and the Indian Explosive Act. He was arrested on 5 August 2009. Pathmanathan was released from prison on 17 October 2012, when the complaints against him by Sri Lanka were withdrawn. (Full article...)

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Tamil People

Tamil People Countrywide: India • Sri Lanka • Canada • Malaysia • Singapore • South Africa • England

Related Ethnic Groups: Brahui • Gond • Kannadiga • Khonds • Kodava • Oraon • Malayali • Telugus • Tuluvas

Related indigenous Groups: Badagas • Toda • Kuruba

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