tamil diaspora

Tamil Art is just Math?! (What is Kolam)

Newsletter Issue 9 | Jan 2025 So apparently the Tamil art form, the Kolam (கோலம்) is just math? Kolams are beautiful patterns drawn on the ground in the morning using natural materials such as rice flour or rock salt. These designs are often found at the entrance of homes and events. The origins of Kolam are unclear, as most speculate that the oral tradition and teaching of this art form cannot be precisely dated. However, scholars agree that Kolams have evolved over at

Past Newsletters

2 min read

You understand Tamil...so why can't you speak it?

This is a common question running through the minds of those in the diaspora. How can someone understand a language but not be able to speak Tamil? Well as someone in the Tamil diaspora, you may sit in this in-between place when it comes to Tamil. A place where you may have picked up a few words, can follow conversations or even understand what’s being said But when its your turn to respond You freeze, panic and switch to English Now this is a really frustrating plac

2 min read

Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma Talk about Tamil Literature Translating Tamil Texts

Tamil Literature From a Translator's View: Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

The task of translating Tamil works is not simple. Tamil literature is poetry. This is because much of Tamil history, knowledge, and lived experience was preserved through oral traditions — carried in song, memory, and verse long before it was written down. Our written works today honour the poets of those times and the traditions they sustained. For storytellers and translators, this creates a unique challenge: how does one not only decode centuries-old Tamil, but also carry

Learning

2 min read

Books for Your Tamil Cultural Connection Journey

There is a growing interest within the Tamil community to learn more about, and reconnect with, Tamil history, language, and heritage. I often hear a sense of defeat or regret: not having learned from elders, not paying attention in school, or feeling as though the opportunity has passed. Yet, as the great Tamil poets Avvaiyar and Thiruvalluvar remind us, learning is the greatest form of wealth, and it is never too late to begin. Perhaps some of the insights found in the boo

Learning

3 min read