Ilangai Tamilar Studies Initiative
Florida International University
7+ Years in the Making: The creation of an academic space to preserve, embrace, and engage in the history and culture of Ilangai Tamilars.
The Vision
A teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean, named Sri Lanka or Ilangai (இலங்கை in Tamil) in 1972, is just 24 km away at the nearest point to Tamil Nadu, India. The ancient Tamil name for this island is Eelam/ஈழம் (Pronounced: īḻam); that appeared as early as 2nd – 1st BCE in Sangam literature and was inscribed in a cave at Thirupparankunram in Tamil Nadu, India.
Ilangai underwent several social power shifts by numerous foreign groups over time. Yet, it preserved the ancient Tamil culture and tradition even after gaining sovereignty. Today, an estimated 3 million Tamilar live on the island and many more abroad. Ilangai Tamilar diligently protected their rich history and culture, solidifying their unique place in the preservation of Tamil and their respective culture, literature, and much more that we hope to share with others.
Lead of Ilangai Tamilar Studies
The Goal
Our goal is a minimum of one million dollars to support a robust Ilangai Tamilar Diaspora Studies program to appreciate, support, and raise cultural awareness of the significance of the Ilangai Tamilar in the Sri Lankan community. Annual spendable earnings from the Endowment will be used to advance the School’s academic mission by supporting programmatic and/or academic endeavors related to the study of Ilangai Tamilar Diaspora philosophies, including but not limited to: scholarships for students pursuing research on the Ilangai Tamilar Diaspora, the hiring of faculty and instructors to develop and teach Ilangai Tamilar Diaspora curriculum, student and faculty research and travel, and costs associated with hosting a lecture and conference series.
