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The Tamils (/ˈtæmɪlz, ˈtɑː-/ TAM-ilz, TAHM-), also known as the Tamilar, are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group who natively speak the Tamil language and trace their ancestry mainly to India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, to the union territory of Puducherry, and to Sri Lanka. The Tamil language is one of the world's longest-surviving classical languages, with over 2000 years of Tamil literature, including the Sangam poems, which were composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE.

Tamils constitute 5.9% of the population in India (concentrated mainly in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), 15% in Sri Lanka (excluding Eelam Moors), 7% in Malaysia, and 5% in Singapore.

From the 4th century BCE, urbanisation and mercantile activity along the western and eastern coasts of Tamilakam -- what is today Kerala and Tamil Nadu -- led to the development of four large Tamil empires, the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, and velirs and a number of smaller states, all of whom were warring amongst themselves for dominance. The Jaffna Kingdom, and vanni chieftaincies inhabited by Eelam Tamils, was once one of the strongest kingdoms of Sri Lanka and controlled much of the north of the island. (Full article...)

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The re of Tamil Nadu in the southeast of modern India, shows evidence of having had continuous human habitation from 15,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE. Throughout its history, spanning the early Upper Paleolithic age to modern times, this region has coexisted with various external cultures.

The three ancient Tamil dynasties namely Chera, Chola, and Pandya were of ancient origins. Together they ruled over this land with a unique culture and language, contributing to the growth of some of the oldest extant literature in the world. These three dynasties were in constant struggle with each other vying for hegemony over the land. Invasion by the Kalabhras during the 3rd century disturbed the traditional order of the land, displacing the three ruling kingdoms. These occupiers were overthrown by the resurgence of the Pandyas and the Pallavas, who restored the traditional kingdoms. The Cholas who re-emerged from obscurity in the 9th century by defeating the Pallavas and the Pandyas rose to become a great power and extended their empire over the entire southern peninsula. At its height the Chola empire spanned almost 3,600,000 km² (1,389,968 sq mi) straddling the Bay of Bengal. The Chola navy held sway over the Sri Vijaya kingdom in Southeast Asia. (Full article...)

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General images

Image 1Aiyanar, guardian folk deity of Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 2The hall in front of Ranganayaki's shrine, Srirangam, where Kambar is said to have recited his works on Kamba Ramayanam (from Tamils)
Image 3Batu Caves temple built by Tamil Malaysians in c. 1880s. (from Tamils)
Image 4The Tamil Chola Empire at its height, 1030 CE (from Tamils)
Image 5Grey pottery with engravings, Arikamedu, 1st century CE (from Tamils)
Image 6Krishna with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama and his mount Garuda, Tamil Nadu, India, late 12th-13th century (from Tamils)
Image 7The Brihadeshswar Temple at Thanjavur, also known as the Great Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I (from Tamils)
Image 8Erwadi durgah in Ramanathapuram district is a major pilgrimage shrine of the Tamil Muslims. (from Tamils)
Image 9Expatriate Sri Lankan Tamil children in traditional clothes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 10The golden Vimana over the sanctum at Srirangam midst its gopurams, its gable with Paravasudeva image. (from Tamils)
Image 11Tamil girls dressed in traditional attire, ca. 1870, Tamil Nadu, India. (from Tamils)
Image 12Celebrations of Murugan by the Sri Lankan Tamil community in Paris, France (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 13The 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 14A 400 years old hero stone in Salem depicting the bull-taming sport Jallikattu. (from Tamils)
Image 15Tamil girls in Malaysia (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 16Sage Agathiyar, one of the contributors of Old Tamil literature. (from Tamils)
Image 17Sri Kandaswamy Temple, Brickfields, Malaysia. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 18Tamil woman in traditional attire, c. 1880, Sri Lanka. (from Tamils)
Image 19 Map of ancient oceanic trade, and ports of Tamilakam (from Tamils)
Image 20 Virampatnam jewelry from funerary burial, 2nd century BCE, Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 21Bharatanatyam dancers (from Tamils)
Image 22The Mahishasuramardhini cave bas relief at Mahabalipuram from 7th century CE (from Tamils)
Image 23The Om symbol in Tamil script (from Tamils)
Image 24One 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 25Katar, Tamil dagger which was popular throughout South Asia (from Tamils)
Image 26 Souttoukeny jewelry, 2nd century BCE, Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 27Tamiḻakam during Sangam Period (from Tamils)
Image 28Murugan Temple, Sydney (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 29Megalithic sarcophagus burial from Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 30Tamil people in Medan, Indonesia (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 31A Megalithic burial jar from north-western Sri Lanka, 5th-2nd century BCE, similar to South Indian and Deccan jars of the time. (from Tamils)
Image 32Two Tamil girls who follow Vaishnavaite Hinduism (from Tamils)
Image 33Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu (from Tamils)
Image 34Meenakshi Amman temple, dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, tutelary deity of Madurai city (from Tamils)
Image 35Sri Kamakshi Ambaal temple in Hamm, Germany (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 36A Malbar temple in Réunion. (from Tamil diaspora)
Image 37Distribution of Tamil speakers in South India and Sri Lanka (1981). (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

Tamil Nadu

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