Meet delves into Tamil language, culture

International Conference on Tamil language and culture at The American College featuring research on Chola empire and Tamil identity.

A two-day International Conference on Tamil language and culture to discuss the latest research developments was organised at The American College on Thursday, by the college’s Tamil Department.

Historian Y. Subbarayalu, in the keynote address, spoke about the history and geography of the Chola empire and analysed medieval Tamil society. He used the later Chola period inscriptions as reference points. Village names found in these inscriptions could be listed and mapped to understand settlement patterns, he said. Mr. Subbarayalu also spoke about reference to the caste system during the Chola period.

Senior Lecturer T. Sanathanan from the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka said that the Tamil identity has traditionally been centered around literature, music and drama (Iyal, Isai, Natakam).

D. Senthil Babu, a researcher from French Institute of Pondicherry, spoke about accounting systems from the later Chola period to the British rule in India. He said that from the political needs it later became a tool for consolidating administrative control.

Principal M. Davamani Christober, Historian and writer Stalin Rajangam and others were present. Discussions were held on various topics with regard to Tamil language and culture.