T.N. to launch programme to promote Tamil language, arts among diaspora

Tamil Nadu government to train teachers and artists for diaspora, allocates ₹10 crore, supports Tamil identity worldwide.

In a bid to take the Tamil language, its rich folk arts and music to the young generations in the diaspora, the Tamil Nadu government has come up with a plan to offer training programme. The State government would train 100 teachers and Tamil artists, who in turn would be sent to countries with the diaspora, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Sunday.

Speaking at the World Tamil Diaspora Day 2025 celebrations held in Chennai Trade Centre, Mr. Stalin said the coaching would be offered along with Tamil associations in those countries for two years. The government would allocate ₹10 crore towards this proposal, Mr. Stalin said. He also called upon diaspora visiting Chennai for the event ‘Ethisaiyum Thamizhanange’ not to drop their identity.

Mr. Stalin assured support to diaspora living in various parts of the world. Listing out the steps being taken by the State government for the welfare of diaspora, he said over 2,400 Tamils stranded on various occasions were repatriated to Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, he handed over ‘Tamil Mamani’ award to Dr. Vijay Janakiraman who was instrumental in setting up the Tamil Chair in Harvard University. He also handed over the Best Cultural Ambassador Award to Krishnakanthan Sandeep from Sri Lanka.

He also gave Kaniyan Poongundran awards to six individuals. National University of Singapore (NUS) Registrar Rajaram Ramasubban received the award under education category and S. Kamalakannan, who published the history of late social reformer ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy in Japanese, was awarded under social development category.

Pudhumai Thamizhachi Trust’s Sridevi Sivanandam, under women’s category, and Tecton Engineering and Construction L.L.C’s Lakshmanan Somasundaram, under business category, received the awards. While Associate Professor S. Arokyaraj, Sejong University, Korea received it under S&T category, ophthalmologist Gangadhara Sundar in NUS obtained it under medicine category.

Sri Lankan Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Governor of Papua and New Guinea’s West New Britain Province Sasindran Muthuvel, Malaysian MP Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, Reunion Islands Mayor Joe, former South African Minister Ravi Pillay were among the dignitaries who were present on the occasion.