Tamil nationalism encyclopedia topics

Tamil Nationalism

2 reference results for: Tamil nationalism

Wikipedia

Tamil nationalism is a strong aspiration by some Tamils to establish traditional Tamil homelands in parts of India and Sri Lanka as separate nations.

The Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and the Tamil Eelam region in Sri Lanka are considered the Tamil people's traditional lands. Tamil nationalism is rooted in an identity forged by the Tamil language. Ideologically, it seeks to preserve and modernize Tamil language and culture, unite Tamils across boundaries, eradicate caste discrimination within Tamils, emancipate and empower Tamil women, uplift the economic status of Tamils, and to securely establish Tamil identity in a globalized world.

In order to achieve Tamil nationalist goals Tamil nationalists seek separate or self-governing political power in Tamil Nadu and Tamil Eelam.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil nationalist agitation in Tamil Nadu peaked in the 1960s with the Anti-Hindi agitations. Since the 1969 election victory of DMK under C. N. Annadurai, Tamil nationalism has been a permanent feature of the government of Tamil Nadu. Most mainstream political parties, except a fringe few, are committed to development of Tamil Nadu within a united India. Most major Tamil Nadu regional parties such as DMK, AIADMK, PMK and MDMK frequently participate as coalition partners of other pan-Indian parties in the Union Government of India at New Delhi.

Tamil Eelam

Tamil Elam is a defacto state established combining the northern and eastern parts of areas in the Indian Ocean island country located just below the Indian subcontinent. Tamils have been trying to get international recognition for their historic rights over the land, their rights for self determination and self ruling by means of arm struggle over three decades after failing to achieve it via peaceful means. Currently, it is being administered by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in their armed struggle against Sinhalese majority government established in the southern part of island country, namely Sri Lanka and recognized by UN.

The LTTE point of view claims that Elam is being governed by Tamil Elam Military at the moment; Justice Department of Tamil Elam which is not recognized by any international organization, and Tamil Elam Police unit to control day to day life of civilians who are living in the LTTE controlled area, are in place. They claim them selves there are no civil rights violations are carried out either by the military or any other in Tamil Elam. However, still children under 18 years are kidnapped by LTTE and giving military training for their carders.

The Board of Transportation of Tamil Elam, State Reserve of Tamil Elam and Bank of Tamil Elam, Elanaatham National News Paper, National Television of Tamil Elam, Voice of Tigers, Department of Education, Tamil Elam, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, are some of the other state units those make up the state infrastructure. Department of Defense (DoD) of Tamil Elam is responsible for the state security against the threat from other rouge countries and have been on long war with Sri Lankan state. Tamil Elam Military (TEM, also known as ‘Tigers’), Tamil Elam Air Force (TAF – also known as ‘Vaan pulikal’), Tamil Elam Navy (TEN – also known as ‘Sea Tigers’) all fall within the command of DoD. National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is responsible for intelligence gathering in foreign countries and reports directly to the Central Committee of DoD. Domestic Intelligence Agency is responsible for domestic intelligence gathering and directly reports to Central Committee of DoD. There are suspected to be shadow agencies within the military operating on wide intelligence gathering on other parts of military, navy and air force and responsible reporting only to the central command in charge. A number of extrajudicial activities have been blamed on these secret agencies and in many instances in the past Department of Justice have intervened, especially citizens of Tamil Elam were involved in the crime. However, numbers of cases were over ruled by the terms incorporated in the law of National Security.

National mysticism

Tamil nationalism has given rise to various doctrines of national mysticism, such as Devaneya Pavanar's Kumari Kandam, a continent spanning the Indian Ocean, submerged in 16,000 BC, or an "original Veda" composed by Mamuni Mayan some 10,000 years ago.