The Tamil diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of India or in other regions, particularly Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, French Caribbean islands, Haiti, Europe, Australia, United States and Canada.
 Note: This flag was adopted by the World Tamil Confederation in 1999 and is not universally known or recognized by Tamils. |
| Total population |
|---|
| 74,000,000 (1997 estimate) |
| Regions with significant populations |
| India: 63,000,000 Sri Lanka: 3,600,000 |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
Contents |
Early migrations
Many are descendants of emigrants who left thousands of years ago and mixed with countless other ethnicities, while others are recently removed from Tamil Nadu. The diaspora's identity is rooted in an ancient heritage, a rich language and literature and a vibrant culture that many still retain. Many groups claim descent from medieval-era Tamil emigrants such as the Chittys of Malaysia and the Colombo Chetty of Ceylon.
An early emigrant group that is not well documented is the Tamil Muslims who emigrated in considerable numbers to the Sultanates of Malacca (in present day Malaysia) and were instrumental in spreading Islam amongst the indigenous Malays.
British and French indentured workers and others
Another stream of Tamils left during the British colonial period as indentured workers to the far flung corners of the British Empire. Their descendants are found in Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana and Trinidad in large numbers.
Many also left to work in the possessions of the French Empire via its holdings in Pondicherry in Réunion and the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. (See Malabars)
A small group was hired by the Dutch colonial government in Batavia or Indonesia to work in Sumatra (namely in Medan). Roughly about 40,000 (est.) descendants of these immigrants are still found in Medan.
Many independent Tamil merchant guilds such as the Nagarathar also left for these areas in an age old tradition of their ancestors who had traded in these areas for the last 2,000 years.
Britain also hired many Sri Lankan Tamils as clerical and other white collar workers, especially in Malaysia and Singapore. All these different streams have combined to create vibrant Tamil communities in these countries.
19th century dispersal of Tamils from India
In the 19th century, Tamils from India and Sri Lanka migrated to Singapore and Malaysia as army clerks and merchants.
Back flow from Tamil Eelam and Burma
During and after the devastating WW2 a large number of Tamils and Indians from Burma fled to India- to Manipur,[1] and Tamil Nadu. They established Burmese refugee colonies that still exist today and maintain an identity as Burmese returnees. In Sri Lanka the Sinhalese nationalist UNP party disfranchised all Indian origin Hill Country Tamils and returned 600,000 back to India under the Srimavo-Shastri Pact signed between India and Sri Lanka. Many were repatriated to the Nilgiris region's tea estates. They too maintain a distinct identity as Ceylon returnees in Tamil Nadu. Black July and other pogroms has created another stream of Eelam and Hill country Tamil refugees in India who have languished for the last 20 years in refugee camps throughout Tamil Nadu while many others have integrated with the mainstream community or left India for other countries in the west.
There is also a movement of Native Eelam Tamils to India,some migrated to do white collared jobs during the British days,but there has been a much bigger diaspora today.
Post 1983 dispersal of Eelam Tamils
As noted there are two distinct groups. The Eelam Tamil diaspora is less than 100 years old and was well established in Malaysia, Singapore and England prior to the post 1983 Black July induced dispersal of refugees and asylum claimants in India, Europe and Canada. Although relatively recent in origin, this subgroup had well established communities in these host countries prior to the 1983 pogroms.
Most members of this subgroup consider its togetherness not just as a function of the past but also as a growing togetherness consolidated by struggle and suffering, given purpose and direction by the aspirations for a future where they and their children and their children's children may live in equality and freedom in an emerging Tamil Eelam.
20th century dispersal of Tamils from India
In the second half of the 20th century, Tamils from India migrated as skilled professionals to the U.S., Canada (esp. are concentrated in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver), Europe and South East Asia. A sizeable population has settled in the Silicon Valley, where there are Tamil associations such as the Bay Area Tamil Manram.[2]. However, the eastern state of New Jersey houses the highest populations of Tamil among the American states and it has its own Tamil Sangam.[3] The Tamil represent a large proportion of Sri Lankan Americans, the largest concentration of Tamil is thought to be in Southern California such as Los Angeles and San Diego.
See also
- Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
- Ceylonese diaspora
- Sri Lankan Tamils of India
- Indians in Singapore
- List of prominent Sri Lankan Tamils
- Malabars - Term used to describe Tamils in Reunion
- Indian South Africans
- Tamil nationalism
- Tamil Réunionnais
References
External links
- Tamil Diaspora - A Trans State Nation by Nadesan Satyendra
- History of Tamil Diaspora by V. Sivasupramaniam
- Brides as Bridges? Traditions, Marriage Markets and Tamil diaspora by Prof M. Sidharthan, Johns Hopkins University
- An over view of South Asian Diaspora an A university of Berkley Project
- Tamil accommodation in Reunion
- Tamils in French Polynesia
- Influence of Merchant Class on Mauritian Tamils
- Myanmar: A Neglected Area of Tamil Lexicography
- Stats on Tamil Migration from Sri Lanka
- Tamil Community Forum
- Language in America
- Tamil Dance in the diaspora
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