Tamil diaspora

The Tamil diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan Tamil origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of India and Sri Lanka, or in other regions, particularly Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Reunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, French Caribbean islands, Europe, Australia and North America.

Early Migrations

Many are descendants of emigrants who left thousands of years ago and mixed with countless others and yet others are removed from Tamil Nadu only few years ago. The Diasporas identity is rooted in an ancient heritage, a rich language and literature and a vibrant culture that they may or may not retain. Many groups that claim decent from medieval era Tamil emigrants such as the Chittys of Malaysia and Colombo Chetty of Sri lanka and even the dominant Vokkaliga, and Hebbar Iyengars of Karnataka maintain their ancestral claims to Tamil Nadu in spite being racially, and linguistically different from present day mainstream Tamil People.

Another early emigrant group that is not well documented is the Tamil Muslims who had emigrated in considerable numbers to the Sultanates of Malacca or present day Malaysia and were instrumental in spreading Islam amongst the indigenous Malays and are generally known as Mamaks. They also migrated to Sri Lanka and fused with the Sri Lankan Muslim population imparting their language and customs on the latter.

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 Reunion and the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadalupe. (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 and other small and large traders 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 migrated to Singapore and Malaysia as army clerks and merchants. Tamil merchants of early Singapore include Govindasamy Pillai, Narayana Pillai and Mohammad Mustafa.

Back Flow from Sri Lanka and Burma

During and after the devastating WW2 a large number of Tamils and Indians from Burma returned to India, some moved to Manipurhttp://www.webindia123.com/manipur/people/otherpeople2.htm yet others to Tamil Nadu. They established Burmese refugees colonies that exist till 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. Post 1983 black July pogroms has created another stream of Sri Lankan 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.

Post 1983 Dispersal of Sri Lankan Tamils

As noted there are two distinct groups. The subgroup of Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora is less than 100 years old and is well established in Malaysia, Singapore and England prior to the post 1983 Black July induced wide dispersal of refugees and asylum claimants in India, Europe and Canada. This subgroup although of being relatively recent in origin, was consolidated by prior well established communities in these host countries.

Most members of this subgroup considers its togetherness not just as a function of the past but also as a growing togetherness consolidated by struggle and suffering and, given purpose and direction by the aspirations a future where they and their children and their children's children may live in equality and freedom in an emerging Tamil Eelam. This aspiration very much mimics the struggle for establishment of Israel through Zionism by the European Jewish Diaspora during the 19th century.

20th century dispersal of Tamils from India

In the second half of the 20th century, Tamils from India migrated as skilled professionals to the US, 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.http://www.bayareatamilmanram.org/eng/introduction.php

References

External links

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