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Historical Dictionary of the Tamils

Second Edition

Vijaya Ramaswamy

The Tamils have an unbroken history of more than two thousand years. Tamil, the language they speak, is one of the oldest living languages in the world. The only people comparable to the Tamils in terms of their hoary past and vibrant present would be the Jews with one marked difference. The Tamils have always had their homeland 'Tamilaham' (alternately pronounced and spelt 'Tamizhaham') known today as Tamil Nadu which to them represents their mother and is revered by them as 'Tamizh Tai' literally ‘Tamil Mother’. This is in striking contrast to the Jews who have been through a long and arduous struggle to gain their homeland, a deeply contested site to this day with Hebrewisation of Israel being a key marker of Jewish identity in the region. Tamils, by contrast have a clear numerical majority in the region that now comprises Tamil Nadu and the language unites rather than divides adherents of different faiths.

The second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Tamils contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 600 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Tamils.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 518 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-5381-0685-3 • Hardback • August 2017 • $143.00 • (£110.00)

978-1-5381-0686-0 • eBook • August 2017 • $135.50 • (£105.00)

Series: Historical Dictionaries of Peoples and Cultures

Subjects: History / Asia / India & South Asia, Reference / Dictionaries

Historical Dictionary of the Tamils

Second Edition

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The Tamils have an unbroken history of more than two thousand years. Tamil, the language they speak, is one of the oldest living languages in the world. The only people comparable to the Tamils in terms of their hoary past and vibrant present would be the Jews with one marked difference. The Tamils have always had their homeland 'Tamilaham' (alternately pronounced and spelt 'Tamizhaham') known today as Tamil Nadu which to them represents their mother and is revered by them as 'Tamizh Tai' literally ‘Tamil Mother’. This is in striking contrast to the Jews who have been through a long and arduous struggle to gain their homeland, a deeply contested site to this day with Hebrewisation of Israel being a key marker of Jewish identity in the region. Tamils, by contrast have a clear numerical majority in the region that now comprises Tamil Nadu and the language unites rather than divides adherents of different faiths.

The second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Tamils contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 600 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Tamils.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 518 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-5381-0685-3 • Hardback • August 2017 • $143.00 • (£110.00)

978-1-5381-0686-0 • eBook • August 2017 • $135.50 • (£105.00)

Series: Historical Dictionaries of Peoples and Cultures

Subjects: History / Asia / India & South Asia, Reference / Dictionaries

Author

Vijaya Ramaswamy is currently the Chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is a professor of Ancient and Medieval Indian History. In 2017 she has received the prestigious Discovery International Award given by the Australian Research Council.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword JonWoronoff
Preface
Acknowledgments
Reader’s Note
Acronyms sand Abbreviations
Chronology
Maps
Introduction
The Dictionary
Bibliography
About the Author

Historical Dictionary of the Tamils

Second Edition

Vijaya Ramaswamy

Historical Dictionary of the Tamils

Second Edition

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