Jun 17 2025 to Jun 17 2025 6:30 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Nearly 90 million Tamil people, spread across India and a vibrant global diaspora, have preserved a distinct cultural identity while continuously evolving through time, geography, and social transformation. One of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, the Tamil community continues to leave a powerful imprint on literature, philosophy, politics, science, the arts, and beyond.

In her book The Tamils, Nirmala Lakshman speaks about the origins of Tamil civilization, from the Stone Age and the Sangam era to the Bhakti movement and colonial history, and how these shaped the Tamil consciousness.

Together with Ranvir Shah, she will delve into the themes of the book and also address the complexities that mark Tamil society today, including intersections of caste, religion, gender, and modernity, and reflect on what it means to be Tamil in the 21st century. Themes such as migration, resilience, identity, and creativity will be explored as the speakers examine how Tamil culture continues to thrive and adapt in an ever-globalising world.

A Q&A with the audience will follow.

In collaboration with:

Speakers

Nirmala Lakshman
Author & Chairperson, The Hindu Group of Publications
Nirmala Lakshman is currently Publisher and Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications and was earlier Joint Editor of the paper. She founded and edited The Hindu Literary Review, conceptualized and created Young World, India’s only children’s newspaper supplement, and developed several other feature sections of The Hindu. She launched Lit for Life The Hindu’s annual literature festival and continues to curate it.

Nirmala has a PhD in Postmodern fiction, and has written a book on Chennai, Degree Coffee by the Yard and edited an anthology of contemporary India journalism, Writing a Nation.  Her latest book The Tamils A Portrait of a Community has been launched in January 2025. She is on the boards of several philanthropic trusts and also serves on the boards of a few companies.

Ranvir Shah
Founding Trustee, Prakriti Foundation
A cultural activist, philanthropist and businessman, Ranvir Shah has always had a deep interest in books, art, music and design. In 1998, he founded the Prakriti Foundation, the vision of which was to host events that would play a key role in changing and energising the cultural scene in Chennai. He has been a catalyst in broadening the cultural spectrum in Chennai and has been responsible for giving the city some of its most memorable events ranging from serious scholarly discourse from seminars, multi-media events, experimental and protest cinema, music festivals and contemporary dance performances.