Tamil Heritage Centre (THC)
The Tamil Heritage Centre, planned to be
built in Bharat Nivas, will be a place to honour the Tamil culture
both on a local level in Auroville and Tamil Nadu as well as
throughout the world, -including Tamil-speaking cultures in Sri
Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, the Fiji Islands, South
Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, and the USA.
Focus
The Centre will focus and communicate on many
aspects of Tamil culture (arts, philosophy, architecture,
spirituality, everyday life, etc.). It will certainly also be
beneficial for young Tamil Aurovilians growing up in the township,
some of whom may have lost touch with significant aspects of their
own culture.
Plans
The Bharat Nivas group has decided that the
THC is a priority for funding. Aurovilian architects Anupama and
Dharmesh will be coordinating the site plans, initial architectural
drawings, and landscaping, together with Meenakshi and other members
of the growing team. A traditional kolam and sacred grove are
planned, along with a mandapam and small reception area. Ideally
speaking there would also be a student dormitory for young people
who come to the Centre to study, and a 'Tamil Heritage Collection'
series of books is also planned, for which UNESCO support is sought.
Programmes that took place in 2001 - 2 in the context of THC:
-
'Nila Mutram', full moon gathering to
share Tamil poetry and visits to historically important places
every month
-
Classical dance performance on the 'Six
abodes of lord Muruga' in Ilaignarkal's new building
-
Presentation of Kamba Ramayanam to school
children
-
Weekly Tamil classes at AV's Deepanam
school to introduce Tamil culture & heritage by Meenakshi
and team
-
Poosam festival in Irumbai temple.
Classical Bharata Natyam dance performed in the temple courtyard
by Auroville artists. Ancient Tamil Hymns were rendered
-
Monthly newsletter published by
Ilaignarkal with regular features on Tamil heritage &
culture
-
Dr. Balasubramaniyam, from Chidambaram who
has been given a fellowship by the Centre for Indian Studies at
Auroville conducted a workshop to prepare spoken Tamil material.
Teachers from Auroville's New Creation, Ilaignarkal &
Isaimbalam schools attended the session. Dr. Ramasamy from the
Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, lead the session
-
Ilaignarkal school holds Bharata Natyam
and Classical music classes for the school children as well as
Aurovilians, guests and visitors
-
Marti & Auroville Press are working
together to publish Tamil Heritage series. 'UNESCO' may fund the
project. The issue 'Kolam' is ready as also 'Temples of Tamil
Nadu'
-
Poppo's excavations; an archaeological
study is under way
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