Culture and Education in Tamil Nadu
Tamil is amongst the top three oldest spoken languages in the world and it is the state language of the people of Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India. Home to a culture going back to over 5,000 years, Tamil Nadu is well known for its classical Bharatanatyam dance form, India’s second largest film industry, popularly called Kollywood, classical Carnatic music, and its cuisine. In addition, Tamil Nadu features enormous and lavishly detailed temple architecture, which emphasizes the culture and religion that are central to daily life. It is also a state where the Dutch, the French, and later the English arrived as colonial powers. In addition, the region has experienced tremendous growth and urbanization drawing illiterate migrant laborers, who are travelling to Tamil Nadu mostly from neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Tamil Nadu is also notable for its high literacy rate. According to the 2011 census, literacy in Tamil Nadu is a little over 80%, higher than India’s overall literacy rate of 74%. This figure is expected to be even higher in the 2021 census, in part because of government programs focused on increasing literacy in the most rural parts of the state.
This focus on literacy has led to investment into primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. The national education plan is well implemented within the state, leading to more than 12 million students enrolled in some form of learning institution. In addition, the state houses numerous post-secondary universities and colleges that provide opportunities for students who wish to pursue higher education. However, these students often have to endure additional financial burdens to achieve these goals. While some may have access to the financial resources they need, others from economically unstable backgrounds and daily wage households, are forced to seek scholarships and other kinds of financial aid.
Tiyara’s mission is to provide scholarships to bright, under-resourced students who are dedicated to the promises of education. We’re proud of all our scholarship recipients, several of whom come from Tamil Nadu. Tiyara paves a powerful way forward for our candidates, giving them the gift of autonomy through education, elevating their future prospects and granting the ability to define their own future through socio-economic empowerment. To learn more about our mission, please click here. We welcome volunteers and interns, so if you’re interested or would like to opt in to receive our e-updates, you can find more information here.