Tamil Language & Cultural Society
Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils
Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture
The Tamil Language & Cultural Society (TLCS) was inaugurated on 2 August 1980, by then deputy prime minister, Dr Goh Keng Swee. TLCS was the brainchild of C V Devan Nair, the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of TLCS. He was, at that time, also president of the National Trades Union Congress and later became president of the Republic of Singapore. A Singaporean of Malayalee descent, Nair argued for the establishment of TLCS as a pan-Indian organisation to “promote the study and use of Tamil and to preserve Indian cultural tastes and values in the Republic.” To that end, he appointed another eminent non-Tamil, Justice Choor Singh Sidhu, to the Board, which also included Bishop T R Doraisamy, a leading educator, and T A Ameenullah, a business leader. Nair was also the first President of the Council of Management of TLCS.
Though Nair’s vision of TLCS as a pan-Indian organisation and Tamil as the common language for all South Indian Singaporeans did not materialise after his short stint as the leader of TLCS, the organisation continues to serve the Tamil community in the promotion and preservation of the Tamil language, culture and arts. Its flagship events are the festivals based on Tirukkural, one of the greatest Tamil books on morals and mores, and two preeminent Tamil poets -- Bharati and Avvai. The organisation also grants awards named after Tiruvalluvar, the author of Tirukkural, Bharati and Avvai. TLCS has been recognised by the Singapore Book of Records for its achievement in promoting Tirukkural. It also publishes a Tamil periodical entitled Thamizh Mani and holds special speech training sessions in Tamil in conjunction with Toastmaster International.
For more information:
Tamil Language and Cultural Society. Accessed 1 August 2025. www.tamilmozhi.org
தமிழில் வாசிக்க
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About the Encyclopedia
The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.
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