#தமிழ்வாழ்க: 11 things that make Tamilians swell with pride

Tamil-speaking folks everywhere are mighty kicked with the hashtage தமிழ்வாழ்க trending on Twitter. It’s caused a celebration of all things Tamil – from language to culture. Here are 11 things that make every Tamilian super proud.

1. It’s sooo old

Tamil is one of the world’s oldest and longest surviving classical languages in the world and its beginnings have been traced back to some 2200 years ago. If old is gold, then Tamil is precious, to be sure.

2. They wrote poems a thousand years ago

There was a unique golden era in the history of Tamil literature: the Sangam period. Between 300 BC and 300 AD, 2000-plus epic poems were written by a school of 400-odd poets, including women. These were poems of nature, with the settings – forest, field, mountain, desert and coast – inspiring tales of love, war, passion, valour, virtue and charity. These ancient poems inspire poets to this day.

3. So short, so sweet

The Thirukkural is a unique literary work, that has fascinated scholars from across the globe. In 1330 crisp couplets, Thiruvalluvar provided a blueprint for life, dealing in the areas of virtue, love and wealth.

All the Kurals have only 7 wrds n all 1330 Thirukurals ft wthn 140 charctrs. So Thiruvalluvar the world's 1st Tweeter! #shared #தமிழ்வாழ்க

— உங்கள் நண்பன் (@Sugee_1992) February 17, 2015

4. Five fab stories from long, long ago

Every lover of Tamil has read the five great tales – Silppadhikaram, Manimekalai, Seevaka Chintamani, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi. Engaging and superbly crafted these are considered among the gems of Tamil literature.

5. All those jaw-dropping buildings

From the Pallava sculptures of Mamallapuram, to the Periya Kovil in Thanjavur with its perfect symmetry and the graceful Meenakshi temple in Madurai, the Tamils of yore had perfected architecture, sculpture and fresco painting. Their edifices have lasted centuries and continue to fascinate.

6. The songs of Bharathiar

From among the voices raised against the British one rang out, sweet and clear. Subramania Bharathiar sang of freedom, equality, social reform, love and devotion. Lyricists to this day celebrate his timeless writing. In his wake came others like Bharathidasan.

7. The most popular prayer songs

The Sangam era was followed by other great literary movements. Along came the Nayanmar – Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manivasagar, who wrote divine songs that also dazzled with the beauty of their language. They continue to ring through the temples of Tamil Nadu.

8. Contemporary classics

The literary tradition born from the Sangam era has lived on, through such master writers as Kalki, Kalaingar Karunanidhi, C Rajagopalachari on to the sci-fi of Sujatha, the bold themes of Jayakanthan and more recent works of Perumal Murugan, currently caught in a controversy.

#Tamils were one of the greatest Builders in the World The Angkor Wat In Cambodia was Built By Tamils #தமிழ்வாழ்க pic.twitter.com/LPleNUnB4a

— FreedomFighterz (@PuliArason) February 17, 2015

9. They have Ilayaraja. And AR Rahman

Movie mania is closely linked to music in Tamil Nadu. The Sangam poems and Bharathiar poems were meant to be sung. Later, there came M.S Subbulakshmi, mesmerising an entire nation with her voice. Then, there’s Ilayaraja, whose music has scripted the mood for generations of listeners. Now, ARR blends technology and tradition with great success.

10. Cinema, cinema

The Tamilian lives on sambar-rice and cinema. From the black and white era of Thyagaraja Bhagavathar to the mega-budget, CGI-enhanced spectacles by Shankar, movies are the Tamilian’s chosen escape to fantasy and entertainment. And how they love it!

11. They also have Rajinikanth

The unique phenomenon that is Rajinikanth couldn’t really have taken shape anywhere else but in Tamil Nadu. He is god. Then, there’s a pantheon of lesser gods – Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay, all of whom Tamil audiences worship.