Editing International Institute of Tamil Studies

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{{Infobox university
| name              = International Institute of Tamil Studies
| native_name       = உலகத் தமிழாராய்ச்சி நிறுவனம்
| native_name_lang  = 
| image             = International institute of Tamil studies.jpg
| image_upright     = 
| image_alt         = 
| caption           = Facade of the new building at the International Institute of Tamil studies
| latin_name        = 
| other_name        = <!--or, other_names-->
| former_name       = <!--or, former_names-->
| motto             = ''Yaadum Oorae; Yaavarum Kaelir''
| motto_lang        = Tamil
| mottoeng          = Every town is my town; Everyone is my relative
| top_free_label    = 
| top_free          = 
| type              = 
| established       = 1970<!-- {{start date|df=yes|YYYY}} -->
| founder           = 
| parent            = 
| affiliation       = 
| religious_affiliation = 
| academic_affiliation  = 
| endowment         = 
| budget            = 
| officer_in_charge = Manavazhagan
| chairman          = 
| chairperson       = 
| chancellor        = 
| president         = 
| vice-president    = 
| superintendent    = 
| vice_chancellor   = 
| provost           = 
| rector            = 
| principal         = 
| dean              = 
| director          = 
| head_label        = 
| head              = 
| academic_staff    = 
| administrative_staff = 
| students          = 
| undergrad         = 
| postgrad          = 
| doctoral          = 
| other             = 
| address           = 2nd Main Road, C.I.T Campus, T.T.T.I Post, [[Taramani]]
| city              = Chennai
| state             = Tamil Nadu
| province          = 
| country           = India
| postcode          = 600113
| coordinates       = <!-- {{Coord}} -->
| campus            = [[Taramani]]
| language          = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| free_label        = 
| free              = 
| free_label2       = 
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| colors            = <!--or, colours= -->
| athletics         = 
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| mascot            = <!--or, mascots= -->
| sports_free_label = 
| sports_free       = 
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| website           = {{URL|http://www.ulakaththamizh.in/}}
| logo              = 
| logo_size         = 
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| footnotes         = 
}}

The '''International Institute of Tamil Studies''' (IITS) is a linguistic research institution based in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It was established with a view to promoting the cause of [[Tamil language]].

==History==
The International Institute of Tamil Studies was established in 1970 for Tamil research. In 2014, the then directors Vijayaraghavan and Manavazhagan proposed setting up a cultural center with permanent exhibition to recreate the history of Tamils unraveled by decades of research, and the government approved it in September the same year. The center was opened to the public in a new building in March 2016.<ref name="TH_ATripBackInTime">{{cite news
 | last = Padmanabhan 
 | first = Geeta 
 | title = A trip back in time 
 | newspaper = The Hindu
 | location = Chennai
 | pages =
 | language =
 | publisher = Kasturi & Sons 
 | date =31 May 2016 
 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-walk-inside-the-international-institute-of-tamil-studies-taramani/article8672302.ece
 | access-date = 20 January 2019}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
The center has a theatre, which films short eight-to-nine-minute documentaries showcasing photographs, dramatic recreations, videos, film clippings and pictures of sculptures/murals from temples. The museum is entirely based on [[Tamil literature]]. It exhibits paintings on [[Sangam literature]], wood and cement reproductions of artefacts found in various parts of the state, photographs of collections in various other museums, replicas of weapons and implements, and replicas of ancient towns and temples. There are also [[Diorama|dioramic]] representations that speak about how kings observed the rules of war, treated subjects rendering justice, and ensured fair-play and compassion to all creatures.<ref name="TH_ATripBackInTime"/>

The exhibits are arranged in five galleries, namely, the "Tholkappiar Arangam" displaying art forms; the "Thiruvalluvar Arangam" with exhibits of metalcraft/agriculture, education, medicine and weapons; the "Kapilar Arangam" with a collection of home tools/grinders and exhibits on temples and gods; the "Avvaiyar Arangam" with lifelike depictions of well-known events in the life of ancient kings; and the "Ilango Adigal gallery" with exhibits on shipbuilding and sail-weaving, for which ancient Tamils were well known.<ref name="TH_ATripBackInTime"/>

There are also scale-models of the cities of [[Madurai]] and [[Srirangam]] highlighting the meticulous city-planning and temple-building artistry found in these cities.<ref name="TH_ATripBackInTime"/>

==See also==

* [[Central Institute of Classical Tamil]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.ulakaththamizh.in/ Official website of the International Institute of Tamil Studies, Chennai]

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Education in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tamil language]]
[[Category:Language education in India]]
[[Category:Language advocacy organizations]]
[[Category:Linguistic research in India]]
[[Category:Tamil-language education]]
[[Category:University of Madras]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Chennai]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Chennai]]
[[Category:State agencies of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Colleges affiliated to University of Madras]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1970]]