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{{ | {{Short description|State in southern India}} | ||
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}} | |||
| | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}} | |||
|native_name | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| | | name = Tamil Nadu | ||
| | | native_name = <!-- Don't add Indic script here, per [[WP:INDICSCRIPT]] --> | ||
| | | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | ||
| | | photo1a = Le temple de Brihadishwara (Tanjore, Inde) (14354574611).jpg | ||
| | | photo2a = Shore Temple (16217100293).jpg | ||
| | | photo2b = Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, in Srirangam, near Tiruchirappali (28) (37464519366).jpg | ||
| | | photo3a = Nilgiri hills view from Doddabetta Peak.jpg | ||
| | | photo4a = Hogenakkal Falls Close.jpg | ||
| | | photo4b = Statue of Thiruvalluvar.jpg | ||
| | | spacing = 1 | ||
| | | size = 250 | ||
| | | position = center | ||
| | | border = 0 | ||
| color = #000000 | |||
| | | foot_montage = ''From top, left to right:''<br />[[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadisvara Temple]], [[Shore Temple]], [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Ranganathaswamy Temple]], [[Nilgiri Mountains]], [[Hogenakkal Falls]] and [[Thiruvalluvar Statue]] | ||
| | }} | ||
| | | image_caption = | ||
| | | image_flag = | ||
| | | type = [[States and union territories of India|State]] | ||
| | | image_blank_emblem = TamilNadu Logo.svg | ||
| blank_emblem_type = [[Emblem of Tamil Nadu|Emblem]] | |||
| | | blank_emblem_size = 100px | ||
| | | anthem = "[[Tamil Thai Valthu]]"{{ref|est|}}<br />''(Invocation to Mother Tamil)'' | ||
| | | motto = ''Vāymaiyē vellum''<br />(''Truth alone triumphs'') | ||
| | | image_map = IN-TN.svg | ||
| | | map_alt = | ||
| | | map_caption = Location of Tamil Nadu in India | ||
| | | coordinates = {{coord|13.09|80.27|region:IN-TN_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}} | ||
| | | coor_pinpoint = | ||
| | | coordinates_footnotes = | ||
| | | subdivision_type = Country | ||
| | | subdivision_name = {{flagu|India}} | ||
| subdivision_type | | established_title = Formation | ||
| subdivision_name | | established_date = 26 January 1950 | ||
| | | seat_type = Capital and<br />Largest City | ||
| | | seat = [[Chennai]] | ||
| | | seat1_type = Largest Metro | ||
| | | seat1 = [[Chennai metropolitan area|Greater Chennai Metropolitan Area]] | ||
| | | parts_type = [[List of Indian districts|Districts]] | ||
| | | parts_style = para | ||
|government_footnotes | | p1 = [[List of districts of Tamil Nadu|38]] | ||
| | | government_footnotes = | ||
| leader_title | | governing_body = {{nowrap|[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]}} | ||
| leader_name | | leader_title = [[Governors of Tamil Nadu|Governor]] | ||
| leader_title1 | | leader_name = [[R. N. Ravi]] | ||
| leader_name1 | | leader_title1 = [[Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister]] | ||
| leader_title2 | | leader_name1 = [[M. K. Stalin]] ([[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]) | ||
| leader_name2 | | leader_title2 = [[Legislature of Tamil Nadu|State Legislature]] | ||
|leader_title3 | | leader_name2 = [[Unicameral]] ([[List of constituencies of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|234 seats]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Nadu: K. Shanmugam appointed as new Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/k-shanmugam-appointed-as-new-tamil-nadu-chief-secretary/article28224917.ece|access-date=29 June 2019|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Tamil Nadu}}</ref> | ||
|leader_name3 | | leader_title3 = [[Parliament of India|National Parliament]] | ||
|leader_title4 | | leader_name3 = [[Lok Sabha]] ([[List of members of the 17th Lok Sabha#Tamil Nadu|39 seats]])<br />[[Rajya Sabha]] ([[List of Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu|18 seats]]) | ||
|leader_name4 | | leader_title4 = [[List of High Courts of India|High Court]] | ||
| | | leader_name4 = [[Madras High Court]] | ||
| | | unit_pref = Metric | ||
| | | area_footnotes = | ||
| | | area_total_km2 = 130,058 | ||
| | | area_rank = [[List of states and territories of India by area|10th]] | ||
| | | area_note = | ||
| | | elevation_footnotes = | ||
| | | elevation_m = | ||
| | | population_total = 72,147,030 | ||
| | | population_as_of = 2011 | ||
| | | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/PCA_Highlights/pca_highlights_file/Tamil_Nadu/6.Figures_Glance_Tamil%20Nadu.pdf |title=Census of india 2011 |publisher=Government of India |access-date=6 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113234157/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/PCA_Highlights/pca_highlights_file/Tamil_Nadu/6.Figures_Glance_Tamil%20Nadu.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| | | population_density_km2 = auto | ||
| | | population_rank = [[List of states and union territories of India by population|6th]] | ||
| | | population_demonym = {{Hlist|[[Tamilian]]|[[Tamilar]]|}} | ||
| | | population_note = | ||
| | | timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] | ||
| | | utc_offset1 = +05:30 | ||
| | | area_code = | ||
| | | area_code_type = [[UN/LOCODE]] | ||
| | | iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-TN]] | ||
| | | registration_plate = TN | ||
| | | demographics_type1 = GDP {{nobold|(2021-2022)}} | ||
| | | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="Tamil_budjet">{{cite web|url=http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/State_wise_SDP_15_03_2021.xls|date=15 April 2021|accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref> | ||
| | | demographics1_title1 = [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP|Total]] | ||
| | | demographics1_info1 = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|24.85|lc}} | ||
| | | demographics1_title2 = [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP per capita|Per capita]] | ||
| | | demographics1_info2 = {{increase}} {{INRConvert| 254855}} | ||
| | | blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] {{nobold|(2019)}} | ||
| | | blank_info_sec1 = {{increase}} 0.709<ref name="snhdi-gdl">{{cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/IND/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019%2B2014%2B2009%2B2004%2B1999%2B1994%2B1990/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><br /><span style="colour:#090">high</span> · [[List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index|11th]] | ||
| | | blank1_name_sec1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]] {{nobold|(2017)}} | ||
| | | blank1_info_sec1 = {{increase}} 82.9% | ||
| | | blank2_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]] {{nobold|(2019)}} | ||
| | | blank2_info_sec1 = 996 [[females|♀]]/1000 [[males|♂]] | ||
| | | blank3_name_sec1 = [[Coastline of Tamil Nadu|Coastline]] | ||
| | | blank3_info_sec1 = 1,076 km (669 mi) | ||
| | | demographics_type2 = Languages | ||
| | | demographics2_title1 = Official | ||
| | | demographics2_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]<ref name=langoff>{{cite web |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |title=52nd report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India (July 2014 to June 2015) |page=132 |date=29 March 2016 |work=Ministry of Minority Affairs (Government of India) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> | ||
| | | demographics2_title2 = Additional official | ||
| | | demographics2_info2 = [[English language|English]]<ref name=langoff /> | ||
| | | website = {{url|https://www.tn.gov.in/}} | ||
| | | footnotes = {{note|est|#}} [[Jana Gana Mana]] is the national anthem, while [[Tamil Thai Valthu|Invocation to Mother Tamil]] is the state song/anthem.<br />{{note|est|†}} Established in 1773; [[Madras State]] was formed in 1950 and renamed as Tamil Nadu on 14 January 1969{{sfn|Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly history|2012}} | ||
| | | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=Yes | ||
| | | region = Tamil Nadu | ||
| | | country = India | ||
| | | emblem = [[File:TamilNadu Logo.svg|50px|left]] [[Emblem of Tamil Nadu]] | ||
| | | song="[[Invocation to Goddess Tamil]]" | ||
| | | mammal = [[File:Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) female head.jpg|50px|left]] [[Nilgiri Tahr]] | ||
| | | bird = [[File:Common Emerald Dove.jpg|50px|left]] [[Emerald dove]] | ||
| | | butterfly = [[File:Tamil Yeoman (Cirrochroa thais) (22851276940).jpg|50px|left]] [[Tamil Yeoman]] | ||
| | | tree = [[File:Medemia argun (aspect général) - Jardin de Nong-Nooch.jpg|50px|left]] [[Borassus flabellifer|Palm Tree]] | ||
| | | flower = [[File:Gloriosa Lily, Ethiopia (15740912399).jpg|50px|left]] [[Glory lily|Gloriosa lily]] | ||
| | | fruit = [[File:Jackfruit hanging.JPG|40px|left]] | ||
| | [[Jackfruit]] | ||
| | | sport = [[File:Sadugudu sadugude.jpg|50px|left]] [[Kabaddi]] | ||
| | | dance = [[File:Bharathanatyam By Ranjitha.jpg|50px|left]] [[Bharatanatyam]] | ||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Tamil Nadu''' ({{ | | official_name = | ||
}} | |||
'''Tamil Nadu''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|æ|m|ᵻ|l|_|ˈ|n|ɑː|d|uː}}; {{IPA-ta|ˈtamiɻ ˈnaːɽɯ|lang|Tamil Nadu.ogg}}, abbr. '''TN''') is a [[States and union territories of India|state]] in southern [[India]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Chennai]]. The state is the home of the [[Tamils|Tamil people]], whose [[Tamil language]]—one of the longest surviving [[Classical languages of India|classical languages]] in the world—is widely spoken in the state and serves as its official language. | |||
Lying in the southern-most part of the [[Indian peninsula]], Tamil Nadu is bordered by the Indian [[union territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] and the states of [[Kerala]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Andhra Pradesh]], as well as an international [[maritime border]] with [[Sri Lanka]]. The state is bounded by the [[Western Ghats]] in the west, the [[Eastern Ghats]] in the north, the [[Bay of Bengal]] in the east, the [[Gulf of Mannar]] and [[Palk Strait]] to the south-east, and the [[Indian Ocean]] in the south. Tamil Nadu is the [[List of states and union territories of India by area|tenth largest Indian state by area]] and the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|sixth largest by population]]. | |||
The region containing Tamil Nadu was ruled by several regimes, including the [[Sangam period|Sangam era]] rulers of the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]], [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] clans, the [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] dynasty, and the later [[Vijayanagara Empire]], all of which shaped the state's [[Tamil cuisine|cuisine]], [[Tamil culture|culture]], and [[Architecture of Tamil Nadu|architecture]]. After the fall of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]], the [[British Raj|British]] colonised the region and administered it as part of the [[Madras Presidency]], headquartered at the city of Madras, now known as Chennai. After [[India's Independence]] in 1947, the [[Madras State]] came into existence, whose borders were linguistically redrawn by the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]], losing territory to Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The state was renamed as Tamil Nadu in 1969. It is home to a number of historic buildings, multi-religious pilgrimage sites, [[hill station]]s and three [[World Heritage Site]]s.{{sfn|UNESCO|2012}}{{sfn|Press Information Bureau releases|2012}}<ref>{{Cite journal|date=March 1984|title=The Living culture of the Tamils; The UNESCO Courier: a window open on the world|journal=The UNESCO Courier|volume=XXXVII|issue=3 |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000746/074678eo.pdf|access-date=28 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417120704/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000746/074678eo.pdf |archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The [[economy of Tamil Nadu]] is the [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP|second-largest]] in India, with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of {{INRConvert|24.85|lc}} and has the country's [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP per capita|11th-highest GSDP per capita]] of {{INRConvert|225106}}.<ref name="Tamil_budjet" /> It ranks [[List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index|11th]] among all Indian states in [[human development index]].<ref name="snhdi-gdl" /> Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India, and one of the most industrialised states; the [[manufacturing sector]] accounts for more than one-third of the state's GDP.<ref name="TN_info">{{*}}{{citation | last = Swaminathan | first = Padmini | author-link = Padmini Swaminathan | date = 28 May 1994 | title = Where Are the Entrepreneurs? What the Data Reveal for Tamil Nadu | journal = [[Economic and Political Weekly]] | volume = 29 | issue = 22 | pages = 64–74 | jstor = 4401265 | issn = 0012-9976 }}<br /> | |||
{{*}}{{cite journal |last1=Alagarsamy |first1=R. |last2=Srinivasan |first2= Dr.R.|date=February 2013 |title=AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION INTO LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION ON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS IN TAMIL NADU |url=https://www.shanlax.com/wp-content/uploads/SIJ_Economics_V1_N2_009.pdf |journal=Shanlax International |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=62 |issn=2319-961X|access-date=6 July 2020}}<br /> | |||
{{*}}{{citation |last1=Aiyappan|first1=Ayinipalli|title=Tamil Nadu|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Tamil-Nadu/Economy#ref46350 |access-date=6 July 2020 |url-access=subscription |quote=Tamil Nadu is one of the most industrialised of the Indian states, and the manufacturing sector accounts for more than one-third of the state's gross product.}}</ref> Its tourism industry is the largest among the Indian states. The [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]] plays an influential role in the state's popular culture. | |||
== History == | |||
{{Main|History of Tamil Nadu}} | |||
=== Prehistory === | |||
[[Archaeological evidence]] points to this area being one of the longest continuous habitations in the Indian peninsula.{{sfn|Nobrega|Sinha|2008|p= 20}} In [[Attirampakkam]] near [[Chennai]], archaeologists from the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education excavated ancient stone tools which suggest that a humanlike population existed in the Tamil Nadu region somewhere around 1,000 years before [[homo sapiens]] arrived from Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surprisingly-early-toolmaking-advances |title=Science News : Archaeology – Anthropology : Sharp stones found in India signal surprisingly early toolmaking advances |access-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209183736/https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sharp-stones-found-india-signal-surprisingly-early-toolmaking-advances |archive-date=9 February 2018 |url-status=live |date=31 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/01/very-old-very-sophisticated-tools-found-in-india-the-question-is-who-made-them/ |title=The Washington Post : Very old, very sophisticated tools found in India. The question is: Who made them? |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210201237/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/02/01/very-old-very-sophisticated-tools-found-in-india-the-question-is-who-made-them/ |archive-date=10 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> A Neolithic stone [[Celt (tool)|celt]] (a hand-held axe) with the [[Indus script]] on it was discovered at Sembian-Kandiyur near [[Mayiladuthurai]] in Tamil Nadu. According to epigraphist [[Iravatham Mahadevan]], this was the first datable artefact bearing the Indus script to be found in Tamil Nadu. According to Mahadevan, the find was evidence of the use of the [[Harappan language]], and therefore that the "Neolithic people of the Tamil country spoke a Harappan language". The date of the celt was estimated at between 1500 BCE and 2000 BCE.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 May 2006|title=Significance of Mayiladuthurai find|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article3126838.ece|url-status=live|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101032334/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article3126838.ece|archive-date=1 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=T|first1=Saravanan|date=22 February 2018|title=How a recent archaeological discovery throws light on the history of Tamil script|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/10th-century-ce-oil-press-discovered-near-andipatti-with-a-tamil-script/article22814589.ece}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= the eternal harappan script |url= http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/the-eternal-harappan-script-tease |access-date= 24 March 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190324134658/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/the-eternal-harappan-script-tease |archive-date= 24 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Adichanallur]], {{convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Tirunelveli]], archaeologists from the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) unearthed 169 clay urns containing human skulls, skeletons, bones, husks, grains of rice, charred rice, and [[celt (tool)|celts]] of the [[Neolithic]] period, 3,800 years ago.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-01/science/27786741_1_human-skeletons-evolution-bio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020024158/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-01/science/27786741_1_human-skeletons-evolution-bio |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2012 |title=Skeletons dating back 3,800 years throw light on evolution |access-date=11 June 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=1 January 2006}}</ref> The ASI archaeologists have proposed that the script used at that site, [[Tamil Brahmi]], is "very rudimentary" and date it somewhere between the 5th century BCE and 3rd century BCE.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm |title=The Hindu: National: 'Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur |work=The Hindu |access-date=11 June 2008 |date=17 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128133014/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm |archive-date=28 January 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/26/stories/2004052602871200.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040701084804/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/26/stories/2004052602871200.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = 1 July 2004 |title=National: Skeletons, script found at ancient burial site in Tamil Nadu |access-date=11 June 2008 |location=Chennai, India |work = [[The Hindu]] |date=26 May 2004}}</ref> About 60 per cent of the total epigraphical inscriptions found by the ASI in India are from Tamil Nadu, and most of these are in the [[Tamil language]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Students get glimpse of heritage |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/22/stories/2005112215970400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518064346/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/22/stories/2005112215970400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2006 |author=Staff Reporter |date=22 November 2005 |access-date=26 April 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-01/science/27786741_1_human-skeletons-evolution-bio Skeletons dating back 3,800 years throw light on evolution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614210546/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-01/science/27786741_1_human-skeletons-evolution-bio |date=14 June 2013 }}. [[The Times of India]].</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm |title=The Hindu : National : 'Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur |access-date=27 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128133014/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm |archive-date=28 January 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>{{sfn|Caldwell|1974|p=88}}{{sfn|Ayyar| 1991| pp=498–499}}<ref>K.A.N. Sashtri, A History of South India, pp 109–112</ref><ref>K.A.N. Sastri, ''A History of South India'', OUP (1955) p 124</ref><ref>Kamil Veith Zvelebil, ''Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature'', p 12</ref> In [[Keezhadi excavation site|Keezhadi]] near Madurai, excavations have revealed a large urban settlement dating to the 6th century BCE, during the time of urbanisation in the Gangetic plain. During this dig, some potsherds were uncovered with a script similar to Indus script, leading some to conclude it was a transition between the Indus Valley script and Tamil Brahmi script used in the Sangam period.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 August 2020|title=Keezhadi sixth phase: What do the findings so far tell us?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keezhadi-sixth-phase-what-do-findings-so-far-tell-us-131269|access-date=31 January 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== Sangam period (500 BCE–300 CE) === | |||
== | {{Main|Sangam period|Tamilakam|Sangam landscape}} | ||
[[File:KeeladiExcavationCamp8.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Keeladi excavation site|Keeladi]], a Sangam Era Excavation Site, [[Sangam period]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/keezhadi-excavation-the-story-till-now/article18464920.ece|title=Keezhadi excavation leads to ancient civilisation on the banks of Vaigai|date=16 May 2017|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Sundar |first1=S.|last2=Jesudasan|first2=Dennis S. |last3=Shrikumar|first3=A.|last4=Shrikumar|first4=A. |author5=Mohamed Imranullah S|author6=Pon Vasanth|last7=Kolappan|first7=B.|last8=Kolappan|first8=B. |last9=Saravanan|first9=T.|last10=Annamalai|first10=S.|last11=Shrikumar |first11=A.|last12=Kavitha|first12=S. S.}}</ref>]] | |||
= | |||
The early history of the people and rulers of Tamil Nadu is a topic in Tamil literary sources known as [[Sangam literature]]. Numismatic, archaeological and literary sources corroborate that the Sangam period lasted for about eight centuries, from 500 BCE to 300 CE. The recent excavations in [[Alagankulam]] archaeological site suggests that Alagankulam is one of the important trade centers or port cities of the Sangam Era.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/excavation-begins-at-alagankulam-archaeological-site/articleshow/58593108.cms |title=Excavation begins at Alagankulam archaeological site |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=26 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902082624/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/excavation-begins-at-alagankulam-archaeological-site/articleshow/58593108.cms |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Ancient Tamil Nadu contained three monarchical states, headed by kings called ''Vendhar'' and several tribal chieftaincies, headed by the chiefs called by the general denomination ''Vel'' or ''[[Velirs|Velir]]''. Still lower at the local level there were clan chiefs called ''kizhar'' or ''mannar''.<ref>'There were three levels of redistribution corresponding to the three categories of chieftains, namely: the Ventar, Velir and Kilar in descending order. Ventar were the chieftains of the three major lineages, viz Cera, Cola and Pandya. Velir were mostly hill chieftains, while Kilar were the headmen of settlements...' —{{cite web|title=Perspectives on Kerala History|url=http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/historicalantecedents.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826094724/http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/historicalantecedents.htm|archive-date=26 August 2006|work=P.J.Cherian (Ed)|publisher=Kerala Council for Historical Research}}</ref> The kings were known as the ''Moovendar'', the three crowned kings, and were the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]], [[Chola dynasty|Cholas]] and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandyas]]. The Cheras controlled the western part of Tamilkam, what is today western Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Pandyas controlled the south, what is today southern Tamil Nadu. The Cholas had their base in the Kaveri delta and controlled what is today northern Tamil Nadu. Although these dynasties were never conquered by outside powers, there were still significant diplomatic contacts between them and kingdoms to the north. They were mentioned on the [[pillars of Ashoka]].<ref>'Everywhere within Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's domain, and among the people beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the [[Velirs|Satyaputras]], the Keralaputras, as far as Tamraparni...' —{{cite web|title=Ashoka's second minor rock edict|url=http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028175927/http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html|archive-date=28 October 2013|access-date=15 November 2006|publisher=Colorado State University}}</ref> | |||
These rulers sponsored some of the earliest Tamil literature. The oldest Sangam work we have knowledge of is the [[Tolkāppiyam|''Tolkappiyam'']], a book of Tamil grammar. Most Sangam literature dealt with themes of love and war. In these poems, a glimpse of Tamil society at the time can be glimpsed. The land was fertile, and people pursued different occupations depending on what regions they were in. Their gods included figures such as ''Seyyon'' and ''Kotravai'', who were worshipped at different places.<ref>Kanchan Sinha, Kartikeya in Indian art and literature, Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan (1979).</ref> The rulers patronised Buddhism and Jainism, and starting in the CE period references to Vedic customs begin to grow.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kamil Zvelebil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=degUAAAAIAAJ|title=The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India|publisher=Brill|year=1973|isbn=90-04-03591-5|location=|pages=51}}</ref> | |||
Significant trade was also undertaken with the outside world. Much commerce from the Romans and Han China converged in the Tamil region, and the seaports of [[Muziris]] and [[Korkai]] were very popular destinations.<ref>'The vast quantities of gold and silver coins struck by [[Roman emperor]]s up to [[Nero]] (54–68CE) found all over Tamil Nadu testify the extent of the trade, the presence of Roman settlers in the Tamil country'. K.A.N. Sastri, ''A History of South India'', OUP (1955) pp 125–127</ref> One of the most prized goods from Tamilkam was spices such as black pepper, but other spices, pearls and silk were also widely traded there.<ref>[https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/issue/7/2 The Medieval Spice Trade and the Diffusion of the Chile] ''Gastronomica'' Spring 2007 Vol. 7 Issue 2</ref> | |||
Starting in 300, however, there was a significant drop in Sangam literature. Some have attributed this to the [[Kalabhra dynasty|Kalabhras]], a dynasty which conquered much of Tamilkam during that time. Historians have speculated these rulers were antagonistic towards the ''astika'' schools which were dominant in later centuries, which is why later texts always portray their rule in a bad light, if at all.<ref>K.A.N. Sastri postulates that there was a live connection between the early Cholas and the Renandu Cholas of the Andhra country. The northward migration probably took place during the [[Pallava]] domination of [[Simhavishnu]]. Sastri also categorically rejects the claims that these were the descendants of Karikala Chola —K.A.N. Sastri, ''The CōĻas'', 1935 p 107</ref> During their rule, [[Śramaṇa|Samanar]] traditions greatly impacted literature written during this time. Literacy was widespread and epics such as the ''[[Silappatikaram|Cilappatikaram]]'' were written. The most prominent of these works is the ''[[Tirukkuṟaḷ]]'' written by [[Valluvar]], a collection of couplets covering all aspects of life from ethics to love. This text is still treated with great reverence by those in the present-day.<ref>The identity of the author of ''Tirukkural'' is not known with any certainty. This work of 1330 [[distich]]s is attributed to [[Tiruvalluvar]], who was probably a Jain with knowledge of the [[Sanskrit]] didactic works of the north.</ref> Around the 7th century CE, the Kalabhras were overthrown by the Pandyas and Cholas,<ref>Pandya Kadungon and Pallava Simhavishnu overthrew the Kalabhras. Acchchutakalaba is likely the last Kalabhra king —K.A.N. Sastri, ''The CōĻas'', 1935 p 102</ref> who continued to patronise Buddhists and Jains before the Saiva and Vaishnava revivalism in the [[Bhakti movement]].<ref>K.A.N. Sastri, ''A History of South India'' pp 333–335</ref> | |||
=== Middle Kingdoms (600–1300 CE) === | |||
<gallery widths="200" heights="125" mode="packed"> | |||
File:Kallanai.jpg|Kallanai or Grand Anicut, an ancient dam built on the [[Kaveri River]] in [[Thanjavur district]] by [[Karikala Chola]] around the 2nd century CE<ref>{{cite news |title=Flowing waters for fertile fields |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2408778.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=29 August 2011 |location=India |first=M. |last=Balaganessin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717220026/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2408778.ece |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="kallanai_googlebook">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Vijay P. |author2=Ram Narayan Yadava |title=Water Resources System Operation: Proceedings of the International Conference on Water and Environment |publisher=Allied Publishers |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bge-0XX6ip8C&q=kallanai&pg=PA508 |isbn=978-81-7764-548-4 |page=508}}</ref><ref name="kallanai_oldest">{{cite web |url=http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/traditionwater.pdf |title=''This is the oldest stone water-diversion or water-regulator structure in the world'' |access-date=27 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206130842/http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/traditionwater.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=6 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9021884/Cauvery-River |title=Cauvery River – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=23 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726171728/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9021884/Cauvery-River |archive-date=26 July 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
File:Mamallapuram view.jpg|[[Shore Temple]] built by the [[Pallavas]] at [[Mamallapuram]] during the 8th century, now a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] | |||
File:Vettuvan Kovil (3).jpg|[[Vettuvan Koil]], the unfinished temple is believed to have been built during the 8th century by [[Pandyas]] in Kalugumalai, a panchayat town in [[Thoothukudi district]]. | |||
</gallery> | |||
During the 4th to 8th centuries, Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the [[Pallava dynasty]] under [[Mahendravarman I]] and his son ''Mamalla'' [[Narasimhavarman I]].{{sfn|Sastri|2008| pp= 91–92}} The Pallavas ruled parts of [[South India]] with [[Kanchipuram]] as their capital. [[Tamil architecture]] reached its peak during Pallava rule. [[Narasimhavarman II]] built the [[Shore Temple]] which is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. | |||
Much later, the [[Pallavas]] were replaced by the [[Chola dynasty]] as the dominant kingdom in the 9th century and they in turn were replaced by the [[Pandyan Dynasty]] in the 13th century. The Pandyan capital [[Madurai]] was in the deep south away from the coast. They had extensive trade links with the southeast Asian maritime empires of [[Srivijaya]] and their successors, as well as contacts, even formal diplomatic contacts, reaching as far as the [[Roman Empire]]. During the 13th century, [[Marco Polo]] mentioned the Pandyas as the richest empire in existence. Temples such as the [[Meenakshi Amman Temple]] at [[Madurai]] and [[Nellaiappar Temple]] at [[Tirunelveli]] are the best examples of Pandyan temple architecture.{{sfn|Sastri|1970|pp=18–182}} The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. They controlled the pearl fisheries along the south coast of India, between Sri Lanka and India, which produced some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world. | |||
{{wide image|Mahabalipuram pano2.jpg|900px|alt=Large rock reliefs with elephants|align-cap=center|The ''[[Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)|Descent of the Ganges]]'', also known as ''Arjuna's Penance'', at [[Mamallapuram]], is one of the largest rock reliefs in Asia.}} | |||
==== Chola Empire ==== | |||
{{Main|Chola dynasty}} | |||
[[File:Rajendra map new.svg|thumb|upright=0.9|right|The [[Chola Empire]] at its greatest extent, during the reign of [[Rajendra Chola I]] in 1030]] | |||
During the 9th century, the Chola dynasty was once again revived by [[Vijayalaya Chola]], who established [[Thanjavur]] as Chola's new capital by conquering central Tamil Nadu from [[Mutharaiyar dynasty|Mutharaiyar]] and the Pandya King [[Varagunavarman II]]. [[Aditya I]] and his son [[Parantaka I]] expanded the kingdom to the northern parts of Tamil Nadu by defeating the last Pallava king, [[Aparajitavarman]]. [[Parantaka Chola II]] expanded the Chola empire into what is now interior Andhra Pradesh and coastal Karnataka, while under the great [[Rajaraja Chola]] and his son [[Rajendra Chola]], the Cholas rose to a notable power in southeast Asia. Now the [[Chola Empire]] stretched as far as [[Bengal]] and Sri Lanka. At its peak, the empire spanned almost {{convert|3600000|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}}. Rajaraja Chola conquered all of peninsular [[South India]] and parts of Sri Lanka. Rajendra Chola's navy went even further, occupying coasts from Burma (now) to Vietnam, the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], Lakshadweep, [[Sumatra]], [[Java]], [[Malay Peninsula|Malaya]], Philippines<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilculturewaterloo.org/tamillanguage.htm |title=Tamil Cultural Association – Tamil Language |publisher=Tamilculturewaterloo.org |access-date=23 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413062503/http://tamilculturewaterloo.org/tamillanguage.htm |archive-date=13 April 2015 }}</ref> in South East Asia and Pegu islands. He defeated [[Mahipala]], the king of Bengal, and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital and named it [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]]. | |||
{{multiple image | align= left | direction= horizontal | footer= Relics from Chola period (''from left to right''): [[Airavatesvara Temple]] at Darasuram; [[copper alloy]] statue of Hindu god [[Natarajan]]; and [[bronze]] statue of his consort [[Parvati]].| footer_align= center | image1= Horse drawn chariot Darasuram.jpg | width1= {{#expr: (175 * 800 / 599) round 0}} | image2= Shiva as the Lord of Dance LACMA edit.jpg | width2= {{#expr: (175 * 467 / 600) round 0}} | image3= Cholacrop.jpg | width3= {{#expr: (175 * 374 / 599) round 0}}}} | |||
=== '' | The Cholas were prolific temple builders right from the times of the first medieval King [[Vijayalaya Chola]]. These are the earliest specimen of Dravidian temples under the Cholas. His son Aditya I built several temples around the Kanchi and Kumbakonam regions. The Cholas went on to becoming a great power and built some of the most imposing religious structures in their lifetime and they also renovated temples and buildings of the [[Pallavas]], acknowledging their common socio-religious and cultural heritage. The celebrated [[Nataraja]] temple at [[Chidambaram]] and the [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Ranganathaswamy Temple]] at [[Srirangam]], [[Tiruchirappalli]], held special significance for the Cholas which have been mentioned in their inscriptions as their tutelary deities. [[Rajaraja Chola I]] and his son [[Rajendra Chola]] built temples such as the [[Brihadeshvara Temple]] of Thanjavur and Brihadeshvara Temple of [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], the [[Airavatesvara Temple]] of [[Darasuram]] and the [[Sarabeswara]] (Shiva) Temple, also called the Kampahareswarar Temple at [[Thirubuvanam|Thirubhuvanam]], the last two temples being located near Kumbakonam. The first three of the above four temples are titled [[Great Living Chola Temples]] among the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]]. | ||
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="210" caption="[[Great Living Chola Temples]]"> | |||
File:Big Temple-Temple.jpg|The granite [[gopuram]] (tower) of [[Brihadisvara Temple]], 1010 CE | |||
File: | File:A different view of Airavatesvara Temple.jpg|[[Airavatesvara Temple]] built by [[Rajaraja Chola II]] in the 12th century CE | ||
File: | File:Back view of Raja gopuram.jpg|The pyramidal structure above the sanctum at [[Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] | ||
File: | File:Brihadeeswara Temple Entrance Gopurams, Thanjavur.JPG|Brihadisvara Temple Entrance Gopurams at [[Thanjavur]] | ||
File: | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
{{ | [[File:Tirumalai Nayak.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal]] at [[Madurai]]]] | ||
{{India}} | |||
[[ | === Vijayanagar and Nayak period (1336–1646) === | ||
{{Main|Vijayanagara Empire}} | |||
The Muslim invasions of southern India triggered the establishment of the [[Hindu]] [[Vijayanagara Empire]] with [[Vijayanagara]] in modern [[Karnataka]] as its capital. The Vijayanagara empire eventually conquered the entire Tamil country by c. 1370 and ruled for almost two centuries until its defeat in the [[Battle of Talikota]] in 1565 by a confederacy of [[Deccan sultanates]]. Subsequently, as the Vijayanagara Empire went into decline after the mid-16th century, many local rulers, called [[Nayak dynasty|Nayaks]], succeeded in gaining the trappings of independence. This eventually resulted in the further weakening of the empire; many Nayaks declared themselves independent, among whom the [[Nayaks of Madurai]] and Tanjore were the first to declare their independence, despite initially maintaining loose links with the Vijayanagara kingdom.{{sfn|Sastri|1970|pp=18–182}} The Nayaks of Madurai and [[Nayaks of Thanjavur]] were the most prominent Nayaks of the 17th century. They reconstructed some of the well-known temples in Tamil Nadu such as the [[Meenakshi Temple]]. | |||
{{wide image|An aerial view of Madurai city from atop of Meenakshi Amman temple.jpg|900px|alt=An aerial view of the [[Meenakshi Temple]]|align-cap=center|An aerial view of the [[Meenakshi Temple]] from the top of the southern [[gopuram]], looking north. The temple was rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Empire.}} | |||
=== Power struggles of the 18th century (1688–1802) === | |||
By the early 18th century, the political scene in Tamil Nadu saw a major change-over and was under the control of many minor rulers aspiring to be independent. The fall of the Vijayanagara empire and the Chandragiri Nayakas gave the [[sultanate of Golconda]] a chance to expand into the Tamil heartland. When the sultanate was incorporated into the Mughal Empire in 1688, the northern part of current-day Tamil Nadu was administrated by the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]], who had his seat in [[Arcot]] from 1715 onward. Meanwhile, to the south, the fall of the [[Thanjavur Nayaks]] led to a short-lived [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]. The fall of the [[Madurai Nayaks]] brought up many small Nayakars of southern Tamil Nadu, who ruled small parcels of land called Palayams. The chieftains of these Palayams were known as [[Palaiyakkarar]] (or 'polygar' as called by British) and were ruling under the nawabs of the Carnatic. | |||
[[File:Fort Dansborg.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Fort Dansborg]] at [[Tharangambadi]] built by the [[Danes|Danish]]]] | |||
Europeans started to establish trade centers during the 17th century in the eastern coastal regions. Around 1609, the Dutch established a settlement in [[Pulicat]],<ref>''Bethencourt'' p.211</ref> while the Danes had their establishment in [[Tharangambadi]] also known as Tranquebar.<ref name="Frontline">{{cite news |title=Danish flavour |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2622/stories/20091106262211800.htm |access-date=5 August 2013 |newspaper=Frontline |date=6 November 2009 |location=India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060423/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2622/stories/20091106262211800.htm |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1639, the British, under the East India Company, established a settlement further south of Pulicat, in present-day [[Chennai]]. British constructed [[Fort St. George]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Wagret |first=Paul |title=Nagel's encyclopedia-guide |publisher=Nagel Publishers |location=Geneva |year=1977 |series=India, Nepal |page=556 |isbn=978-2-8263-0023-6 |oclc=4202160}}</ref> and established a trading post at Madras.<ref name="Roberts.J.M">{{cite book |title=A short history of the world |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QZXvUhGwhAC&q=History+of+the+World |publisher=Helicon publishing Ltd. |page=277 |year=1997 |author=Roberts J. M |isbn=978-0-19-511504-8 |access-date=28 December 2012}}</ref> The office of [[List of mayors of Chennai|mayoralty of Madras]] was established in 1688. The French established trading posts at [[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]] by 1693. The British and French were competing to expand the trade in the northern parts of Tamil Nadu which also witnessed many battles like [[Battle of Wandiwash]] as part of the [[Seven Years' War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historynet.com/seven-years-war-battle-of-wandiwash.htm |title=Seven Years' War: Battle of Wandiwash |work=History Net: Where History Comes Alive – World & US History Online |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102613/http://www.historynet.com/seven-years-war-battle-of-wandiwash.htm |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=live |date=21 August 2006 }}</ref> British reduced the French dominions in India to Puducherry. Nawabs of the Carnatic bestowed tax revenue collection rights on the East India Company for defeating the [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah surrendered much of his territory to the East India Company which firmly established the British in the northern parts. In 1762, a tripartite treaty was signed between Thanjavur Maratha, Carnatic, and the British by which Thanjavur became a vassal of the Nawab of the Carnatic which eventually ceded to the British. | |||
In the south, Nawabs granted taxation rights to the British which led to conflicts between British and the Palaiyakkarar, which resulted in series of wars called [[Polygar war]] to establish independent states by the aspiring Palaiyakkarar. [[Puli Thevar]] was one of the earliest opponents of the British rule in South India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Puli_Thevan |title=Puli Thevan : Define, Explore, Discuss |publisher=Museumstuff.com |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095023/http://www.museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Puli_Thevan |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Thevar's prominent exploits were his confrontations with [[Marudhanayagam Pillai|Marudhanayagam]], who later rebelled against the British in the late 1750s and early 1760s. [[Rani Velu Nachiyar]], was the first woman freedom fighter of India and Queen of Sivagangai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=108691 |title=PIB English Features |work=pib.nic.in |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100018/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=108691 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> She was drawn to war after her husband Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar (1750–1772), King of [[Sivaganga]] was murdered at [[Kalayar Kovil]] temple by British. Before her death, Queen Velu Nachi granted powers to the [[Maruthu brothers]] to rule Sivaganga.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sivaganga.tn.nic.in/maruthu.htm |title=index |work=tn.nic.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130050319/http://www.sivaganga.tn.nic.in/maruthu.htm |archive-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> [[Kattabomman]] (1760–1799), Palaiyakkara chief of Panchalakurichi who fought the British in the First [[Polygar War]].<ref name=Anand>{{cite journal |last=Yang |first=Anand A |title=Bandits and Kings:Moral Authority and Resistance in Early Colonial India |doi=10.1017/S0021911807001234 |jstor=20203235 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=66 |issue=4 |pages=881–896 |year=2007 }}</ref> He was captured by the British at the end of the war and hanged near Kayattar in 1799. [[Veeran Sundaralingam]] (1700–1800) was the General of Kattabomman Nayakan's palayam, who died in the process of blowing up a British ammunition dump in 1799 which killed more than 150 British soldiers to save Kattapomman Palace. [[Oomaithurai]], younger brother of Kattabomman, took asylum under the Maruthu brothers, Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu and raised an army.<ref>{{cite book |last=[[Robert Caldwell]] |title=A Political and General History of the District of Tinnevelly, in the Presidency of Madras |publisher=E. Keys, at the Government Press |date=1881 |url=https://archive.org/details/apoliticalandge00caldgoog |pages=[https://archive.org/details/apoliticalandge00caldgoog/page/n211 195]–222 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005214205/https://archive.org/details/apoliticalandge00caldgoog |archive-date=5 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> They formed a coalition with [[Dheeran Chinnamalai]] and Kerala Varma [[Pazhassi Raja]], which fought the British in Second Polygar Wars. [[Dheeran Chinnamalai]] (1756–1805), Polygar chieftain of Kongu and ally of Tipu Sultan who fought the British in the Second Polygar War. After winning the Polygar wars in 1801, the East India Company consolidated most of southern India into the [[Madras Presidency]]. | |||
[[File:Andal Temple.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Srivilliputhur Andal Temple|Thiruvilliputhur Andal Temple]] [[Gopuram]] has been adopted as the official [[Seal of Tamil Nadu]].]] | |||
The Pudukkottai Thondaimans rose to power over the Pudukkottai area by the end of the 17th Century. The Pudukkottai kingdom has the distinction of being the only princely state in Tamil Nadu, and only became part of the Indian union in 1948 after independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pudukkottai.nic.in/history/|title=History | Pudukkottai District, Government of Tamilnadu | India|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510092841/https://pudukkottai.nic.in/history/|archive-date=10 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Vellore Mutiny and Indian Rebellion (1801–1947 CE) === | |||
{{Main|Madras Presidency}} | |||
At the beginning of the 19th century, the British firmly established governance over the entirety of Tamil Nadu. The [[Vellore mutiny]] on 10 July 1806 was the first instance of a large-scale mutiny by Indian sepoys against the British [[East India Company]], predating the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by half a century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/on-this-day/july-10-1806-the-vellore-mutiny-breaks-out-against-the-british |title=July 10, 1806 – The Vellore Mutiny Breaks out Against the British |work=mapsofindia.com |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016041855/http://www.mapsofindia.com/on-this-day/july-10-1806-the-vellore-mutiny-breaks-out-against-the-british |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |date=10 July 2013 }}</ref> The revolt, which took place in [[Vellore]], was brief, lasting one full day, but brutal as mutineers broke into the Vellore fort and killed or wounded 200 British troops, before they were subdued by reinforcements from nearby Arcot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/july-1806-vellore/231918 |title=July, 1806 Vellore – S. Anand – Jul 17,2006 |work=outlookindia.com |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023012/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/july-1806-vellore/231918 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/624875/Vellore-Mutiny |title=Vellore Mutiny |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501053701/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/624875/Vellore-Mutiny |archive-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The [[British Raj]] was formed after the British crown took over the control governance from the company and the remainder of the 19th century did not witness any native resistance until the beginning of 20th century [[Indian Independence movement]]. During the administration of Governor [[George Harris, 3rd Baron Harris|George Harris]] (1854–1859) measures were taken to improve education and increase the representation of Indians in the administration. Legislative powers are given to the Governor's council under the Indian Councils Act 1861 and 1909 [[Minto-Morley Reforms]] eventually led to the establishment of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Madras Legislative Council]]. Failure of the summer monsoons and administrative shortcomings of the [[Ryotwari]] system resulted in two severe famines in the Madras Presidency, the [[Great Famine of 1876–78]] and the [[Indian famine of 1896–97]] killed millions of Tamils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-great-famine-of-madras-and-the-men-who-made-it/article5045883.ece|title=The great famine of Madras and the men who made it|first=B.|last=Kolappan|date=22 August 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The famine led to the migration of many Tamil peasants as bonded labourers for the British to countries like Malaysia and Mauritius, which eventually formed the present [[Tamil diaspora]]. | |||
Tamil Nadu provided a significant number of freedom fighters to the Independence struggle such as [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]] and [[Subramania Bharati|Bharatiyar]].<ref name="pondy">{{cite web|title=Political situation in Pondicherry (1910–1915)|url=http://www.sriaurobindoashram.org/research/show.php?set=doclife&id=25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311020848/http://www.sriaurobindoashram.org/research/show.php?set=doclife&id=25|archive-date=11 March 2007|access-date=15 November 2006|work=Extract from diary of A.B. Purani (PT MS5 (1924), 86|publisher=Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust}}</ref> The Tamils (particularly [[Tamil Malaysians]]) formed a significant percentage of the members of the [[Indian National Army]] (INA), founded by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] to fight the [[British Raj|British colonial rule]] in India.<ref>"Noting that the Tamils formed a large chunk of the strength of the INA, Prof. Pfaff, said it was always a moving experience to interact with the INA members from Tamil Nadu." {{cite news|date=22 December 2005|title=Tamils' contribution to INA campaigns recalled|location=Chennai, India|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/22/stories/2005122218630900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209235024/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/22/stories/2005122218630900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2006|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 November 2006}}</ref><ref>"More than 75 percent of the INA soldiers were Tamils" according to V. Vaidhyalingam, secretary and treasurer, Tamil Nadu Indian National Army League. {{cite news|date=2 August 2004|title=The unsung heroes|location=Chennai, India|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/08/02/stories/2004080201760100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030202019/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/08/02/stories/2004080201760100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2004|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 November 2006}}</ref> [[Lakshmi Sahgal]] from Tamil Nadu was a prominent leader in the INA's [[Rani of Jhansi Regiment]]. | |||
In 1916 Dr. T.M. Nair and Rao Bahadur Thygaraya Chetty released the ''Non-Brahmin Manifesto''<ref name="swamy">Subramaniyam Swami, Is the Dravidian movement dying?, Frontline, Vol.20, Iss. 12, June 2003</ref> and helped to form the Justice Party, an organisation that sought to reduce Brahmin domination of the civil service. The party won the legislative assembly elections of 1921, which was boycotted by the Congress. This party implemented reservations in government jobs and education for non-Brahmins in 1926, and stayed in power for 13 years. The other main movement was the [[Self-Respect Movement|self-respect movement]] of [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|E. V. Ramaswamy]], better known as Periyar. Periyar campaigned for an end to what he saw as Aryan domination of culture and life in Tamil Nadu. To this end, he became an advocate of rationalism, and campaigned against the caste system, religion, and superstition.<ref name="swamy" /> | |||
Further steps towards eventual self-rule were taken in 1935 when the British Government passed the [[Government of India Act 1935]]. Fresh local elections were held and in Tamil Nadu the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] captured power defeating the Justice party. In 1938, Periyar along with [[C. N. Annadurai]] [[Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–40|launched an agitation]] against the Congress ministry's decision to introduce the teaching of Hindi in schools. Thereafter, the Justice party was taken over by Periyar who renamed it [[Dravidar Kazhagam]] and took it out of electoral politics. The group became an advocate for a separate ''Dravida Nadu'' (lit. land of the Dravidians) during discussions of the partition of India.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Confronting the Body: The Politics of Physicality in Colonial and Post-Colonial India|publisher=Anthem Press|year=2004|isbn=978-1-84331-032-7|editor=James H. Mills, Satadru Sen|page=145}}</ref> | |||
=== Post-Independence (1947–present) === | |||
When India became independent in 1947, Madras presidency became [[Madras State]], comprising present-day Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh, [[South Canara]] district of Karnataka, and parts of Kerala. The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. In 1969, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu, meaning "Tamil country".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundari |first1=S. |year=2007 |title=Migrant women and urban labour market: concepts and case studies |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMlVGtjbcSIC&q=madras+state+became+Tamilnadu&pg=PA105 |isbn=9788176299664 }}</ref> | |||
== Geography == | |||
[[File:Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png|thumb|upright=0.9|Topographic map of Tamil Nadu]] | |||
[[File:Western Ghats Gobi.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Western Ghats]] traverse along the western border of Tamil Nadu]]{{Main|Geography of Tamil Nadu}} | |||
Tamil Nadu covers an area of {{convert|130058|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} {{ref|a}}, and is the tenth-largest state in India. The bordering states are [[Kerala]] to the west, [[Karnataka]] to the north-west and [[Andhra Pradesh]] to the north. To the east is the [[Bay of Bengal]] and the state encircles the [[union territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] which is the meeting point of the [[Arabian Sea]], the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. | |||
The western, southern, and the northwestern parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The [[Western Ghats]] and the [[Eastern Ghats]] meet at the [[Nilgiri Hills]]. The Western Ghats traverse the entire western border with Kerala, effectively blocking much of the rain-bearing clouds of the south-west monsoon from entering the state. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains and the northern parts are a mix of hills and plains. The central and the south-central regions are arid plains and receive less rainfall than the other regions. | |||
Tamil Nadu has the country's third-longest [[Coastline of Tamil Nadu|coastline]] at about {{convert|906.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mha1.nic.in/par2013/par2013-pdfs/ls-300413/498.pdf|title=Indian States by Coastline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828221126/http://mha1.nic.in/par2013/par2013-pdfs/ls-300413/498.pdf|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Pamban Island]] and a group of smaller limestone shoals make up the northern portion of [[Ram Setu]], which was formerly a natural bridge linking India with [[Sri Lanka]]. Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004 [[Indian Ocean tsunami]] when it hit India, which caused 7,793 direct deaths in the state. Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard with the exception of the western border areas that lie in a low to moderate hazard zone; as per the 2002 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) map, Tamil Nadu falls in Zones II and III. Historically, parts of this region have experienced seismic activity in the M5.0 range.{{sfn|Amateur Seismic Centre|2007}} | |||
=== Climate === | |||
Tamil Nadu is mostly dependent on monsoon rains and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The climate of the state ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state has two distinct periods of rainfall: | |||
* [[Monsoon|South west monsoon]] from June to September, with strong southwest winds; | |||
* [[Monsoon#Late in Year|North east monsoon]] from October to December, with dominant northeast winds; | |||
The annual rainfall of the state is about {{convert|945|mm|in|abbr=on}} of which 48 per cent is through the northeast monsoon, and 32 per cent through the southwest monsoon. Since the state is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water resources, monsoon failures lead to acute [[water scarcity]] and [[2016–17 Drought in Tamil Nadu|severe drought]].{{sfn|UN, system of organisations|2012}} Tamil Nadu is divided into seven agro-climatic zones: northeast, northwest, west, southern, high rainfall, high altitude hilly, and [[Kaveri]] Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). | |||
=== Flora and fauna === | |||
{{Main|Wildlife of Tamil Nadu|List of birds of Tamil Nadu}} | |||
There are about 2,000 species of wildlife that are native to Tamil Nadu. Protected areas provide safe habitat for large mammals including [[Indian elephant|elephants]], [[Bengal tiger|tigers]], [[Indian leopard|leopards]], [[Dhole|wild dogs]], [[sloth bear]]s, [[gaur]]s, [[lion-tailed macaque]]s, [[Nilgiri langur]]s, [[Nilgiri tahr]]s, [[grizzled giant squirrel]]s and [[sambar deer]], resident and migratory birds such as [[cormorant]]s, [[darter]]s, [[heron]]s, [[egret]]s, [[Asian openbill stork|open-billed storks]], [[spoonbill]]s and [[black-headed ibis|white ibises]], [[little grebe]]s, [[common moorhen#Eurasian common moorhen|Indian moorhen]], [[black-winged stilt]]s, a few migratory [[duck]]s and occasionally [[Pelecanus philippensis|grey pelicans]], marine species such as the [[dugong]]s, turtles, dolphins, ''[[Balanoglossus]]'' and a wide variety of fish and insects. | |||
Indian [[Angiosperm]] diversity comprises 17,672 species with Tamil Nadu leading all states in the country, with 5640 species accounting for 1/3 of the total flora of India. This includes 1,559 species of [[medicinal plant]]s, 533 [[endemism|endemic]] species, 260 species of wild relatives of cultivated plants and 230 [[red-listed]] species. The [[gymnosperm]] diversity of the country is 64 species of which Tamil Nadu has four indigenous species and about 60 introduced species. The [[Pteridophyte]]s diversity of India includes 1,022 species of which Tamil Nadu has about 184 species. Vast numbers of [[bryophyte]]s, [[lichen]], fungi, [[algae]], and bacteria are among the wild plant diversity of Tamil Nadu. | |||
Common plant species include the state tree: [[Borassus flabellifer#Cultural symbolism|palmyra palm]], [[eucalyptus]], rubber, [[cinchona]], clumping bamboos (''[[Bambusa]] arundinacea''), [[Tectona grandis|common teak]], ''[[Anogeissus latifolia]]'', [[Terminalia tomentosa|Indian laurel]], [[grewia]], and blooming trees like [[Cassia fistula|Indian laburnum]], [[ardisia]], and [[solanaceae]]. Rare and unique plant life includes ''Combretum ovalifolium'', [[ebony]] (''Diospyros nilagrica''), ''[[Habenaria]] rariflora'' (orchid), ''[[Cyathea sect. Alsophila|Alsophila]]'', ''[[Impatiens]] elegans'', ''[[Ranunculus]] reniformis'', and [[Osmunda regalis|royal fern]].{{sfn|Biodiversity of Tamil Nadu|2012}} | |||
=== National and state parks === | |||
[[File:Elephants in wild.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve]] has the largest elephant population in India.]] | |||
{{Main|Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}} | |||
Tamil Nadu has a wide range of [[biomes]] extending east from the [[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]] in the [[Western Ghats]] through the [[South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]] and [[Deccan thorn scrub forests]] to [[tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|tropical dry broadleaf forests]] and then to the beaches, [[estuaries]], [[salt marsh]]es, [[mangrove]]s, [[seagrass]]es and [[coral reef]]s of the [[Bay of Bengal]]. | |||
The state has a range of flora and fauna with many species and habitats. To protect this diversity of wildlife there are [[Protected areas]] of Tamil Nadu as well as [[Biosphere reserves of India|biospheres]] which protect larger areas of natural habitat often include one or more national parks. The [[Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve]] established in 1986 is a marine ecosystem with seaweed seagrass communities, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangrove forests. The [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]] located in the [[Western Ghats]] and [[Nilgiri Hills]] comprises part of adjoining states of Kerala and Karnataka. The [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]] is in the southwest of the state bordering Kerala in the Western Ghats. Tamil Nadu is home to five declared national parks located in [[Indira Gandhi National Park|Anamalai]], [[Mudumalai National Park|Mudumalai]], [[Mukurthi National Park|Mukurthi]], [[Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park|Gulf of Mannar]], [[Guindy National Park|Guindy]] located in the center of [[Chennai]] City and [[Arignar Anna Zoological Park|Vandalur]] located in South Chennai. [[Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary|Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve]], [[Mukurthi National Park]] and [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]] are the tiger reserves in the state. | |||
== Governance and administration == | |||
{{Main|Government of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu Legislature}} | |||
[[File:A building in Chennai.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|Madras High Court, Chennai]] | |||
The governor is the constitutional head of the state while the [[chief minister]] is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers.<ref name="TNGovPortal">{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/government |title=Tamil Nadu Government Portal |publisher=Information Technology Department – Tamil Nadu Government |access-date=7 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606113128/http://www.tn.gov.in/government |archive-date=6 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Chief Justice]] of the [[Madras High Court]] is the head of the judiciary.<ref name="TNGovPortal" /> The present governor, chief minister and the chief justice are [[R. N. Ravi]],<ref>"[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/r-n-ravis-appointment-as-governor-triggers-mixed-reactions-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/86120566.cms R. N. Ravi is new Governor of Tamil Nadu]". ''The Times of India''. 11 September 2021.</ref> [[M. K. Stalin]]<ref>"[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/mk-stalin-sworn-in-as-chief-minister-of-tamil-nadu/article34504106.ece MK Stalin sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]". ''The Hindu Business Line''. 7 May 2021.</ref> and [[Munishwar Nath Bhandari]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice Munishwar Math Bhandari takes oath as acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2021/11/22102224/1330121/Justice-Munishwar-Math-Bhandari-takes-oath-as-acting-.vpf|access-date=22 November 2021|work=DT Next|date=22 November 2021|language=en}}</ref> respectively. Administratively the state is divided into 38 districts. [[Chennai]], the capital of the state is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in India and is also one of the major metropolitan cities of India. The state comprises 39 [[Lok Sabha]] constituencies and 234 Legislative Assembly constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|title = Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu State {{!}} Tamil Nadu Government Portal|url = http://www.tn.gov.in/government/mps|website = www.tn.gov.in|access-date = 25 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160130154452/http://www.tn.gov.in/government/mps|archive-date = 30 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Tamil Nadu had a [[bicameralism|bicameral legislature]] until 1986, when it was replaced with a [[unicameralism|unicameral legislature]], like most other states in India. The term length of the government is five years. The present government is headed by M.K.Stalin of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party after his recent victory in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Elections in 2021 . The [[Tamil Nadu legislative assembly]] is housed at the [[Fort St. George (India)|Fort St. George]] in Chennai. The state had come under the [[President's rule]] on four occasions – first from 1976 to 1977, next for a short period in 1980, then from 1988 to 1989 and the latest in 1991. | |||
Tamil Nadu has been a pioneering state of [[E-Governance]] initiatives in India. A large part of the government records like land ownership records are digitised and all major offices of the state government like [[Urban Local Bodies]] – all the corporations and municipal office activities – revenue collection, land registration offices, and transport offices have been computerised. Tamil Nadu is one of the states where law and order have been maintained largely successfully.{{sfn|Tamil Nadu Police|2011}} The [[Tamil Nadu Police]] Force is over 140 years old. It is the fifth-largest state police force in India (as of 2015, total police force of TN is 1,11,448) and has the highest proportion of women police personnel in the country (total women police personnel of TN is 13,842 which is about 12.42%) to specifically handled [[violence against women in Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/data/women-police-personnel-face-bias-says-report/article7554550.ece?theme=true |title=Women police personnel face bias, says report |author=Rukmini S. |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016041856/http://www.thehindu.com/data/women-police-personnel-face-bias-says-report/article7554550.ece?theme=true |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |date=19 August 2015 }}</ref>{{sfn|TN Police strength|2011}} In 2003, the state had a total police population ratio of 1:668, higher than the national average of 1:717. | |||
== Administrative subdivisions == | |||
{{Main|Districts of Tamil Nadu|Local government bodies in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[File:Tamil Nadu District Map.png|alt=|thumb|upright=1.35|Districts of Tamil Nadu]] | |||
Tamil Nadu is divided into four major divisions as per the ancient Tamil kings namely [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava Nadu]] division, [[Chera Nadu]] division, [[Chola Nadu]] division and [[Pandya Nadu]] division and the four divisions are further subdivided into 38 [[Districts of India|districts]], which are listed below. A district is administered by a [[District Collector]] who is mostly an [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) member, appointed by State Government. Districts are further divided into 226 [[Tehsil|Taluks]] administrated by [[Tehsildar|Tahsildars]] comprising 1127 [[Revenue block]]s administrated by Revenue Inspector (RI). A District also has one or more Revenue Divisions (in total 76) administrated by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), constituted by many Revenue Blocks. 16,564 Revenue villages ([[Village Panchayat]]) are the primary grassroots level administrative units which in turn might include many villages and administered by a Village Administrative Officer (VAO), many of which form a Revenue Block. Cities and towns are administered by [[Municipal corporations]] and Municipalities respectively. The urban bodies include 15 [[City Municipal Corporations of Tamil Nadu|city corporations]], 152 [[Template:Municipalities of Tamil Nadu|municipalities]] and 529 town panchayats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/municipalities/municipalities_gradewise.html |title=List of Municipalities in Tamil Nadu Gradewise |publisher=Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024153945/http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/municipalities/municipalities_gradewise.html |archive-date=24 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/introduction.htm |title=About Us |publisher=Directorate of Town Panchayats, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122073525/http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/introduction.htm |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/townpanchayats.pdf |title=List of Town Panchayats |publisher=Directorate of Town Panchayats, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027122315/http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/townpanchayats.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The rural bodies include 31 district panchayats, 385 panchayat unions and 12,524 village panchayats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://164.100.167.12/ruralmaps/blocks.php |title=District Wise Block Maps |publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122100708/http://164.100.167.12/ruralmaps/blocks.php |archive-date=22 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/databases/Districts.pdf |title=List of District panchayat |publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027023714/http://www.tnrd.gov.in/databases/Districts.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/panchayatraj_inst/grama_sabha.html |title=Grama Sabha |publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108053120/http://www.tnrd.gov.in/panchayatraj_inst/grama_sabha.html |archive-date=8 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Cities and towns === | |||
{{Main|List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population}} | |||
{{Further|List of towns in Tamil Nadu by population}} | |||
The state capital of [[Chennai]] is the most populous city in the state with more than 8,900,000 residents, followed by [[Coimbatore]], [[Madurai]], [[Trichy]] and [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], respectively.<ref name="extended UA 2011">{{cite web|url=http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2011IS3|title=India Stats: Million plus cities in India as per Census 2011|website=Press Information Bureau, Mumbai|publisher=National Informatics Centre |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630112755/http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2011IS3|archive-date=30 June 2015|access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/chennai-is-the-most-densely-populated-city-in-tamil-nadu-according-to-census-2011/article4774624.ece |title=Chennai is the most densely populated city in Tamil Nadu, according to census 2011 |work=The Hindu |date=2 June 2013 |access-date=20 April 2014 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Chennai is also the [[List of most populous cities in India|sixth-most populous city]] in India according to the 2011 Indian census. | |||
{{Largest cities | |||
| nonav = y | |||
| country = Tamil Nadu | |||
| stat_ref = As of the [[List of most populous towns in Tamil Nadu|2011 Census]] | |||
| list_by_pop = List of cities in Tamil Nadu | |||
| div_name = District | |||
| div_link = List of districts in Tamil Nadu{{!}}District | |||
| city_1 = Chennai | |||
| div_1 = Chennai district{{!}}Chennai | |||
| pop_1 = 8,696,010 | |||
| img_1 = Chennai skyline.JPG | |||
| city_2 = Coimbatore | |||
| div_2 = Coimbatore district{{!}}Coimbatore | |||
| pop_2 = 2,151,466 | |||
| img_2 = Coimbatore junction.jpg | |||
| city_3 = Madurai | |||
| div_3 = Madurai district{{!}}Madurai | |||
| pop_3 = 1,462,420 | |||
| img_3 = Madurai, India.jpg | |||
| city_4 = Tiruchirappalli | |||
| div_4 = Tiruchirappalli district{{!}}Tiruchirappalli | |||
| pop_4 = 1,021,717 | |||
| img_4 = Rock Fort Temple.jpg | |||
| city_5 = Tiruppur | |||
| div_5 = Tiruppur district{{!}}Tiruppur | |||
| pop_5 = 962,982 | |||
| city_6 = Salem, Tamil Nadu{{!}}Salem | |||
| div_6 = Salem district{{!}}Salem | |||
| pop_6 = 919,150 | |||
| city_7 = Erode | |||
| div_7 = Erode district{{!}}Erode | |||
| pop_7 = 521,776 | |||
| city_8 = Vellore | |||
| div_8 = Vellore district{{!}}Vellore | |||
| pop_8 = 504,079 | |||
| city_9 = Tirunelveli | |||
| div_9 = Tirunelveli district{{!}}Tirunelveli | |||
| pop_9 = 498,984 | |||
| city_10 = Thoothukudi | |||
| div_10 = Thoothukudi district{{!}}Thoothukudi | |||
| pop_10 = 410,760 | |||
}} | |||
== Politics == | |||
{{Main|Elections in Tamil Nadu|Politics of Tamil Nadu|Dravidian parties}} | |||
[[File:Fort St. George, Chennai 2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Fort St. George hosts the Chief Secretariat of the government of Tamil Nadu.]] | |||
=== Pre-Independence === | |||
Prior to Indian independence, Tamil Nadu was under British colonial rule as part of the [[Madras Presidency]]. The main party in Tamil Nadu at that time was the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC). [[List of political parties in India|Regional parties]] have dominated state politics since 1916. One of the earliest regional parties, the South Indian Welfare Association, a forerunner to [[Dravidian parties]] in Tamil Nadu, was started in 1916. The party was called after its English organ, [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]], by its opponents. Later, [[South Indian Liberal Federation]] was adopted as its official name. The reason for the victory of the Justice Party in elections was the non-participation of the INC, demanding complete independence of India. | |||
The Justice Party which was under [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|E. V. Ramasamy]] was renamed [[Dravidar Kazhagam]] in 1944. It was a non-political party which demanded the establishment of an independent state called [[Dravida Nadu]]. However, due to the differences between its two leaders E. V. Ramasamy and [[C. N. Annadurai]], the party was split. | |||
=== Post-Independence === | |||
C. N. Annadurai left the party Dravida Kazhagam to form the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK). The DMK decided to enter politics in 1956. After the demise of C. N. Annadurai, [[M. Karunanidhi]] became the leader of the party which was supported by majority leaders including then famous actor [[M. G. Ramachandran]]. As a breakaway faction of the DMK, in 1972, M. G. Ramachandran founded the new Dravidian party [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) named after his political mentor C. N. Annadurai popularly called "Anna". After the demise of M. G. Ramachandran, [[J. Jayalalithaa]] succeeded the leadership of the AIADMK party and was fondly called ''Amma'' (The Mother) by millions.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 February 2017|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Jayalalithaa-vs-Janaki-The-last-succession-battle/article17284902.ece |title=Jayalalithaa vs Janaki: The last succession battle |work=thehindu |access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> | |||
== Demographics == | |||
{{Historical populations | |||
| align = right | |||
| region =collapsed | |||
| 1951| 30119000 | |||
| 1961| 33687000 | |||
| 1971| 41199000 | |||
| 1981| 48408000 | |||
| 1991| 55859000 | |||
| 2001| 62406000 | |||
| 2011| 72138958 | |||
| footnote=Source:Census of India{{sfn|Census population|2011}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Main|Demographics of Tamil Nadu}}{{See also|List of districts in Tamil Nadu by Human Development Index}} | |||
Tamil Nadu is the seventh most populous state in India. 48.4 per cent of the state's population lives in urban areas, the third-highest percentage among large [[States and union territories of India|states in India]]. The state has registered the lowest [[Indian states ranking by fertility rate|fertility rate]] in India in the year 2005–06 with 1.7 children born for each woman, lower than required for population sustainability.{{sfn|Distribution by language|2002}}{{sfn|Census by religious communities|2002}} | |||
At the 2011 India census, Tamil Nadu had a population of 72,147,030.{{sfn|Census of Tamil Nadu|2011}} The sex ratio of the state is 995 with 36,137,975 males and 36,009,055 females. There are a total of 23,166,721 households.{{sfn|Census of Tamil Nadu|2011}} The total children under the age of 6 is 7,423,832. A total of 14,438,445 people constituting 20.01 per cent of the total population belonged to [[Scheduled Castes]] (SC) and 794,697 people constituting 1.10 per cent of the population belonged to [[Scheduled tribes]] (ST).{{sfn|Census of Tamil Nadu|2011}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/pca/pca_pdf/PCA-CRC-0000.pdf |title=SC/ST population in Tamilnadu 2011 |access-date=22 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731203926/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/pca/pca_pdf/PCA-CRC-0000.pdf |archive-date=31 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The state has 51,837,507 literates, making the literacy rate 80.33 per cent. There are a total of 27,878,282 workers, comprising 4,738,819 cultivators, 6,062,786 agricultural labourers, 1,261,059 in house hold industries, 11,695,119 other workers, 4,120,499 marginal workers, 377,220 marginal cultivators, 2,574,844 marginal agricultural labourers, 238,702 marginal workers in household industries and 929,733 other marginal workers.{{sfn|Census of Tamil Nadu|2001}} | |||
India has a human development index calculated as 0.619, while the corresponding figure for Tamil Nadu is 0.736, placing it among the top states in the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070459040800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706175326/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070459040800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2008 |title=Glaring regional disparities in human development index |date=4 July 2008 |access-date=10 September 2012 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>{{sfn|Human Development reports|2010}} The [[life expectancy]] at birth for males is 65.2 years and for females it is 67.6 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/10/20/stories/2004102000101100.htm |title=Top three States – a socio-economic comparison |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=20 October 2004 |access-date=10 September 2012}}</ref> However, it has a high level of poverty, especially in rural areas. In 2004–2005, the poverty line was set at {{INR}}351.86/month for rural areas and {{INR}}547.42/month for urban areas. Poverty in the state dropped from 51.7 per cent in 1983 to 21.1 per cent in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/04/09/stories/2004040900050800.htm |title=Tamil Nadu Poverty |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=9 April 2004 |access-date=10 September 2012}}</ref> For the period 2004–2005, the Trend in Incidence of Poverty in the state was 22.5 per cent compared with the national figure of 27.5 per cent. The World Bank is currently assisting the state in reducing poverty, high drop-out and low completion of secondary schools continue to hinder the quality of training in the population. Other problems include class, gender, inter-district, and urban-rural disparities. Based on URP – Consumption for the period 2004–2005, the percentage of the state's population [[Poverty|below the poverty line]] was 27.5 per cent. The [[Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative|Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative]] ranks Tamil Nadu to have a [[Multidimensional Poverty Index]] of 0.141, which is in the level of Ghana among the developing countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/multiple-poverty-dimensions-reveal-real-india |title=Multidimensional Poverty Index of Tamil Nadu |publisher=Southasia.oneworld.net |date=28 July 2010 |access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> Corruption is a major problem in the state with [[Transparency International]] ranking it the second most corrupt among the states of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/column/column-beware-the-political-superbug/20110517.htm |title=Beware the political superbug: Hubris! |work=Rediff.com |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> | |||
=== Religion === | |||
{{Main|Religion in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
{{Pie chart | |||
|thumb = right | |||
|caption = Religion in Tamil Nadu (2011)<ref name="census2011">{{cite web |title=Population by religion community – 2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=Census of India, 2011 |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref> | |||
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Hinduism]] | |||
|color1 = darkorange | |||
|value1 = 87.58 | |||
|label2 = [[Christianity in Tamil Nadu|Christianity]] | |||
|color2 = dodgerblue | |||
|value2 = 6.12 | |||
|label3 = [[Islam]] | |||
|color3 = Green | |||
|value3 = 5.86 | |||
|label4 = [[Jainism in Tamil Nadu|Jainism]] | |||
|color4 = Brown | |||
|value4 = 0.12 | |||
|label5 = Others | |||
|color5 = Black | |||
|value5 = 0.33 | |||
}} | |||
According to the 2011 census, Hinduism is followed by the majority of the population of Tamil Nadu, around 88 percent. Christians are the largest [[religious minority]] in the state, at around 6.12 percent of the population, followed by Islam at 5.86 percent.<ref name=religion2011>{{cite web |title=Population By Religious Community – Tamil Nadu |year=2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html |format=XLS |publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |access-date=13 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html |archive-date=13 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
[[File:Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu Entrance.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health]] in [[Velankanni]] is a popular Christian pilgrimage site.]] | |||
=== Language === | |||
{{Pie chart | |||
|caption=Distribution of languages in Tamil Nadu<ref name=langoff /> | |||
|label1=[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|value1=89.41 | |||
|label2=[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|value2=5.65 | |||
|label3=[[Kannada]]|value3=1.67 | |||
|label4=[[Urdu]]|value4=1.51 | |||
|label5=Other|value5=1.76 | |||
|color5=grey|color1=maroon|color2=#cd8ee6|color3=gold|color4=Green}} | |||
{{Main|Tamil language}} | |||
[[Tamil language|Tamil]] is the sole official language of Tamil Nadu, while [[English language|English]] has been declared as the additional official language by the Government of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="langoff" /> When India adopted national standards, Tamil language was the first to be recognised as a [[classical language of India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Front Page: Tamil to be a classical language |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/18/stories/2004091806530100.htm|access-date=1 August 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180303153544/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/18/stories/2004091806530100.htm |archive-date=3 March 2018 |url-status=dead |date=18 September 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> As of 2011 census report, Tamil is spoken as the first language by 88.37 percentage of the state's population, followed by [[Telugu language|Telugu]] (5.87%), [[Kannada language|Kannada]] (1.78%), [[Urdu]] (1.75%), [[Malayalam]] (1%) and other languages (1.23%).<ref name="Language">{{cite web |title=Census of India - Language |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html |website= censusindia.gov.in |access-date= 17 April 2020}}</ref> | |||
===LGBT rights=== | |||
{{Main article|LGBT rights in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[File:Anjali gopalan.jpg|thumb|Asia's first [[Genderqueer]] Pride parade in [[Madurai]] with [[Anjali Gopalan]] and [[Gopi Shankar Madurai]] (2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/edex/One-Who-Fights-For-an-Other/2015/04/13/article2756559.ece|title=One Who Fights For an Other|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref>]] | |||
The Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Tamil Nadu are among the most progressive in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/lgbt-community-in-tamil-nadu-seeks-state-governments-support/|title=LGBT community in Tamil Nadu seeks state government's support|date=15 December 2013|newspaper=Indianexpress|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/lgbt-community-in-city-sees-sign-of-hope/article8185883.ece|title=LGBT community in city sees sign of hope|first1=Zubeda|last1=Hamid|date=3 February 2016|access-date=3 July 2021|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> [[Chennai Rainbow Pride]] has been held in the Capital city of [[Chennai]] annually since 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Priya |title=A decade of Pride in Chennai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/a-decade-of-pride-in-chennai/articleshow/64421312.cms |work=The Times of India |date=3 July 2021}}</ref> Tamil Nadu is also the first Indian state to ban conversion therapy, following the Madras High Court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/madras-hc-conversion-therapy-pride-month-b1861601.html%3famp|title=Indian state set to be the first to ban conversion therapy of LGBT+ individuals|author=Maroosha Muzaffar|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> Tamil Nadu was the first [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] to introduce a transgender welfare policy, wherein transgender people can avail free [[sex reassignment surgery]] in government hospitals. The state was also the first to ban [[Intersex medical interventions|forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/features/lgbtq-india-asia-tamil-nadu-ban-sex-selective-surgeries-for-infants/284982/|title=1st in India & Asia, and 2nd globally, Tamil Nadu bans sex-selective surgeries for infants|newspaper=The Print|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theswaddle.com/tn-first-state-to-ban-sex-reassignment-surgery-on-intersex-babies/|title=Tamil Nadu Becomes First State to Ban So‑Called Corrective Surgery on Intersex Babies|website=The Swaddle|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> | |||
In 2019, the Madras High Court ruled that the term "bride" under the ''[[Hindu Marriage Act, 1955]]'' includes trans women and thereby legalising marriage between a man and a transgender woman.<ref name="The News Minute">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ban-sex-reassignment-surgeries-intersex-infants-madras-hc-tells-tn-govt-100565|title="Ban sex reassignment surgeries on intersex infants Madras High Court tells Tamil Nadu Govt|newspaper=The News Minute|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> | |||
== Education == | |||
[[File:Children in an elementary school in Mayiladuthurai.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Children in an elementary school in Mayiladuthurai]] | |||
{{Main|Education in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate [[States and union territories of India|states in India]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/Tamil-Nadu-Indias-most-literate-state-HRD-ministry/articleshow/46390844.cms |title=Tamil Nadu India's most literate state: HRD ministry |newspaper=The Times of India |date=14 May 2003 |access-date=18 July 2010}}</ref> Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms of [[Literacy in India|literacy growth]] during the decade 2001–2011. A survey conducted by the industry body Assocham ranks Tamil Nadu top among Indian states with about 100 per cent gross enrolment ratio (GER) in primary and upper primary education. One of the basic limitations for improvement in education in the state is the rate of absence of teachers in public schools, which at 21.4 per cent is significant.{{sfn|Teachers absence in Indian schools|2008}} The analysis of primary school education in the state by [[Pratham]] shows a low drop-off rate but the poor quality of state education compared to other states.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bunting |first=Madeleine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/mar/15/education-goals-assessment-india-school |title=Quality of Primary Education in States |work=The Guardian |date=15 March 2011 |access-date=20 May 2012 |location=London}}</ref> | |||
Tamil Nadu has [[List of universities in Tamil Nadu|37 universities]], [[List of engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu|552 engineering colleges]]<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.findcollegereviews.com/loc/tamil-nadu/ |title=List of Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu, January –31, 2015 |publisher=AICTE David |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105004131/http://www.findcollegereviews.com/loc/tamil-nadu/ |archive-date=5 January 2015 }}</ref> 449 polytechnic colleges{{sfn|District wise Polytechnics|2011}} and 566 arts and science colleges, 34,335 elementary schools, 5,167 high schools, 5,054 higher secondary schools and 5,000 hospitals. Some of the notable educational institutes present in Tamil Nadu are [[Indian Institute of Technology Madras]], [[University of Madras]], [[Anna University]], [[National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli]], [[Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham]], [[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram]], [[Vellore Institute of Technology]], [[Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli]], [[Annamalai University]] ([[Chidambaram]]), [[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola College]], [[Tamil Nadu Agricultural University]], [[Presidency College, Chennai]], [[College of Engineering, Guindy]], [[Madras Institute of Technology]], [[PSG College of Technology]], [[Coimbatore Institute of Technology]], [[Government College of Technology, Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University]], [[Tamil Nadu National Law University]], [[Government Law College, Coimbatore]], [[Christian Medical College, Vellore]], [[Madras Medical College]], [[Stanley Medical College]], [[Madras Veterinary College]], [[Coimbatore Medical College]] and [[Institute of Road and Transport Technology]]. | |||
Tamil Nadu now has 69 per cent reservation in educational institutions for socially backward sections of society, the highest among all Indian states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Education is the means of social mobility |work=Rediff India Abroad |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/may/30spec.htm |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=10 September 2012}}</ref> The [[Midday Meal Scheme]] programme in Tamil Nadu was first initiated by [[K. Kamaraj|Kamaraj]], then it was expanded by [[M G Ramachandran]] in 1983. | |||
== Economy == | |||
{{Main|Economy of Tamil Nadu|List of conglomerates in Tamil Nadu|List of rivers of Tamil Nadu}} | |||
{| class="wikitable collapsible floatleft" | |||
|+ Gross state domestic product in {{INR}} million at constant prices{{sfn|GSDP at constant prices|2014}} | |||
|- | |||
! Year | |||
! GSDP | |||
! Growth Rate | |||
! Share in India | |||
|- | |||
| 2000–01 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,420,650 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.87% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.62% | |||
|- | |||
| 2001–02 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,398,420 || style="text-align:right;" | −1.56% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.09% | |||
|- | |||
| 2002–03 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,422,950 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.75% || style="text-align:right;" | 6.95% | |||
|- | |||
| 2003–04 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,508,150 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.99% || style="text-align:right;" | 6.79% | |||
|- | |||
| 2004–05 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,190,030 || style="text-align:right;" | 11.45% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.37% | |||
|- | |||
| 2005–06 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,495,670 || style="text-align:right;" | 13.96% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.67% | |||
|- | |||
| 2006–07 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,875,300 || style="text-align:right;" | 15.21% || style="text-align:right;" | 8.07% | |||
|- | |||
| 2007–08 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,051,570 || style="text-align:right;" | 6.13% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.83% | |||
|- | |||
| 2008–09 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,217,930 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.45% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.74% | |||
|- | |||
| 2009–10 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,566,320 || style="text-align:right;" | 10.83% || style="text-align:right;" | 7.89% | |||
|- | |||
| 2010–11 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,034,160 || style="text-align:right;" | 13.12% || style="text-align:right;" | 8.20% | |||
|- | |||
| 2011–12 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,332,380 || style="text-align:right;" | 7.39% || style="text-align:right;" | 8.26% | |||
|- | |||
| 2012–13 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,479,440 || style="text-align:right;" | 3.39% || style="text-align:right;" | 8.17% | |||
|- | |||
| 2013–14 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,806,180 || style="text-align:right;" | 7.29% || style="text-align:right;" | 8.37% | |||
|} | |||
For the year 2014–15 Tamil Nadu's [[Gross state product|GSDP]] was {{INRConvert|9.767|t}}, and growth was 14.86.{{sfn|GSDP at current prices|2015}} It ranks third in [[foreign direct investment]] (FDI) approvals (cumulative 1991–2002) of {{INR}}225.826 billion ($5,000 million), next only to Maharashtra and Delhi constituting 9.12 per cent of the total FDI in the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/22/stories/2005042211030100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050424024708/http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/22/stories/2005042211030100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 April 2005 |title=Tamil Nadu ranks third in FDI, favoured destination |date=22 April 2005 |access-date=10 September 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India }}</ref> The per capita income in 2007–2008 for the state was {{INR}}72,993 ranking third among states with a population over 10 million and has steadily been above the national average.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/contrary-to-modis-projections-gujarats-growth-story-is-riddled-with-contradictions/articleshow/14048496.cms |work=The Times of India |title=Contrary to Modi's projections, Gujarat's growth story is riddled with contradictions – The Economic Times |date=12 June 2012 |first1=Bhalchandra |last1=Mungekar}}</ref> | |||
According to the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India (49 per cent), accounting for 9.6 per cent of the urban population while only comprising 6 per cent of India's total population.{{sfn|e-census India|2002}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051853960400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522164522/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/18/stories/2008051853960400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2008 |title=Tamil Nadu the most urbanised State: Minister |date=18 May 2008 |access-date=10 September 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Services contribute to 45 per cent of the economic activity in the state, followed by manufacturing at 34 per cent and agriculture at 21 per cent. The government is the major investor in the state with 51 per cent of total investments, followed by private Indian investors at 29.9 per cent and foreign private investors at 14.9 per cent. Tamil Nadu has a network of about 113 industrial parks and estates offering developed plots with supporting infrastructure. According to the publications of the Tamil Nadu government, the Gross State Domestic Product at Constant Prices (The base year 2004–2005) for the year 2011–2012 is {{INRConvert|4.281|t}}, an increase of 9.39 per cent over the previous year. The per capita income at the current price is {{INR}}72,993. | |||
Tamil Nadu has six Nationalized Home Banks which originated in this state; Two government-sector banks [[Indian Bank]] and [[Indian Overseas Bank]] in Chennai, and four private-sector banks [[City Union Bank]] in [[Kumbakonam]], [[Karur Vysya Bank]], [[Lakshmi Vilas Bank]] in [[Karur]], and [[Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited]] in [[Tuticorin]]. | |||
=== Agriculture === | |||
[[File:Agricultural Farm in Nagapattinam.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Agricultural farm in Nagapattinam]] | |||
Tamil Nadu has historically been an agricultural state and is a leading producer of agricultural products in India. In 2008, Tamil Nadu was India's fifth biggest producer of rice. The total cultivated area in the state was 5.60 million hectares in 2009–10.{{sfn|Tamil Nadu agricultural department|2009}} The Cauvery delta region is known as the ''Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tanjore.net |title=Tanjore, the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" |work=tanjore.net |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119141246/http://www.tanjore.net/ |archive-date=19 January 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2016}} In terms of production, Tamil Nadu accounts for 10 per cent in fruits and 6 per cent in vegetables, in India.{{sfn|Tamil Nadu horticulture|2008}} Annual food grains production in the year 2007–08 was 10035,000 mt.{{sfn|Tamil Nadu agricultural department|2009}} | |||
The state is the largest producer of bananas, [[turmeric]], flowers,{{sfn|Tamil Nadu horticulture|2008}} tapioca,{{sfn|Tamil Nadu horticulture|2008}} the second largest producer of [[mango]],{{sfn|Tamil Nadu horticulture|2008}} [[rubber|natural rubber]],{{sfn|Rubber board|2006}} [[coconut]], [[peanut|groundnut]] and the third largest producer of [[coffee]], [[sapota]],{{sfn|Tamil Nadu horticulture|2008}} [[tea]]{{sfn|Tea production in India|2002}} and [[sugarcane]]. Tamil Nadu's sugarcane yield per hectare is the highest in India. The state has 17,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation, the second highest in India.{{sfn|Palmoil Study|2004}} | |||
[[File:Nagercoil paddy fields.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Agriculture forms a major portion of the state's economy.]] | |||
[[M. S. Swaminathan|Dr. M.S. Swaminathan]], known as the "father of the Indian [[Green Revolution in India|Green Revolution]]" was from Tamil Nadu.{{sfn|MS Swaminathan Research Foundatation|2010}} [[Tamil Nadu Agricultural University]] with its seven colleges and thirty-two research stations spread over the entire state contributes to evolving new crop varieties and technologies and disseminating through various extension agencies. Among states in India, Tamil Nadu is one of the leaders in livestock, poultry, and [[fisheries]] production. Tamil Nadu had the second largest number of poultry amongst all the states and accounted for 17.7 per cent of the total poultry population in India.{{sfn|Live stock and poultry statistics|2005}} In 2003–2004, Tamil Nadu had produced 3783.6 million of [[egg (food)|eggs]], which was the second-highest in India representing 9.37 per cent of the total egg production in the country.{{sfn|Egg production from 1997 to 2004|2004}} With the second-longest coastline in India, Tamil Nadu represented 27.54 per cent of the total value of fish and fishery products exported by India in 2006. [[Namakkal]] is also one of the major centers of [[Egg (food)|egg]] production in India. | |||
[[Oddanchatram]] is one of the major centers for vegetable supply in Tamil Nadu and is also known as the vegetable city of Tamil Nadu.[[Coimbatore]] is one of the major centers for poultry production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2007/8/Pages/India-s-Gems-and-Jewellery-Market-is-Glittering.aspx |title=India's Gems and Jewellery Market is Glittering |publisher=Resource Investor |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926235942/http://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2007/8/Pages/India-s-Gems-and-Jewellery-Market-is-Glittering.aspx |archive-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/tamil-nadu-poultry-industry-seeks-export-concessions/88614 |title=Tamil Nadu Poultry Industry Seeks Export Concessions |access-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114342/http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/tamil-nadu-poultry-industry-seeks-export-concessions/88614 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Textiles and leather === | |||
[[File:Kanchipuram silk sareer.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Kanchipuram]] hand loom silk sarees]] | |||
Tamil Nadu is one of the leading states in the textile sector and it houses the country's largest spinning industry accounting for almost 80 per cent of the total installed capacity in India. When it comes to yarn production, the State contributes 40 per cent of the total production in the country. There are 2,614 Hand Processing Units (25 per cent of total units in the country) and 985 Power Processing Units (40 per cent of total units in the country) in Tamil Nadu. According to official data, the textile industry in Tamil Nadu accounts for 17 per cent of the total invested capital in all the industries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/new-textile-policy-on-the-anvil/article7458741.ece |title=New textile policy on the anvil |author=Sangeetha Kandavel |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023012/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/new-textile-policy-on-the-anvil/article7458741.ece |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live |date=24 July 2015 }}</ref> [[Coimbatore]] is often referred to as the ''"[[Manchester]] of [[South India]]"'' due to its cotton production and textile industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/india_misscellaneous/nick-names-indian-places.html |title=Nicknames of places in India |access-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503144352/http://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/india_misscellaneous/nick-names-indian-places.html |archive-date=3 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tirupur]] is the country's largest exporter of knitwear.{{sfn|Challenges to textile and apparel industry in Tamil Nadu|2000}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/india_misscellaneous/nick-names-indian-places.html |title=Nick Names of India Places Manchester of India Ahmedabad Cochin Queen of Arabian Sea – General Knowledge in India |work=winentrance.com |access-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026175113/http://www.winentrance.com/general_knowledge/india_misscellaneous/nick-names-indian-places.html |archive-date=26 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EMA-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6189,9133960&dq=manchester+of+south+india+coimbatore&hl=en |title=The Indian Express – Google News Archive Search |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023012/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EMA-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=XkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6189,9133960&dq=manchester+of+south+india+coimbatore&hl=en |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> for its cotton production. | |||
Tamil Nadu accounts for 60 per cent of leather tanning capacity in India<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aishtma.com/leathermap.html|title=AISHTMA|website=www.aishtma.com|access-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031010809/http://www.aishtma.com/leathermap.html|archive-date=31 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and 38 per cent of all leather footwear, garments and components. The state also accounts for 50 per cent of leather exports<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibef.org/blogs/leather-exports-from-india-going-strong|title=Leather exports from India: Going strong!|website=www.ibef.org|access-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025145937/https://www.ibef.org/blogs/leather-exports-from-india-going-strong|archive-date=25 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eximfile.com/top-5-indian-states-exporting-leather-products-to-other-countries/|title=Top 5 Indian States Exporting Leather Products to Other Countries|date=6 April 2018|work=Eximfile|access-date=25 October 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730124313/http://www.eximfile.com/top-5-indian-states-exporting-leather-products-to-other-countries/|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> from India, valued at around US$3.3 billion of the total US$6.5 billion from India. Hundreds of leather and [[Tannery (facility)|tannery]] facilities are located around [[Vellore]] and its nearby towns. | |||
=== Automobiles === | |||
Tamil Nadu has seen major investments in the [[Automotive industry|automobile industry]] over many decades manufacturing cars, railway coaches, battle-tanks, tractors, motorcycles, automobile spare parts and accessories, tyres and heavy vehicles. [[Chennai]] is known as the ''Detroit of India''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Chennai turned into 'Detroit of India' |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/why-chennai-turned-into-detroit-of-india/1233254 |access-date=29 August 2014 |newspaper=Financial Express |date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903075916/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/why-chennai-turned-into-detroit-of-india/1233254 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Major global automobile companies including [[BMW]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Robert Bosch]], [[Renault]]-[[Nissan]], [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]], [[Hyundai Motor Group|Hyundai]], [[Mitsubishi Motors]], and [[Michelin]] as well as Indian automobile majors like [[Mahindra & Mahindra]], [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Eicher Motors]], [[Isuzu Motors]], [[Murugappa Group|TI cycles]], [[Hindustan Motors]], [[TVS Motors]], [[Irizar]]-[[TVS Motors|TVS]], [[Royal Enfield]], [[Madras Rubber Factory|MRF]], [[Apollo Tyres]], [[TAFE Tractors]], [[Daimler AG]] Company invested {{INR}}4 billion for establishing a new plant in Tamil Nadu.{{sfn|Daimler|2012}} | |||
=== Heavy industries and engineering === | |||
Tamil Nadu is one of the highly industrialised states in India. Over 11% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ibef.org/download/tamil_nadu_8oct_08.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227191526/http://www.ibef.org/download/Tamil_Nadu_8Oct_08.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} | |||
The state government owns [[Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited|Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers]], in [[Karur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnpl.co.in/ |title=TNPL |publisher=TNPL |access-date=10 September 2012 |year=2012}}</ref> | |||
Coimbatore is also referred to as "the Pump City" as it supplies two-thirds of India's requirements of motors and pumps. The city is one of the largest exporters of [[wet grinder]]s and [[Automobile|auto components]] and the term "Coimbatore Wet Grinder" has been given a [[Geographical indication]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://coimbatore.nic.in/industry.html |title=Industry of Coimbatore |access-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730121603/http://coimbatore.nic.in/industry.html |archive-date=30 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
=== Electronics and software === | |||
[[File:TIDELPark Coimbatore.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[TIDEL Park Coimbatore]]; Coimbatore is one of the leading IT/ITS centers in India.]] | |||
Electronics manufacturing is a growing industry in Tamil Nadu, with many international companies like [[Nokia]], [[Flex (company)|Flex]], [[Motorola]], [[Sony-Ericsson]], [[Foxconn]], [[Samsung]], [[Cisco]], [[Moser Baer]], [[Lenovo]], [[Dell]], [[Sanmina-SCI]], [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Bosch]], [[Texas Instruments]] having chosen Chennai as their South Asian manufacturing hub. Products manufactured include circuit boards and cellular phone handsets.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flextronics signs pact for Chennai facility |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/07/stories/2005100702790400.htm |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=7 October 2005 |access-date=10 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902122159/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/07/stories/2005100702790400.htm |archive-date=2 September 2010 }}</ref> | |||
Tamil Nadu is the second largest software exporter by value in India. Software exports from Tamil Nadu grew from {{INR}}76 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2003–04 to {{INR}}207 billion {$5 billion} by 2006–07 according to [[NASSCOM]]<ref>{{cite news |title=TN software exports clock 32 pc growth |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050702500300.htm |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=7 May 2006 |access-date=10 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008003307/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050702500300.htm |archive-date=8 October 2009 }}</ref> and to {{INR}}366 billion in 2008–09 which shows 29 per cent growth in software exports according to [[STPI]]. Major national and global IT companies such as [[Atos Syntel]], [[Infosys]], [[Wipro]], [[HCL Technologies]], [[Tata Consultancy Services]], [[Verizon Communications|Verizon]], [[Hewlett-Packard Enterprise]], [[Amazon.com]], [[Capgemini]], [[CGI Inc.|CGI]], [[PayPal]], [[IBM]], [[NTT DATA]], [[Accenture]], [[Ramco Systems]], [[Robert Bosch GmbH]], [[DXC Technology]], [[Cognizant]], [[Tech Mahindra]], [[Virtusa]], [[Larsen & Toubro Infotech|LTI]], [[Mphasis]], [[Mindtree]], [[Zoho]], [[Mywebbee]], and many others have offices in Tamil Nadu. The top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu have been a major recruiting hub for the IT firms. According to estimates, about 50 per cent of the human resources required for the IT and ITES industry was being sourced from the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/tcs-jumps-the-gun-in-campus-hiring/article7592763.ece?ref=tpnews |title=TCS jumps the gun in campus hiring |author=Sangeetha Kandavel |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016041856/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/tcs-jumps-the-gun-in-campus-hiring/article7592763.ece?ref=tpnews |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Coimbatore is the second largest software producer in the state, next to Chennai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/coimbatore-it-sector-on-the-fast-track/1/136030.html |title=Coimbatore: IT sector on the fast track : NATION – India Today |work=intoday.in |access-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015153045/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/coimbatore-it-sector-on-the-fast-track/1/136030.html |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Chennai has emerged as the ''SaaS Capital of India''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crayondata.com/heres-why-chennai-is-the-saas-capital-of-india/|title=Here's why Chennai is the SAAS capital of India|date=25 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/a-silent-saas-revolution-is-brewing-in-chennai/articleshow/67583586.cms|title=A silent SaaS revolution is brewing in Chennai – Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prabinsamuel.medium.com/saasboomi-shocking-secret-why-chennai-is-the-saas-capital-of-india-50f251b3a7f1|title=SaaSBooMi — The Shocking Secret why Chennai is the SaaS Capital of India!|first=Prabin|last=Samuel|date=9 February 2020|website=Medium}}</ref><ref name="deccanchronicle.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/111018/chennai-is-saas-capital-of-india-edappadi-k-palaniswami.html|title=Chennai is SaaS capital of India: Edappadi K Palaniswami|date=11 October 2018|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> The SaaS sector in/around Chennai generates US$1 billion in revenue and employs about 10000 personnel.<ref name="deccanchronicle.com" /> | |||
== Transportation == | |||
{{Main|Road network in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
Tamil Nadu has a transportation system that connects all parts of the state, via highway roads, railway lines, airports, and seaports. | |||
=== Road === | |||
{{Main|Road network in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[File:Looking-down-National-Highway-Chittode-Junction.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|A view of the NH 544 expressway between [[Coimbatore]] and [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] in Tamil Nadu]] | |||
The state is served by an extensive road network, providing links between urban centers, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 29 national highways in the state, covering a total distance of {{convert|5006.14|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=1624 |title=National Highways Summary – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India |work=morth.nic.in |access-date=11 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023012/http://www.morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=1624 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morth.nic.in/message.asp?id=invalid |title=Join the Citizen Dialogue on Highway Safety – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India |publisher=Morth.nic.in |access-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917083944/http://morth.nic.in/message.asp?id=invalid |archive-date=17 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The state is also a terminus for the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] project that connects Indian metropolises like ([[New Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Bengaluru]], [[Chennai]] and [[Kolkata]]). The state has a total road length of {{convert|167000|km|mi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|60628|km|mi|abbr=on}} are maintained by the Highways Department. This is nearly 2.5 times higher than the density of all-India road network.{{sfn|Tamil Nadu Highways|2012}} The major road junctions are Chennai, [[Vellore]], [[Madurai]], [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichy]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Tiruppur]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Tirunelveli]], [[Thoothukudi]], [[Karur]], [[Kumbakonam]], [[Krishnagiri]], [[Dindigul]] and [[Kanniyakumari]]. Road transport is provided by state owned [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]] and [[State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu)|State Express Transport Corporation]]. Almost every part of the state is well connected by buses 24 hours a day. The state accounted for 13.6 per cent of all accidents in the country with 66,238 accidents in 2013, 11.3 per cent of all road accident deaths and 15 per cent of all road-related injuries, according to data provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Although Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number of road accidents in India, it also leads in having reduced the number of fatalities in accident-prone areas with deployment of personnel and a sustained awareness campaign. The number of deaths at areas decreased from 1,053 in 2011 to 881 in 2012 and 867 in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/data/tn-reduces-deaths-in-road-accidents/article7461331.ece?theme=true |title=T.N. reduces deaths in road accidents |author=TCA Sharad Raghavan |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016041856/http://www.thehindu.com/data/tn-reduces-deaths-in-road-accidents/article7461331.ece?theme=true |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Rail === | |||
[[File:Chennai Central.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station]], one of India's major railway stations]] | |||
Tamil Nadu has a well-developed rail network as part of [[Southern Railway (India)|Southern Railway]]. Headquartered at [[Chennai]], the Southern Railway network extends over a large area of India's southern peninsula, covering the states of Tamil Nadu, [[Kerala]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], a small portion of [[Karnataka]] and a small portion of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Express trains connect the state capital Chennai with Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station]] is the gateway for trains towards the north whereas [[Chennai Egmore]] serves as the gateway for the south. Tamil Nadu has a total railway track length of {{convert|5952|km|mi|abbr=on}} and there are 532 railway stations in the state. The network connects the state with most major cities in India. The [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]] (part of the [[Mountain Railways of India]]) is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site connecting [[Ooty]] on the hills and [[Mettupalayam, Coimbatore|Mettupalayam]] in the foothills which is in turn connected to [[Coimbatore]]. The centenary old [[Pamban Bridge]] over sea connecting [[Rameswaram]] in [[Pamban island]] to the mainland is an engineering marvel. It is one of the oldest [[cantilever bridge]]s still in operation, the double-leaf bascule bridge section can be raised to let boats and small ships pass through the Palk Strait in the Indian Ocean. The government of Tamil Nadu created a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for implementing the Chennai Metro Rail Project. This SPV named as "[[Chennai Metro Rail Limited]]" was incorporated on 3 December 2007 under the Companies Act. It has now been converted into a joint venture of the governments of India and of Tamil Nadu with equal equity holding. Chennai has a well-established [[Transport in Chennai|suburban railway]] network and is constructing a [[Rapid transit|Chennai Metro]] with phase1 operational since July 2015. Major railway junctions (four and above lines) in the state are Chennai, Coimbatore, Katpadi, Madurai, Salem, Erode, Dindigul, Karur, Nagercoil, Tiruchirapalli, and Tirunelveli. [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station|Chennai Central]], [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]], [[Coimbatore Junction]], [[Tiruchirappalli Junction]], [[Madurai Junction]], [[Salem Junction]] and [[Katpadi Junction]] are upgraded to A1 grade level. Loco sheds are located at [[Erode]], [[Arakkonam]], Royapuram in [[Chennai]] and Tondaiyarpet in [[Chennai]], Ponmalai (GOC) in [[Tiruchirappalli]] as Diesel Loco Shed. The loco shed at [[Erode]] is a huge composite electric and diesel Loco shed. MRTS which covers from Chennai Beach to Velachery, and metro rails also running from Washermenpet to Airport metro station and Central metro station to St.Thomas Mount metro station. | |||
=== Airports === | |||
{{Main|List of airports in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[File:Chennai airport view 4.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Chennai International Airport]], one of India's major international airports.]] | |||
Tamil Nadu has three international airports, namely [[Chennai International Airport]], [[Coimbatore International Airport]], [[Tiruchirappalli International Airport]]. [[Madurai Airport]] is the only customs airport in the state. [[Salem Airport (India)|Salem Airport]], [[Tuticorin Airport]] and [[Vellore Airport]] are the domestic airports. [[Chennai International Airport]] is a major international airport and aviation hub in South Asia. Besides civilian airports, the state has three air bases of the [[Indian Air Force]] namely [[Sulur Air Force Station]], [[Thanjavur Air Force Station]] and [[Tambaram Air Force Station]] and two naval air stations [[INS Rajali]] and [[INS Parundu]] of [[Indian Navy]]. [[Neyveli Airport]] is being renovated since 2019<ref>{{cite news |title=Groundwork at Neyveli airport done, interested airlines send in bids for opening |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/groundwork-at-neyveli-airport-done-interested-airlines-send-in-bids-for-op/articleshow/70425272.cms |access-date=31 January 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103003631/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/groundwork-at-neyveli-airport-done-interested-airlines-send-in-bids-for-op/articleshow/70425272.cms |archive-date=3 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> to start the service from mid 2020.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} | |||
=== Seaports === | |||
[[File:A view of Tuticorin Port.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority]] in Thoothukudi, one of India's major seaports]] | |||
Tamil Nadu has three major [[seaport]]s located at [[Chennai Port|Chennai]], [[Ennore Port|Ennore]] and [[V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority|Thoothukkudi]], as well as seven other minor ports including [[Cuddalore]] and [[Nagapattinam]].{{sfn|Tamil Nadu agricultural department|2009}} Chennai Port is an artificial harbour situated on the Coromandel Coast and is the second principal port in the country for handling containers. Ennore Port handles all the coal and ore traffic in Tamil Nadu. The volume of cargo in the ports grew by 13 per cent during 2005.{{sfn|Ennore Port|2011}} | |||
=== Spaceport === | |||
In Tamil Nadu, the [[Government of India]] is to set up a new Rocket launch pad near [[Kulasekharapatnam]] in [[Thoothukudi district]] for which the [[Indian Space Research Organization]] (ISRO) has begun work. The location was selected because of its nearness to the equator like the [[Sriharikota]] spaceport in the [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=6 December 2019|title=Why Thoothukudi was chosen as ISRO's second spaceport|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-thoothukudi-was-chosen-isro-s-second-spaceport-113331|date=2 December 2019|work=The News Minute|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202190344/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-thoothukudi-was-chosen-isro-s-second-spaceport-113331|archive-date=2 December 2019}}</ref> | |||
== Infrastructure == | |||
=== Communication === | |||
Tamil Nadu has four mobile service providers namely BSNL,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tamilnadu.bsnl.co.in/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726080846/http://www.tamilnadu.bsnl.co.in/ |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Airtel,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airtel.in/|title=Airtel 4G – Prepaid | Postpaid | Broadband | Payments Bank| DTH|website=AIRTEL|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330234009/https://www.airtel.in/|archive-date=30 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Jio<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jio.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223182342/https://www.jio.com/ |archive-date=23 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Vi (Vodafone Idea).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vodafone.in/|title=Vodafone India – Prepaid | Postpaid | International Roaming | Buy New Connection|website=www.vodafone.in|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331110306/https://www.vodafone.in/|archive-date=31 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> BSNL provides 2G and 3G mobile internet connections; Airtel and Vi provide 2G, 3G and 4G services and Jio offers only 4G across Tamil Nadu. Airtel Broadband,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airtelchennai.in/|title=Airtel Broadband Chennai- Ph:9840022123 -New V Fiber Plans.|website=www.airtelchennai.in|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513231812/http://www.airtelchennai.in/|archive-date=13 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Act Broadband<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.actcorp.in/node|title=Best Broadband and Wired Internet Service Provider in India|website=ACT Fibernet|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> BSNL, Hathway<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hathway.com/Broadband|title=Best Broadband Provider – Broadband Plans – Hathway High Speed Internet|website=www.hathway.com|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509015948/https://www.hathway.com/Broadband|archive-date=9 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and few others are providing high speed Fiber Optic broadband connection in many cities and rural areas across Tamil Nadu. | |||
Tamil Nadu government is planning to lay 55,000 km of optical fibre cable across the state and provide high-speed internet up to 1 Gbit/s and connect all the corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats. This infrastructure would also benefit all the government departments, entrepreneurs and individual homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2018/jul/27/tamil-nadu-all-set-for-rs-1500-crore-mega-optic-fibre-network-1849287.html|title=Tamil Nadu all set for Rs 1,500 crore mega optic fibre network|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206213544/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2018/jul/27/tamil-nadu-all-set-for-rs-1500-crore-mega-optic-fibre-network-1849287.html|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Energy === | |||
[[File:Aralvaimozhi-Aerial.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Wind farm in [[Muppandal]] and Aralvaimozhi region near [[Nagercoil]]]] | |||
[[File:KamuthiSolarPark.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Kamuthi Solar Power Project]]]] | |||
Tamil Nadu has the third largest installed power generation capacity in the country. The [[Madras Atomic Power Station|Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant]], Ennore Thermal Plant, [[Neyveli]] Lignite Power Plant, many hydroelectric plants including [[Mettur Dam]], hundreds of windmills and the Narimanam Natural Gas Plants are major sources of Tamil Nadu's electricity. The state generates a significant proportion of its power needs from renewable sources with wind power installed capacity at over 7154 MW,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://niwe.res.in/information_gi.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162111/http://niwe.res.in/information_gi.php|url-status=dead|title=National Institute of Wind Energy|archive-date=22 December 2015|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> accounting for 38 per cent of total installed wind power in India .{{sfn|Tamil Nadu energy policy|2009}} It is presently adding the [[Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant]] to its energy grid, which on completion would be the largest atomic power plant in the country with 2000MW installed capacity.{{sfn|NPCIL|2009}} The total installed capacity of electricity in the state by January 2014 was 20,716 MW.<ref>[http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/inst_capacity/jan14.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302093455/http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/inst_capacity/jan14.pdf|date=2 March 2014}}</ref> Tamil Nadu ranks [[States of India by installed power capacity|first nationwide]] in diesel-based thermal electricity generation with a national market share of over 34 per cent.{{sfn|Central Electrical Authority|2012}} From a power surplus state in 2005–06, Tamil Nadu has become a state facing severe power shortage over the recent years due to lack of new power generation projects and delay in commercial power generation at [[Kudankulam Atomic Power Project]]. The Tuticorin Thermal Power Station has five 210 megawatt generators. The first generator was commissioned in July 1979. The thermal power plants under construction include the coal-based 1000 MW NLC TNEB Power Plant. From the current 17MW installed solar power, Tamil Nadu state government's new policy aims to increase the installed capacity to 3000MW by 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/guidelines_sbd_tariff_gridconnected_res/Tamilnadu%20Solar%20Energy%20Policy%202012.pdf|title= Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012|access-date=2 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302080730/http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/guidelines_sbd_tariff_gridconnected_res/Tamilnadu%20Solar%20Energy%20Policy%202012.pdf |archive-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kamuthi Solar Power Project]] was commissioned by [[Adani Power]] in [[Kamuthi]], [[Ramanathapuram district]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mariappan|first1=Julie |date=15 March 2015 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Adani-plans-1000MW-solar-power-plant-at-Ramanathapuram/articleshow/46569602.cms |title=Adani plans 1,000MW solar power plant at Ramanathapuram |website=The Times of India |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217110621/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Adani-plans-1000MW-solar-power-plant-at-Ramanathapuram/articleshow/46569602.cms |archive-date=17 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> With a generating capacity of 648 MW<sub>p</sub> at a single location, it is the [[List of photovoltaic power stations|world's sixth largest (as of 2018)]] solar park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uniindia.com/world-s-largest-solar-project-starts-feeding-electricity-into-national-grid/business-economy/news/517726.html |title=World's largest solar project|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428130501/http://www.uniindia.com/world-s-largest-solar-project-starts-feeding-electricity-into-national-grid/business-economy/news/517726.html |archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-unveils-world-largest-solar-power-plant-161129101022044.html|title=India unveils the world's largest solar power plant|website=aljazeera.com|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428130518/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/india-unveils-world-largest-solar-power-plant-161129101022044.html |archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== Culture == | |||
{{Main|Tamil people|Temples of Tamil Nadu|Tamil literature}} | |||
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[[File:அரிய சித்தன்னவாசல் ஒவியம் (Rare Siththanna Vaasal Painting).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Seventh century paintings in the [[Sittanavasal Cave]], [[Pudukottai]]]] | |||
Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of literature, art, music and dance which continue to flourish today. Tamil Nadu is a land most known for its monumental ancient Hindu temples and classical form of dance [[Bharata Natyam]].<ref>{{cite book |title=21st Century India: View and Vision |page=320 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RwR59-o19T0C&q=tamilnadu+land+of+hindu+temples&pg=PA320|isbn=9788182202696 |last1=Thakur |first1=A. P. |last2=Pandey |first2=Sunil |year=2009 }}</ref> Unique cultural features like [[Bharatanatyam]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilnadu.com/arts/bharatanatyam.html |title=Tamilnadu – The Dance of Celestial Deities |publisher=Tamilnadu.com |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=25 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325161952/http://tamilnadu.com/arts/bharatanatyam.html |archive-date=25 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> (dance), [[Tanjore painting]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilnadu.com/arts/thanjavur-painting.html |title=Thanjavur Painting – Tamil Art |publisher=Tamilnadu.com |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=15 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718192226/http://tamilnadu.com/arts/thanjavur-painting.html |archive-date=18 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Dravidian architecture|Tamil architecture]] were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arts Archives – Tamilnadu |url=http://tamilnadu.com/category/arts |publisher=Tamilnadu.com |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=31 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131113122/http://tamilnadu.com/category/arts |archive-date=31 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== Literature === | |||
[[Tamil literature|Tamil written literature]] has existed for over 2,300 years.<ref name="companion">{{Harvnb|Zvelebil|1973|p=12}}: "...the most acceptable periodisation which has so far been suggested for the development of Tamil writing seems to me to be that of A Chidambaranatha Chettiar (1907–1967): 1. Sangam Literature – 200BC to AD 200; 2. Post Sangam literature – AD 200 – AD 600; 3. Early Medieval literature – AD 600 to AD 1200; 4. Later Medieval literature – AD 1200 to AD 1800; 5. Pre-Modern literature – AD 1800 to 1900"</ref> The earliest period of Tamil literature, [[Sangam literature]], is roughly dated from ca. 300 BCE – 300 CE.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100707000020/http://www.ciil-classicaltamil.org/project1.html Definitive Editions of Ancient Tamil Works]. Classical Tamil, Government of India</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1353/asi.2003.0031 |title=Chera, Chola, Pandya: Using Archaeological Evidence to Identify the Tamil Kingdoms of Early Historic South India |journal=Asian Perspectives |volume=42 |issue=2 |page=207 |year=2003 |last1=Abraham |first1=S. A. |s2cid=153420843 |hdl=10125/17189 |url=http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/17189/1/AP-v42n2-207-223.pdf |access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903211259/https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/17189/1/AP-v42n2-207-223.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2019 |url-status=live |hdl-access=free }}</ref> It is one of the oldest Indian literature amongst all others.<ref name="Circulation and the Historical Geog">{{Cite journal |doi=10.2307/2053325 |jstor=2053325 |title=Circulation and the Historical Geography of Tamil Country |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=7–26 |year=1977 |last1=Stein |first1=B.}}</ref> The earliest [[Epigraphy|epigraphic]] records found on rock edicts and ''[[hero stone]]s'' date from around the 3rd century BCE.<ref name="Maloney1970">{{Cite journal |doi=10.2307/2943246 |jstor=2943246 |title=The Beginnings of Civilization in South India |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=603–616 |year=1970 |last1=Maloney |first1=C.}} at p. 610</ref><ref name="Palani">{{Citation |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2408091.ece |title=Palani excavation triggers fresh debate |last=Subramaniam |first=T.S |date=29 August 2011 |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India |access-date=8 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908080611/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2408091.ece |archive-date=8 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Most early Tamil literary works are in verse form, with prose not becoming more common until later periods. The Sangam literature collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets, some 102 of whom remain anonymous.<ref>George L. Hart III, ''The Poems of Ancient Tamil,'' U of California P, 1975.</ref> Sangam literature is primarily secular, dealing with everyday themes in a [[Tamilakam]] context.<ref>The only religious poems among the shorter poems occur in ''[[paripaatal]]''. The rest of the corpus of Sangam literature deals with human relations and emotions. See K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, ''A History of South India'', OUP (1955) pp. 330–335</ref> The Sangam literature also deals with human relations and emotions.{{sfn|Sastri|2008|pp=330–335}} The available literature from this period was categorised and compiled in the 10th century into two categories based roughly on chronology. The categories are: [[Pathinenmaelkanakku]] (''The Major Eighteen Anthology Series'') comprising [[Ettuthokai|Eṭṭuttokai]] (''The Eight Anthologies'') and the [[Pattupattu]] (''Ten Idylls'') and [[Pathinenkilkanakku]] (''The Minor Eighteen Anthology Series''). | |||
Much of Tamil grammar is extensively described in the oldest known grammar book for the Tamil language, the ''[[Tolkāppiyam]].''Modern Tamil is largely based on the 13th-century grammar book ''{{IAST|Naṉṉūl}}'' which restated and clarified the rules of the ''Tolkāppiyam'', with some modifications. Traditional Tamil grammar consists of five parts, namely ''{{IAST|eḻuttu}}'', ''sol'', ''{{IAST|poruḷ}}'', ''yāppu'', ''{{IAST|aṇi}}''. Of these, the last two are mostly applied in poetry.<ref name="five_parts_grammar">{{Citation |url=http://www.southasia.upenn.edu/tamil/lit.html |title=Five fold grammar of Tamil |work=University of Pennsylvania |access-date=8 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609115617/http://www.southasia.upenn.edu/tamil/lit.html |archive-date=9 June 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Notable example of Tamil poetry include the ''[[Tirukkural]]'' written by [[Tiruvalluvar]]. | |||
In 1578, the Portuguese published a Tamil book in old Tamil script named 'Thambiraan Vanakkam', thus making Tamil the first Indian language to be printed and published.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-saw-its-first-book-in-1578/article476102.ece |title=Tamil saw its first book in 1578 |author=Karthik Madhavan |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=8 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101181012/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-saw-its-first-book-in-1578/article476102.ece |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live |date=21 June 2010 }}</ref> ''[[Tamil Lexicon]]'', published by the [[University of Madras]], is the first among the [[dictionary|dictionaries]] published in any Indian language.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |title=Delay, howlers in Tamil Lexicon embarrass scholars |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Chennai |date=22 June 2014 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/delay-howlers-in-tamil-lexicon-embarrass-scholars/article6138747.ece |access-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704063848/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/delay-howlers-in-tamil-lexicon-embarrass-scholars/article6138747.ece |archive-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Indian Independence Movement]], many Tamil poets and writers sought to provoke national spirit, social equity and secularist thoughts among the common man, notably [[Subramanya Bharathy]] and [[Bharathidasan]]. | |||
=== Festivals and traditions === | |||
[[File:A bull being tamed in Jallikattu held in palamedu.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Jallikattu]] – A traditional sport conducted as a part of [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] celebrations]] | |||
[[File:Man Riding an Elephant in a Pongal Festival Parade in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Man riding an elephant in a Pongal Festival Parade in Namakkal]] | |||
[[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]], also called ''Tamizhar Thirunaal'' (festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India, a four-day [[harvest festival]] is one of the most widely celebrated festivals throughout Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilnadu.com/arts/pongal.html |title=Pongal – Tamil festival |publisher=Tamilnadu.com |date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208233319/http://tamilnadu.com/arts/pongal.html |archive-date=8 February 2014}}</ref> The Tamil language saying ''Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum'' – literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities – is often quoted with reference to this festival. The first day, Bhogi Pongal is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of the old and emergence of the new. The second day, Surya Pongal is the main day which falls on the first day of the tenth Tamil month of Thai (14 January or 15 January in the western calendar). On the third day, Maattu Pongal is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. [[Jallikattu]], a bull-taming contest, marks the main event of this day. [[Alanganallur]] is famous for its Jallikattu<ref>{{cite web |author=Alanganallur-Jallikattu |url=http://shadowchief.com/alanganallur-jallikattu/ |title=Alanganallur-Jallikattu, Madurai, Tamil Nadu |publisher=Shadow Chief |access-date=23 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927220438/http://shadowchief.com/alanganallur-jallikattu/ |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Alanganallur |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/keyword/alanganallur |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127035608/http://www.cwet.tn.nic.in/html/information_isw.html |work=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=27 November 2006}}</ref> contest usually held on the third day of Pongal. During this final day, Kaanum Pongal – the word ''kaanum'', means 'to view' in Tamil. In 2011 the [[Madras High Court]] Bench ordered the cockfight at Santhapadi and Modakoor Melbegam villages permitted during the Pongal festival while disposing of a petition filed attempting to ban the cockfight.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/14/stories/2011011463480300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118052423/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/14/stories/2011011463480300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2011 |title=Permit cock fight: Bench |date=14 January 2011 |access-date=10 September 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> | |||
The first month in the Tamil calendar is Chittirai and the first day of this month in mid-April is celebrated as Tamil New Year. The Thiruvalluvar calendar is 31 years ahead of the [[Gregorian calendar]], i.e. Gregorian 2000 is Thiruvalluvar 2031. Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, which celebrates the rising of the water level in the river [[Kaveri]]. Apart from the major festivals, in every village and town of Tamil Nadu, the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Most of these festivals are related to the goddess [[Maariyamman]], the mother goddess of the rain. Other major Hindu festivals including [[Deepavali]] (Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi Poojai ([[Navratri|Dasara]]), [[Ayya Vaikunda Avataram]], [[Krishna]] Jayanthi and [[Vinayaka Chathurthi]] are also celebrated. [[Eid ul-Fitr]], [[Bakrid]], [[Milad un Nabi]], [[Aashurah|Muharram]] are celebrated by Muslims whereas [[Christmas]], [[Good Friday]], [[Easter]] are celebrated by Christians in the state. Mahamagam a bathing festival at [[Kumbakonam]] in Tamil Nadu is celebrated once in 12 years. People from all the corners of the country come to [[Kumbakonam]] for the festival. This festival is also called Kumbamela of South.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahamagam Festival |url=http://blessingsonthenet.com/indian-festival/festival/id/227/mahamagam-festival/ |access-date=7 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209192800/http://blessingsonthenet.com/indian-festival/festival/id/227/mahamagam-festival/ |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Fairs and Festivals of India |page=326 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jAbgAAAAMAAJ&q=maha+magam|last1=Bezbaruah |first1=Madan Prasad |last2=Krishna Gopal |first2=Dr |last3=Girota |first3=Phal S. |year=2003 |isbn=9788121208093 }}</ref> | |||
=== Cuisine === | |||
{{Main|Tamil cuisine}} | |||
[[Thoothukudi]] is the place of origin of the [[Thoothukudi macaroon]], [[Tirunelveli]] is known for its wheat [[Halva]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] is renowned for its unique [[mango]]es, [[Madurai]] is the place of origin of the milk dessert [[Jil jil jigarthanda|Jigarthanda]] while [[Palani]] is known for its Panchamirtham.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/in-search-of-madurai-jigarthanda/article3896831.ece |title=In search of Madurai Jigarthanda |author=Baradwaj Rangan |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=24 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016041857/http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/in-search-of-madurai-jigarthanda/article3896831.ece |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |date=15 September 2012 }}</ref> Idlis, dosas, and sambar are quite common throughout the state. [[Coffee]] and [[tea]] are the staple drinks.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shankar|first1=Shylashri|title=A coffee break in tradition|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/a-moveable-feast/a-coffee-break-in-tradition|access-date=21 December 2016|work=Open the magazine|date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220220308/http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/a-moveable-feast/a-coffee-break-in-tradition|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== Media == | |||
=== Music === | |||
{{See also|Ancient Tamil music|Carnatic music}} | |||
[[File:MS Subbulakshmi 2005 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] was the first musician to be awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honor.]] | |||
In terms of modern cine-music, [[Ilaiyaraaja]] was a prominent composer of film music in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. His work highlighted Tamil folk lyricism and introduced broader Western musical sensibilities to the south Indian musical mainstream. Tamil Nadu is also the home of the double [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] winner [[A. R. Rahman]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4173337.cms |title=Oscars: Eight on ten for 'Slumdog Millionaire' |work=The Times of India |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7905003.stm |title=Indian joy at Oscar night glory |work=BBC News |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/A-R-Rahman-wins-best-original-score-Oscar/articleshow/4174015.cms |title=A R Rahman wins best original score Oscar |work=Economic Times |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> who has composed film music in [[Tamil films|Tamil]], [[Telugu films|Telugu]], [[Bollywood|Hindi]], English and Chinese films. He was once referred to by [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] as "The [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] of [[Chennai|Madras]]". | |||
=== Film industry === | |||
{{Main|Tamil cinema}} | |||
[[File:MG Ramachandran 2017 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[M. G. Ramachandran]], was the first actor turned chief minister in India. He has been awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honor.]] | |||
Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry nicknamed as "Kollywood", which released the most films in India in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tamil-leads-as-India-tops-film-production/articleshow/21967065.cms |title=Tamil Nadu leads in film production |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=25 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116192759/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tamil-leads-as-India-tops-film-production/articleshow/21967065.cms |archive-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The term ''Kollywood'' is a blend of [[Kodambakkam]] and Hollywood.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hiro |first=Dilip |title=After Empire: The Birth of a Multipolar World |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-56858-427-0 |page=248 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zlivv_pQWnAC&q=Kollywood&pg=PA248}}</ref> Tamil cinema is one of the largest industries of film production in India.<ref>{{cite news |work=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tamil-telugu-film-industries-outshine-bollywood/238821/ |title=Tamil, Telugu film industries outshine Bollywood |date=25 January 2006 |access-date=19 February 2012|last1=Bureau |first1=Our Regional }}</ref> In Tamil Nadu, cinema ticket prices are regulated by the government. Single screen theatres may charge a maximum of {{INR}}50, while theatres with more than three screens may charge a maximum of {{INR}}120 per ticket.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |title=Cinema ticket rate revision reflects a balancing act |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010215570200.htm |access-date=18 January 2013 |location=Chennai, India |date=2 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103145328/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010215570200.htm |archive-date=3 November 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> The first silent film in Tamil [[Keechaka Vadham]], was made in 1916.<ref name=RANDOR>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |title=Metro Plus Chennai / Madras Miscellany : The pioneer'Tamil' film-maker |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=29 June 2011 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912035730/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |archive-date=12 September 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> The first talkie was a multi-lingual film, ''[[Kalidas (film)|Kalidas]]'', which released on 31 October 1931, barely seven months after India's first talking picture ''[[Alam Ara]]''.<ref name="velayutham2">{{cite book |last=Velayutham |first=Selvaraj |title=Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65Aqrna4o5oC&q=Tamil+cinema+industry|isbn=978-0-415-39680-6 |year=2008 }}</ref> [[Swamikannu Vincent]], who had built the first cinema of [[South India]] in [[Coimbatore]], introduced the concept of "Tent Cinema" in which a tent was erected on a stretch of open land close to a town or village to screen the films. The first of its kind was established in [[Chennai|Madras]], called "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone". This was due to the fact that electric carbons were used for motion picture projectors.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm |title=He brought cinema to South |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=26 September 2011 |location=Chennai, India |date=30 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202215242/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm |archive-date=2 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
=== Television industry === | |||
There are more than 30 television channels of various genres in [[Tamil Language|Tamil]]. [[DD Podhigai]], [[Doordarshan]]'s Tamil language regional channel was launched on 14 April 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ddindia.gov.in/About+DD/CPC |title=Regional Language Satellite Service |access-date=10 July 2011 |publisher=[[Doordarshan]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622215640/http://ddindia.gov.in/About+DD/CPC |archive-date=22 June 2011}}</ref> The first private Tamil channel, Sun TV Network was founded in 1993. In Tamil Nadu, the television industry is influenced by politics and majority of the channels are owned by politicians or people with political links.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newslaundry.com/2012/09/24/tamil-nadus-tv-empires/ |title=Tamil Nadu TV empire |access-date=6 July 2015 |publisher=Newslaundry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706232148/http://www.newslaundry.com/2012/09/24/tamil-nadus-tv-empires/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The government of Tamil Nadu distributed free televisions to families in 2006 at an estimated cost {{INRConvert|3.6|b}} of which has led to high penetration of TV services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jayalalithaa-govt-scraps-free-tv-scheme-in-tamil-nadu-1553514 |title=Jayalalithaa govt scraps free TV scheme in Tamil Nadu |newspaper=DNA India |access-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707003607/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jayalalithaa-govt-scraps-free-tv-scheme-in-tamil-nadu-1553514 |archive-date=7 July 2015 |url-status=live |date=10 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/magazine/what-happens-when-a-state-is-run-by-movie-stars.html?_r=0 |title=What Happens When a State Is Run by Movie Stars |newspaper=NY Times |access-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705025800/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/magazine/what-happens-when-a-state-is-run-by-movie-stars.html?_r=0 |archive-date=5 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Cable used to be the preferred mode of reaching homes controlled by government run operator [[Arasu Cable TV|Arasu Cable]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Sun-TV-seals-deal-with-Arasu-at-Rs-3cr-a-month/articleshow/15303895.cms?referral=PM |title=Sun TV seals deal with Arasu at Rs 3cr a month |newspaper=Times of India |access-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904023011/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Sun-TV-seals-deal-with-Arasu-at-Rs-3cr-a-month/articleshow/15303895.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> From the early 2010s, [[Direct to Home]] has become increasingly popular replacing cable television services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/dth/dth-operator/fy-2015-inflection-point-for-dth-companies-in-india-150616 |title=FY-2015: Inflection point for DTH companies in India |publisher=India Television |access-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707011318/http://www.indiantelevision.com/dth/dth-operator/fy-2015-inflection-point-for-dth-companies-in-india-150616 |archive-date=7 July 2015 |url-status=live |date=16 June 2015 }}</ref> [[List of Tamil-language television channels|Tamil television]] serials form a major prime time source of entertainment and are directed usually by one director unlike American television series, where often several directors and writers work together.{{sfn|Chosun Ilbo|2007}} | |||
== Sports == | |||
{{Main|Sports in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[Kabbadi]], also known as Sadugudu, is recognised as the state game in Tamil Nadu.{{sfn|Li|MacIntosh|Bravo|2012|p=183}} The traditional sports of Tamil Nadu include [[Silambam]],{{sfn|Crego|2003|pp=32–33}} a Tamil martial arts played with a long bamboo staff, [[cockfight]], [[Jallikattu]],{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} a bull taming sport famous on festival occasions, [[ox-wagon]] racing known as Rekkala,{{sfn|Croker|1907|p=223}}{{sfn|Crego|2003|pp=32–33}} [[kite]] flying also known as Pattam viduthal,{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} Goli, the game with marbles,{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} Aadu Puli, the "goat and tiger" game{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} and Kabaddi also known as Sadugudu.{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} Most of these traditional sports are associated with festivals of land like [[Thai Pongal]] and mostly played in rural areas.{{sfn|Ramaswamy| 2007| pp= 73–74}} [[S. Ilavazhagi]] carrom world champion from 2002 to 2016 | |||
The [[M. A. Chidambaram Stadium]] in Chennai is an international cricket ground with a capacity of 50,000 and houses the [[Tamil Nadu Cricket Association]].{{sfn|MA Chidambaram Stadium|2012}} [[Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan]],{{sfn|Srinivas Venkataraghavan|2012}} [[Krishnamachari Srikkanth]],{{sfn|Kris Srikkanth|2012}} [[Laxman Sivaramakrishnan]], [[Sadagoppan Ramesh]], [[Hemang Badani]] [[L Balaji|Laxmipathy Balaji]],{{sfn|Lakshmipathy Balaji|2012}} [[Murali Vijay]],{{sfn|Murali Vijay|2013}} [[Ravichandran Ashwin]],{{sfn|Ravichandran Ashwin|2012}} [[Dinesh Karthik]], [[Vijay Shankar (cricketer)|Vijay Shankar]], [[Murali Karthik]], [[Washington Sundar]], [[Subramaniam Badrinath]], [[Abhinav Mukund]], and [[T. Natarajan]] are some prominent cricketers from Tamil Nadu. The [[MRF Pace Foundation]] in Chennai is a popular fast bowling academy for pace bowlers all over the world. Cricket contests between local clubs, franchises and teams are popular in the state. [[Chennai Super Kings]] represent the city of Chennai in the [[Indian Premier League]], a popular [[Twenty20]] league. The Super Kings are the second most successful team in the league with four IPL and two [[CLT20]] titles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chennai Super Kings Cricket Team Scores, Super Kings team Matches, Schedule, News, Players |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/team/chennai-super-kings-335974 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=1 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref><gallery mode="nolines" widths="200" heights="150" caption="Notable sportspersons from Tamil Nadu"> | |||
File:Ravichandran Ashwin (cropped).jpg|[[Ravichandran Ashwin]] – [[Cricket]] | |||
File:Dinesh.Karthik.jpg|[[Dinesh Karthik]] – [[Cricket]] | |||
File:Addyma.jpg|[[Adam Sinclair]] – [[Field hockey]] | |||
File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Shri Viswanathan Anand at Civil Investiture-II Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 10, 2008.jpg|[[Viswanathan Anand]] – [[Chess]] | |||
File:P. V. Nandhidhaa at College of Engineering Guindy.jpg|[[P. V. Nandhidhaa]] – [[Chess]] [[Woman Grandmaster]] | |||
File:Ramanathan WMQ16 (3) (27595402684).jpg|[[Ramkumar Ramanathan]] – [[Tennis]] | |||
File:Raj Bharath profile photo.jpg|[[Raj Bharath]] – [[Motorsport]] | |||
File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the medal winners of the Rio 2016 Paralympics (29311262974).jpg|[[Mariyappan Thangavelu]] (left most) – [[High jump]] | |||
File:Mahesh Bhupathi (8168093070) (cropped).jpg|[[Mahesh Bhupathi]] – [[Tennis]] | |||
File:Ajay Jayaram.jpg|alt=Ajay Jayram|[[Ajay Jayaram]] – [[Badminton]] | |||
File:XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi (Men’s Double Table Tennis Final) Achanta Sarath Kamal & Subhajit Saha of India won the Gold medal, at Yamuna Sports Complex, in Delhi on October 13, 2010.jpg|alt=Sharath Kamal|[[Sharath Kamal]] (left) – [[Table tennis]] | |||
File:Dipika Pallikal with Joshna Chinappa.jpg|alt=Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal|[[Joshna Chinappa]] and [[Dipika Pallikal]] – [[Squash (sport)|Squash]] | |||
</gallery>Tennis is also a popular sport in Tamil Nadu with notable international players including [[Ramesh Krishnan]],{{sfn|Garg|2010|p=316}} [[Ramanathan Krishnan]],{{sfn|Garg|2010|p=316}} [[Vijay Amritraj]]{{sfn|Garg|2010|p=327}} and [[Mahesh Bhupathi]]. [[Nirupama Vaidyanathan]], the first Indian women to play in a grand slam tournament also hails from the state. The [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] [[Chennai Open]] tournament is held in Chennai every January. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) owns [[SDAT Tennis Stadium|Nungambakkam tennis stadium]] which hosts Chennai Open and Davis Cup play-off tournaments. | |||
The Tamil Nadu Hockey Association is the governing body of [[Field Hockey|hockey]] in the state. [[Vasudevan Baskaran]] was the captain of the Indian team that won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The [[Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium]] in Chennai hosts international hockey events and is regarded by the [[International Hockey Federation]] as one of the best in the world for its infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/20/stories/2004102004161800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030191509/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/20/stories/2004102004161800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 October 2004 |title=Radhakrishnan Stadium to have new turf |date=20 October 2004 |access-date=10 September 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India }}</ref> | |||
Tamil Nadu also has golf ground in [[Coimbatore]], The [[Coimbatore Golf Club]] is an 18-hole golf course located in [[Chettipalayam]] in Coimbatore, located within the city limits in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The club is also a popular venue for major golf tournaments held in India. | |||
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), a government body, is vested with the responsibility of developing sports and related infrastructure in the state.{{sfn|TN Sports and Youth Welfare department|1992}} The SDAT owns and operates world-class stadiums and organises sporting events.{{sfn|Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu|2012}} It also accommodates sporting events, both at the domestic and international level, organised by other sports associations at its venues. The [[YMCA]] College of Physical Education at Nandanam in Chennai was established in 1920 and was the first college for physical education in Asia. The [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in Chennai is a multi-purpose stadium hosting [[association football|football]] and track and field events. The Indian Triathlon Federation and the Volleyball Federation of India are headquartered in Chennai. Chennai hosted India's first-ever International Beach Volleyball Championship in 2008. The SDAT – [[ICL-TNSRA squash academy|TNSRA Squash Academy]] in Chennai is one of the very few academics in South Asia hosting international [[Squash (sport)|squash]] events. [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]] in Coimbatore is a multi-purpose stadium in Coimbatore constructed in 1971 which is used to host [[I-League]] football matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/chennai-city-to-stay-at-kovai-for-next-5-years/articleshow/62202998.cms |title=Chennai City to stay at Kovai for next 5 years |first=Vivek |last=Krishnan |date=22 December 2017 |website=The Times of India |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123162511/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/chennai-city-to-stay-at-kovai-for-next-5-years/articleshow/62202998.cms |archive-date=23 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
== Tourism == | |||
{{Main|Tourism in Tamil Nadu}} | |||
[[File:NMR Train on viaduct 05-02-26 33.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]] has been described as an essential experience of the [[Western Ghats]].]] | |||
The tourism industry of Tamil Nadu is the largest in India, with an annual growth rate of 16 per cent. Tourism in Tamil Nadu is promoted by [[Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation]] (TTDC), a government of Tamil Nadu undertaking. According to [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Ministry of Tourism]] statistics, 4.68 million foreign (20.1% share of the country) and 333.5 million domestic tourists (23.3% share of the country) visited the state in 2015 making it the most visited state in India both domestic and foreign tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/India%20Tourism%20Book%20English.pdf |title=India Tourism Statistics |access-date=24 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517101307/http://www.tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/India%20Tourism%20Book%20English.pdf |archive-date=17 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The state boasts some of the grand [[Hindu temple]]s built-in [[Dravidian architecture]]. The [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]], [[Brihadishwara Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]], [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] and the [[Airavatesvara Temple]] in [[Darasuram]] (Great Chola Temples) and the [[Shore Temple]] along with the collection of other monuments in [[Mamallapuram]] which have been declared as [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].{{sfn|UNESCO Chola temples|2012}}{{sfn|UNESCO Mahabalipuram temples|2012}} | |||
== See also == | |||
{{Div col}} | |||
* [[Chronology of Tamil history]] | |||
* [[History of Tamil Nadu]] | |||
* [[List of countries where Tamil is an official language]] | |||
* [[List of denotified communities of Tamil Nadu]] | |||
* [[List of dams and reservoirs in Tamil Nadu]] | |||
* [[Outline of Tamil Nadu]] | |||
* [[Tamil Eelam]] | |||
* [[Tamil inscriptions]] | |||
* [[Tamil Muslim]] | |||
* [[Tamizhi]] | |||
{{Div col end}} | |||
==Notes== | |||
:1.{{note|a}}The total sum of area of all districts from the data provided on the official Tamil Nadu Government website, https://www.tn.gov.in/district_view is 132,862 Sq.Km | |||
== References == | |||
=== Citations === | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
=== Sources === | |||
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* {{cite web |title=List of Municipalities in Tamil Nadu |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/municipalities/municipalities_alphawise.html |publisher=Comm. of Municipal Admin., Govt. of Tamil Nadu |year=2011 |access-date=7 September 2011 |ref={{sfnRef|List of municipalities in Tamil Nadu|2011}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Elections to Local Bodies |url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/pdf/press_release_210911.pdf |publisher=Tamil State Election Commission |access-date=28 October 2011 |year=2011 |ref={{sfnRef|Elections to local bodies|2011}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026221822/http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/pdf/press_release_210911.pdf |archive-date=26 October 2011 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/district_statistics.html |access-date=6 November 2011 |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |title=Districts of Tamil Nadu |year=2011 |ref={{sfnRef|Districts of Tamil Nadu|2011}} }} | |||
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* {{cite web |title=List of Successful candidates |publisher=Election Commission of India |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/11_ListOfSuccessfulCandidate.pdf |access-date=4 July 2012 |year=2009 |ref={{sfnRef|List of Successful candidates|2009}} }} | |||
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* {{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_tamilnadu.pdf |title=Data Highlights: The Scheduled Tribes |access-date=20 May 2012 |year=2002 |ref={{sfnRef|SC ST population|2002}} }} | |||
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* {{cite web |title=District wise Polytechnic colleges in Tamil Nadu during the year 2010–2011 |url=http://www.tndte.com/statistics/POLY_DIST.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Technical Education, Tamil Nadu |access-date=1 October 2011 |year=2011 |ref={{sfnRef|District wise Polytechnics|2011}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013065111/http://tndte.com/statistics/POLY_DIST.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} | |||
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* {{cite web |url=http://assets.wwfindia.org/downloads/palm_oil_study_in_india___a_report.pdf |title=Oil Palm Sector in India – World Wildlife Fund – India |year=2004 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Palmoil Study|2004}} |archive-date=25 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125001845/http://assets.wwfindia.org/downloads/palm_oil_study_in_india___a_report.pdf |url-status=dead }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mssrf.org/ |title=M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation |publisher=Mssrf.org |access-date=10 September 2012 |year=2010 |ref={{sfnRef|MS Swaminathan Research Foundatation|2010}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910064218/http://www.mssrf.org/ |archive-date=10 September 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://dahd.nic.in/relcensus.htm |title=Livestock & Poultry Statistics from Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries, Government of India |publisher=Dahd.nic.in |year=2005 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Live stock and poultry statistics|2005}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402073810/http://dahd.nic.in/relcensus.htm |archive-date=2 April 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_6.htm |title=Estimates of Egg Production |publisher=Dahd.nic.in |year=2004 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Egg production from 1997 to 2004|2004}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402073834/http://dahd.nic.in/stat_files/table_6.htm |archive-date=2 April 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cid.harvard.edu/archive/india/pdfs/challenge_textile_lib_tewari0101.pdf |year=2000 |title=The Challenge of Reform: How Tamil Nadu's Textile and Apparel Industry is Facing the Pressures of Liberalisation |first=Meenu |last=Tewari |publisher=The Government of Tamil Nadu, India and the Centre for International Development, Harvard University, Cambridge MA |access-date=4 July 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Challenges to textile and apparel industry in Tamil Nadu|2000}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-657319-1-1282112-1-0-0-0-0-0-11701-614232-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html |year=2012 |location=Chennai |publisher=Daimler Chrysler |ref={{sfnRef|Daimler|2012}} |title=Daimler Trucks Unveils Truck Test Track in Oragadam |access-date=4 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305112339/http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-657319-1-1282112-1-0-0-0-0-0-11701-614232-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.yamaha-motor-india.com/whatsnew/wn70.html |title=What's new | India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd |publisher=Yamaha-motor-india.com |year=2012 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Yamaha Motors|2012}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829184652/http://www.yamaha-motor-india.com/whatsnew/wn70.html |archive-date=29 August 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.morth.nic.in/statedetailsmain.asp |title=National Highways in Tamil Nadu |publisher=Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India |access-date=24 January 2012 |year=2012 |ref={{sfnRef|National Highways in Tamil Nadu|2012}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tnhighways.org/ |title=Official site for Tamil Nadu Highways |publisher=Tnhighways.org |access-date=10 September 2012 |year=2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Tamil Nadu Highways|2012}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ennoreport.gov.in/ |title=Official website for Ennore Port |publisher=Ennoreport.gov.in |year=2011 |ref={{sfnRef|Ennore Port|2011}} |access-date=10 September 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.npcil.nic.in/main/ProjectConstructionStatus.aspx |title=NPCIL |publisher=NPCIL |year=2009 |access-date=23 September 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|NPCIL|2009}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514081039/http://www.npcil.nic.in/main/ProjectConstructionStatus.aspx |archive-date=14 May 2009 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/executive_rep/feb12/27-33.pdf |title=Central Electricity Authority, GOI |access-date=20 May 2012 |year=2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Central Electrical Authority|2012}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120149/http://cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/executive_rep/feb12/27-33.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/citizen/sdat.htm |title=Youth Welfare & Sports Development Department |publisher=Tn.gov.in |year=1992 |access-date=4 November 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|TN Sports and Youth Welfare department|1992}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.sdat.in/facilities.html |title=Sports development authority of Tamil Nadu, Chennai 600 084 |publisher=Sdat.in |year=2012 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu|2012}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421125616/http://www.sdat.in/facilities.html |archive-date=21 April 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://tourism.gov.in/writereaddata/CMSPagePicture/file/Primary%20Content/MR/pub-OR-statistics/2010Statistics.pdf |title=Tourism Statistics of India |access-date=20 May 2012 |year=2010 |ref={{sfnRef|Tamil Nadu tourism statistics|2010}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131075557/http://tourism.gov.in/writereaddata/CMSPagePicture/file/Primary%20Content/MR/pub-OR-statistics/2010Statistics.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2012 }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 |title=Great Living Chola Temples – UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=Whc.unesco.org |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|UNESCO Chola temples|2012}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/249 |title=Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram |publisher=Whc.unesco.org |year=2012 |access-date=10 September 2012 |ref={{sfnRef|UNESCO Mahabalipuram temples|2012}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/energy.htm |publisher=Energy Department, Tamil Nadu, India by Govt. of Tamil Nadu |title=Tamil Nadu energy policy |year=2009 |ref={{sfnRef|Tamil Nadu energy policy|2009}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |first=Bithia Mary |last=Croker |title=The company's servant: a romance of southern India, Volume 1 |publisher=Hurst and Blackett, Limited |year=1907 |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mgOAAAAIAAJ&q=rekla+race&pg=PA223 }} | |||
* {{cite book |first=Anwar S. |last=Dil |title=Language and Linguistic Area: Essays by Murray Barnson Emeneau |publisher=Stanford University Press: Stanford, California – Reprinted (1980) |year=1980 }} | |||
* {{cite book |first=Robert |last=Crego |title=Sports and Games of the 18th and 19th Centuries |isbn=978-0-313-31610-4 |publisher=Greewood Press |location=USA |year=2003 |url=https://archive.org/details/sportsgamesof18t0000creg |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/sportsgamesof18t0000creg/page/32 32] |quote=silambam. }} | |||
* {{cite book |first=Chitra |last=Garg |title=Indian Champions: Profiles Of Famous Indian Sportspersons |isbn=978-0-313-31610-4 |publisher=Rajpal and Sons |location=Delhi |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fq1wdzqhu6kC&q=Tamil+Nadu+tennis&pg=PA327 }} | |||
* {{cite book |title=Riding the Indian tiger: understanding India—the world's fastest growing market |first1=William |last1=Nobrega |first2=Ashish |last2=Sinha |year=2008 |page=20 |publisher=John Wiley and Sons }} | |||
* {{cite book |title=International Sport Management |first1=Ming |last1=Li |first2=Eric W. |last2=MacIntosh |first3=Gonzalo A. |last3=Bravo |year=2012 |publisher=Ming Li, Eric W. MacIntosh, Gonzalo A. Bravo |isbn=978-0-7360-8273-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=udBgtzFSlBIC&q=tamil+nadu+kabaddi&pg=PA183 }} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |title=Historical dictionary of the Tamils |year=2007 |publisher=Scarecrow Press, INC. |location=United States |isbn=978-0-470-82958-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&q=kite+flying+%2B+tamil+nadu&pg=PA73 }} | |||
* {{cite book |title=Advanced History of India |first=K.A.Nilakanta |last=Sastri |year=1970 |pages=181–182 |publisher=Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd |location=New Delhi }} | |||
* {{cite book |first=K. A. Nilakanta |last=Sastri |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |orig-year=1935 |year=1935 |title=The Cōlas |publisher=[[University of Madras]] |location=Madras }} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Chopra |first1=P.N. |last2=Ravindran |first2=T.K. |last3=Subrahmanian |first3=N |title=History of South India (Ancient, Medieval and Modern) Part 1 |orig-year=2003 |year=2003 |publisher=Chand Publications |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-219-0153-6}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Keay |first=John |title=India: A History |orig-year=2000 |year=2000 |publisher=Grove Publications |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8021-3797-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K.A. Nilakanta |title=A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar |orig-year=1955 |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-0-19-560686-7}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K.A. Nilakanta |year=2008 |title=A History of South India |edition=4th |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New Delhi, India }} | |||
* {{Citation |last=Steever |first=Sanford |contribution=Introduction | editor-last=Steever | editor-first=Sanford |title=The Dravidian Languages |publisher=Routledge |year=1998 |place=London |isbn=978-0-415-10023-6 |pages=1–39}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
=== Further reading === | |||
{{Refbegin|35em}} | |||
* {{cite news |work=BBC |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3667032.stm |title=India sets up classical languages |date=17 August 2004 |access-date=16 August 2007}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7669152.stm |title=Tamil Nadu Hunger Problem Alarming |work=BBC News |date=14 October 2008 |access-date=10 September 2012}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-21/chennai/29568181_1_letika-saran-new-dgp-director-general |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314122217/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-21/chennai/29568181_1_letika-saran-new-dgp-director-general |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 March 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=New DGP takes charge |access-date=20 May 2012}} | |||
* {{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-01/india/28066173_1_eggs-nest-river-bed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072126/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-01/india/28066173_1_eggs-nest-river-bed |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=India's Jurassic nest dug up in Tamil Nadu |author=Radha Venkatesan |date=1 October 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2 October 2009}} | |||
* {{cite news |title=Tamil Nadu Hunger Level in Danger List |work=The Times of India |date=15 October 2008 |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_fares_badly_on_global_hunger_index/articleshow/3596818.cms |access-date=10 September 2012}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-02/india/31983641_1_bihar-government-tamil-nadu-india-s-gdp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603082719/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-02/india/31983641_1_bihar-government-tamil-nadu-india-s-gdp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 June 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Bihar is country's fastest growing state at 13.1% |date=2 June 2012}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tn-makes-its-way-to-top-5-states-in-hdi/287643/ |work=The Financial Express |title=TN makes its way to top 5 states in HDI |date=24 March 2008 |access-date=24 March 2008}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
== External links == | |||
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{{Sister project links|voy=Tamil Nadu}} | |||
=== Government === | |||
* [http://www.tn.gov.in/ The Official Site of the Government of Tamil Nadu] | |||
* [http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/ Official Tourism Site of Tamil Nadu, India] | |||
=== General information === | |||
* {{curlie|Regional/Asia/India/Tamil_Nadu|Tamil Nadu}} | |||
* {{osmrelation-inline|96905}} | |||
{{Tamil Nadu}} | |||
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[[Category:Tamil Nadu| ]] | |||
[[Category:South India]] | |||
[[Category:States and union territories of India]] | |||
[[Category:States and territories established in 1950]] | |||
[[Category:1950 establishments in India]] | |||
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