"The volume will make an excellent addition to academic libraries, both colleges and larger high schools, as well as to general library systems." -- American Reference Books Annual "[A] straightforward, meticulously researched text. Recommended for cultural studies and South Asian-oriented collections." -- Library Journal "If one wanted to get some initial information on contemporary figures in Tamil political, cultural and economic life, then this would eb the volime to refer to- in fact, the lively entries informed by an insider knowledge of contemporary figures in Chennai metropolitan life are one of the unusual aspects of this dictionary and certainly among its strengths. So, in effect, imagining a potential reader who wishes to gain some knowledge of contemporary Tamil metropolitan politics and personages as a preliminary to beginning research on the subject- for such a person this dictionary would be a useful tool." --Srilata Raman, University of Toronto, 2008, Journal of the American Oriental Society "The approximately 500 cross-referenced entries of this dictionary provide a portrait of the history and culture of the Tamil-speaking people of Tamil Nadu (in India) and in diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Covering the megalithic age to the present day, Ramaswamy (history, Jawarharlal Nehru U., India) offers information on Tamil history, significant people, economics, the arts, and politics.

She also provides an introductory essay on Tamil history and culture, a chronology, and thematic bibliographies." -- Reference and Research Book News "The Tamils are known for their rich culture, brilliant intellects, powerful language, and vigorous economic and social advance. This book makes millennia of Tamil history, and its colourful contemporary politics, come alive." --Professor Surjit Mansingh, formerly School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University "This book is an invaluable resource for the history and culture of the Tamils, whose extraordinarily rich traditions of more than 2000 years form a basic part of both ancient and modern India." --Professor George Hart, Chair in Tamil Studies, University of California, Berkeley n India) and in diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Covering the megalithic age to the present day, Ramaswamy (history, Jawarharlal Nehru U., India) offers information on Tamil history, significant people, economics, the arts, and politics. She also provides an introductory essay on Tamil history and culture, a chronology, and thematic bibliographies.

" -- Reference and Research Book News "The Tamils are known for their rich culture, brilliant intellects, powerful language, and vigorous economic and social advance. This book makes millennia of Tamil history, and its colourful contemporary politics, come alive." --Professor Surjit Mansingh, formerly School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University "This book is an invaluable resource for the history and culture of the Tamils, whose extraordinarily rich traditions of more than 2000 years form a basic part of both ancient and modern India." --Professor George Hart, Chair in Tamil Studies, University of California, Berkeleyleyn India) and in diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Covering the megalithic age to the present day, Ramaswamy (history, Jawarharlal Nehru U., India) offers information on Tamil history, significant people, economics, the arts, and politics. She also provides an introductory essay on Tamil history and culture, a chronology, and thematic bibliographies." -- Reference and Research Book News "The Tamils are known for their rich culture, brilliant intellects, powerful language, and vigorous economic and social advance.

This book makes millennia of Tamil history, and its colourful contemporary politics, come alive." --Professor Surjit Mansingh, formerly School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University "This book is an invaluable resource for the history and culture of the Tamils, whose extraordinarily rich traditions of more than 2000 years form a basic part of both ancient and modern India." --Professor George Hart, Chair in Tamil Studies, University of California, Berkeleyn India) and in diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Covering the megalithic age to the present day, Ramaswamy (history, Jawarharlal Nehru U., India) offers information on Tamil history, significant people, economics, the arts, and politics. She also provides an introductory essay on Tamil history and culture, a chronology, and thematic bibliographies." -- Reference and Research Book News "The Tamils are known for their rich culture, brilliant intellects, powerful language, and vigorous economic and social advance. This book makes millennia of Tamil history, and its colourful contemporary politics, come alive.

" --Professor Surjit Mansingh, formerly School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University "This book is an invaluable resource for the history and culture of the Tamils, whose extraordinarily rich traditions of more than 2000 years form a basic part of both ancient and modern India." --Professor George Hart, Chair in Tamil Studies, University of California, Berkeleyleyleyn India) and in diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Covering the megalithic age to the present day, Ramaswamy (history, Jawarharlal Nehru U., India) offers information on Tamil history, significant people, economics, the arts, and politics. She also provides an introductory essay on Tamil history and culture, a chronology, and thematic bibliographies." -- Reference and Research Book News "The Tamils are known for their rich culture, brilliant intellects, powerful language, and vigorous economic and social advance. This book makes millennia of Tamil history, and its colourful contemporary politics, come alive." --Professor Surjit Mansingh, formerly School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University "This book is an invaluable resource for the history and culture of the Tamils, whose extraordinarily rich traditions of more than 2000 years form a basic part of both ancient and modern India.

" --Professor George Hart, Chair in Tamil Studies, University of California, Berkeleyley, Berkeleyley.