This book is written for the benefit of young readers in Tamil Nadu. This state has a long history and a rich heritage. Its history is full of remarkable achievements in various fields. It has impressive archaeological remains dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era (CE). What is more interesting is that there are thousands of stone inscriptions, some of which go back to the second century Before the Common Era (BCE). In addition, a large number of magnificent temples have survived bearing testimony to the achievements of the ancients in art and architecture. The past is fascinating and an enduring source of inspiration.Today breathtaking developments are taking place in science and technology. These can be used to discover more of the past and understand it better. Much remains to be discovered. It is important for the youth to know the past. This helps to understand the present. This book is intended to give a peep into that past.

The Tamils have an unbroken history of more than two thousand years. Tamil, the language they speak, is one of the oldest living languages in the world. The only people comparable to the Tamils in terms of their hoary past and vibrant present would be the Jews with one marked difference. The Tamils have always had their homeland 'Tamilaham' (alternately pronounced and spelt 'Tamizhaham') known today as Tamil Nadu which to them represents their mother and is revered by them as 'Tamizh Tai' literally ‘Tamil Mother’. This is in striking contrast to the Jews who have been through a long and arduous struggle to gain their homeland, a deeply contested site to this day with Hebrewisation of Israel being a key marker of Jewish identity in the region. Tamils, by contrast have a clear numerical majority in the region that now comprises Tamil Nadu and the language unites rather than divides adherents of different faiths. The second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Tamils contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 600 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Tamils.

Spoken by eighty million people, Tamil is one of the great world languages, and one of the few ancient languages that survives as a mother tongue. David Shulman presents a comprehensive cultural history of Tamil, emphasizing how its speakers and poets have understood the unique features of their language over its long history.