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Tamil Academic Journal publishes its first issue

The Tamil Academic Journal (TAJ), the first Tamil diaspora led academic journal, has published its first issue under the title “Tamil Resistance in the Twenty-First Century” online.

(Photo of TAJ Conference at Kingston University July 6th 2019)

The publication on 14 April, follows a successful conference at Kingston University where prominent academics on a range of issues from academic freedom; caste discrimination; the colonisation of the North and East of Sri Lanka;  Tamil Linguistics in Singapore; and, Tamil identity across the diaspora and homeland. 

Read more here: Tamil Academic Journal launches its first conference 

Speaking to Tamil Guardian, representatives from TAJ explained that the theme of resistance was chosen in 2019 to mark ten years since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, "there has been no truth, accountability or justice for atrocities committed against the Eelam Tamils in Mullivaikkal". 

They further explained that TAJ “is the first of its kind institution in the Tamil diaspora that promotes original research pertaining to Tamil people globally. Founded by UK-based Tamil university students in 2019, it is dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed articles from all disciplines, including the Arts, Humanities, Social and Applied Sciences”. 

“In addition to promoting academic research and the transfer of knowledge, the journal hopes to create a community for academics around the world to collaborate within and outside their fields” he added.

The papers published include:

"The resistance won't be televised - the role of the Tamil Academic in times of academic resistance" by Dr. Thamil Ananthavinayagan 

"Memory and resistance in the London Tamil diaspora: reflections from the ‘Tamils of Lanka: a timeless heritage’ exhibition" by Dr. Rachel Seoighe, and 

"The place of Tamil in the Linguistic Landscape of Singapore’s Little India" by Ms. Davini Laksmi Jayagomar.

They are accessible here.

Speaking to Tamil Guardian on how TAJ intended to move forwards they explained that they are in midst of their second call for papers. This time the focus would be on “Tamils and Climate Change”.

“We chose this theme as climate change threatens to unleash more frequent, worsening, and extreme weather events on both traditional Tamil homelands and all other countries where Tamils reside. In the absence of a nation-state, Tamils are unable to directly address the adverse impacts of climate change on their people nor represent themselves as sovereign equals on the international arena”.

TAJ has partnered with Puhar 15, a research consultancy focusing on climate change in the North-East. 

Read more here.

See their call for papers here.

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