Tamil University


The Tamil University, Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, India, was established to provide higher research in the Tamil language and advanced study in allied branches such as linguistics, translation, lexicography, music, drama and manuscriptology. M.Phil and Ph.D programmes were introduced in 1992 for disciplines such as Language, Literature, Translation, and Sculpture.
The university has six science departments namely Industries and Earth Sciences, Computer Science, Environmental and Herbal Science, Siddha Medicine, Ancient Sciences and Architecture.
The Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Technology Cell, an autonomous body supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi is under the Department of Industries and Earth Sciences.

Location

The university is situated in a campus of about, granted by the State government of Tamil Nadu, making it the largest university in the state by area. Buildings and blocks for the administrative and academic departments are located in the campus. The administrative block with its gopuram motif can be seen from the National Highway connecting Thanjavur with Trichy. The library is reminiscent of the Indian Parliament at New Delhi. The Karikalan Gallery, built on the occasion of the World Tamil Conference is capable of accommodating about 2000 people.

History

The Tamil language, in the south of India is known for its antiquity, its richness of vocabulary and its classical literature. For a long time these qualities were not known to the world outside. Orientalists such as Max Mueller, Keith and even Edwin Arnold identified the literature of India with Sanskrit only. It is this neglect of Tamil in the British period that motivated a meeting of Tamil scholars at Thanjavur to consider starting a university for the development and growth Tamil in August, 1925. But, perhaps due to the lack of patronage from the government, the plan did not materialise.
In post-independent India, in September 1981, the location of the Tamil University was chosen on the outskirts of Thanjavur. The Tamil Nadu State Assembly unanimously passed the Tamil University Act in the second week of September 1981 and the first Vice-Chancellor took office a week later, The University Grants Commission gave recognition to the university in 1983.

Faculty

Arts

This serves as the board for providing distance education for those who reside outside Tanjavur.