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Transcript of Tamil Nadu - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Tamil Nadu தமி�நா�— State —
Seal of Tamil Nadu
Motto: Truth alone Triumphs
Anthem: Invocation to Tamil Mother
Location of Tamil Nadu in India
Tamil NaduFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Tamil nadu)
Tamil Nadu (/tæmɪl nɑːduː/ TAM-il-NAH-doo; pronunciation, literally "Tamil Country") is one
of the 28 states of India. Its capital is Chennai, the largest city. Tamil Nadu lies in the southern
most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the
states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north,
the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Kerala on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the
Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait in the south east, and by the Indian Ocean in the south.
Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area and the seventh most populous state. It
is the second largest state economy in India as of 2012.[5] The state ranked 6th among states in
India according to the Human Development Index as of 2011.[6] Tamil Nadu is also the most
urbanised state in India.[7] The state has the highest number (10.56%) of business enterprises
and stands second in total employment (9.97%) in India,[8] compared to the population share of
about 6%.
The region has been the home of the Tamil people since at least 500 BCE. Its official language
Tamil has been in use in inscriptions and literature for over 2000 years.[9] Tamil Nadu is home
to many natural resources, Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture, hill stations, beach resorts,
multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[10][11]
Contents
1 History1.1 Prehistory1.2 Early history (Sangam Period- 300BCE-300 CE)1.3 Medieval Period (600–1300)
1.3.1 Chola Empire1.4 Vijayanagar and Nayak period (1336–1646)1.5 Rule of Nawabs and Nizams (1692–1801)1.6 European rule (1801–1947)
Coordinates: 13.09°N 80.27°E
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Map of Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: 13.09°N 80.27°E
Country India
Established 26 January 1950†
Capital Chennai
Largest city Chennai
Districts 32 total
Government
• Governor Konijeti Rosaiah
• Chief Minister Jayalalitha (AIADMK)
• Legislature Unicameral (234 seats)
• Chief Justice M. Yusuf Eqbal
Area
• Total 130,058 km2 (50,216 sq mi)
Area rank 11th
Population (2011)[1]
• Total 72,138,958
1.7 Tamil Nadu in independent India (1947 -)2 Geography3 Flora and fauna4 National and State Parks5 Climate6 Governance and administration7 Districts8 Politics9 Demographics
9.1 Religion9.2 Language
10 Education11 Culture
11.1 Literature11.2 Festivals and traditions11.3 Music11.4 Arts and dance11.5 Film industry11.6 Cuisine
12 Economy12.1 Agriculture12.2 Textiles12.3 Automobiles12.4 Heavy industries12.5 Others12.6 Electronics and software12.7 Leather industry
13 Infrastructure13.1 Transport
13.1.1 Road13.1.2 Rail13.1.3 Airports13.1.4 Seaport
13.2 Energy14 Sports15 Tourism16 See also
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• Rank 7th
• Density 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code IN-TN
HDI 0.736 (high)[2]
HDI rank 6th (2011)[3]
Literacy 90.3%
Official
languages
Tamil, தமி�, English
Website tn.gov.in(http://www.tn.gov.in/)
^† Established in 1773; Madras State was formed in 1950 and
renamed as Tamil Nadu on 14 January 1969[4]
Roman pottery excavated in
Arikamedu (1st century CE,
Guimet Museum)
17 Notes18 References19 External links
History
Main article: History of Tamil Nadu
Prehistory
Archaeological evidence points to this area (In places like Adhichanallur,Tirunelveli) being one
of the longest continuous habitations in India.[12] In Adichanallur, 24 km (15 mi) from
Tirunelveli, archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India unearthed 169 clay urns
containing human skulls, skeletons and bones, plus husks and grains of rice, charred rice and
Neolithic celts, giving evidence confirming them to be of the Neolithic period, 3800 years ago.[13] The ASI archaeologists have proposed that the
script used at that site is "very rudimentary" Tamil Brahmi.[14] Adichanallur has been announced as an archaeological site for further excavation and
studies.[15] About 60% of the total epigraphical inscriptions found by ASI in India are from Tamil Nadu and most of which are in Tamil language.[16]
Early history (Sangam Period- 300BCE-300 CE)
Main article: Sangam period
The early history of the people and rulers of Tamil Nadu is spotlighted by Tamil literature known as Sangam
literature. Numismatic, archaeological and literature sources corroborate that the Sangam period lasted for about
six centuries spanning 300 BCE – 300 CE. Three dynasties, namely Chera, Chola and Pandya, ruled the whole of
present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Chera ruled the whole of present day Kerala and parts of western Tamil
Nadu comprising Coimbatore, Karur, Salem and Erode districts from the capital of Vanchi Muthur (thought to be
modern day Karur). The Chola dynasty ruled the northern and central parts of Tamil Nadu from Uraiyur as
capital, and the Pandya dynasty ruled southern Tamil Nadu from Korkai and Madurai as capital. All three
dynasties had extensive trade relationships with then known ancient kingdoms of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Ceylon,
Phoenicia, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. Trade flourished in commodities like spices, ivory, pearls, beads and
gems. Chera traded extensively from Muziris on the west coast, Chola from Arikamedu and Puhar and Pandya
through Korkai port. The Greco-Roman trade and travel document Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 60–100
CE) gives an elaborate description of the Tamil country and its ports. The Kalabhras invaded and displaced the
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Shore Temple built by the Pallavas
at Mamallapuram (c. eighth century
C.E.) – UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
three Tamil kingdoms and ruled between the third and the seventh centuries CE of the Sangam period. This is referred to as the Dark Age in Tamil
history. They were expelled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas in the sixth century.
Medieval Period (600–1300)
During the Kalabhras' rule Buddhism flourished in the land of the Tamils. The didactic work Naaladiyar was composed during their reign. It consists
of moral sayings in the venpa meter, 400 in number in 40 chapters, each by one Buddhist ascetic, according to tradition. Following the tradition of
Tamil Buddhism, Naaladiyar emphasises virtues such as control of the senses, Dhamma (Lord Buddha's teaching), renunciation, and other desirable
social qualities. Pali was the court language of the Kalabhras who were also called Kalapara or Kalaparaya according to the Koramangalam
inscription.
During the fourth to eighth centuries C.E., Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the Pallavas under Mahendravarman I and
his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I and his uncle Bodhidharma.[17] The Pallavas ruled a parts of South India
with Kanchipuram as their capital. Dravidian architecture reached its peak during Pallava rule. Narasimhavarman
II built the Shore Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They came into conflict with the Kannada
Chalukyas of Badami. During this period, The great Badami Chalukya King Pulakesi II extended the Chalukya
Empire up to the northern extents of the Pallava kingdom and defeated the Pallavas in several battles.[18] Pallava
Narasimhavarman however reversed this victory in 642 by attacking and occupying Badami temporarily.[19]
However a later Chalukya King Vikramaditya II took revenge by repeated invasions of the territory of
Tondaimandalam and his subsequent victories over Pallava Nandivarman II and the annexation of
Kanchipuram.[20] The Pallava dynasty was overthrown in the 9th century by the imperial Kannada Rashtrakutas
who ruled from Gulbarga. King Krishna III, the last great Rashtrakuta king consolidated the empire so that it
stretched from the Narmada River to Kaveri River and included the northern Tamil country (Tondaimandalam)
while levying tribute on the king of Ceylon.[21] Much later, the Pallavas were replaced by the Cholas as the
dominant kingdom in the 10th century C.E. and they in turn were replaced by Pandyas in the 13th century C.E. 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 C.E. 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.[22] The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. They controlled the pearl fisheries along the
South Indian coast, between Sri Lanka and India, which produced some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world.
Chola Empire
Main article: Chola dynasty
The Cholas, who were very active during the Sangam age, were entirely absent during the first few centuries.[23] The period started with the rivalry
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Chola Empire under Rajendra Chola c.
1030 C.E.
A sculpture at Airavatesvara
Temple, Darasuram, built by Tamil
Chola Kings. The group of
monuments are UNESCO World
Heritage sites
Brihadeeswara Temple built by
between the Pandyas and the Pallavas, which in turn caused the revival of the Cholas. During the ninth
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 the local clans of Mutharayar 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 South East Asia. Now the Chola Empire stretched as
far as Bengal and Sir Lanka. At its peak, the empire spanned almost 3,600,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi).
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 Myanmar) to Vietnam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Lakshadweep, Sumatra, Java, Malaya 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.
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 Sri Ranganathaswami Temple at Srirangam 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,
who 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 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.
The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures and bronzes all over the world. Among the existing
specimens in museums around the world and in the temples of South India the fine figures of Siva in various
forms, Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi, and the Siva saints are the examples of Chola bronze. Though conforming
generally to the iconographic conventions established by long tradition, the sculptors worked with great freedom
in the 11th and the 12th centuries to achieve a classic grace and grandeur. The best example of this can be seen in
the form of Nataraja the Divine Dancer.
During the rule of the great Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI, in the late eleventh to early twelfth century, the
Western Chalukyas convincingly defeated the Cholas on several occassions, weakening their empire.[24][25] With
the decline of the Chola dynasty between 1116 and 1185 C.E., the Hoysalas rose to prominence, under King
Vishnuvardhana and his grandson, the celebrated Veera Ballala II.[26][27][28]. This revival was short-lived as the
Pandya capital of Madurai itself was sacked by Alauddin Khilji's troops under General Malik Kafur in 1316. The
Muslim invasion led to the establishment of the short-lived Madurai Sultanate.
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Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 C.E.
Natarajan, Siva as celestial dancer,
an example of Chola art
Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal at
Madurai.
Vijayanagar and Nayak period (1336–1646)
Main article: Vijayanagara Empire
The Muslim invasions of South India triggered the establishment of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the
Deccan. It eventually conquered the entire Tamil country by c. 1370 C.E. and ruled for almost two centuries till
the defeat at the Battle of Talikota in 1565 by the Deccan sultanates. Subsequently, as the Vijayanagara Empire
went into decline after the mid-16th century, many local rulers, called Nayaks, succeeded to the throne of
Vijayanagara. This resulted in its grip loosening over its feudatories; 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.[22] The Nayaks of Madurai and Nayaks
of Thanjavur were the most prominent of Nayaks in the 17th century. They reconstructed some of the
well-known temples in Tamil Nadu such as the Meenakshi Temple.
Rule of Nawabs and Nizams (1692–1801)
See also: Nawab of the Carnatic, Nizam of Hyderabad, and Kingdom of Mysore
In the early 18th century, the eastern parts of Tamil Nadu came under the dominions of the Nizam of Hyderabad
and the Nawab of the Carnatic. While Wallajah was supported by the English, Chanda Shahib was supported by
the French by the middle of the 18th century. In the late 18th century, the western parts of Tamil Nadu came
under the dominions of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan, particularly with their victory in the Second Anglo-
Mysore War.
European rule (1801–1947)
Main article: Madras Presidency
Around 1609, the Dutch established a settlement in Pulicat, while the Danish had their establishment in
Tharangambadi also known as Tranquebar. In 1639, the British, under the British East India Company,
established a settlement further south of Pulicat, in present day Chennai. In the late 18th century, the British
fought and reduced the French dominions in India to Pondicherry. Nizams of Hyderabad and the Nawabs of the Carnatic bestowed tax revenue
collection rights on the East India Company for defeating the Kingdom of Mysore. After winning the Polygar wars, the East India Company
consolidated most of southern India into the Madras Presidency coterminous with the dominions of Nizam of Hyderabad. Pudukkottai remained as a
princely state.
Tamil Nadu in independent India (1947 -)
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Fort Dansborg at Tharangambadi built
by the Danish
Topographic map of Tamil Nadu
When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising present day
Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh up to Ganjam district in Orissa, South Canara district 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".
Geography
Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130,058 km2 (50,216 sq mi), and is the eleventh largest state in India. The
bordering states are Kerala to the west, Karnataka to the northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the north. To the
east is the Bay of Bengal and the union territory of Pondicherry. The southern most tip of the Indian Peninsula
is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari which is the meeting point of the Arabian
Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. The south boundary of India is Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
The western, southern and the north-western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The Western Ghats and the
Eastern Ghats and they both meet at the Nilgiri hills. The Western Ghats dominate 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 a coastline of about 1,076 km (669 mi) which is the country’s third longest coastline. 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 & III. Historically, parts of this region have experienced seismic activity in the
M5.0 range.[29]
Flora and fauna
Main articles: Wildlife of Tamil Nadu and List of birds of Tamil Nadu
There are about 2000 species of wildlife that are native to Tamil Nadu. Protected areas provide safe habitat for large mammals including elephants,
tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, gaurs, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri Langurs, Nilgiri Tahrs, Grizzled Giant Squirrels and Sambar deer, resident
and migratory birds such as cormorants, darters, herons, egrets, Open-billed storks, Spoonbills and White Ibises, Little Grebes, Indian Moorhen,
Black-winged Stilts, a few migratory Ducks and occasionally Grey pelicans, marine species such as the Dugongs, turtles, dolphins and Balanoglossus
and a wide variety of fish and insects.
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A Bengal tiger in the Kanyakumari
Wildlife SanctuaryEndangered Lion-tailed
Macaque is found in a few
forests of South India
Mudumalai forest range
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 1559 species of medicinal plants, 533 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 Pteridophytes diversity
of India includes 1022 species of which Tamil Nadu has about 184 species. Vast
numbers of bryophytes, lichen, fungi, algae and bacteria are among the wild plant
diversity of Tamil Nadu.
Common plant species include the state tree: Palmyra Palm, Eucalyptus, Rubber,
Cinchona, Clumping Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea), Common teak,
Anogeissus latifolia, Indian Laurel, Grewia, and blooming trees like Indian
labumusum, Ardisia, and Solanaceae. Rare and unique plant life includes
Combretum ovalifolium (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html
/taxon.pl?311513) , Ebony (Diospyros nilagrica), Habenaria rariflora (Orchid), Alsophila, Impatiens elegans,
Ranunculus reniformis, and Royal fern.[30]
National and State Parks
Main article: 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 dry broadleaf forests and then to the beaches, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves, and coral reefs 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 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 and sea grass 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 Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is in the south west of the state bordering Kerala in the
Western Ghats. Tamil Nadu is home to five declared National parks located in Anamalai, Mudumalai, Mukurithi, Gulf of Mannar and Guindy located
in the center of Chennai city. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Mukurthi National Park and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve are the tiger
reserves in the state. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve has the largest elephant population in India. Besides these bio reserves, there are many state and
central run wild life sanctuaries for tiger, elephant and birds.
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A semi-arid wasteland near
Tirunelveli. Monsoon clouds pour
torrents of rain on windward-
facing Kerala, but are prevented
from reaching Tirunelveli by the
Agasthyamalai Range of the
Western Ghats (background).
Song Invocation to Goddess Tamil
Dance Bharathanattiyam
Animal Nilgiri Tahr
Bird Emerald Dove
Flower Gloriosa Lily
State symbols of Tamil Nadu
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 three distinct periods of rainfall:
advancing monsoon period, South West monsoon from June to September, with strong southwest winds;North East monsoon from October to December, with dominant northeast winds;dry season from January to May.
The annual rainfall of the state is about 945 mm (37.2 in) of which 48% is through the North East monsoon, and
32% through the South West monsoon. Since the state is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water
resources, monsoon failures lead to acute water scarcity and severe drought.[31]
Tamil Nadu is classified into seven agro-climatic zones: north-east, north-west, west, southern, high rainfall, high
altitude hilly, and Cauvery Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). The table below shows the maximum and
minimum temperatures that the state experiences in the plains and hills.
Governance and administration
Main articles: Government of Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu Legislature
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. The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court is
the head of the judiciary. The present Governor, Chief Minister and the Chief Justice are Konijeti
Rosaiah, J. Jayalalitha and M. Y. Eqbal respectively. Administratively the state is divided into 32
districts. It has 10 city corporations, 125 municipalities, 529 town panchayats and 12,524 village
panchayats.[32][33] Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the state capital. It is the fourth largest
city in India and is also one of the eight Metropolitan cities of India. The state comprises 39 Lok
Sabha constituencies and 234 Legislative Assembly constituencies.
Tamil Nadu had a bicameral legislature until 1986, when it was replaced with a unicameral
legislature, like most other states in India. The term length of the government is five years, as is
elsewhere in India. The present government run by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led alliance came to power in 2011 and consists of a council of 33
ministers, headed by the Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha. The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly is
housed at the Fort St. George in Chennai. The state had come under the President's rule rule on
four occasions – first from 1976 to 1977, next for a short period in 1980, then from 1988 to 1989
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Tree Palm Tree
Sport Kabaddi
and the latest in 1991.
The local administration is divided into revenue administration and developmental administration.
Revenue administrative units are classified based on the district. Each of the 32 districts in Tamil
Nadu is divided into divisions, which are further divided to Taluks.[34] Each of these Taluks have a
list of revenue villages under them. Tahsildar is the head of these Taluks. Developmental
administration, in contrast, is carried out by Panchayat Unions (called blocks) in rural areas. These
panchayat unions have a set of panchayat villages under them. In urban areas, the governance is done by municipal corporations, municipalities or
town panchayats based on the size of the town.[34] Tamil Nadu has 10 municipal corporations: Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem,
Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Erode, Thoothukudi and Vellore.
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 has been
maintained largely successfully.[35] The Tamil Nadu Police Force is over 140 years old. It is the fifth largest state police force in India and has the
largest strength of women police personnel in the country.[36] As of 2003, the state had a total police population ratio of 1:668, higher than the
national average of 1:717. The current Director General of Police (law and order) of Tamil Nadu is K. Ramanujan.[37]
Districts
Main article: Districts of Tamil Nadu
The 32 districts of Tamil Nadu are listed below with the numbers corresponding to those in the image at right.
District Headquarters AreaPopulation
(2011)Pop density
1 Ariyalur Ariyalur 1,944 km³ 752,481 387 /km²
2 Chennai Chennai 174 km² 4,681,087 26,903 /km²
3 Coimbatore Coimbatore 4,642 km² 3,472,578 748 /km²
4 Cuddalore Cuddalore 3,705 km² 2,600,880 702 /km²
5 Dharmapuri Dharmapuri 4,527 km² 1,502,900 332 /km²
6 Dindigul Dindigul 6,054 km² 2,161,367 357 /km²
7 Erode Erode 5,692 km² 2,259,608 397 /km²
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Districts of Tamil Nadu
District Headquarters AreaPopulation
(2011)Pop density
8 Kanchipuram Kanchipuram 4,305 km² 3,990,897 927 /km²
9 Kanyakumari Nagercoil 1,685 km² 1,863,174 1,106 /km²
10 Karur Karur 2,902 km² 1,076,588 371 /km²
11 Krishnagiri Krishnagiri 5,091 km² 1,883,731 370 /km²
12 Madurai Madurai 3,695 km² 3,041,038 823 /km²
13 Nagapattinam Nagapattinam 2,416 km² 1,614,069 668 /km²
14 Namakkal Namakkal 3,402 km² 1,721,179 506 /km²
15 Nilgiris Udagamandalam 2,552 km² 735,071 288 /km²
16 Perambalur Perambalur 1,748 km² 564,511 323 /km²
17 Pudukkottai Pudukkottai 4,652 km² 1,618,725 348 /km²
18 Ramanathapuram Ramanathapuram 4,180 km² 1,337,560 320 /km²
19 Salem Salem 5,249 km² 3,480,008 663 /km²
20 Sivaganga Sivaganga 4,140 km² 1,341,250 324 /km²
21 Thanjavur Thanjavur 3,477 km² 2,402,781 691 /km²
22 Theni Theni 2,872 km² 1,243,684 433 /km²
23 Thoothukudi Thoothukudi 4,599 km² 1,738,376 378 /km²
24 Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli 4,508 km² 2,713,858 602 /km²
25 Tirunelveli Tirunelveli 6,709 km² 3,072,880 458 /km²
26 Tirupur Tirupur 5,192 km² 2,471,222 476 /km²
27 Tiruvallur Tiruvallur 3,552 km² 3,725,697 1,049 /km²
28 Tiruvannamalai Tiruvannamalai 6,188 km² 3,468,965 654 /km²
29 Tiruvarur Tiruvarur 2,379 km² 1,268,094 533 /km²
30 Vellore Vellore 6,081 km² 3,928,106 646 /km²
31 Viluppuram Viluppuram 7,185 km² 3,463,284 482 /km²
32 Virudhunagar Virudhunagar 4,280 km² 1,943,309 454 /km²
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Political
Alliance
Assembly
(2011)
Lok Sabha
(2009)
AIADMK+ 203 12
DMK+ 31 27Independent/Other 0 0
Source: Election Commission of India.[38][39]
Fort St. George, Chief Secretariat,
Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Politics
Main articles: Elections in Tamil Nadu, Politics of Tamil Nadu, and Dravidian parties
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). 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, by it opponents. Later, South Indian Liberal Federation was adopted as its official name. The reason for
victory of the Justice Party in elections was the non-participation of the INC, demanding complete
independence of India. The Indian Independence movement saw great leaders like Muthuramalinga Thevar, K.
Kamaraj, Subramanya Bharathi, Subramaniya Siva, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, Tiruppur Kumaran,
Rajagopalachariar (Rajaji) and Satyamurti.
The Justice Party which was under E.V.Ramaswamy was renamed Dravidar Kazhagam (DK for short) in 1944.
DK 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 EVR and C.N. Annadurai, the party was split. Annadurai
left the party to form the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK decided to enter politics in 1956.
In the 19th century, western scholars discovered that the Dravidian languages dominating South India formed a
different linguistic group than the Indo-Aryan languages predominant in North India. They also classified Indians
into distinct Aryan and Dravidian races. It was proposed that the generally darker-skinned Dravidians constituted
a distinct race. This concept has affected thinking in India about racial and regional differences and had an impact on aspects of Tamil nationalism,
which has appropriated the claim that Dravidians are the earliest inhabitants of India, and the Aryan population were oppressive interlopers from
whom Dravidians should liberate themselves.
Re-organisation of Indian states according to linguistic and ethnic basis has moderated Tamil nationalism, especially the demand for separation from
the Indian Union. The Anti-Hindi agitations in mid-1960s made the DMK more popular and a more powerful political force in the state. The DMK
routed the INC in the 1967 elections and took control of the state government, ending INC's stronghold in Tamil Nadu. C.N. Annadurai became the
DMK's first Chief Minister.
Muthuvel Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister and party leader after Annadurai's death in 1969. Karunanidhi's leadership was soon challenged by
M.G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR. In 1972, he split from DMK and formed the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) and later
renamed the party as All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam. He was the Chief Minister of the state from 1977 until his death in 1987. After the
death of MGR, AIADMK was defeated in 1989 assembly polls because of the split of the party into two factions headed by Janaki (wife of MGR)
and Jayalalithaa. Later on J. Jayalalithaa took control of the party. She was elected as the General Secretary of the unified AIADMK. There have
been several splits in both the DMK and the AIADMK, but since 1967 one of those two parties has held power in the state.
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Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1951 30,119,000 —
1961 33,687,000 +11.8%
1971 41,199,000 +22.3%
1981 48,408,000 +17.5%
1991 55,859,000 +15.4%
2001 62,406,000 +11.7%
2011 72,138,958 +15.6%
Source:Census of India[40]
Erwadi dargah in Ramanathapuram
District, a major pilgrimage center
of Muslims in Tamil Nadu.
Religions in Tamil Nadu[44]
Religion Percent
Hinduism 88.3%
Christianity 6.1%
Islam 5.6%
Others 0.3%
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the seventh most populous state in India with a population. It is the seventh most densely
populated state in India. 44% of the state's population live in urban areas, the highest among large states in
India.[7] The state has registered the lowest fertility rate in India in year 2005–06 with 1.7 children born for
each woman, lower than required for population sustainability.[41][42]
As of 2001 India census, Tamil Nadu had a population of 62,405,679.[43] The sex ratio of the state is 987 with
31,400,909 males and 31,004,770 females. There are a total of 14,665,983 households.[43] The total children
under the age of 6 is 7,235,160. A total of 11,857,504 people constituting 21.49% of the total population
belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) and 651,321 people constituting 1.18% of the population belonged to
Scheduled tribes (ST).[43] The state has 40,524,545 literates, making the literacy rate to 73.45%. 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.[43]
Religion
About 89% of the population in Tamil Nadu are Hindus and the state
is home to the core schools of medieval and modern Hinduism as
well as several non-mainstream Hindu movements. These include
Saiva Siddhanta, Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, Alvars' Sri Vaishnavism,
and Saivisim. Several important Hindu Tamil figures became
important figures for Hinduism as a whole. In modern times, well
known figures for Hinduism in the state include Ramana Maharishi
and the Kanchi Sankaracharya. All Hindu deities in various forms
and a large number of village deities are worshiped by Hindus in Tamil Nadu. Murugan is
considered to be the Tamil God. Tamil Nadu dominates the list of largest Hindu Temples in
the world which include the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, Madurai Meenakshi
Amman Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple at Kanchipuram, Chidambaram Nataraja Temple,
Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswar Temple among others. The emblem of Government of Tamil
Nadu depicts the Gopuram (gateway tower) of the Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur.
Christians and Muslims together form over 11% of the population. Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of
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Rajagopuram of
Sri
Ranganathaswamy
Temple,
Srirangam (Main
tower)
Meenakshi Amman Temple
complex in Madurai, one of the
grand Hindu temples in India
Basilica of Our Lady of Good
Health at Velankanni, a Christian
pilgrimage centre
Kanyakumari (54% of the population, 2001), Thoothukudi (17%, 2001) and Tirunelveli (11%,2001). St. Thomas Mount in
Chennai, the place where St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, was believed to have been martyred, is an important
pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The Santhome Basilica, widely believed by Christians in India to have been built atop the
tomb of St. Thomas, and the Vailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health are churches revered by Christians in India. The
Church of South India and the Pentecostal Mission Church are headquartered in Chennai.
Muslims are mainly concentrated in areas such as Adirampattinam, Kayalpatnam, Kilakarai, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Nagore, and
Melapalayam. Among Muslims, 97.5% are Sunni and the rest are Shias. The Sunnis adhere to either Hanafi or
Shafi schools of thought. Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district and Nagore in Nagapattinam district are important
pilgrimage sites for Muslims. Kazimar Big Mosque in Kazimar Street, Madurai and Karpudaiyar masjid in
Kayalpatnam are among the earlier mosques in Tamil Nadu.
Samanars or Tamil Jains have a legacy dating back 250 BCE. They made significant contributions to Tamil
literature. According to the 2001 census there were 83,359 Jains in Tamil Nadu. Jains make up 0.13% of the
population. Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes comprise 19% and 1% of the population respectively. Though
an overwhelming percentage of SC/ST population identify themselves as Hindu, the SC/STs are enumerated
separately in the census and not as a subgroup of Hinduism.[45]
Language
Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu. English is also in common usage as an official language of India.
When India adopted national standards, Tamil was the very first language to be recognised as a classical language
of India.[46] Minority languages include Telugu (5.65%), Malayalam (0.89%), Kannada (1.68%), Urdu (1.51%),
Gujarati / Saurashtri (0.32%), Hindi (0.30%) and Marathi (0.10%).[41] As of the 2001 Census, Tamil is spoken as
the first language by 89.43% of the population followed by Telugu by 5.66%, Kannada by 1.68%, Urdu by 1.51%
and Malayalam by 0.89%.[41]
Education
Main article: Education in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states in India.[47] Tamil Nadu has performed reasonably well in terms of
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% 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%
is significant.[48] The analysis of primary school education in the state by Pratham shows a low drop-off rate but poor quality of state education
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District level literacy (2011 data)
compared to other states.[49] Tamil Nadu has 37 universities, 455 engineering colleges[citation needed], 449
Polytechnic Colleges[50] and 566 arts and science colleges, 34335 elementary schools, 5167 high schools,
5054 higher secondary schools and 5000 hospitals. Some of the notable educational institutes present in Tamil
Nadu are Indian Institute of Technology Madras, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Madras
Institute of Technology, College of Engineering, Guindy, PSG College of Technology Coimbatore,
Government College of Technology Coimbatore, Thiagarajar College of Engineering Madurai, University of
Madras, Loyola College, Madras Medical College,Stanley Medical College, Christian Medical College, Vellore
Institute of Technology and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
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.[51][52] The life expectancy at birth for males is 65.2 years
and for females it is 67.6 years.[53] However, it has a high level of poverty especially in the rural areas. As of 2004–2005, the poverty line was set at
351.86/month for rural areas and 547.42/month for urban areas. Poverty in the state dropped from 51.7% in 1983 to 21.1% in 2001[54] For the
period 2004–2005, the Trend in Incidence of Poverty in the state was 22.5% compared with the national figure of 27.5%. 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, percentage of the state's population Below Poverty Line was 27.5%. The Oxford Poverty & 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.[55] Corruption is a major
problem in the state with Transparency International ranking it the second most corrupt among the states of India.[56]
Tamil Nadu now has 69% reservation in educational institutions for socially backward section fo the society, the highest among all Indian states.[57]
The Midday Meal Scheme program in Tamil Nadu, initiated by Kamaraj, was expanded considerably during the rule of the AIADMK by MGR in
1983, although the state is among the 12 states in India that have an alarming level of hunger, according to the 2008 Global Hunger Index.[58][59]
Culture
Main articles: Tamil people, Temples of Tamil Nadu, and Tamil literature
Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture. Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of literature,
music and dance which continue to flourish today. Unique cultural features like Bharatanatyam (dance), Tanjore
painting, and Tamil architecture were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil Nadu.
Literature
Most early Tamil literary works are in verse form, with prose not becoming more common until later periods.
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Kolam – a Traditional art form of
the Tamil people
ேக�� வி��ெச�வ� க�வி ெயா�வ��
மாட�ல ம�ைற யைவ-(தி���ற� – 400)
'Learning is a wealth that none could destroy
Nothing else gives genuine joy'– (Tirukkural – 400)
Overflowing during cooking of
Pongal indicates overflowing of
joy and prosperity
Throughout its history, Tamil literature has sought to inform and inspire, educate and entertain.
Notable examples of Tamil poetry include the Tirukkural, written during the Tamil Sangams period. The poem
encompasses a universal outlook, as the author, Tiruvalluvar, does not mention his religion, land, or the audience
for his work. He is often portrayed as a holy saint of Tamil Nadu today. Ancient Tamil literature is predominantly secular and deals with everyday life
in the Tamil Context.The only religious poems among the shorter poems occur in paripaatal. The rest of the corpus of Sangam literature deals with
human relationship and emotions.[60]
The first Tamil printing press was established at Tarangambadi by the Danish missionaries.
During the Indian freedom struggle, 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
Pongal, also called as 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. 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 Thai (14 January or 15 January in
western calendar). 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. 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.[61]
The first month in the Tamil calendar is Chitterai and the first day of this month in mid-April is celebrated as Tamil New Year. Thiruvalluvar Calendar
is 31 years ahead of Gregorian Calendar, that is 2000 CE in Gregorian calendar is represented as 2031 in Thiruvalluvar Calendar. Aadi Perukku is
celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, which celebrates the rising of the water level in the river Cauvery. Apart from these 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 rain. Other major Hindu festivals including Deepavali
(Death of Narakasura), Ayudha Poojai, Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara), Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are also celebrated. In addition,
Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr, Easter and Bakrid are celebrated by Christians and Muslims in the state.
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Thiruvannamalai annamalaiyar
chariot festival
Nadhaswaram and Thavil players
Music
See also: Ancient Tamil music and Carnatic music
The Kings of ancient Thamizhagam created sangams for Iyal Isai Nadagam (Literature, Music and Drama). Music
played a major role in sangams. Music in Tamil Nadu had different forms. In villages where farming was the
primary occupation, women who worked in the fields used to sing kulavai songs. Odhuvars, Sthanikars or
Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. In sharp
contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of Carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more
exuberant. Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villuppāṭṭu, a form of music performed with a bow, and
the Nāṭṭuppur̲appāṭṭu, ballads that convey folklore and folk history. Some of the leading Tamil folk artists in the
early 21st century are Pushpuvanam Kuppuswamy, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan, Chinnaponnu,
Paravai muniammal etc.
Carnatic music is the classical music form of Southern India. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical
traditions. The Trinity of Carnatic music Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri were from Tamil
Nadu. Thyagarajar Aaradhanai (worship) takes place every year in the month of Marghazhi in Thiruvaiyaru all
carnatic musicians render their obesiance to Saint Thyagarajar by singing his compositions. The composers
belonging to the Tamil Trinity, namely Muthu Thandavar (?1560 – ?1640), Arunachala Kavi (1712–1779) and
Marimutthu Pillai (1717–1787) composed hundreds of devotional songs in Tamil and helped in the evolution of
Carnatic music. Chennai hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season during December–January,
which includes performances by hundreds of artists all over the city.
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 Oscar Winner A.R. Rahman[62][63][64] who has composed film music in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi
films, English and Chinese films, was once referred to by Time magazine as "The Mozart of Madras".
Arts and dance
Tamils have a large number of folk dances. These are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child,
weddings and festivals. Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. The most celebrated of these is karakattam. In its
religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamman. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with
uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain.
Karakattam is usually performed to a special type of song known as temmanguppāṭṭu or thevar pāṭṭu, a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to
his beloved, to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and melam. Other Tamil folk dances include mayilāṭṭam, where the dancers tie a string of
peacock feathers around their waist; ōyilāttam, danced in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colours; poikkal kuthiraiyaaṭṭam,
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A Bharatanatyam dancer
Idly and Vadai served with Sambar
Traditional Tamil lunch served in
where the dancers use dummy horses; manattam, where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer;
paraiyāṭṭam, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats, and thīppandāṭṭam, a dance involving playing with
burning wooden torches.
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu. Prior to the colonial perriod, it used to be
performed in Hindu temples by Devadasis. In this form, it as also been called sadir or chinna melam. Many of the
ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures. Bharatanatyam is a traditional
dance-form known for its grace, purity, tenderness, and sculpturesque poses. It continues to be a popular dance
style at present times and is practised by male and female dancers all over India. Terukkuttu or Kattaikkuttu is a
traditional form of Tamil street theatre folk dance/drama.
Film industry
Main article: Tamil cinema
Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry, often colloquially referred to as 'Kollywood'. It is known for
being the Third largest film industry in terms of revenue and worldwide distribution, in India.[65] It is based at
Kodambakkam in Chennai city.
Cuisine
Main article: Tamil cuisine
Tamil cuisine is typical of South Indian cuisine, in that rice and rice-derived
dishes form the major portion of a diet (see rice and curry). There are
regional sub-varieties namely Chettinadu, Kongunadu, Madurai, Tirunelveli
varieties etc. Traditionally, food is served on a banana leaf instead of a plate
and eaten with the right hand. Rice is the staple food of Tamils and is
typically eaten mixed with coconut chutney sambhar (with or without ghee),
vegetarian or non-vegetarian kulambu, rasam, curd and buttermilk. This is
accompanied with various vegetarian and/or non-vegetarian dishes like
kootu, aviyal, poriyal, appalam, varuval, peratal, kothsu, varieties of pickles
and chicken, mutton, or fish fry. Breakfast and snack items include dosai,
Adai, idly, vadai, pongal, appam (aappam), paniyaram, puttu, uppumavu
(uppuma), santhakai (a sort of noodles), idiyappam and uthappam. These items are eaten along with sambar,
varieties of chatni and podi. Traditionally prepared filter coffee is unique in taste and popular all over the state.
The Chettinad region is famous for its spicy non-vegetarian cuisine, while Ambur and Dindigul are known for
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banana leaf
Year GSDP Growth Rate Share in India
2000–01 142,065 5.87% 7.62%
2001–02 139,842 -1.56% 7.09%
2002–03 142,295 1.75% 6.95%
2003–04 150,815 5.99% 6.79%
2004–05 219,003 11.45% 7.37%
2005–06 249,567 13.96% 7.67%
2006–07 287,530 15.21% 8.07%
2007–08 305,157 6.13% 7.83%
2008–09 320,085 4.89% 7.70%
2009–10 350,258 9.43% 7.77%
Gross State Domestic Product in Crores at
Constant Prices[70]
their Biriyani. Sweet items that are native to Tamil Nadu are Athirasam, Chakkarai Pongal (prepared during
Pongal) and Kuli Paniyaram. The city of Thirunelveli is renowned for its unique sweetmeat, Thirunelveli Halwa,
while Palani is known for its Panchamirtham.
Economy
Main articles: Economy of Tamil Nadu, List of conglomerates in Tamil Nadu, and List of rivers of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the second largest contributor to India's GDP. Tamil Nadu's gross state domestic product for the year 2011-2012 was 4.28 lakh crore or
$145,868 Million. The state has shown a growth of 9.4% in the year 2011-2012.[66] Tamil Nadu is the second most industrialised state in India.[67] It
ranks third in foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals (cumulative 1991–2002) of 225,826 million ($5,000 million), next only to Maharashtra and
Delhi constituting 9.12% of the total FDI in the country.[68] The per capita income in 2007–2008 for the state was 72,993 ranking third among
states with a population over 10 million and has steadily been above the national average.[69]
According to the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in India(49%),
accounting for 9.6% of the urban population while only comprising 6% of India’s total
population and .[71] and is the most urbanised state in
India.CITEREFThe_Hindu18_May_2008 Services contributes to 45% of the economic
activity in the state, followed by manufacturing at 34% and agriculture at 21%.
Government is the major investor in the state with 51% of total investments, followed by
private Indian investors at 29.9% and foreign private investors at 14.9%. 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 (Base year 2004–2005) for the year 2011–2012 is 428,109
crores, an increase of 9.39% over the previous year. The per capita income at current price
is 72,993.
Agriculture
Main articles: Agriculture in Tamil Nadu and Animal husbandry in Tamil Nadu
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.[72] The
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2010–11 391,372 11.74% 8.01%
2011–12 428,109 9.39% 8.20%
Paddy fields at Nagercoil
Cauvery delta region is known as the Rice Bowl of South India. In terms of production,
Tamil Nadu accounts for 10% in fruits and 6% in vegetables, in India.[73] Annual food
grains production in the year 2007–08 was 100.35 lakh mt.[72] Mango and banana are the
leading fruit crops in Tamil Nadu accounting for over 87% of the total fruit production. The
main vegetables grown are tapioca, tomato, onion, brinjal (eggplant), and drumstick. Tamil Nadu is also a leading state in the production of flowers
with the total production of horticultural crops standing at 99.47 Lakhs during 2003–04. The main flowers grown in Tamil Nadu are jasmine, mullai,
chrysanthemum, marigold and rose.
The state is the largest producer of bananas, flowers,[73] tapioca,[73] the second largest producer of mango,[73] natural rubber,[74] coconut, groundnut
and the third largest producer of coffee, sapota,[73] Tea[75] 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.[76]
Tamil Nadu is the home to Dr M.S. Swaminathan, known as the "father of the Green Revolution" in India.[77]
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% of the total
poultry population in India.[78] In 2003–2004, Tamil Nadu had produced 37,836 lakhs of eggs, which was the
second highest in India representing 9.37% of the total egg production in the country.[79] With the third longest
coastline in India, Tamil Nadu represented 27.54% of the total value of fish and fishery products exported by
India in 2006.
Textiles
Textile mills and engineering industries are present around the city of Coimbatore. It is home to textile, automotive spare parts and motor pump
manufacturing units. Cities of Tirupur and Erode are the country's largest exporters of knitwear.[80] They are well known for textile manufacturing
industries and exports to such extent that the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, Erode, Namakkal and Salem. Coimbatore is known as the
"Manchester of South India" for its cotton production. The region around Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur and Erode is referred to as the "Textile Valley of
India" with the export from the Tirupur 50,000 million ($1,000 million) and Karur generates around 35,500 million ($750 million) a year in foreign
exchange. 56% of India's total knitwear exports come from Tirupur and Karur make above 60% of India's home textiles. Gobichettipalayam, Pollachi,
Theni and Vedasandur are known for its cotton mills. Rajapalayam is famous for its cotton market. Gobichettipalayam is a prominent producer of
white silk with the country's first automated silk reeling unit present here. Kanchipuram and Arani are world famous for their pure zari silk sarees and
handloom silk weaving industries. Aruppukottai, Salem, and Sathyamangalam are also famous for art-silk sarees. Andipatti, Tiruchengodu,
Paramakudi, Kurinjipadi are major handloom centres. Negamam, Cinnalapatti, Woraiyur, Pochampalli are famous for its soft cotton saree weavings.
Madurai is well known for its Chungidi cotton saree.
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Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited at
Tiruchirapalli(Trichy)
Automobiles
Tamil Nadu has seen major investments in the automobile industry over many decades manufacturing cars, railway coaches, battle-tanks, tractors,
motorcycles, automobile spare parts and accessories, tyres and heavy vehicles. Major global automobile companies including BMW, Ford, Renault-
Nissan, Caterpillar, Hyundai, Mitsubishi Motors and Michelin as well as Indian automobile majors like Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland,
Hindustan Motors, TVS Motors, Irizar-TVS, Royal Enfield, MRF, Apollo Tyres, TAFE Tractors, DaimlerChrysler AG Company also invested ( ) 4
billion for establishing new plant in Tamil Nadu[81] {Karur is a hub for Bus body building industries. Namakkal is the major source of Heavy Vehicle
and lorry body building. Recently India Yamaha, Yamaha Motor Corporation's Indian subsidiary, has decided to set up a new factory in Tamil
Nadu.[82]
Heavy industries
Tamil Nadu is one of the highly industrialised states in India. Over 11.2% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates
have corporate offices in Tamil Nadu. Many heavy engineering and manufacturing companies are located in
and around the suburbs of Chennai. Coimbatore is the largest industrialized city in the state and is the largest
producer of pump sets and wet grinders in India. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, one of India's largest
electrical equipment manufacturing company, has manufacturing plants at Tiruchirapalli and Ranipet. India's
leading steel producer, SAIL has a steel plant in Salem. Sterlite Industries has their copper smelter plant in
Tuticorin and aluminium plant in Mettur. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL)is an Indian
state-owned oil and gas corporation headquartered in Chennai.CPCL has refinery in Manali, Chennai and
panangudi, Nagapattinam (Cauvery basin).The state government owns the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers
Ltd. (TNPL),[83] the world's biggest bagasse based Paper mills in Karur, as well as the world's sixth largest
manufacturer of watches together with TATA at Hosur, under the brand name of "Titan". Number of large
Cement factories such as Chettinad cements, Ramco cements, Tancem, Dalmia cements,UltraTech Cements,
ACC are present across the state. Ariyalur is termed as the land of cement industries in the state.
Others
Namakkal is also one of the main source of Egg production in India. Karur is also the major manufacturer of Nylon nets (HDPE) Filaments over 65%
of India. Sivakasi is a major centre of fireworks and safety match production and offset printing in India with over 60% of firework production
contributed from sivakasi.
Electronics and software
Electronics manufacturing is a growing industry in Tamil Nadu, with many telecommunications giants like Nokia, Flextronics, Motorola,
Sony-Ericsson, Foxconn, Samsung, Cisco, Moser Baer and Dell having chosen Chennai as their South Asian manufacturing hub. Products
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Infosys campus at Mahindra World
City near Chennai
Pamban road (left) and rail (right)
bridges, connecting the Indian
manufactured include circuit boards and cellular phone handsets.[84]
Tamil Nadu is the second largest software exporter by value in India, second only to Karnataka. Software
exports from Tamil Nadu grew from 76 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2003–04 to 207 billion {$5 billion} by
2006–07 according to NASSCOM[85] and to 366 billion in 2008–09 which shows 29% growth in software
exports according to STPI. Major national and global IT Companies such as Syntel, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tata
Consultancy Services, Mahindra Satyam, Verizon, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon.com, Paypal, IBM, Accenture,
Ramco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, Cognizant Technology solutions, Tech Mahindra, Polaris,
Aricent, MphasiS, MindTree, BBM info 24/7 Customers, and many others have offices in Tamil Nadu.
Leather industry
The state accounts for 70 per cent of leather tanning capacity in India and 38 per cent of leather footwear and components. The exports from Tamil
Nadu are valued at about US $ 762 million, which accounts for 42 per cent of Indian leather exports. Hundreds of leather and tannery industries are
located around Vellore, Dindigul and Erode its nearby towns such as Ranipet, Ambur, Perundurai and Vaniyambadi. The Vellore district is the top
exporter of finished leather goods in the country. That leather accounts for more than 37% of the country's Export of Leather and Leather related
products such as finished leathers, shoes, garments, gloves and so on. The tanning industry in India has a total installed capacity of 225 million pieces
of hide and skins of which Tamil Nadu alone contributes to an inspiring 70%. Leather industry occupies a pride of place in the industrial map of Tamil
Nadu. Tamil Nadu enjoys a leading position with 40% share in India 's export. It currently employs about 2.5 million persons Leather exports by the
end of the year 2000–2001 were 9000 crores. Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), a CSIR research laboratory is located in Chennai, the state
capital.
Infrastructure
Transport
Road
Main articles: Transport in Tamil Nadu and Road network in Tamil Nadu
. The rail bridge was opened to traffic in 1914, and was considered an engineering marvel in its time Tamil
Nadu has a transportation system that connects all parts of the state. Tamil Nadu is served by an extensive
road network, providing links between urban centres, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 28
national highways in the state, covering a total distance of 5,036 km (3,129 mi).[86] The state is also a
terminus for the Golden Quadrilateral project. The state has a total road length of 167,000 km (104,000 mi), of
which 60,628 km (37,672 mi) are maintained by Highways Department. This is nearly 2.5 times higher than
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mainland with the Pamban Island
MRTS Train station in Chennai
Windmills for Electricity Generation
in a Coimbatore District
the density of all-India road network.[87] The major road junctions are Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore,
Salem, Karur, Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari.
Rail
Tamil Nadu has a well-developed rail network as part of 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, Pondicherry, a small portion of Karnataka and a small portion of Andhra Pradesh. Tamil
Nadu has a total railway track length of 5,952 km (3,698 mi) and there are 532 railway stations in the state.
The system connects it with most major cities in India. Chennai has a well-established suburban railway
network and is in the process of developing a metro. Main rail junctions in the state include Chennai,
Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Erode, Tiruchirapalli and Tirunelveli. 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. There is a
mountain railway connecting Ooty and Mettupalayam. MRTS which covers from Chennai Beach to Velachery
Airports
The first flight in the country was from Mumbai to Chennai. Tamil Nadu has 3 international airports, a customs
airport and 2 domestic airports. Chennai International Airport is a major international airport that is connected
with 19 countries with more than 169 direct flights every week. This is the third largest airport in India after
Mumbai and Delhi and has a passenger growth of 18%. Other international and customs airports present in the
state are Coimbatore Airport, Tiruchirapalli Airport and Madurai Airport. Salem Airport and Tuticorin Airport
are domestic airports with occasional flights. Increased industrial activity has given rise to an increase in
passenger traffic as well as freight movement which has been growing at over 18 per cent per year.
Seaport
Tamil Nadu has three major seaports located at Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin, as well as seven other minor
ports including Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.[72] Chennai Port is an artificial harbour situated on the
Coromandel Coast in South-East India and it 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.[88]
Energy
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Tamil Nadu has the third largest established power generation capacity in the country. The 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. Tamil Nadu generates a significant proportion of its power needs from renewable sources with wind power
installed capacity at over 6007 MW, accounting for 55% of all wind-generated electricity in India.[89] 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, in terms of capacity.[90] The total
installed capacity of electricity in the State is 17,656 MW.[72] Tamil Nadu ranks first nationwide in diesel-based thermal electricity generation with a
national market share of over 34%.[91] 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 power projects and delay in the starting of power generation at Kudankulam Atomic Power Project. The Thoothukudi
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
Sports
See also: List of sportspeople from Tamil Nadu
Kabbadi, a team contact sport originated in Tamil Nadu and is recognised as the state game.[92] The traditional sport of Tamil Nadu include
Silambam,[93] a Tamil martial arts played with a long bamboo staff, Cockfight, Jallikattu,[94] a bull taming sport famous on festival occasions,
ox-wagon racing known as Rekkala,[95][93] Kite flying also known as Pattam viduthal[94], Goli, the game with marbles[94], Aadu Puli, the "goat and
tiger" game[94] and Kabaddi also known as Sadugudu.[94] Most of these traditional sports are associated with festivals of land like Thai Pongal and
mostly played in rural areas.[94] In urban areas of Tamil Nadu, modern sports like bat and ball games are played.[94]
The most popular game in Tamil Nadu like rest of India is Cricket. The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is an international cricketing arena
with a capacity of 50,000 and houses the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.[96] Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan,[97] Krishnamachari Srikkanth,[98]
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan,[99] Laxmipathy Balaji[100] and Ravichandran Ashwin[101] are some of the prominent cricketers from Tamil Nadu. The
MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, headed by Australian bowler Glenn Mcgrath 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 represents Chennai among the nine
Indian cities featuring in the Indian Premier League, a popular Twenty-20 cricket competition.
Tamil Nadu has a long standing motor sports culture. The sport was pioneered by Sundaram Karivardhan (1954-95) in its early days. Motor racing
between 60s and 80s were conducted at Sholavaram, a track used as a word war II air strip. Modern motor racing events are held at the
Irungattukottai Race Track owned and operated by Madras Motor Sports Club near Sriperumbudur and Kari Motor Speedway near Coimbatore. The
only two people to represent India in Formula 1 are both from Tamil Nadu, namely Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian to participate in F1 racing,
and Karun Chandhok.
Tennis is also a popular sport in Tamil Nadu with notable international players including Ramesh Krishnan,[102] Ramanathan Krishnan,[102] Vijay
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Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore
Viswanathan Anand, the world chess
champion
Amritraj[103] and Mahesh Bhupathi. Nirupama Vaidyanathan, the first Indian women to play in a grandslam
tournament also hails from the state. The ATP Chennai Open tournament is held in Chennai every January.
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) owns Nungambakkam tennis stadium which hosts
Chennai Open and Davis Cup play off tournaments.
Five time World Chess champion Viswanathan Anand hails from Tamil Nadu. The state boasts a total of eight
Grand Masters and numerous International Masters. Other notable chess players from the state include
Manuel Aaron, the first Indian International Master, Krishnan Sasikiran, Grandmaster, S. Vijayalakshmi, Six
time Women's national champion of India and the First Women Grandmaster from India, Aarthie Ramaswamy, Women Grandmaster and former
under-18 girls' World Chess champion. Maria Irudayam, the former World Carrom Champion and Ilavazhagi, the defending Women's World Carrom
Champion are from Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Hockey Association is the governing body of Hockey in the state. Vasudevan Baskaran was
the captain of the Indian team that won gold medal in 1980 Olympics at 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.[104]
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.[105] The SDAT owns and operates
world class stadiums and organises sporting events.[106] It also accommodates sporting events, both at
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 in Chennai is a multi-purpose stadium hosting Football and
Track & 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 – TNSRA Squash Academy in Chennai is one of the very few academies in South Asia
hosting international squash events.
Snooker was invented by General Sir Frederick Roberts at the Ooty Club in Ooty, a hill station in the state.
Tamil Nadu has six 18-hole Golf courses, the most popular of which are Kodaikanal Golf Club, established in 1895, Ooty Golf Course, established in
1896, and Gymkhana Club, Chennai. The Madras Boat Club, set up in 1867, hosts regular rowing races on the Adyar River. The Guindy race course
in Chennai, set up in 1777 CE, is the oldest horse racing venue in India. Adventure sports have gained popularity, especially amongst the tourists
visiting the state.
Tourism
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Hogenakkal Falls on Kaveri river,
Dharmapuri district
Sunrise in Kanyakumari with
Vivekananda Rock Memorial and
Thiruvalluvar statue in the foreground.
Main article: Tourism in Tamil Nadu
The tourism industry of Tamil Nadu is the second largest in India, with an annual growth rate of 16%. Tourism
in Tamil Nadu is promoted by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), a Government of Tamil
Nadu undertaking. Approximately 2,804,687 foreign and 111,637,104 domestic tourists visited the state in
2010.[107] It boasts some of the grand Hindu temples built in Dravidian architecture. The Brihadishwara
Temple in Thanjavur, built by the Cholas, the Airavateswara temple in Darasuram and the Shore Temple, along
with the collection of other monuments in Mahabalipuram (also called Mamallapuram) have been declared as
UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[108][109]
Madurai is home to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam is the
largest functioning temple in the world, Tiruchirappalli where the famous Rockfort Temple is located,
Rameshwaram whose temple walk-ways corridor (Praagarams) are the longest 1.2 km (0.75 mi) of all Indian
temples in the world, Kanchipuram and Palani are important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Other popular
temples in Tamil Nadu include those in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Chidambaram, Thiruvannaamalai,
Tiruchendur, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam, Srivilliputhur, Tiruttani, Namakkal, Vellore, Karur, Bhavani,
Coimbatore, Kanniyakumari.
Tamil Nadu is also home to hill stations like Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Coonoor, Topslip,
Valparai, Yelagiri and Manjolai. The Nilgiri hills, Palani hills, Shevaroy hills, Kolli Hills and Cardamom hills
are all abodes of thick forests and wildlife. Tamil Nadu has many National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife
Sanctuaries, Elephant and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved Forests, Zoos and Crocodile farms. Prominent among
them are Mudumalai National Park, The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary,
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The mangrove forests at Pichavaram are also
eco-tourism spots of importance.
Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of peninsular India, is famous for its beautiful sunrise, Vivekananda Rock
Memorial and Thiruvalluvar's statue built off the coastline. Marina Beach in Chennai is one of the longest
beaches in the world. The stretch of beaches from Chennai to Mahabalipuram are home to many resorts,
theme parks and eateries. The prominent waterfalls in the state are Courtallam, Hogenakal, Papanasam,
Manimuthar, Thirparappu, Pykara and Silver Cascade. The Chettinad region of the state is renowned for its
Palatial houses and cuisine. With medical care in Chennai, Vellore, Coimbatore and Madurai, Tamil Nadu has
the largest numbers in Medical tourism in India.
See also
Tamil culture
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Dolphin's Nose at Kodaikanal
Hogenakkal Falls
Tamil peopleTamil languageTamil cuisineList of countries where Tamil is an official languageTamil diasporaTamil Eelam
Notes
^ Census of India 2002.1.^ the hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070459040800.htm. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
2.
^ "Inequality adjusted Human Development Index for India’s States 2011,United Nations Development Program" (http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india
/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.pdf) . http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.
pdf.
3.
^ Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly history 2012.4.^ GSDP at constant prices 2012.5.
^ "Inequality adjusted Human Development Index for India’s States 2011,United Nations Development Program" (http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india
/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.pdf) . http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.
pdf.
6.
^ a b The Hindu 18 May 2008.7.^ Enterprise of India 2012.8.^ Dil 1980.9.
^ UNESCO 2012.10.^ Press Information Bureau releases 2012.11.^ Nobrega 2008, p. 20.12.
^ The Times of India 01 January 2006.13.^ The Hindu 17 December 2005.14.^ The Hindu 26 May 2004.15.
^ The Hindu 22 November 2005.16.^ Sastri 2008, pp. 91–92.17.
^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subramanian (2003), p. 74 part 118.^ Sastri (1955), p. 13619.^ Sastri 1955, p. 14020.
^ Sastri (1955), p16221.
^ a b Sastri 1970, pp. 18-182.22.^ Sastri 1935, p. 102.23.^ Shastri (1955), p. 17524.
^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subramaniyan (2003), p.139, part 125.^ Sastri, (1955), p. 19526.^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subramaniyan (2003), p. 154, part 127.
^ Keay (2000), p. 25228.^ Amateur Seismic Centre 2007.29.^ Biodiversity of Tamil Nadu 2012.30.
^ UN, system of organizations 2012.31.^ List of municipalities in Tamil Nadu 2011.32.^ Elections to local bodies 2011.33.
^ a b Districts of Tamil Nadu 2011.34.
^ Tamil Nadu Police 2011.35.^ TN Police strength 2011.36.^ The Times of India 21 May 2011.37.
^ Statistical Report of 2006 Tamil Nadu assembly results 2006.38.^ List of Successful candidates 2009.39.^ Census population 2008.40.
^ a b c Distribution by language 2002.41.^ Census by religious communities 2002.42.
^ a b c d Census of Tamil Nadu 2001.43.^ Religions in Tamil Nadu 2002.44.
^ SC ST population 2002.45.^ BBC 17 August 2004.46.^ The Times of India 14 May 2003.47.
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^ Teachers absence in Indian schools 2008.48.
^ The Guardian 15 March 2011.49.^ District wise Polytechnics 2011.50.^ The Hindu 04 July 2008.51.
^ Human Development reports 2010.52.^ Business Line 20 October 2004.53.^ Business Line 09 April 2004.54.
^ Southasia.oneworld.net 28 July 2010.55.^ rediff.com 17 May 2011.56.^ rediff.com 01 May 2006.57.
^ BBC News 14 October 2008.58.^ The Times of India 15 October 2008.59.^ Sastri 2008, pp. 330–335.60.
^ The Hindu 14 January 2011.61.^ The Times of India 23 February 2009.62.^ BBC News 23 February 2009.63.
^ The Economic Times 23 February 2009.64.^ CBFC annual report 2011.65.^ The Times of India 02 June 2012.66.
^ Tamil Nadu enterprises 2011.67.^ The Hindu 22 April 2005.68.^ The Economic Times 12 June 2012.69.
^ MOPSI 2004.70.^ e-census India 2002.71.
^ a b c d Tamil Nadu agricultural department 2009.72.
^ a b c d e Tamil Nadu horticulture 2008.73.
^ Rubber board 2006.74.^ Tea production in India 2002.75.^ Palmoil Study 2004.76.
^ MS Swaminathan Research Foundatation 2010.77.^ Live stock and poultry statistics 2005.78.
^ Egg production from 1997 to 2004 2004.79.
^ Challenges to textile and apparel industry in Tamil Nadu 2000.80.^ Daimler 2012.81.^ Yamaha Motors 2012.82.
^ TNPL 2012.83.^ Business Line 07 October 2005.84.^ Business Line 07 May 2006.85.
^ National Highways in Tamil Nadu 2012.86.^ Tamil Nadu Highways 2012.87.^ Ennore Port 2011.88.
^ Tamil Nadu energy policy 2009.89.^ NPCIL 2009.90.^ Central Electrical Authority 2012.91.
^ Li 2012, p. 183.92.
^ a b Crego 2003, pp. 32-33.93.
^ a b c d e f g Ramaswamy 2007, pp. 73-74.94.^ Croker 1907, p. 223.95.
^ MA Chidambaram Stadium 2012.96.^ Srinivas Venkataraghavan 2012.97.^ Kris Srikkanth 2012.98.
^ Laxman Sivaramakrishnan 2012.99.^ Lakshmipathy Balaji 2012.100.^ Ravichandran Ashwin 2012.101.
^ a b Garg 2010, p. 316.102.
^ Garg 2010, p. 327.103.^ The Hindu 20 October 2004.104.^ TN Sports and Youth Welfare department 1992.105.
^ Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu 2012.106.^ Tamil Nadu tourism statistics 2010.107.^ UNESCO Chola temples 2012.108.
^ UNESCO Mahabalipuram temples 2012.109.
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Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1935) [1935]. The Cōlas. Madras: University ofMadras.
Chopra, P.N.; Ravindran, T.K.; Subrahmanian, N (2003) [2003]. History
of South India (Ancient, Medieval and Modern) Part 1. New Delhi:
Chand Publications. ISBN 81-219-0153-7.Keay, John (2000) [2000]. India: A History. New York: GrovePublications. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
Sastri, K.A. Nilakanta (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from
prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch,Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-560686-8.
External links
Tamil Nadu (http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/India/Tamil_Nadu/) at the Open Directory Project
Government
Tamil Nadu Government Website (http://www.tn.gov.in/)Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu (http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tamil_Nadu&oldid=530755215"
Categories: Tamil Nadu States and territories established in 1950 States and territories of India Tamil-speaking countries and territories
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