“Those growing up in modern India are disconnected with their roots,” the author said.
Published Jun 24, 2025 | 10:55 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 24, 2025 | 6:32 PM
Nirmala Lakshman.
Synopsis: The book, ‘The Tamils’, is a pilgrimage back to the roots, like Alex Hailey did to trace the origins. It has gained wide acceptance among the Tamil population, both in India and abroad.
What initially started as a commissioned work for Nirmala Lakshman soon turned into a journey of self-discovery, finding answers to questions many didn’t even know existed. The result was The Tamils.
“For many of us of a certain generation who grew up in modern India, there was a disconnect from our cultural moorings,” she said.
Nirmala Lakshman, currently the Chairperson at The Hindu Group of Publications, mentioned that she didn’t expect such a positive response: “I was happy to see everyone that I met show interest, wanting to learn more about where they came from.” She added that this was not only the case for Tamils in India, but also for people around the world.
“In places like Malaysia, there appeared to be a thirst to want to know more about one’s roots, though many have migrated at least three generations ago,” she said.
Rediscovering one’s roots also entailed confronting both positive and negative aspects, with one of the most sensitive subjects being caste.
“Another thing that I found tragic was the situation of the caste. We never really had anybody explicitly telling us that they believed in it, but they would recount a story where there was oppression. Those who were part of that kind of setup shied away from answering questions,” she pointed out.
But things weren’t all too bad either. “You know the roadside Gods? Gods painted on walls? A Muslim man and his wife were praying there, and the priest gave them the vibhuti, the holy ash. And they normally – they never do that,” She continued.
“They believed in ‘ella daivam ondu thane’ (all Gods are one). I was moved. It was so great. This is one story I’ll never forget.”
She said in Tamil Nadu, religions seldom clash with each other, and there is a great sense of camaraderie among them.
The book cover displayed two young girls holding each other’s hands. She excitedly explained that she imagined her mother and her aunt, who grew up in a Gandhian household and were forced to wear khadi. “They could finally wear coloured clothes after Independence. My editor wonderfully picked up on that. I loved it.”
It’s important to know one’s roots. “I did a reading in Chennai, and it was such a great experience because they asked me questions which showed their curiosity.”
She added that all states should take up similar initiatives. “I think not enough has been done. There should be a drive to know the pluses, the good, and the bad. We should start examining our cultures critically,” she added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
