WHEREAS, the Tamil community of North Carolina has made significant contributions to our state’s diverse culture and population, including preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the Tamil language; and
WHEREAS, the Tamil language is widely spoken in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and many communities throughout our nation and world; this language in central to Tamil identity, and is recognized as one of the world’s longest-surviving written and spoken languages; and
WHEREAS, members of North Carolina’s Tamil community are dedicated to preserving Tamil culture, in part through language schools designed to educate young people and preserve Tamil language for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, Tamil is the one of the oldest surviving classical languages in the world, traceable through archeological discoveries at sites including Keezhadi, Porunai, and Mayiladumparai; and
WHEREAS, Tamil tradition, language, and heritage have impacted many aspects of the economic, social, and cultural history of our state and nation; and
WHEREAS, during January, members of the Tamil community celebrate Thai Pongal, a four-day harvest festival that coincides with the first day of the Thai month in the Tamil calendar; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins in celebrating Thai Pongal and in recognizing the Tamil community for their ongoing contributions to our state;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim January, 2024, as “TAMIL LANGUAGE AND CULTURE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.