BUENA PARK, CA -Southern California Tamil associations and over 13 Tamil schools from Los Angeles to San Diego united together in a never before effort to raise funds to set up a Tamil Chair at Harvard University. The fundraiser banquet was held at the Yellow Chilli restaurant here and drew around 250 guests.
In between fundraising, the guests we kept entertained with dance and music. There were Bharatanatyam performances, semi classical and mime dance performances. A live music show and an auction were a hit among the audience. Children also sang the Tamil Thai Vazthu (Invocation to Mother Tamil).
Harvard has accepted a proposal to set up a Sangam Tamil Chair in the Department of South Asian Studies with the focus on Tamil Sangam literature and all Tamil literature influenced by it. Tamils from all around the world are raising funds to establish the Chair, estimated at $6 million. Around $ 4.8 Million has already been raised .