Objectives of the Conference

It has long been the dream of Association of Singapore Tamil Writers to organize a World Tamil Writers Conference (WTWC). We have been considering it for more than 10 years but the plan did not materialize for several reasons. However the time has now come and so have resources to hold such a conference. After much deliberation and planning we approached the National Arts Council (NAC) under Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts last year who readily agreed to support the Conference. NAC also suggested the Conference be held together with the biennial Singapore Writers Festival in October 2011. And now the dream has come true. The WTWC focuses on a theme seldom engaged: “Diaspora Tamil Literature.” Though there have been many conferences on Tamil literature, hardly any attention had been paid to the work of the diaspora writers whose aspirations and anxieties, whose experiences and expressions have been distinctly different from the “homeland” writers of Tamil Nadu, India. Thus, this conference attempts to provide an overview and an assessment of the literary works of the far flung and deep rooted Tamil diaspora around the world. As a maiden effort, this conference is both modest and experimental. The topics and speakers will hopefully reflect the rich tapestry of the diaspora and the diversity of its voices. The conference is but a first step in a long journey to charter the world of the Diaspora Tamil Literature.