Since its formation in 2001 the Tamil Literary Garden, a registered charity, has been committed to the promotion of studies and literary activities in Tamil both nationally, in Canada, and internationally.

This mandate is carried out through the promotion of creative writing, translations, book releases, awards, conferences, and workshops. The organization’s annual marquee event is the Tamil Literary Garden Awards – which celebrates preeminent contributions to Tamil literature each year from around the world.

The TLG recently announced their 2016 essay contest, inviting high school, undergraduate and graduate students to submit an essay on the topic: “Innovative Forms of Tamil Expression Today”. This is in recognition of Tamils’ engagement around the world in cultural production in the fields of literature, film, fine arts, artisanship and music, both in their ancestral and adopted languages. Contemporary technology further allows for the development of new forms of expression that push the boundaries of cultural expression and dissemination and the TLG wishes to encourage students to delve into this topic.

For the purposes of this essay, Tamil is defined as an ethnic identity and submissions may address forms of expression in languages other than Tamil as well.

Participants’ essays should not exceed 1500 words and be submitted on or before April 30th, 2016 to amuttu@gmail.com.

The contest is open to participants around the world. The winner will receive a certificate and $1000 at the Tamil Literary Garden awards ceremony in Toronto in June.