University of Houston renews partnership with ICCR to support research on Tamil Studies

An existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the University of Houston has been extended to continue supporting the creation of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies. The university’s research in Tamil language, literature, and culture is the focus of this chair.

The agreement was renewed at a ceremony conducted at the University of Houston, where it was signed by DC Manjunath, the consul general of India in Houston, and Chancellor and President Dr. Renu Khator. The main goals of the ICCR Chair at the University of Houston are to teach courses and carry out research on Tamil language, literature, and culture.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, leaders approved the creation of this chair in a Joint Declaration.

The visiting chair professor from India, Dr. T Vijayalakshmi, has been instructing a specially designed course on Tamil language and culture at the University for the last two semesters in accordance with the MoU.

In addition to expressing gratitude for the collaboration, Dr. Khator stressed the significance of comprehending and respecting various cultural traditions in order to create a society that is progressive. She underlined how it gives pupils a competitive edge in the global marketplace and deepens their knowledge, both of which are advantages.

According to Consul General Manjunath, the Memorandum of Understanding’s extension will enhance the US-Indian collaboration in knowledge and education.

Along with Rutgers University and the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Houston is the third American university working with ICCR on its global Indian Chairs Abroad program.

One of the world’s oldest languages, Tamil is spoken by around 300,000 people in the United States, where it is among the top five languages.

The University of Houston’s first batch of students enrolled in Tamil Studies classes as a result of the June 2023 signing of the MOU between the ICCR and UH. These courses are being taught by Dr. Thangavel Vijayalakshmi, a visiting professor of Indian Studies at the University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi was upbeat about the initiative’s success and noted the positive response from students, especially those from the United States who were curious to find out more about Tamil Nadu and Indian customs. She noted that the institution was very interested in starting the course and that she thought all parties would be satisfied with the initiative’s outcomes.