After 35 years of its conception, Ulaga Tamil Sangam has come into existence in Madurai, the seat of ancient Tamil Sangams. The huge two-tiered building, constructed over an area of 87,300 square feet near Madurai Law College, was declared open by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa through video conference from Chennai on Tuesday.
The announcement on the formation of Ulaga Tamil Sangam, which will function as an umbrella organisation of Tamil associations all over the world, was made by late Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran at the fifth World Tamil Conference here in January 1981. He also inaugurated the Sangam and laid the foundation for its building at Madurai Medical College Ground on April 14, 1986, in the presence of Kundrakudi Adigal and Krupananda Wariar.
Ms. Jayalalithaa sanctioned Rs.25 crore initially to take up construction on the present site at Tallakulam. Subsequently, a sum of Rs. 12.25 crore was allocated. The bhoomi puja for the construction was performed on December 4, 2014, and construction began on the two-storey structure from where the administrative wing, a research centre and an auditorium will function. Ulaga Tamil Sangam has been recognised by Tamil University, Thanjavur, as a centre for higher research. So far, the Sangam has published six books and 18 compilations of articles on Tamil language and literature.
