There is a small community of Tamils in Pakistan. Some Tamils migrated from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and settled in Karachi after independence in 1947. Although there are some Tamils that have been there since the early 20th century, when Karachi developed during the British Raj. There are Sri Lankan Tamils that arrived during the Sri Lankan Civil War who are mostly Hindus.[1] The Madrasi Para area behind the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre is home to 100 Tamil Hindu families. The population of Tamils in Pakistan is over 5000. The Shri Rama Pir Mandir Temple was located in this neighborhood but was demolished by a builder.[2] The temple was the biggest Tamil Hindu temple in Karachi.[3] In addition, Drigh Road and Korangi also have a Tamil population.[1]Mariamman temple at Soldier Bazaar, Karachi managed by Pakistan Madras Hindu Panchayat was also demolished in July 2023.[4] Tamil cuisine is still alive there.[5][6] Till August 2019, Pakistan receives 30 post office mails from Tamil Nadu every month.[7]
Notable people
edit- Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Indian-American Nobel laureate born in pre-independence Lahore
- Mani Shankar Aiyar, Indian diplomat and politician born in Lahore; served as Indian consul-general in Karachi from 1978 to 1982
- Victor Gnanapragasam, Catholic bishop[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Shahbazi, Ammar (20 March 2012). "Strangers to their roots, and those around them". The News. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ^ "100-year-old temple demolished in Pakistan, angry Hindus ask govt to arrange tickets to India". Retrieved 2017-08-31.
- ^ Sacred festival: Hindus celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi pooja in Karachi
- ^ Kinra, Mark (2023-08-30). "Demolition of Shree Mari Mata Mandir in Karachi spotlights plight of Pakistan's Tamil community". Indianarrative. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "In Pakistan's Karachi, South Indian immigrants keep the taste of Tamil food alive over decades". Arab News. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Fernandes, Donna (6 February 2017). "In Pakistan's most violent city, the Virgin Mary from south India brings together Hindus, Muslims, and Parsis". Quartz India. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu post offices handled 30 items to Pakistan a month"
- ^ Bishop Gnanapragasam UCA News