Singapore Launches First Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils to Mark SG60

In a historic milestone for the Tamil community, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has officially launched the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils (EST)—the nation’s first comprehensive digital resource chronicling 200 years of Tamil heritage, contributions, and culture.

The launch, held in conjunction with SG60 and the National Library Board’s (NLB) 30th anniversary, was hosted by Minister for Digital Development and Information, Mrs Josephine Teo. More than 600 guests, including partners, editors, and volunteers, gathered to celebrate the occasion.

A Living Archive of Tamil Heritage

Developed collaboratively by the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC) and NLB, the EST is available in both English and Tamil, offering over 350 entries that span a wide range of topics—from politics, journalism, and education to the arts, historical milestones, and lesser-known community organisations.

This living encyclopedia aims to engage educators, researchers, and the public, with entries that reflect not only key personalities and events, but also niche aspects of Tamil life in Singapore. Contributions came from a dedicated team of CSTC volunteers, including retired educators, professionals, and writers, while NLB provided critical support in digital curation, cataloguing, and quality assurance.

The EST also builds upon prior efforts such as the Tamil Digital Heritage Project (2019) and Tamil Cholai, a literary collection launched in 2022 featuring over 20,000 Tamil works. Together, these initiatives form a growing digital legacy of Tamil arts, language, and cultural knowledge.

Designed for the Community, By the Community

The EST is a dynamic, evolving platform. Community members are invited to submit additional information or corrections through an online feedback form, making it a continuously enriched and updated resource. Explore the EST here.

Touring Exhibition: Tamil Culture on Display

Following the launch, a roving exhibition will travel to four venues across Singapore from August 2025 to February 2026, offering an interactive showcase of Singapore Tamil heritage through bilingual displays and hands-on exhibits. Highlights include:

Tamil in Stamps: Discover postage stamps with Tamil scripts and cultural motifs.

Tamil Schools in Singapore: Learn about now-defunct Tamil schools with a rare textbook on display.

Tamil in Public Signage: See how Tamil is used across public institutions—from hospitals to parliament.

Tamil Publishing: Explore the evolution of Tamil print in Singapore, including rare titles from the 1950s–60s at the National Library exhibition.

Exhibition Schedule

• 3–31 August 2025: National Library Building (Level 7)
• 1 September–16 November 2025: Woodlands Regional Library (Level 2)
• 18 November 2025–4 January 2026: Indian Heritage Centre
• 5 January–28 February 2026: Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre

Upcoming Malay Heritage Project

In a parallel initiative, NLB is also collaborating with the NUS Department of Malay Studies to launch Prominent Malays of Singapore, an online database celebrating Malay community leaders and changemakers. The project is set to go live in October 2025, with more details to follow.