The University of Houston and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have extended an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue supporting the establishment of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies. This chair is dedicated to researching Tamil language, literature, and culture at the university.

The renewal of the MoU took place at a ceremony held at the University of Houston, where Chancellor & President Dr. Renu Khator and Consul General of India in Houston, DC Manjunath, signed the agreement. The ICCR Chair’s primary objective is to offer courses and conduct research on Tamil language, literature, and culture within the University of Houston.

The establishment of this chair was endorsed by leaders in a Joint Declaration following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023.

Dr. T Vijayalakshmi, the visiting chair professor from India, has been teaching a curated course on Tamil Language and Culture at the University for the past two semesters under the MoU.

Dr. Khator expressed gratitude for the partnership, highlighting the importance of understanding and appreciating different cultures in building a progressive society. She emphasized the benefits it brings to students by enhancing their knowledge depth and providing them with a competitive edge globally.

Consul General Manjunath stated that the extension of the MoU will further strengthen the educational and knowledge partnership between India and the US.

The University of Houston is the third American university to collaborate with ICCR on its global Indian Chairs Abroad program, alongside Rutgers University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Tamil, considered one of the oldest languages globally, ranks among the top five spoken languages in the United States, with nearly 300,000 Tamil Americans residing there.

Classes in Tamil Studies commenced for the first group of students at the University of Houston following the ICCR and UH MOU signed in June 2023. Dr. Thangavel Vijayalakshmi, a visiting professor of Indian Studies at the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, is teaching these classes.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi expressed optimism about the initiative’s success, noting the enthusiastic reception from students, particularly American students eager to learn about Tamil Nadu and Indian culture and values. She emphasized the university’s strong interest in establishing the course and anticipated achieving the initiative’s goals as desired by both India and America.

Source: PTI

Also read: Tamil Nadu: Research scholars’ row