Lately, amongst the TPN team, we have been discussing the question: what does it mean to be Tamil?
In these conversations we have spoken about how our culture shapes the mind and our cuisine nourishes the body, while the language itself, serves as the living, breathing soul of Tamil identity.
But deeper than that, விருந்தோம்பல் (Virunthombal) is the heartbeat of our existence as Tamils. It is the root of our values and traditions as a community.
விருந்தோம்பல் is the sacred act of welcoming guests into our homes and lives with love, care and respect.
It is the cherishing of family, strangers, and sometimes even enemies, in the virtue of hospitality. விருந்தோம்பல் is historically significant, with a portion of the Thirukkural dedicated to this universal gesture of love. At its core, it is an expression of our shared humanity.
We see விருந்தோம்பல் in action all the time at TPN.
We hear stories of students that joined TPN, being guided by mentors to eventually excel at prestigious graduate schemes. Moments like these were inconceivable to students at the time; the notion that people would want to help without expecting something in return seemed foreign to them. Yet over time, their faith in others was restored as they saw promises honoured with sincerity. Eventually, like trees, these students embarked on a cycle of rebirth; returning as graduate professionals to mentor and give back to their community.
But there are quiet, yet powerful stories, that you may not have heard before. TPN has become a haven for international students who came to the UK searching for better opportunities, and instead found warmth, friendship and a sense of belonging. At events like International Women’s Day, we see young women draw inspiration and warmth from a panel of remarkable women, culminating in each speaker being embraced in a heartfelt expression of gratitude. “Sweetheart, you are just becoming.” These simple words, offered by an overseas MMA fighter to a young woman expressing fears around her future, still reverberate to this day as a powerful symbol of hope.
Among these are moments of sincere human connection, where we come together to share our fears, the pain of rejection in our professional journey and how we overcame the struggles and barriers that come with growing up Tamil.
விருந்தோம்பல் isn’t just about welcoming one another with open arms, it is also about making sure no-one is left to feel alone, and that everyone is looked after.
After all, TPN began from the seed sown by Sellappah Thevarajah, the grandfather of TPN’s founder, whose prevailing message was that it was imperative that we look after future Tamil generations.
This all leads to the final message we want to leave you with. Here at TPN, community is always offered to those looking for it. We are more than a network, more like a forest in which every tree supports one another to grow, flourish and bask in the sun.
Simply, we are a home.
So we welcome you in; please take a seat, the kettle is on. We’re ready to support you, encourage you and help you grow in whatever direction you desire.
From all of us at TPN, we share our heartfelt wishes:
அனைவருக்கும் இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துகள்! இந்தப் புத்தாண்டு உங்கள் வாழ்வில் புதிய ஒளியையும், மகிழ்ச்சியையும், வெற்றியையும் கொண்டு வரட்டும். உங்கள் கனவுகள் நனவாகவும், ஆரோக்கியம் பெருகவும் எங்கள் மனமார்ந்த வாழ்த்துகள்.
Article prepared by Sajan Surenthirarajah
