A Vision Evolves With Great Hope

Gestation of ideas and the birth pangs of an institution or a movement and its evolvement within the community are attendant with considerable pains and labor. These are overcome by the very vision that fires a foresight based on a need situation and the determined resolution of leaders within the community who undertake commitments. They must have a strong sense of selfless dedication to serve their fellow human beings.

Nearly a decade ago with thousands of Tamils flowing into Canada and founding a new home for themselves, there was a growing demand for cultural infrastructures to serve them. Among others, the community had to be inspired to strike roots in their new homeland and nourish them with its traditions in the rich environment of a multicultural society.

Music and dance are intrinsic parts of our cultural and artistic heritage and these have developed as meaningful spiritual traditions through centuries of time going back to the Vedic era. This being the lifeline of our strength, the bonds that unite us, the fountains of our wisdom and the ultimate hope we cherish, we had to address ourselves to ensure this spiritually based cultural facility is embroidered as a magnificent tapestry amidst the Tamil community in Canada.

It was with such highly laudable sentiments and feelings, a group of Tamils committed to develop the performing arts of the community, founded the Thamil Isai Kalaamandram in 1992. During the last eight years it has come through all the turbulence of most founding and pioneering organizations and has acceptance today as a conservatory of Carnatic Music and Indian Classical Dances among us. We are naturally proud of our founders and to them we bow in gratitude.

More and more Canadian-born Tamil young people have begun to show interest in developing this organization and are increasingly expressing their appreciation of their founding parents for their vision and all the labour they have put into raising it to the level it has reached today. The manram, they are conscious, have the double responsibility of serving the Canadian Tamil community and equally, building bridges and developing strong bonds on a mutual basic with fellow Canadians.

We are all working towards the ideal that the entire humanity is one family and the planet Earth, our one home. When we relate ourselves to each other, the means that will save us best are our traditions. In pursuing this ideal, performing arts inspired spiritually offer us the greatest hope for humanity. The Thamil Isai Kalaamandram has a vast source of rich traditions to offer not only to the Tamil community but to all the communities that have found a home in this lovely land that is ours.