The International Institute of Tamil Studies (IITS) is an autonomous research institution dedicated to the study of the Tamil language, literature, culture, and civilisation. Located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the institute functions under the Government of Tamil Nadu and serves as a centre for advanced research, publication, and academic collaboration on Tamil studies.
| Name | International Institute of Tamil Studies |
|---|---|
| Type | Autonomous research institute |
| Field | Tamil language, literature, and culture |
| Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Affiliation | Government of Tamil Nadu |
The institute was established to promote scholarship in Tamil, one of the classical languages of India, and to provide an academic platform for researchers working on the language and its literary heritage. Tamil's recognition as a classical language by the Government of India in 2004 reinforced the institutional emphasis on advanced research, lexicography, and the dissemination of Tamil knowledge systems.
The institute undertakes a range of academic and cultural activities, which broadly include:
As a state-supported research body, the International Institute of Tamil Studies plays an important role in sustaining academic engagement with Tamil heritage. It complements the work of universities and other Tamil-focused institutions by concentrating on specialised research, archival work, and the publication of resources useful to scholars of Indology, Dravidian studies, and South Asian linguistics.