Tamils - a Trans State Nation

Trinidad - ட்ரினிடாட்

[see also At Home in Trinidad - Indian Culture and Its Transformations in Trinidad and Martin Baumann on "Becoming a Colour of the Rainbow: The Social Integration of Indian Hindus in Trinidad Analysed along a Phase Model of Diaspora," Paper presented at the 18th congress of the International Association for the History of Religions, Durban, South Africa, 07.08.2000. ]

From Tamil Studies Abroad, A Symposium edited by Xavier S.Thaninayagam
published by the International Association of Tamil Research, 1968:

"No study has been made of Tamil migration to Trinidad. Several Tamils were met in June 1967 who had migrated to Trinidad in 1916. There is a locality near the Piarco airport known as Madras Settlement, and a Siva temple formerly known as Madras Sivaalayam or Caura Road Temple with a priest, Seshaiyar who was born in Gobichettypaalayam, and went to Trindad in 1910. In Waterloo there is a strong concentration of Tamil speakers. One Hindi speaking informant said that the Tamils still conserved their own customs at funerals, marriages and use the taali and great quantities of flowers. The present generation of descendants of  Tamils use Hindustani and English, and know no Tamil. Recordings were made in 1967 of the speech of several elderly Tamil speakers: several Tamil books (plays, poetry, prose) were found with them."