WHEREAS, The Tamil people originate from the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India, and they have immigrated to places like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, and the United States; and

WHEREAS, California is home to over 60,000 Tamil families and the bay area houses over 3,500 Tamil families; and

WHEREAS, Tamil is the longest surviving classical language in the world, with a traceable history exceeding 2,600 years; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 45 Tamil schools in the state and more than 10,000 children who learn Tamil. Many school districts in California have approved the study of the Tamil language for high school credit, and the Fremont-Hopkins campus in the City of Fremont, a Tamil academy, hosts over 3,000 children; and

WHEREAS, Tamil language and literature have been taught at the University of California, Berkeley, for over 40 years, where the program, recognized as one of the world’s leading programs in Tamil studies, has its own chair in Tamil studies, a prestigious annual conference, and supports student research in Tamil studies; and

WHEREAS, Tamils have established deep roots and flourished in communities across California, enriching its social, economic, and political fabric. The International Tamil Academy and other nonprofit organizations host cultural activities to celebrate and exhibit music, dance, drama, and any artform based on Tamil language and Tamil culture; and

WHEREAS, Some of the brightest Tamil minds have made the bay area their home and made significant contributions to the technology industry and the state. Such notable Tamil Californians include Vice President Kamala Harris, who has maternal roots in Chennai, the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, among others; and

WHEREAS, The Tamil community across the globe every year celebrates its new year, also known as Varusha Pirappu, on April 14, which falls on the first day of “Chithirai,” the first month in the Tamil calendar; and

WHEREAS, The Tamil community of the bay area welcomes and encourages all people across the bay area and California to participate in this celebration, and to experience their rich and inclusive heritage; now, therefore, be it