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Appreciation Awards – 2006: Nanda Publications Inc. (“Thamilar Mathiyil”) & Athavan Publications Inc.(“Thamilan Valikaaty”), Publishers of Business Directories were felicitated at the Canadian Tamils Chamber of Commerce Awards Event Recently.

Ethnic Business Directories have a useful role to play in the community linking the Business Community and the consumers by acting as a bridge between the two. In this respect two leading Tamil Business Directories published in Canada have rendered a valuable service to the Tamil community as resource centers for Business & Community Information. The two Directories are, in chronological order “Amidst Tamils”(Thamilar Mathiyil) published by Nanda Publications Inc. and “Tamils Guide”(Thamilan Valikaaty ) published by Athavan Publications Inc. These Directories will no doubt be of valuable assistance in the preparation of the Tamil Database undertaken by the Chamber. As a token of appreciation for the special services rendered to the Community and the tireless efforts made by these two organizations in publishing the Directories over the past years Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present two Appreciation Awards to the owners Mr.Nandakumaran Rajendram of Nanda Publications Inc. and Mr.Chelliah Senthilathan of Athavan Publications Inc.

Given below is a short account of the history and content of the two Directories:

“Amidst Tamils”(Thamilar Mathiyil)

Publishers: Nanda Publications Inc

President: Mr.Nandakumaran Rajendram B.Sc.B.E(Arch)

“Thamilar Mathiyil”became the world’s first Business Directory for Tamils with it’s first issue published in 1991 with 72 pages. The Directory began publication at a time when the embryonic Tamil Business community was beginning to establish itself in Canada.Over the years with the growth of the Business community the Directory has also grown in size.

The current edition of the ”Thamialr Mathiyil” runs into 1,500 pages with over 100 full page color Advertisements. The Directory is issued free to the public at the beginning of every year and distributed mainly through Sri Lankan stores in Toronto and Montreal. Businesses are classified into various categories in alphabetical order.

The Directory has also received Awards from the Ontario Trade Ministry and CTCC previously based on the Directory’s own idea, creativity, originality and quality. Along with the main section of the Directory which is devoted to Advertisement content the Directory also provides about 300 pages of valuable Information useful to the Tamil community. The Publishers will be releasing a mini-sized version of the Directory this year which will be handy for usage and easy to carry. The Directory has it’s own website (www.thamila.com) which lists all the Advertisements in the Directory and links them to the Advertiser’s website as well. Thus, the expatriate Tamil community in other parts of the world has a reliable and reputable source of Tamil information.

Apart from producing the Directory Messrs. Nanda Publicaions Inc. have also devoted their efforts towards Social Relief efforts and contributions towards organizations and religious institutions.

The President of Nanda Publications Inc. is Mr. Nandakumaran Rajendram is an Architect by profession with over 20 years of experience in the designing of several high-rise buildings in Canada and other countries. He is currently a Senior Associate with Messrs. Page & Steele, a leading Architectural firm in Toronto. CTCC is also pleased that Mr. Nandakumaran Rajendram, a member of our community was involved in the design of the creation of the Convention Centre, Hilton Suites where CTCC has been having the Annual Awards Function in recent years.

“Tamils Guide”

Publisher.Athavan Publications Inc.

President: Chelliah Senthilathan

“Tamils’ Guide” – A success story with one step at a Time

The Sri Lankan civil war sent away many from her shores to the rest of the world. A sizeable number of people arrived here and called Canada their home. Quite a number of them made use of the opportunity here to be successful in many aspects of life. One such story is “ Tamils Guide”.

Senthilathan better known as Senthi who publishes the Business Directory “Tamils Guide” arrived in Canada with 50 dollars in his pocket at Dorval Airport in Montreal 1985. From the first day of his arrival he embarked on a path to succeed in his life. Hard working, prudent decision making and his ability to deal with people pleasantly put him where he is now. He started work with Telephone Information System which provided information through A Touch Tone Phone system. In order to make his delivery of information a success he chose print media.

His “Tamils Guide” Business and Information Directory published for the year 2006 has 1728 pages. It is a tremendous growth from 174 pages when it was first published in 1996. This publication became the largest issue in size among such directories among the Tamil diasporas. This information book provides details of business establishments among the Tamil community and other useful information needed for the community on a day to day basis.

Canadian Tamils eagerly wait for Tamils Guide’s new issue every year because they know how much it helps them in their daily life. Information about embassies, employment centers, community services, media and many more are available in the directory. Businessmen want information about their enterprises and these appear in it. Both consumers and entrepreneurs benefit immensely from the Directory. People have a comprehensive directory in their hand and businesses which want to be successful find their place in Tamils Guide.

Senthi’s understanding of Canada’s Tamil community needing information on an annual basis makes the directory comprised with new valuable information every year. As people need new information the Directory is updated every year with new information while deleting the old. In addition to the Business and Information Directory Senthi also conducts an annual Trade show “Varthaga Solai” where the business community participates with Trade Booths. Both the ”Tamils Guide” Directory and the Trade Show where business houses are participating will certainly be another useful resource center for CTCC’s new project - the Tamil Database. Apart from his work with the Directory Mr. Senthilathan has found time and energy to participate in social and community events and had been instrumental in getting Canada Post to issue stamps in commemoration of Tamil community leaders. He has also made funds available for social causes.
[TamilWeek - Apr 9, 2006]