Tamil Nadu, the heartland of the ancient Sangam civilization, has been the cradle of Tamil — the oldest living language in the world. For thousands of years, this land has been the homeland of the Tamil people, serving as the foundation for their language, culture, identity, political structures, and social systems. However, over the past 70 years — especially after the 1990s — uncontrolled migration from northern states of India into Tamil Nadu has grown at an alarming rate. This is not a natural demographic change, but a long-term, politically and economically motivated demographic transformation, supported by the central government. This transformation affects every aspect of Tamil Nadu — language, culture, employment, voter composition, political power, and economic resources.
Historical Background – Linguistic Reorganisation of States
In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act came into effect, restructuring Indian state boundaries based on linguistic identity. The purpose of creating Tamil Nadu was to protect the language and culture of the indigenous Tamil population. However, since 1956, there has been no strong barrier to migration from other states into Tamil Nadu. Even though states were reorganised on linguistic lines, the lack of restrictions on population movement has allowed large-scale migration from northern India into Tamil Nadu, slowly undermining the original purpose of the linguistic state.
Demographic Changes from 1951 to 2021
According to the 1951 census, native Tamils made up about 98.7% of Tamil Nadu’s population, with migrants from other Indian states accounting for only 1.1%. By 1961, the proportion of native Tamils fell to 98.2%, and migrants rose to 1.5%. In 1971, natives made up 97.8% and migrants 1.9%. In 1981, natives were 97.1% and migrants 2.6%. By 1991, natives were 96% and migrants 3.8%. In 2001, natives were 94.8% and migrants were 4.9%. By 2011, natives had dropped to 92.7% and migrants had risen to 6.9%. In 2021, native Tamils fell to 89.6% while migrants reached 9.9%. This means that in the past 70 years, the proportion of migrants has increased almost tenfold.
Phases of Migration Growth
From 1956 to 1975, most migrants came for large public sector and industrial projects such as Neyveli Lignite Corporation and BHEL.
From 1976 to 1995, the expansion of the construction industry brought in more North Indian labourers who began settling permanently.
From 1996 to 2010, the growth of information technology, railways, national highways, and retail trade saw a significant influx of North Indian workers.
From 2011 to the present, the availability of cheap rental housing, employment opportunities, and transport facilities has made cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Madurai major hubs for migrant settlement.
Political, Social, and Economic Impacts
This rapid growth of the migrant population has caused significant changes in Tamil Nadu’s political and social structure. After 2011, in cities like Chennai and Tiruppur, North Indian voters have increased to 15–20% of the electorate. This shift affects election outcomes, pushing political parties to compete for migrant votes. Economically, cheap migrant labour has reduced job opportunities for local Tamils. Socially, the growing Hindi-speaking population has expanded Hindi dominance in business, government offices, and public transport.
Future Demographic Projections
If the current trend continues, by 2040, the native Tamil population will drop below 80%. By 2060, migrants from other states could make up 25% of the population. At that stage, political power, administrative control, and economic resources will shift to a North Indian–dominated leadership. Tamil Nadu risks losing its linguistic and cultural identity altogether.
The Historical Responsibility of Tamils
To prevent this, Tamils must recognise their historical responsibility and act immediately.
➊. Enact a Tamil Language Protection Law — making Tamil mandatory in government offices, education, and commerce.
➋. Cleanse the Voter Rolls — removing illegally added migrant voters.
➌. Prioritise Natives in Employment — ensuring job reservations and preference for native Tamils.
➍. Establish Immigration Monitoring and Border Checkpoints — at Tamil Nadu’s state borders.
➎. Tamil Unity — breaking caste and religious divisions to strengthen a single Tamil identity.
Tamil Nadu is facing a silent political invasion. In 1951, migrants made up only 1% of the population; by 2021, they made up nearly 10%. If this continues, within a few decades, Tamils could become a minority in their own homeland. Protecting the language, land, jobs, political power, economy, and security of Tamil Nadu is now the duty of every Tamil. Recognising history and building strong political and social movements is the only way to safeguard the future of Tamil Nadu.
Author
Eelaththu Nilavan
Historical and Political Researcher
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Amizhthu’s editorial stance.
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