This webinar is organized to introduce the global community to the ancient Tamil ecological and philosophical tradition of Thinai and its relevance to contemporary discussions on pastoralism, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable coexistence.
Thinai is a 5000-year-old Tamil knowledge system rooted in the Tamil language and the works of ancient Tamil scholar Tholkappiyar. It is a philosophical understanding of the relationship between nature, humans, animals, livelihoods, culture, and ecological systems.
The central idea of Thinai is “Coexistence” — a worldview where humans are not separate from nature but are an integral part of the ecological landscape. Thinai explains the connection between landscapes, human life, occupations, social practices, cultural expressions, and traditional knowledge systems.
The major landscapes of Thinai include Kurinji (mountain landscape), Mullai (forest and pastoral landscape), Marutham (agricultural landscape), and Neithal (coastal landscape), representing the close relationship between ecosystems and human societies.
Mullai Thinai represents the pastoral tradition, reflecting the knowledge systems of pastoral communities who have maintained a deep relationship with livestock, grasslands, forests, seasonal movements, and biodiversity for generations.
Thinai can be understood as an indigenous ecological philosophy similar in spirit to Japan’s Satoyama concept, which emphasizes harmony between humans and nature. However, Thinai provides a broader philosophical framework connecting natural landscapes, human life, livelihoods, culture, and ecological knowledge as an integrated system.
Through this webinar, we aim to share with the global community how this ancient Tamil philosophical tradition continues to guide contemporary societies in addressing climate change, ecological challenges, and the need for sustainable relationships between humans, animals, and landscapes.
The session will feature Pamayan – Thinai Philosopher, Writer, and Indigenous Knowledge Scholar, who has been researching Thinai philosophy for many years and advancing the concept of “Agriculture in Thinai” while highlighting the ecological wisdom of traditional knowledge systems.
Event Details:
Organized by:
Tamil Nadu Federation of Pastoral Peoples’ Sangams (TFPPS)
