Local resident John Arockia Richard, widely known as Tamilmainthan John Richard received international recognition for his contributions to Tamil literature.
A Letterkenny-based Tamil writer has been honored at a prestigious ceremony held in the UK Parliament, recognizing his significant contributions to Tamil literature and community service.
John Arockia Richard, who has called Letterkenny home for the past decade, was among Tamil enthusiasts from 24 countries who received appreciation awards at the ceremony held on Wednesday, June 18th, in the United Kingdom Parliament.
The event was jointly organized by the London Croydon Tamil Association and the Dr. Alandur K. Mohanrangan Tamil Research Center to celebrate personalities working to promote Tamil language and culture worldwide.
The ceremony was attended by five Members of Parliament, including the Honorable Uma Kumaran MP, and London Croydon Deputy Mayor Councillor Mohammed Islam, who participated as special guests.
Mr. Richard was presented with a certificate of Honour and a commemorative shield in recognition of his literary work and community involvement.
The ceremony at the UK Parliament highlights the global reach of Tamil literature and the important role played by diaspora writers in preserving and promoting Tamil culture across international communities.
This recognition places Mr. Richard among a select group of Tamil literary figures who have been acknowledged for their contributions to maintaining cultural heritage while building bridges between communities in their adopted countries.
The award ceremony represents a significant moment for the Irish Tamil community and underscores the valuable cultural contributions made by immigrant writers to their local communities.
Beyond his tamil writing, Mr. Richard is actively involved in his local community, serving as a volunteer member of the Pastoral Council at St. Eunan’s Cathedral Parish and as a Eucharist Minister. His commitment to service recently extended internationally when he volunteered at the Vatican for ten days during the recent conclave.
