Table of contents : Part 1 Editor's Foreword Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Reader's Note Part 4 Abbreviations and Acronyms Part 5 Chronology Part 6 Maps Part 7 Introduction Part 8 The Dictionary Part 9 Bibliography Chapter 10 General Chapter 11 History Chapter 12 Politics Chapter 13 Economic Survey Chapter 14 Society Chapter 15 Culture Chapter 16 Tamil Writings Part 17 About the Author