Europe Tamilargal
Excellence Awards.

Celebrating & Recognising Acheivements!

Award Categories

Europe Tamilargal Excellence Awards

As part of the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations, Europe Tamilargal is proud to introduce the Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards aim to recognize and honor outstanding individuals and businesses of Tamil origin residing in Germany. The Excellence Awards celebrate remarkable achievements across various fields, including Tamil Nadu cuisine, business, performing arts, sports, politics, academics, and literature.

This year, Tamil Nadu Day 2024 marks the official announcement of these awards. Over the next year, we will open nominations to identify and acknowledge exemplary contributions that have made a significant impact within the Tamil community in Germany. The awards will then be presented during next year’s Tamil Nadu Day event in 2025.

Stay tuned for details on the nomination process, criteria, and timeline. Let us come together to celebrate the contributions of our community!

Excellence in Business

Excellence in Tamil Cuisine

Excellence in Arts

Excellence in Sports

Excellence in Academia

Excellence in Literature

Nominations will open soon!

Stay tuned!

Award Criteria

Excellence in Business

  • The business must be owned or co-owned by individuals of Tamil Nadu origin residing in Germany at least for a period of 3 years.

  • Demonstration of sustainable growth, profitability, and innovation in the business model or products/services over the years.

  • Recognition in Industry: Achievements in the business sector, including awards, recognition, or contributions to industry standards.

  • Special recognition for businesses that have had a positive social impact and also those that support the Tamil community by providing employment, sponsorships, or contributions to Tamil-related events and causes.

Excellence in Tamil Cuisine

  • The restaurant/business should prominently feature traditional Tamil Nadu cuisine in its offerings and preserving the heritage and authenticity of the food.

  • High standards of food quality, hygiene, and customer service should be demonstrated.

  • While maintaining authenticity, innovation in introducing Tamil Nadu cuisine to a broader audience in Germany is encouraged.

  • The restaurant should also act as a cultural ambassador, contributing to the promotion of Tamil Nadu’s culinary culture in Germany.

  • Active involvement in Tamil or other community events, such as sponsoring cultural programs or promoting Tamil culture through food, will be be considered.

Excellence in Arts

  • The nominee must have excelled in a specific performing art (music, dance, theatre, etc.) with emphasis on Tamil art forms.

  • The individual shall be resident of Germany.

  • The individual must use their platform in arts or sports to promote Tamil culture, either in Germany or internationally.

  • Consideration will be given to individuals with documented achievements such as awards, public recognition, or media coverage.

Excellence in Sports

  • The individual must have attained high performance levels, such as competing or winning in regional, national, or international competitions.

  • The individual shall be resident of Germany and of Tamil Nadu origin

  • Consideration will be given to individuals with documented achievements such as awards, public recognition, or media coverage.

Excellence in Academia

  • The individual should be of Tamil Nadu origin and currently residing in Germany, working in an academic or research institution.

  • Research and Scholarly Contributions: Recognition of outstanding academic research, publications, or contributions in their respective academic fields.

  • Academic Leadership: Leadership roles within academic institutions or associations. The subject of academic excellence is not limited to Tamil.

  • Recognition and Awards: Special consideration for individuals who have received academic accolades such as awards, grants.

Excellence in Literature

  • The individuals shall be of any nationality residing in Germany who have made significant contributions to Tamil literature or the translation of Tamil literary works into German.

  • Significant works in Tamil literature, including poetry, novels, essays, or plays, with emphasis on originality, cultural impact, and literary merit or Individuals who have also excelled in translating Tamil literature into the German language, thereby promoting Tamil culture and heritage to a broader audience are also considered for this category.

  • The individual should demonstrate efforts in preserving or promoting Tamil literary traditions in Germany, such as through publishing, public readings, lectures, or literary events.

  • Special consideration for those whose works have been widely published, awarded, or recognized by literary bodies, both in Germany and internationally.

Procedure

The Excellence Awards are a prestigious recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals and businesses within the Tamil community in Germany. Each award recipient will be honoured with a trophy, symbolizing their achievement and dedication to excellence. In addition to the trophy, awardees will also receive a personalized citation, formally acknowledging their accomplishments and their impact within their respective fields. Furthermore, award winners are entitled to designate themselves as “Europe Tamilargal Excellence Awardee“, reflecting their distinguished recognition within the Tamil diaspora in Germany.

  • Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by peers, colleagues, or other well-wishers who recognize their contributions and achievements.
  • For peer nominations, the nominator must provide relevant contact information and a brief explanation of their relationship with the nominee. In case of peer nominations, the nominator shall confirm that they have the permission to submit their information.
  • The organisers shall also contact the nominee to confirm their consent for participation.
  • The nomination is deemed complete only upon completing the nomination form with all relevant fields. Incomplete forms will not be considered.
  • All nominations must be submitted before the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.
  • All nominations will be evaluated & reviewed by the committee appointed by Europe Tamilargal.
  • The selection committee reserves the right to verify the information provided and to request additional documentation if required.
  • Nominations will be evaluated based on the criteria set forth for each award category, including the quality, impact, and scope of the nominee’s contributions.
  • Qualifying nominations will then be shortlisted and then subjected to the selection procedure.
  • Unqualified nominations will not be notified.
  • The Selection Panel will be appointed by Europe Tamilargal.
  • The (qualifying) shortlisted nominations will be presented for the selection panels consideration.
  • The scores of the selection panel will have a weightage of 60%.
  • The panel will assess nominees based on the quality, impact, and scope of their contributions in the respective fields, with emphasis on originality, community involvement, and overall significance.
  • Shortlisted nominees will be presented for public voting, which will contribute to 40% of the final decision.
  • In the voting list, the order will be based on the age, youngest to oldest. In case of nominations where entities such as businesses, institutes or organisations, the date of founding the entity will be considered.
  • Public voting will be conducted through an online voting platform and will be open to all individuals who wish to support the nominees.
  • The final awardees will be chosen based on a combined score derived from both the Selection Panel’s evaluation (60%) and the results of public voting (40%).
  • The decision of the selection committee is final. No appeals or reconsiderations will be entertained.
  1. Right to Withdraw: Nominees have the right to withdraw from the nomination process at any point without any negative consequences. The nominees may write to eutamilargal@gmail.com stating their intention to withdraw their nomination before 20th November 2024.
  2. Accuracy of Information: Nominees or their peers are responsible for providing accurate and complete information in their submissions. Any false or misleading information may lead to disqualification.
  3. Cooperation with Organizers: Nominees are expected to cooperate with the organizers for verification purposes and provide any additional information required in a timely manner. Failing to cooperate or provide required information in prescribed time will be treated as incomplete information and will lead to disqualification.
  4. Shortlisted Nominees:
    1. Shortlisted Nominees: Shortlisted nominees will be informed officially through the email ID provided at the time of nomination.
    2. Non-Selected Nominees: For nominees who are not selected, a general notification about the conclusion of the awards process will be provided. This helps maintain transparency and provides closure for all participants.
    3. Final Awards: Final awardees will receive official communication about their selection prior to any public disclosure.
    4. Awardees are required to be present on Tamil Nadu Day 2024 event to be held on 1st Dec 2024 to receive their awards. If the nominees are unable to be physically present, they can be represented by another person authorised by the winner. Such arrangements are to be made at least 3 days prior to the event.
  1. Data Collection and Use: Personal information, including names, contact details, and other relevant information, will be collected as part of the nomination process. This information is used strictly for the purposes of evaluating nominations, contacting nominees and nominators, and facilitating the awards process. The data will not be shared with third parties outside of the selection committee or organizing body without consent, except as required by law.
  2. Data Retention: The information collected will be retained for the duration necessary to complete the awards process. Upon completion, non-essential data will be securely deleted. Only information required for official record-keeping and awardee recognition will be retained by the organizers.
  3. Publicity and Use of Images/Information: By participating, nominees consent to the use of their names, photographs, and general information about their contributions for publicity purposes by the event organizers, including social media posts, promotional materials, and event-related publications. Participants may request, in writing, to opt out of such use; however, this may impact the eligibility for recognition.
  4. Consent and Rights: Nominators submitting information on behalf of nominees must confirm that they have the consent of the nominee to do so. The organizers shall not be responsible for any disputes arising from unauthorized submissions. Nominees will be contacted directly to confirm their participation and consent to the terms outlined.
  5. Security Measures: All data will be securely stored, with access limited to authorized members of the committees managing the business excellence awards and the team handling the selection process. Appropriate technical and administrative safeguards will be implemented to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the information collected.

The purpose of the Conflict-of-Interest Policy is to ensure a fair and impartial evaluation process for the Tamil Nadu Day Excellence Awards.

  1. Disclosure of Conflicts: Members of the Selection Panel must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. This includes any personal, professional, or financial relationships with any of the nominees that could influence their ability to be impartial in the evaluation process.
  2. Recusal Requirement: If a Selection Panel member has a conflict of interest, they are required to recuse themselves from evaluating that specific nominee. This ensures that no member with a potential bias participates in the decision-making for that nomination.
  3. Confidentiality: All disclosed conflicts and recusal decisions will be documented and treated confidentially. This information will only be accessible to the committee responsible for overseeing the integrity of the selection process.
  4. Committee Review: An oversight committee will be appointed to review any conflicts of interest disclosures and determine appropriate actions to manage and resolve conflicts, including, if necessary, reassigning evaluation duties.
  5. Acknowledgment of Policy: All Selection Panel members must acknowledge their understanding of this Conflict-of-Interest Policy and agree to comply with its terms before participating in the evaluation process.
  1. Award Criteria and Selection: The criteria for the awards, as outlined, are designed to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals or entities within various fields related to the Tamil Nadu community in Germany. The selection process involves a combination of an appointed Selection Panel and public voting, with weighted contributions from each. While all efforts are made to ensure a fair and transparent evaluation, the final decisions rest solely with the appointed selection committee and are binding. The organizers reserve the right to amend, modify, or change any part of the award process, selection criteria, or procedures as deemed necessary.
  2. No Guarantees: Participation in the nomination process does not guarantee an award, and the decision of the selection committee will be final. The organizers are not liable for any disputes arising out of the award decisions or from non-selection. Appeals or requests for reconsideration will not be entertained.
  3. Public Voting: Public voting is conducted as part of the selection procedure and contributes to 40% of the final score. The organizers are not responsible for any discrepancies, technical issues, or disputes that may arise during the public voting process. The order of nominees on the voting list is determined based on specific factors like age or founding date, and is not indicative of any ranking or preference.
  4. Confidentiality and Verification: All nominations and submissions will be kept confidential. The selection committee may contact nominees or nominators to verify the information provided, and additional documentation may be requested. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any nomination that is found to be incomplete or misleading.