Representing Canada and Queen’s in Thailand

Faculty of Arts and Science student Pungavi Linghan enjoyed a unique experience, travelling to Thailand for the International Conference on Tamil and Thai Studies. The Department of Classics and Archaeology Masters student was the only Canadian student to present her research at the conference, which was held at Assumption University of Thailand.

Linghan’s research paper, Analyzing Graeco-Roman Activity in Ancient Tamilakam: The Maritime Trade Route of Gems, aims to contribute to a better understanding of the connections economic, social and cultural between the Graeco-Romans and Tamils. This paper is a snippet of a final research paper that she presented to earn her Master of Arts degree.

“My research focuses on the trade relations between the ancient Tamil kingdoms located in southern India and Sri Lanka and the Greeks and Romans,” Linghan explains. “It is crucial to continue supporting and growing this field of study to further our knowledge of the world in antiquity, to better understand how cultures have consistently been mixing and intermingling throughout history.”

Along with presenting in the Special Session on Trade and Industry, she was asked to present her views on the conference on the final day, a unique opportunity that she shared with only two other people.

“It was a really big moment and kind of intimidating, especially as the only external student,” she says. “I felt nervous presenting alongside scholars and professor who have been working in this field for decades, especially because the organizers gave me the opening panel as well as giving me the chance to speak at the closing.”

Her attendance at the conference was funded by the Ross Stuart Kilpatrick Student Initiatives Fund. The fund was established in August 2012 by Suzanne Kilpatrick and the Department of Classics to enable Classics students to participate in projects that provide educational opportunities outside the classroom around the world.

“It was a really good experience. Everyone there was very welcoming. They were excited to have a born and raised Canadian up there, speaking and researching about my heritage and culture,” she says. “Being fluent in Tamil is also something they gave me kudos for since it’s rare for people to be this involved with their heritage and history, especially when their parents have immigrated elsewhere.”

After the success of the conference, Linghan has a message for prospective students interested in studying Classics. “If your research doesn’t specifically align with the professors’ fields, the Classics department still offers you the opportunity to come and study what you are interested in. Because my research is fairly new and niche, there isn’t really anyone here that’s knowledgeable about the topic. But all of the faculty were willing to support me and take me on as a student, providing support and connections wherever they could. It is thanks to them that I was able to complete my MA research and participate in incredible opportunities such as this conference.”

Linghan has also been contacted to present this research virtually at another conference in India this month.