Economy of Tamil Nadu nearby towns such as Ranipet, Ambur, Perundurai and Vaniyambadi The tanning industry in India has a total capacity of 225 million pieces of hides and skins, of which Tamil Nadu alone contributes 70 per cent, a leading export product share at 40 per cent for India. It currently employs about 2.5 million persons. Leather exports by the end of 2000–2001 were INR90 billion. Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), a CSIR research laboratory, is located in Chennai, the state capital. The town of Sivakasi is a leader in the areas of printing, fireworks, and safety matches. It was fondly called as
Pathans of Tamil Nadu rule in the subcontinent. These traders were fewer in number and usually preserved their items of dress, culture and language. The Pathans of Tamil Nadu speak Dakhni Urdu as their mother tongue. Nearly all of them are conversant in Tamil. Knowledge of Arabic and Persian is considered a scholarly accomplishment. Pathans of Tamil Nadu The Pathans of Tamil Nadu are Urdu-speaking Muslims of Pashtun historically Pashtuns, now all Afghans ancestry who have migrated to and settled in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Their migration to the Tamil country had occurred in three main waves - first during the