Posts Categorized: Biography

Losing Santhia, Part Four

Tiger power by Ben Hiller, ‘Red Flag,’ Australia, March 28, 2019 Santhia of died of kidney failure in a Jakarta hospital in October 2017. She was only 42. Years earlier, she and her infant son fled Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. They tried to reach Australia, but were stranded in… Read more »

Losing Santhia, Part Three

Exodus from Jaffna, war in the Vanni by Ben Hiller, ‘Red Flag,’ Australia, September 23, 2018 Santhia, a former high-ranking member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, died in a Jakarta hospital in October last year. She was only 42. Almost a decade earlier, she fled Sri Lanka, via Tamil Nadu, India, with her… Read more »

Passing of Varathakumar

Head of  Tamil Information Centre, London, passed March 13, 2019 at home. http://www.thamilnaatham.media TIC 2011 – National Security Laws in Sri Lanka TIC 2008 – TIC Mourns Fr. Karunaratnam TIC 2007 – Abduction of Sinhalese Journalists TIC 2006 – Tamils of Sri Lanka: The Quest for Human Dignity TIC 2006 – The UN Human Rights… Read more »

Tribute to Chelliah Kodeeswaran

by MK Eelaventhan, February 24, 2019 See also https://www.sangam.org/articles/view/?id=66 Mr. Chelliah Kodeeswaran is not an ordinary individual but a unique personality.   He challenged the atrocious Sri Lankan government against the Sinhala Only Act.  By his legal action he has become part and parcel of history. Kodeeswaran passed away on February 15th 2019 at the age of… Read more »

M.I.A.’s Critique of Wokeness

by Spencer Kornhaber, ‘The Atlantic,’ New York, October 5, 2018 CINEREACH M.I.A. wants to talk foreign policy. I called up the 43-year-old pop star Maya Arulpragasam last Friday to talk about Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., Stephen Loveridge’s fascinating documentary about her life. But she immediately brought up the latest news about her birth nation, Sri Lanka, which her family of ethnic… Read more »

Mamma M.I.A.: Influence of an Icon

Comedian Jack Rooke profiles his idol, Sri Lankan-British rapper M.I.A. by BBC Radio 4, October 9, 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/m0000np5 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000np5

Believing Women, and the Gaslighting of M.I.A.

by Mallika Rao, ‘Vulture,’ New York, October 2, 2018 The big revelation of the documentary titled MAYA / MATANGI / MIA, which hit U.S. theaters last weekend, is how it vindicates the singer at its heart. At The Guardian, Laura Snapes draws a connection between Christine Blasey Ford and Maya Arulpragasam — nom de guerre, M.I.A. — two… Read more »

Film Review of “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.”

My personal take on this documentary film. by Lorenzo Fiorito, ‘Tamil Culture,’ September 21, 2018 The London autumn evening is winding down. After dinner, my sweetheart and I sit together on the sofa in front of the TV, and patch in the laptop video feed. I click on the link to an advance viewing of… Read more »

Thileepan, Hunger and Remembrance

Why Do We Starve? by Brannavy Jeyasundaram, Tamil Guardian, London, September 26, 2018 Starvation occurs in three phases. First, the body halts consumption of glucose, its primary energy source. Then, it scrapes away at fat deposits. Once those are depleted, it finally cannibalizes muscle mass to feed the brain. The body enters a delicate balancing… Read more »

‘A Private War’

by Wendy Ide, ‘The Toronto Star,’ September 13, 2018 The life and death of Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin. Dir. Matthew Heineman. US. 2018. 110 mins Nimbly edited and directed with brio, this portrait of the legendary Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin represents a sure-footed leap for director Matthew Heineman from documentary to… Read more »

Thoughts on the Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. documentary

by a 1rst generation Tamil American, September 6, 2018 Film trailer. I recently had the privilege to see the documentary of the British rapper, producer, and activist M.I.A. at an advance screening hosted by Cinereach, the studio that produced the film. I’ve long been a big fan of her music, often revisiting her albums Kala… Read more »

The Dravidian Sun Sets

by A Kalaiyarasan & Karthick Ram Manoharan, ‘Economic & Political Weekly,’ Mumbai, India, August 8, 2018 When Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief and five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Muthuvel Karunanidhi passed away on 7 August 2018, he had outlived most of his friends and all of his rivals. “Kalaignar,” as he was popularly known among… Read more »

The Man Who was Muthuvel Karunanidhi

DMK patriarch Muthuvel Karunanidhi, a champion of federalism, showed how a regional party leader can become indispensible in the national political sphere by Dharani Thangavelu, ‘LiveMint,’ India, August 7, 2018 Chennai: It was the morning of July 15, 1953. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) members had launched a protest against the renaming of Kallakudi to Dalmiyapuram, near… Read more »

Losing Santhia, Part One

The death of a Tiger and the fate of a nation by Ben Hiller, ‘Red Flag,’ Australia, July 5, 2018 In October 2017, Santhia, a former high ranking cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (“Homelands”), died in a Jakarta hospital. She was only 42. Almost a decade earlier, she had fled Sri Lanka, via… Read more »

Losing Santhia, Part Two

From cubs to Tigers by Ben Hiller, ‘Red Flag,’ Australia, July 20, 2018 In October 2017, Santhia, a former high ranking cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (“Homelands”), died in a Jakarta hospital. She was only 42. Almost a decade earlier, she had fled Sri Lanka, via Tamil Nadu, India, with her young son…. Read more »

Sivakumaran’s Supreme Sacrifice

Of his life was a turning point in the history of Tamil Eelam liberation struggle! by M.K. Eelaventhan, June 14, 2018      This article is based on two of my talks; one is given at the Trans-national government of Tamil Eelam office at 5210 Finch Ave. Unit 24, Scarborough (Middlefield and Finch) on 5th… Read more »

Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Chap.5 Tamil Youths Turn Assertive

by T. Sabaratnam, August 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 4 Original index of series Original Volume 1, Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Tamil Youths Turn Assertive Tamils – a subject race Amirthalingam’s Kankesanthurai speech was a reflection of the growing feeling of frustration among Tamil youth. The youth were telling the leaders to follow the path of… Read more »

Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Chap.4 Tamil Mood Toughens

by T. Sabaratnam, May 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 3 Original index of series Original Volume 1, Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Tamil Mood Toughens The Federal Party Working Committee met on 11 July, 1970 at Vavuniya to consider Dr. de Silva’s message. Thanthai Chelva told the meeting the government had indicated many positive features in the… Read more »

Pirapaharan: Vol.1, Chap. 3 The Unexpected Explosion

by T. Sabaratanam, May 1, 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 2 Original Index of Series Original Volume 1, Chapter 3 Karikalan Thangathurai, known as mama, uncle, was in charge of the secret group. There were about 25 youths, most of them from Valvettithurai and relatives. In early 1970, Thangathurai bought two revolvers, of .22 and .38 calibre…. Read more »