Posts Categorized: Diaspora

The Sri Lankan Peace Talks and the ISGA Proposals

by M. Nadarajan, November 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/639.html Newspapermen and many governments continue to give their views on the peace process, spouting out nonsense without, in most instances, any knowledge of what they are speaking about or the background to the problem. In order to make any meaningful comments, one should look at the past, the… Read more »

Think Madam President, Think

And Be Aware by Wakeley Paul, Esq., November 14, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/635.html The war in Iraq will be Bush’s undoing.  The present relentless attack on Fallujah is no different to what the Americans did in Vietnam time and time again, or what the SL army faced in the NorthEast.  In fighting insurgents, armies have no front… Read more »

Sangam’s Nov 6 Annual General Meeting Program

sangam.org/articles/view2/630.html The Sangam’s AGM is coming up in one week, on Saturday, November 6 in Edison, New Jersey.  There will be interesting programs, lots of socializing with old and new friends, dinner, a business meeting, dancing and more! All are welcome. There will be an all-day and evening program, with a separate youth event in… Read more »

The Discipline of Honor

by P.J., October 31, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/629.html I became interested in the armed struggle of our people in the eighth grade.  It all started with my friend telling me about a band called “Rage Against The Machine.” Rage Against The Machine fascinated me with the idea of revolution.  I tried to learn about the issues they… Read more »

Karuna: A Voice From The Past

by K. Mylvaganam, October 27, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/623.html Karuna’s is a name that is getting fast diminished from the political world.  His biggest fear is that people are going to forget him very soon.  He knows that he is becoming history, hence he is forced to do something to prove that he is alive and kicking. … Read more »

Sangam’s Nov 6 Annual General Meeting Program

sangam.org/articles/view2/620.html The Sangam’s AGM is coming up in one week, on Saturday, November 6 in Edison, New Jersey.  There will be interesting programs, lots of socializing with old and new friends, dinner, a business meeting, dancing and more! All are welcome. There will be an all-day and evening program, with a separate youth event in… Read more »

The Meaning of Empathy

A Summer With the Children of NorthEast Sri Lanka by Nimmi Gowrinathan, October 21, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/616.html The four Tamil Sri Lankan-Americans who ventured back to Yalpannam knew the story well.  After all, it was only one generation that stood between them and the violence whose legacy left no Tamil family untouched.  It had been passed… Read more »

An Endless War with No Corners

by Wakeley Paul, October 21, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/615.html Is an endless war what President Kumaratunge has in store for the Sinhalese and for us Tamils?  It would certainly appear so, unless someone from somewhere intervenes. The leader of the opposition has recently emphasized to the Indian authorities the urgent need to continue with the peace talks. … Read more »

Basketball Tournament to Benefit NorthEast children

San Diego, October 30 Dear Friends, My name is Greg Buie, and I had an article posted on the Sangam website recently entitled “Inspiration and Hope: The Youth of Sri Lanka.” I would like to tell you about a charity event I am planning for the end of this month in San Diego, California.  All… Read more »

Reporting from Vanni: A Melancholy Episode

by K. Mylvaganam, October 17, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/605.html Part 1 I wrote in my earlier insertion that I was giving classes for the boys and girls in the LTTE cadre.  This has enabled me to get to know them quite well.  With time they, too, are more relaxed with me, unlike the reservations they exhibited at… Read more »

Ethnic Routes to Becoming American

Book review in News-India Times, October 15, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/604.html Rudrappa points out the inherent contradiction in Indian Americans having to use ethnicity as a base as a sort of authenticating factor, which, at the same time, limits their operating space within the national mainstream. Ethnic Routes to Becoming American by Sharmila Rudrappa, Published by Rutgers University Press, N.J…. Read more »

An Indictment of the Sri Lankan Government

by S. Makenthiran, B.A., FCCA sangam.org/articles/view2/599.html The Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lankan government stands indicted of genocide and other crimes against humanity against the minority Tamils who are some of the original inhabitants of the island.  The following facts from the date of independence, prove beyond doubt the ethnic cleansing and efforts to eliminate the Tamil presence… Read more »

US Youths Reflect on Pongu Tamil

by various, October 11, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/593.html Our land!” “TAMIL EELAM!” Surrounded by the hopeful and enthusiastic cheers of the crowd stirred up a wave of emotions in me at Pongu Tamil.  The value of the Tamil movement was a notion that I had never fully been able to comprehend until before this powerful event.  With… Read more »

Tamil Eelam Women’s Day October 10

In celebration of Woman’s Day, please visit the following website. http://www.media-icon.com/women/ sangam.org/articles/view2/592.html Foreword – Commemorating Women of TamileelamTamileelam Women’s Day is an occasion marked by Tamils around the globe to commemorate the contributions of Tamil women towards the struggle for political and social equality in the Tamil homeland. Tamileelam Women’s Day falls on October 10th,… Read more »

TRO’s Annual Event in NJ Oct. 23

TRO’s Fifth Annual Event on Saturday Oct 23, 2004, New Jersey sangam.org/articles/view2/588.html Dear Friends, Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) invites you for the fifth fund raising dinner and fine Tamil music concert.  The cease-fire in our homeland has brought an end to the senseless killing.  But the suffering of our people who have endured years of… Read more »

Tamil Diaspora

by V. Sivasupramaniam, October 7, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/585.html Diaspora comes from the Greek word ‘diaspeirein’ to mean disperse or scatter.  Diaspora is the dispersal or the scattering of persons with a common identity such as culture and language in different directions.  Diaspora transcends all its variations.  The diaspora maintains and nurtures their civilisational and cultural distinctiveness and… Read more »

Reporting from Vanni, Part 1

by K. Mylvaganam, October 6, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/584.html I was back in heaven (Vanni) for three wonderful months.  Only those who have been here will understand what I mean.  You are in a homely atmosphere listening to Tamil music and Tamil being spoken everywhere.  The only time I did not enjoy this music is when the… Read more »

President Chandrika’s Address to the Asia Society

in New York by Nadodi, October 6, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/581.html http://www.asiasociety.org/speeches/kumaratunga04.html The caption given to the news item about President’s speech at the Asia Society on September 20 in the Yahoo India news was “LTTE must give up Tamil Eelam demand: Kumaratunga.”  This statement of the President is totally out of place and indicates how Kumaratunge… Read more »

Inspiration and Hope: The Youth of Sri Lanka

by Greg Buie, October 5, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/580.html As I prepared for my summer adventure in my comfortable Southern California home, I had a hard time imagining what sorts of experiences I was in store for in Sri Lanka.  Yet, in a state of unchallenged enthusiasm and naiveté, I excitedly boarded the plane to this country,… Read more »