Posts Categorized: Diaspora

Plantation Tamils – The Oppressed People of Sri Lanka

By S. Makenthiran, B.A., FCCA, November 21, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/653.html Immigration in the nineteenth century In Sri Lanka live one of the most oppressed communities in the world. They are the plantation Tamils living in the central hill country. This unfortunate community has been treated like sub-humans by the successive Sinhalese governments that have been in… Read more »

Maveerar Naal in the US

November 27th Saturday – New York December 4th Saturday – New Jersey December 4th Saturday – Los Angeles December 4th Saturday – Chicago December 4th Saturday – Florida December 4th Saturday – San Francisco December 4th Saturday – Seattle December 5th Sunday – Ohio For more information and directions please call: 718 657 9463 or… Read more »

Maya Arulpragasam’s World

Bingo in Swansea by SASHA FRERE-JONES, The New Yorker Issue of 2004-11-22, Posted 2004-11-15 sangam.org/articles/view2/651.html “World music” is a category that does nobody any favors. Entirely disparate performers, like the dapper Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso and the African blues guitarist Ali Farka Toure, get lumped together in American record stores simply because they don’t sing… Read more »

Open Letter to the International Community

by Wakely Paul, November 20, 2004 sangam.org/articles/view2/650.html Re: SRI LANKA The article in the Colombo, Sri Lanka newspaper The Island entitled “ALL LANKAN EGGS IN INDIAN BASKET” on November 10, 2004 reveals India’s renewed effort to extend its military influence into Sri Lanka as it did in the 80’s and early 90’s.  At that time the Indians… Read more »

A Set of Killings in the East

To The Editor, Sangam.org — The TamilNet news website of 18th November reported two killings in the East within a space of 14 hours.  The first was the killing of a political worker of the LTTE at 9.45 PM on Wednesday by gunmen suspected to be paramilitary operatives working with the Sri Lanka military intelligence… Read more »

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 »