🧵At the Federal Party/ITAK’s 1st convention in 1951, 70 years ago this year, 7 resolutions were passed on the Tamil issue, underpinned by the demand for an autonomous Tamil linguistic state in a federal union. 25 years later the FP moved to demand a separate state #அறிவோம்ஈழம்
Res 1: On the Tamil-speaking people’s unchallengeable title to nationhood, right to political autonomy and desire for a federal union with the Sinhalese
Res 2: Condemnation of the colonially imposed, unitary Soulbury Constitution which is conducive to the subjection of the Tamil-speaking people and makes them “perpetually dependent on the goodwill and good grace” of the majority Sinhalese.
Res 3: on the “political degradation of the Tamil-speaking people under the present constitution and their humiliation under the Citizenship Acts” [the disenfranchisement of Up-Country Tamils]
Res 4: On the “grave danger” facing the Tamil language [This was a few years before the Sinhala Only Act was passed]
Res 5: Condemning the gov’s land development and colonisation policy as an existential threat to the Tamil-speaking people
Res 6: the rejection of the Sri Lankan flag 🇱🇰 as an insult to the Tamil-speaking people and correctly symbolising their current humiliating status
Res 7: Pledging the principle of “non-domination” in any such autonomous Tamil state [designed to alleviate concerns by Tamils in the East, Muslims and non-Vellalar about regional/caste/religious domination] /fin
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70 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பாக, இலங்கை தமிழ் அரசு கட்ச்சியின் முதலாவது மாநாட்டில் நிறைவேற்றிய தீர்மானங்கள்:
1: "தமிழ் பேசும் மக்கள் ஒரு தேசிய இனமெனக் கணிக்கப் பெறுதற்கு அவர்களுக்குள்ள மறுக்கவொண்ணா உரித்துவத்தை எடுத்துரைப்பதுடன், அரசியல் சுயாதீனம் பெறுதற்கு அவர்களுக்குள்ள உரிமையையும், சிங்களவர்களுடன் சமஷ்டியமைப்பு முறையில் இணைவதற்கு அவர்களுக்குள்ள விறுப்பையும்"
தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டது
2. "சோல்பரி அரசியலமைப்புத் திட்டம் அறிவுக்கொவ்வாததெனவும், தமிழ்பேசும் மக்களை அடிமை கொள்வதற்கேதுவானதெனவும் இம்மாநாடு கண்டிக்கிறது எனக் கூறிடும் தீர்மானம்."
Growing up in the 80s as Eelam Tamil refugees in rural Germany, our only connection to Tamil popular culture was Tamil Nadu’s movie industry. My parents had to go to this uncle’s house in another village, from which he ran a VHS racket to get movies and cassettes lol.
We were the 1st generation growing up in Germany. And for many Eelam Tamils in the diaspora, Ilayaraja’s music defined that era of forced displacement. From hearing it on the radio in Jaffna, to getting bootleg tapes from Nathan mama in Mettingen. His music travelled with us.
And as problematic as the Tamil cinema industry is..for many of us growing up isolated in villages, that was all we had in terms of a connection to the Tamil people outside our immediate families. So I want to pay tribute to those artists who gave us that - especially Ilayaraja
It’s that time of the year!
Independence Day thread
Sri Lanka is a racist country - institutionally & societally. Sinhala supremacy has been the leading ideology for 72 years - killing over 100k Tamils. For Tamils, independence from GB only meant subservience to the Sinhalese
Sinhala chauvinism manifests itself in the constitution: Sri Lanka “shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana” #LKA72
Sinhala chauvinism manifests itself in the flag - the four bo leaves in the corner represent Buddhism. The lion, representing the Sinhalese, has been a symbol of their kingdoms for centuries. It has been used as a banner while fighting Tamils throughout its history - incl 2009