Photographs TYOUK Under the clear blue skies and sunshine of a frosty winter's morning, members of TYO UK (Tamil Youth Organisation UK), celebrated the ancient Tamil festival of thanksgiving, Thai Pongal, this weekend. Having completed morning Thai Pongal celebrations with their families at home, members came together, bearing traditional Tamil festive items such as maavillai, karumbu, thoranam, and most importantly, a mann paanai (clay pot), at expansive grounds overlooking Wembley football stadium in London. Protecting the wood fire from a bitterly cold wind, members set up the pongal...
Based on the true story of a 13 year old Tamil girl, Punithavathy, who was brutally gang raped by Sri Lankan army officers in her home town of Batticaloa, the film 'Uchithanai Muharnthal', has moved audiences in London, with its portrayal of the persecution of the Eelam Tamil nation through the horrors face by one girl. Photograph uchithanaimuharnthaal.com
At last month’s International Climate Change Talks in South Africa, Tamil-Canadian student Anjali Appadurai made headlines when she delivered a powerful speech urging world leaders to take action over climate change. Her speech which has clocked up tens of thousands of views on YouTube, has won the praise of Amy Goodman , host of Democracy Now!, and award winning author Naomi Klein who tweeted; “ Anjali Appadurai is a hero , watch her brilliant speech that rocked the climate summit in Durban” Speaking on behalf of youth delegates at the conference, Ms Appadurai started her speech saying, “I...
‘Why this kolaveri di?’, a song sung almost exclusively in 'Tanglish' (a mix of Tamil and English) to a Gaana backdrop, has become a worldwide viral sensation. Posted on Youtube on the 16th November it has been viewed over 30 million times. Appealing to Tamil youth and youth across the world, the song was spread rapidly through social networks, with the hashtag, #kolaveri, being the most popular Indian trends on Twitter. The speed of its success led to the video receiving Youtube's, 'Recently Most Popular Gold Medal Award' in early December 2011, and being named CNN's 'Top Song of 2011' . The...
Photographs Riverside Photography Tamil students at Queen Mary University Tamil society dazzled audiences with their end of 2011 variety show, 'Attagasam'. Held at the Mermaid theatre on 17th December 2011, 'Attagasam' showcased an array of young British Tamil talent. Participants from a number of London university Tamil societies, TYO UK and primary schools, came together producing solo and group acts celebrating the Tamil nation, its diversity and evolving culture. Drama sketches from QMTS committee itself left the spectators in hysterics as they portrayed a typical Tamil family arranging a...
King’s College London’s Tamil Society kicked of the holiday season in style, hosting their second sell-out club event of the year “Winter Wonderland”. Held at the exclusive Zoo Bar in the heart of the capital’s Leicester Square, over 200 students came down to celebrate the end of a busy and successful first term for all the Tamil societies across London. With the club decorated in tinsel and candy canes being handed out, the night was the perfect chance to have a good time and get into the festive spirit as the holidays approach. A highlight of the night was DJ Paddy playing Dhanush’s...
University College London and Queen Mary, University of London hosted successful “Breaking the Silence” events, as the university led campaign drew to a close. The final two events, held on consecutive days, pulled in hundreds of students throughout the two days, eager to learn more about the ongoing genocide of Tamils. With a colourful display of banners, posters and leaflets, large crowds gathered round the displays to sign a petition pushing for an independent investigation into war crimes and discussed the the continued oppression of the Tamil people on the island. Hundreds also signed...
Students from King’s College London Tamil Society held an exhibition last week to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide of the Tamil people and called on fellow students and lecturers to sign a petition calling for an independent investigation into war crimes. Held in partnership with seven other London university Tamil societies, the exhibition of banners, posters and leaflets created by the university students was on display at the student union on Guys campus in London Bridge. Having recently become one of King’s College London’s selected “ Platform Campaigns ”, this was the Tamil...
Remembrance Day was observed by Eelam Tamils across Europe. Switzerland Netherlands Belgium Denmark
City University London held an exhibition day Monday, displaying posters, banners and leaflets to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide of the Tamil people. Held on the 28th of November, the exhibition took place on the busy corridor running through Northampton Square and attracted the attention of many of the students and lecturers who passed by. Over one hundred students stopped to sign a petition calling for an international independent investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka and were shocked to learn about the atrocities that took place on the island. A remembrance evening followed...