"Learning is a lifelong journey," said Varathaledchumy Shanmuganathan, who earned the distinction of becoming one of the oldest women to obtain a graduate degree from a Canadian university at 87 years old, in an interview with the Tamil Guardian this week. Born in Jaffna and affectionately known as Varatha, Shanmuganathan has lived in and taught in four continents before immigrating to Canada in 2004. While at York University, she chose to focus her studies on non-violence for national peacebuilding and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. “I Have Had So Many People Connecting To Me” — Reflecting On...
In collaboration with several other Tamil Canadian organizations, the Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action (TCCCA) donated 18,792lbs of food in their second annual Thiyagi Thileepan Food Drive. The TCCCA aimed to spread awareness of Lt Col. Thileepan's 12-day hunger strike while addressing food security in Canada. The group organized the food drive to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Thileepan's hunger strike in his fight for freedom for Tamils in Eelam. Since Thileepan fasted for 15,918 minutes, they aimed to collect and distribute 15,918lbs of food. However, the TCCCA surpasses its...
Renowned Tamil Eelam playback singer and musician Rameswaran Varnakulasingam (popularly known as ‘Varna Rameswaran’) passed away in Canada last month, after contracting COVID-19. Varna passed away on 25 th September 2021, at the age of 52. Varna was known for lending his voice for Tamil Eelam patriotic songs, particularly ‘Thayaka Kanavudan’ which is authored by Tamil Eelam revolutionary poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai and played annually at every Maaveerar Naal event, as candles and lamps are being lit. "To those sandalwood caskets who embraced death, dreaming of the motherland," Varna sings in...
"The tiger has always been an integral part of Tamil history." Tamil students at the University of Glasgow have launched its first Tamil society, marking a spread of the vibrant Tamil student culture which already exists in England to another European country. The city of Glasgow itself though, has been no stranger to Tamil activism, with soldiers who laid down their lives fighting for Tamil Eelam duly commemorated by Glasgow Tamils on Maaveerar Naal every year. Scotland and Tamils One can trace the connection between Scotland and the Tamil homeland back to the colonial era. The great 19th...
The annual Nachimar Kovil chariot festival took place today in Vannarpannai, Jaffna as devotees flocked to worship goddess Kamatchi Ambal, ensconced in her iconic chariot. With the yearly Tamil Saivite festival currently underway in the temple, today marked the display of the divine chariot. Devotees in the temple were seen wearing face masks as they worshipped due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There were some concerns expresseds locally about the numbers in attendance, given the rising infections in the North. This year’s edition of the festival marks the silver jubilee since...
Celebrated Kollywood actor and comedian Vivek passed away in the wee hours of Saturday aged 59. He was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Friday due to a sudden cardiac arrest and succumbed to it on Saturday. Tamil actors, politicians and the general public flooded to Vivek’s residence in the neighbourhood of Virugambakkam to pay their last respects where he lay in state. An accomplished actor, Vivek was also widely admired for his social work. Particularly noted was his mission to plant 10 million tree saplings across Tamil Nadu at the behest of former President of India A.P.J...
The Tamil New Year, which falls on the first day of the month of Chithirai in the Tamil calendar, was celebrated across the Tamil homeland on Wednesday, April 14. With some referring to the April festival as an exclusively Hindu and sanskritised holiday, there is debate among Tamil communities as to whether the day truly represents a Tamil New Year. Although socially and politically, a lot more prominence is given to the secular Tamil festival of Thaipongal, Chithirai Puthandu is still widely celebrated by Tamils in the North-East and globally. Jaffna Special worshipping took place in the...
Maha Shivaratri poojas took place in Mullaitivu and Mannar temples amidst the presence of Sri Lankan police, army and special forces this month. Shivaratri events were carried out with special hygiene practices in line with the island’s coronavirus health guidance. The festival is one of the most important events in the Saivite and Hindu calendar, which serves to remind those celebrating of overcoming darkness and bringing hope in life and the world. Mullaitivu Worshippers attended the Shivaratri festival at the Sri Konamadhu Pillaiyar Temple located at the Kurunegala Hills in Mullaitivu...
Famed music composer A.R. Rahman has teamed up with Oscar and Grammy-nominated artist M.I.A. and an array of Tamil artists around the world to launch 'maaja', a project to support and amplify the voices of independent artists. A.R Rahman hopes to 'elevate the world class talent' to a global stage.
Thai Pongal was celebrated across the Tamil homeland this morning, with festivities taking place despite bouts of flooding, coronavirus restrictions and a continued heavy Sri Lankan military presence.