Culture & Community

Culture & Community

Latest news from and about the homeland

Two years after the lacklustre ‘Thunivu,’ Ajith Kumar returns to the big screen with ‘Vidaamuyarchi,’ joining hands with director Magizh Thirumeni. In an instance of irony, the film has faced multiple hurdles causing for a delay in its release. Thirumeni has seen success with his cult hit crime thrillers for over a decade, with films such as 2012’s ‘Thadaiyara Thaakka,’ 2013’s ‘Meaghamann’ and…

Since no amount of words could ever outweigh, what we have lost on the 18th of May'

The following pieces are by Yhalisai and Kulalisai, both escaped the war in the Vanni in 2009 and now live in the diaspora. 

18th of May 

Our hopes and dreams, they did betray.
For all their cruelty, they must pay. 
For our freedom, it's a long delay.
We didn't want war, but there was no other way. 

Some people think Sri Lanka's a display, 
A "beautiful" island for their holiday.
But they only see what the government portrays,
Not the truth that's hidden away. 

The story behind the Quebec’s Tamil Heritage Month stamp

I had the greatest honour to design Quebec’s Tamil Heritage Month stamp for 2020.

Designing is something I love to do and I am so grateful that it is a huge part of my life. As someone who is Tamil, when I was asked to design a stamp that represented my culture and heritage, I did not think twice.

Thalir - Reflections from Mullivaikkal survivors

The following pieces are reflections from Tamil children who all survived the massacres at Mullivaikkal.

Eleven years later, they are telling their stories around the genocide they faced and are reclaiming the narrative.

They have all lost at least one family member during the massacres of 2009. All are now living in the diaspora.

Tamil diaspora keeps frontline workers fully fed

As healthcare workers around the world have been battling the coronavirus, Tamil diaspora activists and businesses have been helping to keep frontline workers fully fed and fighting fit over the last two months.

Activists in London and Toronto were handing out free meals to healthcare workers in both cities, as part of community efforts around the globe.

Mullaitivu student thanks widowed mother for top O Level results

With many schools in Mullaitivu, considered to be among the most deprived districts on the island, celebrating the success of their students in national exams, one student in Thunukkai paid tribute to her widowed mother for her top results.

Manoja Jeganathan, a student at the Katchilamadu Panadaravannian Maha Vidyalayam, achieved 8 As in her O Level examinations.

British Tamils mourn popular miruthangam artiste and teacher

Amidst the losses caused by the coronavirus crisis, the passing of much loved miruthangam teacher and artiste Kandiah Anandanadesan on April 16 has shocked and saddened the Tamil community in London.

Born in 1961 in Thellipalai, Jaffna, Anandanadesan attended Union College and Mahajana college, and trained in miruthangam under Guru K P Sinnarajah. His father was a teacher at Union College, and his mother one of the first women to teach at Mahajana.

Tamil healthcare workers around the world on the COVID-19 frontline

With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.

Throughout this month, we will be highlighting stories around the world from those who are working to keep us all safe.

Tamil healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontline – April 24th

 

With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.

We will be highlighting stories around the world from those who are working to keep us all safe.

Tamil healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontline – April 20th

With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.

Children’s books tackle COVID-19 in Tamil

Humanitarian organisations have teamed up with a children’s author to create a storybook on how to stay safe from the coronavirus in Tamil, as part of a global initiative to provide accessible information in different languages around the world.

“My Hero Is You,” a new illustrated book by Helen Patuck, was project developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG) with support from the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and Save the Children.