The Danish-Tamil Youth Organisation, Thisaigal, hosted a higher education fair on 25th September, 2011 in Grindsted, Denmark. According to Thisaigal members, the event was organised in order to provide guidance and support to Tamil children and their parents of Denmark's educational opportunities for school children and the choices available. Current students within higher education from a wide variety of subjects, volunteered to do short presentations detailing their course and future propects in that particular field. Stalls, representing individual subjects, were also set up, allowing...
On Sunday October the 16th, British Tamils commemorated the twenty-fourth death anniversary of Lt. Colonel Pulendran and Lt. Colonel Kumarappa, as well as ten other cadres in Merton, South London. The event saw around 200 people gather to pay their respects and was marked with music and speeches from members of the community. Lt. Colonel Pulendran and Lt. Colonel Kumarappa swallowed cyanide and committed suicide after being arrested by the Indian Peace Keeping Force and were in the process of being taken to Colombo for interrogation. The incident occurred within two months of the IPKF...
Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre held their first Sarasvathi poosai (prayer service) on 8th October 2011 at the Holy Trinity Primary School, Dartford. The event, dedicated to Sarasvathi, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and art, included dancing, music and speeches from students of all ages. After initial prayers, with prayers, infants and young children were taught to write the Tamil alphabet in rice, a ritual called Edu Thoddakal, followed by many in Tamil Eelam. It is believed to bless the beginning of a child’s education. Following the religious observations, the evening’s...
Raadan Media and Sun TV presented its much anticipated “Vannakam London” at Wembley Arena on Sunday 25th September. Over 5,000 people from all over the U.K came together to be entertained by various artists from Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora. Artists include Sarathkumar, Raadika, Simbhu, Shreya, Arya and Sneha as well as MC Sai, a young, British Tamil rapper from London. The evening started off with the actor Sarathkumar recognising the Eela Tamils in the audience, applauding them for their unceasing determination to gain their rightful land. He delivered a message of hope, encouraging...
With the 2011 Ontario general elections set to take place this week, the Canadian Tamil community looks set to hold considerable sway on the outcome, as candidates are in the height of campaigning for their votes. The elections, set to take place on Thursday the 6th of October, have given the Tamil community the opportunity to make their voice heard and it seems that the candidates have sat up and listened. See report from Digital Journal here . After the Canadian government’s lack of criticism of Sri Lanka’s war on the Vanni in 2009 and allegations of human rights violations and war crimes, there was considerable frustration from the Tamil community. “It was devastating. They weren’t saying anything,” said 21-year old Aranee Muru a university student who had to take a year out because of the protests. “Democracy needs to speak louder.” More than 2 years on however, all the major parties have come forward vying for Tamil votes.
Eelam Tamils across the world came together this weekend to remember Thileepan and his sacrifice. September 26 marked the anniversary of the death of LTTE Lt. Col. Thileepan in 1987 during his hungerstrike appealing for the Indian government of Premier Rajiv Gandhi to honour the security undertakings it gave to the Tamil people alongside its 1987 Accord with Sri Lanka.
Over twenty sporting enthusiasts took part in TYOUK’s first Chess and Carrom tournament held on Saturday 13th August 2011. Participants from across London, included a few adults but mainly children, including many members of the UKTSU football team. The chess tournament included three divisions – under 12s, under 16s and open, whilst carrom was divided into two – under 16s and open. The carrom tournament, played as doubles, was played in a charged but fun-filled atmosphere of whistling and cheers from spectators. Competition was fierce among the chess players, who remained focused in...
On Sunday the 21st August, The British Tamil Sports festival had its 16th sports meet at the Richard Evans Memorial Playing Fields in Putney. With over 100 teams competing in a wide range of sports, from Cricket and Football to Kabaddi, a large crowd had gathered to enjoy the day’s festivities. A particular highlight was a competitive Ki'liththaddu tournament taking place, a favourite national Eelam game. The event began with the raising of the Tamil Eelam flag by former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr S. Jeyananthamoorthy and British flag by Mr K. Rajamanoharan. Crowds...
Over 600 people staged a peaceful protest outside the Indian High Commission in London Tuesday, urging the Indian government to grant clemency to the 3 Tamils sentenced to death for their alleged part in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The protesters, who included large numbers of British Tamils, as well as British Indians and other members of the public, called for the abolition of the death penalty in India. Standing behind a banner reading "Execute justice not the people", the crowd also held placards reading: "End death penalty in India now. Justice for Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan...
Over 8000 devotees attended the annual ther (chariot) festival at Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple (SKTAT) in Ealing, London on 14th August 2011. The temple is one of twenty five established in London by the Eelam Tamil community over the past three decades. The ther festivals of the larger temples, such as 'Ealing Amman' as it is commonly known, routinely attract thousands of devotees from across the UK, and even Europe. Devotees began arriving at the crack of dawn to guarantee their place for the morning prayers. By 6am, the inner temple was at full capacity. Crowds began to gather outside...