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From: Dr. Velayuthan Pandian,
28 August 2008
Re
Karunanidhi Turns on Nedumaran
The last two lines of his poem should actually address to
Karunanithi himself rather than to Sri. Nedumaran.
சீராக்கவே முடியாத
சீழ் பிடித்த சிந்தை!
கூராக்கவே
இயலாத மூளையில் விஷம் ஒரு மொந்தை!
It is Karunanithi's own self-assessment.
From: Kasil Hariharan,
28 August 2008
Re
Karunanidhi Turns on Nedumaran
- tamilnation
இன்
கண்டனத்துடன்,
எனது
கண்டனத்தையும் தெரிவிற்க விரும்புகிறேன்.
இதுவரை
உலகத் தமிழர்கட்கு தன்மேல் இருந்த கொஞ்ச நஞ்ச மரியாதையையும் கருணாநிதி இந்த
பித்தலாட்டுதனத்தால் இழந்து விட்டார். இது ஒரு வரலாற்று தவறு. அய்யா நெடுமாறனின்
கண்ணியம் இது போன்ற பிசத்தல்களால் இம்மி அளவும் குன்றாது மாறாக என்றும்போல்
மலைபோல்
மேலோங்கியே
நிற்கும்.
மிக்க
வருத்தத்துடன்,
தமிழ்
அன்பன்
From: Nagaih Subramanian,
27 August 2008
Ayya Vannakam., Ungal pathil kandu Magilenden...Oru Samaniyan Kuda Sathika mudium yendra
Veeriyam irundathu ungal Pathilil.nandri ...Naan Yenna seiya vendum Yen
Thoupulkodi oravukalluku...
Ramayana Anil polla nanum Yethavadu seiya vendum yena ninaikeeran...yenaium
vallinathungal.
Nandri
From:
Sara
Ananthan, Australia, 24 August 2008
This is a reply to
Nagaih
Subranian's letter to Tamil Nation.
அன்பு நண்பா,
உனது மடல் கண்டு பெரு மகிழ்ச்சி.
என்று தணியும் இந்த போர் முழக்கம்?.
ஒரு நல்ல கேள்வி.
ஒரு சகோதர சண்டையை
ஊதிப் பெருக்கி,
ஈழத் தமிழனை,
இந்த இரண்டும் கெட்ட நிலைக்கு இட்டு வந்ததில் காந்தி தேசமாம் பாரதத்திற்கு பெரும் பங்கு உண்டு.
அன்று ஈழ
போராளிகளுக்கு ஆயுதம் கொடுத்து
ஊக்குவித்து,
ஆனால் இன்று
தமிழ் இனத்தையே வேருடன் அழித்து ஒழிக்க கங்கணம் கட்டி உள்ள
சிங்கள
பேரினவாதத்திற்கு,
ராஜ தந்திர ஆலோசனை,
ஆயுத உதவி வழங்கி,
நய வஞ்சகம் செய்யும் நாராயணன்கள் வரை பாரதத்தின் பாதகச் செயல்கள்,
அண்ணனை
சதி செய்து கொன்று,
அவன் மனைவியை தம்பிக்கு அபகரித்துக்
கொடுத்த ராமனின் ஓர வஞ்சகமான பாதகச் செயலையும் விடக் கொடியது.
அன்பு நண்பா!
ஆனால் கார் இருளிலும் ஒரு ஒளிக் கீற்று.
பின் வரும் செய்தியை கூர்ந்து படித்துப் பார்.
ஈழ மக்கள் உயிர் வாழ்விற்கான
போராட்டத்தைப் போலவே,
வல்அரசுகளின் சதியால் தம் வாழ்விழந்த பாலஸ்தின மக்களது போராட்டமும்
மிக நீண்டது.
கொடியது.
சக போராடும் ஒரு இன குழுவான எம்மவர் சிலர் கூட இன்றும் அவர் தம் அடக்கு முறை ஆள்பவர் புகழ் பாடிடும் இவ் வேளையில்,
தம் இனத் துரோகிகளால் கூட
சிதைக்கப்பட்ட அம் மக்கள் வாழ்வில் ஒரு சிறு ஒளி வட்டம்.
ஆம் நண்பா,
இப் பூ உலகின் நாலா பக்கம் இருந்தும் மனிதம் நேசிக்கும் பண்பட்ட நல் உள்ளங்கள் ஒன்று கூடி அவர் தம் வெந் சிறை உடைத்துப்,
பரிவு காட்டிடும் அற்புதக் காட்சி காண ஆயிரம் கண் போதாது.
இவ் வேளையில் உனக்கு ஒரு பணிவான வேண்டுதல்.
ஆறு கோடி ஈழத்து உறவுகள் அக்கரையில் என்று சொல்லியே,
எம்மைப் பரிகசித்து,
இகழ்ந்து,
எம் இரத்த உறவுகள் மீது கொடிய போர் தொடுத்து,
அவர் தம் வாழ்வு அழித்துக்
கொக்கரிக்கும் சிங்களத்தின் சிறை உடைத்து,
செந்தமிழர் சிறை மீட்க ஏன் உன்னால் முடியாது?.
சொல்லு
நண்பா ஏன் இந்த மௌனம்?.
என்று நீ உன் மௌனம் தொலைக்கிறாஜோ அன்றுடன் ஓயும் இப் போர் முழக்கம்.
நீ இந்த வரலாற்று கடமையை செய்யத் தவறினால்,
நேரம் கெட்ட வேளையில் இந்த இடக்கு கேள்வி கேட்டாயே என்று உன்னையும்,
தமிழன் மீது சிங்களவர் கூடக் காட்டாத தமிழினப் பகை வெறி கொண்டு அலையும் நாராயண்கள் கூட்டத்தில் நீயும் ஒன்று என்றே வரலாறுப் பழி சுமந்திட நேரிடும்.
விரைந்து காட்டிடு உன் தமிழ் வீரத்தை!.
இவ் வேளையில் எம் உறவு கூறிப் போந்த உனக்காகத் தமிழ் இனம்,
இத் தரணியிலே தன் மானத்துடன்,
தலை நிமிந்து வாழ,
இசை அமுது படைத்து,
உயிர் கொடுத்து,
எம் இன விடுதலை வேண்டிக் காண மழை பொழியும்,
தேன் இசை
செல்லப்பாவின் ஒரு இனிய பாடல்.
"
உலகத் தமிழ் இனமே எண்ணிப் பார்.
நீ உறங்கினால் வரலாற்றில் யார் உன்னை மன்னிப்பார்
". [ see also
தமிழீழ எழுச்சிப் பாடல்கள் &
Flotilla lands and Gaza blockade falls
]
Comment by
tamilnation.org
From:
Nagaih Subramanian [
tamilan.manian@gmail.com ] 24
August 2008
Ayya Vannakam, Nirya solla ninathau yellam maranthu
ponathu .....ungal valaithalam kanndu...yendru thanium intha oyatha
pormulakkam... itharkana theervu than yenna. Nanri
Response by
tamilnation.org
We too ask this question from time to time. We then remind ourselves of
something which Mahatma
Gandhi said in South Africa more than a century ago -
"If someone asks me when and how the struggle may end, I may
say that, if the entire community manfully stands the test, the
end will be near. If many of us fall back under storm and
stress, the struggle will be prolonged. But I can boldly
declare, and with certainty, that so long as there is even a
handful of men true to their pledge, there can only be one
end to the struggle, and that is victory... It is possible
that a majority of those present here might take the pledge in a
fit of enthusiasm or indignation but might weaken under the
ordeal, and only a handful might be left to face the final test.
Even then there is only one course open to the like of me, to
die but not to submit to the law..."
We also remind
ourselves of the words of
Cheryl Berger
Freedom is not Free
Why do we call it freedom
when freedom is not free.
The cost was blood and sweat
and tears that bought our liberty....
For many left their loved
ones
their friends, their families
Standing true to oaths once taken
to defend our liberties.
Holding fast they fought for
freedom
both at home and then abroad
Spilling blood upon the waters
o'er the ground on which they trod.
Wounded from the many battles
in mire and blood their bodies lay
The dead with mouths wide open
forming words they'd never say.
Seeing eyes no longer seeing
hearing ears no longer hear
Hearts once beating stilled and quiet
loved ones close no longer near.
And though their hopes and
dreams were shattered
let their deaths not be in vain
We must keep forever burning
freedom's torch, the victor's flame.
For they died for you,
America
your freedom was not free
For t'was their blood and sweat and tears
that bought your liberty.
So when you speak again of
freedom
may your hearts be filled with pride
And your gratitude for those
who for your freedom fought and died.
From: Professor Bob
Rothstein, USA 19 August 2008
I cannot find two publications that you list: "Envisioning
New Trajectories for Peace in Sri Lanka" (2006) and "International
Dimensions of the Conflict in Sri Lanka". Could you tell me how I might find
these works? I am a
Professor of International Relations in the US but am currently living
in London.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks for your interest, You will find "Envisioning New
Trajectories for Peace in Sri Lanka" at
http://www.tamilnation.org/conflictresolution/tamileelam/seminar_06_Zurich/index.htm
and also at
http://www.tamilnation.org/books/Conflict%20Resolution/cjpd_2006.htm
You will find "International Dimensions of the Conflict in
Sri Lanka" at
http://www.tamilnation.org/saty/071001international_dimension.htm
From: Harsh Raghuvir [
hraghuvir@gmail.com ], 27 July
2008
Hello, I would like to enquire as to whether your
organization advocates an independent Tamil Nadu? Thanks
Response by
tamilnation.org
The short answer is No. For a longer answer please see
Tamil Nation & the Unity of India,
written seven years ago on 3 February 2001. The break up of India, if it comes
will not come from the efforts of
tamilnation.org.
It will come despite our efforts. It will come from a failure of
political leaders in India to openly recognise that India is a multi
national state - and recognise the enduring wisdom of the words of Pramatha
Chaudhuri in 1920... more
From: Kay Jambulingam, Tamil Nadu, 26
July 2008
I am teaching Tamil in an ICSE school for tenth standard.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman is one of
the two text books. I am immensely benefitted from your site. I am really
proud to teach about one of the earliest freedom fighters of Tamilnadu. I am
grateful to you.Thank you for the noble work you have been doing. Regards.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Mikka Nanri.
From: Viv Nathan, USA 20 July 2008
Re Second World Tamil Eelam
Convention, Nanuet, New York, 1984. Thank you
tamilnation.org
for publishing the letter of reply from our National Leader, Mr. Prabhakaran
dated May 19th of 1984 for the invitation letter from Dr.Winston
Panchadcharam. We always compare our National leader with
Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion
who fought for the creation of a newly independent state for his people. We,
the 70 million Tamils all over the globe
are fortunate to have a web site such as yours to learn a lot - from
our art to our
culture and to our literature.
From: G.S.Vinod, Inventory Management,
Ozone Media Solutions, India, 17 July
2008
Greetings from Ozone Media. We would like to advertise our campaigns on
tamilnation.org.
Ozone Media is India's leading internet Ad Network with the largest Online
Publishers in India as partners. We would be pleased to take you in as our
valuable partner.
Response by
tamilnation.org
We thank you for your interest. However we do not at present carry
advertisements. Should this policy change we will certainly get in touch.
From: Dr. Jessie J. Mercay,
Chancellor, American
University of Mayonic Science & Technology, United States , 8 July 2008
Hello, I am a student of the famous
architect V. Ganapati Sthapati. I want to tell you that I so appreciate
your wonderful website. You have done an amazing job with all of the poetry,
music and knowledge. It nurtures beauty and truth. Thank you again for all
that you do.
From: Tilly Naidoo, Soth Africa, 8 July
2008
Vannakam. I am a 4th generation diaspora Thamizhan from South Africa.I
have visited a few web-sites gleaning information on the essence of
Tamil Heritage.Your site, however, stands
tall offering invaluable information and deserves laudable comments.I am
looking for an apt Tamil saying / sayings, with English translation, that
capture/s the essence of Tamilhood and the rich Tamil Heritage in its
totality.It must be something extremely powerful with no chinks in the wall
that can be frivolously chipped at by amateuirstic viewspoints. I also have
questions on the following:
1.What is the Panjangam and what is its purpose ?
2. How did the concept / celebration of Tamil New Year come about ?
Response by
tamilnation.org
Mikka Nanri. You may find the information re the Hindu Panchangam at
the
Himalayan Academy of some use. Re the Tamil New Year please see
Tamil New Year Day - First of Thai
From:
இராஜேஷ்
லெனின்,
MakkalTV, Tamil Nadu, 20 June 2008
அன்பிற்குரிய
(tamilnation.org)
தமிழ்
நேஷன்
குழாமுக்கு...
மக்கள்
வணக்கம்.
தங்கள்
வலைமனையைத்
தொடர்ந்து
பார்த்து,
படித்து,
பயன்பெரும்
தமிழ்
சமூகத்தினரில்
நானும்
ஒருவன்.
நான்
மக்கள்
தொலைக்காட்சியில்
விளம்பர
மற்றும்
மக்கள்
தொடர்பு
மேலாளராகப்
பணிபுரிகிறேன்.
தங்களின்
தமிழ்ப்பணி
தொடரட்டும்,
வெல்லட்டும்
என்று
வாழ்த்தும்
அதே
வேளையில்,
ஒரு
வேண்டுகோளையும்
தங்கள்
பரிசீலனைக்காக
வைக்க
விரும்புகிறேன்.
தங்கள்
வலைதளத்தில்
தற்போது
இடம்
பெற்றிருக்கும்
யூ
ட்யூப்
படக்காட்சியான
"வாழ்க
தமிழ்மொழி"
எனத்
தொடங்கும்
பாரதி
கவிதையின்
காட்சிவடிவம்,
எமது
தொலைக்காட்சியின்
தமிழ்த்தாய்
வாழ்த்தாகும்.
இதைத்
தங்கள்
வலைமனையில்
இடம்பெறச்
செய்தமைக்கு
மக்கள்
தொலைக்காட்சி
குடும்பத்தினரின்
சார்பில்
நன்றியைத்
தெரிவித்துக்
கொள்கிறேன்.
"தமிழ்
நேஷன்"
வழியாக
உலகத்தமிழர்கள்
பலரை
சென்று
சேர்வது
குறித்து
மகிழும்
அதே
வேளையில்,
அப்படக்
காட்சிக்குக்
கீழே
மக்கள்
தொலைக்காட்சியின்
இலச்சினையும்
இடம்
பெற்றால்
பொருத்தமாக
இருக்கும்
எனக்
கருதுகிறோம்.
ஆகவே,
இந்த
வேண்டுகோளைத்
தகுந்த
முறையில்
பரிசீலித்து
உரிய
ஆவன
செய்வீர்கள்
என
நம்புகிறோம்.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Mikka Nanri. We have included your logo as
suggested. We wish you well with your efforts with
Makkal TV
From: Sheela Chetty, South Africa,
17 June 2008
Vannakam. You website is spectacular. Thank you! I live in South Africa
and am a 5th generation Tamil from India. I would like to know if your
website or perhaps another can give me a proper description of what a Tamil
is? I was told that a true Tamilian is one who resides in a place where
there is a temple. Is this true? Please enlighten me.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks for your comments. Mikka Nanri. It was also heart warming to
hear from a '5th generation Tamil' from South Africa. It is perhaps true to
say that where ever Tamils live, there is a temple near by - but that is not
to say that those who live near temples are (or were) Tamils.. Today, there
are temples built by Tamils in Australia, in the United Kingdom, in the
United States - and in many other parts of the world. And many will agree
with Prof Zvelbil's conclusion
that Dravidian Temple
architecture is one of the major contributions that the Tamil people
have made to world civilisation. Said that the question as to who is a Tamil
is a broader and deeper question and you may find the discussion at
"Who is a Tamil" of interest.
Definitions, it is said, come at the end of knowledge. That is another way
of saying that all definitions are incomplete. To define, we reduce the
whole into separate elements. But the whole is more than the sum of
the separate parts. Arthur Koestler put it well
in Janus : A
Summing Up
"....it is of course perfectly legitimate,
and in fact indispensable, for the scientist to try to analyse complex
phenomena into their constituent elements - provided he remains conscious
of the fact that in the course of the analyses something essential is always
lost, because the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and its
attributes as a whole are more complex than the attributes of its parts..."
Ludwig
Wittgenstein
said it bluntly in his
Tractatus
Logico-Philosophicus -
"...all the propositions of logic say the same thing, to wit nothing.
To give the essence of a proposition means to give the essence of all
description, and thus the essence of the world.
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world..."
A story is told of Ludwig
Wittgenstein (though we cannot vouch for its accuracy) that he would ask his
students at Cambridge University to describe in words the smell of coffee.
And as the students struggled in silence he would quote from his
Tractatus
Logico-Philosophicus - "..What can be shown, cannot be said. There are, indeed, things that cannot be put into words. They make themselves manifest."
From: Ahamed Roomy,Young Asia Television,
Pelawatha, Batharamulla, Sri Lanka.
roomy@yatv.net 17 June 2008
Dear Sir, Request for information regarding your article
'Foreign Aid & Sri Lanka's Military Expenditure' - I am an
Assistant Producer of Young Asia Television a program which produce peace
documenters in Sri Lanka. I would like to request you for information
regarding about that article. I wish to do a documentary on that topic. Hope
you will give your fullest support in providing necessary facts to make this
a success.
Response by
tamilnation.org
We thank you for your interest. We regret that our remit does not
extend to providing assistance of the kind that you have requested.
From: P Raghunandan, India 26 May 2008
Hello, Just dropped by. What a lovely site you have there. Very deep, and
broad looking with various points of view and perspectives. I read parts of
the site and was very impressed. Seriously though you have gone way beyond
just Tamil Nation or Sri Lanka or Eelam. All those are probably (in my view)
restricting the whole canvas.
I was born a Tamil (Tamil Nadu) and I have always wondered "Who
is a Tamilian?" You see (as you have stated) there are
Tamils all over the world - a diaspora.
Some speak a different Tamil to say the Madras Tamil. I met a youngster
from Batticaloa who had come to Madras after 1983. I didn't understand a
word of what he said and he didn't understand me! Both were supposedly
speaking the same language. There are Tamils who cannot speak Tamil or read
or write that language. So is it only the language that defines one? Or is
it food?
Costume?
Music?
Culture? All this is so varied and encompasses the globe. Tamils have
been so adaptable and taken on the cultures, fragrances, hues of the lands
they settled in. They have gone beyond narrow restrictive definitions and
borne roots and flowered where ever they went. So maybe Tamils are a people
of the world ... I met a couple with their children
in a train journey in Tamil Nadu. They were from Denmark. He was
originally a Hindu from Jaffna and she a Christian from Tamil Nadu. The
children and the parents speak either in Danish or Tamil! No English. It was
fascinating to watch how these different cultures had melded into forming
their identity. Tamils cannot be bound by petty politicians' ways of
thinking - isn't that wonderful for a diaspora?
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks for your comments - and for having taken the trouble (and
time) to write.
We take on board your comment that
'seriously
though you have gone way beyond just Tamil Nation or Sri Lanka or Eelam.
All those are probably (in my view) restricting the whole canvas.'
Here, you may find the views expressed by
Professor Murugesu
Sivapalan, some four years ago of interest -
"...I can see
a seamless transition between
Tamil Nationalism,
Tamil Globalism
as enunciated in the Puranaanuru Poem "Yathum Ure Yavarum Kelir", and
Tamil spiritualism.
Tamil Nation website has once again raised the standards of
journalism and debate to a higher plane - fighting for freedom
for ourselves is on a par with treating all of the world's
people as our brothers and sisters, and aiming to achieve
salvation by personal meditation and sacrifice."
Again, we believe that
Frantz Fannon
was right when he declared that -
"...the building of a nation is of necessity accompanied by the
discovery and encouragement of universalising values... It is at the
heart of national consciousness that international consciousness lives
and grows..."
We believe that a true trans nationalism will not come from a simple
minded idealism which proclaims that 'the Tamils are a people of the
world'.
We are more than mindful that even those who may speak about the 'one world' (and decry divisions) continue to live
their lives with
seeming contentment in a world divided by nation states - 'one
world' for the Tamils but 'our
nation' for the American, the Canadian, the French, the British and so on. We cannot pretend to live in a
'one world' which
has not yet arrived.
However, that is not to say that we should not work toward the ideal of a 'one
world' where
the separate national identities of the peoples of the world will be transcended
(but not merged) by
a greater unity.
And for us, the words of Mahatma Gandhi continue to strike a chord -
"...My goal is friendship with the world and I can combine the greatest love with the greatest
opposition to wrong ... Through the realisation of
freedom for India, I hope to realize and carry on the mission of the brotherhood of
man..."
We believe that that which is fundamental is 'the realisation of freedom.'
It is freedom that will secure that the interchange between peoples will
be equal and free. "Fighting for freedom for ourselves is on a par with treating all of the
world's people as our brothers and sisters, and aiming to achieve
salvation by personal meditation and sacrifice". We believe that
-
"A true transnationalism will
not come by the suppression of one nation by another. A true transnationalism will come from
nationalisms that have flowered and matured; from peoples who have grown from
dependence to independence to inter-dependence. It is only the
independent who may be inter-dependent. And to work for the flowering of the Tamil
nation is to bring forward the emergence of a true trans nationalism. ...In the meantime, Tamils have no cause, to be apologetic
about their togetherness as a people. As a people, we too have much to
contribute to the rich fabric of the many
nations of the
world - and to world civilisation..."
There is perhaps one other comment that we would like to add. And that
is in relation to your remark that 'Tamils cannot be bound
by petty politicians ways of thinking'.
We may want to be mindful that politicians do not come to us from the stratosphere. They are grown by us
on the ground. Our leaders are more representative of us than
we may sometimes care to admit. And
Dee Hock, Founding CEO, Visa International was
right when he declared -
"...In a very
real sense, followers lead by choosing where to be led. Where an
organizational community will be led is inseparable from the shared
values and beliefs of its members..."
From: Parasakthy Sundharalingam, Australia,
26 May 2008
From: Oruvan, Kattankudi, Tamil Eelam, 21
May 2008
You are absolutely spot-on in
your response sir, to
'Tactical Tremors'. The key word you have employed is "more to do." You
wrote:
"..the tactical tremors (re
SARPSCO – the newly launched, the South Asia Regional Port
Security Cooperative)
have have MORE TO DO with China and its String of
Pearls Strategy than with the LTTE". It doesn't however, rule out completely
the Tamil Tigers and their potent strategic manoeuvres in the Tamil ocean.
China's capability to establish a forward presence is unquestionable. The
Imperium is very concerned about such moves. But any keen chess player would
know not to discount the capability of a pawn check-mating the king or even
a pawn having the ability to attack the queen and take her out of the game.
More over, having battled through to the end of the other side, a pawn can
choose to grow into a queen, rook, bishop or knight. Its not the size or the
importance. Depending more to do with the move... Tiger moves with
precision. Thanks for the splendid service rendered by Tamil Nation.
From:
Thedum Manithan, Tamil Eelam, 25 April
2008
In your editorial comment on Peace
and 'Getting to Yes' you make an excruciatingly truthful observation
which has some how by passed the major intelligentsia.
"To label a conflict
resolution as a 'peace process' may well cloud our thinking."
Well said!
Norway has come under the cloud of the unknowing, in terms of bringing peace in
its various forms to the hot spots of the world. No where in the world
however, have these Nordic nerds managed to bring peace, let alone
meaningful conflict resolution.
I conclude by
another quote for the benefit of the little man who is seeking
honourable peace:
"At the outset, we may need to be mindful that to label a conflict
resolution process as a 'peace process' may cloud our thinking. A 'peace
process' suggests that somehow everything will be solved when 'peace' is
secured. We all love peace. But peace comes in many different forms. We have
the peace of the graveyard as well. If it was simply peace that the Tamil
people wanted they may have been well advised to willingly submit to alien
Sinhala rule - many years ago."
During the rounds of talks between Sri Lanka and Eelam, I was deeply
troubled to watch even the well-advised Tamils forego the primacy of reason
and to put all their trust on Norway - even to believe that Norway would
manage to secure peace and even the separate state of Eelam. Very sorry
state of political perceptions.
The process of peace, Prof Noam Chomsky seem to think, is designed to be
duplicitous, and its objective is to serve the
grand plan of the
international players. Kosovo got its independence. You among others, quite
rightly, were cautious in your comments. It was indeed a
SUPERVISED independence. Many were
of the mind that that could create a domino effect and eventually it would act as
a catalyst and Eelam would be "given" its independence. The problem is we
are yet to overcome our slavery mentality. We still believe that some one
else is going to "give" us what we need. Bull shit!
We must fight for it, struggle for it - hell or high water. We must get the
'hell out of our mess'. We must do it! Faith is not just clinging on to some
thing. It is about daring to beat the odds. Mikka Nandri.
Response by
tamilnation.org '..If someone asks me when and how the struggle may end, I may say that,
if the entire community manfully stands the test, the end will be near.
If many of us fall back under storm and stress, the struggle will be
prolonged. But I can boldly declare, and with certainty, that so long as
there is even a handful of men true to their pledge, there
can only be one end to the struggle, and that is victory...'
Mahatma Gandhi's Pledge of
Resistance in Transvaal, Africa, 1906
From: Louise Coyle, International Affairs
Office, National University of Ireland, Galway 25 April 2008
The National University of Ireland, Galway is currently accepting
applications for the International Scholarship Programme. The Programme is
aimed at developing the capacity of outstanding individuals who can assume
leadership roles in their fields of study and whose work will enhance the
development of their own society.
The Scholarship provides recipients with €15,000 for living expenses and in
addition covers the cost of tuition fees. This programme is open to
applicants from Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Applications should be
received before 9th May 2008.
The International Affairs Office is currently accepting applications.
Further information regarding the NUI Galway International Scholarship
Programme including the scholarship guidelines, application form, minimum
entry requirements and list of approved courses can be downloaded at
http://www.nuigalway.ie/international/fees/scholarships.html .
I look forward to your co-operation in promoting this programme to suitable
applicants. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
Queries can be addressed to
international@nuigalway.ie Best wishes
From: Stephanie Rocke,
National Thesis Register Manager, Musicological Society of Australia, 23
April 2008
 Not a big deal, but I just thought you may like to be aware that you've
listed Toge
Sankichi's birth year as 1921 - its actually 1917 (see
Richard H. Minear,
"Translator's Introduction [to Poems of the Atomic Bomb by Tôge Sankichi],"
in
Hiroshima: Three Witnesses, ed. and trans. Richard H.Minear (Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1990), 277 and
Robert Jay Lifton,
Death in Life;
Survivors of Hiroshima (New York: Random House, 1967), 441. I've been
researching him as part of my analysis of Karl Jenkins' "
The Armed Man: A
Mass for Peace" which sets a portion of Toge's poem "Flames". Best Wishes.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks. We have made the necessary corrections in our
Hiroshima & Nagasaki page.
From: Chandi
Sinnathurai, Tamil Eelam, 18 April 2008
 I
found Sachi Sri Kantha's
short recollection on the late Arthur C Clarke most interesting. The
scanned snail-mail letter from Clarke, composed on a good old typewriter
shows how things have changed. Sadly things are yet to change in Sri Lanka
when it comes to the politicoes and politics. How true it is that in this
day and age 'regular' postal letters from friends and loved ones are so very
rare. We have to live now with 'wretched' text messages ("txt language") and
e-mails. However, the swiftness of e-mail communication is a thing not to be
despised. But the art form of splendid letter writing, with the fountain pen
(not with the ball-point!) has gone with the wind.
From: Mohammed Ghazi, Musyab, Iraq-Babylon 10 April
2008
I am from Iraq. I am Ph.D student. My thesis relates to
Iraqi Armed Conflicts and
Humanitarian International Law. My research focus is on the
armed conflicts in Iraq after 9 April 2003. I hope I can get
your help to get sources related to this subject. With Best Regards
Response by
tamilnation.org
Regretfully, our remit does not extend to providing the type of
assistance that you seek.
From: Stewart Sloan, Hong Kong, [sloanbooks@gmail.com
], 8 April 2008
I am Scottish, living in Hong Kong and have worked for an human rights
NGO for the past 4 years. I have been appalled at what I have read about the
treatment of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and would like to become more deeply
involved. I am aware that you have no reason to trust me but would be
grateful if you would add me to your mailing list. I will gladly provide any
information about myself that you might require.
http://sloanbooks.blogspot.com
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks for your interest. But we regret that we do
not operate a mailing list.
From: Sundar Rajan, Chennai, 7 April 2008
Inspired
Hello Tamilnation..
tamizhan
illidha nadu illai
tamizhannukku endur oru nadu illai
Very catchy phrase... I went through your site - it is good... keep it up.
From: Parasakthy Sundharalingam, Australia,
8 March 2008
 Vanakkam.
It was a pleasure to see Malaravan's
writing in print though the contents
brought tears as well as pride about our
heroes' sacrifices.
Though only nineteen years of age when
he wrote his memoirs he had achieved
true greatness. His diary will live in
history like the
diary of Anne Frank and
Che Guevera's Motorcycle
Diaries.
Three years ago Mr. Yogaraja, a writer
had mentioned about Malaravan in his
essay about Maaveerars' writings in the
40th anniversary malar of 'Mallikai'' - a
literary magazine from Ilangkai. The
writer had analysed the writings of Malaimakal and
Ambuli and mentioned
about Malaravan's novel found among his
belongings after his heroic death.
Your publication is timely,
the translation is good - sounds like
original.
The Tamil diaspora youth are sure to welcome
this hero's story of dedication and
sacrifice.
Response by
tamilnation.org
We agree. Malaravan's
writing touches our hearts because
it was written from the heart. The
translation by N.Malathy retains the
authenticity of the Tamil original and
she is right to point out that "The book reveals a lot that has so far not been revealed
in reports. The book speaks for itself about the conflict and will hopefully
create an interest to learn more."
From: Soma Skanda, 7 March 2008
Sir, I would like to draw your attention towards links of two articles on
the Aryan-Dravidian Question that appears on
this page of your website. The two articles are one written by
Mr.David Frawley and the other written by
Mr.Rajaram.
I'm basically a student. I stumbled upon the said pages while trying to
learn more on the Aryan-Dravidian question and further down the line, I
happened to read a cover story in FRONTLINE on this aspect, and that too
specifically is a critique about the work of the above said two authors in
that area. So I thought it would be apt to draw your attention to it, so
readers from now on will have another perspective on the issue in question.
Links to the Frontline Cover Story :
The
Indus Valley Decipherment Hoax - Michael Witzel and Steve Farmer, 13 October
2000;
The
direction of Harappan writing - Michael Witzel and Steve Farmer, 13 October
2000 and
Hindutva and history - Romila Thapar, 13 October 2000
Another article about the Indus Script -
Towards a scientific study of the Indus Script - Iravatham Mahadevan 4
February 2007
Thanks & Regards.
Response by
tamilnation.org
Many thanks for your interest. We have included the links in
our Tamil Heritage page.
From: Dr. Dunton Phillips, Vancouver,
Canada, 4 March 2007
Dear Editor: I have gone through your Website and I find that your
website is a veritable Encylopaedia of Tamil History and News about your
Very Ancient Tamil People. You and your helpers are doing a very useful
work. I wish that the Sinhala leaders and their people may open their eyes
and recognize your desire to be INDEPENDENT AND A SOVEREIGN NATION. It is
not easy to become an independent Nation - I wish that all the Tamils get
UNITED - there are plenty of Tamil Mercenaries working with Sinhala people -
they are self-destructive and they live to fill their stomachs with the
money they get from Sinhala government. I wish you all success in your work.
You have the best website - call it - Tamil Encyclopaedia
From: Angel Sanna, 2 March 2008
Re Tamil literaure
on the web, I can't believe you guys have done such a wonderful work.
You know what - I and my brother wanted to make those books as
e-copies as we lost much during the war. We even planned to earn some money,
go to India, buy the publications without knowing that you guys had done a WONDERFUL job long time back.
Btw, I am doing mechatronic engineering year 2 now and my thambi just
entered university.
I was bored yesterday and was just browsing the net and I found your
website. I was so excited... You wont believe I was jumping, jumping,
jumping and at one stage I thought I am going to die from excitement. What a
wonderful job. I tried to copy and rename the pdf files but its taking time
as the internet is very bad here.
My grand parents and the closest uncles parents (our grand parents too) were
so good in Tamil. So, they read periya puranam,
serap puranam,
thevaram etc
for us as we don't know the meanings (Porul) for those verses. Dad and uncle
used to read all sort of books from comics to big literature. They
introduced us to the Moscow publication's books, Palaniappa brothers
publication's books, Manimegalai publication's books, Vanathi publication's
books etc. We had a huge room with lots and lots of books which our grand
parents and parents had read. We are the new generation and we used to read
lot like 6 hrs a day. Parents didnt stop us as our average was 90+ in
school. I came abroad to study and didnt bring any books.
I have missed the books these two years and really felt like I am a
living corpse. Grand parents are not here to explain any more. So, now when I
went thru it I found difficulties to understand those old puranams. Can you
do a favour. You guys have done lot. Yet, when we become old we wont be good
enough to explain to our new generation the verses. So, if you write the
porul also it will be really helpful. I cant wait to go back home and beg
our Tamil professors to do this work.
I studied in Jaffna btw. We had Tamil literature as 40% of the Tamil O/L
paper. There we had some parts on serapuranam,
nalavenpa,
manimegalai
kapiyam, manu neethi, cholan varalaru & etc. It was so hard for others but
was easy for us coz of our grand parents. One grand pa was a Tamil pulavar.
We also had Saiva Samayam subject where we studied about those nayanmars and
thevarams. I am so glad to read them now. I dont know if there is a error in
Sambanthan's thevaram. Will send you what is that when I receive a reply coz
I am just wondering if you will get this mail.
Do you have all those pdf files in CD? We can't ca | 
rating
to the tamilnation website. [A well organised, and extensively annotated guide to Tamil-related
resources - ed.] Research usefulness [essential
- v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]: Essential
