A martyr's commemoration with a difference
Thileepan's commemoration begins in Tamil Eelam It is martyrdom with a difference that the Tamil People all over Tamil Eelam have begun to commemorate today, 15th of September. For all other martyrs it was individually the day of their attainment of martyrdom or a collective commemoration on the 27th of November every year, the Tamil Martyr's day, but not for Thileepan. Thileepan was different; Thileepan's battle against injustice was different and therefore Thileepan's commemoration too is different, in that, it lasts for 12 days.
 For a Nation that prides itself the bedrock from which the noble principle of "Ahimsa" the non-violent struggle against injustices sprung, Thileepan was a litmus test. Tested he and proved his mettle as a non-violent warrior who gave his life, cell by cell, minute by minute for 12 days to prove his cause to India, the father-land of Ahimsa and to freedom lovers all over the universe. It all began on a day like today the 15th of September in the year 1987. Thileepan who was actively engaged in taking the flame of freedom into the nooks and corners of the Tamil North East, was an igniting force in the hearts and minds of the Tamil People. This committed freedom fighter could not comprehend the anti-freedom activities of the Indian "peace keeping force" the IPKF. That it became a notorious "occupation army" is history. Thileepan, unable to understand the "conflicting" behaviour of a peace-keeping force that too from the land that taught the west that independence of a nation could be won through "sathyagraha", a form of non-violent protest. There was Thileepan seated in a specially erected podium on the 15th of September 1987 in Nallur Jaffna, the cradle of ancient Tamil kingdoms and Tamil civilization. Sitting there in the midst of several hundreds of thousands of his Tamil brethren, Thileepan proclaimed loudly to India and the civilized humanity at large that here is a determined fighter not with his gun but with his determination. The tears that rolled down the cheeks of his brethren around the podium stands for a reasonable estimate of gallons but not a drop of water did Thileepan take to quench his thirst. Yes, he decided determinedly to abstain from taking water even. Water too he abstained. That, he said was the real fast. The powers that be trying in vain to cajole Thileepan into accepting something that Thileepan did not believe in. Steadfastly fasting for 12 days Thileepan attained martyrdom, leaving behind a last will to handover his mortal remains to the medical faculty of the University of Jaffna and a legacy for the Tamil people to stand heads erect in their forward march to freedom. Here we are, commemorating the 16th martyrdom anniversary of Thileepan. Tamil dwellings, whether made of wattle and daub or cement and timber, all are saintly decorated with yellow and red flags, all around the portrait of this martyr who gave his life in a process of self immolation continued for 12 days, all for the sake of the freedom of his brethren. This commemoration commencing today will go on piously for 12 days and will reach it peak on the 26th of September the day Thileepan attained martyrdom.
15 September 2003
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Europe which has a total population of 800 million is made up of 45 language based nation states. South Asia which has a total population of one billion, (1000 million) is comprised of four states. Who is preventing and therefore benefiting by limiting new nation-states in South Asia?
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