REACH - November 2011

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Vol - 39TYO - Canada NOVEMBER 2011

To work towards the enhancement of the

Tamil Nation and to provide an avenue

for the betterment of Tamil youth in canada

TYOContents

Tamil History 4

World History 5

Youth Canada 6

Youth Reflection 20

Did You Know? 22

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“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ” - Joseph Campbell

When we reflect on what it takes to be a hero, we think of challenges, obstacles, hard work, perseverance, and belief. Essentially, a hero alters and shifts the notion of ‘impossible’ into a vision of possibilities. This takes hope, strength, faith, and sacrifice. It’s the idea of risking today’s day of life, in the belief that tomorrow would bring a better day.

A maaveerar is a hero.

People tend to overlook the fact that they were people too. Just like you and I, they had thoughts, feelings, aspirations, and hopes. They had families, friends, and countless dreams. You see, their sacrifice was not merely theirs alone.

The struggle of our people is one that speaks volumes. It’s the type of reality that seeps into your body and makes you cringe. The mistreatment, torture, and injustice of our people is equivalent to thousands of untold stories of trauma. The raping of our women, the inadequacy of services that were available to cultivate our ethnicity, the barrier to our people’s education are all ways in which the progress of our Tamil ethnicity was being challenged.

Driven by these stories, and unable to stand by and just watch, our maaveerars spoke up. The agony of our people fuelled them to rise and fight. Freedom fighters, bound together in the battle for freedom.

They could have dreamt to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, pilots, or even astronauts... They were young and could have lived much longer than they did... They let go of their families and friends to fight for a common goal... They risked losing everything they ever knew.

But, it was all for a cause. The deprivation of our Tamil people spoke so loudly, that it overshadowed everything else. They risked losing their lives, so that we could live ours with our heritage, culture, language, and history all intact. They wanted our identity to be preserved and enriched, not subjugated and fallible.

Our heroes wanted us to rise and prosper, and for that they paid the ultimate price. As youth, we have the power to educate and to keep informed. It is our duty, to commemorate the many fallen heroes and to keep them alive in our remembrance.

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Vol - 39TYO - Canada NOVEMBER 2011 Ta

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Tamil History

November marks an important month in the hearts of Tamils all around the world. It is in this month that our first liberation fighter, Lieutenant Shankar, sacrificed his young life for the freedom of our homeland and our people. Since his ultimate sacrifice, many more thousands of martyrs have given their lives for the emancipation of Tamileelam. The month of November is a tribute to these martyrs, and their immense sacrifice in the ongoing fight to ensure that the Tamils live in peace, dignity and honour in Tamileelam.

Sathiyanathan Alias Shankar, also known as Suresh, was the first ever member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) to embrace death and obtain martyrdom in battle. Lieutenant Shankar became the first martyr of Tamileelam on November 27, 1982. Seven years later on November 27, 1989, the National Leader of Tamileelam, Honourable Vellupillai Pirapaharan with about six hundred freedom fighters assembled at a secret venue in the Mullaitheevu district jungles of Nithikaikulam. The occasion was the newly proclaimed Great Heroes Day or Maaveerar Naal as it’s known in Tamil.

Pushed into the Vanni jungles and surrounded by the Indian Army, the National Leader of Tamileelam envisioned the importance of remembering, commemorating and honouring the freedom fighters who had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Tamileelam. Honourable Vellupillai Pirapaharan, well versed in classical Tamil literature and traditions, resurrected the well-treasured custom of honouring heroes fallen in battle and paying homage to them by erecting tombstones, the custom known as nadugal

valipadu-nadugal means tombstone and valipadu means worship or paying homage. Hon. V. Pirapaharan revived this tradition, well cherished in Tamil Sangam literature, as one of his motivation strategies.

The revival of nadugal valipadu has had the intended effect. It has transformed the attitude of the wives, children, parents and relatives of the fallen cadres from the feeling of deprivation and wailing to that of participation and pride. It brought the families of the martyrs closer to the freedom struggle rather than estranging them from it. It gradually restored the martial culture of the ancient Tamil nation. The uppermost aspect of this culture surfaced in the Eastern province in the year 2000, where the tradition of mothers sending their sons to battle, anointing their foreheads with sandalwood paste, veera thilagam, to replace their killed husbands resurfaced.

Today, the Maaveerar Thuyilum Illaam (Resting Homes), where our great heroes were laid out to rest in neat rows of graves marked by single tombstones have been vandalized, bulldozed and destroyed. Since the occupation of the Tamil homeland, the Sri Lankan military forces, when seizing Tamil territory, have demolished these resting homes of our fallen heroes. However the barbaric destruction of resting homes will never erase them from the history of the Tamil people. Our Maaveerar live in the hearts and minds of Tamils across the world.

Our fallen heroes are resting in our hearts and living in our minds which are far beyond the reach of our enemies.

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Tamil History

Remembrance Day honors and remembers Canadian soldiers who sacrificed for our freedom during World War, which came to an end on Monday, November 11, 1918 at 11:00 AM. It is a day that reminds us of their struggle and hardships, to protect our country. Our remembrance is observed by gathering for ceremonies on November 11th, where it is common to lay wreaths and observe two minutes of silence, to commemorate our fallen soldiers.

It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to remember all those who have served in Canada’s defense.

Originally called Armistice Day, it was inaugurated in 1919 throughout much of the British Empire, on the second Monday in November. In 1921, the Canadian Parliament passed an Armistice Day bill to observe ceremonies on the first Monday in the week of 11 November, however this combined the event with the Thanksgiving Day holiday. For much of the 1920s, Canadians observed the date with little public demonstration. Veterans and their families gathered

in churches and around local memorials, but observances involved few other Canadians.

In 1928, many veterans pushed for greater recognition and to separate the remembrance of the soldier’s sacrifice from the Thanksgiving holiday. In 1931, the federal government announced that Remembrance Day will be on the 11th of November and moved Thanksgiving Day to a different date. Remembrance Day will be of memory of fallen soldiers instead of the political and military events leading to victory in the First World War.

“We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.”

- Heather Robertson, A Terrible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War, Toronto, Lorimer, 1977

World HistoryW

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Vol - 39TYO - Canada NOVEMBER 2011 Y

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UTSC TSA - Awarness Week

As part of Identity Awareness week, the Tamil Students’ Association at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus held a National Symbols campaign at their student centre. With silhouettes of the respective national symbols of Tamileelam cut out and hung from the ceiling, UTSC TSA educated the larger community at UTSC of what makes up Tamil identity. The campaign was a success and to every individual who passed by the campaign, UTSC TSA handed out booklets that outlined the national symbols of Tamileelam.

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YU TSA - Awarness Week

As part of Maaveerar Awareness Week, the Tamil Students’ Association at York University carried out a flash mob. With both members and non-members of the organizations, YUTSA educated the larger community at York University about the sacrifice of our Maaveerar. With each person holding up a sign reading what a hero meant to them, this campaign was nothing less than inspiring.

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Ryerson TSA

Campus Maveerar Naal

RYETSA conducted Maaveerar Naal on their campus on Monday, November 14th, 2011. With colourful performances, inspiring speeches, and dramas with creative video backgrounds left the audience in utter amazement.

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York TSAYUTSA held their campus Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday, November 16th, 2011. The audience was amazed at the outstanding decorations. The inspiration through the words of many York students conveyed intelligently through their speeches had left many awestricken.

U of T - Scarborough TSA

UTSC TSA’s Maaveerar Naal was on Thursday, November 17th, 2011. Showcasing the reality behind the words “the enemy cannot destroy the thuilam illams in our hearts,” UTSC TSA had rebuilt the arch entrance of a Thuilam Illam in Tamileelam. From the performances to the speeches, every aspect of the event was in remembrance of our fallen heroes.

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U of T - Mississauga TSA

McMaster TSA

MCMASTER TSA held Maaveerar Naal on their campus on Monday, November 21st, 2011. McMaster TSA commemorated the loss of over 40, 000 heroes with an over uprising event and left the audience nothing but motivated.

UTM TSA conducted their campus Maaveerar Naal on Friday, November 18th, 2011. The beautiful backdrop added an elegant element to every performance as it served as the perfect setting.

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Guelph TSAGUELPH TSA held Maaveerar Naal on their campus on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011. With creative decorations including an impeccable Karthigai poo kolam, the students at Guelph University put together an outstanding commemorative ceremony.

Waterloo TSA

WATSA conducted their campus Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011. Inspiring dramas, enlightening speeches, and creative performances made this event and overwhelmingly successful.

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UOIT TSA

U of T - St. George TSA

UTSG TSA held Maaveerar Naal on their campus on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011. The overlapping dramas and the linear retelling of Tamil history was impeccable and had the audience learning fact they were never subjected to before.

UOIT TSA held their campus Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011. The event was filled with moving performances and the decorations were entirely reflective of the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.

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Highschool TSA’s

Carlton TSA

TSA’s from Toronto area highschools joined together to demonstrate to the community their rememberance for our fallen maveerar. Student’s of all ages performed classical dance and gave inspiriing speeches to the attending audience.

Carlton TSA held Maaveerar Naal on their campus on November 27th, 2011. A variety of performances and speaches took place. In addition, students devoted their times to contruct a scale model replica of our maveerar’s final resting place.

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On Friday, November 25th, 2011 the Tamil Youth Organization-Canada in partnership with the Tamil Students’ Associations in Canada came together to host the “Commencement of Tamileelam Remembrance Week.” With uprising performances from each TSA and speeches that enlightened the audience with hope and inspiration, the event was extraordinary. The sacrifice of our Maaveerar were honored and remembered as the youth emerged as the continuous flames of the movement.

Youth Maveerar Naal

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Community Maaveerar Naal was held at Markham Fairgrounds on Sunday, November 27th, 2011. With a total of four shows with a remarkable audience at every slot, the performances were outstanding, the speeches received tremendous applause, and the dramas instilled faith in everyone’s hearts.

Canada Maveerar Naal

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World Youth

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National Leader turns 57

Tamils living under Sri Lankan occupation celebrated the National Leader of Tamileelam, Hon. V. Pirapaharan’s 57th birthday. The celebrations were held in secret locations across Tamileelam.

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Australia BelgiumTamileelam

Britain

Canada Denmark

France

Germany Ireland

Belgium

Maveerar Naal’s

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Italy

New Zealand

New Zealand

Netherland

Netherland

Tamil Nadu

Scotland

Switzerland

Maveerar Naal’s

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Born as sisters, brothers, friends, and family, as fellow Thamilans and died as a Maaveerar. We use the term ‘Maaveerar’ to label these Thamilans and create a certain distance without realizing how close they truly are to us. We have to take a moment and actually digest the fact that these people were not born heroes, they had dreams, goals, and wishes of their own. However, due to surrounding circumstances had to or in some cases voluntarily gave up all the fruits of life for the people, you and I. Every Maaveerar Naal, we come to remember and commemorate these souls as our heroes, this year I feel we should bring in different perspectives. Place ourselves in the position of those related to our Maaveerar such as their mother, father, daughter, son, wife, brother, sister, friend, and so forth to understand the loss they had. Personally, I do not have a personal connection with a Maaveerar, I know of them; however, was never given the opportunity to build a relationship. What keeps me always fighting to make their vision for our freedom to come true is to

imagine my mother, father or brothers as a Maaveerar. I would never let their vision die alongside their bodies. We should take on the responsibility our heroes left with us because the fight for freedom was never for them, it was always for us. As students, we have the power to sculpt the future in the ways we want, so we should use that power with great wisdom and continue our plight with the asset of education. Enter every field, and succeed; every accomplishment you gather for yourself automatically counts as an accomplishment for a Thamilan. What our brave soldiers fought for was our identity and every time we depart ourselves from our identity then we ourselves are degrading ourselves. As you may consider yourselves a Canadian but the world looks at you as a Thamilan. If you find shame in your identity then you should make it you responsibility to bring it fame. I would like everyone to take Maaveerar Naal not as a day to mourn our losses but to reflect on our history and rejuvenate the fire to succeed as a Thamilan.

Youth ReflectionYo

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Youth Reflection

GUARDIANS OF OUR NATIONBy: Thushanth Sivaananthan

Fearless, bravery, strength, courageAre all qualities of great saviors

Me.. I think of THEM and THEIR lineageI think of THEM, the mighty prowlers

Stripes of black on golden skin Mistaken as the mighty gods from atop

For the powers that they hold within

The guardians of earth, battled they did for our aidMarching, prowling ready to pounceThe felines of Charles Antony Brigade

The guardians of fire, these black felines that were bredNobel but yet loyal all masked in black

For our home our country red they bled

The guardians of water, force of strength that fought ferociouslyThese were crusaders of the ocean

Roar of these felines we call our navy

The guardians of Air soar through the heavenly skiesValiant troopers with wings of fury

These saviors of flight protect us from up high

So now we call above to the heavenTo please watch out for us

And to help protect our nation

For this day we name as Maveerar naal Not a day of sorrow

Or a day to let our tear drops fall

Some see this day as remembrance to our fallenThey have not fallen but have inspired

Us to take our leads in making our darkness brighten

It is a day where we remember our maveerars and stand To show that we are not divided

But we are a rope made of many strands

We will fight together to get back our kingdomAnd reign again as the nation of TAMIL EELAM

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Vol - 39TYO - Canada NOVEMBER 2011 D

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Are you tired of the constant BBM (blackberry messenger) blackout and thinking of making the switch? Or maybe you don’t own a smart phone and think it’s time to finally through that rock you carry around away! Apple has recently come out with its latest model of the iPhone, a phone that millions of people proudly own.

The iPhone boasts features no other smart phone possesses. From Siri to iOS and iCloud, the iPhone has features that cannot be found on any other phone.

The Siri is an intelligent assistant that can answer about any question on one’s mind. The assistant will search up the appropriate application to answer the question to the best of its ability. Siri makes phone calls, phone calls, sends messages, schedules meetings, and even sets reminders. The iPhone 4s has a dual-cose A5 chip. This helps the deliver up to twice as much power and up to seven times faster graphics. The iPhone 4S is very quick and extremely responsive. The A5 chip is so power-efficient assists the iPhone in having an extraordinary battery life.

Further, for all those who love documenting their everyday

lives through pictures, the iPhone is practically the best camera on a phone you could ever purchase. In fact, another camera may not be needed at all. The iPhone has an 8-megapixel resolution and a custom lens with a larger f/2.4 aperture, an improved backside illumination sensor, great auto white balance, advanced colour accuracy, face detection, and reduced motion blur. In addition to pictures the iPhone captures live action as well! The iPhone is capable of shooting amazing 1080 HD video footage. It was all-new optics, the light is never wrong, with vivid colour, and video stabilization steadies shaky shots right away! Also, videos can be edited right on the iPhone.

The iPhone also possesses the iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features! Some of these features include, the iCloud, Facetime, and AirPrint!

This is just the beginning of all the countless benefits of the iPhone, now it’s up to the purchaser to make the right decision!

The iPhone 4s: Brains, Beauty, and Reliable Service

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REACH US @

Reach Editor - Laxana.PReach Designer - Shiyamdev.S

Speak OutAs Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of the suffering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes awareness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

• Stay updated with recent news

• Write to your local politicians

• Attend rallies

• Enlighten non-Tamil peers

• Write a poem, articles, essay

• Research, understand and recite

Join TYOOur doors are always open to new members that are looking to make a difference for Tamils around the world.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute, and develop their skills in various areas as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us at [email protected] visit us at www.canadatyo.org

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REACH - November 2011

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