posted February 05, 2000 07:25 PM         

Tamil patriots who sacrificed their lives for
Independence

The 18th and 19th centuries produced some political leaders and social reformers at a time when Sri Lanka (Ceylon) had suffered three centuries of Western conquest, multifaceted in their manifestations and consequences - political, economic, cultural, religious and psychological.

During the period a number of people were oppressed, suppressed, subjugated and exploited in their own social order by those who claimed to be superior simply on the basis of birth. But several Sinhalese and Tamil patriots like S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, F.R. Senanayake, D.S. Senanayake, Sir Baron Jayatilake, E.W. Perera, D.R. Wijewardene, James Peiris, Arthur V. Dias, Alhaj Dr. T.B. Jayah, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. N.M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R de Silva, and patriots like Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy, Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy, Srila Sri Arumuga Navlar, C.Y. Thamotherampillai, G.V. Swaminatha Aiyar, Swami Vipualananda, Handy Perinpanayagam, S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, G.G. Ponnambalam (Senior) M. Thiruchelvam, C. Vanniasingam, James T. Ratnam and several others dedicated their lives and suffered much to maintain the honour and dignity of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). But, time has not bedimmed the splendour of their achievements and their epic heroism. The deeds of such men are the salt of history and their remembrance on this great an glorious occasion of Sri Lanka's Independence Day shall remain a precious heritage of our race.

Among the Tamil patriots, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan was indeed one of the greatest
freedom fighters. There were several able, talented and even brilliant men who aspired to national eminence, but none touched the heights of true grateness as Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan did. When he rose in the Legislative Council, his British conquistadors poised to unsheathe their swords of hostility against him. The Ceylonese knight neither flinched nor
wavered. He instilled fear into their hearts and also commanded their grudging respect."How pleasant it would be Sir," he once taunted the then British Governor as he addressed the Legislative Assembly in 1877," to bash in the sunshine of your excellency's smiles, how nice to be courted by officials as a man who says pleasing things.

"What do I gain for myself by this opposition by choosing to express an independent opinion which is very unpalatable to the government? Do they treat me with respect for doing what I believe is my duty? No, they even challenge my motives.

"It does not matter to me Sir, I do not want the favours of the Government, it is enough that I am able to say to myself" I have done what I feel to be right. "That will be my comfort".

These words of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan should be etched deep in the hearts and minds
of those who call themselves politicians, genuinely concerned about alleviating the sufferings of the masses.

Referring to Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, the former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the father of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga once said that Sir
Arunachalam was one of the most productive men of his age. He was born on September 14,
1853 as the youngest son of Ponnambalam Mudalaliyar. Like his elder brothers
Coomaraswamy and Ramanathan, he was brought up under the kind protection and guidance
of his maternal uncle Sir Muthucoomaraswamy.

In the records of Christ College, Arunachalam is referred to as a brilliant mathematician and an able Classics scholar. By 1875, he not only graduated, but also qualified for the Bar and wanted to enter the legal profession. But his uncle advised him to sit for the Civil Service examination and he was the first Ceylonese to enter the Civil Service through open door competition.

The crowning moment of his political life came in 1919 with the birth of the Ceylon National Congress of which he was the President. Undoubtedly, he was the most versatile member of the Executive and Legislative Councils with many sided activities and achievements to his
credit.

Sir Arunachalam had been a fightre for independence, Civil Servant, judicial officer, member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, President of the Asiatic Society, President of the
Ceylon University Association, President of the Ceylon Reform League, Ceylon National
Congress, Ceylon Social Service League, Ceylon Workers Welfare League, Ceylon Workers
Federation and Ceylon Tamil League.

Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy (knighted in 1947) was born in Velanai, an island on the west of Jaffna peninsula on June 8, 1874. He was the son of Ayampillai Waithilingam, an engineer who spent some time in Malaya.

Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy founded the Hindu Board of Education and was the Secretary of
the Hindu Board which was responsible for establishing a series of Hindu schools.

Sir Duraiswamy was on the governing body of Jaffna Hindu College and was the president of
the Jaffna Saiva Paripalana Sabha. With his professional standing and his record of service to the people, Sir Waithilingam Duraiswamy became the obvious choice to represent the Northern Province. He was the only Hindu elected to the Legislative Council in 1921.

In 1922, he successfully moved a motion for total prohibition resulting in all taverns and foreign
liquor shops being abolished in the Jaffna District. In fact, the election of Sir Waithilingam as
Speaks of the legislature was remarkable and it demonstrated his popularity and the
tremendous esteem in which he was held by all sections of the country. Besides, he was a
gentleman of genial disposition, full of kind thoughts, words and deeds combined with a sharp
intellect, impartiality and fairness.

Sir Mutu Coomaraswamy was the only son of Gate Mudaliyar A. Coomaraswamy
(1784-1836), the first Tamil member of the Legislative Council established in Ceylon on the
recommendations of the Colebrooke Commission. As a legislator he gave the impression to the
British administrator that the natives are capable of undertaking the task of self-government. He
visited England and Europe on two occasions. In 1862, he was admitted to Lincolns Inn and
was called to the English Bar on January 26, 1863. On his second visit to England in 1874, he
was knighted.

Dr. Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was born on August 22, 1877, as the only child of sir
Mutu Coomaraswamy by his wife Elizabeth Clay Beeby, an English woman of Kent. His
paternal grandfather Gate Mudaliyar A. Coomaraswamy was a member of the first Legislative
Council.

The brothers Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam happened to
be the sister's son of Ananda's father.

When Ananda was barely two years old Lady Coomaraswamy left for England with him. Sir
Mutu, who intended to follow later died in May 1879.

Ananda Coomaraswamy studied first at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse in Gloucestershire for
10 years and then at the London University, graduating in botany and geology in 1900. He
returned to Ceylon in March 1903 with his first wife Ethel Mary Patridge and he was
appointed the first director of the Mineralogical Survey of Ceylon though he was then quite
young.

Cecil B. Lyon, US Ambassador in Ceylon in 1965 said: "Ananda Coomaraswamy was not
only an Art critic of the first order, but also a historian, philosopher, statesman, Linguist
Diplomat and of course a curator. In other words, his whole life work was a rebuttal of the
dictum of Rudyard that "East is East and West in West and never the twain shall meet".

When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth.

Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy in fact gave a message of peace to the people of Sri Lanka
(Ceylon). He expounded the philosophy of oneness and according to him culture and tradition
whether their source be Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity or Islam, had affinities. He unfolded
the treasures of Eastern Art and revealed their value. He was not only one of the greater
authorities on Indian Art, but also an authority on Sinhalese, Chinese, Persian, Arabic,
Indonesian and Japanese Art.

Indeed, Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy opened our eyes to the need for a national consciousness
for the progress of national culture and national individuality.

Former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike while addressing a public meeting in the deep
South once said: "If there is any honest politician in this country, it is S.J.V. Chelvanayakam. In
fact, the Tamils hailed him as "Eelam Gandhi", because he believed and practised Ahimsa and
non violence. His weapon against his political enemies was Satyragraha.

As a Christian he believed in God to help redress the legitimate grievances of the Tamils. In
demanding the legitimate rights of the Tamils he believed in 'Unity in diversity' and despite all
the difficulties he was one of those who tried very hard to solve our problems through
parliament, using democratic methods of negotiation, persuasion, consultation and
compromise.

Chelvanayakam had no enemies. He was admired by the Sinhalese and Muslims for his
conviction and integrity. He was a statesman par excellence.

G.G. Ponnambalam (senior) who was a multifaceted personality was born at the beginning of
this century as the son of a postmaster who was later promoted as an Investigating Inspector of
post offices, in Alvai, Point Pedro.

Mr. Ponnambalam was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna and later completed his
secondary education at St. Joseph's College Colombo. After winning the then much coveted
British University scholarship he proceeded to the University of Cambridge. There he obtained
the science degree and subsequently MA, L.LB (Cantab) and passed out as a
Barrister-at-Law. On his return to Ceylon he took his oaths as an advocate of the Supreme
Court and set up in practice as a criminal lawyer.

As an advocate he was one of the most distinguished lawyers that Hulftsdorp has produced
during this century. He ranks with H.A.P. Sandrasagara and R.L. Pereira as one of the most
brilliant Silks seen in our courts.

He entered the State Council as the member for Point Pedro. His dialectical skill matched the
elegance and command of language that embellished his contributions to parliamentary
debates.

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was the inevitable opponent of Mr. Ponnambalam in debate in the old
State Council. As the leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation to the UN in 1965, he delivered his
speech and those who were present heard the cascade of his effortless eloquence. Even the
polished fluency of Lord Caradon, leader of the UK delegation, paled somewhat.

Indeed, G.G. Ponnambalam (senior) was certainly the intellectual pride of the Jaffna Tamil
community. He joined D.S. Senanayake's Cabinet in the late 40s as Minister of Industries,
Industrial Research and Fisheries. Undoubtedly Mr. Ponnambalam was a star that twinkled
brilliantly on the political horizon.

M. Tiruchelvam QC and former Minister of Local Government belongs to a band of men with
a vision and a mission. His political sagacity, robust patriotism, practical wisdom and great
administrative skill made him are of Sri Lanka's great statesmen. In the political field he was a
Cabinet Minister, a Member of the Senate and a leading figure among the Tamil speaking
people of this country.

Mr. Tiruchelvam was an outstanding lawyer of rare ability who not only fought cases but also
espoused causes.

He became an active member of the Federal Party which was led by S.J.V. Chelvanayakam.
He was appointed Senator in 1965 and served as minister of Local Government and Housing
in the Cabinet of Dudley Senanayake. He always thought and acted as Minister for the whole
country.

James T. Ratnam who was born in Jaffna was a great scholar and patriot. When S.W.R.D.
Bandaranaike made his first public speech at the YMCA Forum soon after his return from
Oxford it was Mr. Ratnam who proposed a vote of thanks and hailed Mr. Bandaranaike as the
hope of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Ratnam was one of the first Member of the Ceylon Labour Union and also a member of
the Executive Committee of the Ceylon Tamil League. He was actively engaged in many of the
discussions relating to constitutional reform of Sri Lanka. Besides, he was the president of the
Nuwara Eliya Labour Union. He aimed at bringing harmony and peace to Sri Lanka.

Srila Sri Arumuga Navala (1822-1879) was a social reformer, Saivite and Tamil scholar. It is
an accepted and acknowledged fact that the techniques and preachings of Srila Sri Arumuga
Navalar have influenced, inspired and transformed the Hindus of Sri Lanka. He takes his place
among the galaxy of great religious leaders like Ven. Anagarika Dharmapala and Ven.
Gunananda Thera. He exhorted the people to feel proud and become worthy of their faith,
language and the deep culture embodied in them.