What is identity? It is the means by which you gain a sense of self; the thing that defines you. It is your expression of your identity that makes you, YOU. Identity is not something which can be taught or learned or forcibly fashioned in any way. Identity is an intrinsic property of the beholder and must be expressed voluntarily. Identity comes from within.

When you are a free person and do not feel threatened by those around you, you do not feel the necessity to bring out your identity to the forefront. Because when you can act per your own will, you feel confident that your identity is safe and that nothing is going to happen to it. It is only when you are oppressed and deprived of the right to be your own person that you feel the importance of your identity for without it, you are naked, vulnerable, and without repose.

For thirty years, the Tamil people of Sri Lanka have been fighting to maintain their Tamil identity, which they feel, can only be preserved through the nation of Tamil Eelam. The identity of a people lies within its language, history and culture. Each of these elements is slowing being eroded away as a result of the genocide of the Tamil people. If the Tamils lose their identity, they then lose that which makes them who they are.

The Tamil Eelam flag is a representation of Tamil identity. By holding the flag, one demonstrates that one is Tamil, and that one is proud to be so. It demonstrates that one cares about being Tamil, and wants to ensure the maintenance of Tamil language, history and culture through the establishment of Tamil Eelam. It is disheartening to see that the global community and even many Tamils themselves fail to see the rich heritage of this iconic symbol and that its relevance has been so horribly tarnished.

It is true that the Tamil Eelam flag was widely used in the freedom struggle by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but one must realize that the LTTE is a representation of the flag, not the other way around. The Tamil Eelam flag is just as its name suggests: an expression of the dream of Tamil Eelam and a visual representation of Tamil identity. It is an open demand for freedom, justice, and the restoration of human rights.

The four colours of the flag represent the four goals of Tamil Eelam: Yellow represents that having the ability to freely elect or appoint those who represent your interests is a purely fundamental right, and Tamils will aspire to attain this right in a just and morally correct manner. Red represents the aspirations towards the revolutionary changes of caste and class demolition as well the establishment of equal women’s rights. Black represents the resoluteness of mind required to overcome the dangers and pains which will be faced along this path; and white, the selflessness of those devoted to this cause.

The oppression of the Tamil Eelam flag is a censorship against the Tamil people’s cry for justice. It is in effect an annihilation of their identity; and a destruction of the cause for which so many innocent lives have been taken during this freedom struggle.

Courtesy: CTYA

Tamil Heritage Month

January 2012

WHEREAS our city’s Tamil community is committed to preserving its rich heritage and has contributed greatly to Toronto’s diverse population.

Tamil Heritage Month provides the opportunity to showcase and share the community’s vibrant culture and traditions and longstanding history with Toronto residents and visitors.

In Toronto, we encourage and welcome celebrations of our many cultural groups that work hard to preserve their heritage. These celebrations promote understanding and enrich our social and cultural development and the quality of life for many.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as “Tamil Heritage Month” in the City of Toronto.

Mayor Rob Ford

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Markham, Ontario

December 13, 2011 – During a regular council meeting at Markham Civic Centre, Markham Town Council proclaimed January 13, 14 and 15 as ‘Tamil Heritage Days’, effectively becoming the first Municipality in Canada to recognize Tamil Heritage Days. Markham Tamil Organization would like to thank Councillor Logan Kanapathi for his efforts over the last 2 years in moving this proclamation forward.

January is a time of harvest for farmers in countries like India and Sri Lanka. Thai Pongal is a celebration that offers thanks to the sun and cattle for a good season and abundant harvest. Thai Pongal is celebrated by members of the Tamil community all around the world, irrespective of their religion. January is also considered to be an auspicious month to celebrate weddings as farmers are often in possession of wealth due to a good harvest.

“This proclamation is very fitting since Markham is home to a large percentage of Tamil Canadians”, said Juanita Nathan of the Markham Tamil Organization. “It will also provide an opportunity for Tamil Canadians to gather, celebrate and also share the richness of the Tamil culture with their fellow Markham residents”, added Nathan.

Thai Pongal also marks the first day of January as per the Tamil calendar which is calculated based on the birth of Thiruvalluvar, a celebrated poet and philosopher by Tamils all over the world.

“Our Mayor and members of Council have always embraced the growing diversity in the Town of Markham. I’m honored and privileged to have been able to contribute to preserve the Tamil Heritage”, remarked Ward 7 Councilor Logan Kanapathi. “Today is another historical day for Tamil Canadians and Markham is the only municipality in Canada to have passed proclamation of this kind.”

“The Town of Markham has always been a leader in such initiatives and has become a role model for other municipalities”, said Neethan Shan, Chair of Tamil Heritage Coordinating Committee. “We hope that others recognize the historical and traditional value that Tamil Canadians add to the multicultural mosaic of Canada and hope that others will follow suit”, added Shan.

Markham Tamil Organization is a group that brings tens of thousands of Tamil residents in Markham together to address social, political and economic needs of the community and aims to work collectively with other communities for social change.

For Media Inquiries:
Markham Tamil Organization 905-471-8070

Mr. Thavapalan was elected as the leader of the JUSU in 2010.

The Student Union has held a remembrance event on 18 May 2010, paying tribute to the thousands of victims of Vanni war. The event was held amid harassment by the occupying SL military and its paramilitary group, EPDP, which is headed by SL Minister Douglas Devananda.

The EPDP, exerting control on the administrative affairs of the university in Jaffna, has been opposing the election of Mr. Thavapalan. The Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University, Vasanthy Arasaradnam was forced not to recognize the election Mr. Thavapalan. However, following the protests by the students, the Vice Chancellor had to finally accept the election of Mr. Thavapalan, but there has been no formal engagements between the JUSU and the University administration, which is under the pressure and influence of the occupying SL military and its agents. The protest against the grease-devil attack drew thousands of participants from the students of Jaffna.

Despite the disruptive efforts by the SL military intelligence and the EPDP, the student leaders have managed to reflect their voice in meeting foreign envoys visiting Jaffna and in organising public protests.

“The attack on Thavapalan is an attack on the entire student society in Jaffna” said a JUSU representative who met journalists after visiting the attacked student leader at the hospital.

Source: TamilNet http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=34526

What is Pongu Tamil?
The Pongu ThamiL movement was initiated by Jaffna university students in the Tamil homeland. The move was first held in North and East on January 17, 2001 followed by well attended celebrations by Tamil Diaspora in various parts of the world. It serves for the motivation and demonstration of will for the cause of Eezham Tamils. In its initial declaration, the movement marked the Tamil aspirations as Right to Self Determination of Eezham Tamils, recognition for the Traditional Tamil homeland and the Eezham Tamils as a distinct nationality. It gives the original spirit of the struggle in articulating the aspiration of the Tamil people. Pongu Thamil is a form of political articulation of the masses.

NATION – HOMELAND – SELF DETERMINATION – JUSTICE TO GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Pongu Tamil 2011 – Toronto
In October thousands of Tamil Canadians will unite and converge to demand for the rights and political aspirations of the Tamil people. Over two years after the height of the Tamil genocide in May 2009, the Tamil people continue to live under occupation and oppression. State enforced colonization of the Tamil homeland, disappearances, torture, mass graves, rapes, abuses and appalling human rights violations continue to be common for Tamils who live under a virtual military state in the North and East of the island.

The time has come for all Tamil Canadians to take up the historic opportunity to be the voice for our brethren and advocate for the freedom of our homeland.

Video – Ottawa Tamil Students

Do you have talent? If so, come show it off at FROSH 2011!! We are currently looking for performers for FROSH 2011. If you are interested please send us a message.

CUTSA FROSH POSTER

Literally ‘nine nights’, this nine-day period from the new moon day to the ninth day of Ashvin is considered the most auspicious time of the Hindu calendar and is hence the most celebrated time of the year.  From Hindus all over the world, Navaratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the conquest of good over evil.

Navratri is divided into three-day sets, each devoted to a different aspect of the supreme goddess. The first three days are devoted to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess to destroy all our vices, impurities, and defects) dresses in red and mounted on a lion. The next three day set is devoted to Goddess Lakshmi (the giver of spiritual and material wealth) dressed in gold and mounted on an owl, and the last set is devoted to Goddess Saraswati (the goddess of wisdom) dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan.

The festivities culminate on the tenth day, called variously Vijaya Dashmi, Dussehra or Dassain when people in most parts of the country burn effigies of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna. The nine-day period from the first to the ninth day in the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra is also known as Navaratri and is dedicated to the worship of nine different aspects of Devi. These nine days are however, popular in north India only. The ninth day in this month is also celebrated as Ramanavami.

Goddess Saraswathi

During Navaratri some people fast on all days taking only fruit and milk dishes and some fast only on the eighth or ninth day. On the first day of the Navaratri, nine types of  grains of barley are planted in the puja room of the house. A small bed of mud is prepared in which barley seeds are sown after a small puja has been performed. Every day some water is sprinkled on it.

On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 – 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god. The seedlings are placed on their caps, behind their ears, and inside books to bring good luck. This custom suggests a link to harvesting. The sowing and reaping of barley is symbolic of the “first fruit”. Soon after this festival, the sugarcane crop is harvested and the winter crops are sown.

On the final three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshipped. The books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples. On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after worshipping Sarasvati. Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of Hindu children are initiated into the world of letters on this day.

According to one hypothesis, in ancient times, this was a festival intended for the Kshatriyas. After the four-month long monsoon when military activity was not possible, this was considered a good time to start afresh on one’s conquests.

Source: Various sources

Agenda:
1) Introduction
2) Discussion on planned events.
– Saraswathi PoojaiA
– FROSH 2011
– Movie Night
– Bake Sale
– Kalai Vizha
– etc.
3) Open discussion
4) Question and Answer Session

CUTSA Exec Team,
2011-2012