On Tamil Identity
Written by: Nevetha Yogarajah
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.
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