Maheswaran: The forgotten Hero
January 10th, 2008
by Arvalan
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”-Martin Luther King Jr.
2008 dawned with the news that another Tamil Member of Parliament (MP) has been assassinated at a Hindu temple in broad day light, ostensibly by the Sri Lankan government sponsored paramilitary group.
[T. Maheswaran]
That was Late Hon T. Maheswaran.
* The man who represented the interests of the Tamil people in and outside the Sri lankan parliament
* The man who was not afraid to vote against many anti Tamil bills and acts, defying his party orders, whilst the Tamil Nationalistic MP’s were “absent”.
* The man who was capable of articulating the plight of the Tamils in Sinhala, both inside and outside the parliament
* The man who was prepared to fight for the rights of the innocent Tamils detained by the defence authorities, in front of the detention centres and even prepared to march towards the presidential palace.
* The man who voted against the government in the recent budget debate, despite being threatened not to do so, unlike some of the Tamil Nationalistic MP’s who were “absent during the vote”.
* The man who was elected to parliament twice, once from the Tamil heartland of Jaffna and then from the capital Colombo. A unique achieve in Tamil political history.
To my astonishment the expatriate Tamil community, failed to publicly mourn and remember the life of Maheswaran in the same way they mourned and remembered Hon. Joseph Pararajasingham and Hon. Raviraj.
There was
* No memorial meetings held,
* No eulogies written,
* No special programs in radio or TV
* No petitions prepared
* No appeals made to the international community
* No Tamil MP’s rioting inside the parliament
Is that because
* Maheswaran was elected from the Sinhalese nationalist UNP not from the Tamil nationalist TNA?
It takes a brave heart to be elected from a UNP platform and be the voice of the long suffering Tamil people. How many former Tamil MP’s elected from UNP has been able to raise the voice for the Tamil people?
* Tigers didn’t bestow him with a marmanithar award and thaialvar didn’t write a eulogy?
Tigers have their own protocol in determining the awards. That shouldn’t stop the expatriate community from remembering an MP who served for the Tamil people.
* He was a wealthy businessman and not an “educated” professional?
Tamil community undervalues entrepreneurship. It is this attitude which is hampering our lobbying effort in the western world, as we do not have any significant financial muscle to financially support political campaigns.
* He didn’t take part in the Pongu Thamizh rallies?
At least he is not a Chandrasekaran who took the tigers and Tamil nationalism for a ride.
Hon T. Maheswaran is a true Tamil nationalist as he is a
* Supreme human, who stood up for the oppressed and sacrificed his comfortable life to serve the Tamil community
* Brave patriot who risked his life to give voice for the people of his occupied nation
Maheswaran’s life is a testimony that
* One doesn’t have to be in the tiger tribe to be a Tamil nationalist.
* The “problem of the other” (Barak Obama quote) in Sri Lanka is not just between the Tamils and Sinhalese, but between Tamils and Tamils as well.
May your soul rest in peace
Entry Filed under: Tribute
14 Comments Add your own
1. Athos | January 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
“It is this attitude which is hampering our lobbying effort in the western world”
There is a fine line between deceiving and lobbying efforts. After 25 years of lying and deceiving, no one is prepared to be alarmed by any more wolf cries. For example -
“Noting that the GoSL has withdrawn from the CFA without any justifications, LTTE’s political head said that the Tigers, even at this juncture, stood ready to implement every clause of the agreement”
- TamilNet.
2. Naga UK | January 10th, 2008 at 11:20 am
The question whether late Maheswaran was a hero or a brave fool is academic. Many a heroes have been gunned down in the history. The way pro-govt. media trying to paint a picture of him - no doubt, to hide the nakedness of the government is not only stupid, but also gives away a lot of clues to the logically thinking people as to who might have been behind dastardly act and the motive. The amnesia stricken nation will forget the whole episode in record time.
One thing is more than predictable. The inauspicious start of 2008, sacrificing a man in the altars of Lord Shiva on the 1st of January certainly spells doom for those who have behbeen behind it.
3. Rj | January 10th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I agree with your argument in someway.He helped lots of people through his brave activities and influence.
Most of the time he stood independently for tamils putting his life in danger and gun down by another Tamil.
LTTE’s standing is different for him and there were many hidden reason behind it.You should know somtimes ltte cannot even publicly honor their own cardress who die some undiclosed area.
TNA have failed to honour him and they should know that ltte won’t get any upset if they have done any.
4. yaji | January 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I agree with some of these facts. I have some reservations on his business approaches. Unfortunately it is the very same tactics used by many, if not all, successful businessmen in Sri Lanka. But, he did unforgettable actions with courage in order to bring attention of the International & local community regarding Tamil grievances. His death is definitely a big loss for the voiceless Tamil community living in Sri Lanka.
5. Thamilan | January 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Honorable man, but choose the same pathetic path that the politicians choose before the rise of the Tamil armed struggle. This goes for all the politicians who are wasting their time in the Sinhalese dominated parliament where the Tamils only will loose more if represented.
Just because public remembrance are not held does not mean he is not in the hearts of the Tamil community. Personally I can tell you that people respected him for standing within the UNP and speaking out for the Tamils. He will be remembered if the Tamils achieve their goal of Elam, if not he is just another alien force annihilated for the good of the Sinhalese.
6. Thilee | January 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
In 1981, Jaffna library was burned by UNP MP. The 1983 July riotes killed around 3000 Tamils, organised by UNP.
I am not against many points you gave above. But can you please tell us what was the reason he wanted to stick with UNP?
I think you have misundertood the Obama’s ‘problem of others’. He was referring from the previous era, where we have fighting against kingdoms, then colonism and then cold-war issues between superpowers. Now we have equally powered groups and where they disagree on each others issues/rights etc.
If you see T. Maheswaran’s issue like this, you can apply it between you and your parents or spouse. It is there from the history, not 21st century’s issue.
7. Tullius | January 10th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
amen
may his soul rest in peace
8. chandu | January 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I can agree with the writer upto a certain extent. The attitude of the tamil community including the tigers mentioned by the writer is true. But I dont think he is a patriotic tamil leader who voiced against the plea of tamils. He may have protested several times. But he can’t come closer to Late mp N.Raviraj.
9. dravidan | January 11th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Arvalan,
Thank you for that thoughtful writing of yours.
I do agree with you completely. It was dissapoiting to see the expatriate tamils being silence about his murder.
In toronto there was a memorial service organized lastweek. I am not sure if all medias coverd it; as much as the should.
this is what we Tamils are lacking… not united unless it’s told or approved by authorities.
10. brahmin | January 11th, 2008 at 3:16 am
What silent Tamils are lacking is courage to stand up to the LTTE and other Tamil groups. What the LTTE are lacking is the ability to listen to and even accept other Tamils as legitimate voices.
11. porthos usa | January 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
the GOSL seems tamileelam is the solution as it is assasinating those mps who defied the LTTE and joined the sinhala nationalistic party.
12. Naga UK | January 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am
As a man who became an MP on UNP (Sinhala Party that caused majority of the damage to Tamils) ticket he has done more than his fair share of talking on behalf of the sufferring Tamils when they were in dire need of it when others who were expressly elcted to do so only made cosmetic statements. In that context he stands out as a politician. Nevertheless, he paid the supreme price for it.
What our leaders do not even reflect for a moment is that this life so transient, the next minute or a second one could go out like lightening. Some Tamil leaders typically have made a full time job of betrayal. What one needs to do that is to bend over backwards (or even forwards) to satisfy the new raj, whoever it may be, or how stupid he would be, do their dirty chores and make a shameful appearance with some position to the downtrodden fellow beings least realising that people can read between the lines (in fact it is so obvious that there is no need even for that).
If they could reflect, even as late as this, on the possibility of a few paragraphs that would be assigned to them in the history, that our children (bothe Sinhalese and Tamils, not tomention the Muslims)would read and curse.
13. joe | January 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
the reason why we did not mour “manennai” maheswaran is because he was a corrupt man who exploited his own people. he was a merchant who traded on his own peoples misery. he made millions out of “baby milk powder” when the north was being starved of essential goods. he started his life in karainagar as a mini-van driver. how come he made so much money to be able to afford 5 ships?
dont dare compare him with people like Raviraj or joseph pararajasingham, for all their mistakes in the past, they never profitted from the misery of the tamil people like maheswaran.
meheswaran was a cameleon who showed the LTTE his face and the GoSL his tail. and he looted the innocent tamils.
i dont welcome his killing but i have no time to mourn him either
14. Amaran | January 17th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
All polititions will be remembered for their deeds. Some will be edged inthe minds of the people for a long time and others for a shorter time.
T.Maheswaran will be remembered as a man who used politics to make money and used money to help people and to speak loudly for the Tamils whenever the occassion warraned.
TNA members will be rembered as bumsuckers of the LTTE and as Tamils who sold their souls to safeguard their own lives.
Ananda Sangaree will be remembered as the great Tamil leader who withstood the terror of LTTE bravely and spoke for the real aspirations of the Tamil peope.
Prabakaran will be remembered as the maniac who killed more Tamils than the Sri Lankan armed forces merely to achieve his pipedream of Eeelam.
Kadirgamar will be remembered as the only person who exposed the true nature of the LTTE to the world..
He wii also be remembered for the efforts he took to erase the horrendous image of Sri Lanka created globally by the Governments after the 1983 pogrom.
All Sinhalese leaders who ruled the country uptodate, will be remembered for their subservience to the chauvinistic and racial elements in the country and failing to recognise and address the true grievances of the minority communities, specially that of the Tamils,
which has resulted in massive destruction of human lives, resources and infrastrucure and put back the country hundred years behind.
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