நாளை 13-07-2009 ஈழத் தமிழரின் ஒப்பற்ற தலைவர் அமரத்துவமடைந்த அ. அமிர்தலிங்கம் அவர்களின் 20ஆவது நினைவு தினம்.

தமிழர் விடுதலைக் கூட்டணியின் அன்றைய செயலாளர் நாயகமும் முன்னாள் எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவருமாகிய அ.அமிர்தலிங்கம் அவர்களும், முன்னைநாள் யாழ் யாழ்ப்பாணத் தொகுதிப் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான திரு. வி. யோகேஸ்வரன் அவர்களும் சுட்டுப் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்ட 20ஆவது நினைவு தினத்தில் அவர்களுடைய அப்பழுக்கற்ற பொதுச் சேவையையும் - மனிதாபிமான நடவடிக்கைகளையும் மனித நேயமுடைய நாம் மீட்டுப் பார்ப்பது இன்றைய இக்கட்டான சூழ்நிலையில் அவசியமானதாகவும் ஒரு பாடமானதாகவும் அமைகிறது!

ஈழத்தமிழ்ப் பேசும் மக்கள் வரலாற்றில் மட்டுமல்ல அனைத்து மக்களாலும் நேசிக்கப்பட்ட மாபெரும் தலைவரை நயவஞ்சமாகப் பேச்சுக்கு வருகிறோம் என்று சொல்லி பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தபொழுதே சுட்டுக்கொன்ற பாவமும் பழியும் தான் மக்களின் அவல வாழ்க்கைக்கு காரணம் என்று நான் சொல்வதில் எவ்வளவு பேர் இதை ஏற்றுக் கொள்வார்களோ? நானறியேன்.

தனியான தமது பாதுகாப்பில் கவனம் செலுத்திய அவர்களால் பொதுமக்களைக் காப்பாற்ற முடியாத துர்ப்பாக்கிய நிலை ஏற்பட்டது. அறிவிருந்திருந்தால் தாம் மட்டும் சண்டையிட்டிருக்கலாம். ஆனால் பொதுமக்களையும் தம்முடன் சேர்த்து பயணக் கைதிகளாக அம்மக்களை வருத்தியது ஒருபோதும் மன்னிக்கப்பட முடியாத குற்றமென்றே என் மனம் பகருகிறது. இந்நிலையில் மக்களின் நலனில் மாத்திரம் எப்போதும் அக்கறைகொண்டிருந்த தலைவர்களின் நினைவும் இவர்களின் பாதகமான செயல்களும் இன்றைய நிலையில் மீட்டுப்பகார்க்க வேண்டியதான ஒரு கட்டாயமாகிறது. இதே மாதம் நினைவுபடுத்தப்படவுள்ள (எதிர்வரும் 29இல்) கலாநிதி நீலன் திருச்செல்வம் அவர்களால் எழுதப்பட்ட Political Diary என்ற கட்டுரையை இன்றைய நினைவில் நான் சமர்ப்பிக்கின்றேன்.

Political Diary – Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam

Mr. Appapillai Amirthalingam’s tragic assassination represents the end of an era in the Political history of the Tamil speaking people. Amirthalingam assumed the mantle of the political leadership on the demise of the late Mr. S J V Chelvanayagam, who was his political mentor, Spiritual and intellectual guru. He was the natural successor of Mr, Chelvanayagam, because of his extraordinary talent as a party organizer and as a brilliant speaker.

As an orator he had few equals within the Parliamentary arena, both in Tamil and in English. Susan Ram writing in the Frontline, recently pointed out that there was hardly a word that was out of place when he spoke he had an exceptional command of the language, and the ability to marshal complex details, and to present his arguments with clarity. The speech that he delivered at the inauguration of the new parliamentary complex at the Sri Jayewardanapura was brilliant in its delivery and content. Mr. Thondaman remarked to me that the entire House was spellbound by the sheer force of his eloquence.

Amirthalingam displayed extraordinary energy as a political campaigner and a party organizer. He could address a dozen meetings, going in to the late hours of the night and yet retain the vibrancy of his voice. There was a chemistry between him and his audience. He was able to electrify his listeners with his eloquence, and he was in turn catalyzed and energized by their enthusiasm.

He had an extraordinary memory unparalleled in the political history of this country. He could remember events, personalities, incidents spanning more than 4 decades, and recall every detail with accuracy.

Since party records have been destroyed, he remained a vital link with the past the embodiment of the collective memory of the community.

He was kind, generous and accessible even to the humblest. He dedicated his life to politics, mastering every aspect of the political process. His parliamentary career during the last 6 months required him to play a role which is diametrically different from that he had played earlier. He was the sole arena. Mr. Anura Bandaranayake, former Leader of the Opposition once remarked to me that Tamil parliamentarians during the period 1977 to 1983 had more talent, intellectual capacity and debating ability than the UNP and SLFP combined.

It was generous tribute by someone who fundamentally disagreed with the politics of the TULF, the burden of upholding this parliamentary tradition fell squarely on the shoulders of Amirthalingam. He had to discharge this function at a time when the Tamil public opinion seemed so deeply divided on the fundamental issues which affected the community. He was listened to attentively by both sides of the House, as an elder statesman, a brilliant parliamentarian. No tribute to Mr. Amirthalingam could be complete without reference to the close and intimate relationship between him and his wife Mangayarkarasi. This was a political partnership similer to the partnership between Sydney and Beatrice. Web, the Fabian Socialists of the United Kingdom. She was in the midst of every political struggle, and election campaign, and was interested for months at Panagoda. Amirthalingam and Mangayarkarasi were inseparable and complimented each other in every respect. She was as effective as an orator, an indefatigable campaigner. I vividly recall that in the immediate aftermath of July 1983, I had to stay with them at their Moolai residence and discuss a statement that had to be prepared on the July events. After we had drafted the statement Mr. and Mrs. Amirthalingam preceded hand-in-hand to the garden of their house for their usual evening walk – a practice they continued for years. It was a image of marital harmony, and togetherness that is deeply etched in my memory.

His voice has been stilled. Even hundreds of tapes of his speeches over the years were unfortunately destroyed, A community which does not value its unique and rich history, cannot preserve its identity. The murder of Amirthalingam culminates a process of ethnic fratricide – now entering the phase of self-destruction of the Tamil community.

Mr. Vettivelu Yogeswaran was a politician with enormous personal charm. As a parliamentarian he set public standards which others found impossible to emulate. Whenever his constituents come to Colombo, he would personally accompany them to Governments departments, arrange for them to have a bath at Sravasthi, and provide them with a dinner parcel for their return journey to Jaffna. There was no request however trivial that he did not respond to with utmost concern. His charisma was an unique one. He had such a pleasant and attractive disposition, that in 1977 he was the symbol of the rising aspirations of a new generation.

One of the important tasks performed by Yogeswaran, during the period 1977 to 1983 was to meet foreign journalists and to brief them on the ethnic conflict. He did this with great skill. He entertained them generously at his personal account, and developed enduring friendships. One such person was Mark Tully of the BBC, perhaps the most influential and best known foreign journalist in the whole of South Asia. Mark held Yogeswaran in high esteem and never failed to contact him during his visits to Sri Lanka. While in India, Yogeswaran also forged a strong link with every shade of political opinion in India. He had no life other than of Politics and of service to his community. He cared for his people deeply and in this regard, was ably assisted by his wife. She was devoted to him and attended to his every need during the difficult days of his recent heart aliment.

Yogeswaran lost his home, his vehicle, his Parliamentary seat and ultimately his life, for a cause which he believed was larger and more important than that of a single individual.

இது அ. அமிர்தலிங்கம் அவர்களின் பவள விழா நினைவாக வெளியிடப்பட்ட வரலாற்றின் மனிதன் என்ற நூலிலிருந்த பெறப்பட்டது.

என்னால் 10ஆவது ஆண்டு நினைவில் எழுதப்பட்ட ஒரு பத்திரிகைச் செய்தியையும் பதிவுக்காக இங்கு இணைக்கின்றேன்.