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Reimagining Narratives of Resistance: Memory Work in the London Tamil Diaspora
Abstract
This article explores memory-making practice in a small section of the London Tamil diaspora, the shaping and reshaping of memories of state crime and resistance, and the potential and challenges of this memory work in the context of a globalized and criminalized justice struggle. The Tamil Information Centre's “Tamils of Lanka: a Timeless Heritage” exhibition is discussed as an intervention into Tamil memory practices in London as a necessary, enlivening and hopeful departure from an increasingly dispirited reliance on street protest, a supplement to protest, political lobbying and accountability efforts, and a new space for community-based mourning rituals. Mobilizing the concept of “memory knots” (Stern 2010), this article explores the radical shift in commemorative practice in 2019 pioneered by TIC volunteers, relying on interviews with exhibition organizers in their role as memory workers, and reflects on the potential of this public invitation to reimagine the past as one of resistance and resilience. The latter part of this article explores the contestations and contradictions that emerged in the exhibition organizing process; the damage wrought by prevailing terrorism discourses on community memory comes into view. I argue that the exhibition, as a process and an invitation, signals a new appetite for historical excavation and a reimagining of Tamil resistance.
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Author and article information
Notes
In May 1976, Tamil politicians adopted the Vaddukoddai Resolution, declaring that “the restoration and reconstitution of the state of Tamil Eelam based on the right of self-determination inherent in every nation had become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamils” (TIC 2017: 5). For the historical trajectory, see also Balasingham (2003), Rasaratnam (2016) and Whall (1995). For ongoing political developments in party politics, leaning towards federalism, see the Tamil Guardian (2020b).
Pseudoynms are used in this paper to preserve anonymity.
See the TIC website for more details of the organization's work and principles: https://ticonline.org/index.php.
More pejoratively known as “plantation” or “hill country” Tamils. See Bass (2012).
This is a non-comprehensive overview of the exhibition's content. I have described the content more fully elsewhere (Seoighe forthcoming).
Varatharajah's Instagram account beautifully explores Tamil and diaspora Tamil histories, lived experience and analysis: https://www.instagram.com/varathas/?hl=en.
Watch an associated film, “Parai: The Beat to Freedom” by journalist and film-maker Nalini Sivathasan: https://vimeo.com/321322460.
Photographer Sabes Sugunasabesan curated the space as a TIC volunteer and included some of his work. South Korean artist Yeni Kim, a student at Kingston University, close to the TIC offices, contributed beautiful illustrations drawing on her interviews with the Tamil community, which were facilitated by Varadakumar. See Tamil Information Centre (2019) for more.
See Tamil Survival Stories on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/tamilsurvivalstories/.
Explore these stories at: http://storiesofresilience.com/.
The documentary based on the book Keenie Meenie: The British Mercenaries Who Got Away with War Crimes (2020) is available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-08-keenie-meenie-britains-private-army/.
See Thirsika's work at https://www.artsthread.com/profile/thirsikajeyapalan/.
Such as the International Truth and Justice Project's “Counting the Dead” initiative, which aims to arrive at a final number of deaths from that time—a contested and much-debated issue: https://itjpsl.com/reports/counting-the-dead.
Or cunji, depending on the spelling in translation.
See for example ACPR's tweet (2019), https://twitter.com/AdayaalamCPR/status/1129649806555701249, which says, alongside a photo of a tray holding servings of kanchi and another photo with red and yellow bunting, the Tamil Eelam (and LTTE) colours, “Today we remember all those who died in the war, especially the many thousands of Tamil relations who were snatched away from us in the genocide unleashed on us in the final stages of the war. Our work for accountability and justice will continue. Let's remember, let's fight.”