Karunanidhi laments the death of Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 November 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Seen as a significant gesture, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and veteran leader of Tamils, M. Karunanidhi, condoled the demise of Thamilchelvan on Saturday. Kalaignar Karunanidhi, quite typical of his style, used the medium of poetry and pun to pass a subtle message that the Tamils of Sri Lanka haven't gone brotherless. The Chief Minister's emotion-filled condolence gains significance in the background of a prevailing impression that the government of India is fully backing the war efforts of the government of Sri Lanka aiming for a military solution to the ethnic crisis in the island.

According to media reports for quite some time, the government of Sri Lanka was pressing the Indian government with a long list of sophisticated weapons for air combat.

It is speculated that advanced technology was put in use in the pinpoint bombing of the residence of the members of the political division of the LTTE, which claimed the life of their Political Head Brigadier S.P. Thamilchelvan, on Friday.

Mr. Karunanidhi has been an opponent to military option to resolve the Tamil ethnic question in Sri Lanka.

In March 1990, when the IPKF was withdrawn from Sri Lanka, Mr. Karunanidhi, who was then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, refused to attend the reception of the returning troops in Madras.

Condolence poetry by Kalaignar Karunanidhi
English translation: TamilNet

Always smiling face -
A mind that sets ablaze opposition!


Young, young, yet a heart of
Himalayan strength, strength!

A commander seasoned in the line
of the old lion Balasingam

The virtuous youth whom with determination
offered himself to the War for Rights -
his soul hasn't gone extinguished
he hasn't gone brotherless

A beloved son who wrote his fame
all over the earth, wherever Tamils live -
where have you gone?

TamilNet Transcription of the text:

Eppoathum chiriththidum mukam -
Ethirppuka'lai eriththidum negncham!


I'lamai i'lamai ithayamoa
Imayaththin valimai! valimai!


Kizhach chingkam paalasingkam vazhiyil
Pazhamaay pakkuvampetta padaith tha'lapathi!

Uramaay thannaiyum urimaip poarukkena uthaviya
Uththama vaalipan - uyir a'naiyaan
Udan pi'rappa'naiyaan


Thamizhar vaazhum nilamelaam avartham manaiyelaam
Thanpukazh chethukkiya chelvaa - engku chen'raay?

The original text of the condolence poem in Tamil:

எப்போதும் சிரித்திடும் முகம் -
எதிர்ப்புகளை எரித்திடும் நெஞ்சம்!


இளமை இளமை இதயமோ
இமயத்தின் வலிமை! வலிமை!


கிழச் சிங்கம் பாலசிங்கம் வழியில்
பழமாய் பக்குவம்பெற்ற படைத் தளபதி!


உரமாய் தன்னையும் உரிமைப் போருக்கென உதவிய
உத்தம வாலிபன் - உயிர் அணையான்
உடன் பிறப்பணையான்


தமிழர் வாழும் நிலமெலாம் அவர்தம் மனையெலாம்
தன்புகழ் செதுக்கிய செல்வா - எங்கு சென்றாய்?

The Tamil text has been released by the Tamil Nadu government Information and Public Relations Department.

Chronology:


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20.12.06   Karunanidhi praised for message on Balasingham