Royal Holloway Tamil Society

Since its mental health awareness week (I would have posted this yesterday but exam looool) I wanted to bring up this issue as it seems to be a topic typically brushed under the carpet within the Tamil community. People underestimate the prevalence of mental health and we should treat it as physical illnesses. This affects everyone in various ways and intensities but is often ignored because of ignorance and lack of empathy/understanding. People suffering from mental issues often keep it to themselves because it will be seen as shameful. Especially during this period of time, the pressure and stress could enhance mental health instability so watch out for changes in your friends. Just by listening, you can help support them when they need you the most.

Congratulations to our new committee for the academic year 2018/19!

President: Kirusaanth Karunanithy
Secretary: Mathusha Kangatharan
Treasurer: Ahilesh Ramesh
Marketing Officer: Sujirtha Jeyakumaran
Events Coordinator: Sharmila Sevatherajan

Happy Tamil New Year!

Happy 3rd anniversary to Royal Holloway Tamil Society - we have grown so much in the last few years and will only continue getting bigger and better. Thanks to everyone, who have come to our events and supported us throughout this journey!

Our dinner and dance will take place in 2 days - after party tickets are available for everyone so get yours asap!!! Tickets are available from our SU page - it'll be a fun night so don't miss out!

The Generation Taken
Protests across the north east of Sri Lanka by the families of the forcibly disappeared have been ongoing for more than a year.
The current movement predominantly led by women, is demanding the release of the lists of names of those who have surrendered to the Sri Lankan military around the time when the civil war ended in May 2009, on the promise of safety and dignity made to their families; and to release the list of the names of those taken as “political prisoners”. In the face of military intimidation, the families have continued their calls for justice and a resolution to the whereabouts of their loved ones day in and day out.
Resolution 30/1 adopted by the United nations human rights council (UNHRC) in 2015, calls for accountability for the past human rights violations by setting up an office of missing persons (OMP), a commission for truth, justice and reconciliation and a justice mechanism including commonwealth and importantly, foreign judges.
However, three years on the current Sirisena government, paraded as “progressive”, have fallen short on a placard of faux promises and a chronic state of inaction and none of these charters have been met.
Royal Holloway, University of London Tamil Society as a part of a wider diasporic community of students in the UK whole heartedly support the protestors’ rights of self-determination and reassert their calls to the International Community to apply pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to release the list of the forcibly disappeared.
A whole generation taken as another grew. The future that we were gifted with will always be intrinsically intertwined with the aspirations of those who have sacrificed.
Still the question being asked by the families remains the same “Where are you?”

Royal Holloway, University of London Tamil Society

Happy Pongal everyone! ❤️

Happy New Years Eve! Hope you enjoy your evening, whatever you are up to - we will see you all in the new year

Merry Christmas to those celebrating! Hope everyone enjoys the day with their loved ones 💖

Hope you all are enjoying the one month Christmas break spending time with your loved ones! We have got exciting events coming up in 2018 for you all to look forward to once term starts - watch this space x