Dreams of celebrating 100th birthday in home village
by IRIN News
This time last year, Arulamma Thambiraja, 99, was among tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Sri Lanka's north by fighting between government forces and the since-defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Arulamma Thambiraja, "I have seen things I never thought I would, so much death"
When the fighting reached her village of Navajeevanam, near the town of Paranthan in Kilinochchi district in January 2009, her family fled deeper into areas controlled by the LTTE. She was carried on a chair by her sons and grandchildren during most of their journey.
In April 2009, she entered a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) with her family and was there until January this year. She now lives with a relative near the capital Colombo, where she told IRIN of the fighting and her dreams to return home:
"Things were deteriorating by the minute, there was shelling from all sides. I never expected to survive. Every second was like a lifetime there.
"My sons were carrying me. We could not stay in one place for long, it was very difficult. Food was hard to find ... going to the toilet was risking death.
"It is with God's grace that I am here, nothing else. I don't know how I made it out, it was terrible, there were people everywhere running scared. I just closed my eyes every time there was a loud sound; I never expected to open them. It was a like a very long, very bad dream.
"So many things have happened in my lifetime. The war began when I was already a grandmother and in my 60s. I have seen things I never thought I would, so much death, so much destruction.
"When the authorities said we could return to our villages, my family did not want to return immediately. We were not sure what we would find in the village. The house was destroyed, there were mines everywhere. And my children felt I needed rest.
"I don't know anyone in my lifetime who has lived to 100 years, no one in my village has lived that long. I want to be the first, I want go there and celebrate.
"I just want to go back to my village, live like I used to, in peace, with no worries. That is my only dream."
11 Comments
We will all cheer you along and wish you Happy Birthday if President Rajapakse and his administration succeeds in resettling you and others safely in your village, Amma. There are so many good things assured as being in place now to make the Tamils happy and feel as part of one Sri Lanka.
The LTTE ruined the lives of many Tamils and governments in the South more. Let`s all hope all this misery and tears can be left behind all of us - soon. Your tale is a deeply touching one.
ISS
Wish you good health and may your dream come true very soon!
Wish you a long life achchi. This was the fate of many tamils lived in north especialy till last.We know you love that land.I wish and pray that your dream to live there may come true soon. Your story was deeply touching my heart.
Sinhala Son from South
A very poignant story from this grand lady who has survived the trials and tribulations of the Eleam wars. My heart goes out to her. I wish her a very happy hundred years. Unfortunately she has witnessed many a harrowing scenes in the brutality of war. At least she can now live in peace during the autumn of her life and witness the real efforts made to make Sri Lanka one nation irrespective of race or creed.
Thanks to Mahinda Rajapaksa who had the foresight to take on the terrorists who had made the life of this lady and her family untenable. My heartfelt thanks also to the brave soldiers of the Sri Lankan forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice to make life for this lady and the others terrorised by the LTTE possible.
I am honoured to wish you the fulfilment of your dreams to live out your life in your village.
Is she a relative of Rev. Tambirajah the JDCSI pastor who founded the Navajeevanam?
Sugath:
You are not just a Sinhala son from the South. You belong to the whol, now divided country. A time will come sooner than later when we can all get together and celebrate such fine uniting spirit.
ISS
May the trpple gem bless you gradma as buddhist we say.
May you be lucky to witness the revival of Sri Lanka as a great nation, motherland of all sinhala tamil muslim and what not races who live there. Long live to see all the bogus arguments that we used to fight for, shatters and we all rise with the help of each other.
Merlin Van Tweest is making use of this opportunity to sing the praise of the oppressor and trying to catch a few votes for the mafia!!!
Hope this gentle lady's and several thousands Tamil Peoples' wishes will be fulfilled. Hope they will live with peace and DIGNITY which is being denied to them, to this very moment!!!! The government is still behaving like a victor and treating the Tamils like conquered people, who can be treated any way they like by the victors!!!Instead of looking after the people and restoring their lives, the government is spending all the resources in the election, the sole purpose of which is to remain in power and to fill their pockets!!!!
Yes.She is indeed the widow of Rev.AC Thambyrajah and mother of Rev.Sathiyaraj of the Methodist Church.The Thambyrajahs along with four other Christan Tamil families founded the "Navajeevanam" (new Life) community living project
Mitt,
She is the wife of Rev. Thambirajah.
The march issue of Himal South Asia carries a poignant account of her life recounted by a grand nephew and Grand Niece.
To answer the inquiry from Mitt: Yes she is the wife of Rev.A.C.Thambyrajah, who founded Navajeevanam in 1959 along with Sister Elizabeth Baker of Methodist church. The activities and service to mankind stopped due to circumstances beyond their control at Navajeevanam after 50 years.