For the second year running TYO UK’s KatkaKasadara was an immense success. The finals took place on the 18thFebruary at the HighgatehillMurugan Temple. Having held the regional rounds at various locations in London the finalists came together to compete against one another. The panel of judges had an enormous task of choosing the top three contestants from each age group.

Winners:

6 & Under

1st: Jeshvin Jesudas (6)

2nd: Sarujan Thavarajah (6)

3rd: Venuja Natkunasingham (5)

Special award: Adavan Ananthan (4)

7 to 10

1st: Abiramy Sriskantharajah (9)

2nd: Nivethika Ganesalingam (8)

3rd: Powrniha Karunakaran (10)

11 to 14

1st: AswiniyAnanthan (11)

2nd: SaminthaThavarajah (12)

3rd: PiraveenaKirupakaran (13)

TYO proudly started the prize giving ceremonywith the Mangalavilakku (the welcome light) lit by PullavarSivanathan and wife. Followed by a one-minute silence which was observed to remember all those lost to Sri Lanka’s genocidal repression and the Tamil struggle to protect their identity.

TYOpresented a speech stating the importance of language, an essential aspect of our identity, it reflects our culture and echoes who we are. The speech encouraged the children to carry on the tradition and to get them involved in the future events. TYO are proud to be able to share our culture and identity to our generations down the line. Next TYO members presented a spectacular classical performance, two singers accompanied by miruthangam.The performers sang “Tamil thaivaalthu – ValkaNirantharam” beautifully.

Following the classical line, remarkable Bharathanatyadance acts were given by the students of Miss.A.Ananthan, Mrs.H.Sugumar and Mrs.P.Ravindran.

An excellent classical vocal performance, showing how many students can come together in unison was given by the students of SANSKRITI. Followed bya stunning vocal performance accompanied by the violin and miruthangam consisting of seven singers were performed by the students of North London Tamil School. This gave the audience a sensational harmony to their ears SANSKRITI then gave a beautiful bharathanatyam dance, four classical dancers showing the use of colour and the ability to add to the meaning of the dance. Mrs.H.Sugumar students displayed use of expression and elegant movement to depict three peacocks.

At the peak of the evening TYO gave an interesting presentation, a video summarising its aims including the past events organised by the councils of TYO UK since 2004. This received a well-deserved round of applause from the audience. The chief GuestPullavarSivanathan gave his speech in the form of a poem. He praised TYO for its effort in preserving and promoting the Tamil language. ‘Carry the flame, the Tamil torch bearers’.

North London Tamil School presented a fantastic fusion dance with a modern twist.Another outstanding classical dance followed about the Tamil language by the students of Diyaneera Academy of Dance.

TYO gave an uplifting dance depicting the significance of the Tamil language as a classical language. The judges were presented with gifts as a token of our appreciation and the evening concluded with a vote of thankswhich included our sponsors, audience, participants and parents.

TYO will continue to walk sure-footed and remain grounded as we continue to work for our Nation preserving our identity. We will continue to keep our eyes on the prize because the harder we fall the higher we will rise.

We should all have the right to speak our mother tongue and to pass it on to our children no matter where we live.This is not a privilege, it is a right.

TYO would like to applaud the children’s accomplishments and express it’s sincere thanks to the children and their parents for their time and dedication and wishes them all the best in their future endeavours.

As one mother, Mrs.Vickneswaran cited ‘The generations to come will recall the Tamil Youth Organisation’s effort in preserving the Tamil language in the United Kingdom’. We will not fail in living up to these words.

Regional rounds:

North East Winners 2012 

North West Winners 2012 

South East Winners 2012 

South West Winners 2012 

In a prominent display of Tamil identity, YUTSA unfurled the Tamileelam National flag as presenting the Tamil Nation during the opening day. The Tamileelam National flag was hoisted along with the flags of the world. In all competitions and themes YUTSA displayed the Tamileelam National flag using the theme of “Tamil Identity” as their theme throughout the week. In various competitions that took place on campus a prominent display of Tamil culture was noticeable, from clothing to food was also proudly presented.

“We should be proud of our identity. Everything that makes us up we should be proud of, from our flag to our rich language to our cultural attire to the food that we eat. Today we have shown the entire world that we are an ancient, unique and proud Nation with a rich history, heritage and traditions. Our flag too was flying high and proud” said Purushothaman Kugarajah, President of the York University Tamil Students Association.

YUTSA had top placements in: Most Politically Conscious, Dance Performance and Fashion show. In the overall competition, YUTSA placed an impressive second place. The Indian Cultural Association (ICA) representing India placed first place.

Members of the Tamil Youth Organisation UK, (TYO UK), celebrated London’s multi-cultural diversity at the 2012 Come Together Rally.

The event, endorsed by Sir Paul Mc Cartney, was held on the 4th February at Trafalgar Square.

Groups from nations across the world took part, many of them sharing their experiences of oppression, discrimination and genocide, such as a group from the British Chinese community who thanked the ‘Come Together London Rally’ supporting the “struggle for justice and freedom a genocidal state.”

Jeya, a member of TYO UK, shared a deeply moving poem with the crowds, on the genocide faced by Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka to this day.

“The poem is about a Tamil person witnessing the massacre of their brothers and sisters”, he told Tamil Guardian.

Raising awareness about the role of sport in holding repressive regimes to account, TYO UK members spoke to on-lookers and passersbys about the Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket campaign.

“Everyone we spoke to was really sympathetic and really keen to sign the postcards we had, asking for England to boycott the Sri Lankan cricket team”, said Jeya. “They’d seen the Channel 4 Killing Fields documentary and were shocked by what they saw”.

Full Article : http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=4389

TYO was given the opportunity to read a poem out and explain about the oppression that the Tamil nation is facing in Sri Lanka. The poem was the recount of a Tamil witnessing the massacre of their brothers and sisters. Various communities were given the opportunity to express and share their views through speeches and poems. The British Chinese community also took part in the event. We thank ‘Come Together London Rally’ for inviting us and support our struggle for justice and freedoma genocidal state.

TYO was then involved in creating awareness among the visiting public. Flyers were handed out and people signed cricket boycott postcards. The flags of many nations were drawn on the ground of Trafalgar Square, the flag of Tamil Eelam was one of them.

TYO UK Analysis & Advocacy council: http://www.tyouk.org/councils/analysis-and-advocacy/

More Pic : http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354655871220503.86990.323626334323457&type=1

TYO was given the opportunity to read a poem out and explain about the oppression that the Tamil nation is facing in Sri Lanka. The poem was the recount of a Tamil witnessing the massacre of their brothers and sisters. Various communities were given the opportunity to express and share their views through speeches and poems. The British Chinese community also took part in the event. We thank ‘Come Together London Rally’ for inviting us and support our struggle for justice and freedoma genocidal state.

TYO was then involved in creating awareness among the visiting public. Flyers were handed out and people signed cricket boycott postcards. The flags of many nations were drawn on the ground of Trafalgar Square, the flag of Tamil Eelam was one of them.

More Pic: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354655871220503.86990.323626334323457&type=1

Working in collaboration with Tamil societies at London universities, the TYO-UK designed a creative exhibit detailing the eight stages of the genocide of Eezham Tamils.

Full Article: http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=34852

Ilajor arivial kalakam – YCSE

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/human-rights-institute-questions-sri-lanka039s-judicial-independence

“Throughout Sri Lanka’s tour to England, a small and dedicated band of Tamil protesters have done their best to raise awareness of the persecution that members of this minority have suffered and continue to suffer in their homeland.

“They were at the Sri Lankans’ opening match, at Uxbridge, and at the Test matches at Cardiff and Lord’s. By and large, it is a voice that has been ignored.

“Channel 4’s distressing documentary on Tuesday evening that highlighted the systematic killing, torture and sexual abuse of Tamil prisoners of war and civilians during the past couple of years of the civil war, and that showed images that were more shocking than anything seen on television since the Ethiopian food shortages, should change all that.

“Increasingly, the United Nations’ inaction on the evidence of war crimes looks inexcusable. If that continues, it is likely that questions will be asked about the suitability of England’s tour to Sri Lanka, scheduled for this winter.

“After all, there seems little to differentiate President Rajapaksa’s brutal regime from that of Robert Mugabe’s in Zimbabwe, about whom English consciences were severely pricked.”

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/columnists/mikeatherton/article3063152.ece

http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=3243

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jun/04/tamil-protest-lords-sri-lanka