S. J. V. Chelvanayakam
Ceylonese Parliament for Kankesanthurai | |
---|---|
In office 1947–1952 | |
Succeeded by | S. Natesan |
In office 1956–1977 | |
Preceded by | S. Natesan |
Succeeded by | A. Amirthalingam |
Personal details | |
Born | Ceylon Law College | 31 March 1898
Profession | Lawyer |
Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
Born into an
Chelvanayakam and ITAK advocated
Chelvanayakam suffered from
Early life and family
Chelvanayakam was born on 31 March 1898 in Ipoh, Malaya.[1][2][3] He was the son of Visvanathan Velupillai, a businessman, and Harriet Annamma Kanapathipillai.[2][4] Velupillai had been a school teacher in Tholpuram in northern Ceylon before migrating to Malaya as a contractor.[5] Chelvanayakam had two brothers (Ernest Velupillai Ponnuthurai and Edward Rajasundaram) and a sister (Atputham Isabel).[5] The family later moved from Ipoh to Taiping.[5]
Malaya had few schools and most of these catered for rich Malays.[2] It was common for expatriate Ceylon Tamils to send their children to schools in Ceylon.[2] Aged four, Chelvanayakam, his mother, his two brothers and his sister were sent to Ceylon for the children's schooling.[2][a] Velupillai remained in Malaya to provide for his family.[5] The family lived in Tellippalai, Harriet's home town, close to Harriet's siblings and their families.[2] Harriet's brother S. K. Ponniah, a Church of England minister, became Chelvanayakam's guide and adviser.[2]
Chelvanayakam was educated at
Chelvanayakam married Emily Grace Barr-Kumarakulasinghe (Rathinam), daughter of R. R. Barr-Kumarakulasinghe, in 1927.[1][4][8] The Barr-Kumarakulasinghes were an influential family from Tellippalai who served the Dutch and British administrations in Ceylon.[8] R. R. Barr-Kumarakulasinghe was Maniagar (British appointed administrative chief) for the Valikamam region.[8][14] The Chelvanayakams had four sons (Manoharan, Vaseekaran, Ravindran and Chandrahasan) and a daughter (Susila).[1][8]
Chelvanayakam was a Protestant Christian and a member of the Church of South India (CSI).[15] While studying in Colombo he became a member of the Church of England as the CSI had no presence in the capital.[15] Later, when the CSI established a church in Colombo, Chelvanayakam worshipped there.[15] Though a Christian, Chelvanayakam absorbed many of the values of Hinduism.[15] He claimed he was a Christian by religion and a Hindu by culture.[15]
Education, law and business
After graduating Chelvanayakam started teaching at St. Thomas but resigned when the
Chelvanayakam was part of a syndicate which purchased a controlling stake in the Pettiagalla Estate plantation in Balangoda.[24] He also owned a printing press which, though not profitable, was used to print ITAK's newspaper Suthanthiran (Freedom).[24][25][26]
Political career
All Ceylon Tamil Congress
With the annexation of the
As a young lawyer Chelvanayakam was not involved in politics but when the ACTC was established in 1944 he became one of its principal organisers.[38] Ponnambalam was the ACTC's president and Chelvanayakam was effectively his deputy.[38][39] Chelvanayakam was part of the delegation, led by Ponnambalam, to the Soulbury Commission which argued unsuccessfully for balanced representation.[38] Chelvanayakam stood as the ACTC candidate for Kankesanthurai in the 1947 parliamentary election. He won the election and entered Parliament.[40]
In the 19th and 20th centuries the British recruited large numbers of South Indians, primarily
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi
ITAK had four main aims: creation of a
Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact
With escalating discrimination against Tamils and
The B-C Pact was opposed by
At its sixth annual convention in
Chelvanayakam was re-elected in the March 1960 parliamentary election which resulted in a hung parliament.[83][84] The new Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake tried to get ITAK's support for his minority government but refused to give into ITAK's demands to end state-sponsored colonisation of Tamil-majority areas by Sinhalese, regional autonomy and the rights of Indian Tamils.[85] As a result, ITAK started negotiations with the opposition SLFP who agreed to introduce the provisions of the B-C pact as bills in parliament.[86] During the negotiations on forming an alternate stable government Chelvanayakam informed the Governor-General that ITAK would support a SLFP government for a full term and as result the Governor-General dissolved parliament.[86]
Civil disobedience
Chelvanayakam was re-elected in the July 1960 parliamentary election in which the SLFP and its leftist allies achieved a majority in parliament.[87][88] No longer needing ITAK's support in parliament, the SLFP reneged on its pledges to honour the B-C pact and commenced enacting anti-Tamil policies, announcing the full operation of the Sinhala Only Act from January 1961 and using Sinhala in courts of law throughout the country.[88] ITAK launched a campaign of civil disobedience in January 1961, beginning in Jaffna.[88] Chelvanayakam started distributing leaflets outside Jaffna Kachcheri in Old Park urging Tamil civil servants to boycott government offices and cease using Sinhala.[89] The campaign was hugely successful and large crowds, including ITAK MPs, gathered in front of the Kachcheri and staged a protest rally.[89]
Early on the morning of 20 February 1961 dozens of ITAK volunteers staged a satyagraha at the Jaffna Kachcheri.[90][91] Among them were several ITAK MPs including Chelvanayakam.[90] As Government Agent M. Srikantha and Superintendent of Police Richard Arndt tried to leave Old Park in a jeep the protesters blocked their way.[90] The police baton charged the protestors, kicking and dragging them away.[60][90][91] Several protestors, including ITAK MPs A. Amirthalingam, V. Dharmalingam, V. A. Kandiah, E. M. V. Naganathan and K. Thurairatnam were injured.[90] The police fired tear gas to disperse a large crowd that had gathered to watch the satyagraha.[90] At the end of the day Chelvanayakam issued a press statement saying that it was "a great day for the Tamil-speaking people of Ceylon. This was the day we resorted to direct action to win our freedom".[90]
As the civil disobedience campaign spread to other parts of the north-east, Prime Minister
The detention order on the ITAK leaders was lifted in October 1961.
Dudley-Chelvanayakam Pact
Chelvanayakam was re-elected in the
National government
ITAK joined the UNP-led seven party
Tiruchelvam resigned from the government in November 1968 when Senanayake over-ruled Tiruchelvam's decision to appoint a committee to look into declaring
United Front
Chelvanayakam was re-elected in the 1970 parliamentary election which resulted in the Sinhala nationalist SLFP and its leftist allies winning a large majority in Parliament.[112][113] Sensing that life was going to get even worse for Tamils under the United Front government, Chelvanayakam declared "Only God can help the Tamils".[113][114] Some Tamil youth, who felt that they had no other choice, started resorting to violence.[115] Chelvanayakam, who still commanded respect among Tamil youth, urged them to renounce violence and continue with their education.[115]
Following the 1971 JVP insurrection the United Front started implementing policies aimed at the causes of the insurrection but which further discriminated against Tamils. Jobs and land in the newly nationalised plantations were given to Sinhala youth, to the exclusion of Tamils.[116] Chelvanayakam labelled the nationalisation "highway robbery".[116] The policy of standardisation replaced the merit based system for university entrance with one based on ethnicity, discriminating against Tamil youths.[117]
Using its large majority in Parliament, the United Front government started the process of replacing the "British imposed"
Tamil United Front
There was growing resentment amongst Tamils at the monopolisation of political and economic power by the Sinhalese.
In the meantime, Tamil political opinion started shifting as a result of the government's perceived apathy and the Prime Minister's apparent inability to recognise the consequences of the growing ethnic tension in the country.
Tamil United Liberation Front
The
On 21 May 1976 several Tamil politicians (A. Amirthalingam, V. N. Navaratnam, K. P. Ratnam, M. Sivasithamparam and K. Thurairatnam) were delivering leaflets when they were all arrested on government orders.[139][140] Sivasithamparam was released but the others were taken to Colombo and tried for sedition.[139] All the defendants were acquitted on 10 February 1977 after a high-profile trial-at-bar[e] case in which around 70 prominent Tamil lawyers, including Chelvanayakam and G. G. Ponnambalam, acted for the defence.[134][141]
The last years of Chelvanayakam were personally difficult.[142] He had financial problems as a result of the government not paying him compensation for the nationalisation of two plantations in which he had shares.[142] Two of his sons and daughter had moved abroad.[142] He had frequent falls as a result of his Parkinson disease.[142]
In March 1977 the government sought the TULF's support for extending the life of Parliament.
Legacy
Chelvanayakam has been described as a father figure to Ceylon's Tamils, to whom he was known as "Thanthai Chelva" (Father Chelva).
Chelvanayakam's non-violent methods proved to be ineffective against Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism and failed to secure Tamils' rights from successive governments.[158][159][160] With his death the era of non-violent protest was replaced by violent militancy.[161]
Electoral history
Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1947 parliamentary[40] | Kankesanthurai | ACTC | 12,126 | Elected |
1952 parliamentary[54] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
11,571 | Not elected |
1956 parliamentary[55] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
14,855 | Elected |
1960 March parliamentary[83] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
13,545 | Elected |
1960 July parliamentary[87] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
15,668 | Elected |
1965 parliamentary[98] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
14,735 | Elected |
1970 parliamentary[112] | Kankesanthurai | ITAK |
13,520 | Elected |
1975 parliamentary by[133] | Kankesanthurai | TUF |
25,927 | Elected |
Footnotes
- ^ According to another source Chelvanayakam's sister died aged two, before the family went to Tellippalai.[5]
- ^ Leading schools in colonial Ceylon were called "colleges".[7]
- ^ Another sources states that Chelvanayakam visited his father in 1922.[11]
- ^ Another sources states Chelvanayakam taught mathematics at Wesley College and was head of the science department.[18]
- ^ A trial-at-bar is a trial before three or more judges.
- ^ According to another source Chelvanayakam died on 27 March 1977.[142]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon (PDF). London, UK. p. 36.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wilson 1994, p. 1.
- ^ "Directory of Past Members: Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayakam". Colombo, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "Thanthai Chelva remembered on his 31st anniversary". TamilNet. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ PMID 15125406.
- ^ The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 0-472-10288-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wilson 1994, p. 2.
- ^ a b Rajendran 1978, p. 1.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 9.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 15.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 5.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 20.
- ^ Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon (PDF). London, UK. p. 25.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c d e Wilson 1994, p. 4.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, pp. 9–10.
- ^ a b c d e Vivekananthan, C. V. (30 March 2008). "Tamil language provisions, provincial councils and 16th Amendment". The Nation. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, pp. 28–29.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b Rajendran 1978, p. 10.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 5.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 30.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 6–7.
- ^ a b Rajendran 1978, p. 4.
- ^ Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (1 January 2006). "The benign parliamentarian from Batticaloa". The Sunday Leader. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Hoole, Rajan (21 April 2016). "Federal Party: Gain and Loss of the Moral High Ground". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-415-66774-6.
- ISBN 978-0-415-61851-9.
- ISBN 159033-573-2.
- ISBN 0-313-33205-3.
- ISBN 9780190624385.
- ISBN 978-0-415-74233-7.
- ISBN 978-0-415-43429-4.
- ISBN 0-8248-3016-4.
- ISBN 0-415-35920-1.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5.
- ISBN 0-7914-3833-3.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 6.
- ^ Vivekananthan, C. V. (24 April 2011). "Federalism: Sweet yesterday, sour today". The Nation (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 81-7304-100-8.
- ^ "Assessment for Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka". Minorities at Risk/University of Maryland, College Park. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 0-520-04320-0.
- ISBN 0-7185-0154-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4828-7478-5.
- ^ de Alwis, Sarath (4 July 2013). "Can a two-thirds majority determine moral rectitude?". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Khan, Gerrard (October 2001). "Citizenship and statelessness in South Asia" (PDF). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. p. 6. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 0-8248-3016-4.
- ISBN 978-1-84331-791-3.
- ^ Vinayagamoorthy, A. (8 November 2003). "103rd Birth Anniversary today : G. G. Ponnambalam - Founder of ACTC". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 14: Post-colonial realignment of political forces". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5.
- ^ a b Wilson 2000, p. 82.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Vivekananthan, C. V. (26 April 2016). "Misinterpreted statesman". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 81-7648-449-0.
- ^ Ross, Russell R.; Savada, Andrea Matles, eds. (1990). Sri Lanka : A Country Study. Washington D.C., US: Library of Congress. p. 45. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 80.
- ^ The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Sabaratnam, T. (1996). The Murder of a Moderate: Political Biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam. Dehiwela, Sri Lanka: Nivetha Publishers. pp. 71–72.
- ISBN 0-8047-4924-8.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 83.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 83–84.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 2000, p. 85.
- ^ ITAK 2000, p. 244.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 84–85.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1994, p. 86.
- ISBN 9780262522458.
- ISBN 978-0-415-85486-3.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 87.
- ^ a b Wilson 2000, p. 88.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 87–88.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 88.
- ^ Wilson 2000, p. 89.
- ^ ITAK 2000, p. 256.
- ISBN 0-8248-3016-4.
- ISBN 978-0-415-46266-2.
- ^ Vittachi, Tarzie (1958). Emergency '58 the Story of the Ceylon race Riots. London, UK: André Deutsch. p. 44.
- ISBN 978-9381411919.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 89.
- ^ Vittachi, Tarzie (1958). Emergency '58 the Story of the Ceylon race Riots. London, UK: André Deutsch. p. 90.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1960-03-19" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1994, p. 90.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 91–92.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 93.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1960-07-20" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1994, p. 94.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 95.
- ^ a b c d e f g Sabaratnam, T. (1996). The Murder of a Moderate: Political Biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam. Dehiwela, Sri Lanka: Nivetha Publishers. pp. 121–122.
- ^ a b Thavarajah, S. (1 June 2007). "The voice of conscience– III". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 96.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 97.
- ^ a b c Rajendran 1978, p. 11.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 98.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 99.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 102.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 103.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 104.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5.
- ISBN 0-8248-1116-X.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 105.
- The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 106–107.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 107.
- ISBN 1-85065-033-0.
- ISBN 978-0-415-61851-9.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 107–109.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 110.
- ^ a b "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1994, p. 114.
- ^ Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 22: 'Only God Can Save the Tamils'". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 115.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 121.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 121–122.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1994, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 124.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 117–118.
- ^ Sabaratnam, T. (1996). The Murder of a Moderate: Political Biography of Appapillai Amirthalingam. Dehiwela, Sri Lanka: Nivetha Publishers. p. 206.
- ISBN 978-0-415-58884-3.
- ISBN 978-0-313-35412-0.
- ^ Ross, Russell R.; Savada, Andrea Matles, eds. (1990). Sri Lanka : A Country Study (PDF). Washington D.C., US: Library of Congress. p. 51. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 81-85880-52-2.
- ISBN 978-1-105-01908-1.
- ^ a b c Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 23: Srimavo's constitutional promiscuity". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Archived from the original on 13 February 2002. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 118.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 123.
- ^ ITAK 2000, pp. 282–283.
- ^ a b c d Wilson 1994, p. 125.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 126.
- ^ a b "Summary of By-Elections 1947 to 1988" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 24: Tamil militancy - a manifestation". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 128.
- ISBN 978-0-754-67884-7.
- ^ "Thanthai Chelva's 109th anniversary commemorated". TamilNet. 31 March 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b Wilson 1994, p. 129.
- ^ a b Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (9 June 2002). "Life and times of Sivasithamparam". The Sunday Leader. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Rajasingham, K. T. (26 August 2005). "Amirthalingham Era – A book review". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Sumanthiran, M. A. (28 October 2012). "13A: To be or not ..." Ceylon Today. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Wilson 1994, p. 131.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 130.
- ^ Wilson 1994, pp. 130–131.
- ^ a b c Eelaventhan, M. K. (31 March 2005). "S. J. V. Chelvanayakam: The man and his mission". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Eelaventhan, M. K. (30 March 2008). "Chelvanayagam – man of vision, courage and conviction". The Nation. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Obituary: John Gillingham". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, UK. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Dimanno, Rosie (22 September 2013). "Sri Lanka election shows Tamils reject the status quo". Toronto Star. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. viii.
- ^ "Thanthai Chelva remembered on his 112th Birthday in Jaffna". TamilNet. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ISBN 1400876907.
- ^ Vittachi, Tarzie (1958). Emergency '58 the Story of the Ceylon race Riots. London, UK: André Deutsch. p. 89.
- ISBN 0-312-22864-3.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 26.
- ^ Navaratnam, V. (1991). The Fall and Rise of the Tamil Nation: Events leading to the Tamil war of independence and resumption of Eelam sovereignty. Madras, India: Kaanthalakam. p. 115.
- ^ Rajendran 1978, p. 29.
- ISBN 1-932705-48-1.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 134.
- ISBN 0-8248-1116-X.
- ISBN 978-1-4525-2863-2.
- ^ Wilson 1994, p. 132.
References
- இலங்கைத் தமிழ் அரசுக் கட்சி வெள்ளி விழா மலர் 1949-1974 - Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi Silver Jubilee Volume (PDF). ITAK. 2000.
- Rajendran, Arul M. (1978). S.J.V. Chelvanayakam: A Tribute. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ISBN 1-85065-130-2.
- ISBN 0-7748-0759-8.
External links
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