Mahendran Thiruvarangan

Some general reflections (in Tamil) on the British literary canon, postcolonialism and the relationship between literature, globalization and nationalism. youtube.com/watch?v=cO8xxa…

While S. Thomas College was an accidental refugee camp for the anti-Sanskritist Hela havula, Jaffna College men were the vanguard of Tamil’s revival and the call for Independence. The first call for swaraj arose from the Handy Perinpanaygam and the Jaffna Youth Congress. examiner.media/why-an-anandia…

An engaging Creativity in Writing lecture led by Senior Prof Neluka Silva at the University of Jaffna, where ideas, storytelling and the craft of writing was explored. Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to this inspiring session! #GratiaenTrust #GratiaenWorkshops

#Gota’s escape cost !✊ Today, the Court of Appeal dismissed t SL Navy’s request to keep certain information secret regarding costs related to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s naval travel during the #2022 crisis. 1/2 #Aragalaya #RTI #SriLanka

The Supreme Court today (19) ruled that the fundamental rights of former convener of the @IUSFSL, Wasantha Mudalige, were violated by his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act #PTA, in 2022. #RepealPTA Withdraw #PSTA NO Terror Laws!

Removing the national flag and hoisting the black flag should be understood as expressions of democratic protest and student activism. (2/2)

Very wrong to harass students and officers of the University of Jaffna in the guise of investigations, for lowering the national flag, an emblem of structural racism in Sri Lanka, and for hoisting a black flag in its place in protest on the Independence Day. (1/2)

A thoughtful and engaging Creative Writing workshop led by Senior Prof. Neluka Silva at the University of Jaffna, where students and aspiring writers came together to explore ideas, refine their voices, and deepen their understanding of storytelling. #GratiaenTrust

If LDF wins Kerala election, it will be wise to transition to a new CM instead of continuing with Vijayan as it would be prudent for LDF to start preparing its leadership for 2031. Shailaja would be an excellent choice, especially as she would become Kerala’s first woman CM.

The third and final day of the 109th Battle of the Golds, the traditional cricket encounter between Jaffna College and St. Patrick's College, is now underway at Bicknell Memorial Ground at Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai.

@shayehhhh @s_sivakajan One has to be vigilant about nationalism re-emerging. That is another struggle. When the founding principles of the state are not nationalist, that struggle becomes easier.

@shayehhhh @s_sivakajan When you take such a national identity out of the state, you at least constitutionally keep the state free of the burden of the nation. That is the key difference.

Pages from a Tamil translation of Exodus, a pro-Zionist book, by Eelanatham, an LTTE-affiliated publication. The first part was dedicated to Major Alahan who worked hard to bring out this publication.

The Gratiaen Trust is honoured to introduce the distinguished judges for the Gratiaen Prize 2026. V. V. Ganeshananthan Dinidu Karunanayake Azara Jaleel Together, they will guide the selection of the 2025 Gratiaen Prize, coming soon, in June. #GratiaenPrize #GratiaenTrust

@s_sivakajan How can the journey for a state formation that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of a population be inspiring? The intellectual process and actual state building which involved massive physical, material destruction of another population cannot be separated.

They always supported Palestinian Liberation. At the same time, the Jewish journey to statehood is an inspiring model of perseverance. The book refers to their intellectual efforts; not the occupation of Palestine. They did, in fact, give space for dissenting views.

@s_sivakajan I dont support national liberation struggles. I support liberation of regions under occupation& majoritarianism. Regions are different from nations/nationalities. For me, NorthEast is dif from Tamil nation. I support the liberation of northeast including as a separate state.

@t30m2 You support the liberation of other nationalities, yet work against your own people’s liberation. ​Why this double standard? This stance clearly shows you are working in favor of the structural genocide committed by the Sri Lankan regime over the North-East Tamil Homeland.

The case concerning the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Arulpius, who was shot dead last month by Kayts Police in the Allaipiddy area of Jaffna, was taken up today (12) before the Kayts Magistrate’s Court. More than 15 police officers, including a Senior Superintendent of Police, appeared before the court. Representing the victim’s family were six lawyers, including Kumaravadivel Guruparan, Arul Niros, and Shalini. During submissions, the lawyers representing the family stated that they have no confidence in the investigation conducted by the police, noting that the bullet which caused the death has still not been recovered. They also highlighted several inconsistencies in the investigation, including the lack of evidence to show that a bullet had passed through the vehicle’s front windshield as claimed. Attorney Arul Niros requested that the investigation be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo. Meanwhile, Kumaravadivel Guruparan argued that earlier B-reports filed by the police suggested the shooting was carried out in self-defence, indicating that a conclusion had already been reached before a proper investigation was completed. He further pointed out that a report dated 10 February 2026 stated that the bullets had been fired from firearms issued to Police Constables Salman and Marasinghe, yet they had neither been arrested nor even named as suspects. The police rejected the allegations and told the court that the investigation is being carried out properly and that relevant forensic materials have been sent for examination. After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Nalini Subaskaran noted that the concerns raised by the victim’s family indicated serious dissatisfaction with the current investigation. Emphasizing the need to ensure both justice and public confidence in the investigative process, the Magistrate ordered the Inspector General of Police to transfer the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo. The case was adjourned until April 22 for further proceedings. #Arulpius

@shayehhhh My preferred framing is Sinhala-Buddhisization. It encompasses hegemonic settlement schemes in the North-East, dispossession via institutions like the Depts of Archaeology, Mahaweli, Wildlife Protection, etc, Sinhala Buddhisization of minority sites outside the NE, etc.

@shayehhhh I think most states are nationalistic and expansionist, if not imperialist. In Manal Aru, for instance, lands that belonged to Tamils were taken away from them by force and distributed to Sinhalese. There is nothing wrong in calling such violence settler colonial.

Response to settler colonialism, internal colonialism, majoritarian oppression, etc do not have to be the creation of autonomous states or provinces based on the identities of the oppressed. (1)

@shayehhhh Mahmood Mamdani sees no difference between Lenin and folks like Max Weber. He makes the comment that liberals and Marxists are equally complicit normalizing nationalism. I find his critique quite powerful and solid.

@shayehhhh Hence is this ambiguity - I feel.