Anonymous (10 Jun. 2008)

What the tamils can learn from chinese and jews is that they are united by their common heritage. and chinese are now building up partneship whether in hongkong or toronto or thaivan or singapore or malaysia not to forget test of the world.I remember almost two decades ago there were appeal from myanma tamils fro tamil books from tamils from india and elsehwere.Now with the devastation of myanma by recent cyclone many poor tamils would have perished.Tamils worldide has a moral responsiblity to rush to aid tamils-not to act against the govt of myamna but to help poor tamils there in their dire needs.I salute tamils of myanma whether they look like chinese or no so long as they call themselves tamils,pottu reminds me of our culture celebrated there like anywhere in the world.

Anonymous (10 Jun. 2008)

the artiucle is very well written and is very touching. The photos were well placed in the article. Are you in touch with them?

It is sad when the leaders of these coutnries dupe their own population. I wish the countries you mentioned like Korea, China, SL, Burma and cambodia followed the real budhhism as taught by the Budhha to do good and think good.

I enjoyed the article very much and even posted the link to some of my friends .o)

Anonymous (11 Jun. 2008)

Photos take in 1992 and the article could have been written around that time? World need the situation of tamils after the cyclone of 2008.

[Note that the photos are from 2007. -- Ed]

[This post was modified by the Editor]

V Paramanathan (15 Jun. 2008)

ITRO London is an organisation set up by Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora in 2005 to provide advice and support to TRO offices in Europe, Australasia and America to promote accountability and transparency in their operations.

ITRO is in the process of sending an engineer from London to Yangoon to identify the most important needs of the cyclone affected Tamil families in Myanmar delta areas. The engineer will explore opportunities to help these families and also facilitate relief and help reaching them. He will also promote funding from international agencies to reconstruct immediately needed community infrastructure in their villages. A small aid package from TROs offices will also be delivered to the affected people.

Paramanathan (15 Jun. 2008)

If anyone has contact details of Tamils in Myanmar please send it to ITRO London (itrolondon@gmail.com) and copy to paramanathans@gmail.com. Thanks

shamala (16 Nov. 2008)

Well written article. Here we see its not the religion we have problem with, its is all how we practice it .I like to see all the monks get their fundamentals from Myanmar to be better monks.Then we will have a peacefull country too. Its so sad to see Tamil people are scattered all over the world and go to this extend for survival.

vairam (28 Jan. 2009)

very good article .

Isaac (13 Sep. 2009)

Thank you for posting this wonderful article. I am writing a paper on Indians in Myanmar and I've had so much trouble finding up to date information. The few academic papers out there just blather on about the history of Indians in Burma under British Colonialism. It's great to find a current first hand account.

Keshavelu KP (30 Mar. 2010)

Congratulations Mr.Mala Kadar,

I was one of those uprooted at the young age of 19 with my family from Rangoon. I was known as Kyaw Thet (rising love) by the Burmese neighbours. I was very popular among my Burmese neighbours as a young English student.

Your article brought tears to my eyes.

I am 66 and retired as Aviation (Airport) Management Consultant. We are in Bangalore.

These days I spent most of my time browsing the internet and tracing my roots. Yesterday I found the photos of my School - St. Anthony's High at Kandawgalay. There was obituary for the Brother Director Rev.Gabriel and my Head Master Mr. AB Francis. My family lived in Commissioner's street (now Bo Gyo Aung San St). I used to walk daily to school with my sisters in tow.

My wife Renuka and I are planning to get back to my roots next April and take photos and may be write a travelog.

I feel very sorry for the tamils. My father used to hold feast for our people during Thaipusam at Lord Subramaniyar temple. I bore Kawadi for Seven years and lead the procession. He is our family deity.

I was also ordained as a monk for a limited period and I lived in a monastry. I learned a little on Mahayana and Hinayana (forgive spelling error if any)

I hope one day the Burmese Generals would be tried for war crimes on their own people.

Thanks for the article. It is very refreshing and informative.

Kyaw Thet

Raamachandran (5 May. 2010)

I would like to visit Rangoon to visit members of Tamil sangam regarding some Tamil books. Whom shall I contact in Rangoon can I get his e-mail address?

D. Sumathi (20 May. 2010)

I am living in Tamilnadu(chennai). Every year i received annuval celeberation Invitation from Burma Tamilar Araneri Kazagam. i feel very proud of that. I am very eagerly condact to that people. Kindly give me the burma tamilar aranery kazagam email address.

Thanking You

By D. Sumathi

sivanesan (12 Aug. 2010)

myanmar tamil

p.srinivasan (11 Oct. 2010)

hai, vannakam.

I am srinivasan is living in pondicherry. I studied your title (summary). it created small visit to burma tamils community villages. i wish the militiary rule will disappear soon.

parthigounder (16 Dec. 2010)

hai vannakam

i am parthigounder living in western tamilnadu(tiruppur) i am agriculter and exporter i president of lions club of tiruppur u want a any help for poor tamilpeople we are ready to help we are planning to visit burma tamil people villages

karu. chandran (6 Jan. 2011)

Vanakkam & Kohdi Nandri Ms Mala Kadar.

I live in Klang, Malaysia. Your story truly gave me a tour into Myanmar Tamils Living.

I have read in Tamil novels and seen in Tamil movies about Yangon Tamils. I was almost in tears when I met 1 young man Kyaw Win @ Babu, worked in a restaurant here. My memories of the novel flashed immediately. Now we are very close friends.

Babu's uncles and cousins are also working in Malaysia. They are from Mi Pyay Village and all from farmer families. I am looking forward to going to Yangon in December 2011 if not earlier.

Any advise or guidance most welcome.

May God bless all. Inbame Soozhga, Ellohrum Vaazhga.

Herath (7 Jun. 2011)

Dear Madam/Sir

I read the article regarding burmease Tamils in your web. That is very much impressive to me due to different reasons. 1 since I am Sri Lankan 2. I worked in Myanmar, and I met lots of Tamils as article says all are correct. 3. Next the contents of th article is correct as per my Knowledge. I want to thank all of you, as well as the lady who wrote it. Also I believe this kind of letters will help to Reduce the misunderstanding about the Buddhism of Sri Lankan Tamils and misunderstanding about Tamil culture of Sri Lankan Sinhalese. So ,I send your article to one of my friend, who is working in media to translate & publish it . I request him to publish in both languages. Do you agree for that ? If not please inform me. Translation it will take some time. Regards, Herath.

Anonymous (7 Jul. 2011)

Hi, I am Ph.D. student working on Indian immigration to colonial Burma, particularly Rangoon during late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I am myself an Indian. My grandfather worked in Rangoon and my father was born there before they had to come back to India. I was in Yangon last year. It was a wonderful experience meeting with Indian communities still living there. I am wondering... for my research...can someone mention novels, literature or books in Tamil that describe these migrants from 1920s and 1930s. Will be grateful for additional information. thanks Thida.

Thida (7 Jul. 2011)

Hi, I am Ph.D. student working on Indian immigration to colonial Burma, particularly Rangoon during late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I am myself an Indian. My grandfather worked in Rangoon and my father was born there before they had to come back to India. I was in Yangon last year. It was a wonderful experience meeting with Indian communities still living there. I am wondering... for my research...can someone mention novels, literature or books in Tamil that describe these migrants from 1920s and 1930s. Will be grateful for additional information. thanks Thida.

Anonymous (7 Jul. 2011)

Also, if there is any possibility to get in touch with the author. This is for my Ph.D. project. thanks Thida.

rasan (7 Aug. 2011)

hi vanakam... i read article regarding burmease Tamils in your page. I really touching. for ur information currently we looking for tamil tailor for work in malaysia. given a good sallary. Please emel to rasan28@yahoo.com or call 6040124499132. thanks. valga tamil.

Keshavelu (12 Aug. 2011)

Hi Anonymous Ph.D

I am an old Anthonian. The school was managed by De Salle Brothers, Italy. I can give you some info as two generations of my ancestors migrated to Burma from Madagaskar, Mauritius via Penang. You can contact me thru my email keshav.keshavelu@gmail.com.

I am a teacher. You can visit my site http://keshavelu.webs.com

KPK

PS: To the Writer of the article. Forgive me for addressing you as Mr. Sorry Ms. Mala Kadar

Keshavelu (12 Aug. 2011)

Dear Friends,

To protest the atrocities of the Burmese Army the UK, USA and the UN insist that we go by the old names Rangoon and Burma.

I will appreciate all writers to follow suit.

Thanks

KPK

Dr R Sri Ravindrarajah (27 Sep. 2011)

I just returned from Yangon, Myanmar after spending three days. I made connection with several Indian Tamils. Some of the elders are working on a project to to publish two basic books to teach Tamil to the children.

I visited a village Tamil school run by a temple with over 30 students. The children age varies from 4 to 14 yrs old. Only one teacher manages these students and the temple provide basic lunch to them. I was told that he was the No. 14th teacher in the temple's school and I met the 13th teacher who retired from teaching due to health reason. The parents are farmers and they are unable to attend any main schools due to lack of trasport facilities. The teacher, who is a local volunteer with some knowledge of Tamil, cannot do very much other than teaching alphabets and words. The students use slate for writing while in Singapore the same age children play with elctronic slate, IPad. The extreme poverty among the community is visible from their dress and food they eat. Some girls prefer to be at the temple entrance to sell garlands to make money rather going to the school.

I also visited a school run by Sanmarga Sangam (Vallalar foloowers) in Yangon and the had set up 18 tamils school around the country. The children at the city school are well dressed and the level of Tamil knowledge is acceptable, considering the constraints. The sangam pay the teachers and provide the free books. The other services provided by the sangam is valuable to the community. It helps the senior citizens, support the families financially to meet the expenses in relation to medical treatment, education and other necessary needs. It also help the commuinity in arranging funeral services for the poor.

The tamils and others in the villages are living in premitive conditions and suffer from lack of drinking water, nutritious food, medical help. They feel that there is no one to help them. Hunderds of Hindu temples with many village gods are the main source of support to the villages and they walk long distances. They suffer extreme cold in the winter. There is no proper transport servcie available and all the vans are carrying passengers hanging on the van's hood.

The education level of the tamils are very low due to lack of facilities. Many young persons are involved in small business for their living. Tamil families are living together and most of the marriages are arranged with the sub-caste groups. The caste system is very strong within the Tamil community and old practices such as animal sacrifice is still conducted in some temples. Majority of the tamils are non-vegetarians and have at least two rice meals a day and many old families are with a large number of number of children.

Many tamils feel the hoplessness due to their economical and social conditions. Political ssytem is not helpful to them. They are trying hard to help themselves with the limited resources. The seniors are trying ther best to help the Indian community. Many feel that the rich temples can do more community service. The Tamils feel that they are very much an Indian isolated community in the world since they are abandoned by their motherland India. Hopefully, compassionate Tamils from Tamil Nadu will help these Tamils and provide a helping hand in the future.

Currently, many Tamils in Yangon ae able to watch Tamil channel beamed from Tamil Nadu and hooked into watching useless drama serials and this is creating undesirable environment to the Tamils. They are going to be more unproductive and extremely few percentage of Tamil ladies are in the work force, since the familes prefer the girls to stay at home, due to lack of opportunities and low education level.

The national dress in Myanmar is sarong. I am not sure whether the dress is not helping them since it makes them casual and relaxed. I am hoping to write an article based on my experience and readings on this topic.

Keshavelu (3 Nov. 2011)

I feel sad. You did not mention the name of the village or location in Rangoon, such as close to Myenigone, or Swedagon Pagoda etc. Few photographs could have been added. Please write the article. There are very prominent Tamils in Service. The Tamils cannot blame anyone. They should assimilate and work hard. Produce less children and find ways to earn more money.

KPK

Solai.Thiyagarajan (3 Jan. 2012)

Dear Tamils, I am From Myanmar and born &brought up in Myanmar. If you are interested to know about us please feel free to contact to my email. I am a Tamil and would like to share our views in Our Tamil language and literature and others.

Vanakkam.

Anbudan, Solai.