An Enraged Young Generation
An Enraged Young Generation
The imposition of the grading system in 1970 on the Tamil youth, who were already frustrated and resentful under the pressure of Sinhala communal oppression, was like pouring oil on the burning fire. The Tamil youth were enraged as the doors to higher education and employment opportunities were closed. Student uprisings erupted all over Tamileelam in the form of processions, demonstrations, protest meetings and effigy burnings.
The brutal repression carried out by the Sinhala government’s armed forces against these uprisings further enraged the young community. In this turbulent situation, the new republican constitution was brought into force on 22 May 1972, as if to put a peak on Sinhala communalism. The government that came to power in 1970 as a three-party front (Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party) under the leadership of Mrs. Bandaranaike attempted to legally institutionalize Sinhala chauvinism.
It is also noteworthy that the new constitution brought with this aim was drafted by Colvin R.D. Silva, who has been described as one of the fathers of the left-wing movement. This new constitution, which was created in a manner that was hostile to the interests of the Tamils by granting a special status to the Sinhala language and Buddhism and removing the security guarantees provided to the Tamils in the previous Soulbury constitution, further strengthened the Sinhala-Tamil national conflict.
The ethnic politics that were rampant in the Sinhala nation created a revolutionary political awareness and a militant spirit among the Tamil people, especially among the youth.
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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