M.G.R and Eelam
Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran (M. G. Ramachandran, Today’s Birthday 17 January 1917
M.G.R and Eelam
M.G.R was well known by the then Member of Legislative Assembly, Mr. P. Nedumaran. Mr. P. Nedumaran openly supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) movement and remained steadfast in his principles till date. When asked Nedumaran about M.G.R’s stand on the Eelam issue, he expressed his opinion even amid his Tamil National Movement activities. Following is from his presentation.
I gave a resolution in the Assembly regarding the Eelam issue. I had given resolutions containing ten aspects in a row that the Government of India should immediately intervene in this matter.
After that, they brought a resolution from the government and left it to the first committee to decide which resolution to take. They don’t insist on my decision. I told to dispose of it. I said that after the government comes up with a resolution, everyone can pass it unanimously. Then M.G.R. said: No, no, insist on your decision and then don’t put that decision to vote after you have spoken. He said that.
In my resolution, economic action will be taken against Sri Lanka. It was decided that no goods should be sent from India to Sri Lanka. I insisted on all that and they allotted me only 20 minutes to speak. The speaker also rang the bell to remind me that I could not finish in 20 minutes.
Then M.G.R sent me a note through STS and said, take as much time as you want. Then I speak for another 25 minutes. I spoke for 45 minutes in total. After everyone spoke, M.G.R. replied to this. Nedumaran´s speech and his resolve reflect the sentiments of 2 lacks Tamil people. Central government should understand this feeling. M.G.R pointed out that his feeling was the same as that of everyone in this House.
The executors brought resolutions in the Assembly on the racial issue from time to time. Apart from this, M.G.R was in favor of the freedom fighters from the beginning. In 1982, I rushed to Chennai from Madurai after hearing the news that Sinhalese police officers had flown in demanding that Prabhakaran and the arrested freedom fighters to be handed over to them by the month of January. I immediately convened a meeting of all party leaders, and leaders of 20 parties attended the meeting. On behalf of the ADMK, P.U. Shanmugam participated in the meeting. He attended with the permission of M.G.R, who was the Chief Minister.
We passed a resolution that the arrested freedom fighters, including Prabhakaran, should not be handed over to the Sinhalese Police under any circumstances. For this reason, M.G.R. wrote a letter to the Indian Government and saved many freedom fighters including Prabhakaran that day. In this regard, M.G.R., when I met them, assured me that he would not agree to hand over any of the freedom fighters to the Sinhalese Government for any reason. He walked accordingly till the end. The fact is that M.G.R´s decisive action not only saved Prabhakaran’s life, but also gave a platform hero to the Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle.
Prabhakaran escaped when there was a case against him. At that time, he was in our house in Madurai. They should have filed a case of complicity on me in his escape. Then Police Officer Rajasekaran Nair who was in charge of DGP Crime came and spoke to me. He said, it is very wrong of Prabhakaran to act like this as his life will be in danger, so please tell me where he is.
I told him the truth. It has been for long since Prabhakaran went to Jaffna. He did not believe me. Rajasekaran Nayar said, we know he is in Puthucherry. I told him to not to talk to me about all this, and then he left. Two days later, M.G.R. called me in the Assembly lobby. He put his hand on my shoulder and took me to the room. He asked alle the BAs to go out and sat down. You sent your friend away safely? He asked. I said yes, he went safely. And I have told them to the officers. M.G.R said, “Why are you telling the officers? You don’t have to tell them.”
He asked me twice if Prabhakaran will be. I told him, yes, He will be safe. M.G.R, was very happy to hear that. Then we talked about all the other things and then he sent me away. It means that M.G.R wanted Prabhakaran to escape and he should not have filed a case or caused any trouble for Prabhakaran’s escape. And he has done everything he could to support the Eelam issue both internally and personally.
There is no doubt that he has secretly given more money many times to the LTTE than the money he gave openly. He helped the movement because he had an apprehension of winning the battle. He also helped many Eelam refugees in Tamil Nadu during his time. Those days there were no such special camps.
M.G.R even helped the LTTE members who were brought from Tamil Eelam for treatment in government hospitals. He supported the LTTE in every way.
M.G.R supported the Tamil Eelam struggle and the Eelam people and acted as the watchdog of the world for Tamil people. Mr. Thanganeyan, a writer from Tamil Nadu, has written a book called ‘M.G.R and Eelam Tamils’. This 144-pages book contains the opinions and suggestions of many leaders, writers and politicians. The things that Mr. P. Nedumaran said above are included in this page.
(Correction by Tamilpriya)
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