‘Pin Mullivaikkal’, the unfinished battle of Northerners

All ears were tuned in to hear from the reviewer of the latest book of Rev. Fr. Elil Rajendran (SJ) from the Northern Province titled ‘Pin Mullivaikkal’ (post-Mullivaikal in English) launched on May 11 in Colombo in the presence of a distinguished and diverse audience.
The book based on a series of articles written by Fr. Rajendran to the media in the North was critiqued by Madu Sudanan, an author and political analyst.

Sudanan said ‘Pin Mullivaikkal’ presents the struggle of the people in the North to date without a solution in sight even 15 years after the end of the war.
He said the author through various incidents that took place after the final battle tells that though there is no war taking place in reality today the psychological division between the North and the South on lines of language, culture and ethnicity is very much alive. 
The government is using language and ethnicity to create division and  gain political mileage, critiquing the work Sudanan said.

The book based on a series of articles written by Fr. Rajendran to the media in the North was critiqued by Madu Sudanan, an author and political analyst

Fr. Elil says Southern politicians have created a gulf that separates the Tamil-speaking community in the North from the rest of the communities in the country through its divisive and racist tactics to curry favour with the Sinhala-speaking voters in the South.
According to Pin Mullivaikkal, nothing much has changed since the end of the war for the people of the North and the East except for certain infrastructure improvements. Subsequent governments have tried to win the hearts of Northerners through various tactics but it’s a long shot.

As the people in the North and the East are looked down upon and are constantly controlled by the military whose presence diminishes hope for freedom the estate community is deprived of decent living conditions and proper wages, Sudanan said elaborating further on the book.
He said Fr. Rajendran harps on the fact that peace has been a pipe dream for Northerners who are yet subjected to various kinds of harassment.
Fr. Rajendran reminds the reader that lasting peace is a task not left to rulers alone but it’s the role of every citizen who loves the country.