Arul Pragasam
Encyclopedia
Arul Pragasam is a Tamil activist and former revolutionary
from Jaffna
who had a part in forming the group Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
(EROS) during the Tamil independence movements
to secure an independent Tamil Eelam
. Arulpragasam graduated in Engineering
from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
in Moscow
. In March 1976, he was one of three EROS members selected to train for six months in Lebanon
with Palestinian militants associated with the Fatah
wing of the PLO. He left after three months of training, returning to Sri Lanka with his family.
Arul Pragasam is the father of jewelry designer, Kali Arulpragasam
, musician/filmmaker/visual artist, Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (better known by her stage name, M.I.A.
) and Sugu Arulpragasam. His family moved back to Sri Lanka when Maya was six months old. M.I.A. named her debut album Arular
in 2005 after her father's first name, partly for him to get in contact with her, but it is also a shortened version of his name that the majority of the Tamil people
know him by.
From 1978 - 1986, he lived and worked in Tamil Nadu
. Although not himself a member, Arulpragasam was an old friend of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran during the early years of the Tamil rebellion. His daughter Mathangi (Maya) has stated in interviews her father shared revolutionary ideals, and that he was a politician, although she has had no contact with him since the early 1990s. Rarely speaking about her father publicly, in an interview with The Guardian
in 2005, M.I.A. stated "He never had a practical, physical influence" in her family's life. On his involvement in the war, she has said "The Tigers were big in numbers but my dad was too selective.
Arul Pragasam left his group EROS and the conflict in the late 80s. In 1997, he set up an Institute of Sustainability Development at Trincomalee
on the Eastern Province
's coast. The same year, he wrote a seminal book on Tamil history
. Arulpragasam now heads the Britain
-based Global Sustainability Initiative, which has overseen inventions such as a redesigned bullock cart, a motorised wheelbarrow and a car that consumes less petrol. Arulpragasam has explained "GSI's mission is to develop a program with a global perspective."
Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups
Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups rose to prominence in the 1970s to fight the state of Sri Lanka in order to create an independent Tamil Eelam in the north of Sri Lanka. They rose in response to the perception amongst minority Sri Lankan Tamils that the state was preferring the majority Sinhalese...
from Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
who had a part in forming the group Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students , also known as the Eelam Revolutionary Organisers, is a former Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. Most of the EROS membership was absorbed into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1990. The rump, which continues to use the EROS name, has...
(EROS) during the Tamil independence movements
Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism
Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism is the conviction of the Sri Lankan Tamil people, a minority ethnic group in the South Asian island country of Sri Lanka , that they have the right to constitute an independent or autonomous political community. This idea has not always existed...
to secure an independent Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
. Arulpragasam graduated in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia is an educational and research institution located in the South of Moscow and is ranked by the Ministry of Education of Russia as the country's third-best university after Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In March 1976, he was one of three EROS members selected to train for six months in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
with Palestinian militants associated with the Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
wing of the PLO. He left after three months of training, returning to Sri Lanka with his family.
Arul Pragasam is the father of jewelry designer, Kali Arulpragasam
Kali Arulpragasam
Kali Arulpragasam is a jewellery designer based in London, UK. She is the founder and creative director of the jewellery company and label "Super Fertile," founded in 2006.-Super Fertile:...
, musician/filmmaker/visual artist, Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (better known by her stage name, M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
) and Sugu Arulpragasam. His family moved back to Sri Lanka when Maya was six months old. M.I.A. named her debut album Arular
Arular
Arular is the 2005 debut album by British musician M.I.A. Originally set for a September 2004 release, the album was delayed due to problems obtaining permission to use samples. Arular was finally released in the US on 22 March 2005 and a month later in the UK with a slightly different track...
in 2005 after her father's first name, partly for him to get in contact with her, but it is also a shortened version of his name that the majority of the Tamil people
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
know him by.
From 1978 - 1986, he lived and worked in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Although not himself a member, Arulpragasam was an old friend of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran during the early years of the Tamil rebellion. His daughter Mathangi (Maya) has stated in interviews her father shared revolutionary ideals, and that he was a politician, although she has had no contact with him since the early 1990s. Rarely speaking about her father publicly, in an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in 2005, M.I.A. stated "He never had a practical, physical influence" in her family's life. On his involvement in the war, she has said "The Tigers were big in numbers but my dad was too selective.
Arul Pragasam left his group EROS and the conflict in the late 80s. In 1997, he set up an Institute of Sustainability Development at Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
on the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
's coast. The same year, he wrote a seminal book on Tamil history
Eelam
Eelam also spelled Eezham, Ilam or Izham in English is the native Tamil name for the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Eelam is also a name for the spurge , toddy and gold. The exact etymology and the original meaning of the word are not clearly known, although there are number of...
. Arulpragasam now heads the Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based Global Sustainability Initiative, which has overseen inventions such as a redesigned bullock cart, a motorised wheelbarrow and a car that consumes less petrol. Arulpragasam has explained "GSI's mission is to develop a program with a global perspective."