Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Map of Sri Lanka
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Currency Equivalents
- Citizenship and Statelessness in Sri Lanka
- Chapter 1 Raising Questions
- Chapter 2 Colonialism: The Burden of History
- Chapter 3 1948: Disenfranchisement
- Chapter 4 1954: The Agreement that Failed
- Chapter 5 1964: The Agreement that “Succeeded”
- Chapter 6 1967: The Start of the Implementation
- Chapter 7 1970–1977: “Sirima Times” – Pressure to Leave
- Chapter 8 1988: The End of a Saga
- Chapter 9 Retrospection
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Appendix
- Glossary
- Index
Chapter 6 - 1967: The Start of the Implementation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Map of Sri Lanka
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Currency Equivalents
- Citizenship and Statelessness in Sri Lanka
- Chapter 1 Raising Questions
- Chapter 2 Colonialism: The Burden of History
- Chapter 3 1948: Disenfranchisement
- Chapter 4 1954: The Agreement that Failed
- Chapter 5 1964: The Agreement that “Succeeded”
- Chapter 6 1967: The Start of the Implementation
- Chapter 7 1970–1977: “Sirima Times” – Pressure to Leave
- Chapter 8 1988: The End of a Saga
- Chapter 9 Retrospection
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Appendix
- Glossary
- Index
Summary
Very often I think of them as birds in a cage let loose to the vultures. They cannot survive outside. This is the greatest cause of the tragedy.
(Fries and Bibin 1984, 178)The Departure
Before the morning twilight comes over the mountains, most of the people at Robgill are awake, packing the few things left to pack. And the sun has not had time enough to heat up the damp and chilly soil before the farewells are taken from those who are either going to work or are too old to join the people leaving for India. Mr K. Sithuravelu, his wife Sellama and their three children start their laborious descent to the Hatton railway station. Five more families are leaving Robgill today, among those Sithuravelu's two brothers and their dependents.
Sithuravelu and the others do not arrive at Hatton till noon. Although it is four hours before the train comes, the station is packed with people. Most of them estate workers bound for India, standing in groups, surrounded by bulky parcels and trunks and speaking with subdued voices. Friends and relatives have come to say a last goodbye to those they probably won't see again.
As soon as the diesel engine of the train is heard approaching the station, there is a great clamor. The women crouch with their arms on each others' shoulders crying helplessly while the men push their way toward the train to get their seats.
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- Citizenship and Statelessness in Sri LankaThe Case of the Tamil Estate Workers, pp. 113 - 124Publisher: Anthem PressPrint publication year: 2009