{"id":85480,"date":"2025-02-02T05:57:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T09:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=85480"},"modified":"2025-02-02T06:30:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-02T10:30:58","slug":"85480","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=85480","title":{"rendered":"Senior ITAK Leader Somasundaram \u201cMaavai\u201d Senathirajah was a Symbol of Tamil Political Resistance Against Majoritarian Hegemony."},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By<\/p>\n

D.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

Veteran Tamil political leader Somasundaram Senathirajah popularly known as \u201cMaavai\u201d Senathirajah breathed his last on 29 January 2025. The octogenarian six-footer suffered a brain concussion after a fall in the bathroom of his residence at Maaviddapuram on January 26th. He was admitted to the Thellippalai base hospital where a brain haemorrage was detected. Senathirajah was then transferred to the Jaffna teaching hospital and placed under intensive care. Maavai Senathirajah passed away on Wednesday without regaining consciousness. The funeral was held at Senathirajah\u2019s residence in Maaviddapuram on Sunday Feb 2nd. Cremation was at the Thachcankaadu Hindu Cemetery.<\/p>\n

History is replete with instances of youthful political rebels blossoming into responsible political leaders . The rebellious youths who engaged in volatile protest demonstrations and campaigns, evolve in later life into stable, conventional pillars of the political establishment. Sri Lanka too has many such examples on either side of the ethnic divide. Maavai Senathirajah\u2019s name too can be included in that list of examples.<\/p>\n

Maavai Senathirajah is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician who spent many years of his life in different prisons as a political prisoner in the past. The yesteryear political rebel transformed into the respected leader of the premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils in later life. The former leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) known as the Federal Party(FP) in English has been a Parliamentarian for 25 years. Five of these years was as a national list MP. He was for Twenty years an elected MP from Jaffna district.<\/p>\n

\u201cSenathi Annan\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me begin this article about \u2018Maavai\u201dSenathirajah on a personal note. I have known ” Senathi Annan\u201d for 50 years. I first became acquainted with him as a GCE (AL) student at Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai in the early seventies of the previous century. I did not interact closely with him then.<\/p>\n

Those were the days of much student and youth unrest in Jaffna.The united front Govt of Prime minister Sirima Bandaranaike was in power then.. There were many Hartals, boycotts, protest marches, processions, black flag demonstrations, fasts etc in that period.Senathirajah was in the forefront as a prominent Tamil youth activist. Senathirajah the six-foot strapper cut a dashing figure then. The long haired Senathi would tie a band around his forehead then. At times he sported a moustache and beard too. Senathirajah striding with his chest thrust forward had a \u201crevolutionary\u201dappearance then.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Maavai Senathirajah was among the 42 youth leaders arrested and detained without trial by the United Front Govt headed by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The trio of Namasivayam Anandavinayagam alias “Vannai Ananthan”, Kathamuthu Sivananthan alias “Kasi Anandan” and Somasundaram Senathirajah alias “Maavai” Senathirajah were detained for years as political prisoners then. All three of them were inspiring Tamil heroes to many politically conscious Tamil students and youths in those days.<\/p>\n

In later years I became a journalist and came across Maavai Senathirajah the rising star of Tamil politics in a personal and professional capacity. I was first introduced to him in Colombo by my close friend and one -time political activist “Mandoor” Mahendran in 1977. I had joined the “Virakesari” as a cub reporter in 1977. I have met Maavai since then at different times in different places such as Jaffna, Mannar, Colombo, Batticaloa, Chennai and Toronto. I have watched Senathirajah’s evolution and growth as a Tamil political leader over the years. Besides like Senathirajah my wife too is from Maaviddapuram . It is against this backdrop therefore that I write about him on this solemn occasion.<\/p>\n

Maaviddapuram\/Maavai<\/strong><\/p>\n

As stated earlier Senathirajah is from the Northern village of Maviddapuram falling under the Valigamam North Pradeshiya Sabha and\/or the Thellippalai AGA division area.There is a tendency in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka to shorten in common usage the names of Tamil places with comparatively longer names. <\/p>\n

In Tamil Nadu Coimbatore is known as Koavai, Thanjavoor as Thanjai and Tirunelveli as Nellai . In Jaffna, places like Karaveddy, Neervaeli and Kopay are referred to as “Karavai,Neervai and Koavai” respectively. Likewise Maviddapuram is referred in short as “Maavai”. Senathirajah had the prefix “Maavai”attached to his name as he was a native of Maaviddapuram.<\/p>\n

Under the earlier first pass the post winner electoral system Maviddapuram formed part of the Kankesanthurai(KKS) constituency. The most famous landmark of Maviddapuram is the historic temple dedicated to Lord Muruga known as the Maviddapuram Kandaswamy temple.<\/p>\n

Next to the Kandaswamy deity known as “Mavvaik Kanthan”, Senathirajah known as “Maavai” Senathirajah was perhaps the most well-known representative of Maviddapuram in recent times. Many addressed him simply as “Senathi”, “Maavai” or “Maavai Anna”(elder brother Maavai). I called him SEnathi annan.<\/p>\n

Senathirajah’s father Somasundaram and mother Thaiyalnayagi were from families traditionally engaged in agriculture. However his father earlier worked as a clerk in a business establishment in what was then known as the federated Malay states till the second world war. Somasundaram fled Malaya a few months before the Japanese conquest in December 1941.<\/p>\n

27 October 1942<\/strong><\/p>\n

Upon his return Somasundaram married and engaged in agro- business.Maviddapuram was once well-known for its “Vettrilai” (betel) . Somasundaram became a large-scale cultivator and trader of betel. Senathirajah born on 27 October 1942 was the eldest of seven children comprising four boys and three girls.<\/p>\n

Young Senathi studied up to the Senior School Certificate(SSC) at Veemankamam Maha Vidyalayam. He later joined Nadeswara College at Kankesanthurai for his Higher School Certificate(HSC). The SSC and HSC were equivalent then to the GCE (OL) and GCE (AL) exams of now. Senathirajah however was not very interested in studies. He was more inclined to help his father in the betel business and immerse himself in political activity and social service. <\/p>\n

Having failed to enter Varsity as an internal student , Senathirajah registered as an external student at the Peradeniya university for a BA degree and followed classes in Jaffna. He never completed his degree in Sri Lanka. At one point he gained admission to the Sri Lanka Law College but could not attend classes as he was arrested and detained for his politics. It was as a political refugee in Tamil Nadu with his family after the 1983 Black July anti-Tamil pogrom that Senathirajah was able to complete his tertiary studies.He reportedly enrolled as an external student for courses in History and Tamil studies at Annamalai university in Chidambaram and finally graduated after intermittent periods of study.<\/p>\n

Maavai Senathirajah’s political awakening was in 1956 as a teen aged student at Veemankamam Mahavidyalayam. The newly elected SWRD Bandaranaike Govt enacted Sinhala as the sole official language excluding Tamil. The ITAK\/FP led by SJV Chelvanayagam commenced a Satyagraha on Galle Face Green opposite the old Parliament on June 5th 1956. A mob transported by ministers and MP’s in the Govt set upon the peacefully protesting non – violent Satyagrahis and assaulted them while the Police watched as passive spectators.<\/p>\n

\u201cArasaratnam Master\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among the Satygrahis was “Arasaratnam Master” a school teacher at Veemankamam Maha Vidyalayam. He returned home in tattered clothes with assault injuries and vividly narrated all what had happened in Colombo. The injustice of what had happened at Galle face green kindled a spark in young Senadhi’s mind.<\/p>\n

That spark was further ignited by subsequent happenings. The anti- Tamil violence of 1958 saw ship loads of Tamils from the south being ferried across the seas to Trincomalee, Point Pedro and Kankesanthurai harbours as refugees in their own and native land. Senathirajah was among the student volunteers who catered to the needs of the displaced people brought to KKS. Their sorrowful tales about their harrowing experiences affected young Senathirajah.<\/p>\n

In 1960 two successive Parliamentary elections were held in March and July. Senathirajah though a student worked hard to ensure the victory of SJV Chelvanayagam in the Kankesanthurai electorate. He also became a member of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK)While Chelvanayagam was returned with thumping majorities the ITAK\/FP won 15 and 16 seats respectively at the two hustings<\/p>\n

Satyagraha Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1961 the ITAK\/FP launched a Satyagraha campaign that paralysed the civil administration of the Tamil majority Jaffna,Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa district Kachcheries or secretariats for nearly three months. There were no Mullaitheevu, Amparai or Kilinochchi districts then. The Satyagraha was at its zenith in Jaffna where even a separate postal service was started and stamps and post cards issued. <\/p>\n

The SLFP Govt of the day cracked down hard by deploying the army to quell a peaceful protest. Senathirajah was then a student at Nadeswara college. Senathirajah along with many other students skipped school and participated in processions and demonstrations. He was also among volunteers rendering assistance to the Satygarahis.<\/p>\n

Politicization of Maavai<\/strong><\/p>\n

All these experiences resulted in the politicization of Maavai Senathirajah. He was first elected as president of the ITAK youth front in Kankesanthurai (KKS)electorate. Subsequently he became the joint secretary of the ITAK youth front and served in that capacity for eight years.<\/p>\n

The unjust standardization scheme of 1970 in which a Tamil student had to obtain more than a Sinhala student to gain admission to prestigious courses in University had a devastating impact on Tamil youths in general and students in particular.<\/p>\n

Two new Tamil organizations were set up by disgruntled students and youths. One was the \u201cThamil Maanavar Pearavai\u201d(Tamil Student Federation). The other was the \u201cThamil Ilaingar Pearavai\u201d(Tamil youth federation). Senathirajah was very active in the Youth federation and served as its president.<\/p>\n

The advent of the Ilaingar Paeravai or Youth Federation had a radicalizing influence on Tamil politics. A quiet sub-terranean campaign propagating the goal of forming a separate Tamil state through an armed struggle got underway. The April 1971 JVP insurgency and the creation of Bangla Desh in December 1971 boosted these separatist thoughts further.<\/p>\n

Senathirajah was one of those who felt the Tamils needed a country of their own. He was one of those critical of the ITAK for joining the UNP led Government of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake in 1965. He was also enamoured of the \u201cTamil self-rule\u201dpolicy of ex-Kayts MP V. Navaratnam. Senathirajah had remained loyal to the federalist ITAK at the 1970 elections. However his sympathies were with those who supported a Tamil separate state.<\/p>\n

The youth leader Senathirajah associated with a wide range of radical Tamil youths in those days. Some of them went on to become members and leaders of armed Tamil movements in later days. Anong these were persons like Prabhakaran,Umamaheswaran,Padmanabha, Kuttimani and Sri Sabaratnam.<\/p>\n

Senathirajah once told me that he may have got directly involved with the Tamil militant movements and engaged in violence but for the fact that he was arrested beforehand and jailed.<\/p>\n

Sirimavo Bandaranaike Govt<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Tamil United Front(TUF)was formed in May.1972, Senathirajah was elected as youth wing leader. He was soon arrested and imprisoned without trial by the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Govt. Senathirajah was among 42 Tamil youths held in jail without trial for over three years. They were released in January 1975 but were jailed again in July 1975 after the assassination of Jaffna mayor Alfred Durayappah. They were released a few months before the July 1977 election. <\/p>\n

When Maavai was released in Colombo and returned to Jaffna by train, the \u201cYarl Devi\u201dwas stopped at every railway station from Vavuniya onwards. Large crowds of Tamil youths delayed the train from proceeding and felicitated him. Youths pricked their tthumbs and placed a thilak or Pottu on hs forehead with r=the oozing blood. Maavais shirt was crimson with blood stains then<\/p>\n

I had a lengthy conversation with Senadhi Annan in October 2017 when he celebrated his 75th Birthday. We spoke for hours and hours then. He was in reminiscent mood and related many things about himself. It was then that he said he would very likely have got involved with a militant movement in the early seventies if he had not been arrested.Tamil armed militancy was in an embryonic stage then. \u201cSirimavo did a good thing by arresting me then\u201d chuckled Senathirajah then.<\/p>\n

Seventy-Five Months in Eight Prisons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though Senathirajah never got embroiled in political or revolutionary violence, he suffered prolonged imprisonment in phases. Maavai has been held at different times at the magazine prison, Welikade jail, Anuradhapura, ,Kalutara. Bogambara, Batticaloa, Elephant Pass and Jaffna Fort. The various periods of incarceration added together amounted to nearly seventy-five months spent in eight prisons<\/p>\n

Senathirajah underwent much torture and hardship during his periods of detention. Since he held administrative positions in the Tamil youth organizations the authorities interrogating him felt he would have a lot of information. So they resorted to third degree methods when quizzing him. Besides Senathirajah was a tall, well built man. Many of the \u201cpuny\u201dofficials questioning him were bullies who relished causing pain to a man bigger than them . On one ocasion Maavai was beaten badly and brought back to his cell in an unconscious state.<\/p>\n

When the Non-aligned countries Summit conference was held in Colombo in 1976, the Tamil political detenuews went on a prolonged hunger strike demanding that they be brought to court or released. In a bid to break up the fast, the ring leaders were transferred to other prisons. Senathirajah was taken to the Bogampara prison in Kandy and kept in isolation. Senathirajah determinedly continued the fast. He ended the hunger strike upon an appeal made by SJV Chelvanayagam.<\/p>\n

Apart from the detention and torture, Senathirajah suffered financially too at times. I have witnessed personally the difficulties he and his family underwent in Madras now Chennai. The TULF had an office at Thanigasala Mudali street in Pondy Bazaar in Madras then. Senathirajah with his family was also staying at the premises. Those were tough times. But Senathi single-handely ran that office those days and kept the TULF flag flying. Eventually things improved with Senathirajah\u2019s siblings abroad helping out.<\/p>\n

Electoral Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senathirajah\u2019s life took a turn for the better after he began engaging in electoral politics. Senathirajah who served as Youth Front president and Politburo member of the TULF, contested Parliamentary elections for the first time in 1989. He polled only 2820 votes in Jaffna and was not elected. In 1994, Senathirajah contested from eastern Amparai district in 1994 but was not elected.<\/p>\n

Despite being unsuccessful in the 1989 and 1994 elections, Senathirajah did enter Parliament as a national list MP on both occasions. This was due to two assassinations by the LTTE. Appapillai Amirthalingam was gunned down by tiger assassins in July 1989. Senathirajah replaced Amirthalingam as national list MP. Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam was appointed TULF national list MP in 1994.He was killed in July 1999 in a tiger suicide bomber attack. Again Senathirajah was appointed National list MP in place of Neelan.<\/p>\n

Jaffna District MP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senathirajah was electorally successful in the new millennium. He was elected to Parliament from Jaffna electoral district in the elections of 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010 and 2015. He obtained 10,965 Preference votes in 2000 and 33,831 votes in 2001. Senathirajah contested these polls under the sun symbol of the Tamil United Liberation Front(TULF)<\/p>\n

From 2004, Senathirajah contested polls under the house symbol of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK). He won in 2004, 2010 and 2015 with preference vote tallies of 38783, 20501 and 58782 respectively. Maavai\u2019s successful spree of electoral victories in Jaffna came to an end in 2020. He polled 20,358 votes and was not elected.Senathirajah did not contest the 2024 election.<\/p>\n

The ITAK formed in 1949 was active in politics as a separate political party till 1977. In 1977 the ITAK was the chief constituent of the Tamil United Liberation Front .Although the ITAK became electorally dormant, the party continued to retain its party registration. In 2001, the newly formed Tamil National alliance contested on the TULF Sun symbol. However the TNA was unable to contest under the TULF symbol in 2004 because of a legal wrangle. Hence the ITAK was brought in again and the TNA contested under the House symbol<\/p>\n

Dormant ITAK Revived<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thus the ITAK which was dormant from 1977 to 2004 was revived again. The party remained subservient to the LTTE as part of the TNA. In May 2009 the LTTE was militarily defeated. In 2010 the ITAK held its party convention after many years. Rajavarothayam Sampanthan became ITAK president and Somasundaram Senathirajah the ITAK General secretary. In 2014. Sampanthan stepped down. Senathirajah became ITAK president. He served in that position for 10 years until 2024. Maavai came in for much criticism for prolonging his presidency \u201cBy hook or by crook\u201d for a decade. <\/p>\n

However it must be noted that Senathirajah acted magnanimously in 2013 when the elections to the Northern Provincial Council were held.Maavai wanted to be the TNA nominee for the chief minister post. Most ITAK members and other constituents of the TNA such as the PLOTE,TELO and EPRLF were supportive of Maavai’s candidacy. Yet TNA leader Sampanthan wanted to field retired supreme court judge C.V.Wigneswaran as the TNA chief ministerial candidate. Despite the overwhelming support enjoyed by him, Senathirajah acceded to Sampanthan’s wishes and backed out from the contest. Wigneswaran was the unanmous candidate.<\/p>\n

Senathirajah is survived by his wife Bavaani ,daughter Thaarakaa and sons Kalaiamuthan and Aaraavamuthan. The sons were named Amuthan after former TULF leader Amirthalingam who was called \u201cAmuthar\u201d. Senathirajah\u2019s daughter is a medical doctor in India. Younger son Aaraavamuthan is an engineer in Singapore. Elder son Kalaiamuthan is in Sri Lanka and dabbles in politics. He was a member of the Valigaamam north Pradeshiya Sabha and is married to Pravina ,daughter of former Jaffna district MP N.Raviraj.<\/p>\n

Life Summed Up in Two Parts<\/strong><\/p>\n

The track record of Maavai Senathirajah in Tamil politics could be summed up in two parts. The first part corresponds to the early period of his life. Senathirajah the youth activist participated in many protests, underwent imprisonment for political reasons and made considerable sacrifices. His life especially while being self-exiled in India was a tremendous struggle in more ways than one. I have witnessed this first-hand.<\/p>\n

The second part of his life is different. This Senathirajah was not the idealist of yore. This Senathirajah was a calculating, selfish politico who was determined to remain on top and was prepared to do anything for it. Senathirajah displayed a selfish greed for political office. The attempts made by him to become national list MP and cling on to party leadership indefinitely were pathetic.<\/p>\n

Those who remember the younger Senathirajah whose life was a struggle full of sacrifices would be reluctant to condemn or criticise him. They will continue to be sympathetic to him, thinking of his past despite what he had turned into later. This writer too is one who had a soft corner for \u201cSenathi Annai\u201d until it was unbearable.<\/p>\n

Sweet not Sour “Swansong”<\/strong> <\/p>\n

It was with great reluctance therefore that I wrote last year , a critical article about the unbearable selfishness of Maavai Senathirajah. Before and after writing, I communicated with him privately also. What I urged then was that Maavai Senathirajah should do what was right and to do it fast. I wrote to him that it was time for him to let go of the reins of the ITAK willingly. I pointed out that Senathi Annan\u2019s swansong should be sweet and not sour !<\/p>\n

Symbol of Resistance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sadly he did not listen and the result was a lot of bitterness and acrimony.the last months of his life were not happy to say the least. Now that Senathirajah is no more, I do not want to discuss this any more. I want to remember Senathi Annan as the young political activist who spent years of his life in prison and underwent much hardship for the cause he believed in. Let Maavai Senathirajah be remembered as the symbol of Tamil resistance to majoritarian hegemony for more than five decades.<\/p>\n

D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is an updated version of an article appearing in the \u201cDBS Jeyaraj Column\u201d Of the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d Dated 1 February 2025.It can be accessed here – <\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Senior-ITAK-Leader-Maavai-Senathirajah-was-a-Symbol-of-Tamil-Political-Resistance\/172-301454#google_vignette<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

*************************************************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Veteran Tamil political leader Somasundaram Senathirajah popularly known as \u201cMaavai\u201d Senathirajah breathed his last on 29 January 2025. The octogenarian six-footer suffered a brain concussion after a fall in the bathroom of his residence at Maaviddapuram on January 26th. He was admitted to the Thellippalai base hospital where a brain haemorrage was detected. …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Senior ITAK Leader Somasundaram \u201cMaavai\u201d Senathirajah was a Symbol of Tamil Political Resistance Against Majoritarian Hegemony.’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85480"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85480"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85486,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85480\/revisions\/85486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}