What was Tamil Eelam?

Tamil Eelam was a proposed independent state that Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora aspired to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The name is derived from the ancient Tamil name for Sri Lanka, Eelam.

Here are the steps to understand what Tamil Eelam was:

1. Understand the Background: The concept of Tamil Eelam was part of a political movement by the Sri Lankan Tamil minority in Sri Lanka, who felt marginalized and discriminated against by the Sinhalese majority government. This led to ethnic tensions and civil war in the country.

2. The Civil War: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, fought for an independent Tamil state from 1983 to 2009. The civil war resulted in significant hardships for the population, environment and the economy of the country, with an estimated 80,000–100,000 people killed during its course.

3. The End of the War: The Sri Lankan Civil War ended in May 2009 when the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers. The idea of Tamil Eelam, while still held by some, is considered by the current Sri Lankan government and many international entities as a separatist movement.

4. Post-War Scenario: After the war, the Sri Lankan government has been making efforts to reconcile with the Tamil population and rebuild the war-torn areas. However, there are still underlying issues of ethnic tension and human rights concerns.

5. Current Status: Today, the idea of Tamil Eelam is mainly upheld by the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. While there is no physical state of Tamil Eelam, the idea continues to influence Sri Lankan politics and the collective memory of the civil war.