Poopathy Kanapathipillai
Born(1932-11-03)November 3, 1932
Kiran, Sri Lanka
DiedApril 19, 1988(1988-04-19) (aged 55)
Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka
Other namesAnnai Poopathy, Mother Poopathy
Occupation(s)Housewife, Hungerstriker [1][2]
Children10

Poopathy Kanapathipillai commonly known as Annai Poopathy (Mother Poopathy) (3 November 1932 - 19 April 1988) was born in a small ancient Tamil village of Kiran in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. She was a mother of 10 (including step children) and grandmother of one. During her lifetime two of her sons were shot and killed by the Sri Lankan government forces in separate incidents.

Later she also saw human rights abuses by Indian Peace Keeping Forces in Sri Lanka. Requesting Indian government to arrange a ceasefire between IPKF and Tamil Tigers she went on hunger strike, a fast unto death on 19 March 1988 at Mahmangam Pillayar temple[1][2] for a month and died on 19 April 1988.[3][4] Tamil Tiger Chief Prabhakaran said that "her sacrifice symbolized the uprising of Tamileelam motherhood and Annai Poopathy made an indelible mark in the golden history of the Tamil struggle".[5][6][7] Her anniversary of her death is commemorated by Tamils.[8][9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Northeast celebrates Annai Poopathy anniversary". Tamilnet. 2003-04-13. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. ^ a b "Annai Poopathy". TamilNation. 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  3. ^ "A battering for the luckless people of B'loa". Island. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. ^ Teresa Okure; Jon Sobrino; Felix Wilfreld (2003). Rethinking martyrdom. SCM Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780334030720. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Annai Poopathy remembered". Tamil Guardian. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Annai Poopathy, a supreme model for Tamils- Ilamparithi". Tamilnet. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  7. ^ "VELUPILLAI PIRABAHARAN Annai Poopathy's Fast for Freedom Second Anniversary Message March 1990". tamilnation.co. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Batticaloa students hoist Tamileelam flag in Annai Poopathy event". Tamilnet. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  9. ^ Dennis B. McGilvray; Michele R. Gamburd (13 May 2013). Tsunami Recovery in Sri Lanka: Ethnic and Regional Dimensions. Routledge. pp. 157–. ISBN 978-1-135-15061-7. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Annai Poopathy remembered by students at Jaffna University". Tamil Guardian. 13 Apr 2023. Retrieved 13 Apr 2023.
  11. ^ "35th anniversary of Annai Poopathy's sacrifice commemorated in the North-East". Tamil Guardian. 21 Apr 2023. Retrieved 21 Apr 2023.


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