Crawley Tamil Community commemorates Martyr Thileepan through memorial exhibition and Chess tournament

Martyr Thileepan, born Rasiah Parthipan, was a former medical student who became known for his hunger strike in Nallur, Jaffna, in September 1987.

At just 23 years old, he began his hunger strike on 15 September 1987, making five demands concerning Tamil political rights and calling on the Indian government to honour its commitments. He refused food and water and died on 26 September 1987.

His sacrifice remains an important part of Tamil history and is remembered by Tamils around the world.

The memorial exhibition in Crawley provided an opportunity for members of the community to learn about his life, his hunger strike and the historical circumstances surrounding his actions.

Alongside the memorial exhibition, a chess tournament brought children and young people together through friendly competition.

Chess encourages concentration, patience, strategic thinking and problem-solving. The competition gave participants an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, develop their skills and connect with other young people.

The tournament winners were:

1st place: Arun Dhivaan Nivas

2nd place: Yashvasin Vairam

3rd place: Theeran Mohanaraj and Karthi Manoharan

Crawley MP Peter Lamb attended the event and was presented with a letter calling for a political solution for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

The letter requested that Mr Lamb convey the concerns and political aspirations of the Tamil community to the UK Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, and raise the importance of pursuing a lasting political solution that addresses the rights and aspirations of Tamils

The two day programme brought together remembrance, chess and community participation. It provided an opportunity for local Tamil families and residents to attend the exhibition, take part in activities and engage with issues affecting Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The event honoured Martyr Thileepan, celebrated the achievements of young chess players and provided a platform for the community to express its political concerns.