Overview

A powerful collection of thirty-four true-life stories that trace the origins, hardships, and triumphs of one of the world's most resilient communities. The displacement of Sri Lanka's Tamils began in the 1950s, when discriminatory laws such as the Sinhala Only Act stripped them of language rights, limiting access to education, jobs, and public services. Coupled with recurring anti-Tamil violence, these policies drove the first waves of migration. Over the ensuing decades - from the pogroms of the 1970s, to the mass violence of Black July in 1983, and the devastating civil war that ended in 2009 - more than a million Tamils fled their homeland in search of safety, dignity, and opportunity. In these pages, Tamils displaced by conflict and discrimination, as well as their children and grandchildren, share deeply personal journeys. They span continents and professions - artists, writers, scientists, humanitarians, politicians, educators, athletes, and community leaders - building new lives in Canada, Australia, Europe, the UK, and beyond. Through meticulous research and heartfelt interviews, Ana Pararajasingham situates these individual lives within the wider historical forces of colonial legacies, post-independence nationalism, and global geopolitics. The result is a portrait of a people who, despite profound loss, have bridged cultures, preserved heritage, and forged new identities. UPROOTED challenges stereotypes, counters prejudice, and celebrates achievement. It honours a community scattered by policy and violence, yet united by perseverance and hope. These narratives transcend borders, inviting readers everywhere to reflect on migration, human rights, and the enduring search for belonging. If you are moved by true stories of resilience and the will to overcome, UPROOTED will offer you insight, empathy, and inspiration. Scroll up and click ""Buy Now"" to begin the journey

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9780648672272

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Reviews

Through the lives of 34 individuals, Ana Pararajasingham explores what it means to be Tamil in the diaspora: to carry a homeland in memory and imagination, and to transform displacement into resilience and contribution. For some, this means leaving the place of their birth and upbringing. For others, like me, it means living outside the place of our parents' birth - a homeland that is remembered, longed for, recreated, and imagined."" Shankari Chandran, Winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin Prize ""Concise, powerful, and full of heart, Uprooted is a must-read that honours the past and inspires the future."" Roy Ratnavel, Author, Prisoner #1056

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