The Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR) launched “Stories of Mullivaikaal,” the first series in ACPR’s “Stories of Resilience” project at www.storiesofresilience.com.
The project will document stories of resilience and agency, highlighting narratives other than victimhood within Tamil community, who have exhibited diverse forms of resilience through various stages of Sri Lanka’s unresolved ethnic conflict.
See full press release below:
Today the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR) launched “Stories of Mullivaikkaal”, the first series in ACPR’s “Stories of Resilience” project at www.storiesofresilience.com.
‘Stories of Mullivaikkaal’ is launched in commemoration of all those who lost their lives in the last phase of the armed conflict. The stories featured present alternative narratives from survivors of Mullivaikkaal which does not narrow their lived experiences to helpless victimhood but rather promotes and accepts their agency.
“We feel that in trying to come to terms with the horrific atrocities committed during the armed conflict and re-shape the collective Tamil identity, it is important for the focus to not be narrowed just to victimhood,” said Senior Researcher for ACPR, Dharsha Jegatheeswaran.
“Memorialisation must also include documenting narratives of the conflict that give credit to survivors’ agency and resilience, and the incredible strength exhibited by countless Tamil civilians during the last phase of the war.”
Stories will continue to be added to the ‘Stories of Mullivaikkaal’ series over the next three months, and then a short print volume with the stories will be published at the end of August in English and Tamil.
‘Stories of Mullivaikkaal’ is part of a bigger project ACPR is embarking on entitled ‘Stories of Resilience’ which aims to document and share stories of strength, courage and resilience of Tamil civilians before, during and after the armed conflict.
To read the stories and find out more about the project visit: www.storiesofresilience.com
For any further information please contact the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research at [email protected].