Migration of Malayaka [Up-Country] Tamils to North & East!

I would like to begin with a note of apology.  Those who led us, those who taught us, those who waved a path for us did NOT want us to differentiate between Tamils. We were all Tamils and perhaps this is why we failed to document the necessary history.  The most common misnomer being spread in recent times is the lack of assimilation of Tamils from Malayakam/Uo-country into the North and East of Eelam.  One of the biggest factors for the lack of interaction is the geographical differences but when anti-Tamil pogroms took place, as early as 1977, they DID start moving to the North and East. To date, you will find third or fourth-generation Tamils who have their ancestry to Malayakam.  

Most of those who migrated were not separated as different ethnic groups. Under LTTE, they thrived and made a home in the new location.  Kilinochi[கிளிநொச்சி], Mullaitheevu [முல்லைத்தீவு], Vavuniya [வவுனியா] , Mannaar [மன்னார்], Ampaarai [அம்பாறை], Batticaloa [மட்டக்களப்பு] are the areas they mainly migrated to.  

Their migration allowed them to thrive in the new environment, leaving behind an oppressive indentured labour-like lifestyle. They became successful not only in assimilating to the new environment but they took a stronghold in agriculture, education, politics, liberation movements, arts, etc.   They revamped the type of agriculture in these regions.  Peas, lentils, peanuts, and groundnuts [கடலை, உளுந்து, கச்சான், நிலக்கடலை, கொண்டக்கடலை] were the main crops they planted and it had an excellent market. Lands like Mullaitheevu [முல்லைத்தீவு ] is known for its fertile land, cultivating any grains will lead to fertile growth.  With stable incomes from agriculture, they built a successful life here.  LTTE gave them land and they built their own homes with large land.  Till date, we know the living conditions of Tamils in Malayakam: limited space for accommodation and lack of basic facilities.  Migrated Tamils to the North and East,  they all owned homes, own land, as well as agricultural lands. 

They also had their own art department. Kummi [கும்மி] was very popular among these performers. Kulal Mothal Kummi [குழல் மோதல்  கும்மி ] is a type of Kummi that was brought to the North and East from those Tamils who migrated here.  

Their success did not just extend to settling in, building homes, financial success but also in education too.  In 2023, a student from Kuravayal [குறவயல்] earned 9A in O level whose lineage goes back to Malayakam.  She is the pride of Mullaitheevu [முல்லைத்தீவு].  In A level, a student from Udaiyaareddu received [[உடையாரெட்டு]] 3A.  In Puthukudiyiruppu [ [புதுக்குடியிருப்பு] Central College, in Maths division, the student who got first rank in Mullaitheevu also comes from a lineage of Malayakam. In biology, second rank holder also have the same lineage.  In Thunukai [துணுக்காய்], Yogapuram National School, approximately 9 students received 9A and they are all from a background that goes to Malayakam.  Education-wise, they have risen above as we see the lack of opportunity and access to education for those in Malayakam.  In Tamil Eelam, they have the opportunity that was denied to them in Malayakam and they are thriving.  

Between 1990 and 1995, we witnessed a huge influx of migration to Vanni [வன்னி] region alone. One third (or more) of Tamils from Vanni are of from Malayaka background. Below is the detailed information of Up-country Tamils ​​who migrated to the North, by region:

• Under Kilinochchi [கிளிநொச்சி] Divisional Secretariat, with 26 Gram Sevakar Divisions in which 15 of them have more than 50 percent are Up-country Tamils.
• Anaivilunthaan [ஆணைவிழுந்தான்] (75%)
• Akkaraiyan Kulam [அக்கரையான்குளம்] (60%)
• Konaavil [கோணாவில்] (75%)
• Ponnakar [பொன்னகர்] (70)
• Bharathipuram [பாரதிபுரம்] (80%)
• Malaiyaalapuram [மலையாளபுரம்] (95%)
• Vivekananthanagar [விவேகானந்தநகர்] (50%)
• Krishnapuram [கிருஷ்ணபுரம்] (85%);
• Ampaal Kulam [அம்பாள் குளம்] (75%)
• Selvanagar [செல்வநகர்] (80%)
• Ambaal Nagar [அம்பாள் நகர்] (65%)
• Maruthanagar [மருதநகர்] (50%)
• Pannangkanndi [பன்னங்கண்டி] (55%)
• Ottuppulam [ஒட்டுப்புலம்] (85%)
• Puthumurippu [புதுமுறிப்பு] (60%)
• Under Kandavala [கண்டாவள] Divisional Secretariat, Tharumapuram [தருமபுரம்] West and East have more than 80% of Tamils are of Up-country background
• Under Poonagri [பூநகரி] Divisional Secretariat, a majority (90%) of the Jayapuram [ஜெயபுரம்] North and South Grama Sevakar Divisions belong to the Up-country Tamils.
• In Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat, areas from Kurumpankaadu [குறும்பன்காடு] all the way to Chithamparapuram [சிதம்பரபுரம்] are all Malayaka Tamils. Their settlement is also found along Vijithapuram [விஜிதபுரம்], Poovarasan kulam [பூவரசன்குளம்], Chettikkulam[செட்டிக்குளம்].
• Under Mullaitivu [முல்லைத்தீவு] Divisional Secretariat, areas such as Pudukudiripu [புதுக்குடியிருப்பு], Ottusuddaan [ஒட்டுசுட்டான்] also have a large population of Up country origin:
• Vinavail [வினவில்] (95%)
• Vallipuram [வல்லிபுரம்] (95% )
• Thevipuram [தேவிபுரம்] (55%)
• Kuravayal [குறவயல்] (99%)
• Suthanthirapuram [சுதந்திரபுரம்] (74% )
• Iranaimadu [இரணைமடு] (67%)
• Valluvarpuram [வள்ளுவர்புரம்] (100%)
• Manikapuram [மாணிக்கபுரம்] (100%)
• Elangopuram [இளங்கோபுரம்] (92%)
• Mannankandal [மன்னங்கண்டல்] (51%)
• Muthyankatu [முத்தையன்கட்டு] (63%)
• Thyaganagar [தியாகநகர்] (83%)

These data were recently collected by a Kandiyan Tamil organization to document Malayaka makkal across the island. Other Tamils, especially LTTE, did not want to differentiate the Tamils and their integration to the existing society happened naturally.

Their success also extends to politics. Puthukudiyippu, Kuravayal, Vavuniya, it's Malayaka Tamils hold ranks in municipal councils. Former provincial councillor and Member of Parliament Kalaiarasan Thavarasa, Sivarajan, Youth MP, who identifies himself as Eela Tamil, have a heritage also goes back to Malayakam. In government jobs, in Puthukudiyippu, over 90% of those in service are from similar backgrounds.

They consider themselves as Eela Tamils. No one there divides themselves as Malayaka Tamils and Vanni Tamils. This line was never drawn and does not appear till date. Even if you take the Tamil liberation movement, many high rank officials come from Malayaka background. Some of the most trusted people of Thalaivar Prabhakaran were also from such lineage. This was never written in books, articles, or papers. We were not classified differently: we are all united as Tamils. The intention of this writeup is not to show the difference but rather to show, we are not divided, but rather united.