A Mini-Series by Sriram Tawker
Welcome to the first chapter of my five-part mini novel — The Children of War.
New chapters drop every Thursday. I hope this story moves you as much as it moved me while writing it.
📌 Based on a Real Incident
Prologue:
The story is based on true incidents and is set in the early part of 1980 in Sri Lanka. The population is dominated by two major races: Sinhalese and Tamilians. Sinhalese form approximately 75% of the population and hold all major positions in the government.
Since the country’s independence from the British in 1948, Tamilians have faced constant oppression and discrimination by the Sinhalese-led government. Despite repeated protests for equal rights, the Tamil community has made only limited progress — they now have minor representation in parliament through their party, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). But their demands remain largely unmet.
📍 Chapter 1 – Beginning of the End
May 24, 1981 – Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Since the formation of the TULF party, this was the first time they had a packed hall. The crowd had gathered mainly to hear their leader, Amritaraj, a pioneer in the fight for equal rights for Tamil people and a figure deeply respected across the country.
He sat at the middle of the stage in his white dhoti and shirt, a red shawl with the party’s logo draped over his shoulder. A set of fountain pens peeked from his pocket, and his thick-framed glasses made it hard for anyone to tell where he was looking. Beside him sat Kesavan, the local youth wing leader — a young man who, like everyone else, deeply admired Amritaraj.
As the host spoke about the party’s journey and the contributions of Amritaraj, Kesavan glanced sideways at his leader. He looked stern, even grumpy, but Kesavan felt this was the right moment to speak.
“Sir, do you remember me?” Kesavan asked softly.
“Of course I do, Kesavan. I’ve been hearing good things about your work and all the efforts you’re putting in here in Jaffna to grow the party,” said Amritaraj, still not looking at him.
Kesavan’s heart swelled. “I’m so happy to hear that. It feels like I’ve accomplished something,” he said.
Amritaraj shifted in his seat. His mouth twitched slightly before he asked, “Kesavan, do you know how old I am?”
“Eighty-three? I guess.”
“I’m eighty-four. And for the last twenty five years, I’ve been fighting — along with others here — to earn equal rights for Tamil people. Do you know what we’ve achieved so far?”
Kesavan paused. “Well… we now have few members in parliament representing us.”
“That’s not even an achievement,” Amritaraj said, his voice tight. “Our Tamil children are still being pushed to the margins. They’re denied admission to colleges because their cut-off scores are higher than those for Sinhalese students. They don’t stand a chance at any government jobs. Out of frustration, many of our youth are turning into outlaws, joining extremist groups.”
A tear slipped from the corner of his eye.
“I don’t have much time left. And before I go, I want to see all children in this land — regardless of race or religion — treated as equals. That’s my only wish now.”
Kesavan sat silently, moved by the weight of those words. He admired the strength and resolve of his leader, even at this age.
Just then, the host invited Amritaraj to address the crowd. As the hall turned their attention to the stage, expecting him to rise, Amritaraj leaned toward Kesavan once more.
“Do you know what I’m going to announce today?”
“No,” Kesavan said nervously.
“Next week, we’ll hold our biggest peace protest yet — right here in Jaffna. Our children have suffered enough. This ends now.”
His jaw clenched with quiet fury.
With that, Amritaraj rose and walked up to the podium. He spoke about the past historical events and finally made the announcement about the upcoming peace protest. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. He waited for the noise to settle, then called on every party member across the country to join the movement and stand united.
More applause followed. Slowly, Amritaraj stepped down from the stage and exited the room.
Kesavan remained in his seat, feeling like the floor had dropped beneath him. His mind raced. The government wouldn’t take this lightly. They would retaliate. And when they did, it would be brutal.
His thoughts shifted to his pregnant wife and the child they were expecting in just a week. As a leader, he would be on the frontlines of the protest. What if he got arrested? Or worse?
The weight of the coming days bore down on him. As the hall around him buzzed with excitement, Kesavan sat quietly, overwhelmed by fear, doubt, and the silent unravelling of his once-clear future.
🙏 Thank you for reading Chapter 1.
👉 Chapter 2 arrives next Thursday.
💬 Have thoughts, reactions, or predictions? Hit reply or leave a comment — I’d love to hear from you.
📩 Know someone who would love this story? Feel free to forward this email to them.