From the Rajya Sabha records

Compiled by P. Ramesh Kumar with the help of ChatGPT

Verified records show that Prof. P. Balasubramanian, then a Reader in Tamil and Head of the Tamil Wing, Department of Modern Indian Languages, University of Delhi, undertook an indefinite hunger strike in April 1985 to protest what he regarded as the Government of India’s inadequate response to the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils. This is documented in the official proceedings of the Rajya Sabha rather than being based solely on newspaper reports.

Verified timeline

• Start of hunger strike: 21 April 1985, at 10:00 a.m.
• Location: Boat Club lawns, New Delhi, near Parliament.
• Nature: Indefinite fast.
• Purpose: To draw the attention of the Government of India to the condition of Sri Lankan Tamils during the escalating ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

His position at Delhi University

The Rajya Sabha record identifies him as:

Prof. P. Balasubramanian, Reader in Tamil and Head of the Tamil Wing, Department of Modern Indian Languages, University of Delhi.

His stated demands

According to the letter he wrote to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, excerpts of which were read into the Rajya Sabha proceedings, Prof. Balasubramanian stated that:

• The suffering of Sri Lankan Tamils had “pricked” his conscience.
• Around 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees had reached India.
• More than 20,000 Tamils, including children, had reportedly been killed, and over 2,000 of them were Indian citizens (these figures reflected his claims and advocacy at the time, not official government statistics).
• His principal political demand was that India should recognise the Tamil Eelam liberation movement, comparing such recognition with India’s earlier recognition of organisations such as the PLO and SWAPO.

Discussion in Parliament

The issue was formally raised in the Rajya Sabha on 29 April 1985 by V. Gopalsamy (then a Rajya Sabha member from Tamil Nadu).

During the discussion:

• He informed the House that Prof. Balasubramanian had been fasting since 21 April.
• He expressed concern over the professor’s deteriorating health.
• He stated that Prof. Balasubramanian was not affiliated with any political party.
• He also noted that the professor did not belong to Tamil Nadu, but was from Andhra Pradesh, while serving as a Delhi University academic.

Historical context

The fast occurred during a period of intense violence in Sri Lanka following the anti-Tamil riots of 1983 and amid growing armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil militant organisations. India was simultaneously receiving large numbers of Tamil refugees while attempting diplomatic engagement with Sri Lanka. The protest preceded the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force.

What is firmly verified

The following facts are directly supported by the official parliamentary record:

• Prof. P. Balasubramanian was a Delhi University Tamil professor.
• He began an indefinite hunger strike on 21 April 1985.
• The protest took place at Boat Club in New Delhi.
• The cause was the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.
• His demands included stronger Indian intervention and recognition of the Tamil Eelam movement.
• His protest was formally discussed in the Rajya Sabha on 29 April 1985.

(Source: ChatGPT)

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