Topic started by Martin (@ gated.thls.bbc.co.uk) on Wed Sep 3 07:30:50 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

dear all,

Can you help me?

I'm trying to find out the truth of the story of a Blind Violinist whose playing had something to do with the founding of Jaffna. Yalpanam? Perhaps...

My daughter is half Sri Lankan and as I am a violinist myself I'd like to be able to tell her the story!

Thanks,

Martin

Responses:

• From: £ (@ proxy2.leeds.ac.uk) on: Wed Sep 3 07:42:07 EDT 2003
  
  dude, you work for the BBC. Folks there style themselves as to knowing the world better than anyone else. why turn up to this forum off all places on the net!
  
  
• From: Martin (@ gatee.thls.bbc.co.uk) on: Wed Sep 3 08:01:28 EDT 2003
  
  Yes - but how us folks at the BBC style themselves and what's actually true are very different things. I got this original story from my mother-in-law's father, who had lived in Jaffna all his life but by the time I met him was old and his memory was going. But what I've written above is just about all I know. In these days of computers you need more accurate search words than the ones I have to use our databases. Hence this forum. Sorry if you feel it's inappropriate.
  
  
• From: £ (@ proxy3.leeds.ac.uk) on: Wed Sep 3 11:32:26 EDT 2003
  
  Geez, i don't feel inappropriate, mate. I'm new in this part of the WWW too. This forum is filled with hate, especially when histroy provides the fodder for it. It is kinda a south asian phenomenon.
  
  I think the British Libary in London has an excellent collection of books on South Asian history. Look them up. Try picking up a book on Jaffna or Sri Lankan history.
  
  Cheers!
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Sep 3 11:57:47 EDT 2003
  
  Martin,
  Violin is not of Tamil origin.
  
  yaazh is an old Tamil instrument. Paanar are the musicians of the old Tamil world. Yaazhpaanar are the people that play the instrument. Hence the name yaazhpaanam.
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-40-7.home.cgocable.net) on: Wed Sep 3 12:06:50 EDT 2003
  
  Martin,
  
  Here's the story you are looking for http://www.eelavar.com/jaffna/files/name.shtml
  
  You owe me one now!
  
  
• From: Sumanaiya (@ 203.115.31.44) on: Wed Sep 10 06:07:53 EDT 2003
  
  Are paanars engaged in deep sea fishing?
  Is there any connection between Paanar and Karaiyars?
  
  

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