The dreams and aspirations of young Sri Lankan Tamils living in and out of camps across Tamil Nadu came alive through various art forms in an exhibition organised by the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation & Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils on Chennai Trade Centre premises, as part of the World Tamil Diaspora Day celebrations.
Among the works adorning the walls of the stall were the pictures of N. Gowreeshwaran, who arrived in India from Sri Lanka in 2006, as a 16-year-old boy. Originally from Trincomalee, he nurtured his dreams of becoming a photographer. “With these works that you see here, I’m conveying my messages,” says Mr. Gowreeshwaran, who is now a resident of the camp in Puzhal in Tiruvallur district.
Equally expressive are paintings by R. Negha from the Thavasi camp in Tiruvannamalai district. “My mom arrived in India and I was born here. My paintings will tell you how we want to excel in sports and academics,” she says.
