G. G. Ponnambalam

G. G. Ponnambalam

Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 November 1902 – 9 December 1977), known as G.G. Ponnambalam, was a Tamil politician in Ceylon, and then after independence, in Sri Lanka. He founded the first Tamil political party, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress. Ponnambalam stood for the principle of minority representation.

Personal history

G.G. Ponnambalam’s parents were both from the northernmost part of the island, Jaffna District, his father Gangesar was a Postmaster from Alvai North, Point Pedro, and his mother was from Navali, Manippai. He received his secondary education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo, and then went to Kings College, London University on a scholarship and graduated with a degree in the Natural Sciences. He went on to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study the Law Tripos. GG graduated with a BA in Law and was subsequently called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, London.

He was an outstanding criminal defense attorney. In the famous Ranjani taxi cab murder case, the first finger print case in Ceylon, he thoroughly demolished the testimony of Scotland Yard's Inspector Godsell on cross-examination.

After his last (1956) term in parliament, he migrated to Malaysia and practiced law there until his death on 9 February 1977.

The Sri Lankan Government honored him by issuing a commemoration postage stamp on 22 May 1986.

Political philosophy

Ponnambalam and his colleagues stood for the principle of minority representation of the Tamils. He had a cousin by Maheswaran who he constantly did not go to his trials without. They believed that without it the minority Tamils would become second class citizens. For the opposing viewpoint see Solomon Bandaranaike. Ponnambalam asked for a 50% representation of Tamils in parliament even though the Tamils only constituted 20% of Sri Lanka. This was immediately rejected and rebuked by the British Governor General as a "mockery of democracy”. Fact|date=April 2007

Political history

G.G. Ponnambalam entered the Ceylon State councile in 1934 from Point Pedro.

In 1948 Ponnambalam joined the cabinet of D.S. Senanayake of the UNP, a move seen by some as an abandonment of his principles.

External links

* [http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/ggponnambalam.htm One Hundred Tamils of the 20th Century - G.G. Ponnambalam Q.C. 1902 - 1977 by Appathuray Vinayagamoorthy] ;


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ponnambalam Arunachalam — (14 septembre 1853 9 janvier 1924) était un homme politique et administrateur ceylanais. Il était le frère de Ponnambalam Ramanathan. Il commença ses études au Royal College Colombo puis alla au Christ s College de Cambridge. Dès 1875, il entra… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ponnambalam Ramanathan — (né le 15 avril 1851 et décédé le 30 novembre 1930) était un homme politique tamoul sri lankais. Il était le frère de Ponnambalam Arunachalam. Il fut actif dans le développement éducatif du Sri Lanka et dans le rapprochement entre bouddhisme et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ponnambalam — G. G. Ponnambalam Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 novembre 1901 9 décembre 1977) [1], connu sous le nom de G. G. Ponnambalam, était un homme politique tamoul srilankais à Ceylan du temps de l Empire Britannique. Il fonda le premier parti… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ponnambalam Ramanathan — Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG, KC (born 15 April 1851 died 30 November 1930) was a former Solicitor General and Tamil political leader in Ceylon. Early lifeHis father was Gate Mudaliyar Arunachalam Ponnambalam and mother was Sellachchi Ammaiyar …   Wikipedia

  • Ponnambalam Arunachalam — Sir Ponnambalam Arunachchalam, MA(Cantab), CCS (September 14, 1853 January 9, 1924) was a tamil political leader in Ceylon and a member of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council.Early lifeHis father was Gate Mudaliyar Arunachalam… …   Wikipedia

  • Kumar Ponnambalam — (August 12, 1940 January 5, 2000) was a prominent defence lawyer and a controversial minority Tamil nationalist politician from Sri Lanka. He was shot dead by unknown gunmen immediately after a suspected LTTE suicide bomb attack against the then… …   Wikipedia

  • G.G. Ponnambalam — G. G. Ponnambalam Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 novembre 1901 9 décembre 1977) [1], connu sous le nom de G. G. Ponnambalam, était un homme politique tamoul srilankais à Ceylan du temps de l Empire Britannique. Il fonda le premier parti… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • C. Ponnambalam — (Cathiravelu Ponnambalam) was the First Mayor of Jaffna.cite web | url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/02/26/new18.html| title=Stamp to honour Cathiravelu Sittampalam| date= 2004 02 26 | publisher= The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd [Daily… …   Wikipedia

  • G. G. Ponnambalam — Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 novembre 1901 9 décembre 1977) [1], connu sous le nom de G. G. Ponnambalam, est un homme politique tamoul srilankais à Ceylan du temps de l Empire britannique. Il fonda le premier parti politique tamoul… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Poondi Kumaraswamy — Ponnambalam Kumaraswamy (often referred to as Poondi Kumaraswamy) was a leading hydrologist from India[1][2]. He was elected a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1972[3] although his only formal education was a Civil Engineering degree… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”