I was a writer and dramatist even as a militant: Shobasakthi

Erstwhile LTTE fighter turned author, Shobasakthi admits he would like to be known as more than just a former militant. Now Parisien and a refugee, he says he always knew he could become a writer one day.

In an email interview from Paris, the author of novels like
Gorilla and his latest, Traitor, writes, “I was a writer and dramatist even as a militant. I wrote propaganda poems and pamphlets about the liberation of Tamil Eelam, and created the theatrical performances that were played in the villages. I had more than my share of the imagination needed for a writer. I should admit that the height of my imagination was my hope that we would gain a socialist Tamil Eelam through militancy.”

In his latest novel Shobasakthi walks the reader through the most tumultuous times in the history of Sri Lanka, when gore, torture and murder were everyday occurrences — details that were perhaps lost between the tug of war between LTTE and the Lankan government.

After working for years as a dishwasher and supermarket employee, the scars that are etched deep in his mind are palpable. “I have been since childhood involved myself deeply in political activities. After I arrived in France as a refugee, I was a part of the Trotsky movement. Only after I lost my faith in all forms of political movements did I begin writing in earnest. Humiliations and rejections are the inspirations to my writing. It is not easy nor is there pleasure in writing about humiliations and rejections,” he continues.

The author is quite candid when he accepts that he would soon be seeking for a French citizenship, he did not choose France as his country. After roaming through several Asian countries after managing to flee Sri Lanka, he landed in France with a fake French passport.

In fact, he puts forth his views quite in a matter of fact manner, “I did not choose France as my country. I came here only because I was able to get a false French passport. I am still a political refugee in France. So far, something made me resist applying for French citizenship. But looking at the totalitarian government run by the Mahinda Rajapakse clan, I don’t think I’d ever be able to go back to Sri Lanka. It looks like I should start the French citizenship process.”

However, Shobasakthi feels deeply connected to his roots as he concludes, “On the 2nd of this month, the elections for a transnational Tamil Eelam was held in Europe. Such a strong Tamil community has rooted itself in Europe. This Tamil community has deep cultural and political bonds with its mother country.”