Learning politics from Sivaram : the life and death of a revolutionary Tamil journalist in Sri Lanka

This is a new book in our successful anthropology series.

It examines the history of Sri Lanka and Tamil politics over the last 20+ years.

It presents a unique account of the impact of a key Tamil political figure.

It explores how he is drawn into militant political activity, and then grows to question it.

It provides a fascinating exploration of what it means to be a revolutionary on both a personal and political level.

This is the story of the life and impact of the political activist, journalist and freedom-fighter Sivaram Dharmeratnam.

Sivaram dedicated his life to helping the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

He started out as an active participant in the war against the Sri Lankan government - in the eyes of some, a "terrorist".

Yet he eventually renounced the ruthless violence it involved.

Instead, he became a high profile journalist in the Sri Lankan press, and used his position to fearlessly publish critical analysis of the government - despite repeated threats on his life, and the murder of other journalists.

Finally, in 2005, Sivaram himself was assassinated.This remarkable book is both an intimate portrait of the man himself, and a fascinating account of the political dilemmas that he faced - and that still face us today.

It explains how an educated man adopts a position of supporting violence. And while his position softens, Sivaram remains critical of the liberal political principles that govern Western policy.

Written by a close friend, this unique account highlights some of the most difficult political questions facing us today.