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 and his chauvinistic collegues stood for the principle of minority over-representation, so that the minority Tamils who had been promoted over the majority Sinhalese by the British Colonialists wouldn't lose their super-status. He 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”. November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are an ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... ACTC flag ACTC election symbol All Ceylon Tamil Congress (in Tamil: அகில இலங்கைத் தமிழ்க் காங்கிரஸ்), the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Colonialism is a system in which a state claims sovereignty over territory and people outside its own boundaries, often to facilitate economic domination over their resources, labor, and often markets. ...

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 undergraduate education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo, and proceeded on to Cambridge with an academic scholarship. There he passed the Natural Science Tripos and was also called to the Bar. Jaffna is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka and is located in the Northern tip of Sri Lanka. ... Point Pedro is a relatively smaller city of Northern Sri Lanka, where Srilankan tamils live in majority. ... St. ... The University of Cambridge (usually abbreviated as Cantab. ...

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 December 1977. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

The Sri Lankan Government honored him by issuing a commemoration postage stamp on 22 May 1986. May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Political history

G.G. Ponnambalam entered the Ceylon parliament in 1934 from Point Pedro. Point Pedro is a relatively smaller city of Northern Sri Lanka, where Srilankan tamils live in majority. ...

In 1948 Ponnambalam joined the cabinet of D.S. Senanayake of the UNP, a move seen by some as an abandonment of his principles. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... D.S. Senanayake Don Stephen Senanayake (October 20, 1884–22 March 1952) was an independence activist who formed the Sri Lankan United National Party. ... The United National Party (UNP, Sinhalese:(pronounced Eksath Jathika Pakshaya), Tamil: ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி) is a political party in Sri Lanka. ...

External links

• One Hundred Tamils of the 20th Century - G.G. Ponnambalam Q.C. 1902 - 1977 by Appathuray Vinayagamoorthy ;