Nandhini* was born in May 2009 in a hospital that was in the Sri Lankan Army’s control in Vavuniya. Hours after she was born, her அம்மா (amma) fled the hospital with Nandhini to ensure they were not imprisoned. Nandhini’s அண்ணா (anna) had already been smuggled out of Manik farm - he was pushed through a hole - and was being kept with a family member in Vavuniya. The three were in hiding for quite some time, until they were able to leave the island.
Nandhini and her family don’t know what happened to her அப்பா (appa). He had stayed back in the ‘no fire zone’ when Nandhini’s அம்மா and அண்ணா made their long walk into army territory. You can read more about Nandhini’s அம்மா’s story here. Photo 1: The blue dress is what Nandhini’s அம்மா wore during delivery. Photo 2: This is what her அம்மா and அப்பா wore on their wedding day. The black watch belongs to her அம்மா. Photo 3: அண்ணா holding அப்பா’s watch which has been promised to him. Nandhini is wearing her அம்மா’s watch which has been promised to her. Photo 4: These are some of the items her அம்மா fled with. The white beniyan and cream kurtha belongs to her அப்பா. *names have been changed to protect identities