Road to Peace

Manickam Yogeswaran, better known simply as Yoga in the world of music, has travelled the wide world over sharing music, for music is the nearest to a common language, however cliched that may sound, that binds humanity together.

His life has been a mixture of excitement and deep sadness ever since his beloved father and his 23-year old sister Uma were killed when they were caught up in crossfire while fleeing to safety on 19 October 1987 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. At the time, Yoga was studying in London. The distance made the shock all the more devastating. Eventually the surviving members of the family started anew and began rebuilding their lives in England.

Music is the breath of life, particularly in Yoga's case. From his base in England, he has toiled for Peace using music as his Weapon of Peace, taking part in various charitable causes and benefits. In January 2000, he began to record this album for the propagation of Peace in Sri Lanka, secure in the belief that Peace was, and is, the only way forward for Thai Nadu - the Sri Lankan Motherland. The news in 2002 about the Norwegian-sponsored peace process, ceasefire and the commencement of the peace talks in Thailand gave him fresh hope and encouragement for this project.

The rocky road to Peace has at last begun to reveal itself, even if sometimes in ways that seemingly put stones in the passageway to peace. With the support of the international community, the peace process is inching forward. Leaders of the Tamil community are talking to leaders of the Sri Lankan government. At long last a dialogue is taking place. The prayers of countless people are being answered. At long last, it seems that a ceasefire may turn into permanent peace. At long last, exiles may visit their friends and relatives without fear, help the needy and help build a better society. At long last, exiled elders who have long lived overseas have the realistic hope of one day being able to return and see out their last days in the Motherland.

Yoga hopes this music can help bring peace and harmony for the island famously hailed as Paradise. The future, Yoga strongly believes, surely lies in establishing human rights, peace and reconciliation. The watchword is forgive and learn from the past. Only by doing that can we avoid the same old mistakes being acted out again. The goal must be Peace.