"Of Tamils and Tigers" is a historical record written by Ben Bavinck, born in Indonesia in 1924 to Dutch missionary parents. The book provides a unique perspective on the events in Sri Lanka, focusing on the resilience of ordinary people during the conflict between the Tigers and the State. Bavinck, a missionary-teacher fluent in Tamil, spent seventeen years in Jaffna before returning to the Netherlands in 1972. After retirement in 1988, he worked as a relief worker in Sri Lanka, documenting his experiences in diaries. The book emphasizes the impact of ordinary individuals rather than political or armed leaders, offering valuable insights into Sri Lanka's war years. Bavinck's diaries, filled with self-effacing humor and compassion, provide a rich historical record of the country's turbulent times.
