Kamal asks not to celebrate his b'day

Actor Kamal Hassan has sent out a message to his fans, requesting them not to celebrate his birthday, which falls on November 7. He wants the focus to be on the Tamils who are suffering in Sri Lanka amidst fierce battle.

Here is the complete version of his statement:

Dear members and card holders of our welfare organisation, I do understand your eagerness to celebrate November 7, which happens to be my birthday.

I beseech you to refrain from such celebrations. An individual's birthday loses credence or importance when genocide is practiced in our neighboring island with renewed vigour.

Human civilization is only 10,000 years old. It is not a job completed but a work in progress. Wars around the world are clear indications of this fact.

Language, colour, creed and caste can no more be used as excuses for intolerance.

I am not qualified to offer solutions to the Sri Lankan problem. Nevertheless, I am sensible enough to refrain and restrain you from celebrations when our neighbours' are helpless spectators to genocide and mass funerals.

Please redirect your energies and enthusiasm towards human compassion on November 7 instead.

Many are dying for a reason so unbelievably simple. They speak the same language "Tamil" as I do.

If my birthday can be used as a tiny fulcrum to leverage public opinion against this genocide, apart from the honour of gaining your love, I would have one more reason to be proud of my birth.