S.J. Chelvanayakam was one of the most prominent leaders of the Ceylon Tamils before and after the end of colonial rule, and in the early days of their struggle for political and economic equality. The author, who knew Chelvanayakam intimately, analyzes in this work his career and his symbiotic relationship with the Ceylon Tamils, which led eventually to the emergence and reinforcing of a defensive Ceylon Tamil nationalism. The work is based on personal papers, interviews with leading protagonists, parliamentary records and the English and Tamil press. It is also conceived by the author as a model for the study of ethno-nationalism, the politics of Gandhian protest and of crisis leadership in a multi-ethnic Third World state.