The Real History of Srilanka – Part 1
TweetUpdates: This post has been featured in the History Carnival at Varnam.org & in Desi Pundit. Thanks, JK.
I promised to write a follow-up to my previous post. But the situation in Srilanka got my goat, so I’m taking a detour this week.
If you are not hiding under a rock, you would be grimacing at the goings-on in Srilanka – and the attendant clown acts in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with politicians and movie actors falling over each other in their zeal to support the LTTE. If all they wanted to do was to solve the humanitarian crisis in Srilanka, hats off to them. But, that’s not their goal. Most of them want a separate Eelam for Tamils.
Holy Canoli, I thought. If Pakistani actors staged a hunger strike for the cause of Kashmir – How would that make us feel? We may choose to carve out a piece of Kashmir & throw it out for the separatist dogs, but that’s our decision & nobody else’s. We may grin & bear mediation efforts from United Nations or from neutral countries like Norway. But, we would not tolerate random foreigners poking their ugly noses in our internal affairs.
So, what makes these politicos & film actors think they can dictate terms to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka, a sovereign nation? I hope that discerning people all over India are able to see beyond the race card.
The timing of these hunger strikes is what is galling to me. Srilanka is a nose-hair away from squashing LTTE, a terror organization. LTTE cadres are holed up like rats in the dense jungles of Wanni – where the tropical canopy limits visibility for air-raids by the Lankan Airforce. Many ethnic Tamils are held against their will in Kilinochi by the LTTE, so that they can act as a human shield when the Srilankan forces break the barriers. LTTE, the protectors of Tamils? They don’t give a rat’s ass to Tamils. All they want is a separate Eelam to rule.
LTTE = Face of Srilankan Tamils?
First of all – Who made LTTE the sole torch-bearers of Srilankan Tamils? Moderate parties like TULF (currently led by Ananda Sangaree) want an autonomous Tamil state, but they don’t believe in an armed struggle. TELO and EPRLF (parts of which have now merged with LTTE) are the other groups that focus on guerrilla warfare or militancy.
LTTE does not bear rivals kindly. Their snipers brutally assassinated TULF leader Appapillai Amirthalingam, who wanted a negotiated settlement instead of a civil war. The cold-blooded murder of respected academic, TULF leader & peacemaker Neelan Thiruchelvan is sadder still. He was working on a relief package with the then Srilankan President Ms Kumaratunga when he was assassinated by LTTE.
As for TELO & EPRLF – LTTE hit-men killed TELO leader Sri Sabarathinam in 1986, over a squabble. EPRLF leader Padmanabha and his deputies were killed in a gruesome manner, in broad daylight in Chennai by LTTE in 1990 – because his party contested in the Srilankan general elections for the North Eastern province. LTTE has admitted that it doesn’t believe in democracy. It never will. Anarchy & Oppression are their Gods.
LTTE & Friends
You are judged by the friends you keep. LTTE has close ties with ULFA, a much-feared and banned terror outfit in Assam, that targets Hindi-speaking Indians from Bihar. Mass graves have been discovered in old ULFA camp sites. They don’t mind killing children if that will get their voices “heard”. Such lovely people are friends with LTTE. Hell, LTTE organizes training camps for ULFA. What’s a little cooperation between friends?
The above news nugget is credited to the Director General of Police from Tripura (an Indian state). The DGP of Tripura – Not an Average Joe from the streets, who may have an ax to grind against LTTE’s “Tamil Cause”. It gets even better. LTTE & ULFA supply arms to Naxalites/Maoists, who have consolidated their presence in 22 Indian states.
Who are these Srilankan Tamils?
Human beings have lived in Srilanka for 34,000 years. Condensing the rich history of such an ancient land is fraught with the dangers of over-simplification, so I’ll tread cautiously. There are 2 kinds of Tamils in Sri Lanka – The Jaffna (Yazhpanam) Tamils & the Indian Tamils.
Tamils moved to Srilanka in one of the numerous, tiresome battles waged between the Cholas/Pandyas & Sinhalas. The very 1st recorded battle was in 205 BC between the Pandya (Chola in some sources) king Elara & the Sinhala king Dutta Gamanu, where he soundly whupped the Tamil king’s ass. In the course of the next 14 or 15 centuries, dame fortune sometimes favored the Tamil kings & sometimes the Sinhala Kings. From the 7th Century AD onwards, the Sinhalas got a dance partner – Persian Pallavas that ruled South India gleefully extended their support to Srilanka. Till the reign of Raja Raja Chola & his son Rajendra Chola in the 10th century AD, that is. Fearsome warriors, they kicked the butt of everybody in South East Asia, colonized any territory that they clapped their eyes on.
For the most part, the Tamils that moved to the Jaffna peninsula during these battles are the Srilankan Tamils.
Srilanka, like India, was under the British rule. In their inimitable style, the British usurped the lands of the peasants in Kandy and planted coffee, tea & rubber. To work these fields, they imported indentured laborers from South India. These laborers were amongst the poorest of the poor. Their working & living conditions in Kandy were squalid & unbearable. These are the Indian Tamils.
The uppity Srilankan Tamils showed their disdain for the “inferior” Indian Tamils openly. Historically, the 2 groups did not mix with each other. The Black July riots in 1983 changed everything, of course. Because the rioting Sinhala mobs didn’t care if someone was a Srilankan or an Indian Tamil.
Divisive Politics of G.G.Ponnambalam
Much of what we know about the early history of Srilanka is from the Pali chronicle “Mahavamsa”, created by the Buddhist monk Nagasena in the 5th century AD. It narrates the history of Lanka from the 6th century BC. This early part of the epic, which starts before the reign of King Ashoka, is difficult to substantiate. So, we can make an educated guess that at least a part of it is legend. Needless to say, Srilankans revere the “Mahavamsa” & are understandably proud of it.
In the 1930s, the leader of the Srilankan Tamils was G.G.Ponnambalam. The very 1st communal riots between Sinhalas & Tamils happened in Navalapitiya in 1939, thanks to his ceaseless efforts: He rejected his Srilankan identity & called himself a proud Dravidian. He then proceeded to attack the “Mahavamsa”. Imagine what Indians would do if some jackass heckled the “Ramayana” or the “Mahabharata”.
Srilanka became independent in 1948. As a fallout of the “Ceylon Citizenship Act” of 1948, the Indian Tamils were disenfranchised. Which means, all of them were stripped off their Srilankan citizenship & they had nowhere to go. Venerable Srilankan Tamil leaders like Chelvanayagam & Thondaman expressed their shock & fought to get this act repealed. So, the “Indian and Pakistani Residents Act” of 1949 came about as an addendum. Accordingly, about 40% of the Indian Tamils got their Srilankan citizenship back. The rest were repatriated to India – packed off to Jawaharlal Nehru, to be precise.
The charming G.G.Ponnambalam voted to pass this act. It is interesting to see the Srilankan Tamils do back-flips to find excuses for this egregious & embarrassing behavior. Truth be told, many of the Srilankan Tamils disliked the Indian Tamils, thought of them as “mobs” & did not want them to get voting rights. They were not sorry to see them go.
Why would I help the Srilankan Tamils, when they behaved abominably towards the Indian plantation workers? Oh, I see – now that they need India, they want us to forget the past.
Summing Up
What President Rajapakse cannot afford to do now is stop. In this last-ditch fight between the Lion (Srilanka, with its “Lion Flag”) & the Tiger (LTTE), I’m rooting for the Lion. That doesn’t mean I’m insensitive to the plight of the innocent civilians caught in the Wanni forest. Neither am I denying the atrocities committed by the Sinhala majority on the Tamil minority.
In our zeal to upbraid the Sinhalas, none of us should forget how rotten & human excrement-like LTTE is. After all, they killed Rajiv Gandhi, an Indian leader in Indian soil. Imagine what they must be doing to Srilanka. I’ll NEVER forgive LTTE & neither should you. I’m a Tamil. If opposing LTTE makes me a traitor to the Tamil cause, so be it. I simply will not condone terrorism. That will make me a traitor to the human cause.
Since the truth will help us take an informed stance, I’ll publish some more unvarnished nuggets in my next post.
Priya,
I finally sat down for half an hour and read both the parts of the Sri Lanka series in detail. Hats off to you for doing intensive research and to share your insights and findings with everyone. I could not have got a better understanding of the situation than this.
I truly hope peace comes to Sri Lanka without more damage to people. I never had any respect for LTTE. Any organization that involves in violence even if they say it is “justified” is a thumbs-down from my side.
Saraswathi – Thanks for your comment.
The 1st few parts are easier. Getting reliable information is becoming progressively difficult. So my take on this is, if all I have is propaganda, let me see what both sides have to say & make sense out of it.
Unfortunately, there will be more violence. Srilanka can never be sure it has broken the tiger’s back. They may characteristically lie low & then hit Colombo when they are least prepared for it. I’m with you 100%. I think LTTE is a dung-heap. Violence is a no-no & terrorism is sickening.
Priya,
I dont care how you describe (unparlimentary or abusive) about terrorist organisations but I wasa disappointed at the language you used to mention about the late kings and warriors. It was totally uncalled for, apart from that it was as usaul sarcastically informative.
Ananth – Thanks for your comment.
I’m not sure which description of mine you find offensive. I don’t think I’ve used any uncalled for language. I haven’t stated anything that hasn’t already been said about our late kings. Most of it is documented history or in canons. With all due respect, I don’t see the need for history (or any subject) to be staid, serious & proper.
Hi Priya,
I accept the fact that LTTE is a brutal force killing people. But in the name of slamming the LTTE you forgot to mention the atrocities the Srilankan government did to Tamil civilians which instigated a part of them to become rebellions. My point is, if you write about a issue or topic it should be complete and explain all the intricacies involved in the issue.
Your post seems to lopsided by briefing one part of the issue and left the other side untouched. Comparing this issue with J&Kashmir is the summit of ridicule. These two are totally irrelevant issue.
Instead of discussing the issue that is prevailing between Srilankan army and LTTE you have thrown light more on issue existed between ethnic Tamil groups in Lanka. The words you have used show your disdain towards late kings of south India.
To summaries, the post is not the complete history of Srilanka, it’s a sarcastic, lopsided, immature writing about a sensitive issue without having a panoramic understanding.
Karthikeyan – I have a simple rule. Polite comments will get polite responses. Rude comments will be treated with contempt. I don’t expect people to agree with me, I just expect them to be polite. If that rule is too much for you, be ready for retaliatory, disdainful missives from me.
You think you have a “point”? Did you see the title properly? Its called “Part-1” for a reason. It is ridiculous to expect every single aspect of the Srilankan problem covered in the 1st part of the post. Before shooting your mouth off immaturely, you should have attempted to read the remaining posts.
Perhaps you’ll have enough attention span to read the other parts in this series? And get this: this is an *ongoing* series. Let me translate it for you: It means, there are more posts to come. Stop jumping up & down & get a grip before you embarrass yourself any further. Yours is a knee-jerk reaction, without any reflection on what a “series” means.
What is the “summit of ridicule” in comparing it to J&K? Anyone can throw lame adjectives without data. Substantiate your claim on why J&K is different from Srilanka. Else accept yours is an irrational reaction & move on.
I don’t write superficial posts. If you think the Srilankan problem is solely limited to the “prevailing issue” between the army & LTTE, you have no idea what triggered the ethnic tensions. And worse, you have no curiosity to know that either. You seem to go by the principle – if you don’t know something, it ain’t worth knowing & no one should write about it either.
What “disdain” have I shown for the kings of South India? Again, lame adjectives bandied about because you think humor should be restricted to the curdled comedy track in movies. That’s your problem, not mine.
See the comment from Ananth & learn from him. He didn’t like the way I described the kings either – but his comment is civil. Dissent is always welcome. We may not see eye to eye, but we can be respectful of each other.
Your summary is the height of your ignorance. I pity you if you think you have a “panoramic” understanding of the problem. “Panoramic insouciance” is more like it.
I even deigned to respond to your comment, only to show you how rude, boorish, nasty comments will be treated in this blog. Any further rude comments from you will be moderated out.
@ Karthikeyan….
How is Kashmir different from SriLanka? In my opinion only difference in Kashmir is that 2 countries are interefing with affairs of the State(3 if we include China in Ladakh ).Politicians/Actors in TN by acting funny are infact trying to interfere in the Sovergnity of Sri Lanka which is totally unacceptable.
So the comparision makes perfect sense.
Karthik – Thanks. If Karthikeyan had given some facts on why Kashmir & Jaffna are different, I’ll be very glad to listen.
As it is, his reaction fits a pattern. He thinks, me being an Indian, should have used appropriate mournful language to describe the defeat of the Tamil king Elara > 2200 years back. I may be wrong, but I think he wouldn’t have minded my irreverence if Elara had whupped Dutta Gamanu’s ass.
Perhaps he reasons thus, extending his patriotism & loyalty for his country: Kashmir is the handiwork of our enemies. Srilankan crisis isn’t the handiwork of our enemies. Ergo, they can’t be the same.
vaNakkam. I begin to add my comments:
“If you are not hiding under a rock, you would be grimacing at the goings-on in Srilanka – and the attendant clown acts in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with politicians and movie actors falling over each other in their zeal to support the LTTE. If all they wanted to do was to solve the humanitarian crisis in Srilanka, hats off to them. But, that’s not their goal. Most of them want a separate Eelam for Tamils.
Holy Canoli, I thought. If Pakistani actors staged a hunger strike for the cause of Kashmir – How would that make us feel? We may choose to carve out a piece of Kashmir & throw it out for the separatist dogs, but that’s our decision & nobody else’s. We may grin & bear mediation efforts from United Nations or from neutral countries like Norway. But, we would not tolerate random foreigners poking their ugly noses in our internal affairs.”
the parallel is mischievous. Kashmir or for that matter no part of Indian sub continent was part of any muslim population to begin with . But events in the historical courses as they happened did bring into existence Muslim populations. To be brief, after colonisation of Indian sub continent by the British and welding of the colonial poltiy of india, Mulsim population turned a minoiry and Mohammad Ali Ginna wanted a separate and independent polity for them where MUSLIMS CAN LIVE FREE FROM FEAR OF MAJORITY. Pakisthan was eventually created unmindful of partition and the massive human tragedy of killing and maiming of people. THERE WAS NEVER PAKISTHAN AT ANY POINT OF TIME OF HISTORY IN INIDIAN SUB CONTINENT.
Once Pakisthan is created for the Muslims, all thsoe who believed in living in an Isalmic State were expected to move to Pakisthan as did the Jews from everywhere into jewsih state of Israel.
Kashmir has even been given special status. Therefore Pakisthan sponsoerd violent movement for independendent kashmir is not justified. And Kahsmir tangle can never have parallel with Thamizh Eezham and teh opprssive war against Eezhamite tamils by the Sri Lankan Army.
THERFORE IF PAKISTHANI ACTORS STAGE A SHIOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH VIOLENCE IN KASHMKIR THAT WPOULD NOT BE JUSTIFIABLE!
“So, what makes these politicos & film actors think they can dictate terms to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka, a sovereign nation? I hope that discerning people all over India are able to see beyond the race card”
WHO R U? a Sinhalese masqurading as a Tamil here? can u revela ur identity? I am a Tamilian of KVG social identity and live near Coimbatore maavattam in my sacred and precious Thamizh Naadu, Aawyer by profession? I am an Indian toot. I was a participant in anti Hindi agitation of the year 1965. i was beaten up by police in front of Presidency College on Marina. I was a student of MCC, Tambaram. I wrote a 60 page article about anti Hindi movement which is actually a facet of Tamil nationalism embedded ine ach true tamilian wiht proper education of history of his identity and resultant perceptions of ethnic, linguistic , cultural, economic, social and other needs.
I am motivated by an inevitable urge and longing to have atleast one sovereign State of their own for Tamils on this vast earth and if not in eezham where else they can have given the 50 years of humiliation, discrimination and repression by the steam roller majoirity Sinhalese?
Thus the actors, show of a day long fasting was only of sympbolic support. NOT OF NECESSARY MOTIVATION AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT TO THE CAUSE OF THAMIZH EEZHAM!
Political scenario in Tamil naadu is woefully pathetic. NONE TODAY CVAN SUPPORT LTTE.
THOSE WHO HAS FAITH IN INDIAN POLITY NOW R COMPELLED TO RETHINK OF OUR COMMITMENT.
For, the same NEW DELHI did not driove away Mukthi Baklhini of Bnagla desh!
In each war thrusted on India by Pakisthan and China what was the stand of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka?
In Bnagla Desh liberation war, Colombo willingly helped West Pakisthani troops movement to the East Pakisthan for the event of ethnic cleansing of bnegali muslims people of east Pakisthan.
what was the stand of Colombo during Indo China war?
there is no need for further words of anti Indian conduct of Colombo.
BUT NEW DELHI AND COLOMBO DO MAKE STRANGE BED FELLOWS WHERE THERE IS NEED TO CURB TAMIL NATIONALISM!
PAKISTHAN & ISREAL DO SUPPORT COLOMBO AGAINST EEZHAM TAMILS.
BEJING AND WASSHIGTON TOO ARE AGAINST THE EEZHAMITE TAMILS.
WEST & EU NOT IN WHOLE HAVE SUPPORTED THE CAUSE OF EEZHAMITE TAMILS!
They have no ethnic motivation and or commitments.
When the ANC of Nelson Mandela did fihgt against the repressive and discriminatory White apartheid regime of Pretoria
DID NLT THE FRONT LINE BLACK AFRICAN STATES HELP ALL OUT TO MANDELA?
Race is the factor.
HAVE NOT THE ARABS SUPPORTED THE PALETSINIANS?
Race is the fcator there!
So are we TAMILS , that is genuine Tamils, not of the ilk of Thiru. Subramnaiam swamy, Thiru.’ Cho’ Raamasaamy and “HINDU” Thiru Rami of whom I have watched even from students days at MCC where he was invited by our Department of Politics and Public Administration to talk on Marxism.
I have espoused tamil nationalism which is innate and incidental to my tamil identity. Of course there is commitmnet to my counrty but I am watchful of the suitability of this country to my identity.
Pazhanisaamy Padmanaabhan,
First, request to write your comments in logical order by not using capital letters.
Two, you are ideologically far end of the spectrum, perhaps an inch away from picking up the arms and joining LTTE. You are free to do so. Your life and your dreams. But dont try to rub those ideas and expect average Indian/Tamilian to accept it.
Third, your sense of humor has to be improved. A figurative sense of speech to make a blog post more interesting cannot be attributed to be disrespectful of any group. If you say so, then there is no difference between you and fanatic folks who demanded Sandiyar title to be changed to Virumandi.
Fourth, if you are saying that Tamil Elam has to be crafted by segregating from India, you are a secessionist and are thinking of treason.
A request to blog owner, please delete this person’s posts. He doesnt contribute anything constructive to this community.
Pazhanisaamy – Stop filibustering. If you want to make a few points calmly, make them, wait for the other readers to respond & then make a few more. Don’t drown the post with comments. Next, I’ve moderated out your comments where you had supported LTTE, a banned terrorist organization in India. Such show of support is illegal. Prabhakaran is one of the most wanted terrorists in the red list of Interpol. That cannot be explained away by conspiracy theories against the “cause of Tamils”. I have also moderated out comments where you had wondered why Tamil Nadu should remain in the Indian Union. That is Sedition.
Subsequent comments from you – that don’t follow the norms listed in the above para will be moderated out.
There was never a Pakistan before the partition. But what makes you think there always was a separate Tamil state in Srilanka? If you choose to believe in the propaganda of Tamil separatist movements, that’s totally up to you. If indeed there was a separate Tamil state, why did they agree to be a part of the Sovereign state of Srilanka in 1948? Stating that the North East was a Tamil state forever is an over-simplification of history & migration patterns. Chew this, the word “Eelam” is a corruption of “Hela” or “Elu”, which is the name of the Ancient Sinhala language.
Next, it is ridiculous to state that Race is the factor in Arabs supporting Palestine. Religion is the factor. Anyone who has mingled with Arabs can see that those from North Africa look nothing like the Arabs from Lebanon, for e.g. And the Lebanese look nothing like those from Saudi Araba. And Sauds look nothing like the Arabs in Sudan.
Language is only 1 part of someone’s identity. Religion is another. Caste is yet another. Then come Profession, Economic Strata etc. Now according to you, every group or sub-group needs nation-hood? The Dravidian rhetoric isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. What should we do next? Separate states for Tamil Muslims, Tamil Christians & Tamil Hindus? Then, from the state of Tamil Hindus, “Fake Tamils” (your term for Brahmins?) should secede, asking for a Tamil Brahmin state. We can’t carve up countries because a few people like you have a longing for a separate state.
If you think that only Sinhalas masquerading as Tamils will oppose the formation of a Tamil state in Srilanka, you are sadly out of touch with the real world.
I don’t have to respond to your cheap Brahmin baiting. If you wake up after your deep slumber & enter the 21st Century, you’ll find that religion, language, caste etc are becoming increasingly irrelevant. At least in the parts of the world with a sound economy.
@ Priya,
I empathise with you :I am not able to read 2 of these comments .I really pity you if you had to read a whole lot of jingoist Jibberish and then moderate it .
And of course a Thanks for saving from that:)
As for Mr Pazhaniappan….raising a voice on some issue does not make it right …I am dead sure that you have not read the post sequence as well the discussion that followed before jumping into another argument.
And all your shouting does not really justify the LTTE’s actions in any form way (assuming that these guys are fighting for freedom).
Karthik – Thanks 🙂 I had to moderate 6 comments from Pazhanisaamy. That makes it 8 comments from him at 1 go.
I also had to moderate his comment on the “Blog Pongal” post by Sukumar. Apparently, Pazhanisaamy was irate that the “Blog Pongal” post did not have anything to say about the real Pongal, the festival of the “Tamils”. I could scarcely believe what I read, but there you have it. Not to mention the fact that Pongal is celebrated all over India, not just in Tamil Nadu.
vaNakkam , to all u here- PR,Vamsi and PKK , so far.
In introdcution, u may please advert to my earliest two pposting in this series of my postings under this topic of Real Hitsory of Sri Lanka” ( hereinafter RHSL for short).
it is sad that PR , (the blog owner, that is the aurhor of the article under comments from me currenlty and lothersr from the date of publishing the part-1 by PR) has chosen to “moderate” which in effect as I see aboe is deletion!
the resaon given by PR is :” supported LTTE, a banned terrorist organization in India. Such show of support is illegal. Prabhakaran is one of the most wanted terrorists in the red list of Interpol. That cannot be explained away by conspiracy theories against the “cause of Tamils”. I have also moderated out comments where you had wondered why Tamil Nadu should remain in the Indian Union. That is Sedition. ”
As u may be aware from myi nntroductiry words in my posting above and not moderated, that is not deleted ( and i quote for convenience them right here please :”I am a Tamilian of KVG social identity and live near Coimbatore maavattam in my sacred and precious Thamizh Naadu, Aawyer by profession? I am an Indian toot. I was a participant in anti Hindi agitation of the year 1965. i was beaten up by police in front of Presidency College on Marina. I was a student of MCC, Tambaram. I wrote a 60 page article about anti Hindi movement which is actually a facet of Tamil nationalism embedded ine ach true tamilian wiht proper education of history of his identity and resultant perceptions of ethnic, linguistic , cultural, economic, social and other needs.
I am motivated by an inevitable urge and longing to have atleast one sovereign State of their own for Tamils on this vast earth and if not in eezham where else they can have given the 50 years of humiliation, discrimination and repression by the steam roller majoirity Sinhalese? “) I am a lawyer by professions and a formal member of legal fratetrnity in the High Court of juidcature at Madras ( the formal name of the HC in Chennai is used ) . The connected words are not printed properly :”Aawyer by profession? I am an Indian toot.” This must read as I really wanted to pirnt, ” I am a lawyer by profession. I am an Indian citizen” .
I qulalified in 1974 and after a few years of practice at trial level in Erode ( my native maavattam) for experiences in the application of certain substantive and procedural laws, I was drawn into a particular work in 1983 under the Companies Act and I have stayed on the roll of the lawyers of ther High Coiurt till date though currently I am in Coimbatore taking care of a hevay civil dispute again of my family member only.
this much of my legal profeesional background is relevant here inasmuch PR have sought to charge me with really big words like my “illegal” support to LTTE” and “sedition” on the basis of my comments wondering why Tamil Naadu should remain as a component of Indian Union.
well..I am really sorry to find reverbations of pre-independence colonial authoritarian voice,,Sir/Madam! ( if u so wish pleaes be kind enough to clairfy ur gender) .
support to LTTE banned here for the reason of the proscription of the same by the GOI.
Ok! But I needed my words back to assess my presentation correctly and myself judge if they fall within the scope impsoed by u here.
I am sorry PR this is my first ever particpation in “blog” discussion, If I may call. I am not used this kind if restricted way of arguing matters . If ur restriction that support t to LTTE
is “illegal”, by this time editors of journals like Junior Vikatan (JV) and Kumudam Reporter (KR) and other journals and news paper like Dhinamani in Tamil Naadu must be behind the bar!
KR issue dated 29.1.2009 (Malar 8 / ithaz 84) with the wrapper caption in bold letters “THAMIZH EEZHAM MALARUMAA?” has given an article from one thiru.Mu.Se.Kumaarasaamy , who taught Thamizh language in Thamizh Eezham from March 2006 to March 2008 by staying over there having reached there via Colombo with proper passport and visa etc! His students included Tmt.Madhivathani wife of Thiru.Pirabakaran, the LTTE’s supremo.
JV issue dated 28 Jan 299 too has given cover story with the beautiful picture of the LTTE supremo , holding to his head level a child of the bombed and wiped school SENJOLAI. The title story is :PATHUNGUVATHAA? …PAAIVATHAA? This is an analysis of battel strategies of the LTTE.
Dhinamani daily has been regualry publishing articles from thiru.Pazha. Nedumaaran, the most sincere supporter of LTTE.
But it is true that their liberty is not at the discretion of the Tamil Naadu govenmnet. If AIADMK was in power their status may be different.
One thing , in order to make the debate of this issue short and conclusive here – if u do not like me printing in support of the LTTE, I will modify my presentation. that is, I do not want to have lengthy debate wiht u on this issue and my basis is though the ban is tjhere is no definite judicial pornouncement has been yet made. Can an organaisation leading an aremed struggle in another country be banned? The GOI is perfectly wihtin its competence to ban the operations of LTTE wihtin its territories inlcuding Thamizh Naadu. In my view this what meant by the ban. The LTTE can not operate in India! Any logistic al, including oral support to facilitate its operations here, that is in India, would surely be illegal. But can an Indian citizen’s support to its operations in lother be illegal? this question is NOT yet answered by any court of law yet here.
u c, PR, the GOI has not banned Hamas! the cause of Palestinians’ struggle is acceptable to India. The GOI has recognised the Plaestinian’s movement for their separate and sovereign State. Why? Obivously to conform to the needs and expecataions of Arab States where milions of Indian citizens are working !
here is a lot I can write lihewise. Emotionally I am a committed supporter of the cause of my Eezhamite Tamils . After all selvi.JJ in TN too has by her reported current mood accepted the right of the Eezhamite Tamils for self determination! Thus far she has made twice such statements.
In short my limitations in terms of law anent support to LTTE. To be specific if LTTE happens to champion the cause of the sacred longing of Eezhmiae tamils for reviving their
historical State by a modern name of Thamizh Eezham, words describing theri activiteis in Thamizh Eezham will not amount to illegal. if ur perception is different be it so. If u will not permit me to do that, then I dunno what to do?
Therefore let me first discuss points in ur 5 parts article that relate to history of the Eezhamite Tamils and other aspests in the contents of ur serial essay
Before that let me also advert to what u have called “sediition”. Here again I did not preserve my words that provoked u to call them seditious.
we will cover them later.
To day I will close my postings now for want of time and I hope to continue after reading ur reaction to my thoughts and views expressed above. That would further help me to design an approch to deal with ur articles. u will help me further to determine the scope and meaning of ur words ” Subsequent comments from you – that don’t follow the norms listed in the above para will be moderated out’
Thank u so much Sir/?Madam , PR !
NB: 1. I have not read all ur parts. I rather would like to read them whole and go by replying to u under each part. Thus it wil not be “If you want to make a few points calmly, make them, wait for the other readers to respond & then make a few more. Don’t drown the post with comments”
2.” If you wake up after your deep slumber & enter the 21st Century, you’ll find that religion, language, caste etc are becoming increasingly irrelevant. At least in the parts of the world with a sound economy”- absolutely true! But in Tamil Naadu such realities have to be debated for in this territory of Tamils they can not afford to lose their language, their identity and their heritage . In can be so for them in places like RSA, Mauritus, FIGI Ialnds, New Zeland, Australia , USA, UK , Europe etc. Herein lies the total different difference between a ‘Tamil Brahmin” by which u have identifed elsewhere in the discussion and me , a tTamil by known history, language spoken, parental and locational birth and heritage . I have not I am a Tamil KVG! I am by any count a Tamil and an Indian citizen, as of today and by ocurtesy of the colonial reign. I am indeed grateful to what Indian has doen to me and believe me I have served this countyr most loyall! For instance, PR, in my sencond year of BA days, with economcs major, that patrticular day during a class of the subject of Currency and Banking, my professor Dr.Raajaratnam deviated from the subject lectured us about India’s population problem and i resolved NOT to ahev more than baby in my post -married family life. this was in 1965-65. I got married and begot a son. I confined to that number though the govt norm was “naam iruvar namakku iruvar”. But my lcommunity requirement was to have one more child atleast to qualfiy me for the ritual of “muzhakkatha seer” ( ear boring ceremony conforming to community norms). But my perception of this polity has changed so much with more realties unfonlding everwhere in the world and wiithin this polity. For Iisantance the implosive colalpse of th then USSR, emergence of the EU, which parallel I can say has happened in some ways for Indian sub continent due to colonial rule resulting in the unique Indian polity with which we are experimenting and which I feel is NOT conducive for developmnet of ethnic economy to enable the nationalties here to obvitate eclipse of their natural identities for the reason of economic surviva. That is Tamil need not flourish in Singapore as illustarated in news published at page 75 in AANANDA VIKATAN issue dated 17.12.2008 . The news essay ends with exhortation:” ThamizharkaLin kanivaana kavanaththiRkku” ( for the Kind attention of the Tamils ). well let me take lave from u all for the day, PR and others. nandRi.
vide my posting at :”In introdcution, u may please advert to my earliest two pposting in this series of my postings under this topic of Real Hitsory of Sri Lanka” ( hereinafter RHSL for short).
Please be kind enough to read:” In introdcution, u may please advert to my earliest two postings undre part V in this series of postings under this topic of Real Hitsory of Sri Lanka” ( hereinafter RHSL for short).
Thank u friends.
PP,
Just a quick question? Do you think the LTTE is representative of the entire Tamil population…Its like saying BJP or Shiv Sena representing the entire Hindu population….Politicos keep talking about Human rights violation by the Sri Lankan Army and LTTE has martyrs…
I am not sure if you aware but these guys recruits 10 year olds in the army ..I dont think that is exaclty service to society.
Pazhanisaamy – A request: Please make your comments briefer & less rambling, if you want other people to read them & respond to you. The blogosphere is all about succinctness. Please look at the comments others have made, for reference.
I can’t take action on the magazine editors you mention, but that doesn’t mean I’ll accept inappropriate comments in this group blog, a sphere in my control. The atmosphere in Tamil Nadu is pathetic & the state has gone to the dogs. The Chief Minister himself openly supports LTTE, pens eulogies for slain terrorists etc. Pazha Nedumaran – he’s a rabble rouser, the less said about him, the better. He is a supporter of terrorists that killed an Indian leader in Indian soil. Many people have started wondering if he’s in the payroll of LTTE.
The laws of the land are sacrosanct. I will continue to moderate out – delete, in your words – any comment that shows sympathy & support for the “cause” of terrorist organizations, that have spread their poisonous roots in my country. I don’t care if Hamas is outlawed in India or not. LTTE is banned in India & in many other countries. That’s good enough for me.
You have ignored my point about your incorrect notion – based on false history & propaganda – that the North East belongs to the Tamils. And my point on the origin of the word Eelam. Or, on the difference between race, language, religion, caste etc.
You are welcome to hold on to your views on Tamil Separatism in the North East of Srilanka, but don’t expect me to be sympathetic. There is nothing sacred about separatism. If we keep dividing so that every “race” has a nation, where would it all end?
And honestly, you are an Indian citizen. Who are you, to support an armed separatist struggle in another country? On no account will Tamil Nadu secede from India. So, how does it matter to you that there’s a “Tamil” country in another island, an island for which you don’t have a citizenship?
I would appreciate it if you stop posting more comments on this post, without reading other posts in this series.
Karthik – Yeah, Pazhanisaamy doesn’t want to face dastardly acts by the LTTE. He’s a believer in their cause. So any atrocity they commit is either regrettable (but needed in such struggles) or never happened (conspiracy by RAW or the Lankan forces). I don’t think you’ll make him re-think his shocking position, of breaking another nation into pieces, to feed the ego of the a-hole Prabhakaran.
PKK and PR: I am really sorry when i opened to load two mors posting i did not read ur postigns but when my first fo two posting got posted i read yrs. i have one more left. Please be kidn enough to accommodate this oen and i will surely consider ur requets to be brief.
Senthil:
u have said above on 7th november 7, 2008 at 1:54 pm above: “sorry.. one correction.. its deputy chief minister.. its Mr. Ramasamy, son of muthammal grant ”
No! thiru.ramasamy is younger brother of tmt.Muthammaal Grant ..as clarifeid by her in her mail to me just received few minutes ago into my mail box.
the relevnace is this well read Professor is s well known supporter of the cause of Eezhamite Tamils of strong ethnic commitements .
To PR and PKK anent their postings above, dera friends let me NOT seek to rebut ur charges.
“dastardly acts” of LTTE and slaying of indian leader on Indian soil. ( thiru.Raajiv Gandhi)
well here as a tamil I view such acts certainly in moral perspective and in ethnic angle as well.
morally and as an Indian citizen I have to feel so terrible about the killing of thiru.Raajiv.
But the leader OUGHT NOT to have sought to weaken the cause of sovereign EEzham. The real culprits are thiru. Bnadari and thiru.Dixit who misled thiru rajiv who was a novice to politics then, leave alone the sesitive issue fo the freedom struggle of the eezhamite tamils.
as for ur accusation and derogatory comments against thiru.Nedumaaran, he is an exemplary Tamil nationalist. But u will not be prone to view him otherwise than gthrough ur own preferred concepts of Sri Lanka and teh struggle of ethnic tamils in the island.
I have read the recent comments of a Tamil Minister from estate tamil community in the cabinet His Excellency Rajapakshe.
He too is wary though he has identified with his estate tamil community. He too has greievd that the ethinc tamils did not bother about his community.
That must NOT be the main issue now.
we will meet again.
Pazhanisaamy – There is no Tamil Nationalism, there’s only North Eastern Srilankan Tamil Separatism. Tamil Nadu is a part of India & belongs to all Indians & also foreign nationals that want to reside peacefully with us. Tamil is a fine language, should be preserved etc, but most people honestly don’t care for a “Tamil” state.
Let’s meet again in some other post. I think its time you read other posts & commented on those. Thanks for understanding.
Priya.. you oppose support of LTTE as it is banned here.. But, what is your vies on Priyanka vadera (alias Bianca vadera) meeting Nalini in the jail, floating all forms of legal rules.. when even the wife and daughter of late rajiv could support the direct accused (nalini), what is wrong in ordinary tamils supporting LTTE?
Will you be as usual silent on the activities of sonia family or do you condemn their activities..
Senthil – When did I defend the weird activities of Sonia Gandhi? What is the basis of your claim, that I “approve” of this tomfoolery that Priyanka committed? Can anyone with even half a brain condone this atrocious thing she did?
I don’t have to defend my silence or otherwise to you or to anyone else. If someone writes about every single thing that bothers them, they probably don’t know enough or don’t have enough exposure. Do me a favor & drop your holier than thou attitude.
I’ve moderated your other comment. You’ve said enough on this subject, kindly move on.
Hi Priya,
I am glad to stumble upon a blog that explains the ethnic history of Sri Lanka. I guess, most of the Indians – both, the ones that root for the LTTE, and the ones that don’t, would not be aware of the existence of two distinct group of Tamils in SL. I am from Tamil Nadu and I was not aware of this fact until I started sharing an apartment with an Indian Tamil from Colombo. Some of the topics that you have touched upon in your blog match fairly accurately with my roommate’s accounts, especially, the attitude of SL Tamils towards Indian Tamils during the early post-independence days.
It is sad that countries like Sri Lanka and Rwanda are still suffering from the effects of conflict caused by colonial-era ethnic polarization.
–
Karthik
98A3PS…
n.b: I found this http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2151064219162771887 to be a good documentary on the ethnic conflict.
Karthi & others..
I just came across the below article on the various aspects.. one such is the role of LTTE in Rajiv’s murder..
http://indianintelligence2009.blogspot.com/2009/09/playing-with-nations-choices.html
Rather than CIA angle, the vatican angle has the most convincing reason, as per the above article..
As per this article, the LTTE’s prabhakaran was more under influence of western intelligence (specifically Norwegian intelligence), than Indian RAW.. and it goes on to say, that Karuna was more aligned to indian intelligence..
The later day events conform to this, as karuna broke away, and still protected..
PS: I dont claim the article is 100% reliable.. while we can be skeptic, it need not be outrightly rejected.. there are enough incidents, references, and events given, which can be used as basis for judging its credibility..