Experiencing Jaffna
Yesterday, I asked a nephew of mine whether
he had enjoyed the event that he had organized? He said words to the effect –
not then but later – thinking back. Under the subjective system of employment –
retirement was facilitated after around 50 (55 in Sri Lanka as per my
knowledge) so we could think back and enjoy our own life. Those who have low
thinking orders are not able to enjoy
the past. They would either have produced negative outcomes in the past or would
have produced excessive lateral outcomes that are hoarded. Strong vertical
structures lead to higher level enjoyment of
the Experience itself. When we
are able to invoke that Experience after a few years and feel happiness - we know that the core purpose has been
positive. These are the heritage values
that would empower and motivate the younger generation. Attributing
the outcomes that confirm / show
our wins more credit than is due with Truth as the Witness – and the Law
as the Judge – amounts to hoarding.
Examples of such hoarding keep manifesting
themselves to warn us that we are abandoning ourselves to the past / fate /
karma of the past. In terms of karma –
the effects of past karma could be reduced
by current work and sacrifice. But the past must not be made active.
Activating the past amounts to backward travel.
This is why wise Hindus say that we could recognize past credits and
debits through the horoscope system -
but not make it active and claim current debit or credit. In most Hindu temples, the shrine of the
Navagrahas (Nava=Nine Grahas=Planets) is usually away from the main shrine and
we do not prostrate before the Navagrahas for this reason. In other words we do
not submit to the past but recognize and respect it. This applies to those of us who migrate to
other countries for whatever reason. Those of us to whom such migration is an
expansion – become global. Others to whom such migration was preceded by
separation in the mind – the country of origin
is of heritage value.
Watching ‘Jaffna Is Calling - A film by
Clickr’ – with A.R. Rahman’s beautiful music (http://youtu.be/x9TSRkczGYM ) – I felt the beautiful
experience of Jaffna as if it was happening here (in Sydney) and now (November
2014). I would have missed out on the
experience – if I had taken immediate and early
credits for my contributions to Jaffna – not only through my current
activities but also through my achievements when I lived in
Jaffna. The benefits we plough back
naturally and willingly – develop the structure of our special relationship
with the Land called Jaffna. When it is
the Land of our birth – the start of the relationship happens with the
Creator’s blessings.
What was disturbing and disappointing in
the above film clip was the “Jaffna Board” – which confirmed the following
priority:
Sinhalese first, Tamil next and English
last.
The Sri
Lankan Constitution Requires:
18. (1) The Official Language of Sri Lanka
shall be Sinhala.
(2) Tamil
shall also be an official language.
(3) English
shall be the link language.
(4)
Parliament shall by law provide for the implementation of
the
provisions of this Chapter.
19. The
National Languages of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil.
Accordingly the Jaffna Board ought to have
appeared as follows:
In Tamil first, in Sinhala third and in
English second as the link language. That reflects also the order of investment
made by PEOPLE of that part of the Land – over many generations.
Those who placed the above Jaffna Board are
confirming that they lack the depth of ‘Experience’ in Jaffna. Over-production of ‘victories’? If yes, - they come at the cost of Experience
and lack of power to influence the natural Jaffna forces.
Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 11 November 2014
Sinhalese: [We have done wrong again! Can we Sinhalese ever get it right to completely satisfy our Tamil brothers and sisters? ]
ReplyDeleteTamil: If we were really brothers and sisters – then my pain would have been yours and you would have done all within your power to comfort me and help. By acknowledging that you see nothing wrong – you are saying that in government’s position you would have done likewise. This negates the value of the President’s efforts to speak to Tamils in Tamil.
Sinhalese: [Unfortunately it does not tell us in what order the languages should be used.]
Tamil: You obviously follow rather than lead. There is room for all of us to interpret the Constitution. The way we exercise that power without acting in breach of the law as interpreted by the Administration – confirms our own investment in governance and the path we use. To the extent of such interpretation and application we become facilities that support Good Governance. The democratic application of these provisions is a lateral arrangement – used in the order of majority users of that part of the Land called Jaffna. This is not Sinhalese. It is Tamil. The pain is not due to me being a Tamil. The pain is due to disrespect for the Constitution. The empowerment is from those who believe they are Tamils and are natural users of Tamil language even in official matters. This has been facilitated by the Constitution.
Sinhalese: [The reasoning behind how the nameboard was designed was probably the general knowledge that Sinhala is the most commonly used language in SL - by at least 80% of the population.]
That is the political way and is in breach of the law.
[The fact that all three languages were used on the face of the board means that no ethnicity was being discriminated or disrespected.]
Tamil: It’s not a concession. It’s respect for the Law that is a requirement in producing such outcomes.
Sinhalese: [Also, what is the need, really, for the nameboard to appear in English at all since all citizens of Sri Lanka, for arguments sake, should be able to read either Sinhala or Tamil?]
Tamil: Then you do not seek those living in Sri Lanka to communicate like you are doing now – in English. Relatively speaking – one of our students at our Vattukottai centre is a Sinhalese Policeman – learning English. I am more fluent in Sinhala than he is in Tamil. Hence the medium used there is Sinhala and not Tamil as per my convenience. Left to you it would have been as per your convenience.
Sinhalese: : [Frankly, I have no problem with any order on the board but a majority of people may disagree with me.]
Tamil: Now you contradict yourself. If it did not matter to you then this communication was a show of higher authority assumed by you over me. That then becomes your learning limit.