Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

02 September   2016

Learning Harmony through Kaathavarayan Village Folk Dance-Drama

UN’s Buddhist Foremost Experience

 The dogs started barking around 8 o’clock last night. Four young guys were approaching our cottage. I picked up the heavy torchlight I had for security reasons – and walked towards the gate. Two of the young ones were from the group that has been in trouble with me over their abuse of the temple’s common  facilities. The other two were from our ‘friendly’ group. They asked in one voice whether they could use the temple foyer to practice drama. I asked them what drama? They said Kaathavarayan Koothu. As per my limited knowledge of this village folk dance – it is a story of the son of a single mother. I said ok. They wanted me to arrange for the gates to be unlocked and I obliged. Their practice started around 9 pm. Even though I had given permission, I myself did not know what to expect. I checked through our camera system in which one of the temple cameras was not working. But I managed to get a fair view through the other. The audience – a healthy mix of women, children and men – were quiet and orderly. As I watched  I noticed some familiar faces. One who appeared as Kaathavarayan as a boy was really amazing. He knew his lyrics and the rhythm was most impressive. That confirmed order. The practice session went on until about 1.30 am.  I kept checking from time to time – and in the morning I went through most of it on replay of the camera system. No trace of disorderly conduct;  and that was a big surprise. It was a good example of victory with villagers, through their own strengths. Often when Public Service Providers are from the outside – they/ we get caught up in the local conflicts. In the morning I announced to the older investors in this that we would fund some parts of this production and staging. The amazing discovery was that the camera that was not working started working when I started appreciating their commitment to this performance.

With all this in mind, I read the Daily FT report ‘Singing national anthem in Tamil: SC re-fixes petition for 14 Oct.’ I had processed and concluded in regards to this issue previously but since then I have had the direct experience of the disadvantage of using Sinhala only in Colombo Court records. The transcripts in relation to my land matter were in Sinhalese and at the request of our Barrister who also like me could not read Sinhala – we had the transcript translated into English. Without that translation I would not have had the experience of participating in the evidence by the other side, brought out by our barrister Mr. Nehru Goonetileke. It would then have been more difficult for me to work out the mind of the other side and discover his Truth through mine. Until I moved to represent myself – I did not go through the transcript in detail.

I realized through my own experience that despite the lack of ability to read Sinhalese, I was supported by the issue itself. The deeper the mind in an issue the more natural the mind connection with all other investors. Hence, to me – the National Anthem to be  sung in Sinhalese only is more an issue about weak investment in Equal Opportunity values by those who seek to eliminate the Tamil part of it. This then means that to those so claiming Colombo is Sinhala Only land. It means also that all places in Sri Lanka where the National Anthem is being sung with faith in Tamil or in English – effectively revert to  being part of the Nations from whom the languages were inherited. They/we,  may say Sri Lanka in Tamil or English but it would really mean the nations  to which the Government that bans Tamil and/or English is sending us back to.

Where a government that has been elected through majority vote – passes legislation that is advantageous to majority race – every member of the minority who has realized independence – would become naturally ‘regional and/or global’ through reversion to Mother Nation. This then means that effectively – those areas become part of those Nations and not Sri Lanka, to maintain the Balance of Sovereignty. This is physically confirmed from time to time when there is enough current forces ready to ‘show’ the other side – as I revered to Sri Lanka when I was denied ‘Australian status’ by the Australian Police, Government and the Judiciary. If a Sinhalese who has very little interest in Northern part of Sri Lanka could claim Jaffna as Sri Lanka – why would s/he not be able to perceive Tamils calling India their Home, Muslims calling Arab Nations their Home and Burghers calling the UK and the nations of other colonial rulers – their ‘Home’? True culture – is also law to those who practice it. Hence if Jaffna is Sri Lanka – by Law – Jaffna is India by culture.

It’s this value that has been manifested through the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) becoming leader of the Opposition in Sri Lankan Parliament. Hence it is its duty to sing the National Anthem in Tamils. That’s Thanksgiving to Natural Forces of the People who upheld the Common culture beyond Sri Lankan borders.

Laws from others who are now foreigners to us do not have this value. The Law does not always lead to Truth due to this ‘foreign’ element. But one that does lead to Truth – is a superior law – whether we like it or not.  When the law says that the National Anthem of Sri Lanka ought to be in Sinhala only – any person who has realized independence singing it in Tamil damages the cultural borders in the mind of the one objecting. If this person does not object to the National Anthem being sung in Tamil, but given that the Law is Sri Lankan – the other side is automatically generated as space/facility  for the other side. When the Opposite forces become Equal or more  in strength – the other side becomes the National Opposition in the issue. Such is prevented through confidentiality and not premature transparency.

As per news reports in relation to the visit of the UN Chief:

[The police yesterday dispersed a group of persons protesting outside the UN compound demanding an end to UN intervention in Sri Lanka.

The protest got underway in the wake of outgoing UNSG Ban Ki-moon arriving in Colombo on Wednesday night for a two-day visit.

The police prevented demonstrators led by Buddhist monks identified as members of Ravana Balaya from marching on the compound just before the UN chief arrived on the first full day of his two-day visit to Sri Lanka. The UN chief’s convoy arrived at the compound soon after the police forced protesters to leave the scene.

The police also warned another group supportive of the UN chief’s visit from gathering near the compound.

Subsequently, the UNSG discussed ongoing post-war reconciliation efforts with President Maithripala Sirisena. President Sirisena also briefed the UN Chief regarding the proposed constitutional reforms and related developments.]

It’s interesting that the name of ‘Ravana’ has been assumed by Buddhists. Ravana of Legend Ramayanam – was clever but he desired to possess others’ earnings – by going outside his cultural boundaries. As per the above group – Hindus who are global are Rama Force and the UN Chief was their representative. Relatively speaking – LTTE did not interfere with others’ cultural practices. They were largely local. The UN chief is now having a taste of Tamil Leaders’ experiences which led to them losing authority over their own youth who are driven more by outcome and less by cultural structure.

The folks of Thunaivi do not have much knowledge of the laws of Sri Lanka. But through cultural connections – including through cinema – they have practiced these folk legends and are natural in those roles. Hence to them LTTE rebellion also would have seemed such an outlet even though as per the global law – they were listed as Terrorists. Now the very group that initiated that label has become victim of the global force. Where there is lack of Common faith – there is no authority for one over another. Often its culture that provides that real base in rural areas. When the force of rural areas is falsely extended beyond cultural borders – the outcomes produced naturally reserve the other side for the other culture. One who identifies with that other side immediately would invoke the outcomes. The longer it takes – the higher the structural part of these outcomes. THAT is the legend of the Tamil Community of Sri Lanka.  

Kaathavarayan legend is about noble birth under very difficult circumstances. So is the position of Tamils as Equal Opposition in National Parliament. Only the forces of Truth could manifest such outcomes through a group that is currently about 12% of the Population. Like Kaathavaryan the Tamil Opposition is the Protecting Force of Sri Lankan Sovereignty. Tamils have protected their culture by becoming global. The culture in turn is protecting their earned Territory – cultural Territory.