Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

www.austms.org

20 June 2019

FACTS v BELIEF

As individuals, majority Tamils I come across demonstrate no animosity towards Sinhalese individuals. When they group together they are against Government. The LTTE confirmed that it was against Tamil Government prior to their time of control. It is highly doubtful that they would have promoted intelligence in relation to the importance of Hinduism in Tamil Community of Sri Lanka.

When I read the review entitled ‘C V Wigneswaran on Pathmanathan’s book’ by KS Sivakumaran, I was reminded of a recent discussion with my husband about Student Oriented Learning  and Teacher Oriented Learning. Its parallel applies to all our public services. The LTTE was against the Government due to its perception that the politicians were Government oriented rather than People oriented. Not many young ones in Northern Sri Lanka would be interested in reading Professor Pathmanathan’s book.

Sivakumaran writes ‘In the first place the reviewer compliments the author for his balanced and objective display in stating facts supported by evidence.’

Professor Pathmanathan is an academic and it is understandable that his work would take an academic approach. The reviewer Mr Wigneswaran was a Judicial leader at the time of review. Hence it is understandable that he also would have appreciated ‘facts’ and evidence at that time. But since then Mr Wigneswaran has become a Politician and therefore the current review of Mr Wigneswaran’s review is outdated. Mr Sivakumaran states:

[I shall briefly state some of the salient points that CVW makes on SP’s authentic book.

Saivaism was prevalent in Sri Lanka even before 3rd century A.D. (Emperor Asoka was ruling North India then).

This is evident by the fact that several references are found with regard to the name “Siva” in Brahmi inscriptions.

Since the reign of Pandukabhaya in Anuradhapura, the worship of Sivalingam and the construction of a monastery for the Brahmins to recite the Veda continued.

Buddhism was introduced in Sri Lanka only during the reign of Devanampiya Tissa.

Before the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka there were trade relations between Sri Lanka and South India.

There were ancient Hindu temples in Thirukeatheeswaram, Thirukkoneswaram, and Munneswaram.

The evidence available to show the existence of Hinduism in Sri Lanka before the coming of Mahinda include the availability of more than 60 Brahmi inscriptions bearing the word Siva.

Besides, in pieces of broken clay pots belonging to very ancient times, Thirisoolam was engraved.

Those who worshipped Siva worshipped this implement - the three forked spear.

Even the mode of worship proved the existence of Hinduism in ancient times in this country.

The reviewer points out that the author does not accept books written on the ancient history of Lankan Tamilians as they were all written after the 16th century only. ]

As a politician Mr Wigneswaran needs to connect to People through belief. An example that comes to mind is my experience as Nallur Murugan Temple on Tuesday. Two priests were chanting the ancient poems / songs in praise of Murugan. I recognized some but not most of it. The feeling was very calming. I just sat there and felt good. That was a belief based experience. All of us have Equal Opportunity to access that Energy to the extent of our own belief. THAT is the need of People. To the extent we take status - there is less for development of belief.

As per my own experience, to the extent I recognized but did not accept unjust discrimination, I developed ownership Energy in the issue. This helps us pick up early - the disturbance to the order in which our own energy has been invested.

Northern Province’s investment in common law and common administration has deteriorated to very low levels. The reason is lack of belief in the law that they use to ‘win’. Yesterday I wrote:

[...I recently got the confession of a senior legal counsel of about Professor Vitharana’s age stating to me ‘I made a mistake when I quoted the figure of   Rs 20,000 to obtain the Certificate of Heirship. If I charged only that - I would be doing myself a disservice. I need Rs 50,000’. As senior counsel he was part of the management group in Jaffna. This counsel confirms the dangers of ‘monopoly’ that limits development of the mind of litigant. They in turn have produced taxi drivers who claim ownership of parking space and dictate the order in which business is grabbed.  

I refused to oblige and did not even try to reason - after the senior counsel stated that the revised fee was reasonable in light of what I stood to gain! Instead I updated our instructing solicitor to attend and obtain the Certificate on the date fixed by the Court. To me that denial of business to unauthorized occupier of ‘management’ position by the apparent senior counsel who was depending on the outcome is a major reason for disorderly conduct of a good proportion of Jaffna community. If TNA is representing such folks - then it is a natural representation. ]

The parallel of the above in the base of Professor Pathmanathan’s book is to write to impress those who already have high status. While assisting an academic who was dismissed by the University of Jaffna - where Professor Pathmanathan is Chancellor. Professor Kandasamy who is currently acting in the position of Vice Chancellor demonstrated serious breaches in Administration and Management of Human Resources within the boundaries of law. Had Professor Pathmanathan’s role as Chancellor been completed satisfactorily - his governing power would have been shared with others including the Vice Chancellors. The institutions we head - are the temples of our services. If Northern Province was Mr Wigneswaran’s temple - he would have written a policy paper to educate the staff there,  on the basics of Separation of Powers between Administration and Judiciary. The registrar there requires lawyers’ help to issue a Certificate of Heirship as per the judgment already delivered.

My assistance to the staff of the University of Jaffna has resulted in the staff representing himself. Whether he is declared right or wrong by the judge - is secondary to whether he knows that he is right or wrong. If our ancestors were reliable  governors - and we genuinely respect them - we inherit their Energy. Then our actions are first assessed by them. Then when judges who hold the portfolio currently deliver judgment that contradicts this assessment - we know that they are disconnected with the spirit of tradition. Often they are driven by current desires and their power to distract.

The Northern Judiciary were seriously disrespectful of the Customary Law of Thesawalamai. Accordingly Thesawalami needs to be repealed and Common Law needs to become applicable to inheritance of property. This means they have already declared Unitary State instead of Culturally Diverse structure. It is the duty of Mr Wigneswaran to review those judgments academically before embarking on reviews on books relating to history. Facts beyond the current period are obsolete. Belief is eternal.

In essence, the books is reaction to Buddhism Foremost claim or to use current terminology - LTTE being the Tamil parallel  of JVP but cleverer due to isolation.