Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

10 July  2019

Australian Invasion of Jaffna?

All reliable laws would begin with truth and end with truth. Governance related laws need to likewise begin with Sovereignty and end with Sovereignty.

Our actions confirm the governance structure in our mind. When I therefore read the headlines ‘Strong support for Julian Assange at Sri Lanka’s Jaffna University’  at

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/07/09/asan-j09.html  , I was alarmed. The article includes the following passage:

[The war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces are still under military occupation. Students at Jaffna University are frequently subjected to repressive measures and political witchhunts.

Campaigners displayed a banner with the slogan “Release Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning!” at the university entrance and organized a literature table. They distributed hundreds of copies of the WSWS statement: “For  worldwide campaign to prevent Julian Assange’s rendition to the US!”]

I also wrote publicly about what I felt was the duty of Australian government in relation to fellow Australian Julian Assange. That is the way with family. This was shared with University of Jaffna through those who have undertaken to develop common structures. This includes regularly – Governor Dr Raghavan who represents the President , Mr CV Wigneswaran – the only Chief Minister Northern Province elected and Dr Kumaravadivel Guruparan  - head of law at University of Jaffna who is also active in politics. But none of them demonstrated interest in Julian. Nilantha Ilangamuwa – editor Sri Lanka Guardian did – in essence stating that it was a powerful message. That went to the core power that would ultimately raise the issue to higher levels through People – so Americans would share their feelings with the government. This is the essence of the heritage we have from Poosala Nayanar about which heritage I wrote as follows yesterday:

[The note is a complaint against three youths who loitered in temple area as if it were ‘public’ property. I have suggested that their family welfare handouts  be curtailed because we the victims are ‘tax-payers’. The person to whom I wrote has full knowledge of my investment in education in that area and that Australian Tamil Management Service under which we conduct training was linked to UTS-Insearch. To me this confirms the parallel of the Indian Minister’s elephant legend. My one is known as ‘The temple in our heart’ by Poosala Nayanar.  ]

Wikipedia reports as follows:

[Pusalar was a Shaiva, a devotee of the god Shiva. He wanted to create a grand temple for Shiva, but did not have the money to do so. Thus, Pusalar decided to build a temple to Shiva in his mind . He followed the rituals of temple-building, sanctified the ground and lay the first stone of his mind temple on an auspicious day. Over course of time, he completed his mind temple and selected a holy day for the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony, when the temple is consecrated and the image of God installed in the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).

The Pallava king Kadavarkon had just completed a grand Shiva temple in the capital Kanchipuram and selected the same day for consecration of his temple. Shiva appeared in the king's dream and instructed him to postpone the date of consecration as He would be journeying to Thiruninravur for the consecration of His devotee Pusalar's temple on the same day. The king postponed the date as per the divine decree and hastened to see the magnificent temple of Pusalar, which Shiva favoured over his own. However, on reaching Thiruninravur, the king could find any stone temple visible in the town and was perflexed. He reached Pusalar's house and informed Pusalar about his dream. The saint revealed that the temple existed in his heart. The king was astonished by Pusalar's devotion and bowed down to him and worshipped him. Pusalar consecrated the temple on the ordained day and continued his worship until his death, when he is said to have attained Kailash, the abode of Shiva.]

In essence – the lesson I learnt is that when we ‘believe’ the form happens when we feel a need. The form happens as per the appropriate structure developed by the People of that area. In the above legend – it was Ruler Kadavarkon, whose rule was to show highest structure to the consolidated truth of the land over which he had ruling power . The King/Queen  Energy that would work the temple was the ascetic Pusalar whose role was to show least external value. The parallel of that in the case of the University of Jaffna is the Governing Body which needs to be empowered by true powers for it to be functional as claimed. My contribution to University self-governance is confirmed through my book ‘Naan Australian’ which is part of the collection by the Library of the University of Jaffna also. In chapter 27, I have included my published article written towards strengthening the self-governing powers of the University of Jaffna. http://www.austms.org/other_pdfs/EO_Dissent-n-Opposition.pdf

That is my parallel of Pusala Nayanar’s contribution to building Lord Shiva’s temple. It is the type of work needed to be done by a University to develop the Energy needed to Research and find the truth and share that truth through teaching activities. Repetitive learners would tend to use it for living and therefore would require firm and reliable structures. Deep learners would identity with any opportunity and the whole world becomes their University.

Through direct experience, I believe that the University of Jaffna needs firm structures – especially after militancy. They have confirmed this due to lack of identification with my work in publishing the truth that I discovered.  It was inappropriate that they would share their identity with Julian Assange with whom they share very little  common belief.  Julian is in trouble precisely for sharing something that he himself was not part of. Experience gives us the right to publish. Hearsay is imaginary and has very short life.

 My belief in the Australian University system – to my mind contributed towards the manifestation of  UTS-Insearch in Sri Lanka. It’s a pity that University of Jaffna has not earned that contribution to become Sri Lankan first before becoming Australian. Without deep belief in the issue or structured merger – this kind of ‘show’ – to my mind confirms frivolity.