24 January 2023

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

SUBCONTINENT TO GLOBAL

True value in writing is realised when the reader completes the other half. One of my readers, was Dr. S. Chandrasekharan  of India’s RAW (Research & Analysis wing). I honoured Dr. Chandrasekharan, as follows in my book ‘Different Logics’:

[Highly respected Journalist of Indian origin - Dr. S. Chandrasekharan wrote in his article headed

Coronavirus and the Chinese Hypocrisy dated -September 27, 2020:

 

[I recall another saying by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam who said – I quote “Once we are true to ourselves – Truth does the rest”.]

 

 I feel that Dr Chandrasekharan believed in me and hence had shared ownership in my work. ]

 

Today I read with interest another Indian Mr P K Balachandran’s article ‘SL concerns over proposed Sethusamudram ship canal project’ in which the Indian highlights as follows:

‘On January 12, the Tamil Nadu State Assembly unanimously adopted a government resolution urging New Delhi to immediately implement the long-pending “Sethusamudram project” which envisages a canal cut through the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to facilitate ship movement between the East and West coasts of India by the shortest route. 

The proposal to cut a canal in the shallow sea dividing India and Sri Lanka to save on coast-to-coast journey time and promote the development of South Tamil Nadu, has been objected to in India on navigational, environmental and economic grounds. Since the project will have an impact on Sri Lanka too, objections have been raised in the island also.’

 

Since last year’s economic collapse in Sri Lanka, the awareness of Indian Tamil power has strengthened. In one way, it could be taken as Natural Justice delivering its own closure to the ethnic conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese of Sri Lanka. But the more Tamils act to take advantage of the collapse, the higher the risk of mutation of the problem, which would involve global players such as Canada taking advantage as quid pro quo for accommodating Tamil refugees. Likewise, Tamil Nadu. If this were to happen – it would be another pandemic that Sri Lankans would be facing.

Mr Balachandran indicates redemption through UNCLOS UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

[Article 235 (1) of UNCLOS says that: “States are responsible for the fulfillment of their international obligations concerning the protection and preservation of the marine environment.” Art. 194(2) recognizes that: “States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that activities under their jurisdiction or control are so conducted as not to cause damage by pollution to other States and their environment and that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with this Convention.” ]

To the extent Sri Lanka respects global ethics, its own sovereign powers would be protected by global players. If we continue to play the game of local politics, Sri Lanka risks demoting its status to such a low level, that it would become the playground of immature global players such as Canada.

As appreciated by Dr Chandrasekharan, I have discovered that Once we are true to ourselves – Truth does the rest’. When Sri Lankan government is true to itself, Truth will guide it.

The Economic collapse is like the poison that came out when the gods and asuras churned the ocean of milk. Shiva, the power that transcended body consciousness swallowed the poison. Then came the nectar. If the poison (Economic collapse) is absorbed by ethical Sri Lankans and global leaders, the nectar of sovereignty at global level will follow. India’s Tamil Nadu needs to respect this, to preserve its own sovereign powers.