Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

29 September   2021

Death Drive in Sri Lankan Psyche?

Recently there has been active discussion about the concept of Sitrinpam/pleasure and Pehrinpam / bliss within family and community circles. As per my understanding, pleasure has limited lifespan but Bliss is eternal. Hence the worship of Lord Shiva through phallic symbol known as Lingam. To my mind, the science known as Kamasutra is the way to bliss through the art of sex. One needs strong discipline to reach that destination.

The above came to mind when my attention was drawn to the ‘DECLARATION OF COMMON PRINCIPLES OF TAMILS’ included in the Tamil Guardian article ‘US Tamil organisations unite to call for referendum and Sri Lanka to be charged with genocide ’

The reason for my connection could be the slip made recently by the current American President who referred to our Australian Prime Minister as ‘That Fella Down Under’. There was also the following information from BBC:

[It was 1988 and the then-vice president, George H. W. Bush, was on a routine visit to Idaho. He was supposed to give a dry speech on agricultural policy and praise his successes alongside President Reagan, live on television. Then he said: “We’ve had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We’ve had some sex... uh... setbacks.”]

Later George Bush senior’s name was dragged in relation to sexual misconduct.

I interpret these through my own cultural values that have stood the test of time and place changes. I therefore identify with secular values more easily than I otherwise would have:

For example - Sigmund Freud’s claims -  "patient cannot remember the whole of what is repressed in him, and ... is obliged to repeat the repressed material as a contemporary experience instead of ... remembering it as something belonging to the past:" 

As per my cultural value – pleasure is relative and therefore at the primary level – one who enjoys pleasure must pay for it one way or the other. Within family this happens through the barter system. Then it gets balanced and is healthy. When this pleasure is renounced by the owner – pleasure transcends to the higher level towards the sweetness of bliss. This is facilitated through higher positions within the institution for those who renounce pleasures through self-discipline. But when it is repressed including by the self towards another enjoyment – it surfaces in a ‘free’ environment. Both American presidents mentioned above confirmed such repression. The current President confirmed it in terms of position power where he had to pretend to be Equal to other heads of states. The true position allocated to Australian head of state slipped through when he could not remember – and hence the Freudian slip.

As per my culture,  pleasure = pain at equilibrium / breakeven state. More pleasure and less pain leads to instability of the brain. But when we renounce pleasure or accept more pain than the pleasure we recieve – there is automatic formation of  a structure – which becomes the container that  preserves ‘position power’. The final destination is ‘ownership’. The power of renunciation is often carried in laws and Due Processes that connect us to each other. Essential is the feeling of ownership by the maker.

The above has been known to me for sometime now. But that which was new was the Death Drive principle presented as follows by Wikipedia:

[In classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory, the death drive is the drive toward death and destruction, often expressed through behaviors such as aggression, repetition compulsion, and self-destructiveness. It was originally proposed by Sabina Spielrein in her paper "Destruction as the Cause of Coming Into Being"]

I identified with the above through my own conclusions about LTTE (Tamil) as well as JVP (Sinhalese) rebels of Sri Lanka. The above mentioned ‘DECLARATION OF COMMON PRINCIPLES OF TAMILS’ – given shape by Americans, has been signed by the following:

Seetharam Sivam, President United States Tamil Action Group(USTAG)

Meena Ilancheyan, President Tamil Americans United PAC

Viswanathan Rudrakumaran, Prime Minister Trans National Government of Tamil Eelam

Rajendra Nadaraja, President Ilankai Thamil Sangam

Ravi Subramaniam, President World Tamil Organization

Shanthini Jeyarajah, President North Carolinians for Peace

Included in the above declaration is the following:

[Noting that the Vaddukoddai Resolution was adopted on 14 May 1976 by the Tamil United Liberation Front seeking to work for the creation of an independent State of Tamil Eelam, which received an overwhelming mandate at the subsequent 1977 Parliamentary Elections. ]

I have frequently made this connection between cause and effect in my articles. This measure is now a natural part of me. The TGTE as per my knowledge claimed to be the heir of the LTTE. The LTTE killed the parents of Vaddukoddai Resolution 1976. The LTTE thus killed the parents to occupy the leadership positions through military force. Their heirs carry that sin. Hence they lack the political credibility to include the above in their declarations. The Sinhala parallel of the LTTE is King Kasyapa I,  known as Pithru Ghathaka Kashyapa (Kashyapa the Patricide).

The LTTE became a self-destructive when we apply Sigmund Freud’s theory :

‘the death drive is the drive toward death and destruction, often expressed through behaviors such as aggression, repetition compulsion, and self-destructiveness’

So, how would Tamil culture measure this?

The only suicidal event in Mahabharatham that comes to mind is that of Prince Abhimanyu who fought as per the rules but was killed outside the rules of war by the Opposition leaders. But that was not the case with LTTE who fought ‘free’ of common rules. To the extent their cadre was oppressed – including through denial of sexual pleasures - they would have developed the urge to self-destruct. Sex is creative and its opposite  death is destructive. Whoever becomes the heir of LTTE would inherit this self-destructive Energy which cannot be managed by the new generation – especially those in civilian life.

A good example is Mrs Ambihai Selvakumar who claimed to honor Thileepan as a Martyr and went on a hunger strike in the UK. LTTE’s Thileepan followed the local system which was in breach of Sri Lanka’s laws. Mrs Ambihai Selvakumar was claiming recognition at UN level – which is wishful thinking. Likewise, others who keep desiring public credit through LTTE pathway. If they are successful the loss would be our collective higher intelligence. This then makes us slaves to those whose status we use towards this. Then Joe Biden is likely to refer to Tamils as ‘those morons from the underworld.’

 

 

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

28 September   2021

Quarantine Ordinance v Prevention of Terrorism Act

Yesterday when our family met through teleconferencing we discussed also the Jaffna incident and the relevant laws. Yesterday I wrote:

[Many of us identify with others’ pain through what happened. But the experience needs to be given form through our own measures / the measures we believe in. When the measures are common we have contributed to 50% of Commonness.]

Our measures yesterday were as per our ‘family’s common standards’ based on our feelings. Part of it was about sharing our strength with a couple in Jaffna who have been hospitalised due to Covid. Equal importance was rendered to the altercation between the Police and the two young ladies who were making video recording of the Tamil member of parliament lighting the memorial lamp for LTTE combatant. To me, of significance was the interference in the process by Vaddukoddai lawyer Sugash Kanagaratnam who by conduct confirmed that the resistance to Prevention of Terrorism law was of greater importance to him and the group he defended than Prevention of Covid as per the relevant law.

This morning I discovered that someone had similar priority as mine, through the Daily Mirror report ‘Opening of Liquor shops violating quarantine laws challenged in Supreme Court’. The Petition has been filed by the United National Society of Self-Employed. I concluded that it was my contribution to being self-employed that took my attention to this report.

Sugash is also self-employed and he claimed that he was a lawyer. As a Sri Lankan lawyer, the welfare of all Sri Lankans ought to have been more important to him than one who died for LTTE which is only part of the Tamil community and therefore a smaller part of Sri Lanka. His loyalty was not even to the parents of Vaddukoddai Resolution who acted within Sri Lankan law. It was to LTTE which had its own laws & justice system. In order to cover the whole community – investment through LTTE laws ought to have been stronger in Energy than investment in Common law. This usually happens through belief which Energy is exponential. To be so – the memorial service ought to have been in Kilinochchi and not in Nallur.

Each time we complete an experience, we add positive Energy to our home area. Each time we take benefits prematurely, we neglect the matter and with time it becomes negative Energy. Positive or Negative – the Energy, like the Covid virus, has its own mind.

The system of Karma works on the basis of these Energies which independently add themselves to the current manifestations which go into ‘free space’ outside the boundaries of the current system. This current system could be a family, institution, political group or nation. The laws need to be self-balancing to confirm sovereignty.

In the above instance – the LTTE laws ought to have been self-balancing and Thileepan ought to have asked for that which was within those laws and applicable only to the LTTE. Thileepan lacked the jurisdiction to ask on behalf of Jaffna, leave alone all Sri Lankan Tamils. Likewise, Sugash Kanagaratnam. In terms of law – he set aside the Sri Lankan qualifications by acting as the de facto lawyer of the LTTE group. He has thus taken small benefit on the way, which blocks his own pathway to Sri Lankan opportunities and beyond.

Let us recognize that we are Sri Lankans and earn the right to Oppose those who block that pathway. If we are Sinhalese , Buddhists, Tamils or Muslims first – then we have the duty to renounce our Sri Lankan positions and operate within the local group on de facto basis. If we are true to that group – whatever we do would be Energised exponentially. One who shows the certificate of the larger group to take local benefits blocks her/his own pathway to the opportunities at the wider level.

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

27 September   2021

Indicators v Proof

There is a Tamil saying – Penn Puthi, Pinn Puthi / the intellect of the woman is hindsight. I was reminded of this when I read the email headed :

‘Rajini Rajasingham Thiranagama : Unforgettable Symbol of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tragedy’

The note from a Medical Professor stated:

‘Please read the story of this brave woman Dr Rajini who laid down her life for a cause. A very sad story.’

My response was: I doubt that you would have felt this way if Rajini had been part of this group. Yours to my mind is a kind of blindsight in hindsight

The above response was based on my own independent assessment of the above person through my truth, given form through the above Tamil saying. My search for current form took me to this:

[Blindsight is defined by the Oxford Concise Dictionary as "Medicine: a condition in which the sufferer responds to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them," implicitly referring, of course, to human patients. The historical origins, however, stem from animal research and neuroanatomy. ]

That is the medical explanation. Mine was cultural. Since I do not need to prove myself to others – the cultural base is enough for my purposes. This is the purpose of developing Performance Indicators.

The Morning Editorial headed ‘Police state or policing the State?’ – to my mind is also based on hindsight. It states for example:

[The reality is that every government has failed to deliver what it promised. If it were the contrary, by now, Sri Lanka would be a First World country. Instead, the country finds itself going deeper into a hole with each government it elects. If a finger is to be pointed, it has to be at the state sector, which, instead of standing its ground, has become servile to political masters as a result of its backbone being systematically crushed every five years or so by a so-called mandate.]

Hindsight as per my discovery is ‘effects-driven’ which is also the way of animals which need stronger physical abilities than humans with higher intelligence. The Morning was in existence when this government was elected. If this medium was cause-driven it would have educated the voters as per the Truth it has discovered about Sri Lankans.

Take for example the quote:

‘If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.’

And the explanation:

[Over 200 years after these prophetic words were uttered by French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte, providing a rare insight into his own philosophy that helped overcome challenges military might simply could not, the words are as relevant today in the local political context as they were when first spoken. In essence, it all boils down to telling people what they want to hear and making promises that are never intended to be kept, with the sole intention of gaining power.]

The problem here is that Napoleon Bonaparte was French and of another era. To be cause-driven – the editor needed to show a Sri Lankan example or at least a Sinhalese example. The Tamil Sri Lankan ancestor is Saint Yoga Swami who said ‘Summa Iru’/Be Still. But then Swami is not Globally recognised like Napoleon Bonaparte. So, Sri Lankan voters did not have the blessings to vote for one with steady mind.

Many of us identify with others’ pain through what happened. But the experience needs to be given form through our own measures / the measures we believe in. When the measures are common we have contributed to 50% of Commonness. Likewise when the experience is common. When both are close to 50% there is no need for express promises and agreements. Hence Be Still.

 

 

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

26 September   2021

Politicizing Memorials

I was upset with Victorians who chose to protest against Covid related Government measures – at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. On the same basis I was upset when the sacred land of Nallur was hijacked to pay tribute to LTTE fighter who had his own god of a different form to Nallur Murugan. As per my belief, both were for political benefits. As per Tamil Guardian report ‘I stand in solidarity with the Tamil people' - Sam Tarry MP responds to arbitrary arrest of MP Kajendran’ :

[British MP for Ilford South and Shadow Transport Minister, Sam Tarry, has slammed "the harassment and arbitrary arrest" of Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) General Secretary and MP, Selvarasa Kajendran, who was arrested for commemorating the death of Lt Col Thileepan.
On twitter Tarry maintained that the arrest and harassment of Kajendran illustrated "the need for international accountability for mass atrocities and a political solution that respects the right to self determination of Tamil people".]

British Tamils do not have the mandate to speak for all Sri Lankan Tamils except through Sri Lankan policy that binds the government. Following is an excerpt from the communique released by the  UK group ‘Non Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka (NRTSL)’ which gives me hope:

[The Non Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka (NRTSL) welcomes the declaration made by the Hon President of Sri Lanka stressing his readiness to initiate a dialogue with the Sri Lankan expatriates. When he met the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on 19th of September in New York, he asserted that: “The Tamil diaspora would be invited for discussions” (sic). Engagement with the diaspora is particularly important at the time of multiple challenges faced by Sri Lanka needing multi prong approach to overcome them…..]

Effectively, this opposes and dismisses the Political Energy by the British Shadow Minister.

In terms of Natural Tamil Policy in Northern Sri Lanka, one needs to work out the law of the Land – in particular  - Nallur in this instance. Memorials by Hindus are conducted by priests where the family is committed to ancestral pathways and can afford the priest. Others perorm an ‘archanai’ / personal prayers at the temple. As I grew up it was usual practice for my aunt Mrs Manonmi Visvanathan of Brown Road Jaffna – to arrange a priest to perform the religious rituals for her husband who died while ploughing his farm in Kilinochchi. Even though my uncle was of high status we did not light memorial flames. Such seems to be strongly influenced by Christian traditions. They are not in harmony with Hindu Nallur.

It was reported recently that ‘the Tamil Nadu  Chief Minister MK Stalin-led DMK government has introduced Annai Thamizhil Archanai in temples across Tamil Nadu. Annai Thamizhil Archanai means ‘prayers in mother tongue Tamil’ But some devotees said that Sanskrit was better due to the feelings. In Nallur – Northern Sri Lanka – the prayers continue to be in their ‘official’ language of Sanskrit.

Genuine tributes through Memorials strengthen our investments in common heritage. Heritages are exponential in value and they are independent of current custodians of power. When Jaffna Courts heard the case relating to the intestate estate of my brother in law – Mr Subramaniam Yoganathan, it was stated to be heard under Thesawalamai law. But the Jaffna Courts ruled in breach of this heritage. To my mind, those processes were part of the memorial service which raised the estate’s real value to heritage level due primarily to our belief in the practice of settling our dues to those who contributed to the structures that supported our grooming. Accordingly, Thileepan was owed a Hindu service and not a political one that expressed the desires of current politicians. When we take small benefits on the way – we miss the big opportunities at the destination.

 

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

25 September   2021

Martyr or Fighter – Nallur Enlightens

I have been invited to join Thiyaki Thileepan Remembrance event on zoom – to be held tomorrow – initiated here in Australia. SBS radio  report – ‘Sri Lankan Parliamentarian Selvaraja Gajendran's arrest’ was published yesterday. As per this report – the above picture is captioned ‘Selvaraja Gajendran lights a memorial lamp whilst the police are watching Source: Mathivaanan.

Then came another video clip in which two young ladies were confronted by the Police in Jaffna in which incident a Tamil lawyer also participated. The background in that video seemed identical to the above and it appeared to be near Nallur temple where Thileepan died. The video footage was disturbing.  The two ladies were seen to be filming the process. This was followed by the Police asking them for their ID’s were asked for and then the Police confiscated the phone through which the recording was made. Then the  lawyer who looked like Sugash Kanagaratnam of Vaddukoddai – the birth place of Declaration of Tamil Political Independence barged in and accused the Police Officers of State Terrorism. I was appalled by such unruly outburst.

It was that outburst in defence of the young ladies who were resisting Police arrest that confirmed yet again – that Thileepan did not think he was a Martyr. He was a pawn for those who were not committed to independence but were seeking to threaten the Indian Government and through them the Sri Lankan government. The phone of the young lady who did the recording was confiscated by the police. As a person of Jaffna Tamil origin, and as a believer in Nallur’s Natural Governance – to my mind, Thileepan was a fighter. His satisfaction would not have come from politics. Hence by claiming he was a Martyr – those who do so are blocking the true picture that he was a brave fighter. Nallur is known for its near-perfect administrative order. If Thileepan’s political claims were true – then he replaced Prabhakaran as leader. One who makes the sacrifice is the leader.

The ladies who were disciplined by the Police were Thileepan’s parallels.  Sugash Kanagaratnam who was hiding until he had the opportunity to accuse the Police - was the parallel of Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The Poem in the appendix came to me from a member of the Royal College Alumni. I had the opportunity to enjoy it due to my tutoring service in Hambantota. This poem is also about my feelings about all my home areas which now include Vaddukoddai. Just yesterday, when a member of the Thunaivi Women’s group said she would go in person to the District Office regarding better use of the Development Building – I said to her to wait until the curfew was lifted. I therefore fail to understand how this group had gathered in Nallur during this time. Such breaches would lead to disorder in social and professional lives.

Members if the Tamil Diaspora have the duty to use the higher common pathway and refrain from celebrating that which is unlawful. Those who do choose the political pathway – need to stay away from lawful  development work.  

When I protested at the University of NSW through lawful process and the police arrested me, I did not resist arrest in any way. I quietly claimed that I was within the law. In court I asked the magistrate as to who the judge was at the scene of the alleged action. Magistrate Sweeney said it was the Police. That response seemed right to me. In the case of Sugash Kanagaratnam – his rowdy conduct in Jaffna confirms his negative contribution to the Court system.

TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam complained strongly against the unlawful conduct of Lohan Ratwatte who threatened Tamil prisoners. Sugash Kanagaratnam and Selvaraja Gajendran are both reported to be from his political group. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has the duty to use the same measure as he did in Lohan Ratwatte’s case and suspend both Sugash and Selvarajah from TNPF or remain silent when the government breaches the law.

The Lesson learnt at the Feet of Nallur Murugan is that both sides to the ethnic war are itching to fight with arms again because they are weak in civil administration. When a fighter is honoured the fighting spirit of her/his pathway is invoked. A Martyr cannot be born until s/he has sacrificed that which was hers/his,  and v.v

 

 

I had a dream

One score ago, I came face to face with a group of children no older than my son.

They reminded me of my youth for I too had lived the way they had done.

 

With time the circumstances drastically changed

For them life was a struggle

They had to fight each day

 

Many fell through cracks on the way

But I could not provide them much

 

I wished them just the very basics which my son had

I wished them a level playing field when it really mattered

One score ago I was alone so I had to end my quest

 

One score later, the situation has further declined

Circumstances much harsher and opportunities confined

This time I wished them the very basics which my grandsons had

But this time I am backed by a group of Giants

So this time we shall conquer

Let the sons of soil now inherit the crown

 

Turn a new leaf and lead us all to that promised land. – by 'Padmasena Dissanayake'