6 December, 2024

Blog

Covid-19: Is Globalisation An Opportunity Or A Threat? 

By Basil Fernando

Basil Fernando

Globalization used to be regarded as one of the greatest opportunities created for economic growth and life-improvement conditions throughout the world. However, COVID-19 has cast doubts about this perspective. COVID-19 demonstrated that globalization can also be a threat. Not just a simple threat but a life- and-death issue to large numbers of people. Entire nations have been brought to a halt and economic life in particular has suffered the most serious set-backs known in this century. Furthermore, this threat is not a temporary or short-term affair but something predicted to last a long time. Therefore, globalization becoming a threat is an issue that can no longer be ignored.

A shift from globalization to isolation

A shift from globalization to isolation is a long jump. And it happened quite quickly and quite dramatically. Everywhere governments warned people to go into isolation and remain in isolation. WHY? The reason being that each person could become a threat to themselves and others. Pandemic means just that. Safety and security depended not on things that were considered in the process of globalization but a turning back from that, by going into isolation. One way of avoiding the deep implications of this shift was: to imagine that the sooner things became normal then the old world pursuit of globalization will move even faster. However, as months have gone by and additional knowledge has been gained about the nature of this virus, this optimism became undermined. When there will be a change in the situation and when “normal” will come back is not within anyone’s imagination as yet. Experts have repeatedly told us that this has come to stay. Understandably, it will be a considerable period of time. And it is most likely that a specific vaccine or another therapy to this problem will ever be found…..

THE THREAT OF GLOBALIZATION IS EVERYWHERE…..  

 in airplanes, in transport, in working places, in conference halls, in restaurants, in drinking places, in schools, in old age homes and notably in hospitals themselves.

The Exposure of the powerlessness of the powerful

One of the ironies is that those who claim to have the highest achievements in terms of the old notions of globalization are among the countries which are the worst affected. The United States has exceeded its death rate, due to the COVID-19, of over 100,000 while infections have reached over a million. China, the other super power, was seriously affected as the problem continues unabated. The Center of the former British Empire is now a prominent center in the spread of the COVID-19. While globalization was envisioned to bring economic growth to greater heights, particularly to these more powerful countries, what was found instead was a shattering of lives, lifestyles and economies in these countries.

Other Threats created by Globalization

It is not only COVID-19 that regards globalization as a threat. Global warming and climatic change problems are among the highest priorities and main concerns discussed within developed countries. The less-developed countries regard themselves as victims of globalization. It was a significant occurrence when they lost their waterways contaminated by chemicals. This was in the attempt to speed up agricultural production in order to achieve higher growth rates.

Major environmental disasters are happening everywhere.

In short, it is not in the mood of arriving at paradise that people look into globalization now. It is looked upon as a great threat undermining every aspect of life and social organization.

Media as globalized lying machines

Globalization is regarded as a threat from the point of view of the enormous abuses of media freedom. What people get to consume, by way of news, is mostly manufactured to generate an artificial consensus. Everything  is  advertised !

Claims of all kinds of benefits are nothing more than false promises.

Finding truth now is more difficult than ever before.  

The information industry is supposed to bring in information to every room in every house, creating an enlightened people. In fact, it is contributing to the greatest folly and distrust everywhere. These threats are affecting systems of Governance. Democracy is under serious threat on the one hand by those who seek power and on the other hand by the people themselves. A Politician is seen as a human being who consistently generates falsehood. Somewhat of a comic image about politicians has become part of the publics’ perception.

Award winning Kerala poet Sankara Palli catches this aspect of modern media in the following poem.

The Mouth

A mammoth mouth is chasing one and all —

rabid, wolf, virus, JCB, hawker, crocodile

or a similar mouth of death.

Brimming with teeth that smile when not chewing,

                with words that hide the hook and net,

                songs that aren’t sung enough, 

                news that aren’t read enough,

                ads that aren’t chanted enough,

                commands that aren’t roared enough,

                arguments that aren’t asserted enough,

                lust that isn’t kissed or sucked enough,

                tongue that hasn’t craved enough,

foaming with half truths and big lies, and the

14 worlds that can neither be spit nor swallowed.

A global mouth is chasing one and all.

A Comic Situation

Things once considered serious have in fact turned comic. It is the kind of tragedy unique to modern civilization. Not that there was no such falsification in politics in the past. However, in earlier times, there was a belief that falsehood and truth are having a contest. And in the contest, people have the opportunity to discover the truth. Today this belief has disappeared. People do not look at the news media with any kind of trust in finding out what may be true. Society in general does not look at politicians as persons who will SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.

The power holders themselves are not sure whether what they know is true. They are more likely to be duped and pushed into all kinds of games by those who wield economic power. The game of falsification is now in the hands of a few corporations, other richer elements or security agencies. More powerful than the political agencies.

In the end, country political agencies have their values diminished. Again, this just adds to the very comic nature of the present times. Those who claim power are merely puppets of those who manipulate power from within their palatial mansions. Decision-makers on political matters are themselves not in a position to exercise power.

These changes, in the totality of the environment, have begun to treaten globalization not as a dream to pursue but as a bewildering nightmare.

Latest comments

  • 2
    2

    “Is Globalisation An Opportunity Or A Threat”
    For Sri Lanka it doesn’t matter. Keep digging the archaeology.

    • 2
      3

      Sounds like Basil Fernando had a wild dream! Is that possible he show the Hitler King in the TV news before went to bead? His tongue is prating anything and everything.

      Globalization is about equalizing the economic growth in pan globe under shade of competitions. It has to make Human Right, Education, Health, environment and all are equally protected, shared and enjoyed by the human civilization. Globalization is not about for this generation. It is for the human Kind, the occupants of the earth.

      We human are a giant animal with 14 billion legal and 14 billion hands. Let this pandemic not bully and threaten us to make us dwarfs in this small world. This cocooning mentality is of Sinhala Buddhism is spread by Sinhala Buddhist Politicians to maximize their looting. We as a world can go for globalization and win it. Yes we can!

  • 3
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    After the end of second world war under United Nations patronage Genaral Agreement on Trade and Tariff GATT along with IMF , World Bank were established. The main objective of GATT was to reduce tariff between nations to facilitate international trade.GATT was replaced by World Trade organization in 1995. This is the forerunner to Globalization.

    Lenin said that imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism. Since colonies had ceased to exist after the Second World War, imperialism is no longer viable hence globalization.
    Now we could say Globalization is the highest form of capitalism
    .
    Under globalization, it is not unhindered free trade. Capital has no barriers, but labor was not allowed free movement across countries thereby undeveloped countries suffered at the expense of developed countries. It was lopsided agreement..

    After Covid -19 some underdeveloped countries think in terms of closed economy, food security etc as the writer points out. It is inevitable that globalization could not continue as before, but going back to closed economy with the discredited slogan of self sufficiency is not the answer.
    A new world order is inevitable with active equal participation of all stakeholder countries.

  • 0
    1

    When colonies ceased to be after WW2, colonialism was substituted by neocolonialism, i.e. colonialism without direct domination by the colonial master.
    The burden of administration and control of the former colony was transferred to an elite that ran the affairs of the nominally independent colony.
    Nkrumah has written extensively on the subject in the late 1950s.
    *
    Globalization was a later idea that allowed imperialist powers and big capital to penetrate weaker economies with ease.

    It seemed to work for a while. But what we see today is the the US is shifting towards a protective economy while China presses for the principles of free trade and globalization.
    Imperialism will change the rules of the game and if that fails change the game.

    • 0
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      SJ,
      Donald Trump imposs heavy tariff on Chines products entering american market RUMP dONALD tRUMP

    • 0
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      SJ,

      Yes imperialist will change the rules of the game and if that fails change the game.

      Donald Trump imposes heavy duties on selected Chinese goods entering US markets to discourage Americans buying Chinese goods in order to protect American industries and jobs.

      Donald Trump pursues America First policy.

      This is against Globalization. No other country in the world is allows to pursue such polices.

      Brexit also aims mainly to protect British jobs from other EU countries.

      This is another form of colonialism

      Underdeveloped countries suffer mostly.

      The only silver lining is that entire global economy is in `crisis,But the developed countries transfer the burden chiefly o the have not’s.

      Sri

      • 0
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        Sri
        Thanks.
        Trump failed miserably with China. His moves to hurt China hurt the US more.
        Not just Trump, all American Presidents tried to bully China without knowing how China plays its game. East Asians have a much longer tradition of statecraft and diplomacy than Europe and even more so than the US. Obama’s Pivot to Asia could not last his term in power.
        The other thing about Oriental diplomacy is ‘Face’. (Nothing to do with the Communist Party). They do not seek to humiliate the enemy even in defeat. They let the opponent salvage his dignity.
        When Trump declares success in his anti-China ventures, the chuckle inside but say nothing.
        *
        As for Brexit, the grievances were genuine. But Brexit was no answer.
        The Third World has to form strong non-aligned economic alliances. ASEAN is a success. SAARC is not because Indian regional political ambitions got the better of sense.
        It is not easy for some powers to treat the other as an equal. That is where China scored since the revolution.

  • 2
    2

    Basil Fernando like Sinhala Intellectuals have no economics knowledge to oppose or accept Globalization. The Sinhala Intellectuals oppose Globalization only because they fear that will allow West to come in and that in trun will open the door for the UN Electric Chair for their war heroes. They just want to make sure that Tamils will never be sucess in bringing justice for them. Who in Modaya World will listen to that advice and bring their country’s economy like Lankawe’s bankrupt economy. Those countries have real economists, not bombastic Rohan Guarantee and Deal Dasa and Rambo and Lemon Puff Veeraya. They all would like to do what Isreall, Singapore, Korea, New Zealand, Norway Sweden et al…….. did. These imbecile pundits have to preach for them until they lose everything on betting for Chinese loans.

    • 0
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      M
      Do you really know who Basil F. is and what he has stood for all along?
      Are you chasing after a Guinness record for most nonsense comments ever published?
      You are getting there.
      Best of luck, but go easy on the hallucinatory stuff.

      • 0
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        Hey the brainwashed S..V..M..S

        ” Are you chasing after a Guinness record for most nonsense comments ever published? Please don’t turn on me your ever flowing dung. I will never challenge your title, which you had taken enough pain and pride, to earn it.

        “but go easy on the hallucinatory stuff. “ Is that why you didn’t send the doc? You sounds like you want to enjoy your boss stuff alone.

        ” Do you really know who Basil F So you did know who Siri Mao was and for what she stood?

        Anyway thanks for your lesson. First thing, you are carrying the heavy head for long; please download it and get some rest.

        Globalization was a later idea that allowed imperialist powers and big capital to penetrate weaker economies with ease. So communist China wants to globalize(Which with your poor knowledge opposed until today) the loan & the Covid-19. Will China open up its wildlife meat market(Illegal) too?

        • 0
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          *****ng
          Your problem is getting worse: see someone soon.

          • 0
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            You appears have no pants, lost by cholera out going. But one from online, if stores closed by curfew, using boss’s sales proceeds. You don’t have to spend your money to hide your shame. .

            • 0
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              What is this rant about?
              *
              The problem is getting close to uncontrollable: see someone urgently.

      • 0
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        Dear M,
        .
        I agree with SJ here 100%. Please check it again who Basil F really is.. H
        .

        • 0
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          Leelagemalli,
          Sorry man if you are hurt. Some dogs lick anything. They have no capacity to comment. They, day and night, die hard and watch everybody’s mouth for that one to say them are smart. Such cheap and small.

          Let me say just only a word about Basil. From the time Basil supported Mahindapala (in CT) who were here thinking Tamils’ castism is big instrument deter Tamils from reaching UNHRC to seek justices, I openly opposed Basil his knowledge, his socialistic orientation, his hidden opposition for Tamils seeking justice from IC. Those advertised as best like, Dhanapala, Ariyaratne, Nagananda, Philip Gunawardena…… all anti-Tamils. The unknowns like Siri jeyathunge, Wickramabahu, Vijeya Kumaratunga, (may you too)….like ones honesty think Tamils should live next to them happily & peacefully. We all are like the blinds, who saw the elephant; our cognizant is only a limited ability. Err is to human. But whatever the policy you follow, don’t ever recognize a cheap like SJ who one time tried hard plug out commentator from CT in order for him to campaign with Vasanti for Old Royals. Vasanti used UOJ letter head to Old Royal’s election. It is not this time he is right. He always tries some carrot to push into to get attention and to guide an elephant to trap pit. Basil different; he may be good human right activist for Sinhalese. But he stills a Sinhala Intellectual; against Tamils seeking justice.

  • 0
    0

    Donald Trump accepts Globalization with Fair Trading. Sri Lanka has been tinkering with food security, nationalization, creation of loss making state owned enterprises, over-regulation, creation of monolingual unemployable graduates and sending our workers without a knowledge of English to work as slaves in the Middle East. Over 30% of the population is employed in the agricultural sector contributing 7% to our GDP. The contribution of value added tea has declined to 0.7% of GDP, because we exported the value addition to Dubai with our shortsighted policies. Hence, the people must vote for some honest and educated parliamentarians at the forthcoming election, to accelerate the growth rate and create a prosperous Sri Lanka.

    • 0
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      LdeM
      Globalization failed because some of the smaller players (let alone China) learned the game fast and the earlier intention of penetrating and dominating markets in weaker economies with the help of advanced communication began to operate in reverse.
      As far as the West is concerned Globalization is dead but yet to be buried. So the West especially the US has been paying a heavy price for its outsourcing of manufacture and even services.
      What Trump tried to do was to bring them all back to the US. But it is not easy. Capitalism is about profit and not ‘patriotism’.
      What is called ‘Fair Trade’ is playing by their rules. The rules of the game will keep changing when the operator of the Grand Economic Casino learns that there are smarter kids in the game.
      I think that you are parroting an old formula re ‘tinkering’.
      Sri Lanka had reversed nearly every thing in your long shopping list (food security, nationalization, creation of loss making state owned enterprises, over-regulation, creation of monolingual unemployable graduates etc.) in one way or other.
      Privatization since 1978 wrecked many profit making state ventures and undermined very effective distribution networks.
      The war was a drain on resources. The process started by JRJ became unstoppable as there was no genuine desire to address the national question in its many dimensions.

  • 0
    0

    Fish in troubled water ? The developed world didn’t get there by being a bunch of
    fools ! They had seen episodes of this nature many times before and definitely
    not living in a world of fantasy so that no more global dangers lie ahead ! No
    amount of opportunities will help anyone if he is not interested in a better life !
    And that is exactly where we stand !

  • 1
    0

    Inventions never came from China; some technologies came out of China in the olden days. China was dependent on India for its theological, astronomical, philosophical enlightenments. Modern History is Mao Zedong just copied Stalin as a solution to liberate China from its nightmares. It didn’t work. China got out of Japan’s hand by international activity (allied nations). Deng Xiaoping copied West and made economic success. China’s Belt and Road project so has not earned any benefit, other than it was only able to bully few African and South Asian Countries. Those who have no imagination or basic knowledge of Economics just show off their idiocy by bragging a lot China has not achieved. This kind of campaign is used successfully by Sinhala Intellectual on Tamils like Deva, Karuna, Kumarasuriar…….. They in turn use it on poor Tamil crowd which’s ways to knowledge are closed by Army’s jackboot. Sadly this game doesn’t cross Bengal Bay to well educated, self-dependent Western civilization. The dogs lick master’s plate and bark for the rest of the time.

    • 0
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      May I know what great inventions came from Tamils ancient or modern?

      • 1
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        You are such a smart ass your memory is wiped by the Badu of your boss. You just Googled “what are the Tamils’ inventions”, you got nothing then you thought ”this question alone enough for me get rid this man from CT, I don’t have to struggle to ridicule his comment anymore”. You never answered any of the questions anybody asked your but struggle detract and feel there is none as smart as you in playing buffoon.
        Even after the development of Computer, there is no language like Tamils is developed with Mathematical precision yet. So it is enduring for more than 5000 years. Do you know Tamil is the first, last, middle and only Language using numerals in 10 base? Not Sanskrit, not Latin, not English, not French, not even your adorable Sinhalese? Tholkapium is the world first Grammar book.
        In Indus Valley almost all kinds of Geometrical shapes were analyzed and Yanthrams were developed. It is according all these Yanthirams their building were built & that is the reason even after 7,000 years, those building are still not destroyed. Irrigation and Drainage systems were invented there and exported to Middle East. They were the first in using many kind of units, precision units, including precision weights for imports – exports. All current astrological-astronomy was invented in Indus Valley.

      • 0
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        Did you forget that there is nobody so far written a Jain’s Philosophical book like Thirukural? (It is a Hindu book you struggle to prove it is Jain’s). Do you know there is no Epic book written like Jain’s Chilapathikaram.( Again I don’t have to tell you what it is). Same way there is Kundalakesi (but it is honestly Buddhist Philosophy)
        Kanchchi was the first Academy-University in the world where student’s boarded and studied. (Not Nalanda). Almost all VCs in Nalanda, from start of 6th century to end of It were Tamils.
        Did you hear about Bodhi Dharma who taught Kung Fu and Buddhism to Chinese? There is a new concept that Acupuncture was developed in TN and transferred to China. It is not yet widely accepted.
        Appar was the one started Bakti Marka Philosophy and wiped out Buddhism and Jainism from India. Shankara invented Athuvaitham. Trigonometric was used in Tanjavur temple. It was invented in TN that time.
        I don’t want to waste my time with an idiot like you. Read about Ramanujan- Mathematics genius, Rv. Gnanaprakasam, Language Genius, CV Raman Astronomic genius, Chandrasekhar Physics, Venkatraman…… India which has 1.25 B populations got 6 Nobel prizes. 70M Tamils got three. You are extremely heavy headed person thinks you are smarter than all these guys and write rubbish to contest all these.

      • 0
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        If you have read all above thanks. But you owe an explanation to me. When did I mention in my comments about Tamils’ inventions. Why did you raise that question? Because you still self indulged in curfew freedom? Still didn’t see anything to do? Did I ever compared 1.5B Chinese to 70M Tamils? You are an absolute idiot to do that, aren’t you? So sad of your condition, friend!

        • 0
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          The words are INVENTION and TAMILS.
          I wonder it was Tamil trigonometry that was used to build the pyramids.
          If Tholkapium(sp?) is the world(‘s) first Grammar book, what was that guy Paanini tinkering with many centuries earlier?
          People did not speak Tamil in the Indus valley.
          Watch what you take without prescription.
          But you really are funny when you are wound up! You made my day!

          • 0
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            You asked a question after you searched in Google not finding answer. I gave you many answers and many ore left. Others in this forum may more than double or tribble of what can I give you. If you have soul with shame, just one day, answer one question people asking you in this forum. I am sure when you start talk in class room students might have been putting their head under table and laughing because you have no mouth to answer any of their questions.
            I will answer your entire questions. If can answer the question I put it there. “When did I mention in my comments about Tamils’ inventions. Why did you raise that question?” You idiot intrude with your imbecile talks into everything because you understand nothing other write? Where I had used a word Tamils there? Why would I compare Tamils & Chinese, who didn’t have inventions while Tamils had?

            Badiyudin PhD like you, a google dependent, who always shows you never, read any book in primary, middle or high schools have no idea about what Tholhapium is. You have no capacity to establish when it was written. Tholhapium is the oldest grammar book & Indus valley was Tamils land. If you are ready show otherwise on debate I am ready read it. Otherwise shut up your both ends because they can only throw up Cholera materials, no answer to any question.

          • 0
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            I wonder it was Tamil trigonometry that was used to build the pyramids.
            I wonder it was Tamil trigonometry that was used to build the pyramids.
            Do you know what is trigonometry? Come on Man, I wonder if you can even google something properly. Who taught to you pyramids are built with trigonometry? Can I have his/her emails address?Not just trigonometry, there are suspicion even the foundation for Calculus was put in TN and Newton did know those basic works. Come out of your cocoon, just don’t just always be always standing in your shoe and wondering about the world. (Find some English words to use)

      • 0
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        At least they didn’t produce ‘poets’ like you, without any gainful occupation, but practicing English writing through brainless comments and desperate efforts to create cross-conversation.
        /
        Reading this absurdly stupid enterprise is even more pathetic ‘cos of the views of Sannasa owner.
        /
        Get a life, or the knot.

        • 0
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          Lothario or Enna Kothario you are, I Don’t know. But no knot help with any woman. So I don’t go for that.
          Thanks for the consultation.

        • 0
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          Poet L
          The knot to some Tamils only means the knot that they tie at the marriage ceremony.
          Your knot is deadly business.
          In a sense, there may not be much difference between the two: You are finito!

          • 0
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            “The knot to some Tamils only means marriage “
            That kind thought only always come in you head. Then you load it over “some Tamils” you create. I had wrote about what you indicated as you dream of every second. It is you are representative of the Tamils, you are implying.
            I meant a relationship he starts with a women cannot ended with death. You damn don’t know his name is Lothario.

      • 0
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        ‘முதலெனப் படுவது நிலம்பொழு திரண்டின்
        இயல்பென மொழிப இயல்புணர்ந் தோரே.’

        It is important to note that Tholkpaiyam did not write as follows.

        ‘முதலெனப் படுவது நிலம்பொழுதிரண்டின்
        இயல்பென மொழிப இயல்புணர்ந் தோரே.’

        The later one means those who realised or are cognisant of primacy of both space and time.

        The former one means those who leased primacy of cognisant of primacy of spacetime combination.

        You might dispute நிலம் is not space.

      • 0
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        Tholkapiyam say the following.

        ‘முதலெனப் படுவது நிலம்பொழு திரண்டின்
        இயல்பென மொழிப இயல்புணர்ந் தோரே.’

        It is important to note that Tholkapiyam did not write as follows.

        ‘முதலெனப் படுவது நிலம்பொழுதிரண்டின்
        இயல்பென மொழிப இயல்புணர்ந் தோரே.’

        The later one means those who realised or are cognisant of primacy of both space and time.

        The former one means those who realised or are cognisant of primacy of spacetime combination ((நிலம்பொழு திரண்டின்).

        The sense of spacetime combination (நிலம்பொழு திரண்டின்) at that time is celestial-far ahead of time and any civilisation.

        You might dispute நிலம் is not space.

        • 0
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          KA
          Thanks.
          Your thesis is interesting. (One could argue that நிலம் is lateral space.)
          It will be easy to accept it, if there are places in the text where reference to நிலம் can be extended to space beyond land and what stand on it.
          *
          The original dispute here was about inventions, and arose from a comment about inventions.
          This is philosophy. I understand that philosophy in Tamil started with Jain influence in the South. Leading grammarians and writers of ethical texts seem to be predominantly Jain.
          Tholkaapiyam, unlike Paaniniyam, goes beyond grammar and discusses aspects of life.
          I am a novice in this matter and will, wisely, not comment further.
          Even if were competent, serious discussion will bore everyone else to death.
          ps.
          The two couplets cited from Tholkaapiyam seem identical.

          • 0
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            “The original dispute here was about inventions, and arose from a comment about inventions.”

            Are you play buffoon game? aren’t you the one twisted the conversation only picking on the word out of context and asked if Tamils invented anything and now without know what is what trying prove Tholhapium is Jain philosophy while it is talking on Tamils four Lands and Four Land’s gods? What an imbecile stupidity of that? Where did you Jain philosophy in Tholkapium? It was written by a disciple of Agastya, who has written sholgas in Rig Veda, which ended 300 years fore Mahavira was born. Don’t keep digging to make you more Modaya.

        • 0
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          I studied Tamil Language up to 10 th grade on Sinhala Government wrote Tamil Malar-s. After 5th Grade we didn’t use any old works. Challenging those who studied Tamil Literature in a TN college or university, is not my object. My conclusion that Tholhapium is very old is not based on linguistic, anthropology or archeological works of my. Soon I give my explanation down below.
          Still I just want to say my contention of Tholkapiyar split as நிலம்+பொழு -திரண்டின் is mainly to the rhythm. If you look at the next line he is splitting இயல்+புணர்ந்-தோரே. In this I can find meaning to இயல்பு+உணர்ந்து, But I don’t find meaning for ஓரே (தோரே), because it cannot stand alone without going back and rejoining wherever it was split from, i.e. உணர்ந்தோரே. You can interpret 2nd line only when it becomes as இயல்பு- உணர்ந்+தோரே.
          You appear you want to take higher meaning from what most would treat as what he explained as that time economic theory. We treat capital, land, labor and entrepreneurship as resources. In his time Land and labor time (both labor and entrepreneurship) were treated as capital – rather resources) had value. He is not telling it is about economic value, because in his time everything has god connection. It is a kind of Marxian theory.

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          Marx said capital is only past work, so has no priority in the current production beyond labor. Tholkapiyar is saying those who have realized the nature of the life have figured out the worth of these two (Land & Time). You want to say that he did have more scientific cosmic knowledge, I am not contesting it. That is not my ring. I cannot get into that with my limited Tamil Literature Knowledge & my ability to interpret of old works too.
          To come to my Point: We heard Avai live for 1,000 years. But found out they were three, over 1,000 years. Same way they say Agastya lived for 5,000 years. That means Agastyas are many pundits. Agastyas kept coming to South for many reason, at least one time Siva send for his wedding and another time Muruga called him to teach Tamil for Nakeerar. He was Thokapiyar’s guru too. We know last Agastya wrote many shlokas in Rig Veda. Rig Veda ending time was BCE 800. So, last Agastya lived around that time. At least one them taught Tholkapiyar Tamils and wrote at least an outline of grammar book called Agastyam. As Agastyam is lost; we no longer can claim it is our first Grammar book. If so it could be at least 40 years ahead of Tholhapium. If this last Agastya was the guru of Tholkapiyar, then Tholhapium is about Rig Veda’s age.

    • 0
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      Mallaiyuran,
      Copying is not a bad idea,
      Do you expect to reinvent the wheel?
      Learning is mostly copying
      It is true for individuals, families and societies as a whole.
      Patents/copyrights restrict only in certain cases..
      The scientists, philosophers, statesmen all build up their thoughts, theories, philosophies. Discoveries, inventions, not from vacuum but from their predecessor’s knowledge and experience.
      Capitalist learnt social welfare measures, corporate social responsibilities, trade unions and a whole lot from others.
      Be open to new ideas and learning from birth to death

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        Sri
        I should have warned you. But there was no way.

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          You puny, don’t cry Srikrish to cover you. He doesn’t wear sari like Siri Mao. For a Munthnai to hide, find woman walking on the road. Shame on you.

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        srikrish,

        ” Copying is not a bad idea, “ That is the Chinese and Sinhala Intellectual’s way. Chinese are sued back and forth for infringement of copy rights. The master thieves of IT info by hacking the computers world over. Huawei has created a world turmoil.Its officers are in prison world over. That is not a way in civilized Western society where Law and Order a prime requirement.

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      “Deng Xiaoping copied West and made economic success.”

      This is factually incorrect. Deng actually rejected economic model of all private enterprises and was adamant on state, private, and private-State and State-private enterprises and corporations.

      One thing that you do not seem to aware of how China has surpassed West in the governance. The CCP is probably the most meritocratic government structure in the world today. The Chinese have had best time in the past 30 years in their whole history because of rising income and standard of living. Where as US bottom 50% income, standard of living and quality of life had gone down in the mean time. Yet, the CCP is worried that 600 million are living with less than $140 per month, and the bottom 200 million are with $70 per month. These are hard facts that you cannot overlook.

      “China’s Belt and Road project so has not earned any benefit, other than it was only able to bully few African and South Asian Countries.”

      This is not objective reading of BRI. Even in Hambantote, the US is only interested in cancelling the long lease to Chinese company. The port itself the US thinks is a gift its own ambitions.

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        KA
        Thanks for bringing in fresh rational thought.
        I hope that more sense will prevail in this space.

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          “I hope that more sense will prevail in this space.

          KA may bring more sense. I am proud of him as he knows Tamil. Because, Unlike you I am proud of my Language.
          But Mavo’s games, like yours, never made any sense.

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          KA
          Sorry I spoke too soon.

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        America doesn’t pay for to defend it unlike to you. China is not really worrying about about the 600M below $ 140 dollar income, but taking good care of the propagandist like you. Read the rest to understand why.
        “China’s Gini coefficient, a measure of a country’s income inequality ranked from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (maximal inequality), has increased from 0.28 in the 1980s to about . 467 in 2017, higher than that of the US’ 0.39 or Japan’s 0.33’.
        https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2019/04/01/income-inequality-is-growing-fast-in-china-and-making-it-look-more-like-the-us/
        I am not concocting, it is a true phenomena that whoever is practicing better market economy has better distribution graphs. Half-baked socialist like India, Lankawe has the worst distribution graphs.

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        My question: Now China has about 400 Billionaires. Two years ago it was only 150. US has 600. US was 800. China has covered the gap on that very quickly, but only worrying about those below $140. But you agree 2/5 of Chinese is below $140 month. US poverty level $1,000 and 12%. See the difference between $140 and $1,000. Even at that rate China is 4 times higher poverty percentage than US. Then the billionaires are at 75% of the US level . I am not really bringing here the distribution graph. I could not get Chinese graph
        So political-shrewdly renaming what Deng did is not turning into much objectivity, does it?
        Tell me please, based this numbers, Communism is better for poor people or capitalism better. If so why the Chinese new model is producing billionaires quicker, but have not brought income up for bottom level people?

        I am not talking about Chinese efficiency in administration. After recent protests, Minnesota wants to dissolve police department and format something new. What is going in Xinjiang Province? Democracy is not about administration, it is about fundamental rights.

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