By Ratnajeevan H. Hoole –
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Jaffna VC Vasanthi Arasaratnam recently admitted that there is no place for Christians there. Around 2002, Jaffna advertised Professor Electrical-IT-Civil. I applied. VC Balasundarampillai immediately cancelled the advertisement and readvertised only Civil saying the new Dean must build buildings. Recently, they hired a Hindu Electrical Engineer as the first Dean without advertisement, violating the Universities Act on transfers. I could not apply.
There has been bad blood between me and Arasaratnam since I applied for VC. I have a D.Sc., Ph.D and am the first Lankan IEEE Fellow. Yet, the VC has previously found both my wife Prof. Dushyanthi Hoole (with a doctorate under Nobel laureate George Olah) and me unqualified for appointment despite Court orders and a presidential directive to appoint us. UGC Chairman Mohan de Silva, hiding behind autonomy, fails to regulate university administrations as empowered in the Act.
The Avuncular Sampanthan: Choosing SJV or Mavai?
Mavai: Choosing SJV’s Heritage or his Relative’s Interests?
Hell-bent on serving, I applied for Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering (closing date 10.07.2015) fearing I would be found unqualified again. The Establishments Code requires that as soon as it is known that a vacancy exists, the university should act to fill it. Arasaratnam however waited for a year and called me for an interview on 08.07.2016, two days before the limit for deciding on the application. There is another rule that when a doctorate-holder applies, no application for Lecturer shall be considered without first finding the doctorate-holder unsuitable. There was one Lecturer applicant, a student of mine at Peradeniya. His interview was scheduled immediately after mine, strengthening my suspicion that I would be found unsuitable. However, even scheduling his interview before rejecting me was considering him.
As expected, my Selection Committee decision was simply “No Selection Made.” Arasaratnam then immediately interviewed my student, and selected him. But the Council which has to act on the Selection Committee’s recommendation, rejected it. Almost every member of the Council objected. They directed the Committee to reconvene and give a reason. This, the VC has stalled for 3+ months. Now there are two problems. If the Selection Committee changes its decision, it would be after the expiry of the year-limit; and then there would be the problem of my student who has already assumed duties as Lecturer.
President Chandrika asked Mohan de Silva why. He inquired from the VC and replied in writing that I quarrel wherever I go, I wrote against Arumuga Navalar and that Jaffna is for Hindus and Christians should respect that. Now Jaffna being for Hindus is official. Mr. Mavai Senathirajah of the FP, relative of Arasaratnam, has endorsed this policy in communications with Minister Lakshman Kiriella and others. Mr. R. Sampanthan is aware but told me he has left Jaffna matters to Jaffna MPs.
Navalar / October 22, 2016
Also we should not forget Prof R.Kumaravadivel, former Acting Vice Chancellor and now a days University Grants Commission member, in this realm of Religious Discrimination.
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sirimuna / October 22, 2016
During our days in the Varsity, we hero worshipped Profs Myalnayagam, Balika, etc,
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Sinhala_Man / October 22, 2016
Prof. Hoole,
You have said this somewhere above:
“I want to serve in Jaffna and am qualified for it. As a citizen I am entitled to equal consideration regardless of my religion. And at my age I do not want to go abroad again after being in exile for so many years.”
Why don’t you keep it as simple as that?
Why don’t you also eschew making comments on public fora once you have got useful employment? I think that we have benefitted from your excursions in to sociology, but from what I can see, unless you make that resolve, Sri Lanka may lose you altogether, and that would be tragic. You must be given professionally challenging work, from which the entire country will obviously benefit.
Anyway, welcome home, you AND your family. We want you!
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Charles Anthony / October 22, 2016
>> “Jaffna is for Hindus and Christians should respect that.” Vice Chancellor Jaffna University, Vasanthi Arasaratnam, 2016.
Big brother must be turning in his grave for he named his son Charles Anthony after his beloved Christian friend. The Bishop of Mannar is fighting for what? The last king of Jaffna Changiliyan with his whole family died Christians. The Father of Tamil aspirations, SJV was a Christian. From the time of St. Thomas the Apostle in India, A. D. 52-70 there are Christians in Jaffna thanks to his preaching and visit under St. Peter himself as our first Patriach in Antioch just as with the the Tamil Nadu and Kerala churches.
Arumuga Navalar was born into a Christian family that baptised him under the name of Piraat and sent him to the Wesleyan Seminary for his education. His scholars know that. So was Rao Bahdur C. W. Thamotharampillai born a Christian to a clergyman.
Now suddenly her highness, the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University is not only declaring:
“JAFFNA IS FOR HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS MUST ACCEPT THAT”! (emphasis mine)
but also is acting like it is the law of the land in Jaffna.
This is no joke Sirs. She is the head of thousands of college students, our future leaders and Professors who will some day be heads and deans there. What do our christian children do now?
Mr. Sampanthan please give us Christians an answer now!
Mr. Sampanthan please give us Christians an answer now!
Minister Kiriella is it true? Is Jaffna and therefore Jaffna university for Hindus ONLY? What will happen to Tamil Christian students who are passing out? Are we to become stateless too? For asking this alone some Hindus will brand me a “fighter” like the author. Tamils will go back to the dark ages if this ignorant and bigotted trend is not checked immediately.She has enough golayas adulating her in Jaffna who treat her as a goddess like Jayalalitha here and stoop to anything.
If Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole cannot hold up to her imagine what it would be like for our children.
We want a discussion on the policy matter of Christians in Jaffna please before it becomes too late.
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RL / October 22, 2016
If you really want proof that what is gong on to Prof. Hoole is outright communalism, take the case of the list of Jaffna Vice Chancellors. There is a Board in the Boardroom of University giving the list of VCs. All are from our community.
There is on that list Prof. R. Kumaravadivel who was asked by the UGC to cover the duties of VC for a year from 2006 when Prof. Hoole was in exile. Kumaravadivel was never Acting VC because Professor Hoole was VC. No acting appointment can be made when the real appointee is there. But Kumravadivel is listed as Acting VC on that Board.
Prof. Kumaravadivel never had an appointment letter purporting to make him Acting VC. Yet we were happy to introduce him everywhere as Acting VC and list him on the Board and Website as Acting VC.
This February (2 Feb. 2016) the USAB declared that Hoole was the VC for a period from 12 March 2006 and he should be listed as such and paid by University of Jaffna. Arasaratnam has instead removed the Board saying it is down for repairs. At the Council she boasted that she will never do it and never pay him.
Oncologist Dr. Jeyakumar of the Council periodically asks for what has been done about the Court Order. On a recent visit I have seen the Council minutes where he tells the VC that she is in contempt and can be punished, and she records that she was threatened by Dr. Jeyakumar.
Just now (22 Oct. 2016) I looked up the university website. http://www.jfn.ac.lk/index.php/former-executive-staff/
No mention of Prof. Hoole still, 8.5 months after the order, but Kumaravadivel is listed as Acting VC!
I think we cannot bear the thought that a Christian was once the Vice Chnacellor of our university.
It anything is communalism I think this is. We Hindus need to wake up when horrible people spoil our good name. We are not this bad. We have always been hospitable to our minorities.
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Vanni la / October 22, 2016
Professor Hooles qualifications are rare and very good. His name will very much increase the ratings of Jaffna University. and it will impress foreign universities where we are applying. They are looking at the web and doing a search.
I am a recent graduate applying for scholarships abroad for higher studies. I here request the council members kindly to advice Madam to put Professor Hoole also as VC on the web. It will be a big help for our students. Thank you.
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Naga / October 22, 2016
Ratnajeevan
Thanks for your reply saying that you had been away from your country of birth for many years and that at this age you cannot go and work abroad.
That is understandable.
You are a highly qualified man, a Professor with many years of teaching experience and thus deserves to be a Vice Chancellor. When you were first appointed by Mahinda in 2006 the Tigers ensured that you did not enter Jaffna and eventually you had to give up the position. That was unfortunate.
I believe Tigers were against you not because you were a Christian but they did not want to have a man with an independent mind who could not be trusted to carry out their diktats. VP’s advisor Anton Balasingham was Catholic and his Political wing leader Tamilselvan was yet another Catholic.
It is again unfortunate that you were not appointed as VC of the Jaffna University the second time in 2011 though you have stated that the position was promised to you by Mahinda. May be Douglas Devananda or some one else closer to Mahinda made him to prefer Vasanthi Arasaretnam. I do not think that this was because you are a Christian but perhaps because you were seen as a fiercely independent man. Sri Lankan politicians always want to have yes men appointed to these types of positions.
You mentioned that Jaffna VC Vasanthi Arasaratnam recently admitted that there is no place for Christians there. If she had really made this admission, she should be taken to task for making such a statement. Jaffna University is not her grand-father’s property to keep out non-Hindus.
Compared to other communities in Sri Lanka, Tamils are a very secular community. A Christian, Samuel James Velupillai Selvanayagam was revered by the Tamils as their acknowledged leader. The Tamils preferred this Christian to a Hindu Gankeyar Ganapathy Ponnambalam. Take the case of Joseph Pararajasingham, a devout Catholic who was repeatedly elected as MP for Batticaloa in a predominantly Hindu electorate. Then again take the case of Sumanthiran, a Christian from Colombo. People of Jaffna voted for him overwhelmingly at the last General Election despite a concerted campaign carried out against him by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam & Co.
I think your statements critical of Hindus, Hindu saints and Hinduism has earned you a bad name among the Hindus. After reading some of the articles you have written to Colombo Telegraph, I too accused you of religious bigotry.Your statement in this article “Recently, they hired a Hindu Electrical Engineer as the first Dean without advertisement” is yet another example how intolerant you are of Hindus.
I personally believe that Jaffna VC Vasanthi Arasaretnam did not consider you for the Senior Lecturer position because of the fact that you are a Christian but because she may be seeing you as a threat to her position as VC.
I appreciate your fearlessness and fighting qualities. But, do not think and act as if all Hindus are against you just because you happen to be a Christian.
Because of your open criticisms and statements, I think, you have closed the doors to all political power bases in Sri Lanka. After your recent statements about the Election Commission, I do not think that you will be treated nicely by this Sirisena & Ranil administration. The stark fact is that to get high offices in Sri Lanka you need the support of political power bases.
I am a fighter like you and I do not care for the politicians. The difference is that I do not need any position. I am a professional and I can go back to my profession.
My advice, give up this quest to work at the Jaffna University. With your qualifications and experience you can easily pick up an advisory role in some UN or other international organisations and work based in Sri Lanka with only infrequent travels abroad. My former UN colleague works now as a human rights and good governance expert for the EU and is based in Greece. He says he travels to targeted countries on a two to three weeks mission, and says he writes fabulous reports earning handsome payments.
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S.R.H. Hoole / October 22, 2016
Naga,
It is not that I cannot but do not wish to go abroad after so many years abroad. I am still a Professor at Michigan State University and am due back in Aug. I had 2 more yers of service left in the Sri Lankan system where retirement is compulsory at age 65. So I came in July 2015 on leave thinking I could do something useful here for 2 years. But apparently they want only Hindus. I am now wondering if I should go back because the Christian community is under attack and I feel there is useful stuff to do here given this assault on us. Most Hindus do not feel any hatred for us but what is the use when they will not speak up.
You can argue the matter as to whether the objection is to me or to a Christian. But when President Chandrika Kumaratunga inquired through the UGC Chairman, the UGC Chairman after communicating with the VC put it in writing that my religion is one of her three objections. I have asked the UGC Chairman for the letter he wrote to President Chandrika under the Right to Information Act. Others including Chandrika have copies. So I hope no one will foolishly try to disappear that letter.
Therefore please do not make a case that even Vasanthi Arasaratnam is not making — that this is because I am threatening to her and not because I am a Christian.
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Lone Wolf / October 23, 2016
Dr Jeevan Hoole,
“You can argue the matter as to whether the objection is to me or to a Christian. But when President Chandrika Kumaratunga inquired through the UGC Chairman, the UGC Chairman after communicating with the VC put it in writing that my religion is one of her three objections. I have asked the UGC Chairman for the letter he wrote to President Chandrika under the Right to Information Act. Others including Chandrika have copies. So I hope no one will foolishly try to disappear that letter.”
I am sure that you already know this but others might not. If you have evidence of discrimination based on religion you can file a Fundamental Rights case. You can challenge administrative decisions or even attempts of them if they are against your fundamental rights.
Any reply to your RTI request? Who is the information officer? You should have received acknowledgment and there is a time limit for a reply as you must know. If there is no reply or a negative reply you can challenge them also.
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S.R.H. Hoole / October 23, 2016
Thank you Lone Wolf. It was only last week that the Election Commission received instructions on what we need to do, appointing an information officer etc. I suspect that the UGC too is only now in that process. I have written to the UGC Secretary by registered post with copy to the Chairman.
I was once a believer in the judicial system and a loud advocate of using the judiciary to get justice. But after 10 years of you know who, I have lost that confidence.
I am aware of the HRC option. My wife has a decision from the HRC that her rights were violated by Peradeniya and fining Perdeniya Rs. 50,000. Peradeniya simply ignored the order. HRC decisions are recommendations and not orders.
I have an order from the USAB to Jaffna to appoint me Professor of Computer Science. It remains ignored even though the Universities Act says USAB orders are final and must be obeyed. This happens because the UGC will not exercise its powers to regulate universities. I have an order from the USAB to Jaffna to list me as VC in all its documents and website, and pay me. Jaffna just ignored it.
I have the experience of the terrible Chief Justice who wrote that I withdrew my fundamenrtal rights plaint (when I had not) and disappeared my file. I have the experience of the President of the Court of Appeal who heard a case against me without serving notice on me — I learnt much later that his wife and the plaintiff’s wife were the best pals! A judge of the Labour Tribunal hearing my wife’s case against Peradeniya took the file home with her when she retired and the Labour Tribunal could not track her file.
This why the Jan. 8 Revolution of (2015) was so important to all of us to return us to the rule of law. But it is pretty clear now that those whom we elected have betrayed us badly.
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Lone Wolf / October 23, 2016
Dr Jeevan Hoole,
“This why the Jan. 8 Revolution of (2015) was so important to all of us to return us to the rule of law. But it is pretty clear now that those whom we elected have betrayed us badly.”
This maybe is obvious to you but may help others:
You should try to obtain evidence of the alleged violation of your Fundamental Rights using the RTI Act. You have sent a RTI request and you should have received a written acknowledgement from the UGC. The public authority has 14 days to decide on your request. If there is no decision or a negative decision you can complain.
File a FR case in the Supreme Court when you have evidence. As you know they should (but don’t) reach a judgement fast. I think that the court has a 2 month dead line for FR cases. As you wrote HRC only gives recommendations.
Things might be better now after the Revolution.
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Plato. / October 22, 2016
After reading all this,I cannot but feel admiration for Ratnajeevan Hoole. One of the most independent personalities ever to have walked on the University stages.Sir.Nicholas Attygalle also had the same trait but that was a different era.Bernard Shaw once remarked that if you have brains you must not show it off,since people will dislike you! True,RH has been critical of Hindus and the Hindu way of life; But he has been open and frank whether we like it or not.
This reminds me of the idiom Stoop To Conquer.This is put forth as the moral of Aesops fable–The Oak and the Reeds.
Quote:
A VERY LARGE OAK was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream.It fell among some Reeds,which it thus addressed: I wonder how,who are so light and weak,are not entirely crushed by these strong winds.They replied,you fight and contend with the wind and consequently you are destroyed:While we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air,and therefore remain unbroken and escape.
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Sinhala_Man / October 22, 2016
Dear Dr S.R.H. Hoole,
You have said above that you used “the Right to Information Act”; by so doing you have struck a blow FOR all honest people in the country. Thank you very much. There are legitimate steps that can be taken, and when somebody who knows how to do such things, it is without doubt that his actions will benefit society.
However, I think that before it gets too late, you ought to take the advice of a person like “Naga” who is obviously a sincere friend to you. I think that you have done our country a lot of good by being a straight man. Don’t spoil it all by compromising; but at the same time, don’t leave it till too long before you get yourself some MEANINGFUL employment. I’m sure that although all of us could do with more money that is not a prime concern for you.
I’m sure that a man of your abilities will be able to easily able to earn ten times (perhaps much more!) than a guy like me can – and without compromising your principles. Obviously, it’ll be a fraction of what you could earn abroad, but as you have clearly stated you desire to live in that part of our beautiful island that you were born in, so be more practical in plotting your future.
For all that there is criticism of your temperament, I feel that there is now such problem. I’ve written many times in response to your brief article; it’s remarkable that you don’t resent the somewhat patronising tone that guys like me who aren’t a tenth of your worth are adopting.
You have performed your civic duty by Sri Lanka. Now get down to thinking more about yourself and your family. BTW, it’s great that after so many years abroad, your entire family is fluent in Tamil – a language that I don’t know at all. I wonder if you know some Sinhalese. No problem if you don’t! But if you do, “thou art the nonpareil!” I know that those words come from a context that is not the best, but these are sincere words which are submitted hoping that it helps stir in to action somebody who will get something moving.
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Mallaiyuran / October 22, 2016
VC was the candidate of Dougie. It was the Christian Dougie who wanted a Hindu extremist as VC. In fact Appe Aandu Coolie too Dougie’s selection.
This story of University of Jaffna VC said that Jaffna is only for Hindus is nothing more than 1958’s story that the “Body of the Sinhalese coming to Colombo”. That achieved the needed respect from Tamils to SWRD’s goons, Sinhala Buddhist. Appe Aandu Coolie has achieved what he wanted this time. The Jaffna students can not ask for Nathasuram, and had reminded it as “because their police ride with the loaded guns”. This entire story appearing above in the article is a fraud campaigning.
I asked for the letter. Now the answer is Chandrika has mailed it back to VC. Can I ask for interview questions and answers in a PDF form singed and sealed by a JP? I need it signed and sealed by a JP so that VC also can object or reject based on the ID of the person releasing it.
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Jaffna man / October 22, 2016
Mr. New Yorker, first of all you run to live in a Christian land and then call Christians names. Unda veetukku irandaham, Mahapathaham.
You are trying hard to hoodwink the readers of CT because you are very jealous of Hoole’s achievements.
Everybody in Jaffna knows very well that Douglas’ real name is Kathiravelu Nythiananda Devananda and his style name to impress the Sinhalese is Douglas Devananda. He is an avowed Hindu from birth. Look up at least Wiki before you write. Do you take us for idiots like you? People would think your sanity is compromised from the venom and jibberish you put out.
Learn to pronounce H now that you are in an English speaking country.
Shame on TGTA to associate with the likes of you. They are now calling TGTA crazy. Get help from Prof. Daya Somasunderam Prof. Hoole’s cousin. This is an academic discussion and bro too high for you judging from your master pieces here. We know Hoole. We don’t need your input.
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Mallaiyuran / October 23, 2016
“We know Hoole. We don’t need your input.”
Welcome my PhD fan for reading my comments regularly and comment. Still not a very long after. But sadly your PhD is not worth for the paper it is printed on. Instead of travelling outside to get one, you could have asked Laksiri Fernando to get one for you also. Then it would have been as worth as for the commission as he charges.
We are going to go along a long path. Promise to stay with you all the way. It is going to be hard to miss me until the Tamils’ problem are solved.
But, Don’t come to teach me PhD. Sorry PhD, because you don’t have the quality for that fool. Your foolishness did not open your eyes when you did your PhD that America is the first nation in the modern history of the world to become Secular State, where nobody has any claim of any of their religions. You are such and idiot to interpret in your own self enjoyment that America is a Christian country. Shame on you. Unlike you, I have a self respect, I left the country which has stolen my land claiming it as a Buddhist country. You fool has no idea you are only livening a Buddhist country though your boss bragging about the Christianity there. Your boss, that paid coolie, is fighting against Hinduism in a Buddhist country where even the Cardinal, Malcolm has accepted Buddhism is the state religion. Just like Cardinal, he has openly declare the status of Buddhism, not the Christianity, if wants to beg for a government job. Put it in your dead PhD head that Lankawe is Buddhist country. Your excreting in the plate you are eating by not writing about Buddhism.
His life in America is waste as when in those days of his life here he sadly missed to realize the magnificent idea behind Secularism. Like a pig, he has returned seeking his cess pool. The Sethayil Palli, your boss, openly has said that he could not retire in welfare country, that is he can not sleep on a comfortable bed. What a liar he is!
You boss doing “Marumakal maamiyaarin Koopahthai ammiyilai Kaadinnaalam”. Take this word from me. I am more than a sage in my pure life. I am more of a friend to anybody than anybody else. I don’t take any differences. In my Yaka fire everything get burned and purified. You know your boss, that is in human terms only. But, neither your boss nor you can come to know whom I am. If your boss want to be fighter, I will be his best friend for that. I am always ready take anybody’s hand and fight against anything. But now I have serious job to do. That is my first choice.
You are only trying to play silly sally cuckoo by dreaming of something I did not say. If I ask you to show the proof what are you dreaming of, you too going to beat around the bush like your boss, who did not come with the letter or interview questions and answers. Are ready put back here what I said wrong ?
If have been a fan of my writing and have been reading and commenting, you missed that I have a high opinion about America’s democracy, its readiness, by hook or crook, to defend democracy in the world wide.
“Mr. New Yorker, first of all you run to live in a Christian land and then call Christians names. Unda veetukku irandaham, Mahapathaham.”
PhD, learn the Proverbs properly and use it properly. If you couldn’t, please ask me. I don’t make a deal out of anything. Ask me how to use the saying ” Unda veetukku irandaham, Mahapathaham.” I can teach that to you. Please don’t feel shy and ask to learn a language.
Now, come along and sing with me man! Don’t feel shy!
Abcd efg,
Hijk lmnop,
qrs-tuv-wxy and Z.
again start,
Ba ba black sheep have you any wool?
What a childish fool you are PhD!
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Lone Wolf / October 23, 2016
Jaffna man,
“Shame on TGTA to associate with the likes of you.”
Thank you for the information on the background of Malla. I have been wondering why he is like he is. At least the others of his outfit can better English and have some logic. Malla lacks both and shows his ignorance almost every time he writes. Not that I can boast having read all of his long boring comments.
I have decided to ignore Malla, Dr Brian and Usha in the future. Their outfit does not deserve attention from anybody and will fade away.
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Lone Wolf / October 23, 2016
Malla,
“It was the Christian Dougie who wanted a Hindu extremist as VC.”
Again your ignorance shows! Can you please study at least some facts before you write?
My second advice is that you write before getting drunk and not when you are drunk. Usually your comments make no sense at all.
Third advice ( I am in a generous mood today!) Please stop creating nick names. My brain capacity is too limited to spend time guessing who you are writing about.
As a bonus a final advice: learn to reveal your sources so that we can cross check your information.
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Mallaiyuran / October 23, 2016
Sorry man, I could not properly take care of you because you are stretching out your pan in between the CT PhD clan, the Jaffna Brand.
“Third advice ( I am in a generous mood today!) Please stop creating nick names. My brain capacity is too limited to spend time guessing who you are writing about.” Did you talk to our college “Amaaru”. If you borrow some IQ from his wholesale business, the problem solved man.
See you.
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Ratnasingam / October 23, 2016
Pompous Ass! “I asked for the letter.” “I need it signed and sealed by a JP”
Who do you think you are? A judge from the LTTE’s judicial division?
You are in New York where you are a nobody. We know all about you, your work for the TGTE. Do you still think we are scared of the LTTE to bow before you?
You say “Now the answer is Chandrika has mailed it back to VC. Can I ask for interview questions and answers.” I do not see that claim anywhere above like that or about an interview.
Can you read English and understand even if Prof. Hoole sends the letter to you?
I think garbage collection in New York is the only thing you are fit for. Nobody here has any respect for you.
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Mallaiyuran / October 23, 2016
I know that only in Lankawe you can be somebody.
The New York City’s fame, while you,your boss and your CT PhD clan failed understand when were in Western Counties, is the respect for the labor. If one idiot in the CT PhD clan of yours had got even a glimpse of that idea, Coolie might not have come CT to tore of his cloths and you wouldn’t have let that to happen; Would he or would that be?
I am fit to collect Garbage in a country where the labor is respected, Secularism is the law, caste differences are crime. You are born in Sinhala Buddhist country with all qualities to clean cess pool and after your PhD you returned there and happily doing the cleaning work of others cess pool. Aren’t you?
The world famous city New York’s jobs of Garbage Collection, Firefighting and Policemen recruits by the same vetting process. You missed to pick up that point. Because if have said the same thing what you said for me to the Lanakwe’s police, by now, your house would been set to fire by those Anumars.
But still there is a difference between you and me. The difference between me an you is you are better than me as you correct TGTA to TGTE. But I don’t.
” your work for the TGTE. Do you still think we are scared of the LTTE to bow before you?”, Hey TGTA guys, do you hear this, I could not make these CT PhD clans, who get their degrees from Angoda, to bow in front of you. Do you still want to treat me as one within you? You are not a good fan of me man. You did not read, it seems, most of master pieces (as in the way you described earlier above), that have been being released for about last 6 years. But still TGTA is good fan of me as they have read most of it; even the ones I produced before I was chased to CT and put up with you guys.
Man you have the Common CT PhD syndrome. So far the… “elumbukkum sathaikkum maruththuvam kanden idharkoru marunthai kandenaa… ponaal pogattum poda indha boomiyil nilaiyaai vaazhnthavar yaaradaa,ponaal pogattum poda… ponaal pogattum podaa ..” That is the crying voice of the science.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDjDXY4248Y
That is me after hearing from you.
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Nalayini S. / October 23, 2016
I am a student of Yarlpanaththu Chaivaism in North America. I see Prof. Hoole as a progressive like Nallai Arumuga Navalar. I am a great admirer of both. Saivites should be thankful for his ideas towards chaiva reformation. Like Navalar in the nineteenth century now Prof. Hoole points out spiritual errors enforced on Chaivites through centuries-old practices. Navalar watched his teacher Padiriyar Percival and the Christian churches closely for in his early days he was adhering to Christianity and reading the Bible. In mission schools besides Christianity, Tamil, Sanskrit and Hindu texts were also taught after editing them for inappropriate content. Many parents welcomed the editing of Hindu sacred texts. When Navalar started his Hindu school urged by Chetties as in India, he taught only these edited Hindu texts like Percival. Except for not teaching Christianity Navalar used the same syllabus as his former teacher. Navalar was hurt by some Christians criticizing some of the then Chaiva practices.
So Navalar went to the Nallur temple and asked them to stop their animal sacrifices. The authorities got furious and chased after him shouting “pidiyada avanai” and he ran away. Later he wrote the “Yarlpanach chamayanilai” in 1872. In that he told chaiva samayigal to stop the dances and music of the temple prostitutes. He chided Yarlpanaththu chaiva samayihal for the obscene pictures of deities painted nude on temple walls to inflame erotic feelings and asked them to erase them. But criticized the worship of the spear (vel of Murugan) still being worshipped as in Changam time saying it is not Brahmana aagamical practice instead he wanted images of deities sensitive to Victorian morality put up there. He earned the wrath of the temple authorities and all those who stood to gain by the old ways because of this. Yet he pointed to the excellent manners of the missionaries and the lack of Hindu knowledge of the Hindu priests in Jaffna temples. They cynically referred to Navalar as the “best Methodist” around. However Navalar did not give up his reformation. Conversion was reduced because of this. The educated Hindus and Christians who studied in Jaffna’s Christian schools encouraged Navalar’s reformation.
Prof. Hoole is now like Navalar pointing out, in the same tone, the errors of the Yarlpana Chaivasamayihal. We must heed him because he is saying things directly like an engineer. We must consider whether what he says fits us. After all Religion is for Man’s liberation from the cycle of birth. Prof. Hoole does not have to be a Hindu for us to listen to him.
“Epporul yar yar vaik ketpinum apporul meipporul kaanpatharivu”. says Thiruvalluvar.
I am therefore so very sad to see our Vice Chancellor blocking a great mind like Professor Hoole from the University. At a learning Institution we must act in a more enlightened way. When Abdul Kalaam was once asked to light a cockerel Kuththuvilakku he instead lit a candle, saying that the cockerel is a Hindu symbol and that he will respect the Christians by lighting a candle. Like the great Abdul Kalam we must be sensitive to all people in a learning environment. It is time Jaffna University included modern educational practices.It would be good if both Jaffna University and the Tamil Studies Conference in Toronto lead the way by using neutral symbols in their functions to respect every person, Christian, Muslim and even Budhdhist irrespective of his religion. Then we can say “yaavarum Kelir”, in the high Tamil culture.
Prof. Hoole I wish you very good luck.Hope to see you and your family again at the next Tamil Studies Conference in Canada.
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Sinhala Student / October 23, 2016
Professor Hoole:
Most comments here are from people who have abandoned Jaffna. Jaffna is obviously DEAD. It is clear from the absolute nastiness seen in these comments. Only dead body breeds MAGGOTS.
You are tring to give blood transfusion to a corpse. Go back to the US and enjoy life with your beautiful children. At least move to Colombo where it is clear you are respected. I can speak for myself and your Sinhala students. You can do useful work with us.
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Mallaiyuran / October 23, 2016
This is a travesty staged by a bunch of clowns, who sworn their job is as only destroying the Tamils well being.
It is hoax this Appe Aandu coolie had sincerely applied for any job. His claims are high. He has job in election commission which requires continuous, had travel. He stammering not being able to explain why he resigned a wellfare country’s educational job and went to accept a political job in Yahapalanaya Goverment. The man is not being able to prove his sincerity in seeking of job. He denying the public’s authority to question him on that. His secret behaviors suggests it is apparently with some ill will, traveled back to Jaffna, and sought a political job to muscle flex in the Jaffna University administration. To do maximum damage to that educational organization, he created a hoax article dragging Maavai and Sampananthar. He who tried with Chandrika first then went to Maavai and Sampanatharar. It sounds like man who was dismissed by a General Hospital as has no hope, went to a local dispensary and then claiming it was the dispensary which failed have the medicine for his illness and that is why he is dying. He is so dishonest to let the public to know what kind of communication he had with a public figure like Chandrika. Further he is too secretive to openly discuss in the public forum, where he came to appeal his case, what was his motive when he went to meet the VC of Jaffna. Irrelevant of whether Vasanthy Arasaratnam is a EPDP recruit just like the Appe Aandu Coolie, or whether she is managing her job properly or not, she still has job to do. With gang of criminal hooligan, who do not use a decent word in English language and fit only to be ultimate education outcasts to walk into a scared educational institute and who brag about their paid and bought PhDs, defending him, he has set out to bring down the Jaffna University. Though it is an invalid child, it is the only Child of the North. It is against that dear soul these bad mouthed, educated rowdies are launching their case.
Jaffna University has been targeted by many Appe Aandu Coolies in the recent days. This coolie is the same man who had advocated in this same forum that the election commission should be independent. Then he so nakedly wrote in this hoax article that he tried to politically insert Chandrika into the independent operation of the Jaffna University. Even that is, he attempted to bring in Chandrika into Jaffna University administration, after many years of her end of the EP. This is is only a trickling drop out of his past flows he had with EPDP ans SLFP. The acolytes who failed defend their master think that distracting may provide a way out to outmaneuver his substantial mistake in his strategy of jumping into a public forum with a hoax case.
There two students of this troubled university has been shot by Appe Aandu to give a warning for the political players of the south. The entire nation is rebelling against of this dastards’ treacherous act. All kind of people are there in the funeral. High tension there in the North. This foul mouthed, educated hooligan traitors are “Eriyira Veedilai neruppedukinam”. (Fetching fire in the burning house)
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M. Sivapalan / October 23, 2016
I only recently came across this posting by Professor Hoole and also read the more than 100 odd comments. I wonder how representative they are of the mindset that exists amongst the Tamil and the larger Sri Lankan communities. I have always valued the Colombo Telegraph for providing an opportunity, especially during the days of government censorship of news media, to freely voice opinions on contentious topics. But I am beginning to wonder if the discussions in this medium actually help people to be persuasive and change the opinions of others or to modify their own opinions on the basis of arguments presented by others. It is irritating to see the same ideas hashed and rehashed – by otherwise highly educated people, with no resolution in sight – can we not move past these age old arguments and controversies?
The title of the posting by Hoole is “Religious Discrimination by Staff-Short Jaffna Engineering”. I recently visited the Jaffna University Engineering Faculty in Kilinochchi. I was impressed by the rapid growth of the faculty, the commitment of the staff and the enthusiasm of the students. It was clear, however, there is a serious staff shortage, and the academic staff were desperate for support from Sri Lankan academics domiciled overseas, in the form of short visits to teach, develop curriculum, and generally improve the morale. The university is building great facilities, lecture halls, residence halls for students, including apartments to attract people like me to return on short visits. I was, and still am, keen to respond positively to the requests to visit. However, the experience of Professor Hoole, the many reactions on CT to his complaints, and more generally the goings on at Jaffna University, do concern me greatly and raises serious misgivings in my mind.
As the title says, as I also learned during my visit, the faculty in Kilinochchi is short of staff. Many graduates appointed as Lecturers and Assistant Lecturers go abroad for higher degrees, and more often than not, stay abroad. Staff retention has always been a difficult problem – it will remain so for some time to come. Here we have Professor Hoole, who left his position as Professor of Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University to return to Jaffna (for good) – he is ready to take up a position right away (any position, in fact, he is not choosy), he is on the ground, he is qualified, experienced, and committed. Yet he is not appointed.
So, what is the problem? Is it his religion (surely, religious discrimination is illegal, or is held morally reprehensible, in the larger Tamil society, the last time I checked)? Or is it certain statements attributed to him? Are we to believe that he is disqualified from taking up an appointment because of making contentious statements on issues irrelevant to the position of Professor of Electrical Engineering? Have we as a society become so afraid of contrary ideas to the point of keeping away or expelling otherwise committed people? Can Professor Hoole be any more destructive than the physical, psychological and moral destruction we have experienced and wrought on ourselves over the past 30 years? It seems like we all have short memories or a death wish on our people back home. How many of us (living overseas) are prepared to give it all up and return to Sri Lanka and put up with all of this nonsense – if you are not, maybe you should hold off on your pontification.
Professor Hoole is a friend of mine – but defending him personally will only lend credence to the personal attacks launched against him – instead I want to make a broader point here. I am a Hindu, what guarantee is there that someone like me will not experience discrimination on some other grounds, e.g., caste or gender, or political affiliation? Today it is religion, tomorrow it may be something else. There cannot be a return to normalcy unless and until we insist on professionalism in all our affairs, and a respect for merit and honesty, especially at universities. We can of course go round and round with ill-informed attacks on the person of Hoole, but in doing so we only lose sight of the big picture, including the damage that is being done to the education of our youth, who stand to suffer the most from the intellectual sterility that results, which we are unwittingly supporting through our careless thoughts and expressions in these columns. We should all go out and take a collective cold shower!
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Maangkuil / October 24, 2016
“I wonder how representative they are of the mindset that exists amongst the Tamil and the larger Sri Lankan communities.”
M. Sivapalan, 90% or more of the people in Jaffna now, including the recent Jaffna University VCs, the majority of the staff and dons and nearly all the graduates cannot write two sentences without a mistake even in their own Tamil language, leave alone in English. Even fewer, in fact- only a handful, can write the English of Kumar R or Justice in these columns as in the old days. It is a very sad state of affairs here. We need help badly.Judging by the comments Ratnajeevan H. Hoole always gets in the CT, it is obvious that only a few people are writing sometimes under two, even three different names. It is more than obvious who these people are because of my long association with Jaffna University.From the type of English and the sentiments expressed, it is obvious that a council member put on the article’s author’s committee is writing under different names as are many expatriates living in an another era.
So I appreciate your question. The answer is that the poor common Jaffna people have no voice even in their Sanansamooha nilayams or temples. Corrupt authorities like Uma Coomaraswamy and now Vasanthy Arasaratnam have their stooges and they all use the weakened Tamil people to advance their careers and get garlanded everywhere for service to the Tamil people. They hardly represent the Jaffna Tamil women. They hate their competition for life so they harm and keep them out of the University system for life with the help of their pals at the UGC to whom they present a different face. Jaffna VC, Sivasegaram and Atputharajah are called the Mummoorthihal in the council. They block the academic development of the Engineering Faculty. With nearly all the money given for development they keep building buildings and sports grounds but the academic side is left on the slowest burner.
So please don’t think that the average Jaffna man or woman is vicious or stop coming and teaching our poor students. The authorities here will not hurt short term visiting scholars especially if you offer possibilities of visits to your university, offer them coauthorships on your papers and do not disturb the local hierarchy as a full-time appointment would. They want popularity, connections and scholarships and seminars to attend abroad, all for power and money. Student development is only a show. The trouble is Ratnajeevan H. Hoole is applying for a permanent position here and they fear that he will not salaam them down every corridor and that he will see through their farce and his students will soon follow for he usually gathers a little student following immediately because he is friendly, open, respectful and always helpful.
Religion is only a cover to hide their vindictiveness and is being used as a further weapon shamefully. As for the average man or woman eking out a living in Jaffna, they still remain wise, sane and caring as always.Because of the common Jaffna man the age old way of life in Jaffna is still intact at the market places and valavus and vadalis. Sharing the hard daily life here would be the highest joy to the children of the soil and the best medicine for the expatriates who sound totally disconnected.
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Road Tax / October 23, 2016
Isn’t her term as VC coming to an end soon?
Hope the next one is a Christian or Buddhist or Muslim. Then nobody can claim Jaffna is for Hindus.
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kulan / October 24, 2016
According to this article R. Sambanthan MP has said he is leaving Northern matters to the Northern MPs.
Then why he did not leave the Universirty students killing in Jaffna last Thursday night to MPs Mavai or Sumanthiran. Sampanthan has personally called the President immediately regarding the killing.
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Rohan / October 24, 2016
“Sampanthan has personally called the President immediately regarding the killing. “
WOW…. your logic deserves a Nobel Prize!!!
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Mallaiyuran / October 24, 2016
Sad, police is doing its job, but Coolie couldn’t play his role. I understand your anguish.
But, it is still I do not understand why Chandrika failed to help, if Sampanathar did’t. Then Coolie too would have finished his job.
Further when it fell apart between Dougie and Coolie he left outside of the Island not willing to serve Jaffna people, But VC kept her services not breaking up with Dougie. Still Dougie’s crowd and police are outstanding ahead in services than coolie.
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S. Sivasegaram / October 25, 2016
CT
Thanks for addressing my earlier complaint. (Sadly I complained a little too late.)
I did not go through much of this banter with care and it took me a while to realize whom ‘Coolie’ referred to. I must have been thick.
It is in very bad taste.
I do not know how it could be addressed now after it went on for too long.
Perhaps all messages with name calling in bad taste could be edited.
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Anon / October 25, 2016
Strange. A TGTE guy here in New York praising Douglas Devananda and blaming those who are not serving in Jaffna.
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Mallaiyuran / October 25, 2016
Savasegaram
If I use my spellings, it is not satisfactory, it seems. So I use the CT’s spelling, probably that was posted by you. That may not prompt you to call for editing hereafter, as you did not do that so far.
I did not go through much of this banter with care and it took me a while to realize whom ‘Coolie’ referred to. I must have been thick. It is in very bad taste. I do not know how it could be addressed now after it went on for too long. Perhaps all messages with name calling in bad taste could be edited.
Welcome PhD colleague; First let us start the important lesson before start to answer your concern about the banter, as apparently you are accepting that you need training in reading comments or commenting in public forum.
Now, come along and sing with me man! Don’t feel shy!
Abcd efg,
Hijk lmnop,
qrs-tuv-wxy and Z.
Again start,
Ba ba black sheep have you any wool?
Another childish you are PhD! aren’t you!
Let me cope that you have read the thread, by now, before you pretend that you are not another filthy PhD who write filths about Hinduism
Please read below, here is man introducing him before he comment about Tamil:
Statement on the Status of Tamil as a Classical Language
by George Hart
April 11, 2000
Professor Maraimalai has asked me to write regarding the position of Tamil as a classical language, and I am delighted to respond to his request.
I have been a Professor of Tamil at the University of California, Berkeley, since 1975 and am currently holder of the Tamil Chair at that institution. My degree, which I received in 1970, is in Sanskrit, from Harvard, and my first employment was as a Sanskrit professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1969. Besides Tamil and Sanskrit, I know the classical languages of Latin and Greek and have read extensively in their literatures in the original. I am also well-acquainted with comparative linguistics and the literatures of modern Europe (I know Russian, German, and French and have read extensively in those languages) as well as the literatures of modern India, which, with the exception of Tamil and some Malayalam, I have read in translation. I have spent much time discussing Telugu literature and its tradition with V. Narayanarao, one of the greatest living Telugu scholars, and so I know that tradition especially well. As a long-standing member of a South Asian Studies department, I have also been exposed to the richness of both Hindi literature, and I have read in detail about Mahadevi Varma, Tulsi, and Kabir.
I have spent many years — most of my life (since 1963) — studying Sanskrit. I have read in the original all of Kalidasa, Magha, and parts of Bharavi and Sri Harsa. I have also read in the original the fifth book of the Rig Veda as well as many other sections, many of the Upanisads, most of the Mahabharata, the Kathasaritsagara, Adi Sankara’s works, and many other works in Sanskrit.
I say this not because I wish to show my erudition, but rather to establish my fitness for judging whether a literature is classical. Let me state unequivocally that, by any criteria one may choose, Tamil is one of the great classical literatures and traditions of the world.”
That is from a man, whom if start to talk about Tamil, Tamils have to sit down and listen to him. After reading professor Hart’s rest of the argument, the Indian Government which was so stubborn on this issue started to bend. You might have heard that they blast a 50 kilogram TNT to start an atomic bomb go. You may notice, it was one of the biggest Tamil Pundit, Deli’s Tamil Professor Maraimalai who made the request to professor hart to comment on Tamil.
Have you read Anna’s writing? Just an ordinary M.A., but how much of the literature of Western, Tamil and Sanskrit he analyses to each of his point? He argued that Hinduism has explicit sexual contents in it. But the matter he analyses is absolutely, highly classical matters in all three languages. Not one single filth this. He can criticize Hinduism ( I don’t agree with some of the arguments- but that is different).
The words Premai(m) in Sanskrit and Kaathal in Tamil are transcend into love and Bhakti, up and down. Even a Tamil child knows the Thevaaram “Kaathalaaki Aahi Kashinthu Kanneer Malki”. If you do not know to love a man, you don’t know to show Bhakti god.
Here is one of my writing, explaining a Thirukural, showing how the love transcending into Bhakti for man and woman and vice versa. http://www.yarl.com/forum3/topic/100405-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B1%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BE/#comment-748052
Then, here is another man who has very limited of knowledge of Hinduism making claims of Hinduism. Well for anybody, the truth is “Kattrathu Kaimannalau, Kallaathathu Ulakalau”. He cannot finish learning everything about Hinduism. But he wanted to write critics about those religions. , Then he should have done some of it. If so, he should come forward answer to some questions on that.
If not mountain, there are oceans of materials out there to read about Hinduism. Here, our self-proclaimed Hindu critics, have degree only in Engineering, went, searched filth from a Hinduism opponent’s cess pool and put it that Tamil women go to Kathirkamam to do dance with erotic movement in front of Lord Muruga. Do you know the way Aandal lived? “MaanudarkkenRu pEchchu padukil vaakil alaen”.
You the Hypocrite PhD, If you don’t entertain yourself the filth Appe Aandu Coolie wrote about the Hindu women, I like to hear from you on this matter before I write my answer to your gibberish bla bla of “Perhaps all messages with name calling in bad taste could be edited.”
Are you still being thick or you understand what you are reading of this person has written about Hindu women, goes to Kathirkamam? Don’t be a biased commentator or one sided puritan.
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sivasegaram / October 25, 2016
What I objected to was the use of seemingly offensive terms to refer to people.
I did not single you out.
In fact I did not intend my comment for publication. I hope that CT will accommodate my appeal in all future matters.
I have objected to such use in other contexts as well. CT has often addressed them favourably.
If you think that offensive reference to people is the best way to drive home a point, I beg to disagree.
I like to see CT as a responsible and respectable platform for sane and sober discussion.
After reading your response, I feel sad for you.
I hope that one day you will mature to appreciate criticism made in public interest and not treat every criticism as a personal attack.
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Mallaiyuran / October 25, 2016
“In fact I did not intend my comment for publication……I hope that one day you will mature to appreciate criticism made in public interest and not treat every criticism as a personal attack.”
You made a comment and thought you are very brave on outspoken comments. When some somebody introduce me to you as LTTE, then you cowardly claiming you did not intent to make that for publication. Then you are putting forward the maxims that how the CT should be operated. In that laws, you want included, if you see somebody as a black tiger you want CT to have your comment erased too. In fact what you want is that some of your co-PhDs spy and label somebody as LTTE and alter you then you want CT to have them cut off so you cowardly can come here and substantiate your other Co PhDs fileth as treasure. In what kind of a dark and gloomy self built world this Jaffna brand CT PhDs are living? Shame on all the nasty CT PhDs to engage in this type of low grade debate.
You do not want to answer my comment which I made only for a comment you made to me, but again making a foolish comment that I am child and have taken your comment personally. Let me ask you a question my dear imbecile PhD, if I answer to your this comment, will write the answer for my earlier comment? here it is again: Why don’t you criticize a man who disgrace the women who walk one and a half months through the jungles and mountains to reach Kathirkamam to complete their offerings, had gone there only to do erotic movement is front of load Mugura what they normally they do with their husbands at their villages? What do you the filthy PhDs knows about a village woman’s life?. If you can not talk on that why the god gave the gift of knowledge to you?
Forget about my childish behaviour of taking your comment personally, comment about a unfair insult of innocent women by a person you like to treat as mountain of knowledge. Is for that you all use of your knowledge.
“I like to see CT as a responsible and respectable platform for sane and sober discussion.” Could you describe that in details. I like to see what you mean by that?
Don’t run away, answer me! I am not a black tiger, belive me. That is one PhD is using to smear me like another one PhD smearing the poor women.
Now, come along and sing with me man!
Don’t feel shy!
Abcd efg,
Hijk lmnop,
qrs-tuv-wxy and Z.
Again start,
Ba ba black sheep have you any wool?
Another childish you are PhD! aren’t you!
/
S. Sivasegaram / October 25, 2016
Mr M
You asked a question:
“I like to see CT as a responsible and respectable platform for sane and sober discussion.” Could you describe that in details. I like to see what you mean by that? “
Your long responses demonstrate what I had in mind, and a reader with some intelligence will now clearly see what I meant.
Bye.
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Coilpillai / October 25, 2016
Let the likes of Mallaiyuran and TGTE use the term “coolie” on the Tamil folks back in Jaffna. That’s what we Tamils have been made into thanks to their hero. They put pottu with a bullet on academics and principals, disappeared many puththi jeevigal (intellectuals, students) and bombed their best qualified Constitutional lawyer who was a batchmate of Hilary Clinton at Yale. They silenced the intellectuals and drove their highest qualified Vice Chancellor out and burnt his effigy on a pole, to put in his place a man who gave them false grades.
As things are going in Jaffna soon we would be lucky to have even “coolie” jobs. Our OL results are the worst for the island and we keep dropping from the second place in the island at ALs and still falling fast past average. Of course from New York and the affluent countries these TGTE folks live in, we would look low and dirty and undernourished and unrefined. Now “coolie” no longer denotes only the South Indian Tamils among us but even many Tamils up North and East.
Prof. S. Sivasegaram, I am sure Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole will be proud to be called a “coolie” and not offended. His forefathers along with other Christians went over with the missionaries like Padre Rowlands to help the “coolies”. Sadly, although the coolies spoke Tamil longer than them historically, the self-christened “True Tamils” who were Hindus cringed to associate with them. “SJV Chelvanayagam … broke off from the main Tamil party on this (disenfranchising estate Tamils” (and) was rejected by the Tamils in 1952. (Hoole, Munk Lecture, 2007, University of Toronto).
When any Tamil uses the term “coolie” to insult someone it is indeed an irony. When TGTE folks use it it exposes their duplicity.
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