In his light we shall travel…
Remembering some eventful moments in the life of Thanthai Chelva, of historical significance to Eelam Tamils, looking through both A J Wilson’s book: S J V Chelvanayakam and the Crisis of Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism and the late Nadesan Satyendra’s Tamil Nation web portal and from tributes at his death.
“Throughout the ages the Sinhalese and Tamils in the country lived as distinct sovereign people till they were brought under foreign domination. It should be remembered that the Tamils were in the vanguard of the struggle for independence in the full confidence that they also will regain their freedom. We have for the last 25 years made every effort to secure our political rights on the basis of equality with the Sinhalese in a united Ceylon…It is a regrettable fact that successive Sinhalese governments have used the power that flows from independence to deny us our fundamental rights and reduce us to the position of a subject people. These governments have been able to do so only by using against the Tamils the sovereignty common to the Sinhalese and the Tamils…I wish to announce to my people and to the country that I consider the verdict at this election as a mandate that the Tamil Eelam Nation should exercise the sovereignty already vested in the Tamil people and become free.”
Such were the evocative words spoken by S J V Chelvanayakam QC MP (quote taken from Tamil Nation website) after he won the Kankesanturai seat convincingly with a sweeping majority, having resigned his seat in October, 1972 to re-contest his parliamentary seat in September 1975 (in a by-election that the Sirimavo government wilfully delayed) to seek the peoples’ mandate for Tamil Eelam.
Earlier, challenging the Sirimavo government’s decision to establish a constituent assembly and formulate a new constitution, Chelvanayakam took the “momentous decision” to submit himself to the people’s will, “on the issue that the Tamil people had rejected the 1972 constitution.”
A J Wilson writes in his book: S J V Chelvanayakam and the Crisis of Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism that, “for Chelvanayakam and the Federal Party the most disturbing aspects of this constitution-making process was the decision to enshrine the Sinhala language as the one official language, to reduce the status of Tamil to a language requiring translation, to provide special provision to Buddhism and to do away with section 29 of the Soulbury Constitution which had hitherto been a covenant for the protection of minority rights.”
“The decision will be that of the Tamil people. My policy will be that in view of the events that have taken place , the Tamil people of Ceylon should have the right to determine their future, whether they are to be subject race in Ceylon or they are to be free people. Let the government contest me on that position. If I lose I give up my policy. The government loses, let it not say the Tamil people supports its policy and its constitution.” so saying Chelvanayakam resigned his seat risking his political future on the critical issue of rejecting the 1972 republican constitution for Tamil self-determination.
Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayakam was born in Ipoh, Malaysia . At age four he, together with his siblings and mother arrived in Jaffna, Ceylon where he started his schooling in Union College, Tellipalai and later in St Johns College, Jaffna. “it was then the practice of middle class Tamil parents to send their children to schools in the Jaffna peninsula,” from Malaysia, writes A J Wilson.
Beginning his career as a teacher and then a “highflying lawyer” with a lucrative practice he was married to Emily Grace Barr Kumarakulasinghe and was blessed with four sons and a daughter whom A J Wilson married.
Chelvanayakam entered politics in 1944 and was elected to parliament in 1947. A J Wilson writes Chelvanayakam went, “with no ambition whatsoever to become a leader, but only to be ‘the dour guardian of Tamil interests’…circumstances and historical processes turned him into the commanding figure he became…”
Although Parkinson’s disease took its toll, he was a revered leader who, A J Wilson writes, gave his people, “a sense of pride, self assurance, an ideology of defensive nationalism and a vision of a national homeland, who until then had almost reconciled themselves to a perpetual minority.”
A devout Christian he was the leader of a people who were mostly Hindu. despite that he never changed his religion for political expediency, “unlike a number of Sinhala leaders who abandoned Christianity in favour of Buddhism to improve their electoral chances,” writes A J Wilson:
“Despite his Christianity, Chelvanayakam absorbed much of the Hindu ethos during his youth… He made the paradoxical claim that ‘he was a Christian by religion and a Hindu by culture’. Chelvanayakam had learned to move in two worlds, the other being the modern Christian anglicised world of Colombo,” A J Wilson writes.
To those opponents and rivals who referred to him as a, “Christian outsider “, once replying to a Buddhist monk he wrote: “You referred to my religion as Christian and therefore I had little in common with the Tamils who were mainly Hindu by religion. It stands to the credit of the Hindu people that they have not forced me or other Christians to change our faith before we lead them,” A J Wilson writes about Chelvanayakam’s Christian faith that he never had to compromise to win the love of the Tamil people.
In his early years he was a member of G G Ponnambalam’s ACTC (All Ceylon Tamil Congress) and then formed his own party the Federal Party (ITAK) founded on a campaign for a federal constitution. As Sinhala Buddhist hegemony became more and more a pervasive force, Chelvanayakam realised the futility of pursuing the demand for federalism.
Between the resignation of his parliamentary seat and his re-election, A J Wilson writes, “the Tamils had established their claim to a sovereign nation-state and Chelvanayakam became its father.”
As a boy who grew up without a father by his side, Chelvanayakam came to be affectionately referred to and venerated as Thanthai Chelva and Ezha Thanthai.
The TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front), at its first national convention, with Chelvanayakam as Chairman, ratified the historic Vaddukoddai Resolution on 14 May 1976 calling , “the Tamil nation in general and the Tamil youth in particular to come forward to throw themselves fully in the sacred flight for freedom and to flinch not till the goal of a sovereign socialist state of Tamil Eelam is reached.”
With this historical document, the Tamil nation made a monumental stride towards articulating its aspirations for a separate state:
“The first National Convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front meeting at Pannakam (Vaddukoddai Constituency) on the 14th day of May, 1976, hereby declares that the Tamils of Ceylon by virtue of their great language, their religions, their separate culture and heritage, their history of independent existence as a separate state over a distinct territory for several centuries till they were conquered by the armed might of the European invaders and above all by their will to exist as a separate entity ruling themselves in their own territory, are a nation distinct and apart from Sinhalese and this Convention announces to the world that the Republican Constitution of 1972 has made the Tamils a slave nation ruled by the new colonial masters, the Sinhalese ,who are using the power they have wrongly usurped to deprive the Tamil Nation of its territory, language citizenship, economic life, opportunities of employment and education, thereby destroying all the attributes of nationhood of the Tamil people…And, while taking note of the reservations in relation to its commitment to the setting up of a separated state of TAMIL EELAM expressed by the Ceylon Workers Congress as a Trade Union of the Plantation Workers, the majority of whom live and work outside the Northern and Eastern areas, This convention resolves that restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular, Socialist State of TAMIL EELAM, based on the right of self determination inherent to every nation, has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil Nation in this Country.”
What was important to note as A J Wilson points out was that, “the convention blamed the Sirimavo government for ‘callously ignoring’ the TULF’s attempt to win constitutional recognition of the Tamil nation without jeopardising the unity of the country.”
A J Wilson writes, “that Chelvanayakam stood unflinching for a separate Tamil state was clearly enunciated in the last important statement he made a few months before his death on 19, November 1976 in parliament.”
“We have abandoned the demand for a federal constitution. Our movement will be all non-violent.. We know that the Sinhalese people will one day grant our demand and that we will be able to establish a separate state from the rest of the island.”
Weak and frail as he was in health, Chelvanayakam, A J Wilson writes, “lit a candle that could never be put out, that candle is Ceylon Tamil nationalism creating a strong Tamil self awareness that refused to bend to the will of the Sinhala Buddhist state.”
“Chelvanayakam had fulfilled his historic role by the time of his death. he had awakened the Tamil people from a deep slumber to an awareness of the danger lurking in the shadows. In so doing he created a strong Tamil self awareness which, in the course of his relatively short involvement with his people, evolved into a Tamil solidarity which refused to bend to the will of the Sinhala Buddhist state…”
Shiva Pasupati, Attorney General, in his tribute at Chelvanayakam’s death talked about his sound grasp of legal principles and of the trust people placed in him which he never betrayed: “Those who had the privilege to have worked in his chambers often recall with warm affection the patience he often displayed to instil in them a sound grasp of legal principles and more important, an unswerving adherence to principles in their conduct in the profession … the unprecedented mass of humanity from every walk of life who gathered to pay their respects at his cremation will forever be a silent reminder that as in law, so in politics people will never forget those who never betrayed the trust they had reposed…”
From the many tributes at his funeral one by Rt. Rev D. J. Ambalavanar was particularly significant for the message it carried:
“He died like Moses himself without reaching the promised land but the vision he saw, he leaves behind as the heritage and challenge to his people,” he said.
Today as we commemorate the life and legacy of the father of Tamil Eelam, S J V Chelvanayakam, affectionately and with veneration, referred to as Thanthai Chelva and Ezha Thanthai, we the TGTE draw inspiration from his profound vision for the Tamil people and promise to dedicate ourselves to fulfilling his dream of restoring a free and sovereign Tamil Eelam .
In his light we shall travel, never giving up, and arriving at our destination whether in our lifetime or in our children’s lifetime. We will do it for him who pointed to the goal, for our martyrs, and for the Tamil people who gave their lives for freedom.
Abhaya / April 27, 2014
What Tamil nation you clown . That one is in Tamil nadu and MGR is its Daddy .
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Abhaya
“What Tamil nation you clown”.
It is similar to the one in your head, the Sinhala/Buddhist one nation.
“That one is in Tamil nadu and MGR is its Daddy”
FYI,
MGR a Malayali and was born in Kandy. He never had any children though was married twice.
He could not father a child leave alone a nation.
/
Abhaya / April 27, 2014
How come Jayalalitha is the mother of T nadu then ?
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Abhaya
“How come Jayalalitha is the mother of T nadu then?”
It is similar to D.S. Senanayake (racist) was being called the Father of the Nation by stupid Sinhala/Buddhist. Perhaps as a former great actress she is playing the Amma role well.
She is not married. Officially she doesn’t have any children.
People believe she is Kanarese. Now chief minister of Tamilnadu. Your Tamilnadu brethren must be either too generous or very very stupid.
Check your DNA you could be closely related to Jayalalitha, may be one day Tamilnadu Tamils may address you as the Grandfather of Tamilnadu.
/
Bertholameau Dias / April 27, 2014
The BOTTLE Brothers and their pothe gura D.B.Jayatilleke of the ‘Temperadu Movement’ were the instigators of the Gampola Mosque attack falsely accusing the Muslims of disrupting a Buddhist pageant. Their Patir, Don Spater Senanayake, built his dominion by reinvesting mass wealth earned from illegal graphite mining, illicit arrack (katukambi) and toll renting trade.
/
Punchiburampi / April 27, 2014
How come rural masses blindly support MR again and again ?
Why ?
Even if their policies are totally bound with making fat Rajapakshe own pockets ?
It is said over 90% of the bank loans taken for development projects have been abused by Rajapakshe family and goons working with them closly.
But people are like blind and deaf go on voting them. Why ?
This is the global problem of developing nations – specially those who run democracies only for their selfish politics.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Punchiburampi
“How come rural masses blindly support MR again and again ?”
The people vote for many things.
In this island they vote out of sheer stupidity. MR is the present beneficiary however in the past other parties too had benefitted from votes stupidity.
Sri Mao promised free grain from moon.
JR promised 8 measures of free grain during his election campaign.
These campaign gimmicks don’t last long but there is one portent tool, which is blatant racism. From DS to MR who used it effectively.
The more you hurt or promised to hurt the minorities the bigger majority with which they win elections.
As long as the people believe in and practice racism it is a matter of who use it effectively translate it into votes.
/
kali / April 28, 2014
Abhaya you Idiot:
She is the mother of Tamils as she has been chosen by a vast majority to Lead the Tamils. In the last Assembly elections she swept the Board reducing Traitor Thiruvarur Moona Karunanithi ( DMK) to rubbles.
/
Sandilyan / June 1, 2014
Usha & Kali
You seem to be living in a world of imagination. There was no Tamil Nation in the island. The rowdy Magha came with Malayalis and Karnataka’s and killed the Sinhalese people in the North and settled. That rowdy did not buy the peninsula from the Sinhalese. Living for centuries. Bullshit. How do you know that you are a Tamil? SJV Chelva does not look like a Tamil or Sinhalese, but a Filipino you fool. All these days’ Tamil fools were shouting and staging drama that Kattapomman was a Tamil. Kattapomman was a part Sinhalese where he hailed from Telugu rata. Even now, Tamil Nadu is ruled by a non-Tamil, Jayalalitha, you fools. She is a Karnataka origin. Our peninsula is occupied by Malayalis, Karnataka’s, Indonesians, Malays, Telugus, Tamils, Burgers, but they speak Tamil. Just go and do a bit of research you comedians.
Sandilyan
/
mechanic / April 27, 2014
“MGR a Malayali born in Kandy.” But he went back to his homeland ‘Tamil Nad’ to lead his nation there. Others should follow suit. That’s what Abhaya meant you kallathoni vedda.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
mechanic
“But he went back to his homeland ‘Tamil Nad’ to lead his nation there”
He didn’t to Tamilnadu from Kandy to lead his people. His people are Malayalis and they have a separate nation, Kerala.
He was an actor before becoming a politician. By the way MGR was not a leader of Keralites but a popular actor in Tamil cinema and built his support base in Tamilnadu eventually becoming its chief minister.
Your Tamil cousins must be either too generous or very stupid.
Therefore you stupid Sinhala speaking Demelas have a great opportunity in Tamilnadu, Keral, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa,………
Please Go.
/
Malla Singh / April 27, 2014
Nativo, please include Phoolan & Mayawati’s UP, a good place to start for a Sinhala revival in India.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Malla Singh
“please include Phoolan & Mayawati’s UP, a good place to start for a Sinhala revival in India.”
Do you believe dacoit Gabbar Singh is still alive and live there? Then fine.
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Kallathoni is a Tamil word used to call those people who came to Sri Lanka from India in a boat (Vijaya and his 700 men). Today they are called Sinhalayas. If you read the Mahavamsa you will get to know who came to Sri Lanka from India by a boat and whom the Tamils called the kallathonis.
/
lal / April 27, 2014
Dear Usha,
Chelva was a Malaysian born Tamil. He came to Sri Lanka with his mother after his father had dumped them. He spent most of his younger days in Colombo and was educated at St Thomas’s College, Mt Lavinia.
So much ‘gratitude’ for Sri Lanka from the racist man, who like Ponna and Sunda back stabbed the nation and, dragged the Tamils to the humiliating defeat they will ever suffer. A man with a wooden heart and the brain of a donkey. Father of hatred, racism and casteism; may the fellow rot in hell!
/
Donkey Brain lal / April 27, 2014
Lal,
Only the Sinhala Modayas like DS, SWRD, JR, and so on had donkey brain and that is why there is no peace in Sri Lanka from the day the British gave the so called ‘independence’ to Modayas who cannot think beyond a Kavum. In 1948, the British handed over the entire country to the Sinhala modayas with the second highest GNP per capita in Asia and where are we today? Almost close to the last in Asia. Giving independence and the entire country to the Sinhalayas is like giving a garland to the monkeys. That is why SJV wanted to separate from the modayas so that we can develop our homeland. Remember, if there is no peace for the Tamils, there will be no peace for the Sinhalese. Do not forget that even the Sinhalese suffered for the last 30 years because of your foolishness. Eat a bucket full of kavum and go to sleep.
/
Easwaran / April 29, 2014
Lal you got it all wrong If “He with a wooden heart and brain of a donkey” as you say what is your heart and brain? Regarding his brain he was a KC/QC. What is yours? From where then your heart and Brain were transplanted? If He was what you have said, Then how about these men were they less than or more than Chelva DS,SWRD,JR MR they must be counted as the great grandfathers in hatred, racism and casteism. You have shown yourself as one of the fanatical racists of Srilanka like the present BBS. Growup; this is 21st century and not the 5th century when Mahanama had write the Mahavamsa seeing the danger of Buddhism getting wiped out as in India and North East of Lanka. Let us be bit civilised and write sensible and intelligent criticism in this columns. Mostly all of you write rubbish thinking this column is read by donkeys. Your comments are there to tell the author in a polite way if any were wrong facts or your thinking and your feelings are against the article, show with evidence not hitting people below their belt. Or mud slinking Thank you.
/
kali / April 28, 2014
Mechanic you fool:
We are staying put in Eelam. That is the beauty and Luxury we have; Two Nations for the price of one. What have you got Tamils to the North sea to the South. ( Quote from Gemunu and he was no idiot)
/
AVB / April 27, 2014
Abaya,
Your comments shows that all Lanka children would continue to have more fun of wars and corruptions in the next 20~30 years..
/
Abhaya / April 28, 2014
Yes Bring it On .
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Regarding MGR, when the British brought the Indian Tamil labor for the estates in upcountry, they also brought some people from Tamil Nadu and Kerela for white collar jobs in the upcountry estates. Even today there are many Tamils and Malayalis in the upcountry who are well educated; their forefathers did not come as estate labor. Since they were also working with the upcountry estate Tamils, all those Malayalis also spoke the same Indian Tamil. Later, some families went back to settle in India and MGR was one of them. Even though he was a Malayali, since he was born and bred with the Indian Tamils, he chose to go back to Tamil Nadu.
/
kali / April 28, 2014
Abahaya you CLOWN:
She is taking about the Tamil Nation which has stood for centuries with Historical Temples at Nallur Trinco and Mannar reminding you of the boundries. These are not ordinary Temples but defining Tamil Culture and Heritage. I like to remind you NALLUR KANTHAN is an extension of Arupadai Veedu ( the seventh) Arupadai Veedu Konda Thirumuruga.
/
Abhaya / April 29, 2014
Nallur kallathoni temple ? oh who knew
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Native Vedda / April 29, 2014
Abhaya
“Nallur kallathoni temple ? oh who knew”
Please ask the other Kallthoni MR who is fond of visiting Nallur begging absolution on a regular basis.
Here is the link for images, you will see all sorts of obnoxious people praying to Nallur Skantha. You should go there for your own absolution.
http://www.infolanka.com/news/IL/914.htm
Or type: Images for mahinda visits nallur on google
/
Paul / April 27, 2014
‘Throughout the ages the Sinhalese and Tamils in the country lived as distinct sovereign people till they were brought under foreign domination’
SJV’s opening sentence is a lie.
‘The gold plate inscription discovered at Vallipuram near Point Pedro reveals that, during the reign of Vasabha, Jaffna peninsula was governed by a minister of that King and that a Buddhist Vihara named Piyaguka Tissa had been built there by that Minister.
Although, as said not even a single Tamil inscription belonging to any of those so-called Tamil rulers of Jaffna in and around the Jaffna District have been found, a few Sinhala, Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions belonging to Kings of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & also Chola have been discovered from some sites in and around the Jaffna District.
In addition to the Gold plate inscription and the Parakramabahu inscription found in the Jaffna District, other Sinhala inscriptions include, of Dappula IV who ruled at Anuradhapura during the 10th Century A.D. have come to light from that District; of these, one was discovered at Kandarodai, the ancient Kadurugoda Vihara, a Buddhist Temple in Uduvil and the other at Tunukai in the D.R.O.s, division of Punakar. A few more inscriptions belonging to some Sinhala kings have also been found at various places around the District of Jaffna; we may mention among them, the Triyaya Sanskrit inscription of Aggabodhi VI(733-772), the Tiruketisvaram Pillar inscription of Sena II(853-887), the Mannar Kacceri pillar inscription of Kassapa IV (898-914), a 10th Century slab inscription at Kurundanmalai near Mulaitivu dated in the reign of a Sinhala king named Abhasalamevan, the Palmottai slab inscription of Vijayabahu (1055-1110) and the Kantalai or Ganthalawa stone seat inscription of Nissankamalla (1187-1196).
The oldest Tamil inscription found in Jaffna, has been in Nagadipa. This inscription of the 11th Century though, is by the Sinhala King, Parakramabahu the Great and its regarding ship wrecks and taxes on Urathota(Kayts). According to Dr. Karthigesu Indrapala, the editor of this inscription and a former Professor of History of the University of Jaffna, “the fact that this edict was issued not by any subordinate official but by the King himself, shows that the monarch was in supreme control of the northern most region of the island”.
Also of interest is the Madu Kanda Temple. The birth place of, Nandimitra Yodhaya. This temple is in Vavuniya and can now be accessed.
Apart from the many ancient Sinhala Buddhist monuments that stand silent today, not much else is there to show of its past. Although, according many supporters of the Tamil Homelands concept, apparently hundreds of Tamil Kovils and even educational Institutions, including a grand library, stood before the Portuguese destroyed them. It is remarkable that none of these monuments bricks have ever even been located!’
http://www.jaffnahistory.com/
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Paul
You conveniently forgot one thing, Elara the Tamil king also ruled this island. Guttika and Sena too ruled this island, both were Tamils. All four Nayaka’s were Tamils. Sea pirates Chola ruled this island for about 80 years and there is no evidence to suggest Chola army ever went back to Tamilakam. Probably your forefathers could be descendants of Chola soldiers.
Ibn Batuta wrote, that he met with a Arya Chakkravarti in Batala (Puttalam). He also visited Tenavaram temple in Tevanthurai (Dondra), Matara and saw 1000 Brahmins performing rituals.
If you go back in history, you will see all sorts of unpleasant events that will make you ashamed of your forefathers and mothers.
Don’t forget Uppatissa was killed by his queen and then she married to his brother who was a monk. Mahawamsa states your ancestors practiced bestiality, parricide and incestuous relation.
“including a grand library,”
Where did they say the library was?
/
mechanic / April 27, 2014
‘Bestiality’ must be widely practiced by kallathoti vedda for they have more animals than people around them. That’s why he finger point it on others.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
mechanic
“Bestiality’ must be widely practiced by kallathoti vedda for they have more animals than people around them.”
Since Sinhala/Buddhists have run out of animals they rape their own under aged daughters or join the army and rape Tamil women.
/
mechanic / April 27, 2014
Why has Vedda become so small? In breeding is the answer. You know what that is.
/
Paul / April 27, 2014
‘Probably your forefathers could be descendants of Chola soldiers’
NV a great compliment, thank you. There isn’t a Tamil in Sri Lanka without Sinhala blood and vice versa.
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Paul
One more historical question. Some historians believe Tamils were residing in Anuradhapura in substantial numbers when pirates of the Chola mandalam sacked the city. Where had they all gone?
Some believe those Sinhalese who were in the Northern part of the city escaped to the northern part of the island and settled down forever. Similarly those Tamils who lived in the southern part of the city ran towards Southern part of the island. Where had they all gone.
These are only questions and suggestions, don’t ask me for proof.
/
Rajan Walpola / April 29, 2014
Kala Vadda
Do not fu**ng bullsh*t in here by trying to rewrite the history on our land.
For most of us in CT forum, you are another racist tamil using “Kala Vadda” name to discredit Sinhalase. I do not see a difference between you idiot and your blood scking master Year 2-educated the other Kalavadda Son GOat Valu Prba.
/
Native Vedda / April 30, 2014
Rajan Walpola
“For most of us in CT forum, you are another racist tamil using “Kala Vadda” name to discredit Sinhalase.”
Don’t insult me.
Stupid man you don’t need others to insult Sinhala/Buddhists, you have been doing it splendidly well on your own.
Why do you think we would want to stop you from degrading Sinhala/Buddhists? You are rest assured we will not interfere in your freedom to self-destruct.
/
Abhaya / April 28, 2014
your tamil forfathers got it on with monkeys too . that is why you speak the monkey language of yours and crap by the side of the road in [Edited out]
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Native Vedda / April 30, 2014
Abhaya
“your tamil forfathers got it on with monkeys too “
Good discovery.
Does the Mahawamsa confirm your discovery of the century?
So bestiality is common among Sinhala/Buddhists and Tamils. What a strange brotherhood.
When the monkey army arrived from South India many many years ago who were the inhabitants of this island?
/
Ranmenika / April 28, 2014
Native, How about the one from the Belgiamn port who ruled me?
I produced 13 children for the rascal. Now you talk big!
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Paul,
That is not what Prof. K. Indrapala said; it is what Mr. K. Indrapala, a PhD student said in 1965. He has since changed many of those views based on new findings during the last 50 odd years. You should also read what Prof. K. Indrapala has said in 2005.
/
Banda / April 27, 2014
Mr. K. Indrapala gained his Ph.D and later became a professor on the back of the thesis written in 1965. Had the contents therein was false, Indrapala should have given up his Ph.D but he chose to keep it.
Talking about Indrapala’s book ‘The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity’ date line 2005 that refutes his Ph.D thesis contents, Michael Roberts said, ‘Indrapala tries to reclaim his Tamilness’ while Nalin de Silva said ‘he has become a prisoner of the LTTE’. In my humble opinion, I think, both great think tanks were absolutely right.
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Banda,
In any historical research, it is natural for people to change the views and assumptions, because up to now, we have no definite answers to so many unanswered questions in the fields of Archeology, history, anthropology, epigraphy and etymology in Sri Lanka. The actual History of Sri Lanka still remains a Mistry. Furthermore, daily we stumble across several new findings and they contribute to new historical vistas. Also, many renowned Sinhalese, Tamil, Indian, European, and American Scholars have engaged in conducting Archaeological excavations and research on History, Archaeology, Geology, Epigrapy, Genealogy, Anthropology, and etymology during the last 30 years. Therefore, based on the new facts, one’s earlier conclusion has to be compromised to adopt changes. History is a continuous process of investigation without any end in sight.
After 40 years of research (after his 1965 PhD thesis) as a university Professor, K. Indrapala published his book in 2005 where he says his PhD dissertation is completely out of date that even he does not have a copy of his 1965 PhD thesis what he wrote 40 years ago as a PhD student. It is absolutely natural that people change their opinions upon new discoveries/findings.
Michael Roberts is old/insane and does not know what he is talking. Someone said he is also under the Sinhala-Buddhist NGO payroll. On his retirement as a University Don, Prof. K. Indrapala settled down in Australia where there was no LTTE threats. Nobody believes what Nalin de Silva (popularly known in the university circle as Pissa) says other than a handful of Sinhala-Buddhist Racists.
/
Banda / April 27, 2014
Prasad,
Your insulting Michael Roberts saying ‘he is old/insane and does not know what he is talking’ and degrading Nalin de Silva as ‘Pissa and nobody believes him’ is not a credible answer to cover up the strange behaviour Indrapala.
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Banda,
There is NOTHING strange about Indrapala’s behavior. He has very clearly explained in his book about his 1965 thesis and why after 40 years of research and new discoveries, he had to consider his 40 years old thesis obsolete and invalid today.
In his book, this is what Prof K. Indrapala says about his 1965 thesis:
I was planning my postgraduate research, the late Prof. W.J.F. LaBrooy, my revered teacher and, at that time, Head of the department of History at the University, advised me to research into the early history of the Tamils of Sri Lanka for my doctoral dissertation, as he considered this aspect to be a serious gap in the known history of the Island.
My thesis was completed in 1965.
Work on the thesis opened my eyes to the paucity of material relating to the early history of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and to the great need for the archaeological work in the regions settled by the Tamils. The thesis was completed WITH THE MATERIAL THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE EARLY 60’S.
“As long as excavation work remains undone, I pointed out, much that is relevant to our study will be wanting… Even the inscriptions and literary works that we have used have proved to be inadequate in the reconstruction of a satisfactory history of the settlements and in the solution of many important problems” (p21).
The thesis was presented as the first major attempt to bring together all AVAILABLE evidence on the subject. THE FACT THAT IT WAS IN NO WAY A COMPLETE STUDY WAS ADMITTED. “In view of these limitations and difficulties, while we may claim to have added something to our knowledge of the history of the Tamils of Ceylon, the account presented here is inevitably INCOMPLETE AND NOT ALWAYS DEFINITE. We have often been led to state our conclusions in hypothetical terms”. (p23)
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THAT DISSERTATION IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT OF DATE. MY OWN PERSPECTIVES AND INTERPRETATIONS HAVE CHANGED SINCE ITS COMPLETION.
More importantly, significant developments, both in terms of archaeological research and changing historical perspectives, have taken place in the LAST FOUR DECADES.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Banda
“Mr. K. Indrapala gained his Ph.D and later became a professor on the back of the thesis written in 1965.”
Unlike now any Tom, Dick and Harry could not become a professor by being nice to their masters and politicians.
Ph.D alone would not guarantee professorship.
Among other things a professorial candidate needs to prove oneself worthy of the title, a person who is able to profess, an expert on a particular subject:
Teaches, publishes research papers (also peer reviewed)
Conducts lectures and seminars
Mentoring students
…..
……
“Had the contents therein was false, Indrapala should have given up his Ph.D but he chose to keep it.”
Stupid man if that is the case almost all those who received Ph.D to date should throw away their qualifications as most of the thing they wrote in their theses have changed.
By the way have you had chance to review Indrapala’s Ph.D thesis?
A philistine cannot understand how Academic world works let alone a pleb especially a Sinhala/Buddhist one at that.
I suggest you should consider a spell in the jungle for it might help us to avoid reading your stupid, racist, unscientific, irrational, …….. bigoted comments.
You spent your entire life outside this island even UK failed to educate you.
Can we now discuss Jane Russells book on Sinhala/Buddhist racism?
/
SOMA / April 29, 2014
“Ph.D alone would not guarantee professorship. “
Dear NV, you are right here. In Germany, it was PhDers should have gone through process called “Habilitierung”. That has lot do with post doctoral research that go to 4- 7 years. Latter was the same in Switzerland, Austria and several other countries. But in SL, not given good publication record is demanded while professorships are awarded.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 27, 2014
This is a history you peoples wrote for your need. When CV made an open challenge to appoint Western historians to let to do the research, Why did not the King respond. Why when, CT printed CV’s speech here nobody wanted to support him to bring western historians to do the reach?
/
Mark / April 27, 2014
Paul,
You said, “The gold plate inscription discovered at Vallipuram near Point Pedro reveals that, during the reign of Vasabha, Jaffna peninsula was governed by a minister of that King and that a Buddhist Vihara named Piyaguka Tissa had been built there by that Minister.”
Vallipuram (named after the Hindu Goddess Valli) is a small village near the tip of the North-Eastern corner of Jaffna peninsula. At Vallipuram were discovered ruins of some funerary urns associated with Dravidian Civilization of the early centuries of the Christian era or even earlier. At Vallipuram was also found a fine Buddha image of stone, in the Amaravati style, which was unearthed in the land close to the Vishnu temple, which was brought to and preserved in Jaffna when it was presented by Governor Sir Henry Blake to the king of Thailand. When the land around the Vishnu temple was cleared, a gold plate inscription came to light in or about 1936. It seems to have passed through various hands before it came to the hands of a Buddhist monk who finally handed this over to Dr. Senerat Paranavitana, the then Archaeological Commissioner of Sri Lanka. The small gold plate of 1 and 3/4 x 1, consisting of four lines refers to the building of a Buddhist temple. On this meager evidence, Sinhala biased researcher Paranavitana as usual rushed to the conclusion that the remains of a Sinhala Buddhist civilization had been discovered there forgetting the fact that there were Tamils Buddhists during that period. Paranavitana had edited this inscription about forty years ago. His reading of the text, in transliteration is as follows:-
1. Sidha Maharaja Vahayaha rajehi amete
2. Isigiraye Nakadiva bujameni
3. Badakara atenehi Piyaguha-Tisa
4. Vihara Karite
His translation is as follows:-
Hail! In the reign of the great king Vaha and when the minister Isigiraya was governing Nagadiva, Piyaguka Tisa caused a vihara to be built at Badakaraatana.
Paranavitana went further and declared that this inscription also proved that Nagadipa was governed in the second century by a minister of the Anuradhapura king, that Sinhala was the prevailing language and that Buddhist shrines were built there.
There is no evidence to prove that King Vashaba has been referred to as Vahayaha. Badakara can be the Prakritized version of Vada karai – Northern Shore. Minister Isigiraya can be a Prakritized Tamil name (during the early period the Tamil language did not have the pulli – words ending with m/n. Tamil names also ended with a/e like Prakrit names).
Vallipuram plate which is dated within the first century had been written more or less in the same script and the language that of India during Emperor Asoka – a Prakrit. At that time, the language of the learned or the religious leaders was Prakrit (Sanskrit/Pali). The inscription only proves that the prevalent religion in the area was Buddhism. In the Jaffna dialect of Tamil, there are many Pali words that have survived to this day which points to the people’s Buddhist past (See Indrapala’s book for the examples). However, it is wrong to say that this language was exactly the same as the language spoken in the rest of the Island, for example, in the east Sanskrit had a greater influence than Pali (see Indrapala’s book). The language on the script is just another form of Sanskrit/Pali, and that is what it can only be called (NOT Sinhala language). This can be the language (or indeed one of the languages) that went on to evolve to the Sinhala language – hence the name Sinhala-Prakit the name given by the German scholar W. Giger.
/
Praneet Wariar / April 27, 2014
Still the place name “Vadakara” (Vadakarai of Kerala) is pronounced by it’s inhabitancts as “Badakara”.
/
Mark / April 27, 2014
Paul,
You said, “Although, as said not even a single Tamil inscription belonging to any of those so-called Tamil rulers of Jaffna in and around the Jaffna District have been found, a few Sinhala, Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions belonging to Kings of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & also Chola have been discovered from some sites in and around the Jaffna District.”
The Anuradhapura kingdom was ruled right from the beginning by either a Tamil king or a Sinhala king and it was NEVER known as a Tamil kingdom or a Sinhala kingdom. Polonnaruwa kingdom was established by Rajendra Chola when he was ruling Anuradhapura in the 10th century. Tamils may have lived in the North for several centuries under the Northern/Eastern Anuradhapura/ Polonnaruwa kingdom but a separate Tamil kingdom was established in Jaffna only in 1215 AD. Similarly, the Southern Sinhala kingdoms in Kotte and Kandy were also established during and after the 13th century AD.
Since, there was neither a separate Tamil Nation/kingdom nor a separate Sinhala Nation/kingdom in Sri Lanka (neither North nor South) before the 13th Century AD; it is meaningless to talk about a continuous existence of Sinhalese/Tamils or a separate ‘Sinhalese-Buddhist’ or ‘Tamil-Hindu’ identity in Sri Lanka in the pre-12-13th century AD period.
/
Anpu / April 27, 2014
You are quoting outdated work
This Dr Indrapala’s latest work
Evolution Of An Ethnic Identity – The Tamils in Sri Lanka
C 300 BCE to 1200 CE – Dr. K. Indrapala
Book Review by Parasakthy Sundharalingam:
“What I have stated is what was already there, what some respected scholars have said, what many have forgotten, what some have chosen to ignore.” Dr. K. Indrapala
The latter part of the 20th century saw how modern archeological techniques and methods have changed and are changing the course of History. As more and more archeological evidences are unearthed, the story of man continues to be reconstructed.
After many years of dedicated research, Prof. Indrapala reviews many of his earlier findings in the light of new discoveries in archeology, epigraphy and numismatics in Sri Lanka and South India , in his book – The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity, the Tamils in Sri Lanka C 300 BCE to 1200 CE. He says:
In times of human conflict, whether communal, national or international, History together with its sister discipline of Archeology is always among the first causalities.
The importance of this statement is felt, when he quotes the latest report (February, 2005) of an archeological find, an urn, with writing in a very rudimentary Tamil – Brahmi Script – belonging to 500 BC, unearthed at Adichchanallur in the Thirunelvely District in South India. (A report that reached him after his work had been handed over to the publishers). “As long as excavation work remains undone, much that is relevant to our study, will be wanting”, were his words in his thesis published forty years ago in 1965. He continues to re-iterate this in this book, “The thesis was completed in the early 60s. Needless to say that dissertation is now completely out of date”.
Dr. Indrapala’s dedicated research during these forty odd years throws light on many issues of the country’s past history, some hitherto misconstrued – to quote his words:
This book is concerned with the Tamils who lived in Sri Lanka in the early centuries of its history and with the evolution of an ethnic community speaking the Tamil language in the Northern, North Western and Eastern regions of the island, whose descendents in modern times perceive themselves as an ethnic identity that is different from the Tamils of South India, as well as other groups in Sri Lanka.
He continues,
… Historians have tended to base their writings on the assumption that the people of the Island at the dawn of history were Sinhalese and that at a later time; the Tamils and other communities came to share the country. Sri Lankan historiography of the 19th and the early 20th century is responsible for this over simplification of the ancient history of Sri Lanka .
Further the historian in him says:
My aim here is to explore the past in order to understand how the Tamils of Sri Lanka (as well as the Sinhalese) came to be what they are. Their political claims that led to the current conflict are to be judged in terms of accepted universal Human Rights and not in terms of their past in the Island. The deeper one delves into Sri Lankan history, the more will one find how much the Tamils and Sinhalese have shared history and culture and common descent. …. …. ….
… … … This book is written for the purpose of drawing attention to some of the important aspects of Sri Lanka ’s past. It is written for the Sri Lankan audience, and for this reason detailed notes and quotations have been included, as articles in International Journals as well as foreign publications are not easily accessible to the average reader. …
He rejects the colonial historical writings that identified the Sinhalese with the Aryans and the Tamils with the Dravidians, and thereby nullifies the ‘purity’ of races.
It is fascinating how the eight chapters in the book are titled – from ancient times to 1200 AD – showing the birth, growth, and development of the two ethnic groups.
1. The Common Gene Pool
2. Conception and Birth
3. Imaginary Ancestors
4. Two Little Siblings
5. Growing up
6. Emerging Personalities
7. Reaching Adulthood
8. The Joint Achievers
According to the above chapters, the Tamils and Sinhalese have descended from common ancestors and through a process of language replacement (a theory popularized by archeologist Renfrew) the ‘North Indian Prakrit dialects spread among the vast majority of the people paving the way for the evolution of the Sinhala language, while Tamil became the language of the North, North West, and East of the Island leading to the emergence of Sri Lankan Tamil.’ Both could not have happened simultaneously – Tamil is an ancient language with a rich literature by the time the North Indian Prakrit dialects spread in the country. Therefore it is the older of the two – this should have been emphasised.
The last chapter aptly titled ‘Joint Achievers’ clears many a historical misconception. The author proves the harmonious relationship that existed between the Tamils and the Sinhalese during the Polannaruwa Period (11th and 12th century) when they jointly achieved great heights in architecture, sculpture, hydraulic engineering, trade, literature, and the fine arts. According to him, “The reign of Vijayabahu ushered in a period of remarkable partnership between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. And there is no room for interpreting the war against the Colas as a Sinhalese-Tamil conflict.”
It is interesting to read about the very close relations that had existed between Tamil Buddhism and Sinhalese Buddhism from very early times and the benevolent religious policy of the Cola Emperors for the Tamil contribution of Buddhism in the Island . There is evidence to show that Tamil was taught at all the Pirivinas and Buddhist monks were very well versed in both Tamil and Sinhala. The author continues to explain how at a much later period when Saivaism became the religion of the Tamils and Buddhism of the Sinhalese, religion, in addition to language, became a marker of ethnic identity.
While tracing the growth of the two ethnic groups he concludes,
A complete bifurcation of the Island into Tamil speaking and Sinhala speaking areas would have taken place only after 1200, especially with the fall of Polannaruwa and the establishment of a new centre of Sinhalese power in the South West. …
In this book, the narration of the historical development leading to the emergence of two separate ethnic identities ends in 1200. But the story does not end there – the dawn of the 13th century marks the beginning of the political separation of the two groups
‘The manner in which history is being “used” in fighting contemporary issues is a matter for concern’, is this historian’s regret.
He quotes historian Hobsbawn,
It is very important for historians to remember their responsibility, which is above all to stand aside from the passions of identity politics even if we feel them also – after all we are human beings too. …
It would be appropriate to quote the author’s words at the concluding passage of the book.
“Anyone turning such a fascinating story of ethnic interaction in a hospitable Island with an exceptionally long record of human habitation into a woeful tale of communal conflict and confrontation is surely misinterpreting history for whatever purposes it be.”
Prof. Indrapala’s book has come at a critical period in the history of Sri Lanka , when the two ethnic groups are at the ‘parting of ways’. Is it a harbinger of peace or has it arrived rather late?
http://tamilnation.co/books/Eelam/indrapala.htm
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Paul,
In Sri Lanka, the history is already twisted many centuries ago and sealed. What we have is not history but his-story (Ven. Mahanama’s story). After several centuries today the myth has become the truth and the Sinhalese believe it as gospel. If anybody tries to undo the twist (after enormous amount of new discoveries) he/she will be considered an unpatriotic traitor or even a terrorist supporter.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
I am bit confused.
On the one hand you claim S J V Chelvanayakam the Father Of The Tamil Nation on other stupid Tamils were celebrating Thesiath Thalaivar’s birthday on 27th of November each year as Martyr’s day (Maveerar Thinam).
How do you reconcile both your positions?
Please bear with me as you know I am bit thick.
/
Abhaya / April 27, 2014
Being a little thick comes with the Territory for Veddhas I guess ?
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Viva Voce / April 27, 2014
The thick bit takes his advises from his ancestors. He is the wise and the terminator of truth against vice in the CT forum.
/
Sirimal / April 28, 2014
You are dead right.
Jayawewa
Sirimal
/
mechanic / April 27, 2014
Tamil claims and celebrations are too complicated to amuda Vedda. Take amude off you’ll be alright.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
mechanic
“Take amude off you’ll be alright.”
Your partner won’t be.
/
Abhaya / April 28, 2014
I dont think his partner has a magnifying glass .
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Abhaya
“I dont think his partner has a magnifying glass”
Take one with you if he is inviting you for a swingers’ party at his home.
/
mechanic / April 28, 2014
You’ve said it Abhaya. I was going to say the same thing.
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
mechanic
Abhaya is attending your partner’s party, he is also bringing his partner’s own magnifying glass.
Hope everything is tickety-boo.
/
Abhaya / April 29, 2014
Tusk
That is not what she said .
/
Javi / April 28, 2014
Dancing ladies living on late hubbies and his pops glory never answer the pertinent question.
because gentleman Chandrahasan still has the backup of Indian politicians and administration.
Whats more his wife who works in his field is a Sinhalese too.
/
JimSofty / April 27, 2014
Samuel James chelavanayagam is a Christian. Chelvanayagam was born In MALAYA. He got free education in Sri Lanka and became a Traitor to Sri Lanka. That is the Tamil way.
If Chelvanayagam were functioning in Tamilnadu he is just a DALIT.
/
Tamodaya / April 27, 2014
So technically he is an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT?
Why SL didn’t have any immigration and emigration control at that time?
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Tamodaya
“Why SL didn’t have any immigration and emigration control at that time?”
Even the immigration officers would have been descendants of Kallthonies.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Tamodaya
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam was born on 31 March 1898 to Jaffna Tamil parents in Malaysia. When he was 4 he was brought to this island. Father was a businessman. Chelvanayakam attended Union College, St. John’s College and St. Thomas’ College.
Let us look at his immigration status when he returned to this island:
“Citizenship Law
Before independence, every person born within the dominions and allegiance of the British Crown (and no other) was a British subject. Like wise native Ceylonese too was considered as British subjects. In some laws, enacted in pre independence era, they were being mentioned as native inhabitants, or otherwise natives of Ceylon. Meanwhile the Indians were mentioned as natives of India or otherwise natives of British India in the same laws.”
http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=132&Itemid=59&lang=en
When this island was ruled by the British it was governed by British law and not by any stupid Sinhala/Buddhist law. Hence SJV was eligible to live wherever he wanted to as long as the country was part of British dominion.
Had you taken time to investigate the whole matter you wouldn’t have asked this childish question. For stupid like you any question is good question as long as it reinforces your prejudices, fuel the stupid bigoted minds of other racists.
Go help wash your wife’s clothes.
/
ken Robert / April 28, 2014
” go and wash your wife’s clothes”
Nainive
This is gender based discrimination. Please don’t inculcate ancient tradtions in a modern society.
By the way I stumbled upon another piece of genetic research in indian journal of genetics.
A study on cytochrome enzyme variance in Srilanka published in the current Issue. It also confirms the genetic similarity between srilankan tamils and sinhalese in contrast to indians. Interestingly this study digress from its main theme (man theme was to check what kind of genetically different enzyme types present in srilanka and whether doses of drugs need to be adjusted)
This study goes on to assert that sinhalese are probably original inhabitants of srilanka and the could have arisen from North india. I begin to ponder the influence of Mahavamsa doctrine deeply embedded in the mind of medical fraternity in Srilanka!
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
ken Robert
Could you let us have the link to this new research.
“I begin to ponder the influence of Mahavamsa doctrine deeply embedded in the mind of medical fraternity in Srilanka!”
You would have read works of KMD Silva, KNO Dharmadasa, Anurutha Seneviratna all three of them highly reputed Professors in their own field of speciality made sure their opening paragraph included a line or two about Vijaya’s arrival and the Aryan migration.
One can understand historians’ spurious logic resulting in nonsensical conclusions. For medical profession to find results to fit their preconceived ideas about the peopling of this island is troubling.
“This is gender based discrimination. Please don’t inculcate ancient tradtions in a modern society.”
I mentioned it with a purpose. These fellows never learnt to share pain and pleasure with their partners. Therefore I reminded him to help his wife washing their clothes rather than wasting their time typing nonsense without any evidence. In this instant I told him to make his wife little bit happy.
I assure you I am not a male chauvinist pig for all my best friends are women and am married to one.
/
ken Robert / April 28, 2014
http://www.ijhg.com/article.asp?issn=0971-6866;year=2013;volume=19;issue=4;spage=392;epage=396;aulast=Tharangahe
Native
the above link should take you to the html full text version of the article.
I want to emphasise that there is a better study I mentioned many months ago by Lanka Ranaweera et al which gives more clearer picture.
Lanka ranaweera’s study was discussed in detail in recent CT article by dayan.
Ken
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
ken Robert
Thanks for the link.
/
Native Vedda / April 30, 2014
Ken
Here is something very useful to your scholarship:
Indians are not descendants of Aryans, says new study
Dinesh C. Sharma | Mail Today | New Delhi, December 10, 2011
Widely believed theory of Indo-Aryan invasion, often used to explain early settlements in the Indian subcontinent is a myth, a new study by Indian geneticists says.
The origin of genetic diversity found in South Asia is much older than 3,500 years when the Indo-Aryans were supposed to have migrated to India, a new study led by scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, says. The study appeared in American Journal of Human Genetics on Friday.
The theory of Indo-Aryan migration was proposed in mid-19th century by German linguist and Sanskrit scholar Max Muller.
He had suggested that 3,500 years ago, a dramatic migration of Indo-European speakers from Central Asia played a key role in shaping contemporary South Asian populations and this was responsible for introduction of the Indo-European language family and the caste system in India.
“Our study clearly shows that there was no genetic influx 3,500 years ago,” said Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj of CCMB, who led the research team, which included scientists from the University of Tartu, Estonia, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai and Banaras Hindu University.
“It is high time we re-write India’s prehistory based on scientific evidence,” said Dr Lalji Singh, former director of CCMB. “There is no genetic evidence that Indo-Aryans invaded or migrated to India or even something such as Aryans existed”. Singh, vice-chancellor of BHU, is a coauthor.
Researchers analysed some six lakh bits of genetic information in the form of SNPs drawn from DNA of over 1,300 individuals from 112 populations including 30 ethnic groups in India.
The comparison of this data with genetic data of other populations showed that South Asia harbours two major ancestry components. One is spread in populations of South and West Asia, Middle East, Near East and the Caucasus. The second component is more restricted to South Asia and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the ancestry in Indian populations.
“Both the ancestry components that dominate genetic variation in South Asia demonstrate much greater diversity than those that predominate West Eurasia. This is indicative of a more ancient demographic history and a higher long-term effective population size underlying South Asian genome variation compared to that of West Eurasia,” researchers said.
“The genetic component which spread beyond India is significantly higher in India than in any other part of world. This implies that this genetic component originated in India and then spread to West Asia and Caucasus,” said Gyaneshwar Chaube of University of Tartu, Estonia.
If any migration from Central Asia to South Asia took place, the study says, it should have introduced apparent signals of East Asian ancestry into India. “Because this ancestry component is absent from the region, we have to conclude that if such an event indeed took place, it occurred before the East Asian ancestry component reached central Asia,” it said.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indians-are-not-descendants-of-aryans-study/1/163645.html
/
ken robert / May 1, 2014
native
sounds quite interesting. I will have a look
ken
/
Anpu / May 1, 2014
Ken & NV,
What is your opinion on this?
Thanks
“”””…“The Sinhalese are probably the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Island, but their origin is also traced to Northern India. However, there is disagreement as to whether they came originally from the North West or North East part of India. The Sri Lankan Tamils are the descendants of Tamils from South India who came to the Island and settled down at various times in the past when Sri Lanka was invaded by South Indian rulers. The Moors are the descendants of Arab traders,” says a ‘medical research’ undertaken by the Department of Pharmacology and by the Department of Human Genetics Unit of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo that is published in the Indian Journal of Human Genetics.
With such a distorted preconceived notion, amounting to Nazi education of the interwar times, the ‘research’ on “Genetic variants in the cytochrome P450 2D6 gene in the Sri Lankan population” was undertaken by T.D. Praveen Tharanga, C.M.V. Jinadasa, M.F. Risama, Priyadarshani Galappatthy, R.L. Jayakody and Vajira H.W. Dissanayake. The article appeared in The Indian Journal of Human Genetics (2013, Vol 19, issue 4), was web-published on 4 January 2014.
The study was funded by a grant from the “Improving Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education Project” of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo in genocidal Sri Lanka….”
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=37192
/
Javi / April 28, 2014
“for all my best friends are women and am married to one.”
Ho ho, here we go native is a ladies man working for the heart.
After the collapse of USSR disgruntled old socialist politician .
As with CT comments where native calls people stupid more often than before.
pussycat, pussycat I love you, say I do.
I think native is a woman from the hills with time to spare or in the pay for a job well done.
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Javi
“I think native is a woman from the hills with time to spare or in the pay for a job well done.”
Please keep it a secret.
These are confidential information hope you will keep it that way.
/
Tamodaya / April 28, 2014
That is a COLONIAL rule. There is NO NEED SL should accept it!!
But the British left SL in 1948!
All illegals MUST have left SL with them.
Go wash GA Chandrasiri’s clothes!!
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Tamodaya
“That is a COLONIAL rule. There is NO NEED SL should accept it!!”
At the time of Colonial rule there was no Sri Lanka and until 1948 that was the writ, why didn’t you oppose it then?
“All illegals MUST have left SL with them.”
Yes it is not too late, go now.
“Go wash GA Chandrasiri’s clothes!!”
Are you planning to retire?
/
Tamodaya / April 29, 2014
If he is born in Malaya he is a Malaya citizen, NOT SL.
Just because one can illegally come to SL doesn’t mean he is a SL citizen.
Wash Thalaivar, then?
Or Mathivathani?
May be Gopi’s killers’!!
/
Mallaiyuran / April 29, 2014
I know Chandrasiri is such dirty, it is ok you put the ad for a washerman on CT. But the truth Native, you, me all can clean Chandrasiri’s. But it is going to be still dirty.
Chandrasiri should have packed his dirt as soon as the colonial rulers left the Tamil Eelam and had brought it to Sri Lanka to wash.
If he doesn’t do soon Cameron will come back and pack up him send to Lanka.
/
Park / April 29, 2014
For them to have had immigration and emigration control at that time means even ancestors of Rajapakse would have been Kalla Thonis.
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
SJV Chelvanayakam may have been born in Malaya (today known as Malaysia) but to the Sri Lankan Tamil parents who were expatriates in Malayaia. During the British rule, many educated Jaffna Tamils were working in Malaysia & Singapore in the civil service and SJV’s father was one of them. Later, they settled back in their native homeland (Jaffna). Thanthai Chelva, the father of the SL Tamil Nation was considered a Mahatma Gandhi to the SL Tamils. He was a patriot and a SL Tamil nationalist from the highest caste among the SL Tamils and was not a rouge like all the Sinhala leaders.
/
lal / April 27, 2014
Chelva and his mother came to Sri Lanka after his ‘father’ dumped them. They chose Sri Lanka ahead of their homeland of Tamil Nadu as Tamil Nadu was a dump then and remains a dump now. Chelva did not elaborate why his father dumped them for the embarassment and hardship it would have caused him and his mother in socially backward Jaffna. The fellow had his schooling at St Thomas’s College in Colombo and dedicated his miserable life to avenge his misfortunes on the Sinhalese. He is the father of Tamil racism and ‘father’ of Prabahakaran who was chosen to lead the Tamils to oblivion, the defeat most humiliating. Great guy!
/
Donkey Brain lal / April 27, 2014
lal
I did not know that your donkey brain can invent new stories from thin air.
Chelva was born in Malaysia to Jaffna Tamil parents of Vellalar caste (the highest caste among Jaffna Tamils). His father wanted to give him the best English education and therefore he came with his mother to Sri Lanka and studied at St Thomas’s College Colombo which was the Best and most expensive private school in Sri Lanka at that time, he studied along with SWRD Banda who was his class mate. It was SWRD Banda who started the Racial/ethnic politics and SJV Chelva only responded.
/
Javi / April 28, 2014
and his son chandra married a tamil for good reason isnt it so??
/
Easwaran / April 29, 2014
You are a sad man. are you writing your own version being a bloody racist. Tamil nationalism is a result of Sinhala racism. I rest my case here. you work out and go on writing nonsense.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 27, 2014
Poor soul, you guys twisted whatever found in Kantharodai. The Language Sinhala did not come into existence at time of that Buddhist temple was built there. We entire school once visited to site when excavations were being done. But they did not allow any teachers or Students see what is going on. When we were coming back everybody was talking about how they have been destroying the real evidences those showed the Tamils heritage were being replaced with fake Sinhala ones. There no explanation needed why the students of that area could not see the excavation process. (We know the truck load of Tamils evidence were dumped into the sea. We know to bring them when the time come. The same the war crime bones are being excavated and destroyed. It is so easy to prove what is went with those evidences. After destroying the evidences still the royal government is scared to face the UNHRC. You know why- Because Royal Government knows very well nobody believe one sided twists.)
That is the reason SJV wanted the liars to be rooted out of Tamil land. You poor soul did not know Jaffna district had best school in the country. Many Faithless Sinhala Ministers studied there latter took part in destroying them, including Kanagkara. You shameless liars, who has no knowledge of history, did not give any free education to SJV. You people nationalized the Union College and destroyed it quality. The owners did not get a penny as a compensation for nationalizing the school. Those natinalied lands were distributed free to Sinhala people. (Nadeswara College building was destroyed and Land was used to Build summer house and fun palaces for the king. It is that extent you peoples are destroying Tamils education. These days no body can go to Nadeswara college’s land). We gave you free land. You and your corrupted Royal Government do not have the capacity to give anybody any kind of education. They are good enough to import contrabands and narcotics. The school you studied has made you such a twisting liar of the history.The private English school SJV studied has made him the greatest, most honest politician Lanka ever saw. If your school could not teach anything, they should have taught to you at least to keep your foul mouth to shut.
/
lal / April 27, 2014
That’s the way it goes. I have helped many Tamils and I have been back stabbed many times. That’s the way it goes!
/
rimby / April 28, 2014
Jim Nutty,
Fathima Fukushima wants [Edited out]
/
Park / April 29, 2014
Jim Softy, some thing of yours is too soft up there. What is wrong being a DALIT! Have you done a DNA to see what genes you have? All our blood is red. If you are a Buddhist then Lord Buddha said its like all the different rivers running to the sea, at the end in the sea all rivers are same. Same way all human beings a same. Whether Upcountry Kandyan, or Low country Karawa or a Dallit, all are humans and same and equal. If you do not understand this concept you are not worth to be a human!
/
Citizen / April 27, 2014
Congratulations Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah. You have written very well. Had the Sinhalese political leaders listened to S.J.V.Chelvanayagam at that time, today Sri Lanka would be a paradise like Singapore. Unfortunately even some Tamil leaders were against him probably for selfish reasons.
/
Banda / April 27, 2014
In Singapura ‘paradise’, neither Tamils nor any other minority community can have their own homelands or ghettos. Even in housing estates no minority community can exceed the national ratio of that community. Obviously, for majority Chinese that rule doesn’t play.
Talking about demands by Chelva, he had agreements with Banda as well as Dudley. The 4th item of ‘Dudley – Chelva’ Pact of March 1965 says,
(a) Land in the Northern and Eastern provinces should in the first instance be granted to landless persons in the district.
(b) Secondly, to Tamil-speaking persons resident in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
(c) Thirdly, to other citizens in Ceylon, preference being given to Tamil residents in the rest of the island.
No need to explain Chelva’s aim had been to exclude Sinhalese and Muslims from the North. No need to explain that every word in that item is racially bias to favour Tamils only. Banda – Chelva pact signed on 25 July 1957 was no different. Obviously, Sinhala leaders had to listen to the voice of the mass.
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
Banda
Could we now discuss Jane Russell’s book on racism?
If you think the Sinhala/Buddhists were so generous and never attempted to marginalise minorities think about two citizenship acts passed within few months of British leaving the island, Sinhala only act, riots against minorities from 1915 on wards, attack on International Tamil Conference in 1975 (about 12 people were killed by the police), destrution of Jaffna library, …………… starved North East of development and employment opportunities, giving Buddha Sasana a prominent place in the constitution as if Sinhala/Buddhist are the only people who could protect Buddhism, ………..
Weren’t those acts unreasonable, unethical, blatant violation of human rights and people’s dignity? If those were not aimed at excluding minorities from their rightful stake in this island, then why would the stupid Sinhala/Buddhists leadership continue to impose the same measure overtly and covertly to this day?
The purpose of all those inhuman laws and practices are aimed at achieving one thing and one thing only, building an exclusive Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto in the Indian Ocean.
You will never achieve your perverted sense of nationhood a Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto, while making life more difficult for ordinary people.
This island will continue to remain a melting pot of many races, cultures, languages, religion, as in the past.
As a foreigner you must pack your bags and go back to either UK, Tamilnadu, Bihar ….. or
You drink (too much of the Sinhala/Buddhist nationalistic poison) yourself into oblivion. You will never recover from it unless you make a concious decision, but again you are already in an unconscious state so there is no hope of recovery.
When can we discuss Jane Russell’s book on Sinhala/Buddhist racism?
/
Ravi / April 27, 2014
Forget Singapura or Malaya or Tamil Nadu. Lanka (as mentioned in the Ramayana) is the ONLY Tamil country in the world.
From the very ancient time, Lanka (as first mentioned in the Ramayana) was a part of South India. The ancient Tamil was born on the sacred earth a part of which is now called Sri Lanka. What is Sri Lanka now is part of the lost landmass of Kumari kandam (Lemuria) that went under a massive quake of the sea in times long past. The first Tamil Sangam was held in this land. It is believed that God Siva attended the first Tamil Sangam. The Island of Sri Lanka was not a Buddhist island but a Siva Bhoomi – the Land of Siva right from the beginning. All the ancient rulers of Sri Lanka were Saivaites irrespective of whether they were Nagar or Damilar (Chola) or Pandu (Pandya). It was only recently the Sinhalese started calling Sri Lanka as the Dhamma Deepa of Buddha after the Buddhist missionary monk Mahinda introduced Buddhism where as we Tamils still call Sri Lanka as Eelam, the sacred Tamil land of Siva. Even the footstep at Adams Peak is originally known as Siva’s and NOT Buddha’s. The original Siva boomi (sacred land of the Tamils) that broke away from South India due to the massive earth quake (Kumari Kandam) is the right full place for the Tamils. This is the reason why the world Tamils (including the Tamils in Tamil Nadu) is trying to establish a Tamil country known as Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka and NOT in India.
/
APDS / April 27, 2014
Ravi, so how come Tamils are not a majority in Sri Lanka?
/
Ravi Toronto / April 28, 2014
APDS,
Tamils would have also been an equal majority if the Portuguese did not bring tens of thousands of South Indians and settle in the Southern (low-country) Sri Lanka.
Professor K.M. de Silva in his `History of Sri Lanka`, refers to the MIGRATION OF THE KARAWE, SALAGAMA AND DURAWE CASTES FROM SOUTHERN INDIA TO SRI LANKA BETWEEN THE 14TH AND 17TH CENTURIES AD.
The Sinhalised Tamils of the South (low country Sinhalese) whose ancestors were brought to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese/Dutch from South India (Coramandel & Malabar coasts) as menial labourers (for growing/peeling cinnamon, fishing/pearl diving, coconut planting/plucking and toddy tapping) adopted Portuguese surnames to hide their original South Indian identity and later assimilated with the local population and became Sinhala Buddhists/Catholics.
Dr. Paul E. Pieris has published extracts from the Portuguese tombo which gives the original names of the present day Sinhalese with Portuguese surnames before their conversion to Christianity and Buddhism. Dr. Pieris states: “The names deserve special attention, the majority appear to have been converted to Christianity and adopted European names. For example, Fernando being the most popular surname, but the native name is also given among them being the following: Vira Cutti, Parama Cutti, Nila Cutti, Perumal, Nahepulle, Avepulle, etc. These point to recent South Indian origin. It is well known that the descendants of these South Indian Tamils from down South Sri Lanka (low country Sinhalese) like the Karawe, Salagama, and Durawe are the most anti-Tamil racists.
The Sinhalese became a majority only after the European Colonials came to Sri Lanka. In the 16th century, the Portuguese and in the 18th century, the Dutch who occupied the island brought in tens of thousands of people from South India (mainly from Cochin/Kochi in the Malabar coast/presently Kerala and from Tutucorin/Thootukudy in the Coromandel Coast/presently Tamil Nadu) and settled them in the Southern parts of the island from Puttalam up to Matara as menial laborers (for growing/peeling cinnamon – today known as Salagama caste, for fishing/pearl diving – today known as Karawa caste, coconut planting/plucking and toddy tapping – today known as Durawa caste, and for many other jobs). Within a few centuries, the Sinhala population in the South (low country) increased exponentially when these people assimilated with the local Sinhala population (Sinhalized) by adopting the Sinhala language/culture and the Buddhist/Christian religion and getting converted to Sinhala Buddhists and Sinhala Catholics. Today their descendants (15th generation) are not only claiming the ancient Sri Lankan civilization as their own ‘Sinhala’ heritage but have also become the patriots and champions of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism. They have become distinct, ‘North Indian Vijaya’s Lion-blooded Sinhala Aryans’, the Nationalist Patriots and guardians of the country (Sri Lanka) and its Religion (Buddhism) and call themselves the blood relatives of Dutugemunu. If the forefathers of these so called “Sinhaputhra/Boomiputhra of Heladiva” had remained as Tamils, (without assimilating with the Sinhalese) today the Tamils would have been the majority in Sri Lanka or if they had assimilated with the Veddas instead of Sinhalese, today the Veddas would have been considerably a large population in Sri Lanka. Today, the researchers at the Human Genetics unit of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo will tell us that the DNA of low country Sinhalese is matching with the Tamil Nadu Tamils.
/
APDS / April 28, 2014
So the Sinhala Buddhists/Catholics are actually Tamil? So then they are the majority and you already have your Tamil country!
/
Native Vedda / April 29, 2014
APDS & Ravi Toronto
According to tradition Sinhala/Buddhists are known as Sinhala speaking Demela.
/
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / April 28, 2014
Thank you, I am pleased my article on Thanthai Chelva has generated some interesting comments/insights into the origins of Tamils and Sinhalese.
I stand corrected, I failed to mention that Thanthai Chelva after Union College and St Johns College, studied at St Thomas’s College Mt Lavinia.
/
M. Arunan / April 27, 2014
Seems like Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah runs her own TGTE with own proclamations than PM Rudrakumaran!
/
Tamodaya / April 27, 2014
So where is this Tamil nation?
I checked a world map but couldn’t find any?
SJV was born in Malaysia. So technically he is an illegal migrant.
/
Dawn Dale / April 27, 2014
author – the other face of BBS – luckily she can’t go on rampage like BBS – thank god for small mercies
/
eusense / April 27, 2014
“S J V Chelvanayakam: The Father Of The Tamil Nation”
I thought Parayabakaran was the Father of the “Tamil Nation”!
/
lal / April 27, 2014
You got it wrong, Eusense. SJVChelva fellow was the father of Parayabakaran. Parayabakaran fellow was the father of the fat boy Balayachandran. The fat boy was abondoned by the Parayabakaran felolw when he ran away to save his own life. SJVClelva fellow was also dumped by his father because he thought his wife was a naughty lady. Like FATHER like SON! Parayakaran had another son called Charlie Antonio who was named as such as thank you for a man with the same name. If you really want to know, talk to Parayakaran’s wife.
/
Javi / April 28, 2014
moda lallu his son chandra is married to a Sinhalese.
No bestiality breed there like school teacher eunonsence.
/
Diogenes / April 27, 2014
You suggest that there never was a Tamil nation before Chelva! hi hi! [Edited out]
/
Tamodaya / April 28, 2014
Well spotted!
So there was NO Tamil Nation before Malaysian born SJVC!
How come they claim HOMELAND then?
SJVC was born in 1898 in Malaya. He ILLEGALY came to SL in 1905 by BOAT with his Tamil mother. He formed a party in 1949. So there was NO Tamil nation even in MYTH before 1949!
What a young nation! Pity no one can find the dirt in a map!!
/
DH / April 27, 2014
I wish that this angelic, soft spoken man had also spoken these prophetic lines to the Maanavar Peravai (Student Council)for he is in the caliber of MLK:
“But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”
Martin Luther King
It is sad that what started as self-defence with karate practices at the Veersaingham Park in Jaffna came to this…. or as you might say such things are easier said than done.
/
ela kolla / April 27, 2014
what the hell is ‘TAMIL NATION’? there is no tamil nation in SL. it doesn’t exist here. it was crushed in the nandikadaal lagooon. go [Edited out] to find parents of so called tamil nation
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
ela kolla
I am happy you are now able to type few sentences.
“what the hell is ‘TAMIL NATION’?”
It is similar to the stupid Sinhala/Buddhist idea of a Sinhala/Buddhist nation which bothers you day and night and makes you rage on a 24/07/52 basis.
“there is no tamil nation in SL. it doesn’t exist here.”
So is Sinhala/Buddhist one nation.
“it was crushed in the nandikadaal lagooon.”
One can destroy people and properties what one cannot do is destroy ideas. If you really want to have ideas destroyed you need to come up with your own new ideas, reasonable, accommodative, enshrine unity in diversity, …… basically clash of ideas can only save what is left of this island.
Since both Tamils and Sinhalese are being stupid I do not have any cure for your tantrums and rages.
/
ela kolla / April 27, 2014
moda vedda, it was pity that you didn’t die during the war along with tamil terrorists….dont worry, your day will come soon as TID is in action…
/
Native Vedda / April 27, 2014
ela kolla
” it was pity that you didn’t die during the war along with tamil terrorists….dont worry, your day will come soon as TID is in action…”
“You may kill me, but you can never insult me. Who am I. I’m Captain Jack Sparrow” – Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 27, 2014
Whether, in the coming days, TID will be success in getting Native Vedda or not, you have certainly learned to write one sentence that CT editors can parse and understand.
Thank god. CT has demonstrated there is always a way to teach the old dog a new tric.
/
ela kolla / April 28, 2014
[Edited out]
/
Tamodaya / April 28, 2014
Well said!
But they will be back.
Remember the hot iron rod exclusively reserved for their leader?
/
Rajash / April 30, 2014
Tamil Nation was crushed in nanthikadal? so you do accept that Tamil Nation does exist and what you are trying to say is that first ever arm struglle undertaken by the Tamils for the self rule of the Tamil Nation, was crushed in Nanthikadal, and I agree with you.
The aspiration for the self rule of the Tamil Nation still is smearing from the embers the pheonix will arise
/
Ram / April 27, 2014
While masquerading behind a Gandhian persona, SJVC fathered the bastard child, “ethnic politics”, that unfortunately, still exists today,. We can only fantsise as to what Sri Lankan politics would have been like, had he remained in Malaya as it then was.
/
Mallaiyuran / April 27, 2014
Thanthai Chelva never was masquerading for anything under nothing. Bandaranaike changed his religion and Organized Sinhala Maha Sabha in 1936. That time SJV had not even entered into politics. SJV never changed his religion. Bandaranaike changed his Oxford cloths to hooligans’ dress. SJV, up to his death, he had his sanity in dressing.
He never had to change his face to teach Tamil their dignity, their rights….. so forth. Ethnic Politics, in Lanka, were invented by DS and Bandaranaike.
/
kali / April 28, 2014
Ram you Sinkalam:
It wouldn’t have been as bad as what we have under Criminal Mahintha.
/
justice / April 27, 2014
A history of tamil speaking people is here:-
http://tamilelibrary.org
Tamil literary works since Sangam period are here.
http://www.infitt.org/pmadurai/pmworks.html
These are the result of the Madurai Project composed of tamil scholars and tamil webengineers of Tamilnadu, which is still ongoing.
Please enter them on the Address Bar,if the websites do not appear.
/
JimSofty / April 27, 2014
SJV Chelvanayagam’s Father was a CATHOLIC PRIEST. He moved to Malaysia engage in Conversions.
SJAVC was Anti-buddhist and a Tamil Racist.
At that Catholic church did propaganda saying Buddhists are UNCIVILIZED BARBARIANS.
/
Prasad / April 27, 2014
Jim stupidity is just another blatant liar who invents new stories from thin air. First of all, neither SJV Chelva nor his family members were Catholics. They were Anglicans who belonged to the American Mission church which had nothing what so ever to do with Catholics. His class mate SWRD Banda was also an Anglican at that time but later adopted Buddhism to fool the Sinhalese and win the election. Secondly, his father was a civil servant during the British rule who went to Malaysia like many Jaffna Tamils at for employment. At that time both Malaysia & Singapore were recruiting English educated people from Sri Lanka for civil service and fortunately due to the American Mission, most of the Jaffna Tamils were English educated.
/
Ravi / April 28, 2014
JimSofty
Where did you see CATHOLIC PRIESTS getting married and having children? Tomorrow you may say SWRD Banda’s Father was a BUDDHIST PRIEST.
You are the very best example of a Kavum eating Sinhala Modaya.
/
JimSofty / April 27, 2014
This is SJVC:
He is responsible for Tamil blood. Catholic Church is the main financier.
Chelvanayagam and his affairs in Sri Lanka, he is a (or the) founding father of the Tamil separatist movement!!! That same separatist movement gave rise to the LTTE – the world’s most brutal terrorist organization.
Quote from my research: Having failed in their unreasonable attempt to dominate the political arena in Sri Lanka, one section of the Tamil elite formed the first quasi-separatist political party in 1949 (one year after independence) it was called (in Tamil) “Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi” (Ceylon Tamil State Party) which they misnamed ‘Federal Party’ for the purpose of their real intentions, viz., separation. S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, an elite-Christian, Tamil lawyer was its founder leader. Having failed to dominate the political scenario in the country, the ‘Federal Party’ s express purpose was to work towards the establishment of a separate Tamil State within the so-called ‘Tamil Homeland’ in the North and East. This was the sequel to the loss of colonial privileges to this elite group of Tamils.
Same Chelvanayagam in action: “This party was formed by SJV Chelvanayagam on December 19, 1949 at the Railway Union office in Maradana, Colombo with some hubristic Tamil leaders who shared his separatists thinking. This effectively was a few months after the formation of the first independent Government of Ceylon under D. S. Senanayake “‚¦ Deeds and sayings of SJVC during this time made it amply clear that his real intention, right from the time of independence, was not peaceful cohabitation with the majority Sinhalese but separatism by some means or the other.”
/
ABCD / April 28, 2014
Actually Prasad you are not entirely correct. Yes a group of 700 men( Vijaya and his followers) would have arrived in sri lanka.
However two tribes were already inhabiting sri lanka upon his arrival.
They were known as Yakshas and Nagas. The nagas were Tamil speakers.
Eventually after much struggle vijayas clan the Sinha clan merged with the native hela tribes( Yaksha and Naga)to create what is known as sinhalese( Sinha + Hela= Sinhela= Sinhala)
This identity was probably created during the times of king pandukhabaya. At this point the sinhalese were basically a mix between the sinha clan and the hela tribes( one of which were tamil speakers). This was how the initial sinhalese identity was created.
Added to this there was large scale migration from south india at a much later stage. These migrants eventually became sinhalese aswell. Both many upper caste sinhalese aswell as lower caste sinhalese were descended from these migrations.
basically the sinhalese of today are a mix between the initial native groups and indian migrant groups. The tamil contribution to the creation of the sinhalese identity Both as early inhabitants aswell as migrants cannot be discounted nor should it go unrecognised.
However as of today there is an identity called sinhalese. This identity was created within sri lanka and a sinhalese ethnic group has never been mentioned in mainland india.
/
Prasad / April 28, 2014
ABCD
There is no evidence what so ever to prove your story that during king pandukhabaya’s period Sinha clan merged with the native hela tribes( Yaksha and Naga)to create what is known as sinhalese( Sinha + Hela= Sinhela= Sinhala). Even the Mahavamsa does not say so.
Can you prove that your story is history?
/
csj / April 28, 2014
Embracing the truth of this Cause(This convention resolves that restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular, Socialist State of TAMIL EELAM, based on the right of self determination inherent to every nation, has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil Nation in this Country.””
Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths. Take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this Cause–a Cause through which the potentialities of the might of God have been revealed, and His sovereignty established. With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Let him that seeketh, attain it; and as to him that hath refused to seek it–verily, God is Self-Sufficient, above any need of His creatures.
Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, pp. 85-86 #182
/
Abhaya / April 28, 2014
please be nice to the poor veddha .
He is doing a big job for an amude keeping and edting CT .
Cheers
Abhaya
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Abhaya
You are running out of energy, go recharge and come back.
We will still be here.
/
Abhaya / April 29, 2014
there is no such thing as a coincidence dear Vedda
Cheers
Abhaya
/
punchiburampi / April 28, 2014
Just it should come from you?
/
Mallaiyuran / April 28, 2014
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah and Jayampathy Wickramaratne have done one great thing. All these time the entire discussion on CT was surrendered on the 30 years war. Now they two have pushed it back down to 1944. But we have to take it as far as back the day Ramanathan came back from London and landed in Colombo Harbour;then Sinhalese leaders paraded him for his achievement. Until now no Sinhalese leader has done any remarkable achievement from a foreign country, though Kathikamar was successful in having the European Union and Canada proscribing the LTTE.
/
ABCD / April 28, 2014
and Btw even most North Indian groups such as Bihari Bengali, UP are basically dravidians not indo aryans.Infact by ethnicity dravidians are a majority in india
/
Buger / April 28, 2014
@Native Vedda..you seriously need to get a life.
/
ABCD / April 28, 2014
Actually you get a life you identityless fool
/
Park / April 28, 2014
There is nothing called a Tamil Nation either within or outside Sri Lanka. We have a distinct communities Tamils and Sinhalese, we have distinct religions Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. We should never mix religion with languages, they are different.
For SJV the so called Tamil Nation was Northern and Eastern Provinces. He did not care about the Tamils in the upcountry who were at that time the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy. Unfortunately we had a self serving politician Thondaman who was a Slave Trader. He used the skin of the Indian Labourers to make a nice coat for himself and his family, that too not in Sri Lanka. All his wealth was built up in India. SJV on the other hand did not care about the Tamils in the upcountry, they were COOLIES to SJV, not the supper Wellala highly educated class to which he belonged to.
Yes SJV was a great man of his time, but he is a failed man as far as the Upcountry Tamils are concerned.
/
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / April 28, 2014
Park
SJV was as concerned about the upcountry Tamils as he was N&E Tamils. Please read the Vaddukoddai Resolution – Thondaman backed out, although he joined the TULF at first:
“The first National Convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front meeting at Pannakam (Vaddukoddai Constituency) on the 14th day of May, 1976, hereby declares that the Tamils of Ceylon by virtue of their great language, their religions, their separate culture and heritage, their history of independent existence as a separate state over a distinct territory for several centuries till they were conquered by the armed might of the European invaders and above all by their will to exist as a separate entity ruling themselves in their own territory, are a nation distinct and apart from Sinhalese and this Convention announces to the world that the Republican Constitution of 1972 has made the Tamils a slave nation ruled by the new colonial masters, the Sinhalese ,who are using the power they have wrongly usurped to deprive the Tamil Nation of its territory, language citizenship, economic life, opportunities of employment and education, thereby destroying all the attributes of nationhood of the Tamil people…And, while taking note of the reservations in relation to its commitment to the setting up of a separated state of TAMIL EELAM expressed by the Ceylon Workers Congress as a Trade Union of the Plantation Workers, the majority of whom live and work outside the Northern and Eastern areas, This convention resolves that restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular, Socialist State of TAMIL EELAM, based on the right of self determination inherent to every nation, has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil Nation in this Country.”
/
Prasad / April 28, 2014
Park
If you are ignorant and have no intention of gathering knowledge it is always better to keep quite rather than blabbering utter rubbish.
Even though SJV Chelva was a Jaffna Tamil of Vellalar caste, he is one Jaffna Tamil politician who left his party (All Ceylon Tamil Congress) in support of the Upcountry Tamils.
When the D.S. Senanayake government was voting against Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948 which deprived a million Upcountry Tamils of Indian origin their citizenship, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader G.G.Ponnambalam supported the D.S. Senanayake government.
That was the time when the power hungry G.G. Ponnambalam was believed to have been secretly negotiating with D.S. Senanayake to join the Cabinet. S J V Chelvanayakam who was the deputy leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) broke away in protest and formed the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) better known as the Federal Party. The burning battle that took place between the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) lead by S. J. V. Chelvanayakam and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) lead by G.G.Ponnambalam in 1952 was over the Indian citizenship act. Later Chelvanayakam declared Ponnambalam a traitor.
Also, in 1976 the Federal Party of SJV Chelvanayagham joined hands with Thondaman’s Ceylon Workers Congress representing plantation Tamils, and Prof. Sunderalingam, a prominent Tamil nationalist to form the TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front). Later, Thondaman left the TULF and joined JR’s government as a minister.
/
Native Vedda / April 28, 2014
Park
“We should never mix religion with languages, they are different.”
The mixture becomes a lethal cocktail.
We have been paying for it ever since the Aryan Anagarika Dharmapala (the homeless one)blended it by string and shaking the ingredients.
/
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / April 29, 2014
Readers should know what a present Tamil leader Father S J Emmanuel wrote about S J V Chelvanayakam in page 45 of his book: “Agonies and Aspirations”
5. S. J. V. Chelvanayagam, Father of Tamil Nationalism
When the first post-colonial Government of Sri Lanka took the first step already in 1949 towards the exclusive Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism by depriving almost a million Tamils of Indian origin of their civic rights, S.J.V.Chelvanayakam, the Father of modern Tamil Nationalism, was able to foresee many dangers which will threaten their Tamil national consciousness. With prophetic vision he mapped out a path for the Tamils to safeguard their identity and dignity as a people. On the basis of the inalienable right of self determination, the Tamils are to seek maximum autonomy for self rule!
Accordingly the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi, which he founded in 1949 soon after the denial of Citizenship to Tamils of Indian origin, was with foresight called Federal Party in English. Why? He did not opt for an entirely Tamil separate state, but a Tamil government (arasu), whereby the Tamils, as a distinct nation or people, will rule themselves at home with maximum autonomy and still remain within the one state of the island. In other words he proposed a self rule in the Northeast and a shared rule at the centre in Colombo. That was the Federal structure he proposed and campaigned for.. This was evident in the declaration of the first national convention of the Party held in Trincomalee in 1951
„ In as much as it is the inalienable right of every nation to enjoy full political freedom without which its spiritual, cultural and moral stature must degenerate and inasmuch as the Tamil speaking people in Ceylon constitute a nation distinct from that of the Singhalese by every fundamental test of nationhood, firstly that of a historical past in this island (which is) at least as ancient and as glorious as that of the Singhalese, secondly by the fact of their being a linguistic entity different from that of the Singhalese, with unsurpassed classical heritage and a development fully adequate for all present day needs, and finally, by reason of their territorial habitation of definite areas which constitute over one third of this island, this first national conference of ITAK demands for the Tamil speaking nation in Ceylon their inalienable right to political autonomy and calls for a plebiscite to determine the boundaries of the linguistic states in consonance with the fundamental and unchallengeable principles of self-determination.“
His self-rule for the Tamils (Thamil Arasu) and shared rule of Sri Lanka (Ilankai) was mischievously interpreted by the chauvinistic and extremist politicians of the South as a blueprint for a separate Tamil Kingdom of the Tamils. Thereby the word Federal was interpreted to mean a division of one country into two. What was intended as a regional autonomy for the Tamils and a federal structure for the country was mischievously twisted to set the Sinhala masses against the Tamils.
The objective of the Tamils to live as two nations in one island within a federal structure of Government thus became anathema to Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism which was forging ahead with its steam-roller majoritarian-race democracy to legalise anti-Tamil discriminations in language, culture, education, employment and development. Every Tamil effort to protest democratically and non-violently was met with Sinhala mob and state terror. Every effort to explain the Tamil vision for a united country was heckled even within the parliament. Thus the Tamils were deprived even the right of peaceful democratic non-violent protests. Not even in the heartland of the Tamils -Jaffna town – could they have a non-violent satyagraha without getting beaten up by the Sinhala army(Dec.1961). Hence Tamil Nationalism was forced to move to the next phase of demanding a separate state for survival and security based on its right of self-determination.
The Sinhala media were very chauvinistic and the word „Federal“ was anathema to the Singhalese. The English media which had the strategy of reaching out to both sides of the divide, were in the hands of the Sinhala elite and toed the line with the UNP or the SLFP political parties. Unfortunately the Tamil leaders did not make serious attempts to reach the majority of the country at least with an English Newspaper. „Suthanthiran“, the official organ of the Federal Party was published only in Tamil. Hence the lack of effective communication between the Singhalese and the Tamils further aggravated the situation
6. Democratic campaigns for a Separate State
The Tamil United Liberation Front in its first national convention in Vaddukoddai on 14 May 1976 under the presidency of S.J.V.Chelvanayakam resolved thus:
“The First National Convention of the Tamil Liberation Front, meeting at Pannakam (Vaddukkoddai) on the 14th day of May 1976, hereby declares that the Tamils of Ceylon (Tamils did not accept the Constitution of 1972 in which of the name of the island was changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka) by virtue of their great language, their religions, their separate culture and heritage, their history for several centuries till they were conquered by the armed might of the European invaders, and above all by their will to exist as a separate entity ruling themselves in their own territory, are a nation distinct and apart from the Singhalese and their constitution, announces to the world that the Republican Constitution of 1972 has made the Tamils a slave nation ruled by the new colonial masters, the Singhalese, who are using the power they have wrongly usurped to deprive the Tamil nation of its territory, language, citizenship, economic life, opportunities of employment and education and thereby destroying all the attributes of nationhood of the Tamil people.
And therefore, while taking note of the reservations in relation to its commitment to the setting up of a separate state of Tamil Eelam expressed by the Ceylon Workers Congress as a Trade Union of plantation workers, the majority of whom live and work outside the Northern and Eastern areas, this convention resolves that the restoration and reconstitution of the Free, Sovereign, Secular Socialist State of Tamil Eelam based on the right of self determination inherent in every nation and has become inevitable in order to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil nation in this country.“
At the Parliamentary elections of 1977, the Tamil United Liberation Front campaigned for the Vaddukkoddai Resolution for a separate state of Thamil Eelam and the Tamils gave a resounding approval with over 70% electoral support.
Infuriarated by the overwhelming verdict of the Tamils for a separate state, the UNP Government of J.R. Jayawardene who came to power with a simple majority of 51% soon brought in the infamous 6th. Amendment to the Constitution obliging all elected Tamil parliamentarians to make an oath of allegiance to the unitary state and forbidding all talks of separatism as contrary to the constitution. This in effect closed the doors of the supreme democratic institution of the country to the voice of the democratically elected Tamil Members of Parliament. Thus the Sinhala majority closing the doors of democracy to the Tamils opened the way for a militant path of the Tamil youth.
/
nalluran / April 29, 2014
Reading the comments are similar to uneducated persons.It is indeed sad that people form SL are behaving like this! It is not to judge any body but we have to accept mistakes by anybody. Lord Buddha forgave thus, let us forget and seek peace. nalluran
/
Kettikaran / April 29, 2014
Park is wrong on many counts.
SJVC broke away from GGP on the Citizenship Bill matter. He cared deeply for all Tamils in then Ceylon. It was largely he who invited
Thondaman to be the trio of leaders in the 1976 Vaddukottai Conference. That was a signal the Indian Tamil Estate people were part of the struggle for justice to all Tamils.
Thondaman Snr., contrary to what Park states, changed the image of the Indian origin worker from slave to respected citizen -with many rights he did not enjoy previously. The current crop of MPs and political leaders representing the Indian Tamils all, to a man, owe a debt of gratitude to Thondaman Snr., for making them what they are. When hundreds of workers were to be thrown out of the Estate (early 1940s?)and the CWC was short of money to meet legal expenses it was, it is known, he who pawned his wife’s personal jewellery, paid the lawyers and ensured the case was won. The workers concerned kept their jobs and their lines.
The names of both leaders are held in reverential terms by both people of the Tamil Nation – in the NEP, the Hills and the South.
The term Tamil Nation has entered our national political discourse
and will remain there until Tamils in the NEP get their long-denied justice to run their own affairs – like the other 8 Provinces. Both the Sinhala and Tamil Nations will build a new future to all Sri Lankans in due course of time.
Kettikaran
/
Tamodaya / April 30, 2014
All Tamils should thank SJVC for 89,000 Tamil war widows and Nanthikadal defeat.
No Tamil nation but there is Tamil deaths.
Nice achievement.
We Tamils are total modayas.
/
NAK / May 2, 2014
Usha has not explained what was there for the estate Tamils in Vadukkodai.
So it is only natural to assume that Thondaman Snr.pulled out because there was nothing for them. Even today,the Eelam prospectors continue to use Tamilness as a major factor for their struggle,though the solution they demand will benefit only the northern Tamils.
/
Ram / May 3, 2014
Chelvanayakam is likened to Moses by a pastor, in ‘Ceylon Today’. This is not surprising. Moses, an Egyptian reject from the Nile valley, led a group of evictees through the northernmost reaches of Egypt, the Sinai desert, and pointed to Palestine and said to them, this is all yours, (lusting for a land was not theirs). How the Hebrews set about taking over the land is well documented, and it is NOT a story that they can in any way be proud of. Let us be thankful that Chelvanayakam did NOT get his way, and that the mono-ethnic apartheid state that he yearned for did not materialise either, even though the LTTE went about it the same way.
/
Sandilyan / June 1, 2014
Usha & Kali
You seem to be living in a world of imagination. There was no Tamil Nation in the island. The rowdy Magha came with Malayalis and Karnataka’s and killed the Sinhalese people in the North and settled. That rowdy did not buy the peninsula from the Sinhalese. Living for centuries. Bullshit. How do you know that you are a Tamil? SJV Chelva does not look like a Tamil or Sinhalese, but a Filipino you fool. All these days’ Tamil fools were shouting and staging drama that Kattapomman was a Tamil. Kattapomman was a part Sinhalese where he hailed from Telugu rata. Even now, Tamil Nadu is ruled by a non-Tamil, Jayalalitha, you fools. She is a Karnataka origin. Our peninsula is occupied by Malayalis, Karnataka’s, Indonesians, Malays, Telugus, Tamils, Burgers, but they speak Tamil. Just go and do a bit of research you comedians.
Sandilyan
/