The title of this article might make some move to the next topic immediately. Some might however read further with curiosity. The very purpose of this article is to remove the stereo type reaction.
It is an unfortunate recent development that while writing about the Sri Lankan crisis, some writers are grouping Iyers (A caste group in the Tamil society who practices vegetarianism) as an entity and are accusing them as though all the members of the community are against the cause of the suffering people in Sri Lanka. They are projected as being solely responsible for the socio-economical problems in the Tamil Nadu state or elsewhere in India. These writers tend to forget that any society in the world is made up of different groups and each group is represented by different individuals. Tamil or any other Indian society is no exception and is reflective of similar division based structural society.
I am not a supporter of caste-based structure of our society. My focus now is to move forward and integrate our several sub-structures in to an united force to meet the future challenges.
As soon as we land overseas, be it USA, Europe or Australia we no longer represent any particular caste based community. We are happy to converse in our native language and watch our language movies periodically. We are willing to acquaint with anyone who speaks our language and participate in community based cultural activities. We are proud to send our children to the language class and also help fellow community members. While we exhibit tolerance among different caste members in an alien land why can’t we extend a similar gesture back home?
When we portray “Unity in diversity” at a national level, why are we not inculcating “Unity in diversity” at the community level? I have had the acquaintance of several Iyer friend’s right from my childhood. Together we have visited several non-vegetarian restaurants back home and also here in the US and have happily fulfilled our eating desire without compromising our Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian identities. After 20 years they continue to be in my buddy list.
Some of my friends agree with the idea of an independent nation in the North & East of Sri Lanka and few of them agree with the armed struggle. Back then, the father of one of my friend was a big contributor to the independence struggle in Sri Lanka. It may be surprising to many of you. But it is the Truth. Why should we alienate such a noble soul from a common cause? Should we remind ourselves who the great poet and freedom fighter Barathiyar was and which community he belonged to.
As we move forward to integrate and unite, let us believe that one day “The Hindu” news paper will also come under our long list of friends. To be frank right from my childhood, I have learned my English from reading “The Hindu” news paper. A decade back, they were a vocal supporter of the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka. Some of their articles I liked to read again and again since it gave lot of insight every time I read. However off late their articles are simply away from the truth.
Good writings should weave the words over the “truth” skeleton. If the skeleton is not “truth”, whatever the color of the thread, your weaving will expose the lie. This is what is happening with “The Hindu” news paper today.
Few years back, I was reading two articles on insurgencies – one in Iraq and another in Sri Lanka reported in the same issue of “The Hindu”. They were published on either side of the same page. On one side the insurgents were portrayed as heroes and on the other side as villains. In the end “The Hindu” lost the creditability from my eyes as it drifted away from truth. In recent days “The Hindu” has become nothing but a “straw man” with its words and phrases lacking editorial professionalism.
According to the Mahabarata epic – Dhronachariya’s love towards Arjuna was more than that towards his own son - Ashwathama. However Dhronachariya was bound by duty to fight for the Gauravas and thus against his favorite Pandavas . On the 14th day of the war, Dhronachariyar lines up the entire Kuru army, with millions of its soldiers in front of Arjuna. But Arjuna exhibits his full prowess, and by the end of the day has killed more than a million warriors. The Pandavas win the war in the end and recover their lost country.
Today “The Hindu” may be the Duronachariyar due to their massive circulation (Duronachariyar is the teacher of warring brothers Pandavas and Gauravas – from the Indian epic Mahabaratham). Similar to how Arjunan defeats his master, we will in the near future put “The Hindu” news paper in the right spot by exposing its untruth journalism to the world inclusive of “Iyer the Great”.
Again let me emphasize my point. When we talk about “The Hindu” news paper, let us expose them correctly and politely without bashing any specific subset of our own community or invoking any caste sentiments.
Our intentions are clear. Our vision is set. While we aim to face the global challenges as one strong community we must first get rid of our small differences. Instead of putting-down some our own people, let us welcome them with the firm belief that all are equal. Each and every soul in the community is valuable and can contribute to the development of a vibrant society. We are striving for building the prosperous, innovative, bold community and seamless integration of various sub structures including the Iyer the Great and “The Hindu” news paper.
Let us pledge on this day, that we will extend our hands with brotherly affection to each and every soul “Rich or Poor, Male or Female, Dark or Fair” no matter where they come from, no matter where they live now, to achieve our common goals. As Jews succeeded together in the 20th century, we will do it together one day and will touch great heights and new boundaries.
On that day, surely the world will listen to us.
Written by Sasikumar
An engineer by profession, Sasikumar holds double masters degree in Engineering from India and Business Administration from USA. He writes to transform the Indian politics into an issue based one.
Tags: Arjuna, Brahmins, Caste, Dhronachariya, Eelam, Epic, Hindu, India, Iyer, Mahabaratha, Tamil, Tamil Community, Tamil Nadu, The Hindu
19 Comments
“The Hindu” has lost its independent views or un-biased views long time back. It is more a spineless newspaper for classified advertisements and English. I doubt whether people read the editorial columns or the views. Long time the newspaper recorded the views of the “other” side, which it has been conveniently ignoring when it comes to issues.
The Hindu is even today the only newspaper that is fairly unbiased (slightly leftist views but I can live with that) and is probably the most responsible newspaper in India.
I still trust The Hindu over any other newspaper – English or vernacular.
Unbiased, IMHO, is one, who reports both the sides, not one side! Indian express to a large extent is doing that – bold, unblinking opinions and not trying to be cautious about “facts” which a newspaper should be sure of.
I agree with you Mr. Prakash. I subscribed to ‘The Hindu’ long ago with US$100/= for two years; gradually I became horribly disgusted the way she portrayed our struggle for survival and demonized Eelam Tamils for a bottle of Scotch and discontinued my patronization and subscription.
Mr. Sasi, Greetings to you!
Your intent is appreciated and welcomed. Yet, please refer to feelings in reply to Mr. Prakash.
Mr. Sasi,
Greetings to you!
It is a good article. Your intent and motive are agreed, appreciated and welcomed. Yet, please refer to my reply to Mr. Prakash, for my feelings. Let’s understand that ‘Gold is Gold’; no one can dispute it. I am not a Hindu, but a true “Saivaismist”.
Good article! Once upon a time, long, long ago, The Hindu was a decent newspaper. Now, it is the epitome of gutter journalism. It is one of the most biased newspapers in the whole of India and it often publishes half-truths and plain lies which is evident to anyone who has access to other sources of news. Its editorial team members have brought immense shame upon journalism and journalists! The Hindu receives huge sums of money from the goons and thugs who brutally murdered the greatest journalist of South Asia, Lasantha Wickrematunge.
Your writing about Brahmins and even Bharathi (even though I may admire him poems!) are far from truth. If you read his articles clearly, you will find out Bharthi is a cut throat brahmin. Lots of pages have already been written on this topic :)
Very often we are drawn to a discussion on Brhamin- Non Brahmin in many internet forums which lead to heated arguments. There are elements in this community who go against the Tamil language and there are others who contribute more than other communities.
Kamban and Bharathi have no parallels and they have transcended the barriers of caste. And so many can.
Finding fault with the likes of Subramaniyam swamy, Cho, Ram can be justified. That is political.
I broadly agree with this view that we all should go together. Excluding Brahmins is not going to help Tamils.
We can avoid using seggregation of brahmins and non-brahmins, as I think it tries to portray as if brahmins are in majority & the rest (other caste) as minority. All tamil speaking people should come under the banner of “Tamil”, failing which the majority will alienate them.
First we have to accept our differences and respect those differences and bring “Unity in diversity” at the Tamils community level in order to achieve our common goals – Tamil Eelam or solving the other Tamil Issues.
Do you know why no major news networks in India or USA is not willing to write about Plight of Eelam Tamils?
We lack unity in our Tamil community. We have 100 million people, but we are not united. So world is not listening to us.
Title is just to get attention from the reader – it has nothing to do with population proportion (majority Vs minority).
In the future articles let all of us spin our views in the direction of – Unity.
First, about the Srilankan issue, as an unbiased spectator I don’t agree with any form of disintegration..Why can’t the Tamilians and the other Sri Lankan community live together..What’s the harm. If there is any harm, then its in the pettiness of people who believe in distinction. If people cannot live together, then they should check themselves – what all is it for?
my view:
These are noble ideas. We could ask the same question to thousands that are standing in divorce courts. We can ask this to every brother who does not coexist with his brothers in a joint family in the same city. We can ask that to India/Pak.
We can ask that to Pak/Bengal.
An individual is the absolute identity in a society. Forcing an individual to coexist with someone who has killed his family and rape his sisters, is a worser form of violence..
The correct question is why do oppresors want to rule the others. Why cant they let others choose their destiny.
Regards,
Ronin
Importantly we can also ask the question to Britain and India..
Your view is misinformed. The Tamils of Sri Lanka are not fighting for disintegration. They are fighting for their rights. Their rights to be treated as Sri Lankans to live with equality and dignity with the Sinhalese as the island belongs to them as much as it belongs to the Sinhalese, the Muslims and others. Read the history of the conflict in Sri Lanka from a neutral source and you will learn the truth. The Tamils lived in their own kingdom with the Sinhalese lived in two Sinhala kindgoms.
It was the British who united them into a single country (the Portuguese and Dutch before them did not). When SL got independence due to the combined effort of all Lankans, the Tamils did not ask for a separate country. They were prepared to live with the Sinhalese in a united Ceylon. All they wanted is to be treated as equals and to live in peace and dignity.
But the hate-spewing Sinhala fascist Buddhist forces did not want to accept anyone as their equals. They want an ethnically pure Sinhala Buddhist state with everyone else either driven out or living as third-class citizens. At first, the Tamils tried to reason it with the Sinhalese through talks and constitutional politics. They were just shoved away. Then, they tried peaceful non-violent agitation. They were violently oppressed and killed by state-sponsored mobs of thugs in several horrible pogroms. Then the Tamils declared their intentions to safeguard their rights through the Vaddukoaddai Resolution of 1978 and it was overwhelmingly endorsed in subsequent elections. The Sinhala fascist oppression got much worse after that. That was when armed resistance to Sinhala fascism emerged. The LTTE was just one of several armed groups like the PLOTE, TELO, EPRLF, EROS, etc. The root cause of the conflict is NOT Tamil militancy. It is just the predictable response to violent, murderous, Sinhala Buddhist fascism. Sinhala Buddhist fascism IS the problem in Sri Lanka.
There are a few decent, reasonable Sinhalese Buddhists who are willing to treat the Tamils (and other minorities) as their equals and give them their due share on the island. But their voices of sanity are always drowned out by the notorious hate-spewing Sinhala fascist forces consisting of sections of the Buddhist clergy and the corrupt, political class and their stooges. The poor, gullible Sinhala masses are like sheep led to the slaughter by these fascist forces. One must not forget armed Sinhala militancy (successive JVP insurgencies) against this corrupt, fascist class which was ruthlessly put down. Now the fascist class is leading the poor Sinhala masses against the Tamils of the island. As long as this corrupt Sinhala-fascist ruling class holds on to its power, there will be no peace on the island for either the Tamils or the Sinhalese or anyone else.
I like Malartamil response. He analyzed correctly by quoting great contributors and also political Jokers – who makes noise for the individual growth. His words of “I broadly agree with this view that we all should go together. Excluding Brahmins is not going to help Tamils ” – Appropriate and that is what I tried to convey in my article.
Ronin: Hats off to you. We should ask the same question to Sri Lanka too. Why can’t they co-exist with Britain?
Co- existing depends on mutual respect. No one can justify a scenerio of co- existing of a Master and a Slave. Equality, Liberty, Freedom and human rights cannot be compromised.
Those who consider this as an issue of terrorism will be defeated.
This is no doubt a freedom struggle to be won whether we unite or not.
I will go to Ealem within my lifetime and sing the song of Bharathi, Aaduveme pallu paaduvome. I will write my own. This will happen. Each Tamil should have this aim of going to Ealem when it attains freedom.This will happen.
I am one among the few friends Sasi has mentioned about.While I do not understand much on the connection between the topic here and the situation at Srilanka , I could only say that in an civilized and literate society there can be no scope for differentiation on caste or the language we speak. I have seen no one writing on these blog ask what community you belong or what language you speak. If the title is written only to get attention of he reader as mentioned I one of the comments then it is a sour thing to happen. War and Hate is not a solution to any problem and the same is applicable to differentiation on caste and creed. The only solution possible is that all who are educated should take the responsibility of imparting good value system among our society.
You have succeeded in drawing me to this article. It is badly written with bad grammar – but that is irrelevant.
It appears you are a Indian origin Tamil but you dont know what the word Iyer means. It does not mean all brahmins who speak Tamil. It means a sub-sect of such brahmins. From the sub-sect, you have gone on to express your opinion on the newspaper; and trying to connect the two – the sub-sect and the policy of the newspaper in SL conflict.
The connection is stupid, to say the least. The newspaper was established during the colonal period to be the mouthpiece of Indians, by a brahmin family of Madras; who belong to the other sub-sect of Tamil brahmins called Iyengaars. It has nothing to do with the brahmins of TN as a whole.
Even if you say the newspapers stands for the whole community of TPs in general, that might be true in those colonal days and immediately after the freedom. Now, the paper has come a long way – completely disassocating from the idea of representing the community – so much so that many brahmins have stopped subscribing or reading the newspaper because of its anti-brahminical views, like reservations.
By any stretch of imagination, you cant link the paper with the community. But you can do it freely – and no one will object to it if you do – linking the Tamil vernacular newspaper Dinamalar calling it the mouthpiece of the community.
Now, back to the stand taken by the The Hindu in SL conflict. As you have rightly observed, pre-1983 genocide, the paper took a virulent stand against Sinhalese chuvunism and the opperssion of Tamil voice in SL by the majority. All things changed utterly after the series of assassiantions of TULF leaders, and others, just because they had different perception and pursued it, in resolving the SL conflict. LTTE ways of eliminating their fellow Tamils, if they differ with their ways, and the zenith of their food hardy act of eliminating Rajiv Gandhi, had changed the paper’s view.
And yet, I agree with one point with you. And, that comes from the journalist credo: Comment is free, but facts are sacred. It means, a paper can use their editorials only to air their own view – biased or not – and allow others to airs theirs – in commentaires or articles; but when it comes to projecting facts, that is, plain reporting, they should do no compromise with facts; they should not try to influence public opinion they way they want: The Hindu played or has been playing false with facts – by allowing their SL correspondent to misrepresent, distort the facts. The correspondents function onloy as the voice of Sinhalese politicians. Here, you are correct.
I can write more. But I will do in a seperate article in this .com soon.