It has become more mellow, forgiving, tolerant and understanding in the process. I have personally noticed this finesse in the culture of SL Tamils..!

Exclusivity of the Sri Lankan Tamil Psyche

Two news items appearing in the Island of Monday, January 11, 2010 took me by surprise. One read, "Members of pro-Eelam organizations hurled slippers at the convoy of Sri Lankan Parliament speaker W J M Lokubandara and tried to attack him when he was visiting the Vaitheeswaran Temple (in India) on Saturday. The police prevented them from nearing the Sri Lankan". And the other entitled, "President takes Jaffna by storm" said, "Thronging crowds were waiting to welcome the president with garlands"

Obviously the Indian Tamil wrath against Speaker Lokubandara was caused by communal hatred left over by the war against the Tigers. But Lokubandara had no specific role to play in the war. By nature he is a peace loving man whose mental make up is furthest from that of a warmonger. To the best of my knowledge, he has never harmed the Tamils by word or deed. On the contrary, as his itinerary indicates, Lokubandara shares with his attackers a deep admiration of their rich Hindu culture.

Here in Sri Lanka, the man who claims the ‘Cup’ for demolishing Prabhakaran is warmly received by his blood relations with bouquets and garlands. Only a couple of days back his rival claimant for the same ‘Cup’ had been similarly received. Reportedly there had not been a hoot or a jeer, not even that international symbol of reproach, an item of footwear. Perhaps each of them might have conceded the other’s claim, at the peak of the welcome jubilation!

My puzzle is to reconcile Lokubandara’s experience in India with that of the rival Warriors in Sri Lanka. Why did the Indian Tamils who had not lost a pin in the war against the Tigers try to avenge their distant kinsmen here on an innocent pilgrim, whereas the latter that had lost many a life and limb in the venture, resorted to garlanding, granted that the garlands were no part of the visitors’ luggage?

The difference between the two responses appears to reflect the evolution of Tamil culture since its arrival from India. It has become more mellow, forgiving, tolerant and understanding in the process. I have personally noticed this finesse in the culture of Sri Lankan Tamils, over a good part of my career that I spent among them. But how did this happen? Frankly I do not know the answer. I am not a Historian or a Philosopher. Has Gunadasa Amarasekara’s Jathika Chintanaya anything to do with this evolution?

I look forward to an informed discussion on the subject and an unbiased, plausible answer to my question. Perhaps in that answer lies the key to National Reconciliation.

Somapala Gunadheera


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Cup claimers' Jaffna visit

Mr Somapala Gunadheera raised an interesting issue in his piece titled Exclusivity of the Sri Lankan Tamil Psyche dated January 19, as to why the Tamils were "mellow, forgiving, tolerant" in their treatment of the two 'Cup' claimers. I must credit Mr Gunadheera for having asked such a fascinating question.

It is a very important aspect of Tamil culture (by this I mean the prevalent Hindu culture) and even though the current militant conditions that prevailed in this country may have corrupted it to some extent it is still part and parcel of every Tamil’s ethos. The essence of this is always treat your guests with honour and respect even if they have done harm to you or even if they are your worst enemies (it is not implied that the ‘Cup’ claimers are the Tamils worst enemies but they are no friends either).

The Virunthombal Kalacharam as it is known is an inbred characteristic of Tamil culture and it is even said that there is no greater sin than to disrespect the guests who have come to your house. Our parents and teachers taught Virunthombal to us from the time when we were very little. Therefore, even if your worst enemy were to come to your house, you should welcome them in with an open heart and make sure that they have all the necessary comforts and that they are well fed.

Thiru Valluvar (the god poet as he is known) said this better than anyone else when he said Inna seidhaarai oruththal avarnaana, nannayam seidhu vidal meaning "The (proper) punishment to those who have done evil (to you), is to put them to shame by showing them kindness in return, and forget both the evil and the good done (by you)".

I do not know why the Indian Tamils behaved the way they did (since this is part of their culture as well) but I can guess. This protest was not organised by normal Tamils but was organised by Dravidian elements and nothing is more abhorrent to them than proper Tamil (Hindu) culture.

I have never read the Jathika Chintanaya by Gunadasa Amarasekara so I cannot comment on that, but all I can say is it is people like that who are directly or indirectly responsible for this country’s present predicament. The LTTE (as it did with many things) did not follow Tamil culture, and this was one of the main causes of its downfall.The concept of Virunthombal is not limited to Tamils as such but is an integral part of Hinduism and is mentioned in the Vedas. The verse Atithi Devo Bhavah from the Taittiriya Upanishad means that the "guest is God" and should be treated like a deity. As I mentioned earlier there is no greater sin then to disrespect the guests who have come to your house.

So, it should come as no surprise that the Tamils treated them as such and even after all that they have been thru if someone asks them about it, they harbour no hate towards their liberators or subjugators (whatever way someone may want to look at it).


S Uthaya
Colombo