Sri Lankan Tamils disillusioned with India must forget the "North" and turn "East" towards China
By S. Sivathasan
In the Asian region, hardly any people have had such close cordiality as the Tamils of Sri Lanka with the people of Tamil Nadu and by extension with India. Ethnic affinity, linguistic homogeneity, cultural identity and physical proximity, all conduced to a remarkable harmony if not solidarity.
Today all what remains is an edifice in ruins. Friends have turned foes. Admirers have become detractors. Where a bridge stood, there is now a chasm. Never the twain shall meet is the verdict of the percipient. Forget the North, turn East to China is the voice of those who dare.
Intellectual nourishment of the Tamils when they are young, commences with Tamil literature. Poets of high intellect spanning two millennia nurtured us. Judged by any standard, Thiruvalluvar of the first century and Bharathy of the twentieth were of world calibre. In between them were poets and scholars of great renown. The independence movement in India brought forth a galaxy that dazzled us with their brilliance. Gandhi and Nehru, Patel and Bose, Tagore and Aurobindo were scholars and leaders who commanded our admiration. We coveted their aura and lived in a world of make belief.
From such an India steeped in idealism, the Tamils of Sri Lanka looked for a perfect dispensation to the ethnic problem. Expectations were high, but what we got in 1987 was military invasion, though by invitation. The army of occupation certainly brought in negative benefits.
Firstly, its brutality knocked the scales from our eyes. Destruction without restraint, death with unconcern and merciless assaults brought the people down from their ethereal heights. In the period October 1987 to march 1990, indignities of every description were visited on over 50 percent of the Tamil population in the North East of Sri Lanka. Tamils have vowed, never again to look back. India stands banished from their consciousness. The void is now clear for the most formidable power of the future-China-to enter. Benevolence will replace malevolence.
What caused this change of stance? Dissipation of trust. A whole picture fell into place with a series of events. A quarter century of space gave sufficient opportunity to the Tamil intelligentsia to read, discuss, interact, reflect and arrive at a clear consensus.
Facts were gathered and their veracity ascertained. Strands of discernment when woven together made the motivation of India clearly visible. The overtones became apparent and there was evidence. It is idle to talk of the permanent nature of interest, permanence of friendship or impermanence of enmity. The emerging reality is the distancing of Tamils from India.
At the height of the war in 2008-2009, the defence advisor of India made a special visit to Sri Lanka with one message. Buy arms from India only. Never from China or Pakistan. It was tantamount to saying kill the Tamils only with Indian bullets. Could a more grotesque demand have ever been made? What has been the drama from the eighties? When a leaf rustles in Sri Lanka, the sabre rattles in India. Pretence was the posture. Inaction was the actuality. Forcing concessions to Tamils was prated loud. With what results? Under what law? By what authority and through what means? One is wont to ask.
It turned out that an aggrieved minority clamouring for justice, had expected assistance from an imagined benefactor.
That foreign government however unleashed its military might on an unsuspecting and battered people. "Know your friends, know your enemies." This simple truth cryptically presented by Mao Tse Tung, is fundamental in political or military strategy. It eluded the grasp of Tamils. The enemy having clearly calculated every step, feigned friendship. Tamils danced attendance upon the counterfeit from 1983. In 2009, they lamented that the vengeful had wreaked vengeance. What else could have happened?
The objective was clear. Destabilise the country — Sri Lanka. Identify the aggrieved ethnic entity—Tamils. From this premise events followed in logical sequence. Select impressionable youth, make them militants, train them and promote infiltration. Be conscious of the need to manipulate them at will. Therefore keep them on a tight leash. When the dominant group did not lend itself to manipulation, other groups were proliferated. When the latter were found to be Lilliputians, they were decreed to be on par with Gulliver and conferred equal stature at Thimpu.
To resolve the Tamil problem, fake discussions were held to give the appearance of serious talks. Beneath the veneer was the red claw. An agreement was forged with the government of Sri Lanka for the ostensible purpose of enforcing peace. The Indian army however launched its mission only to eliminate militancy and to subdue the people whom militancy represented. True to purpose, it became a Frankenstein. The occupation army killed, pillaged and destroyed. Not even a semblance of remorse was shown either then or up to now. The people at large suffered the loss and shared the privation helplessly.
Germans compensated the Jews in full for the loss sustained by the latter during the Nazi regime. It was a gesture of admission of guilt and acceptance of responsibility for cruelty inflicted. The aggrieved were assisted to rebuild their lives, develop the nation and move on with a fund of goodwill. Humanity admired the culture and refinement of the Germans. To compensate the Tamils and others who suffered loss, should India await a request? Justice demands it. Honourable conduct will be appreciated. Those subjected to indignity and deprivations know well their cruel nature. Their goodwill will help forward movement.
There was a category of thought which outlined certain ideas. When a danger to Tamils is sensed, India will swoop in on Sri Lanka, upbraid her, pretend to rescue the Tamils, foist an instant solution and march back to Delhi after its mission is accomplished.
Why should India intervene? So questions the cynic. The charlatan answers—the security of India is tied up with the stability of Sri Lanka. Therefore India is obliged to assuage her (India’s) concerns. Courting the Tamils composing 13 percent of the population is a surer bet than getting 75 percent Sinhalese to their side. The question arises: why? The Tamils of Sri Lanka have an umbilical chord relationship with the Tamils of Tamil Nadu.
The latter will rather embrace immolation than see the Tamils suffer. New Delhi unable to withstand needling from Tamil Nadu will intervene in Sri Lanka, whatever the norms governing international relations. So runs the argument. The reasoning is weird logic at its convoluted best.
How well has this worked and what has India contributed to the Tamils in the last quarter century, the cynic asks. The charlatan is dumbfounded, but stutters 13th Amendment.
India has a quasi-federal constitution. The most inappropriate model to frame a political arrangement for the Tamilian predicament in the Sri Lankan situation! Yet the commencing point of political deliberations from the Indian side was that no devolution for the Tamils would go beyond the devolutionary parameters of the Indian constitution. With this preconceived and unrealistic limitation, all discussions were skewed from the very beginning.
The devolution exercise was thus poisoned at its very source. The result was a caricature of a settlement that was embodied in the 13th Amendment. It is basic that any political solution should be home grown. The contending parties have to thrash out issues and evolve strategies which can be worked out only over time.
There can be no finality as if a perfect document with the last comma in place and the last ‘i’ dotted were an eternal guarantor of Tamil expectations. Experience and bitter knowledge mandate that Tamils have to disengage their sights from foreign capitals, particularly from Delhi and Chennai. What has been realized in 30 years? Only shameful failures and shameless betrayals! "Was the 60 year domestic experience any the better?" Tamils more particularly would ask with cogent logic. An alternative needs to be evolved. It is left to fresh initiatives.
Bickering needs to be drowned in a sea of economic activity and social growth. A good beginning has been made with the advent into Sri Lanka of the foremost Asian power, China. Aid for power plants will make a significant impact when all three phases are complete. Harbour development is great in itself, but the direction it points to is far greater. At Hambantota lies a potential Shenzhen and China can make it happen.
Part of the Northern railway and the road network to be delivered in the North by China are sure to resonate well with the Tamils. They will whet the appetite of the people of North East for more aid, more projects, more growth and greater Chinese presence. Special Economic Zones concept is a vehicle to lift the NE from its present state. Closer rapport for a century at least will be good for the nation and better by the Tamils.
When a finger is pointed, a fool looks at the finger. The wise man looks at the direction. So goes a Chinese saying. ‘The God That Failed’ can no longer evoke homage or even respect. Temples of worship are wanted anew. The need for this change can be seen conspicuously.
26 Comments
AGREED with the article. And tamils....watch the Malayalee community of India and North Indians. We need to develop commercial and networking links with the Chinese to develop ourselves..>The Chinese oppose tibet but support the Maoists to power in Nepal....the Chinese are the rising force...Indian is wazing and waning and Malayalee's are South Indian representatives as lackys to the Congress and Northern India.
Hold your breath Mr. Siva. Sinhalese also have come from India. Our umbilical code with India has a name: Buddhism
"Security of India is tied up with the stability of Sri Lanka" Humbug. Pakistan and China lie north of India. Even if we sink down the Indian ocean security equations with Pakistan and China will have no impact. Further we are not a Muslim country.
"India stands banished from their consciousness" Never. They will always look upto India. This is exactly what you are doing here - like a child threatening parents that he will go to uncle's house unless they give him the toy.
The timing of this article is interesting. That is to make as many Tamils as possible to vote against Tamil parties which are still looking up to India.
Politically and strategically "Mahinda ( or SL ) regime - Delhi regime" relationship is stronger than, "Tamil Nadu regime - Delhi regime" relationship.
Above these two " Mahinda (or SL )regime - China regime " relationship is much much stronger.
Sivathasan does not talk about this.
So Tamils have to, as an interim measure must go for TNA, Hakeem's party, Mano Ganeshan Party , UNP and Fonseka's as it is a preferential voting system, and wait and see after the elections ( sure Mahinda regime will come back but with what majority ??? ). Then Tamils and other minorities can guage China and India well.
China is unlikely to help the Tamils. No reason to do so. As Tamils have strong ties with TN its best to persist. Also the close proximity is an advantage.
Food for thought.. another bold proposal from SS.
Gordon Brown's appearance in Global Tamil Forum or TNA's Delhi office will not provide any benefit to the Tamils in North and East. We need fresh thinking. India is not the solution - it is the problem.
Diaspora people are dreaming that western countries will interfere in manner that will provide political solution to Tamis. Well, it is a pipe dream.
Lets not waste our time with India, who betryaed the Tamils, or western powers, who does not have any concerns about the Tamils. Fresh thinking and new approaches needed to acheive a fair political solution to tamils. India will never be a trusted friend.
China needs to have a strong hold in Northern SL to complete its PERL OF STRING strategy and Tamils should make use of the opportunity. Relationships must be stragegic. Relationships based on emotions and false historical ties did not save the Tamils and will never save us. It is a lesson from Mullivaikal, where the innocent civilians were massacared by a nation that has been historcially considered as our "Mother Land".
I agree with the comments of rahini. Its time for the Tamils to look towards east and build confidence measures with the majority. Hope Tamil representatives will start building relationship with Beijing.
As Rahini says, Tamils should look up to China.
By now the Tamils should have realized that India has screwed up the Sri Lankan Tamils right royally and led them up the garden path.
This is useful article at the correct time. Eelam Tamils should think strategically and not emotionally. India has always taken the Eelam Tamils for granted and used them as cannon fodder for its selfish interests. Tamils have paid the ultimate price for trusting and having a soft corner for "mother" India. Now, India has lost for ever its best friend in South Asia.
China is going to be the next super power and only China can make a difference in Sri Lanka. China does not care about internal politics of another country. It is only concerned about its interest and the safety of its growing trade routes. If Eelam Tamils can befriend with Communist China and allow it to use Tamil homeland for mutual benefit Eelam Tamils might get what they want! Eelam Tamil diaspora can cultivate their relationship with Western powers but they are not going to help the Tamils as they will only listen to India, when it comes to Srilanka. Therefor, the only power that can really make a difference for the Tamils will be China and Tamils should start making contacts with China at the highest level.
Tamils are not disillusioned they did not know who the crooks were against their freedom.
well you can plan and hope for a separate country of your own. But there will always be another Dutugemunu or a Mahinda to beat your terror.
It is very unfortunate that you tamils marginalize yourselves when it comes to SriLanka but in overseas countries be very obedient.
Looosers...
At last some one had the guts to discuss true intentions of India. India is circled by China, Soon nation known by the ocean will be boxed in, all it's bogus power and muscle will shrink. So Tamils remember the ancient inscription "vadakathai anai nambathei" means - do not trust Indians. China will be the world super power in the next decade,
Good opportunity for Tamils to Collabrate with China and flourish, India can not wag it's tail
Has one ever heard this called "once bitten twice shy"?
India pretended to help the Tamils of SL but were indeed serving their very own interests, which the much learned tamil intellectual understood only after a lengthy 25yrs, much to his bitterness.
Oh! now we have Milli and Gordon entertaining the GTF, with a new found love for SL Tamils.
Do I see a familiar pattern here?
If one ever needs to find an overrated and self agrandized good old day deaming tribe from the sub continent, you know where to look, don't you?
Dear Rahini,
Is it really India and the Western countries, who betrayed the Tamils? It might be true to some extend.
First of all, the Tamils betrayed themselves. The (Sri Lankan) Tamils betrayed the (Estate) Tamils. The (Sri Lankan) Tamils betrayed the (Muslim) Tamils. The (Nothern) Tamils betrayed the (Eastern) Tamils. At last, some (Eastern) Tamils betrayed the entire Tamil Nation. In sum, yes, the Tamils betrayed the Tamils.
China only has some self-interest motivated imperial goals and it does not even bother about it's own minorities. We all know the real story behind, why both India and the West did not help the Tamils at the very last and at the most needed movement? Don't we???
It is time now to stop us from blaming on others and to start from a "self-realization" process.
Thanks.
A rare and excellent analysis. It is hightime Tamils forget about Indian assistance while the Mafia Lady Sonia calling the shots. At the end of the day India will be looking at the balance sheets rather than human lives and values. Tragically China is better and subtle at that. The Tamilnadu politicians like Chitambaram and Karunanithi would sell their mothers for a political advantage. So would Jayalalitha. Looking upto them is like looking for a mirage.
Let me make a prediction though. The anarchy would come to an end sooner than later. The parties concerned are already digging their graves.
United Sri Lanka can easily be controlled by India. China and Pakistan did not gain anything substantial in the defeat of LTTE. India however gained immensley. China and Pakistan will realize this soon and they will act to make it to the disadvantage of India. Furthermore, a quite substantial number of Tamil Nadu politically active people are speaking boldly against Indian central government. China will try to use it one day. They may do this at least in two ways. Either through Maoist in Andra or through North of Sri Lanka, or both too. Furthermore the West too will not relish the belicose behaviour Sri Lanka but they will move slowly . Things are not pretty safe for Sri Lanka when actors start moving their pawns. Sivathasan coule be proven right in the future. Tamils should really move away from India and TNA.
Easwaran
This is a proposal that would force India to give offensive weapons to SL to crush any future Tamil uprising.
The need of the time is to win the trust and respect of India. Empty anti-Indian rhetoric will not take us anywhere.
This article is another nail on the interests of SL Tamils.
May not be bad idea and Tamils should take this advise seriously.
The Sinhalese South was anti-India and worked closed with China. The worried India went on its knee to the Sinhalese South. The Tamils, traditional allies of India, despite the differences (IPKF/Rajiv murder) stuck with India and lost big in Nandikaldal.
The Tamils moving towards China might make India to be more neutral in SL. Now India is assuming Tamils are with them regardless of their anti-Tamil actions and it is keep licking the Sinhalese boots to avoid Sinhalese South favouring the Chinese.
After May 2009, it should be clear to Tamils that India is not their true friend and the Tamils should take steps to disengage India from SL by favoring the Chinese. India was never favoured by the Sinhalese and the moment Tamils give the boot to India, India will be sidelined in SL.
This will also pave the way for the West to get involved in SL directly and not thru India, which will definitly be beneficial to the Tamils in many ways. Remember, the West was much more friendlier to Tamils than India in Nandikadal.
This article is preposterous and would lead to disaster.
In essence you are saying seek Chinese help to wage war against Sinhala nation.
If Tamils have problems with the Sinhalese, then it is between the Sinhalese and Tamils. who are both best friends and worst enemies.
No more foreign intervention.
Anger among Tamils at Sonia-controlled Congress, the Karunanidhi and others in Tamil Nadu is justified. But it is wishful thinking to say cultivating ties with China will solve our problems. It is the country that went to Sri Lanka's aid at the UN when Sri lanka was isolated. Yes, India did as well, but India doesn't sit at the Security Council and doesn't have veto power. What leverage do Tamils, a small minority in a small island, have with China to make them support us? What strategic interest of China will be met by us?
While always being mindful of Indian treachery, rash anti-Indian rhetoric won't help at a future time when a more progressive and friendly Governemt assumes power in India.
At one time, people like Shanmugadasan or even Taraki Sivaram had some political contacts with China. But a China in love with its own growing power will have no genuine interest in helping Tamils. It is still useful to maintain contacts with all powers, including China, India and the West, and engage them strategically, while being mindful that all of them let down Tamils at their darkest hour.
China has a problem with the Uighur ethnics causing them bad press & Sri Lanka has the same problem with their Tamils. It would be foolish to look to China as a savior. It would also be foolish to alienate yourself from China or India or the West.
KC said "This is a proposal that would force India to give offensive weapons to SL to crush any future Tamil uprising.
The need of the time is to win the trust and respect of India. Empty anti-Indian rhetoric will not take us anywhere.
This article is another nail on the interests of SL Tamils."
Two points.
1. Under the new world order, no violent uprisings will make sense and Tamils should not do that either. But, exposing the dirt in a demecractic way in world capitals, relentlessly, is the new effective weapon in this modern world and will be supported by international humanitarian organizations.
2. In May 2009, India openly provided defensive weapons. Meantime, Pakistan and China provided offensive weapons. - So, what is the diffference? Indian made or Chinese made, the offfensive weapons will still kill the Tamils.
India is not a single country but a vast sub-continent with a number of Nations (potential States) loosely tied up by the British Raj and continues today in same manner.The cracks are already showing up. The Maoists in India are spearheading the liberation of oppressed people with the promise of liberation of the individual Nations comprising the sub-continent as well. Today they have an effective presence in over 220 districts out of the near 650 districts in all.
India has an occupying force of 700,000 soldiers in Kashmir with a population of mere 5 million people. Imagine a situation where a third of India rises in rebellion against the increasing oppression when India would need over 40 million troops to contain such a rebellion alone!
Eelam Tamils should know who their real friends and real enemies are and then and only then they will seek the correct alliances. Where we got played out was in seeking the alliance of the ruling brahminical clique in Delhi aided and abetted by the anti-Tamil Malayalee bureaucrats.
The above is a very good and timely article and would certainly serve as an eye opener for far too many Tamils who have been in slumber with an unrealistic fond hope that 'Mother India' will one day deliver their freedom!
Look West, Look East, Look up at the starry sky and dream! Wake up man. Ealam is dead. Period.
The only way to better your lot (and that of the entire country) will be to work together with the Sinhalese and all other people in SL in a constructive manner, within the frame work of a unitary country.
But of course you are not in Sri Lanka and you want to start the second innings!
You really do not care because YOU do not know feel pain. With your blood money someone else will again do the dying for you. Oh, you can again protest in the west and have a good time of it all.
In the process you do not mind becoming somebody's pawn and being led up the gum tree.
We are ready and waiting.
OK you go with China and we go with India. We are five to one in an isolated small island. Let us now take bets on round five.
That there has been much concern in India to the belief Tamils outside the category of those of recent Indian origin in the Island have been indifferent to them. This writer confirms the old prejudice against the `vadakkaithan in this piece. At least some of us should distance ourselves from this age-old poorly disguised prejudice in the interest of propriety in this attempt at distorting history. Have we forgotten when the Javans came they were received with garlands of flowers and smiles. What happened later was a further miscalculation of VP and his advisors. One supposes Indians have more to feel let down. Sampanthan and the TNA, Anandasangaree and Douglas Devananda - frequent visitors to Delhi post-1987 till now - may not agree with your ``Ìndia stands banished from their consciousness`perfidy. Neither will the thousands in the diaspora who now stop in Tamilnadu for their holidays. I am reminded of the adage divisions between societies and people do not start from bottom to top rather than top to bottom appears relevant here. The Writer worked closely for many years with the late Mr. S. Thondaman whose approach, understanding and appreciation of SL Tamil-India interaction was genuine, warm and totally free of prejudice. This is openly admitted by all concerned. He did not hold the Citizenship Act and many other injustices commited against his people – whose architects are all too well known.
ISS