== SINGHALESE ARE NOT NATIVE TO SRI LANKA ==
Namaskar,
The world over is shocked, stunned and horrified by the recent events in
Sri Lanka. The atrocities committed are raw and gruesome. The United
Nations is convening to formally lead an inquiry today. Proutists,
social activists, and human rights groups have also begun to mobilize.
While we cannot undo time and bring life back to the fallen nor erase
the horrors of those who were maimed and tortured, it is our bounden
duty to set the record straight and ensure that human rights are granted
and given to one and all, irregardless of ethnicity, language background
or beliefs etc.
HISTORY OF DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE PEOPLE
Tragically, the events that have transpired in Sri Lanka - that has
culminated with the rampant subjugation and killing of Tamils and final
defeat of the resistance group the Tamil Tigers by the ruling Sinhalese
- are part of on ongoing theme: Native people are commonly vanquished by
outside forces.
For centuries, the Europeans scoured the earth and exerted their will
upon the native people of North and South America, South Africa,
Zimbabwe, India, Australia and so many places. In some cases, the native
people were totally obliterated and in others native people were
marginalized, forced into slavery or made to live with limited rights.
Today, governments like that in Canada have come forward and issued
formal apologies for past crimes whereas other governments like the US
have recognised - at least in part - the injustices of old and given
special rights after centuries of genocide, suppression and repression
of those native people. The Australian government has still refused to
recognise the unfortunate plight of the native Maori population.
However, in this present moment, there is hardly a place on earth where
the ruling regime continues to ruthlessly destroy the local people like
the Sinhalese Sri Lankan government has done with the native Tamils
(i.e. Dravidians).
OUR PERSPECTIVE IN AM
In the face of this ongoing and recent human rights atrocity in Sri
Lanka, our Ananda Marga offers guidance in two spheres:
First, Baba has declared that the Tamils - not the Sinhalese - are the
original inhabitants of Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Secondly, our Proutist approach is to demand equal rights and
opportunity for everyone, as well as end all persecution, suppression
and repression.
BABA GIVES PROOF:
LONG AGO SINGHALESE INVADED AND CONQUERED SRI LANKA
While the ruling Sinhalese may proclaim that they are the original
inhabitants of Sri Lanka or that this land belongs to them, here Baba
tells that those Sinhalese are the descendants of invaders from Bengal
who came and conquered Ceylon, and changed the name to Sri Lanka.
Baba says, "Around 534 BC, the prince of Rahr-- Vijay Singh-- reached
Sri Lanka via waterway with 700 of his soldiers. Singhpur was the
capital of Rarh those days. Nearby Singhpur there was a port also. Later
on the name changed to Singhalpa'tan. This place is very close to
Singhpur. Nowadays it is in Hooghly district. To continue with the
history, the prince Vijay Singh was victorious in his offensive and
captured Sri Lanka. And ultimately, Vijay Singh and his soldiers settled
permanently in Sri Lanka. These are the ancestors of the modern
Singhalii community. That is why Singhaliis are very close to Bengalis
in their customs, manners, habits, and dealings. Their facial features
are also like Bengalis. In fact, it is very difficult to differentiate
between Singhaliis and Bengalis until one actually talks with them. Even
then, the Singhalii language is part of the Indo-Aryan language group;
hence it is quite similar to Bengali. The script is also the same. These
days Singhaliis are primarily Buddhists. In spite of this, they have
preserved their customs and manners so they are very similar to Bengal.
The family name of Singhalis is Sena Na'yak, Jayvardhan, Gunatilak,
Bhanda'r Na'yak, Desh Na'yak etc." (Varna Vicitra, Part 1, 20th Nov
1983, Kolkata)
So in His above guideline, Baba clearly demonstrates how the Singhaliis
came to Sri Lanka from Bengal, which explains why there is such a strong
link between these two communities with regards to language, culture,
physique, customs etc. The only difference is in their religion, but we
must remember that in Ancient Bengal Buddhism was the religion of the
day. So that also explains why Buddhism is widely practiced by the
Singhaliis in Sri Lanka.
Here Baba provides further insight how the Singhalese are originally
from Bengal and that they came and conquered Ceylon, i.e. present day
Sri Lanka
Baba says, "Ancient Bengal (the then Paondravardhana) had as its capital
Sim'hapur for 750 years. Sim'hapur is presently a very small town in the
district of Hooghly. Sim'habahu was one of the kings of that period. His
son Vijay Sim'ha conquered Ceylon and changed its name to Sim'hala. As
Vijay Sim'ha died without children, he brought his nephew Pa'nd'u
Vasudeva from Sim'hapur and made him the king of Sim'hal and Kerala."
(AFPS-5)
Thus, it is quite clear that the Singhaliis or Sinhalese are an outside
community from Bengal who conquered Sri Lanka by vanquishing the local
people, i.e. the Dravidians or Tamils.
The name "Sri Lanka" itself is a Sanskrit term given by the Aryan-born
Singhaliis and means, "the land that is surrounded by water." The
Tamils or Dravidians had their own original name for that land.
SCIENCE CAN ALSO GIVE PROOF
So while Baba Himself has clarified beyond any doubt that the Tamils are
the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka and that from centuries up to this
very moment, the Sinhaliis were wrongfully imposing their control over
the Tamils, modern science can also give proof of this.
Because in this present age when genetic testing can determine who that
father is of a baby, or one's lineage, or which animal is related to
what pre-historic creature, it would be very simple to investigate the
bloodline of the present day Singhalese culture. If done, it would
clearly show that the Sinhalese came from Bengal. They are direct
descendants of the mixed Aryan culture of Northern India. They are not
native to Sri Lanka or South India like the Tamils.
So it can all be proved scientifically as well.
At present, the Tamils primarily live off the faith that they are the
original occupants of that land whereas the Singhaliis either do not
know or do not want to know who are the original people of Sri Lanka.
Just in their own mind they think, "This is our land." But they are wrong.
NOT BEING PARTIAL TO ANY COMMUNITY
Here we should also take a moment to recognise that in the course of
their resistance, the Tamil Tigers engaged in all kinds or
near-terrorist activities. This letter does not condone cent per cent
all their tactics and whatever injustices they may have committed, such
as fire bombings and killings etc.
At the same time the Tamils must be given certain scope to protest the
alienation of their rights when their own land has been taken from
beneath their feet - i.e. when they have become victims, refugees, and
prisoners in their native region.
PROUTIST STAND: RIGHTS TO ALL
Baba clearly lends support to all native peoples and populations and
demands that the rights of all must be granted and protected. That is
our Proutist policy.
Baba says, "In accordance with this trend, PROUT advocates [that]...the
interests of all local people will be guaranteed and gain proper
recognition." (PNS-13)
Thus, our support goes to the Tamils of Sri Lanka. They are the local
people and it is their voice and livelihood which must be restored. They
must be given ample scope to live freely and peacefully in their own land.
Side by side, it is not our claim that all Singhaliis must leave Sri
Lanka. Just as we do not demand that all European descendants leave the
US or that all white people leave Africa.
Only our demand is that equal rights must be ensured to all. That is our
Proutistic stand. That means all native populations must have the
freedom of language, culture, education, expression and livelihood etc.
In short, their cardinal human values must be guaranteed.
That is the result we need to see in Sri Lanka at this very moment.
Instead, there is overt hatred and oppression being committed by the
Sinhales upon the local Tamils. In that case more and more
circumstantial pressure must be created until the Sinhalese loosen their
death grip and adopt a humane view towards the Tamils.
Till that result manifests, it is the continued duty of all Proutists to
raise the banner of the Tamils, as they have since become voiceless.
Let us remember that peace only results when basic rights have been
secured for all. Till that time, there will never be peace in Sri Lanka,
nor anywhere else on this earth.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Babas' grace, our code of neo-humanism will soon be the leading tenet
in every land. Till that time we are not to accept any "promises" of
peace or equal rights by the Sinhalese. Rather we are to demand and
ensure equal rights to all. The current scene in Sri Lanka is an extreme
example of similar cases around the globe. Now is the time for humanity
to rise up and secure rights for all human beings.
Baba says, "We want no more gospels. We want something practical,
something practical for the elevation, or for the exaltation, of the
entire human race." (NHNS-1)
Namaskar,
Mukunda
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One Should Assess Oneself on the Following
Baba says, "When human beings feel that, 'Parama Purusa is my
everything', then that is called as sharan (shelter). No being can come
under the sharan (shelter) of two different Entities. So what is the
meaning of Sharanagati (surrender)? When living beings give up their
'I-feeling' by withdrawing the mind from any other object and completely
adopt the feeling that Parama Purusa alone is my everything." "Up to
the time when any person is thinking that they are working with their
own strength, then we should understand that the feeling of sharanagati
has not yet come in them. And when human beings think that, 'I am doing
the work only with His strength', it means the feeling of sharanagati
has come in their mind. So when living beings start thinking that,
'Whatever work I am doing, I am doing with His strength', then they have
the feeling of sharanagati." (General Darshan, Patna DMC, 1970, [from
audio tape])
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