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Whatever may be said, who ever may say it - to
determine the truth of it, is wisdom - Thirukural
Reflections 2009 : Chinthanaigal
Reflection by Jayalakshmi Satyendra
August 2009
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தனிவழிப் பயணம்தான்...
தயங்கோம்
எது வந்து எதிர்த்தாலும்... மயங்கோம்
வாழ்வை நிமிர்த்தும்.. வழியில் செல்ல...
மறுக்கோம்...
Oru Paper, UK
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| "..One
aspect of the deprivation of the Tamil nation is the paucity
of intellectual investment made at a local level. Like
capital on a global scale, the intellectual resources of the
Tamil people too have been drawn towards metropolitan
centres, within Sri Lanka and abroad, leaving the peripheral
Tamil nation impoverished and void of knowledge. However,
the dialectics of oppression is such that, even as
impoverishment is imposed at every level, vigorous
resistance and the emergence of self confident patriotic
consciousness has been nurtured by the same process. In spite of this
heroic response, the existence of an intellectual void within the nation
has not only been obvious but its effects highly damaging...There are two models
... The first model emphasises theoretical excellence and
originality; the second effectiveness in making a practical intervention. The
first could dismiss the second as
eclectic;
the second could criticise the first for being
elitist. However, each of the two approaches are indispensable, for
effective action is impossible without guidance by sound
ideas, and sound ideas alone are useless if not accessible
for the process of social transformation."
Mahalingam Maha Uthaman, 1988 |
May 2009
"Once upon a time when an elephant was sleeping,
a mouse came up to him and saw him sleeping so soundly that he tied
the elephant with a chain. Ever since the elephant has remained a
slave of the mouse. One day a cat came by and wanted to eat the
mouse. The mouse ran to the elephant and asked for help. He promised
the elephant that if he helped the mouse would set him free. The
innocent elephant helped the mouse against the cat and then asked
him to release the chains. The mouse laughed at the elephant and
replied, “You don’t deserve to be set free; you are not fit for it.”
After a few days the same cat came again and attacked the mouse. The
mouse once again went to the elephant for help. The elephant
replied, “You are dishonest; a traitor and deceiver! I won’t help
you. I’ll try to break my chains by myself. It is good for the cat
to eat you.” And that is exactly what happened, the cat ate the
mouse and the elephant applied a bit of strength to break his own
chains and was free." From a Leaflet used by
Subhas Chandra Bose,
1944
April 2009
.".. The PR technique is simple enough: minimise the
human rights abuses, talk about it as a 'complex' two sided story, play
up efforts at reform... If possible, it is best to put these words in
the mouth of some apparently 'neutral' group of 'concerned citizens', or
a lofty institute with academic credentials...The key ‘project’ is
not to reform reality, but to manage our perceptions of it... "
Richard Swift, New Internationalist, in Mind Games, July 1999
"The notion of a
“liberal” national news media is one of the most enduring and
influential political myths... Some concessions are made to the
broader professional standards of journalism, such as the principles of
objectivity and fairness. But media owners historically have enforced
their political views and other preferences by installing senior editors
whose careers depend on delivering a news product that fits with the
owner’s prejudices. Mid-level editors and reporters who stray too far
from the prescribed path can expect to be demoted or fired. Editorial
employees intuitively understand the career risks of going beyond the
boundaries..."
Robert Parry in
Price of the 'Liberal Media' Myth, 2003
 "Tactical
paradox is the ability to project to the opponent a contradictory view of one's
position or plan... Thus when able, they appear unable.
When employed
they appear useless.
When close, they appear distant.
When distant, they
appear close.
They lure through advantages,
And take control through
confusion.
When angry, they appear to submit.
When proud, they appear to
be humble.
When comfortable, they appear to toil.
When attached they
appear separated.
They attack when the opponent is unprepared.
And appear
where least expected.
This is the Strategist's way of triumph.
It must not
be discussed beforehand...
Skilful strategists put themselves beyond attack by becoming
invisible, seamless, without error. At the sametime they gather intelligence and
analyse it in light of their objectives. They move in the same direction as
the larger trends in their world, so that they can harness the timeliness of
that momentum. Then they wait for their opponent to move, for well
positioned Strategists are led to triumph through the actions of their
opponents..."
- Sun Tzu on the Art of War
 ."..At
no time did we underestimate the might of the Prime Minister’s
(Srimavo Bandaranaike's) government.
We are quite aware that she has powers enough to turn her armed
forces against us. …The Prime Minister has made a radio speech
touching on satyagraha. That speech is more benefiting an imperial
dictator speaking to her subjects than a speech made by a democratic
leader to her people. In fact the manner and the contents of her
speech correctly depict the true status of the Tamil-speaking people
in Ceylon. The rule over them is indeed colonial imperialism. …
In her radio speech just before her departure to Great Britain, she
made an appeal to those whom she called reasonable Tamils , “To
disown the actions of the mischief makers, namely the Federalists”.
… The factual position is that there is no section of the
Tamil-speaking people, certainly in the northern and eastern
provinces, which does not fervently support the satyagraha
movement....”
S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, Leader of the Federal
Party, in the Ceylon
House of Representatives, on the 1961 Satygraha Campaign, 4 March
1961
" Decolonization is always a violent phenomenon... Decolonization,
which sets out to change the order of the world, is, obviously, a
programme of complete disorder... In the colonies it is the
policeman and the soldier who are the official, instituted
go-betweens...Non Violence is an attempt to settle the
colonial problem around a green baize table.. Compromise
is very important in the phenomenon of decolonization, for it is
very far from being a simple one... In the capitalist countries a
multitude of moral teachers, counselors and 'bewilderers' separate
the exploited and those in power. In the colonial countries, on
the contrary, the policeman and the soldier, by their immediate
presence and their frequent and direct action, maintain contact with
the native and advise him by means of rifle butts and napalm not to
budge..."
Frantz Fanon in Wrtetched of theEarth: Concerning Violence
March 2009
"...we have about 50% of the world's wealth but
only 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as
between ourselves and the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we
cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real
task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships
which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity
without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we
will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and
our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our
immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that we
can afford today the luxury of altruism and world-benefaction...
We should dispense with the aspiration to “be liked” or to be
regarded as the repository of a high-minded international altruism...We
should cease to talk about vague and - for the Far East - unreal
objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living
standards, and democratization. The day is not far off when
we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we
are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better..."
George
Kennan, Director of Policy Planning of the U.S. Dept. of State,
State Department Briefing, 1948
"..The public habit of judging the relations
between states from what appears in the papers adds to the
confusion. It must be remembered that in international affairs
things are not often what they seem to be. ..A communique which
speaks of complete agreement may only mean an agreement to differ.
Behind a smokescreen of hostile propaganda diplomatic moves may be
taking place indicating a better understanding of each other's
position...." Sardar
K.M.Pannikar, Indian Ambassador to China from 1948 to 1952, and
later Vice Chancellor, Mysore University in
Principles and Practice of Diplomacy, 1956
"...
The nation is not only the condition of culture, its fruitfulness,
its continuous renewal, and its deepening. It is also a necessity. It is the fight for national existence which sets
culture moving and opens to it the doors of creation. .. If man is known by his acts, then we will say that
the most urgent thing today for the intellectual is to build up his
nation. If this building up is true, that is to say if it interprets
the manifest will of the people ... then the building of a nation is
of necessity accompanied by the discovery and encouragement of
universalising values. Far from keeping aloof from other nations,
therefore, it is national liberation which leads the nation to play
its part on the stage of history. It is at the heart of national
consciousness that international consciousness lives and grows.
And this two-fold emerging is ultimately the source of all
culture..."
Frantz Fanon at the Congress of Black African Writers, 1959
"..எரிகின்ற நெருப்பை
அணைத்திடும் நோக்கில்
எவரேனும் வருவரோ வருவரோவென்று
எதிர் பார்த்துப் பார்த்துக்
களைத்தது போதும்..
எழுக...எழுக..
உலகத் தமிழினமே எழுக..
உண்மைகள் ஒருபோதும்
உறங்குவதில்லை..
உறங்கவும் கூடா.."
Raj Swarnan
February 2009
 "India
is a sub continent; it should be divided into a number of countries.
The continent of Europe has 32 independent countries. No one argues
that it should be a single country ruled by a single government.
Similarly there is no need for India to be under a single
government... Aryan influence increases within a single country
called India. Welfare of the other races is crushed under Aryan
rule. Uniting different races (nations) under a single country leads
to rebellions and troubles. In order to prevent such troubles and
bloodshed in India, we should divide India according to racial
(national) lines now... Even during the days of the emperors Ashoka,
Kanishkar, Samudra Gupta and Akbar, India was not a single country.
If India is divided into many countries, each country could develop
its economy according to its circumstances. It would also put an end
to one region robbing the resources of another. All races (nations)
can achieve equality only if each race (nation) has its own country
and government. We fear the thought of one race (nation) living
under the rule of another. This fear gives birth to violent
rebellion. It is necessary to divide India racially (nationally) to
prevent such violent revolutions. The reason one race (nation) has
not choked another race (nation) to death in India so far is the
British guns. When the British leave, India will become a killing
field [unless it is divided into different countries on racial
(national) basis]." C.N. Annadurai
at the Dravidar Kazagam State
Conference in Tiruchi in the 1940s (Translated from Tamil to English
by Thanjai Nalankilli)
 "...My
dear working Tamils... Vannakam. At a time when you are busy getting to work, I
am pained that I have to meet you in this way. But there is no other way. My
name is Muttukumar. I am a journalist. At present I am working in a newspaper in
Chennai.Like you, I too have daily read the news reports and the internet of the
daily killings of our fellow Tamils in Eelam. Like you I am also one of the
countless Tamils who have been unable to eat or sleep.Senth Thamizh Nadu has
given life to those who have come to it, but our blood relations in Eelam are
dying. When we raise our voices and call for an end to this killing, the Indian
imperial government says neither yes nor no and grows silent. If the Indian
government’s war is just, then it should engage in that war openly. Why does it
do it in secret and with deceit?..Tamil Eelam is not the need of Tamil Eelam
alone, it is the need of Tamil Nadu also... Dear Tamil people, in the struggle
against injustice our brothers and children (in Tamil Nadu) have taken up the
weapon of the intellect. I have used the weapon of life. You use the weapon of
photocopying. Yes, make copies of this pamphlet and distribute it to your
friends, relatives, and students and ensure that this support for this struggle
becomes greater. Nan'ri." "
Thyagi Muthukumar - Last Message before Immolating himself in Chennai
January 2009
 "I
lead no party; I follow no leader.. I propose, not to guide
you in your decision, but to attempt the humbler task of
bringing clearly to your consciousness the main principle
which, in my opinion, should determine the general character
of these decisions. There are communalism and communities. A
community which is inspired by a feeling of ill-will towards
other communities is low and ignoble. I entertain the
highest respect for the customs, laws, religious and social
institutions of other communities....The unity of an Indian
nation, therefore, must be sought, not in the negation, but
in the mutual harmony and cooperation of the many...In view
of India’s infinite variety in climates, races, languages,
creeds and social systems, the creation of autonomous states
based on the unity of language, race, history, religion and
identity of economic interests, is the only possible way to
secure a stable constitutional structure in India... ... If
these demands are not agreed to, then a question of a very
great and far-reaching importance will arise for the
community. Then will arrive the moment for independent and
concerted political action by the Muslims of India. If you
are at all serious about your ideals and aspirations, you
must be ready for such action... In the near future our
community may be called upon to adopt an independent line of
action to cope with the present crisis. And an independent
line of political action, in such a crisis, is possible only
to a determined people, possessing a will focalized by a
single purpose. ... Rise above sectional interests and
private ambitions....Pass from matter to spirit. Matter is
diversity; spirit is light, life and unity....one lesson I
have learnt from the history of Muslims. "
Allama Muhammad Iqbal, 1930 Presidential Address, 25th
Session of All India Muslim League, December 29-30, 1930 at
Allahabad - 17 Years before the Birth of Pakistan
"...I have neither the moral standing nor the
slightest desire to disparage the courage of those who engage in
non-violence.... But, non-violence, so often recommended.. has never
'worked' in any politically relevant sense of the word, and there is
no reason to suppose it ever will. It has never, largely on its own
strength, achieved the political objectives of those who employed
it... There are supposedly three major examples of successful
nonviolence: Gandhi's independence movement, the US civil rights
movement, and the South African campaign against apartheid. None
of them performed as advertised. The notion that a people can
free itself literally by allowing their captors to walk all over
them is historical fantasy..."
Nonviolence: Its Histories and Myths - Professor Michael Neumann,
2003
 "...We
who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked
through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of
bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient
proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the
last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given
set of circumstances, to choose one's own way... Since
Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since
Hiroshima we
know what is at stake..."
Viktor Frankl in Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning
"...First Habit :..You can decide within
yourself how circumstances will affect you. Between what happens to
you, or the stimulus, and your response to it, is your freedom or
power to choose that response... Borrowing strength builds
weakness. It builds weakness in the borrower because it reinforces
dependence on external factors to get things done. It builds
weakness in the person forced to acquiesce, stunting the development
of independent reasoning, growth and internal discipline. And
finally it builds weakness in the relationship. Fear replaces
cooperation, and both people involved become more arbitrary and
defensive... Fifth Habit: If I were to summarise in one
sentence the single most important principle I have learned in inter
personal relations, it would be this: 'Seek first to understand, then
to be understood.'..." Stephen Covey in
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Comment by
tamilnation.org
That which Stephen Covey has said about highly effective people may
have equal applicability to a highly effective nation of people.
Continued
- Reflections
2008.....
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