An appeal to Hon. Mutuwel Karunanidi!

| by Dr.Sripali Vaiamon 

( September 25, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A regular contributor to Sri Lanka Guardian, Shenali Waduge’s article appeared today ( Sept 25,2012 ) in the ‘Ministry of Defence and Urban Development’s bulletin under the caption ‘Who is funding Karunanidi’s Tamil Eelam “dream?’ had two lines at the end which was a warning with these simple words -Unless Sri Lanka as a nation is able to come together we cannot fight forces that pretend to be friend, because such friends are far more dangerous than the visible enemy.

This hint prompted me to write something about Two Tamil Nadu giants, Jayalalitha and Karunanidi. In this article I’ll concentrate more on our friend, veteran movie screenplay writer, Mr.Mutuwel Karunanidi. 

We know very well that Chief Minister and Mr.Karunanidi are not in parallel with regard to their views relevant to political situations in Sri Lanka. Better they forget about Sri Lankans’ affairs altogether and pay much heed to uplift the standard of living of the Tamil Nadu citizens, particularly that of  Dalit people whom so-called high caste category treated them  as scavengers. I personally believe Mr.Karunabidi is too old to dabble about politics unlike Annadorai’s epoch.  Now he must bid good bye to party politics, engage in social activities and his talented area of Tamil movies.

I can remember perusing a few reviews of Parashakthi, the masterpiece of Hon. Mutuwel Karunanidi, where his forceful dialogues and Shivaji’s brilliant acting made it a world-class Tamil movie. Karunanidi possessed an inborn talent for screenplays and lyrics. He gave it up for unknown reason and now dabbles about in politics. In Annadorai’s time he was somewhat vociferous in politics, demonstrated tangible actions but not now. Now he is too old and always meddles with something undesirable. High time that he give up politics and involve in social activities along with displaying incomparable talent in screen plays and composing lyrics.

His stories, dialogues and conceptions imbedded in Panam and Thangurathnam where meaningful suggestions such as abolition of untouchablity, self respect marriages, abolition of Zamindari etc. were golden views suitable for the 21^st century. You are really a scholar like Thiruvalluwar.

You can’t be quite deaf and blind to unthinkable atrocities committed to low caste people, untouchables in Tamil Nadu. There are over two hundred and fifty million Dalit in your vast country, India. But don’t bother about other parts of the country, you concentrated primarily on Tamil Nadu. Your region! I contributed few weeks back to Sri Lanka Guardian under the caption, A Prabhakaran should have been born in Tamil Nadu. There I highlighted why and how Eelam war was started by Prabhakaran. May I quote to remind the readers of Sri LankaGuardian-“Classic instance was that of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, a recognized Tamil Leader, who opposed the introduction of adult franchise on the ground that it would give the lower caste the right to vote. He was also against the tradition of equal seating and commensurate in Jaffna schools. ( Tamil and Donoughmore commission)

Govt. Issued the Social Disability Act of 1957 forbidding create discriminations by land lords and other upper caste and high class elites, but they did not pay any heed. However, prior to branding them with the ghastly label of Dalit Prabhakaran was adamant to show his colors. He was eagerly awaiting with a deep depression ,hatred and animosity from a long time. When Mr. Amirthalingam incited Tamil youth to rise up against the government of Sinhalese in a meeting at Mankulam they opined it is an ideal opportunity. 

Prabhakararan and the youngsters who could not stand daily harassments in innumerable ways to the oppressed people in his society who had been categorized as low castes, scheduled castes and paraihas by the upper castes, so-called Vellalas and other land lords, with Amirthalingam’s push they got the Dutch courage to launch a struggle against the oppressors, the high caste people and the government for discriminations. They aimed at the double target. They had more animosity towards the upper caste, Vellalas more than the government.

So these young brats formed a terrorist group and the first attack was in 1972 on the Mayor of Jaffna.Mr.Alfred Doraiappa, a high caste, high class, well recognized leader in the Tamil society in Jaffna.” This I quoted to reminisce that if you do not take timely actions to eradicate Dalit position in Tamil Nadu a similar holocaust may crop up one day and they will attack on high caste people. So take this situation as a timely warning.

Have you done anything worthwhile to uplift the standard of the low caste people hitherto. But you worry constantly about Tamils in Sri Lanka. They are after the war well look after by the Sri Lankan government. You need not worry. They suffered considerably during the past 26 years when the LTTE was fighting to carve a separate region for them with millions that Prabhakaran got from foreign Diaspora. Now it has come to an end. A complete end! Now those who are living in the North of Sri Lanka are Sri Lankan Tamils and not Tamil Nadu Tamils. Their identity is now different .They make every possible attempt to live with other communities of the Island. They will be much better off in near future. You must have read the affirmative comments made by M.S.Sushama Swaraj, the Leader of the Opposition of the Lok Sabha, after visiting the North with her delegation. From today ( Sept. 25.) there are no more IDPs in camps. But you as a Tamil Nadu leader should take every step to uplift the standard of living of thousands of Tamil Nadu Dalits who are living almost like astray dogs. You must be reading the atrocities committed to them which appear in your daily papers such as Daily Thanthi, Dinakaran, Kumudan etc.It is you and your Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s prime responsibility to ease this dastardly situation.        

Now please enlighten me Mr.Karunanidi is there any different between a Dalit and you. It is the same blood flows in yours and of a Dalit body. It is the same anatomy both of you have. Limbs are almost the same. Then what is this childish idea to make such a colossal difference between low caste and high caste citizens in your Tamil Nadu?.Could there be any acceptable reason other than throbbing out your ignorance. P.M. Manmohan Sing with others’ opinion appointed a Dalit lady Madam Moira Kumar as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Now all the so-called high caste members have to bent their heads and salute her when they enter the Chamber. But these are only patch work. With these along the meaningless caste hierarchy cannot be eradicated. That great leader, Mahathma Gandhi strongly pronounced ‘untouchabilty should be eradicated’. Has anything concrete done by the Indian Regime so far. Nothing! Even honour killing is still going on. Although, there is a prominent leader like Sonia Gandhi, who has been elected by the Forbes magazine last month one step above the First Lady of America, and she bears no caste tint at all.

My appeal is to you. Mr. Mutuwel Karunanidi! You must look after critically your own affairs. Affairs in the Tamil Nadu. Don’t dream to have a Tamil Eelam! Don’t bother about Sri Lanka Tamils. Prabhakaran had to drag his Eelam war mainly because of treacherous treatment meted out to low caste people in his society by their Land lords. Who taught that they are high caste and low caste people should live in gutters. Who has given them such a stubborn right? These primitive concepts grossly misunderstood by arrogant Indians still continue caste hierarchy in an unprecedented scale. Now according to research data there are more than 3000 caste in India along although Aryans created just FOUR according to their professions. Now we are living in the 21^st century. We are more educated than the Vedic era.

Low class people in the North of Sri Lank didn’t bother much about the discrimination of the government. Their enemies were high caste people. Harassments were unbearable. Although old people tolerate young brats were not agreeable. During the 26 year war he was able to ousted indirectly so many so-called high caste people from the country. Hundreds were bumped off by making them lamp post victims. According to my article, ‘A Prabhakaran should be born in Tamil Nadu.’ If that happened you would have become a lamp post victim. Because he did not tolerate politicians of your category.

Citizens in every country desire to live in peace. You know it is very well because weapon manufacturers are allowed to manufacture weapons for private sector too and sell open market. Consequently these holocausts are taking place in the globe. They must be allowed to manufacture lethal weapons for respective governments only.

May I quote a passage from my last year’s novel, The Therapy .pps 502-503

“She (main character of the story) has emphatically stated to request all Religious  dignitaries to raise a loud voice to urge lethal weapon manufacturers of the world to do away with their criminal task where their main objective is to make huge money by selling these weapons which will utilize to massacre human beings who constantly struggle to lead a decent life with peace and unity in this wide world. Peace and non-violence now have been widely identified as fundamental for human survival according to honest politicians. Governments of respective countries comprised with such politicians should procure lucrative ventures for these criminal minded businessmen to undertake and get totally divorced from weapon manufacturing to sell in open market and provide to terrorists at large. Weapons should be manufactured strictly for governments’ requirements only. Consequently if they are likely to lose their revenue respective governments should compensate them by purchasing more for government requirements. However peace is paramount for human beings to live a happy life. 

Under no circumstances governments should be allowed to manufacture chemical and nuclear weapons.

Because the existence and risk of proliferation of weapons with fissile material continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to human security in the globe. This is paramount for the United Nations to discuss at length and initiate positive actions.”

Mr.Karunanidi, whom I cherished as an art loving personality, I wish to appeal you honestly to do away with politics and engage in social services to uplift the low caste people suffering grossly in Tamil Nadu although your Chief Minister pay no heed. You must display your talent again scripting better stories for movies to entertain million. That is your birth right.   We like to watch a modernized Parashakthi suit for 21^st century.

In a future article I’ll deal with our good lady Jayalalitha who was one of my favourite movie personalities.