http://www.worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=139

Thanks

Hampton

razib, i like that a lot. Is that javasct or html, LOL.

It’s fine if people have complaints about reservations in India, but it’s really a very different issue, and the attempts to draw parallels to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict are pretty stretched. Really Israel/Palestine or Northern Ireland have more in common with SL, though they are thousands of miles away. It seems to me that Patterns is just expressing a caste grievance.

I had another thread last week (on Indra Nooyi) get taken over by this kind of caste talk, and I’d really prefer not to see that kind of discussion start up again. Ironically, the discussion on that thread was why Tamil Brahmins are such over-achievers.

The whole movement was started as a backlash from influential Jaffna Vellala Tamils against taking away the power they had.(Not only migrant Indian Tamils but also Eastern Tamils were mere spectators in the begining).

Contrarary to the current perception that 1956 Sinhala Only act was done to strip Tamils of their right,It was the English educated upper class that was the target at the time.Jaffna Vellala Tamils happen to be English educated working in government jobs ,without fluency in the Langauge of the 75% of the people of the country. The Biggest victims of the Sinhala Only act were Burgers of European ancestry .They began emigrating to Autralia,England and New Zealand.Just read Micheal Ondatchchi or Carl Muller.

I think Bandaranayeke government had to introduce a bill to accomodate Tamil within 3 years. Sinhala Only act targeted English and the upper class that held most of the government jobs.I don’t doubt the racist element with Sinhalese wanted to use it as a weapon against minorities but movemment for Sinhala only Act stemmed from a legitamate grievanve in part of Sinhala educated lower class who were kept out of halls of power.

Please save it for another day or another blog.

Brahmins seem to always win the majority of “open” seats and are disproportionately represented still? I may be wrong.

As an exercise, consider this: bar Sri Lankan Tamils from 80% of educational seats. Open the remaining 20% for all (Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, Burghers). The Sri Lankan Tamils, owing to the historical emphasis on educational achievement, probably will garner a disproportionate share of that 20%. Will you then say as you do above in the case of the Brahmins? This example should illuminate further the shared patterns between the Sri Lankan Tamil and Tamil Brahmin experience, regardless of the assorted justifications offered.

Sure, there is a lot more common between the Sinhalese, Malaysian Bhumiputra, and the assorted communities in Tamil Nadu that engaged in enforcing systemic policies through power gained by the vote, favoring themselves and disempowering othes. Dismissing that, and the common patterns amongst the affected partise be they Sri Lankan or Malay Tamils or Tamil Brahmins, with a comparison to “apples and oranges” seems empty and smacks of knee-jerkism. Perhaps its easier to identify with and bemoan the woes of distant affected parties than to recognize and correct the same problems that prevail in surrounding society

Very true. But then again tamil brahmins dont conduct suicide bombings against civilians and politicians demanding a separate “elam”.

There was no ‘non-Brahmin’ only policies in TN like the ‘Sinhala’ only policies of Sri lanka.. Rather if you look at it pre-Independence-1920s there were ‘Brahmins only’ hotels / messes and what not…. where ‘low castes’ are not allowed.. Well, they are just following the ‘Whites only’ hotels/messes.. Your analogy is a poor attempt in trivialising the Tamil/Sinhala problem..

Very true. But the current reservations system makes it near impossible for an average bramin kid to get into any medical or engineering school. Ditto for government jobs. So from that stand point, it is similar and not quite apples to oranges. May be we are comparing apples to pears…

Upper caste Vellalas, Naidus, Pillais, Mudaliars all shunned the Pariah/”Adi Dravidas” too. Not just Brahmins.

Yet there fall quite comfortably under the radar. The reservation system specifically targets just brahmins. Vote bank politics at its worst. No one needs to appease 3%.

When did that ‘motorbike’ incident happen?.. 1960s??… You are wrong on the ‘open’ seats too. Check the latest ‘medical admission’ list..

Upper caste Vellalas, Naidus, Pillais, Mudaliars all shunned the Pariah/”Adi Dravidas” too. Not just Brahmins.

Right, ‘self respect’ movement is hijacked by non-Brahmin upper castes like the ones you mentioned above.. They are getting their turns too. Why do you think parties like the PMK and Dalit Panthers are gaining support (parties representing lower castes)..

but that is completely irrelevant to the current blog on Tamil/Sinhala relations..

Chandare:

You wrote:

1.Amaradeep: “And yes, I know that the LTTE runs orphanages, schools, and hospitals. “

Yes most of it funded by Sri Lanka government using existing government infrastucture.Officals report to both Government and LTTE.

Can you provide a citation to prove that? I’ve never read anything indicating that that was true. In fact, there’s been considerable news coverage of the fact that the Tigers run a de facto state.

Hi Context, If we can both agree that it is Sri Lanka government that is providing basic infrastucture(except police and judiciary) we can move to the next issue.