President,
Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society,
Ven. Banagala Upatissa leads a group of monks to offer homes
before celebrations begin
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Sri
Lankan Deputy High Commissioner, Sumith Nakandala and songstress
Latha Walpola lighting the traditional oil lamp |
A
little bit of Sri Lanka in Chennai
By
Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Rarely
indeed would a Sri Lankan refugee, living in the Indian state of Tamil
Nadu get an opportunity to meet people from home. The refugees there,
numbering around 250,000 and scattered around some 111 camps within
the state, it is this opportunity that the Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society
in Chennai has been providing for three consecutive years, on the day
Sri Lanka independence is celebrated.
February
4 acquires enhanced meaning in Chennai, when this isolated and
neglected group of Sri Lankans are welcomed to share the country's
independence, celebrated with a special cultural programme at the
Mahabodhi Centre at Egmore, Chennai where every attempt is made to
integrate the community back into the fold and to demonstrate the
close cultural links shared by Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
Not
that everyone gets the opportunity, but a conscious effort is being
made to ensure that the refugees are given provide of place as the
country celebrates emancipation from the pinnacles of imperialism half
a century ago.
Those
who gathered at the Mahabodhi were proof enough of their collective
desire to return home for good, despite the temporary political
uncertainty back at home.
According
to President of the Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society, Ven. Banagala
Upatissa thero," It is an effort to reintegrate them, to show
that we value them and want them back on home soil. They are innocent
victims of a political issue that has developed into a bloody affair
in which they had no part".
As
such, the Mahabodhi is determined to demonstrate the close
socio-cultural, geo-political links and to strengthen them.
The
Mahabodhi, founded by a zealous Buddhist Anagarika Dharmapala to
foster Buddhism in the land of its birth by now has several of its
reaches in parts of India, serving the cause its founder perused a
century ago.
At
a ceremony specially organized to mark the 56th anniversary of Sri
Lankan independence, the Ven. thero said that Mahabodhi's mission was
no longer confined to a religious one, it was also cultural. One that
should aim at ethnic integration," he explained.
As
Sri Lankan flags flew high and an air of festivity prevailed, the Ven.
Thero reminded the gathering that there was a need to make India, Sri
Lanka's best friend and to acknowledge that from the gift of Buddhism
to political emancipation some 56 years ago, India has played such a
crucial role in the geopolitics of Sri Lanka.
As
Thangavani Arunavel, a refugee who was lucky to attend the
celebrations noted; " I just can't wait to return home. It has
been 20 long years and I want to close my eyes in Thenmarachchi, my
hometown". It was a sentiment shared by so many. That's also why
they valued a special ceremony to celebrate Sri Lankan independence in
a state that has become their second home.
"
We then feel wanted, looked after. We do not want to simply form
statistics but to be wanted by our motherland" many said.
As
veteran playback singer Latha Waplpola took the stage to render some
of her popular songs, there was many an aged refugee with brimming
eyes.
"
There is nothing like hearing a voice from Sri Lanka. They bring back
so many memories," claimed Thiru Kariyappan, another refugee.
The
issue of refugees is also a priority concern for the Sri Lankan Deputy
High Commissioner in Chennai, Sumith Nakandala. Addressing the
ceremony, he said that the mission has embarked upon an ambitious
programme to facilitate refugees who wish to 'voluntarily repatriate'.
" It is the best we could offer at the moment. The lands have to
be cleared and we are not forcing anybody to go home. But I am
surprised by the desire to go back, specially now that a truce is
on" he told The Sunday Leader.
He
said that there are some 111 camps scattered around Tamil Nadu where
95% of the refugees are illegal migrants. That does pose a problem for
the mission in giving them clearance to return home. However, the
Chennai mission issues marriage, death and birth certificates within a
day and temporary travel documents within an hour.
As
hopes spring eternal in the human heart, this year too, these refugees
collectively said that there is nothing more they wished for than to
return to their homes and hearths in the northern peninsula.
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Latha
Gee Mela
Latha
Walpola, the premier playback artiste flew to Chennai specially
to hold " Latha Gee Mela", a concert for peace. The
show held on February 6 at the Museum Theatre, Chennai amply
demonstrated, besides her undisputed skill, that music crossed
all barriers, including the ethnic divide.
It
was also a sort of pilgrimage for the artiste who has not
stepped on Indian soil for some 43 years. "I was going back
home," gushed Walpola, who had frequented Chennai decades
ago to record her film songs. Since recording began in Sri
Lanka, there has never been an opportunity for her to go back,
the very place that made her a singer.
"
Nothing could be compared to an Indian public. Hey simply love
any kind of artistic expression and so value fine arts. I just
love singing before them" she enthused. Walpola also
believes that most problems would not have emerged if there were
respect for other cultures. "The silken thread that binds
communities is their cultural links. We are so intrinsically
linked to India, particularly to the south and knowing our
closeness than our differences could benefit us
enormously," she noted.
*
* *
The
concept of the Tamil Buddhist
While
it may sound peculiar to those who are only used to the concept
of a 'Sinhala Buddhist', the reality as demonstrated by Prof.
Sunil Ariyaratne, senior lecturer at the Sri Jayawardenepura
University was that there was a vast majority of non Sinhalese
Buddhists, particularly Tamils.
Prof.
Ariyaratne observed that there is historical evidence available
to prove the existence of Tamil Buddhists both in Tamil Nadu and
Sri Lanka. He noted that scriptures were available that seek to
establish this link, one that commenced with the visit by Arhath
Mahinda to Anuradhapura bearing the message of Dhamma during the
Emperor Asoka's period.
He
added that there was literary support too- such as out of the
five great Tamil epics, two, Manimekalai and Kundalakesi being
vastly influenced by Buddhism.
He
noted that it was a misnomer to believe the non-existence of a
Tamil Buddhist as for many centuries, there have been thousands
of Tamils who have rendered yeomen service to foster
Buddhism. |
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