Hear My VOICE: Jalajakumari Selvarasa ~ “I could often feel the nostalgia”
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Jalajakumari Selvarasa is convinced and lives daily with hope
Jalajakumari Selvarasa (41) is very duty conscious in a bottle green traditional Shalwar Kameez. She sits at the entrance of the women’s side of the springs, and gives the instructions in Tamil to the devotees who visit “Keerimalai” springs in Jaffna district, North of Sri Lanka. She shows the way with her shiny smile to the new comers here in “Keerimalai“.
Keerimalai literally translates Mongoose Hill in English. Naguleswaram temple is one of the five hallowed Lord Sivan temples (Panchcha Ishwaram) in Sri Lanka. Naguleswaram temple is situated here in “Keerimalai“, which is 50 feet above the main sea level.
“I am happy to be here and help the devotees. It is a sacred place and sanctity should be maintained at all times. I am doing a small service to the community” says Jalajakumari Selvarasa while wearing a cotton cap to compete with the balmy weather here in “Keerimalai” .
Red vermilion called “Pottu” (dot) is placed on her forehead and pair of Silver toe rings on her feet show that she is married. A sharp line of holy ash on her forehead and a multi colour holy thread on her left wrist show her strong spirituality.
She has five children~ 2 sons and 3 daughters. She got displaced several times due to war. She lived in “Pandatharippu” and “Vanni“. She currently lives in Alavetty in a rented house. Her house in “Keerimalai” stands still and empty with names written in English, Sinhala and Tamil and pictures painted in colour.
“Displacement has become a part of my life. I initially got displaced in 1983 from our house in Keerimalai, during the heavy fighting between the security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels known as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. My house falls under the High Security Zone (HSZ) in “Keerimalai”. Now, I get to see my house everyday when I come here for my duty. But I could often feel the nostalgia. I am looking forward to a day, when I will be able to live in my hometown again with my family. I hope and pray that, the day is not too far. I have a few dreams to come true, one is returning to my hometown and live with my family and serve the God” shares Jalajakumari Selvarasa with her unambiguous hope flickering in her heart.
Dushi
Thank you for bringing out this series of stories to the outside world.
The year 2011 is with us. Any new year will not change the lives of the oppressed Tamils and prevent genocide unless Tamils work with political wisdom to achieve independence .
Unitedly, as they are now, Tamils must work to losen the bonds of hardship and undo the burdens imposed on them by the Government of Sri Lanka(GOSL) for decades. Tamils must break the yoke put on them and work tirelessly for the oppression to cease.
Tamils are not and will not be ashamed to say that they are persecuted by the Sinhalese. It is the Sinhalese who would be ashamed to realise that they oppress the human kind and are not fit to live in this world.
The GOSL for decades had and will have Tamil lapdogs, poodles and cronies to divide and rule us. The GOSL will be untruthful as usual and use cheating as never before, as the genocide they carry out gets more and more exposed daily internationally.
The GOSL will use “development” to cover up its misdeeds against Tamils as it is happening in Sudan now. But it will fail miserably.
The year 2011 will be an year of diisgrace for the past deeds of the Sinhalese against the Tamils and Tamils will not allow a single stone unturned to bring to justice the criminals of genocide.
This is how I forsee the year 2011 and feel what the Tamils must do.
Dear Spiritual Man,
What exactly are you saying that the Tamils must do? I understood what you were saying in vague terms, but I think I missed how you plan to help Ms. Jalajakumari.
Dear Spiritual Man and others of your thoughts,
The Lady mentioned in the article does not need any more conflict, any more so called self determination as the diaspora settled in the west feels they need, what she needs is dignity and self respect, being able to live in her own home in her own village in peace and harmony and to follow her religion without hinderance and for her children to have a good education with job prospects.
That is the true freedom and self determination not some concept called ealam (did I Spell it Right?) which displaced her and put ak47,s in her childrens hands and wasted a couple of generations of Sri Lankan youth from all sides leading to nothing but ruin for all Sri Lankans and great profit for the western arms dealers who sold destruction to both sides of the conflict.
Sri Lanka is a tiny Island which struggles to economically servive as a whole it has no chance in the world as two tiny bits.
Lets help this lady and thosands if not hundreds of thousands like her who live in all parts of Sri Lanka to acheive true freedom and self determination.
Stop peddling your Ealam nonsense and pay the mortgage, Tax and your dues in the west and any money left shoud buy essentials for resurgence of the once proud and very valued tamil community of Sri Lanka and not guns and C4 for Suicide Jackets.
Happy New year to all.
Maithri
Hi Dushy
Great job for humanity Dushy.
Thanks
Ganesh
Jalajakumari is an innocent person, of whom trying to get her life back & lead normal life in her hometown. It could have happened to anyone & love see these people will have their life back to normal as before 1983
I am interested in Keremal. I am wondering how is Vaithilingam madam which was built many years ago by my great grandfather.
I would like to remodl into a hospital availabe to all srilankans
Thanks