Dr.Rajasinghan Narendran

Thanks for ur reply .I definitely miss the comment fora in DBSJ columns . Anyway I found a quote from Late Swami Krishnanada ( Divine Life Society ,Rishikesh , India )as apt for the people of SL or for any place where there is conflict .
Here it is :
“When my soul can visualize your soul ,then we become really friends ; otherwise ,we are not friends .Any amount of roundtable conferences of individuals with no soulful connection will not lead to success .”- Swami Krishnananda, from the book “The Study and Practice of Yoga- An Exposition of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ,Vol-1”

So what is needed is a soulful connection from all the sides and good that people like you are taking the first steps towards that .

http://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/from-the-inside-out-reconciliation-is-more-than-possible/

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

Dear Krishna,

I am glad you have come into the on-going discussion. I am sure you miss the comments fora in tanscurrents and dbsj.com. Thanks for your appreciative comments. The least I can do is write about what ‘I’ think is right and should be done, detractors not withstanding.

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

I really appreciate your efforts in bringing peace and harmony in Sri Lanka after 3 decades of bloody ethnic war . You yourself have been a victim of this violence from all 3 forces : SL , LTTE ,IPKF and yet you have decided to come back and stay in Jaffna and try to do your best in helping in bringing back normalcy .
I feel very sad to see some of the people here accusing you as an agent of the SL Government and getting some special favors from it and linking you with people like Douglas Devananda etc .
.The scars of the last 3 decades of this ethnic war are difficult to heal and it is not easy for everyone to drop their bitterness , hatred ,suspicion etc . So the bitterness of some people are understandable .
I appreciate the fact that inspite of all this you are continuing your efforts in urging people to move forward rather than weeping for what happened in the past or planning for another revenge in future .
All the best in your efforts .

Easwaran V.P,

Thanks. Briefly, the Tamils are not week, but debilitated. The way they are tenaciously struggling to survive now, amidst unbelievable odds, indicates that they are yet strong in mind and spirit. They have not given up. They may be week physically, but are not so mentally. This struggle manifests in many ways, several not acceptable in any civilized society. However, it is there for all to see. However, their energy should be harnessed and directed. This energy should become a positive force for progress. They need abundent help and a wise, mature, far sighted leadership to do this. Unfortunately, while some help is available, they have absolutely no leadership.

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

Thanks. You have a right to believe and accept what sounds right to you. I have also the right to present by viewpoint without being accused of being biased towards the government. I appreciate small mercies,though in this instance they are substantial, because I see the war-affected Tamils day in and day out and their plight.

Further, your quote from Gandhi, had a different meaning and context. He was contrasting the British with the Indians and urging the Indians to be strong minded. He was urging the Indians to be strong minded enough to forgive the trespasses of the British. It takes a great people to forgive. Nelson Mandela, followed the same philosophy. Unforgivenss is a character fault and weakness. Gandhi wanted the Indians to be great and not mean and small beings! Of course this will apply to us too. We are not a week people despite our misfortunes. We are a great people, who have lost our way. Incidentally, both Gandhi and Mandela, prevented a blood bath and prevented bitterness and anger to rule the roost.

Let us re-assert our greatness by forgiving first and at our own volition! This will be the beginning of the ‘Turning of the page in our history’. This will be the beginning of reconciliation, withour any preconditions. Forgiveness from a strong people cannot be conditional. Why should we try to prove the obvious or justify our equally bad responses?

We have to solve our problems in the context of the Sri Lanka of today. The issues are changes to the consitution and the political system, rule of law, elimination of corruption and nepotism, rebuilding institutions, reform of the political culture, good governance, fair justice, equality as citizens, equal opportunities, meritocracy, participation of all sections of people in governance and security to person and property. These problems apply to all Sri lankans. Let us demand these along with all other Sri Lankans. Let us not re-ignite fires that have already done much damage to us.

What Auvaiyar philosophised is eternal truth applicable to all ages and all contexts.

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

A concerned citizen,

Let us not try to play cricket, without wickets! Please let me know what you understand by the term reconciliation and list the parameters that define it, in the case of Sri Lanka. This will make it easier for me to reply you point by point.

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran