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Trinco truck bomb aimed at high profile political target
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laliths
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1 Jul 2007 16:21:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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Http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070701/News/nws24.html
BBC blunder on Sri Lanka the day new UK govt. took office
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Pawan98
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1 Jul 2007 16:56:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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In brief, the caste issue is not as strong an issue as among tamils.
To the best of my knowledge Tamils have 16 or 18 different castes while Sinhaleese have 12 castes.
We had one Tamil junior batchmate in the university who is from Iyer Caste and the Tamils girls in the university would step away and would not even look at his face if they encounter him on coridoors. When we asked why they do that they said he is from poosary caste and they have to respect him. I must say that, he is a very nice guy.
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AnuD
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1 Jul 2007 17:02:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Pawan98:
To the best of
I knew one such tamilguy who was a womanizer. |
laliths
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1 Jul 2007 17:05:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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Pawan98,
As a Sinhalese I have had firts class experinece with Caste/Class issues. But, I just ignore these things and don't let me get stressed out. It is very sad that we have these in these modern days.
IF...............I live by this peom by Rudyard Kipling.
IF]
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
--Rudyard Kipling
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AnuD
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1 Jul 2007 17:12:06 GMT Report for Abuse
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LalithS:
Excellent poem.
Write your personal experience ingeneral terms, please. |
Pawan98
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1 Jul 2007 17:17:51 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Most of the current generation do not care a thing about the caste, but still it prevails in cases like marriages since we are matriachal society and the old guard try to prevail over the choices the young generations make. it will gradually get worn out. |
laliths
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1 Jul 2007 17:35:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD,
I was about 12 because I was playing under 12 Cricket for my school and I went to play in upcountry and the whole team was invited by a one of our players family to their house for dinner. When we arrived there the head of the family asked each ones name and some were taken inside to the dining table and few others we sat out side on a 'Lovi bankuwa' and give a plate with food to eat.
At that age I have not heard of these things and we never much thought to why we were asked to sit out side. Later in life I heard even my elders talk about these caste and how my caste was great. I thought these guys were just losers who have not gained any thing in life expect to brag who is related to whom.
I am from the south costal belt. So can easily guess if I am a Salagama, Durawa or Karawa caste which are predominant in south. We have interracial and inter caste inter religion marriages in our family also. But we do not have 'Lowi Banku' for the low caste. I personally do not care and have the policy 'Don't ask Don't tell' Policy.
I am very sorry to say, here in Canada also in the Sinhalese community this is prevalent.
This is truly a curse.
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AnuD
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1 Jul 2007 17:41:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Laliths:
I knew one guy from Gampola area ,and he was used to let down one of another friend so often. this gampola guy was so dumb and stupid just like Udurawana and Only thing he could boast was his wealth, tea estate etc., etc.,
The one who was victimized was from Horana and, I don't know how he traced his Caste. I think by the name.
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Emperor74
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1 Jul 2007 17:46:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Does anybody know all the castes among Sinhalese and Tamils ?(Not for the purpose of segregation ,just curious about it)
This ' Social cancer' has infiltrated to Buddhist chapters in Sri lanka, this clearly reflects the Buddhism practiced in Sri lanka is very much different to the what Buddha really taught.
Edited By - Emperor74 - 1 Jul 2007 17:50:08 GMT |
laliths
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1 Jul 2007 17:49:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD,
I had an uncle who would say after meeting someone 'Meya Ape Kattiyea Kenek'. Meaning he is from the same caste.
He was an expert in these things. He could say if one is from Govigama, Durawa, karawa or Salagama by their first name. Which is the 'Ge' name.
This part is taken from a web site:
The Sinhalese community usually have two names. The first is called the 'GE' (Sinhalese for House or Tribe, pronounced 'gay') Name while the second is the actual name of the individual. The 'GE' name may indicate the place from which their family originated, the title or profession of the Head of the family or any other special characteristic of the family that prevailed at the time. Hence a person may be called 'MuhandiramlaGE Simon' which indicates that he hails from the 'House of Muhandiram' and his name is Simon. Muhandiram is a title meaning an appointed commissioner or leader of a locality. This prefix 'GE' name is carried down through all descendants irrespective of whether they are male or female and would serve more effectively for searching such family connectivity. Sinhalese women usually adopt the second name of the spouse after marriage, yet keep their prefixed family or 'GE' name in tact. The Sinhalese, usually, use an initial to indicate the first name rather than spell it out in its full form
The Tamil community have a completely unique and different method of nomenclature. They also, usually, use two names, the first representing their father's name and the second representing their own. Eg Ponnambalam Ramanathan indicates that the individuals name is Ramanathan and he is the son of Ponnambalam. The son of P. Ramanathan would then become Ramanathan Arulanantham, where the son's name is Arulanantham and is prefixed by the name of his father. The Tamils, like the Sinhalese, usually, use an initial to indicate the first name rather than spell it out in its full form. Women too use the same naming structure but do adopt the husbands name after marriage. Searching for connectivity using names for Tamils can be difficult unless one recognizes the convention they usually adopt.
It must also be noted here that both Sinhalese and Tamil communities maintain a caste system, even until today, and this caste system can also have its influence on providing them prefixed names or titles.
Moors, who are Muslims of Arab origin, have multiple methods of naming amongst their community. Many of those in villages and remote towns use their fathers name as a prefix, similar to the Tamils, differing in only by the fact that they may use more than one name for the prefix. Eg Muhammad Ismail has a son and names him Muhammad Ismail Muhammad Saleem where the sons name is Muhammad Saleem. The names Muhammad or Ahmed are commonly sued across the board as first names for male Muslims while the names Fathima or Sithy or Ummu or Noor are used for females. Furthermore Muslims have a tendency to give more than one name for their offspring. This, usually, rises from the fact that all members of both spouses family take part in contributing these names. Modern Muslims living in the metropolitan areas and big cities, have adopted the use of the running Surname as is used in western cultures. This is a direct influence of the Colonial era. Malays too follow the practice of carrying on the Surname throughout their descendants. However they have a tendency to use the Prefix TUAN for males and GNEI for females as a standard similar to the Muhammad and Fathima of the Moors. Although Islam does not recommend the giving up of the family name by women after marriage most Muslim women have adopted the modern western method of taking their husbands name. Muslims also have a tendency to use initials to depict all their names except the last one thus giving rise to many names like, M.S.M. Irfan or A.L.M. Rasheed.
By this they sometimes become known to the rest of the community by the initials instead of the last name, eg ALM or MSM. Many Muslims living in the Central Province of the country also have Sinhalese 'GE' names prefixed to all their Muslim names. This has been, mainly, on account of special titles and honour rendered upon them by the ancient Sinhalese Kings for various services and work rendered by them to the Royalty and Community during that era.
The Burghers, who are direct descendants of Colonial Europeans and the locals, either Sinhalese or Tamil, conform to the western system of naming where the Surname is carried down the line. Women, of course, adopt the Surname of the husband after marriage.
The Christians, who are mostly descended from converts from Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus during the colonial era adopt the modern western method of nomenclature keeping their surnames running down the line. However, some of them may still carry their prefix 'GE' names, if they were previously Sinhalese. Some Tamil Christians still maintain their original Hindu system of nomenclature keeping their immediate fathers name as a prefix.
Thus it will be seen that Sri Lankans have a mixed variety of naming conventions and methods amongst all their ethnic groups to such an extent that it would be almost impossible to use any fixed type of search methodology to research their progeny. This fact is very important to be borne in mind by those using presently established methods of search using Surnames or Family Names.
Currently among the Sri Lankan Tamils, some of the equivalent Sinhalese castes are:
Vellala equivalent to Govigama
Karaiyar equivalent to Karava
Paraiyar equivalent to Berava
Nalavar equivalent to Durave
Pallar equivalent to Batgama
Saliyar equivalent to Salagama
Thurumbar equivalent to Hina
Edited By - laliths - 1 Jul 2007 17:54:11 GMT |
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