The farce of the ‘Adhivasi’ indigenes of Sri Lanka
Posted on September 2nd, 2011
R Chandrasoma
In most parts of South and East Asia there are remnants of ancient populations that differ significantly in appearance from their late-established compatriots. These ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”primitivesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ are readily identified by tokens of physical constitution that bespeak their separateness. In Sri Lanka there is good evidence to believe that an Australoid stock ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” called the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”VeddhasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ – inhabited the forested hinterland of our Island many centuries ago. Indeed, they may lay claim to be the to be the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka. The fact that needs emphasis is that their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”primitivenessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is necessarily revealed by the possession of bodily features that proclaimed their evolutionary antiquity. They were very dark, had flat primitive faces with heavy brow-ridges, broad noses and a marked prognathism, Their cranial capacity was low indicated by a narrow and sloping forehear.
Let us now look at the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”ardhivasisƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ – supposedly veddhas ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” greeted and feted by no less a person than the President of Sri Lanka. From the pictures shown in newspapers and on TV, it is clear that a huge charade is being enacted. The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”chiefsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and lesser folk displayed are anthropologically indistinguishable fron the ordinary run of village Sinhalese ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they display the dolichocephalic skulls and fine facial architecture of the dark Caucasoids that dominated our Island from historic times. These people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the so-called Ardhivasis ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” may mimic the life-style of an ancient mother- stock (the authentic Veddhas) but it is abundantly clear that it is only the archaic culture that is imitated by a group of people who find rich profit in masquerading as genuine primitives. In Sri Lanka, there is a cultural sub-species popularlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ alled the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Kalu-suddhasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ who in dress, eating-habits. speech etc closely mimic the White Nordics. It would be ludicrous to regard these imitators as true representatives of the people they imitate. In North America many so-called Red Indians are so genetically diluted by intercrossing with the White Caucasoids that their claim to be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”IndianƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”RedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is a transparent sham.
So it is with the so-called Ardhivasis of Sri Lanka. That ancient Australoid (or Veddha) genes are ingredients of our common gene-pool cannot be doubted. We see clear signs of this primitive infusion when we look at the faces of people in the North-CentralƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and other remote regions of Sri Lanka. This acknowledgement must not be confused with the preposterous claim that there is living representation of our ancient forebears. It is politically helpful to celebrateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tokens of uniquemess and antiquity but the facts of science ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” and of plain common sense -ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ must surely override such concerns.
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Couldn’t agree more.
People of Sri Lanka were much more developed than Veddhas 10,000 years ago. They took up complex farming over 10,000 years ago and were not mere hunter gatherers since that time. Enough evidence is found in Horton Plains, etc. We have indisputable evidence of planned towns, cultivation and a developed stable lifestyle even 2,300 years ago when kings built tanks to sustain that way of life. Veddhas may have had the same ancestors as we have over 25,000 or possibly even more years ago when the unique Lankan culture was not developed but certainly not later.
We should protect our Veddhas and protect their unique culture from Tamil nationalist expansion in the eastern province and the northern province, but refrain from making unscientific claims of ancestry.
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:11 am
Not correct.
Coastal Veddhas are/were not Tamil though many attempts were made by Tamil politicians to “make them Tamil” before 2009.
That is why the current government initiative is very important to separate Coastal Veddhas from the false Tamil identity. Under the 1992 UN Declaration Sri Lanka is bound to do so.
Interestingly Veddhas identify themselves as Vanniyela Aeththo which translates into People of Vanni (among other general meanings) which leaves no room for Tamil Elam claims after 1922 following Dutch and British moves of colonising the north, east and the central hills with South Indian workers, mostly Tamils.
September 3rd, 2011 at 6:51 am
According to scientific studies, all human life evolved from Africa, the oldest humanoid skeleton being that of “Lucy”, the African humanoid female. Even todays fair skinned, blonde & blue eyed , Nordic races are supposed to have, according to science, evolved from the African humanoids who migrated all over the world. So the genetic connections of all human beings all over the world is now established.
That Tamil Nadu politicians together with the TNA want to claim the N&E of Lanka as part of Tamil Nadu is becoming increasingly clear. To that end, are some Tamils attempting to claim the so called Adivasi people of Tamil origin ? How is it that Tamil politicians are not attempting to make Indian states adjoining Tamil Nadu like Kerala & Karnataka part of Tamil Nadu, when surely hundreds of thousands of Tamil people from TN must have easily crossed the borders to enter those areas ? We find that neither Kerala nor Karnartaka gives prominence to the Tamil language, so that must have some bearing on the matter.
Also, crossing SEA WATER is supposed to lose Caste. Sea water must be crossed to enter Sri Lanka.
The recent event where an Adhvasi person shot an arrow into a security guard at a hospital here is a very strange and uncalled for event, obviously arranged by inimical forces.
September 3rd, 2011 at 9:51 am
Correction: there are three Indian States adjoining Tamil Nadu, viz. Kerala, Karnataka & Andra Pradesh, and none of these states have the Tamil language on a large scale.
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Franz-Diaz,
Evolution in human is a fiction. Not scientific.
Crossing sea-water is supposed to lose caste? What do you mean by that?
Of course! Sinhalese, Tamils and all the others crossed to enter Sri Lanka through sea-water.
Do you think all are low castes?
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Here we go again from a fundamentalist.
Evolution in human is a fiction.
Why waste time with a fool who cannot understand human evolution?
September 3rd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Ranjith:
What I have written here are not my own thoughts. I am merely reproducing facts. re Evolution : These are facts accepted by the most eminent scientists all over the world and they have done so for centuries, ever since Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. You may not accept it. It is up to you. But the Great Apes are so like us, you will be amazed ! Our ancestors (humanoids) were hairy, stooped, and looked more like the Gt. Apes than the less haired ones of today. Study the subject – you may find it fascinating. Or you can remain ignorant. The choice is yours.
Re crossing Sea water to lose Caste : refer book “Sri Lanka through American Eyes: (Editor: H.A.I Goonetilleke) page 275). If you wish to, you may not accept that either.
But, you will be going against facts known to many Sociologists.
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Geoff & Fran Diaz,
If someone rejects any theory or dogma, please do not pop up and say that you are a fundamentalist, extremist or fool. This is uncivilised in nature.
I have a thorough and deep knowledge of evolution. It’s only a false dogma.
My friends and I invited Richard Dawkins for a public intellectual debate recently, when he visited a school in London. Unfortunately, he refused.
In another incident, one of the students explained to Richard Dawkins in his lecture room, that the evolution is a false theory with reasonable explanation, he shouted at him with inhuman dirty words, like you.
I have encounted with many Professors and intellectuals in many discussions in London who could not prove the Darwin’s theory is realistic.
Scientists could make lot of theories. Some theories are not established truths. Some theories are in full of doubts. Some theories cannot be explained.
Even some theories are not established truths, the scientists accept those theories, for theories themselves.
Franz Diaz, I am not a man of ignorant for reading fascinating evolution stories.
The world is losing its grip believing fascinating evolution stories now.
After all, “Crossing Sea Water to lose Cast” – please explain.
I can’t find the book what you quoted.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:19 am
Ranjith:
(1) I have merely requested you to inquire more into the subject of Evolution, also known as the Theory of Natural Selection (TNS), before passing judgment on it. The TNS states :
“As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form”.
Who can go against such an argument, so amply proved with examples, present day and fossil.
(2) The book I have mentioned which mentions the fact of losing caste by crossing Sea Water edited by H.A.I Goonetillke ought to be available in one of the larger libraries of Sri Lanka. Try the British Council library, the Public library, or the American USIS library there. This book has been published by the US Information Service as an American Bicentennial Salute to Sri Lanka. Foreword by Ambassador Christopher Van Hollen.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:09 am
On a precautionary note : Since people who are interested in dividing Sri Lanka are destroying the true history of Lanka with attempts to re-write it to suit various nefarious purposes, I would like to warn all libraries in Lanka to safeguard their books relating to the true history of Lanka, and make sure books are not stolen, pages of books are not torn off or damaged by people bent on re-writing our history.
Plainly speaking, our books relating to the true history of this country should be under lock & key, and references allowed only under supervision by library staff.
Alternately, such books should be printed in very large numbers and distributed free to all schools, libraries and relevant institutions all over the island.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Fran Diaz,
1) Your TNS quotation is the basic one. Even the layman knows about that. This has been already proved as incorrect and illogical. We have proved in many debates.
Even some learned men explained in depth that this evolution theories are false to Richard Dawkins, he is arrogant to grasp it.
Anyhow, gradually his students seem to be losing their falsified belief.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Franz Diaz,
Former Judge Wickneswaran, when delivered a speech in an audience in Wellawatte, he spoke about the Sri Lanka Tamils history has been twisted in many times by majority Sinhalese, and Sri Lanka Tamils history should be kept and preserved in Tamil Nadu and not in Sri Lanka. Otherwise, Sri Lanka Tamils’ history cannot be traceable in future. Now, majority Sinhalese start to think that the present Sri Lankan Tamils were once gypsies who were chased by the Cholar kings.
Now you scare about the history of Sri Lanka re-writing.
Who is twisting the history of Sri Lanka?
Tamils or Sinhalese?
September 4th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Sri Lanka never had a seperate Tamil or Muslim history.
The only history of Sri Lanka is Sinhala history. A Tamil Nadu illegal immigrant was tasked to “compose” a Tamil history in the 18th century by the Dutch.
Now Tamils and Arabs have started to rewrite even the histories of some London, Sydney and Toronto suburbs with little spots of them.
I don’t think even Tamil Nadu history will survive long as India is not in favour of it.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Vedi people are commercialised. They are a tourist attraction.
But they have more right to Sri Lanka than recent Indian and Arabic illegal immigrants.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Dilrook Kannangara,
Sinhalese and Tamils were migrants from India.
Sri Lanka was not belong to Sinhalese or Tamils then.
Sri Lanka belongs to only Adhivasis.
Adhivasis are neither Sinhalese nor Tamils.
They have different culture, attitude and way of life.
After the migration of Sinhalese and Tamils from India, some Adhivasis adapted Sinhala/Tamil lifestyle.
That means they were Sinhalised and Tamilised.
The rests were continued as Adhivasis.
Dilrook, we do not want to fight further for Adhivasis who belong to who’s. This is utter nonsense.