Michael Roberts
Those with some knowledge of island Lanka’s history over the last two centuries know that one of the most significant figures in its history was the Scottish plantation manager James Taylor (1835-92) because he was the entrepreneur who pioneered the cultivation of tea in the hill-country during the mid-19th century when coffee was the reigning plantation crop. This initial work bore full fruit –literally and figuratively–when the coffee leaf disease decimated the coffee plantation industry in the 1870s and 80s.
Buddhika Dassanayake in Lanka has now added a ‘gold nugget‘ in the world of historical memorabilia: by securing a scrap of a letter by James Taylor recommending one of his working class aides—a kangany (in effect ‘sergeants’ within the plantation coolie labour force).
Filed under British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, commoditification, communal relations, economic processes, ethnicity, heritage, landscape wondrous, life stories, plantations, self-reflexivity, Sri Lankan scoiety, tolerance, travelogue, unusual people, working class conditions, world events & processes
Introduction by Mithran Tiruchelvam …. a son of Neelan Tiruchelvam of the ICES [who was tragically assassinated by the LTTE in front of the ICES offices one year later]
The present collection of essays arose out of a symposium held at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Colombo from 13-15 March 1997, where researchers and scholars presented some of their recent research interests. This volume seeks to gather the threads of a hybrid collection of essays and weave them together in their shared historical moment. An anthology of this nature seeks organizational cohesion based on the papers’ common origins at the symposium, thereby sacrificing some degree of thematic or disciplinary unity. It is intended that such a collection make available to the general reader and to the scholar alike, a sense of the variety of social science pursuits being undertaken in Sri Lanka today. As such its purpose is to flavour as much as to nourish the reader’s palate, providing a sampling of the eclectic diversity of topics, methodologies and critical perspectives. engaging the social scientist today.
Filed under accountability, anti-racism, authoritarian regimes, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, chauvinism, commoditification, communal relations, cultural transmission, democratic measures, economic processes, education, Eelam, electoral structures, ethnicity, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, language policies, Left politics, legal issues, life stories, modernity & modernization, nationalism, parliamentary elections, politIcal discourse, power politics, prabhakaran, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, Tamil Tiger fighters, terrorism, truth as casualty of war, vengeance, war reportage, welfare & philanthophy, world events & processes, zealotry
Paul Wood: “The SAS have been betrayed in the name of human rights” … in The Spectator, magazine, 30 November 2024
The SAS are worried. Britain’s most elite military unit have come face to face with the IRA, the Taliban and Isis. But the enemy that really concerns them doesn’t carry a gun or wear a suicide belt. It’s the phalanx of lawyers they think are coming for them, armed with a deadly weapon: the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Many SAS soldiers now believe that if they pull the trigger during an operation and kill a terrorist, they’ll spend decades being hounded through the courts. They don’t trust the chain of command to look after them. They accuse politicians of a ‘betrayal’. That’s hurting morale and may eventually hit recruitment. We may all end up being less safe because of it.
Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, counter-insurgency, disparagement, ethnicity, European history, foreign policy, fundamentalism, landscape wondrous, law of armed conflict, legal issues, life stories, military strategy, performance, politIcal discourse, power politics, security, self-reflexivity, unusual people, world events & processes
Offerings to the Blue God by Shirani Rajapakse
Synopsis: A child saved from the tsunami finds herself trapped as a domestic slave, a young woman finds out the true face of her lover when she builds up the courage to visit his home, an ex-terrorist attempts to forget her past and start a new life, a bored journalist tries to find an easy way to migrate, a young woman reaches out to God to find a solution to her bad luck only to change her mind when confronted with a troubling thought.
Bishop Chickera in Groundviews, 23 November 2024, where the title reads “Arugam Bay: Hidden Currents” …. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi
There has been growing public concern over the recent weeks about happenings in Arugam Bay. This analysis adds to the discourse. Democratic states are obliged to protect all people within its borders whether citizens or non-citizens. Non-citizens include tourists on short stays subject to the law of the land they visit.
Filed under accountability, anti-racism, authoritarian regimes, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, democratic measures, discrimination, economic processes, ethnicity, fundamentalism, governance, historical interpretation, legal issues, life stories, Middle Eastern Politics, Palestine, politIcal discourse, power politics, racism, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, tourism, travelogue, world events & processes
A Circular Memo that reached the Thuppahiyaa, 25 November 2024
Big Tiger Event this week in every major city in Australia – share with Sri Lankans Aussies. ………….Please see the attached document and once you have read the contents, consider these actions:
Filed under accountability, atrocities, centre-periphery relations, chauvinism, communal relations, counter-insurgency, doctoring evidence, Eelam, ethnicity, fundamentalism, governance, historical interpretation, human rights, insurrections, law of armed conflict, legal issues, life stories, LTTE, martyrdom, military strategy, patriotism, performance, photography, politIcal discourse, power politics, racism, religious nationalism, sea warfare, security, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, suicide bombing, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, tamil refugees, Tamil Tiger fighters, terrorism, trauma, truth as casualty of war, vengeance, violence of language, war reportage, world events & processes, zealotry
Richard Simon to Michael Roberts, Editor, Thuppahi
Thomia, as you know, is a comprehensive history of S. Thomas’ College presented in the wider context of Lankan history and focusing on the influences between the two. In this sense it resembles my previous history of the Ceylon tea industry, which you were kind enough to praise when it was published in 2017. It is very different from a typical school history and its appeal is certainly not confined to Old Thomians.
Now on sale: Thomia is available for advance purchase from today, 25 November 2024. I hope to finance printing of the book partly through advance sales; I am happy to say I have already received a number of pledges.
Filed under art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, chauvinism, Colombo and Its Spaces, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, ethnicity, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, language policies, life stories, literary achievements, modernity & modernization, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, S. Thomas College, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, teaching profession, unusual people, world events & processes
A town council in Canada is at a standstill after its newly elected members refused to pledge allegiance to King Charles III as required in the swearing-in ceremony.
Dawson City in the Yukon Territory is home to about 2,400 residents…. Getty images
Stephen Johnson, the mayor-elect of Dawson City in Yukon Territory, and the new council were elected last month. They were to be sworn early this month but that process stalled after they refused to take the oath.
thuppahi
