Uyangoda revisited on Tamil nationhood, self-

determination
[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 May 2014, 13:42 GMT]
In a pioneering and incisive article published 35 years ago in a Colombo-based monthly
journal Lana !uardian, "ayadeva Uyangoda, currently a professor at the #epartment of
$olitical %cience and $ublic $olicy at the University of Colombo, articulated the Tamil
&ationhood and corroborated Tamils right to self-determination based on the 'ar(ists-
Leninist principle) *is article, condemning the %inhala Left+s failure to grasp the &ational
,uestion in the island is remarably applicable in the present conte(t of protracted
genocide and military occupation, and displays the resilience of %inhala chauvinism,
-hich is endemic to the %ri Lanan left, opines a Tamil diaspora student of .nthropology,
reproducing the article authored by $rofessor "ayadeva Uyangoda in the Lana
!uardian of /5 'arch /010)
With the due exceptin ! th"e cu#a$eu" Sinhala cm#ade", many %h a#e exiled, %h
ha&e #i"'ed thei# li&e" due t the p#incipled "lida#ity di"played t%a#d" the Tamil peple and
thei# "t#u$$le, m"t ! the S#i (an'an (e!t di"play" the c$nitin and #atinality %hich
)yan$da #i$htly c#itici*e" a" nn+Ma#xi"t and chau&ini"tic th#ee decade" a$,, cmmented
the -ia"p#a acti&i"t, "endin$ the a#ticle ! the Sinhala academic .#!e""# )yan$da t
TamilNet/
0n the t#ue "pi#it ! Ma#xi"t" (enini"m and it" cmmitment t demc#atic #i$ht" and "ciali"t
chan$e, )yan$da elucidate" the Sinhale"e a#e una1le # un%illin$ t unde#"tand the
!undamental cha#acte#i"tic ! natinal pp#e""in and the ine&ita1le hi"t#ical #e"pn"e t it 1y
the pp#e""ed,, the Tamil acti&i"t "aid/
2i" a#ticle cndemnin$ the Sinhala (e!t3" !ailu#e t $#a"p the Natinal 4ue"tin in the i"land i"
#ema#'a1ly applica1le in the p#e"ent cntext ! p#t#acted $encide and milita#y ccupatin,
and di"play" the #e"ilience ! Sinhala chau&ini"m %hich i" endemic t the S#i (an'an le!t/ With
the due exceptin ! th"e cu#a$eu" Sinhala cm#ade", many %h a#e exiled, %h ha&e
#i"'ed thei# li&e" due t the p#incipled "lida#ity di"played t%a#d" the Tamil peple and thei#
"t#u$$le, m"t ! the S#i (an'an le!t di"play" the c$nitin and #atinality %hich )yan$da
#i$htly c#itici*e" a" nn+Ma#xi"t and chau&ini"tic th#ee decade" a$,, the Tamil acti&i"t "ay"/
.#! 5ayade&a )yan$da [(i1#a#y .ht]
.#!e""# )yan$da, in hi" 1676 a#ticle %#te: 0t i" a matte# ! #e$#et that alm"t all the le!ti"t
plitical pa#tie" and $#up" in thi" cunt#y ha&e 1een cmmittin$ the !undamental e### !
cn"ide#in$ the Tamil peple in S#i (an'a nly a" a natinal min#ity/ Thi" !ailu#e 1et#ay" nt
nly thei# #e"idual t#ace" ! "cial chau&ini"m/// 1ut al" thei# ina1ility t $#a"p the Ma#xi"t+
(enini"t !undamental" n the natinal 4ue"tin/,
8e$a#din$ the 9min#ity3 di"cu#"e %hich denie" Tamil Natinhd )yan$da %#te: : ;&en
u# le!ti"t" 1e$an t u"e the te#m 9Tamil min#ity3 indi"c#iminately %ithut $i&in$ thu$ht t it"
dan$e#u" implicatin"/ -an$e#u" 1ecau"e %hen ne #e$a#d" an pp#e""ed natin me#ely a" a
natinal min#ity, then ne ea"ily tend" t mi"unde#"tand, minimi*e and unde#e"timate the
pp#e""ed "tatu" ! that pa#ticula# peple/ Thi" ultimately "e#&e" t <u"ti!y and e&en t de!end
the natinali"t p#e<udice" ! the pp#e""# natin/,
)yan$da %#te that the Tamil" [///] %e#e=a#e 1ein$ dep#i&ed ! the !undamental demc#atic
#i$ht" ! a natin !i#"t ! %hich i" the #i$ht ! plitical independence, that i" ! a "epa#ate
plitical exi"tence/ 2ence an pp#e""ed natin [///] The demand !# "epa#atin i" nly the
cnc#ete mani!e"tatin ! the hi"t#ical nece""ity, plitical demc#acy !# an pp#e""ed natin/
0n cnclu"in )yan$da called !# the Sinhala (e!t t #i$ht!ully "tudy and add#e"" the Tamil
natinal 4ue"tin and thei# #i$ht t "el! dete#minatin: The time ha" cme !# m"t ! u#
le!ti"t plitical $#up" %h claim t 1e Ma#xi"t+(enini"t" t #ecn"ide# thei# attitude" and
"t#ate$ie" t%a#d" the "t#u$$le ! the pp#e""ed Tamil peple/ The !ailu#e t adpt a c##ect
#e&lutina#y "t#ate$y n thi" 'ey plitical i""ue %uld de!initely ha&e it" $#a&e"t
implicatin"/,
2i" %#d" p#&ed t 1e p#phetic, the Sinhala (e!t di"play a ch#nic ina1ility t $#a"p the
l$ic ! the Ma#xi"t (enini"t p#inciple ! Sel!+dete#minatin, that it i" the pp#e""ed natin
%hich dete#mine" it" plitical !utu#e acc#din$ t it" natinal a"pi#atin"/ M#e&e# the S#i
(an'an (e!t, hldin$ a #eli$iu" cmmitment t the pp#e""i&e unita#y "tate, indul$ed in
analy"i" and p#axi", %hich denied Tamil" natinal exi"tence in #de# t le$itimi*e the "tate
"t#uctu#e,, the Tamil dia"p#a academic !u#the# "ay"/
>#"a'in$ the 1a"ic p#inciple" ! Ma#xi"t (enini"m the S#i (an'an (e!t #eite#ated the Sinhala
chau&ini"t cncept ! p#tectin$ the te##it#ial inte$#ity, "&e#ei$nty and unity ! the S#i (an'an
"tate/ )yan$da3" a#ticle i" an excellent #eminde# ! the hi"t#ical !ailu#e ! the S#i (an'an (e!t
a" %ell the cntinuity in thei# "cial chau&ini"m/,
>u#the#m#e it i" al" a #eminde# ! the !e% $enuine Sinhala cm#ade" %h e"pu"ed the
Tamil" inaliena1le #i$ht" du#in$ the ea#ly "ta$e" ! the a#med natinal #e&lutin/ Nnethele""
many ! the !e% Sinhala le!ti"t", %h unde#"td and e&en ad&cated Tamil" #i$ht" in the ea#ly
pha"e, ha&e eithe# 1ecme "ilent n the $encidal pp#e""in a$ain"t Tamil" # m#phed int
1ecmin$ acti&e enemie" t Tamil" plitical "t#u$$le/ )yan$da di"playin$ inc#edi1le
inci"i&ene"" and cm#ade"hip in thi" a#ticle did 1ecme m#e timid in hi" analy"i" ! the
un!ldin$ $encidal c#ime" a$ain"t the Tamil Natin,, the yun$ academic !u#the# 1"e#&ed/
? ? ?
.re Tamils a minority2
1y 5/ )yan$da
Lana !uardian, 'arch /5, /010 3page 45 and 446
M#/ @/ 5aya%ee#a, in hi" plemic a$ain"t -#"/ S/ A/ >e#nand and Aa#l >n"e'a "tate", in
pa#enthe"i", that the Tamil peple in S#i (an'a a#e nt an pp#e""ed national minority, 1ut
an oppressed nation B(an'a Gua#dian + 5anua#y 1CthD/ 0 enti#ely a$#ee %ith him n thi" pint/
0t i" a matte# ! #e$#et that alm"t all the le!ti"t plitical pa#tie" and $#up" in thi" cunt#y ha&e
1een cmmittin$ the !undamental e### ! cn"ide#in$ the Tamil peple in S#i (an'a nly a" a
natinal min#ity/ Thi" !ailu#e 1et#ay" nt nly thei# #e"idual t#ace" ! "cial chau&ini"m, a" M#/
5aya%ee#a "ay", 1ut al" thei# ina1ility t $#a"p the Ma#xi"t+(enini"t !undamental" n the
natinal 4ue"tin/
En %hat $#und" can ne de"c#i1e the Tamil peple in S#i (an'a a natinal min#ityF 0n thi"
cunt#y the te#m :min#ity: had 1een u"ed in #elatin t the Tamil peple !i#"t 1y the G#iti"h
#ule#" and then 1y "Hcalled pat#it" in the time ! clnial #ule/ Since then the %#d cme t
the !!icial <a#$n t 1e u"ed a" an ad<ecti&e t the %#d :Tamil":/ ;&en u# le!ti"t" 1e$an t
u"e the te#m 9Tamil min#ity9 indi"c#iminately %ithut $i&in$ thu$ht t it" dan$e#u"
implicatin"/ -an$e#u" 1ecau"e %hen ne #e$a#d" an pp#e""ed natin me#ely a" a natinal
min#ity, then ne ea"ily tend" t mi"unde#"tand, minimi*e and unde#e"timate the pp#e""ed
"tatu" ! that pa#ticula# peple/ Thi" ultimately "e#&e" t <u"ti!y and e&en t de!end the
natinali"t p#e<udice" ! the pp#e""# natin/
0t i" t#ue that in te#m" ! nume#ical "t#en$th Tamil" a#e "ecnda#y t the Sinhale"e/ Gut thi"
ppulatin c#ite#ia mu"t nt 1e applied t dete#mine the "upe#i#ity # the#%i"e ! a pa#ticula#
natin/ M#e&e# Ma#xi"t" ne&e# "u1"c#i1e t the medie&al ntin ! 9"upe#i#ity9 #
9in!e#i#ity3 ! any natin/ @ny natin %hich, in actual !act i" in a le""e# p"itin in te#m" !
ppulatin mu"t nt 1e dep#i&ed ! it" le$itimate place and #i$ht"/ Thu", the Tamil" thu$h they
a#e nt the ma<# ethnic $#up in S#i (an'a, a#e e""entially nt a natinal min#ity/ They
p""e"" a !ai#ly cnti$uu" t#aditinal te##it#y, a cmmn lan$ua$e and cultu#e ! thei# %n,
and a cmmn ecnmic li!e thu$h the latte# t a ce#tain extent, ha" 1een inte#min$led %ith
and inte##elated t that ! the Sinhale"e due t "peci!ic hi"t#ical cnditin"/*ence a
&ation) They %e#e=a#e 1ein$ dep#i&ed ! the !undamental demc#atic #i$ht" ! a natin !i#"t !
%hich i" the #i$ht ! plitical independence, that i" ! a "epa#ate plitical exi"tence/ 2ence
an oppressednatin/
Enly i! and %hen %e identi!y and lcate the main p#1lem in thi" %ay that %e a#e a1le t
pe#cei&e the e""ential hi"t#ical meanin$ ! the demand ! the Tamil peple !# a "epa#ate "tate/
They "t#i&e !# "epa#atin nt 1ecau"e they a#e in"ti$ated 1y "me !#ei$n p%e#, 1ut 1ecau"e
they need !# them"el&e" the #i$ht t dete#mine thei# %n de"tiny/ The demand !# "epa#atin i"
nly the cnc#ete mani!e"tatin ! the hi"t#ical nece""ity, plitical demc#acy !# an pp#e""ed
natin/
M"t ! the le!ti"t plitical $#up", let alne the #i$ht %in$ pa#tie", "eem t thin' that the
!undamental cha#acte#i"tic ! the :Tamil Iue"tin: i" that the Tamil" a#e di"c#iminated a$ain"t
1y the Sinhala dminated capitali"t #ulin$ cla""/ Thi" i" 1th a mi"unde#"tandin$ and a
mi"#ep#e"entatin ! the p#1lem ! natinal pp#e""in/ 0! %e p#e"ent the p#1lem ! the
Tamil" in S#i (an'a, cnc#etely and hi"t#ically, a" (enin put it, %e may cme t the ine&ita1le
cnclu"in that the natinal 4ue"tin i" ne ! the un#e"l&ed ta"'" ! the 1u#$ei" demc#atic
#e&lutin/ 0n the cla""ical 1u#$ei" #e&lutin" # du#in$ the p#ce"" ! th"e #e&lutin" in
We"te#n ;u#pe the pp#e""ed natin" !#med thei# %n natinal "tate"/ The "l$an ! the #i$ht
! natin" t "el!J+dete#minatin came int 1ein$ in the 17th and 1Kth centu#ie" nly a" a petty+
1u#$ei" "l$an %ith the cha#acte#i"tic ! a demc#atic demand ! the #i"in$ 1u#$ei"ie
a$ain"t !eudali"m and !eudal "tate "t#uctu#e/ The raison d+etre ! the demand t "el!+
dete#minatin in the cntext ! the p#e"ent day hi"t#ical "ituatin in thi" cunt#y i" that the
lcal 1u#$ei"ie, unli'e m"t ! the cla""ical ;u#pean cunte#pa#t", i" incapa1le ! ca##yin$
ut the ta"'" ! the 1u#$ei" #e&lutin th#u$h t the end/ Thi" ! cu#"e i" t#ue ! all the
ne+clnial 1u#$ei"ie"/ The p#e"ent a$itatin and "t#u$$le ! the Tamil peple in the N#th
i" nthin$ 1ut a natinali"t m&ement ! an pp#e""ed natin !# plitical demc#acy/ Th"e
%h cn"ide# the Tamil peple me#ely a" a natinal min#ity ine&ita1ly !ail t unde#"tand thi"
e""ential demc#atic cntext ! the demand !# plitical independence/ 0t i" thi" &e#y !ailu#e,
%hich ha" led m"t ! u# le!ti"t $#up" t 1e cntent %ith me#ely 1elie&in$ that the :Tamil
p#1lem: can 1e "l&ed 1y endin$ all "#t" ! di"c#iminatin: in a !utu#e "ciali"t "ciety/
0t i" nt di"puted that nly in a "ciali"t "ciety that all "#t" ! di"c#iminatin, #acial #
the#%i"e, can 1e 1#u$ht t an end e!!ecti&ely and !#e&e#/ Gut7The socialist revolution is
not a single act, it is not one battle on one front, but a -hole epoch of acute class conflicts,
a long series of battles on all fronts i)e) on all ,uestions of economics and politics, battles
that can only end in the e(propriation of the bourgeoisie) It -ould be a radical mistae to
thin that the struggle for democracy -as capable of proletariat from the socialist
revolution, or of hiding, overshado-ing it, etc) 8n the contrary, in the same -ay as there
can be no victorious %ocialism that does not practice full democracy, so the proletariat
cannot prepare for its victory over the bourgeoisie -ithout an all round, consistent and
revolutionary struggle for democracy)9 B(enin the Sciali"t 8e&lutin and The 8i$ht !
Natin" t "el!+dete#minatinHThe"e"D
(eninL" %#d" a#e categorical and unambiguous/ The p#leta#iat, in it" "e#ie" ! "t#u$$le" !#
"ciali"m, mu"t !i$ht !# demc#acy t/ The p#leta#iat !i$ht" !# demc#acy nt t cnMne
it"el! %ithin the limit" ! a capitali"t "y"tem, 1ut %ith the "le pu#p"e ! t#an"cendin$ th"e
limit" %ith the &ie% ! extendin$ and inten"i!yin$ the "t#u$$le !# e&e#y !undamental
demc#atic #i$ht up t the "ciali"t #e&lutin that exp#p#iate" the 1u#$ei"ie/
The time ha" cme !# m"t ! u# le!ti"t plitical $#up" %h claim t 1e Ma#xi"t+(enini"t" t
#ecn"ide# thei# attitude" and "t#ate$ie" t%a#d" the "t#u$$le ! the pp#e""ed Tamil peple/ The
!ailu#e t adpt a c##ect #e&lutina#y "t#ate$y n thi" 'ey plitical i""ue %uld de!initely ha&e
it" $#a&e"t implicatin"/
? ? ?
.#!e""# 5ayade&a )yan$da, a "eni# academic in the )ni&e#"ity ! Alm1, i" a %ell+
#e$a#ded plitical cmmentat# in the Sinhala and ;n$li"h media in the i"land/ 2e %a" ne !
the Ma#xi"t #e1el", %h led the a#med in"u##ectin t captu#e "tate p%e# in 1671 and %a"
inca#ce#ated !# many yea#" a!te# the #e1ellin %a" #uthle""ly c#u"hed 1y the S#i (an'an #e$ime
at that time/
T%a#d" the end ! the Nanni %a#, .#!e""# )yan$da &i"uali*ed the "ituatin a" ne "uch in
%hich Tamil" ha&e t "u#&i&e in the 9ma$nanimity3 ! the Sinhala ma<#ity in the i"land/
9Ma$nanimity3 cmin$ in the !#m" ! milita#i*atin, clni*atin, "t#uctu#al $encide and the
annihilatin ! the ;e*ham Tamil natin and it" te##it#iality i" %hat i" "een a" the utcme !
the %a#, <intly %a$ed 1y p%e#" ! &e"ted inte#e"t" in the i"land/
-ha#me#atnam Si&a#am BTa#a'iD, a #en%ned Tamil <u#nali"t, plitical analy"t and "eni#
edit# ! TamilNet %a" pe#plexed 1y the i##atinal %ay" ! the Sinhala natinal p"yche %hich
tu#ned ad&cate" ! Tamil "el!+dete#minatin int the "taunche"t ! Sinhala chau&ini"t and
%#te: 0! %e ha&e t !ind explanatin" !# all the"e, then %e ha&e t d an in+depth analy"i" !
the p"yche ! the Sinhala Natin/ Ga"ed n that alne can %e !i#m up u# app#ach n h% t
deal %ith the Sinhala natin/,