Erasing Cultures – Jaffna Library

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Art Photogaphy, COVID19Diary, Documentary Photography, erasing cultures, fine Art Photograph, Freedom, History, Jaffna Library, Jaffna public library, knowledge, marks of pain, Memory, Photography, Poetry, Poetry and Photography, Sri Lanka, TagsAbstract art, Time and Space, Waruni Anuruddhik

“Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them as to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are,” wrote John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, in his 1644 book Areopagitica. 

Jaffna public library was burnt in 31 May 1981  It  consider as one of the biggest library in South Asia  with  collection of more than 97,000 books and  manuscripts.  Books and manuscripts  are the souse of history and culture of the communities. This is the practices carried out through the ancient history and it continue  today  as a mechanism of  erasing the traces of the communities  and  cultures. Why do we deliberately cleansing the cultures ?  

After 39 years of burning the jaffna public library  remembering the Poem  written in Tamil by Prof. M. A. Nuhman, Who was a lecturer at the Jaffna University at that time . 

(translation is by S. Pathmanathan )

Murder

Last night

I dreamt

Lord Buddha was shot dead

by the police,

guardians of the law.

His body drenched in blood

on the steps

of the Jaffna Library.

Under cover of darkness

came the ministers,

‘His name is not on our list,

why did you kill him?”

they ask angrily.

“No sirs, no

there was no mistake.

Without killing him

it was impossible

to harm even a fly—

therefore . . . ,” they stammered.

“Alright, then

hide the corpse”

The ministers go back.

The men in civies

dragged the corpse

into the library.

They heaped the books

ninety thousand in all,

and lit the pyre

with the Cikalokavadda Sutta.

Thus the remains

of the Compassionate One

were burned to ashes

along with the Dhammapada.

Link for the poem: 

http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/9716

#COVID19Diary  Waruni

Sashidaran and his little daughter

Tags

Central Hills in Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea, Ceylon tea museum, Documentary Photography, Hanthana, Hanthana tea estate, Kandy, Life, Memory, people, Photography, Places, Tea estate workers, Travel, Travel Photography, Waruni Anuruddhik

 

– An  unforgettable people with humble and warmly smiles.
It was closer to the noon, I was keep waking through the Hanthana road towards Kandy. Both the road sides were covered by either the forest, or the tea plantations. Although the density of the forest was reduced and dried out due to lack of rain but the breeze came across the mountains yet cooler and blend with fragrance of tea and wilderness …. the road was partly shady and sunny, the ambient filled with different chirpings of birds. Anyone will easily get attach to the beauty of the nature but sometimes it’s the both nature and the people that we met up perhaps we never met up them again in whole our lifetime. While I waking down on the road I saw a young man and a little daughter and two women were stepping down through the tea bushes from the top of the mountain. Blue and shining yellow colors of their shalwar dresses make me to take a photo from very far. and these colors struck me and keep waiting at the roadside till they come down. This young man and his little daughter came down to the main road with a friendly smile. I just smile and say hello to them. Little girl’s father wanting his daughter to say hello to me but she still feels shy to talk. The next turn is mine … her dress is very pretty, a beautiful pink hairclip on the top of her hair. I took a couple of photos of two of them with his permission. A gaze of sweet little girl and a humble and warmly smile of a young man freezes ….

Canon 5 D Mark 111 |24-70mm ©Waruni Anuruddhika 2020

Tea estate workers …

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Central Hills in Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea, Ceylon tea museum, Documentary Photography, Hanthana, Hanthana tea estate, Kandy, Life, people, Photography, Places, Tea estate workers, Travel, Travel Photography, Waruni Anuruddhik

I was keep walking along   the shady road in Hanthana without having an idea of for how long that I am going to keep continue walking ….

Tea estate workers were plucking tea on the roadside tea bushes, most of them were finishing off their morning working hours and they were about to leave to the tea leave collecting center when I met them. I took their photo from a distance. A young and pretty woman ask me to come to the slop where they were plucking tea … We group of women took a selfi, … They were so surprised and happy with an unexpected compliment, supervisor went away mean time they start keep talking ….

Chandrakumari is the one and only bread winner of her family. She has to take care five other members of her family.  “Our daily wage is still 700 ruppiees, hope we will get the increment from next month “She said with a faded voice.  They can get additional 50 ruppiess if they could have reached to the target up to 18 Kgs per day. The new government promised to increase the daily wage of estate worker up to Rs. 1000 from March onwards. would that be another election promise!!!

Canon 5 D Mark 111 24-70 mm | ©  Waruni anuruddhika 2020

At the bottom of Ceylon Tea museum

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Ceylon Tea, Ceylon tea museum, Documentary Photography, Photography, Tea estate workers, Tea estates in Sri Lanka

I met a group of retired tea estate workers while they are waiting to get their monthly samurdi allowance right at the bottom of Ceylon Tea museum in Hanthana – Kandy. Most of the retired tea estate workers are doing manual jobs here and there. But some of them are unable to keep continue work any longer due to many health issues that they are suffering from. However, they have to helping out rest of their family members …. At least they have to look after their grandchildren while the bread winners are occupying.

Canon 5 D mark 111 / 24-70 mm

©Waruni Anuruddhika 2020

Belief, rituals and practices – Chennakesava Temple Somanathpur

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Art and Architecture, Art and Architecture in 13th Century, Art Phography, Arth Dharm Karma Kama moksha, Bagavath Purana, Bangalore, Believe, Believe Rituals and Practices, Carving, Chennakeshava Temple, Chennakeshava Temple Somanathpur, Documentary Photography, Hindu deities, Hindu Shrine in Mysore, Hoysala, Hoysala Art and craft, Hoysala tradition, India, inner and outer world, Karnatak, Keshava Temole, Mysore, non Religion, Photography, Practices, Religion, rituals, sacred  and secular world., Somanathpur, South Asian art, South Indian Art and Architecture, Suprime God, Temple art, Temple art in India, veda, Vishnu, Vishnu and Lakshmi, Vishnu avathar, Waruni Anuruddhik

Souvenir of Karnatak –  (Mysore  Album 2007)(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine – Supreme god; Maha Vishnu with seven headed mythical cobra)

Chennakesava Temple also known as Keshava Temple (Keshave – Name for supreme god Vishnu) located at Kaveri River bank in Somanathapura – Mysore, Karnatak , India . According to the inscriptions this Hindu temple was built by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of Hoysala kind Narasimha III in 1258 BC and it is consider as Vaishnavsium tradition temple which is dedicated to god Vishnu. This temple design has three main components; outer walls with pillars, courtyard in the middle and Middle/ inner shrine with Grabs Griha. The main shrine (middle shrine) was constructed on a star shaped stone platform. The outer and  inner   walls, pillars and ceiling of the middle shrine were decorated with murals and carvings depicted Bhagawath Purana, epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharatha, different forms (avatar) of  Vishnu, various divine figures, mythical creatures  and also carvings with sexual postures and themes,  Veda text, inscriptions ect. This magnificent Hindu temple considered as one of the most significant temple which depict Hoysala tradition and excellent craftsmanship of Hoysala artisans. Historian and experts says that the Hoysalas architecture tradition consist with elements of both Dravidian and Chalukya architecture traditions.  Indeed, Keshava Temple is a wonderful combination of different architectural traditions and also it is a combination of sacred  and secular world.

(carvings  at outer wall of middle/main shrine –  middle panel with ten avatar (forms)of  Supreme god; Vishnu with his consort Lakshm and  Garuda carrying Vishnu and Lakshmi and  Indra riding  on an elephant with his consort)(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrinel – Supreme god; Maha Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrinel )

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine- Suriya – The Sun God)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine – Garuda is carrying Vishnu and Lakshmi)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine- Garunda in the left)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine – figure of mythical Lion)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrinel

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrinel

(carvings  at outer wall of middle/main shrine -The carving depicted various  sexual postures and themes )(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine-  the carvings depicted various sexual postures and themes)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine-the carvings depicted various sexual postures and themes)

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine-the carvings depicted various sexual postures and themes )

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine-the carvings depicted various sexual postures and themes

(carvings at outer wall of middle/main shrine-the carvings depicted various sexual postures and themes)

(Front view of the middle shrine with the participants and facilitators of the training program.Remembering with great respect our dearly friend and great scholar Dr. Nalin Swaris who was a mentor and one of the most influential person for most of us. Dr. Nalin Swaris is sitting in the second raw third form the left)

(Front view of the shrine on a star shaped platform and a few participants of the training program)

(outer shrine wall and courtyard) (Inner and outer – a view form  the  Front door of the main shrine )

Souvenir of Karnatak (Mysore  Album 2007) Images captured in 2007   during the youth training program on contribution of Religions for foster peace – conducted by Fireflies Banglore.

Nikon FM 2 /35- 105 mm | Fuji 100 ASA 35 mm Film

© Waruni Anuruddhika

 

Fishing Community in Angulana

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costal areas, Development project and its impact on local communities, Development Projects., displacement, Documentary film, eco system, ecology, Education, environment, Film screening and Discussion, Fishing Commiunity, Fishing communities in Sri Lanka, Fulbright Stories, local community, man maid disaster, marginalization, marine pollution, natural disaster, Politics and culture, re-settlement, sub cultures, US-SLFC, US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, Waruni Anuruddhik

Fishing community in Angulana- Western Province Sri Lanka

The End of October I revisited the fishing community in Angulana. (The fishing community which was captured in my first documentary film ‘Sea is our life’ in 2010) Even after 9 years, nothing has changed much.  Their Life goes on.  Even though the weather is not pleasing, they take risks to go for fishing, since there are no other options to survive. In addition to feeding their family members, there are endless debts to repay.  Therefore, they go for fishing even in the month of dead (They called November as a month of dead and do not preferred to go for fishing).

These people find hard to save something since many of them were caught into the vicious cycle of loan which were given as personal loans or given by many different banks and micro finance companies. Many fishermen of the community still do not have their own fishing boats.  They use someone else’s fishing boats that has to be borrowed by the agreement of sharing the daily harvest. Moreover, some people even borrow the other necessary equipment that is used for fishing, with similar type of agreement. The tragedy is the material that they get as donations such as boats, engines and fishing nets do not spend in an appropriate way. The poorest fishermen are grounded in the bottom line of poverty forever and they are facing lot of difficulties endless problems since there’s no proper policies or mechanism to enchase their livelihood.

The fishing community in Angulana has been living in that coastal belt more than three decades. During the many election, politicians visit them, make promises and simply forget them after the election. For example, their issue of housing is still unresolved. No government was capable enough even to analyze the problem properly. As many community members said, after their houses were washed away by the monsoon in 2010, some people were given houses from a housing scheme which is located right in front of their living premises. Some houses of the housing scheme were sold out to the people outside the community. But many of them those who lost their house were not given the houses, Instead Some families were given LKR  300 000 to build their houses elsewhere without giving them a land. Rest of the 41 families were given 41 houses in a mountain top in   Nagoda – Kaluthara in Kaluthara district   where the neighborhood is completely alien to the fishing community.  They have not taken into consideration about their livelihood which force people to travel many kilometers to travel to the sea shore. Also, the constructions were not up to standard. The person whom I met said that his house was completely collapsed.

People still live in a temporary house at the sea shore even without proper  facilities such as sanitation.

In addition, other related social issues are somewhat disturbing to enchase the quality of their lives.  The school drop off rate is and early marriages are still quite high within the community.  New generation do not prefer to choose fishing as their career instead they go for manual jobs or search for service base jobs upon their qualifications. Mean time some are trying to escape the country or to find the overseas jobs. Many women are risking their lives and go to middle east. Their kids are being abandoned and vulnerable. Without proper guidance younger generation are ending up with various antisocial practices such as alcohol and drugs addiction.   This community are in a trap of social, cultural and economic poverty. Unfortunately they are pushing in to more marginalize and vulnerable community by the system itself.

 housing at the beach   

 

 

Note  and Images by Waruni Anuruddhika

Canon 5 D Mark 111 / 24-70 mm © Waruni Anuruddhika Chandrasena

Blog: https://warunic.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/sea-is-our-life-2/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/seaisourlife/?modal=admin_todo_tour

 

Batticaloa beach ~ Marine pollution in East Coast Sri Lanka

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#climatechangetoday, artphotography, Batticaloa, Batticaloa Beach, beaches in Sri Lanka, biodiversity, Climetchange, Documentary Photography, East Cost, Eastern Province, ecology, environment, Fishing Community, maine life, merine pollution, Nature, Photography, plastic waste, pollution, SriLanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

Unfortunately  we pay least attention for our  environment and ecosystem

Read more on marine pollution

Gurunagar – One of the Most Polluted costal belt in Jaffna

Image captured on February 2019

(Canon 5D Mark 111 | 24-70 mm )

copyrights Waruni Anuruddhika

Gurunagar – One of the Most Polluted costal belt in Jaffna

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#Climatechange, #climatechangetoday, #fishingcommunity, #garunagar, #jaffna, #northernprovince, artphotography, biodiversity, Documentary Photography, ecology, environment, merine pollution, Nature, Photography, plastic waste, pollution, SriLanka, water pollution

One sunny evening in April, I walked up to Gurunagar fishing Jetty along the beach road from Jaffna Dutch fort. (Guruanagar is a fishing village located in the East from the Dutch fort) The sunset was amazingly beautiful. No doubt that why people mesmerize with such delightful scenic view. But What I saw along the sea shore from the beginning of the Reclamation road up to the Gurunagar fishing Jetty was not pleasing. The whole costal belt is covered with thick layer of garbage and plastic wastes. Not only that the surroundings of the whole fishing village also was polluted by the dumped garbage and plastic wastes.

As I observed, the plastic consumption is very high within this fishing community.  Not only in Gurunagar is the situation same even in other places. Most of the equipment that they have been using for fishing are made out of plastics and plotline materials which are dangerous to be dumped without the process of recycling.

I didn’t notice that the people in Gurunagar has proper system to collect or recycle garbage. As I was informed, the people who live in these fishing communities dump all the garbage and plastic waste to the sea. All these plastics wastes come through the canals and drainage and deposits at the costal belt. I spoke with few men and women of the Gurunagar fishing community and realized that they are not conscious of garbage and plastic waste which are loaded in front of their living premises.

However, I didn’t notice any significant plastic recycle or collecting process or the garbage collecting method here in Jaffna. It requires a series of awareness programs in order to reduce the usage of plastics and introduce sustainable alternatives followed by the system of proper garbage and plastic collecting process and and recycling system. This is not just a responsibility of the community, it is also a responsibility of the government and institutions as well. Also implementing and maintaining appropriate rule of laws is vital. Because this is not just a simple issue anymore. it is does extremely harmful effect to marine ecosystem and biodiversity.  This makes greater impact on climate change. The Ocean Conservancy estimates that plastic impact nearly 700 species in the ocean. at least 600 different wildlife species are threatened by plastics waste in the ocean.

News report says EU countries are using its natural resources twice more than ecosystem can renew. SriLanka is dumping 1.59 metric tons of plastics annually into the Indian Ocean.Whole world is dumping 8 million metric tons of plastics to the ocean every year.Sri Lanka is in 5^thamong the top 20 countries of marine pollution.

Image copyrights Waruni Anuruddhika 

cannon 5D Mark 111 / 24-70 / Samsung galaxy S5

World press Freedom Day and media freedom in Sri Lanka

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Democracy, Documentary Photography, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Goddess Kali, Human Rights, Justice, Photography, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika, World Press Freedom Day

An appeal to goddess Kali

Journalist and political cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda was abducted and possibly disappeared on 24th January in 2010. His disappearances marked 9 years to on the 24th January. Sandya Ekneligoda, his wife still searches for answers to know what happened to him. She is still seeking justice even after 9 years of his disappearance.  But the mechanisms and legal investigations are inapt and slow and, moreover the process is hampered by the political interference. In the absence of secular mechanisms to establish justice, On 24^thJanuary Sandya Ekneligoda appealed to Goddess Kali for truth and Justice. The ritualistic event took place right in front of the President secretariat building at Galle face Colombo.  Names of the people whom were suspected for the crime were accused by writing their names on eggs. The numbers of coconuts were placed with red flowers along with oil lamps. Joysticks were lit. The bottle of turmeric water was placed by the side. Prayers were written on papers and were clipped at the bottom of the image …  desired punishments were written on set of banana leaves in red and white and were hanging them at the bottom of the line of the image.  Kali was holding a photo of Prageeth . Sandya started the chanting …. by the end, the pandam, kspuru and katakumanjal  were lit . Sandya said. “this flame is not just what you see it’s the flame that burning inside my heart” …  coconuts were splashed. Ashes mixed to the blowing wind … The eggs were broken … no one knows how … only Kali knows!

The prayer event was started when I reached to Gall face green. The temporary shrine was set up at the see side of the pavement right in front of the president secretariat building.  the image of Kali and a banner were hang on the fence. Sun was setting, the sea breeze was dry.

Sandya moved to the other side of the road. The participants followed her. She wanted to continue the rest of here prayers from this end.

All of a sudden, a man with a camouflage bottom and white sleeveless top and boots came on green color trial motorbike . He interrupted to Sandya’s peaceful event by insulting, scolding with filth words and imitating vulgar actions. not only that, he threats to Sandya and   the rest of the participants, journalist and myself too. Then he raced the motor bike twice and ride towards the Galle while the Police officers were watching from a few meters of a distance at the roadside.  but didn’t take any action against him. instead the police interrupted Sandya and asked her to leave the premises saying it’s a high security zone therefor no permission will be granted for any such prayer activities. They asked her to move to the idols along with the ritual items. They told her that If she didn’t leave the place they will ask the Women Police Constable to move here away.

The discussion about media freedom in Sri Lanka take place in such context. Journalist and political cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligda was disappeared in 2010. Lasantha Wickremathunge; senior journalist and editor of Sunday Leader was shot in dead in the middle of a road in January 2009.  The two court cases are still going on but the process is becoming extremely slow due to the political interferences. Senior Tamil journalist and political analysist Darmarathnam Sivaram was abducted and murdered in April in 2005. His body was found at the high security zone of Sri Lanka nearby parliament which is very problematic and the case was unveiled.  Not only that but also and many other journalists were abducted and disappeared during last 10, 15 years. justice was not reached. instead all these victims became a most popular topic during the election campaigns including the previous presidential election which current president was appointed. instead all these victims became a most popular topic during the election campaigns including the previous presidential election which current president was appointed. They were double victimized became a victim in this system of hypocrisy.  They were double victimized became a victim in this system of hypocrisy. Therefor media freedom or freedom of expression is a difficult task which has to be achieved through hard works. Then what about the democracy in Sri Lanka !!!

the temporary Kali shrine , Sandya Ekneligoda and two other participant

Prageeth Eknaligod’s photo was placed in the center of Kalis Image 
desired punishments were written on set of  papers and banana leaves in red and white 
Ninoile lamps ,  Nine Coconets , Nine pots were placed  along with  red flowers at the bottom of the Kalis image. 

Nine eggs were placed in a tray  at the center  Names of the people whom were suspected for the crime were accused by writing their names on eggs.banana leaves  with the disired punishments at the bottom of the Kali’s Image  katakumanjal were burnet in  the nine pots , while Sandyas prayers continue …  Sandya moved to the other side of the road.  The participants followed her.Sandya keep continue her prayes  An stranger on a back  who intrepted to Sandys peaceful  eventNot only Sandya he insulted to the other participant as well 

Mean time the police were watching from a few meters away 

The police interrupted  to Sandya and asked her to leave the premisesThe police officers ask her to remove the banner and image of Kali  paerticipants were  trying  to explain while a policeman is removing the banner

A policeman removing the banner

paerticipant were  trying to expain yet the police want Sandya  to leave the venue Sandya keep continue her prayers while police interuption . After a sevaral explanations   ….  Yet they want to stop the event but participant  demand to keep continue the peaceful ritualistic event
Maen time Kali ; the Goddess   and Sandyas offering  Sandya keep continue the ritual  prticipants are still explaining to the police  Sandya lited the  Pandam and Kapuru  .  kapuru were placeed on nine coconuts  

Sandya and participant  chant the appeal 

Eges were broken  ….Nine  coconuts were splashed 

“this flame is not just what you see it’s the flame that burning inside my heart”

Waruni Anuruddhika  / 24th January 2019 / Image captured with Canon 5D Mark III  24-70

Pain and Memory

Tags

Civil War, Disappearances, Disappeared, Documentary Photography, High Contrast, Justice, Justice in Transition, Memory, Monochrome, Pain and Memory, Photography, Politics, Post War, Protest in Trincomalee, Reconsiliation, Religion, Social Justice, Sri Lanka, Waruni Anuruddhika

Holding pain …. A mother who is searching  her disappeard son ….

Image captured at the ongoing protest in Tincomalee, carrying out by the family members of disappeared, the protest  completed one year this month similarly the other four ongoing protest in Northern province in Sri Lanka . What they want to know is all about their children . What happened to them ? How long will it take the search the truth ?

Copyright Note : Images and text  are copyrighted to Waruni Anuruddhika. using or reprodusing  images and the content for any income generation,  fundraising or funded projects (personal or institutional) are strictly prohibited.