Kanthar Balanathan, Australia

It would be much appreciated if readers read this article with a positive and constructive mind, rather with a negative and destructive mind to criticise.

In the early centuries, people in India were classified into various categories on caste basis. Indians had a category known as untouchables (தீண்டத்தகாத / නොපැහැදිලි). The disgraceful part is that the Indians categorised people based on their profession. India has safety standards; however, they never apply and practice the safety standards.

The untouchables and some lower caste (පහත් කුලය) people were not allowed into temples, not touch higher case people, not be close to them, not fetch water from their wells, not bathe in rivers and several other unhuman kinds of practice.

In the 21^st century, current era, even the top powerful person, Prince Charles heir to the throne of the UK did not shake hands with others, be close to people, hug anyone else and be unlike another normal person. The wife of the PM of Canada, PM of Spain, and several people cannot be like normal persons. This definitively does not mean that they are untouchables. The PM of Canada is a top human being who loves everyone irrespective of their race, creed or colour and a top Boxer. Such a lovely kind person (PM-Canada) has his wife infected with Corvid-19. What is the cause? Its Nature, irrespective of who their god is. These people are not from the ancient disgracefully categorised category known as low caste and untouchable. They are top officials and high-class humans.

Today law has been enforced to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between two people, no gathering of more than 10 people, no congregating in temples, roads, mosques, churches, no hoarding of foodstuffs etc. These laws were enacted by law enforcers in the legislature.

In the early centuries, man-made cultural practice made these habits based on caste distinction. Even now the Tamil folks practice the caste system in SriLanka and India. These practices evolved among the Indians. After attending a funeral people do not enter homes but take a head bath and various practice were practised by the Indians. No handshakes but say Vanakkam (ආයුබෝවන් ) with their two hands together.

It may be that the world may get back to the old system of cultural practice quite soon.

Why did the caste system evolve? It’s all based on financial status and capability. Liquor and toddy were sold at a very cheap price, and it was based on supply and demand. Thus, the financial status of a toddy tapper was quite low. To have a good decent life people need money. This applies to the Fisherfolks also. Hence based on the financial capacity of the people they were oppressed under the caste system. Today the fisher folks are well to do people and rich. This oppression and suppression prevail in India and SriLanka only. In the Muslim race caste system does not conquer the people and all are treated equal. Even among the Tamil and Sinhala Diaspora the caste system prevails among them wherever they are domiciled. A lower caste person is not recognised even if that person is intelligent.

Today Nature has brought all to be equal in living standards and they cannot evade these standards. This is by law.

Australians are proud of our Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his team, for his competency, reliability, capability, and the effort he has been making to protect the Australians. Majority of the Australians are following the advice he had given to the people. The PMs effort during the last few months had made him be a Statesman in Australia similar to the former John Howard. May Nature relive Australia from this evil Corvid-19 pressure. May all citizens of Australia listen to the PM and follow his guidance.

At this juncture, it would be appropriate to honour the SriLankan governance, especially the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, His deputy Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratna and the Army Commander Lt Gen. Shavendra Silva for their efforts in keeping SL to be with minimum Corvid-19 infection and the people are co-operating except a few Tamils who travelled from Italy went on hiding in Point Pedro. Relatively SL has very few victims compared to India.

The military is to be commended for sacrificing their lives to protect the Northern people (Tamils) from infection. The army works from day and night to keep people safe. The world should acknowledge and commend the SL military and praise them for the services they are rendering irrespective of caste, creed and race.

It is hoped that SriLankans and Indians will now understand what the practice means. It is hoped that the world may get back to the Indian customs and practice.

Jaya Wava SriLanka.