Examining the fourth world
Professor Herath Madana Bandara
The Fourth World and Sri Lanka: World Indigenous Communities and
Vanniyaletto of Sri Lanka is a fulfilling of a long felt and much
awaited need of students and common readers who glean and seek facts and
information of world indigenous peoples and vanniyaletto (veddas) of Sri
Lanka. The light thrown on the subject by the editor is indeed immense
and commendable.
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Veddah community |
In 'definitions and identity of indigenous peoples' all the accepted
definitions are given. It is very difficult to define indigenous peoples
and their identity. So far the attempts made by the United Nations,
International Labour Organization and the World Bank in this regard
deserve much praise.
"In understanding indigenous peoples and understanding indigenous
peoples' rights" the common characteristics of indigenous peoples and
their rights are discussed. The history of their struggle for freedom
and identity is also explained. A chronology of this history is also
given. A special attention is given to depict the distribution of
indigenous communities at global level. The detailed report of the
United Nations debate based on the declaration of the rights of
indigenous peoples is published in this edition.
By reading this report one can understand the point of view of each
and every country regarding the indigenous communities living in their
respective countries. The original document of the United Nations
declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples is also published here
so as to help the readers to have a clear picture of the world view on
indigenous peoples.
Wilma Mankiller in her "Indigenous people in 21st Century" gives a
global perspective about the world indigenous community and its future.
Part two of this edition provides information about our indigenous
community, Vanniyaletto-(veddas). The culture of this community is one
of the most ancient intangible world heritages. We are proud of having
such a community in our country. Charles P. Mountford writing about
Australian aborigines in his book "The Dream Time" says "No other race
has ever lived in Australia, nor present time are there people of the
same stock anywhere else in the world, except perhaps the pre Dravidians
of India and the almost extinct Veddahs of Ceylon who may be distantly
related" (The Dream Time, Rigby Publishers, Sydney 1965. p.9) This
statement proves that though the number of vanniyaletto community is
less, the worldwide importance is more. The interview with Former
Vnniyaletto leader Uruwarige Thisahami shows his idea about the
community in a nutshell. The Speech given by the present leader
Uruwarige Wanniyaletto depicts his inspirations. Dambane Gunawardana,
the first graduate of the community tries to see through the future of
the community.
Alex Perera, the editor of this book is a student who is reading for
his PhD in Anthropology (Indigenous Studies) at the Centre for
Indigenous Community Studies of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
He successfully completed his written examination relevant to M.Phil.
and he was promoted by the Senate of the University to do the Ph.D. His
research area is "The role of education in socio-cultural change and
continuity in Wannietto (Veddas) communities in Sri Lanka". I would like
to encourage all the students who follow degree programmes in our centre
to follow this sort of activities. These efforts will be helpful not
only to them but also to the others who are interested in this field. |
