Parasuraman: the silent fighter against disintergration!!!
Parasuraman of Kaluthavali, Maddakkalappu (Batticaloa), Sri Lanka is the living artist and exponent in Paraimelam (Percussion instrument) and in Paraimela Kooththu (dance while playing the percussion instrument).
Paraimelam and Paraimela Kooththu are intertwined with the life of Thamils. Parai is one of the ancient arts of Thamils. But the oppressive natures of the caste orientation pave the way for its tragic extinction!
The people who owns the art wants to throw it away as a shame on them but people who value the power of the art of Parai and Paraimela Kooththu fights for its survival.
Parasuraman is not only an exponent in his art but also an ardent fighter of his art for its survival between the oppression of the caste domination and the resistance against the caste oppression.
People who are talking of Culture, Cultural Identity, National Culture and National Identity always mentioning about Parai as the ancient art of the Thamils but very little attention was paid to its connection with the caste and oppression.
But the forces who commercialize the life of the people transform the art connected with community life into commodity in tourists’ spots.
The irony is the people who cannot overcome the casteism, introduces Electronic Parai in Temples!
This is the politics of alienation from community participation.
The life and fight of Parasuraman with the art of Parai
is against DISINTERGRATION!!!
S.Jeyasankar
25.11.2006
