New Feudalists: What Is The Similarity Between Our Presidency And HIV Aids?

By Charitha Ratwatte -February 4, 2013

Charitha Ratwatte

Most medieval civilisations were structured on the basis of obligations based on land. The word feudalism originated in Europe, much of the land in Europe was divided into ‘feuda’ – from which feudalism takes its name – which were land holdings bearing obligation to a landlord, who managed the land.

Cultivators were considered as tenants or vassals of this landlord or an institution, like a monastery or a temple. The dominant individual or influential family of the area owed allegiance to a ruler to whom they had to pay taxes and provide irregular troops of local tenants when required.

In most medieval systems all land was owned by the crown, and except for certain specific grants made to individuals or institutions, such as religious institutions, control and ownership of land was the factor and instrument through which the ruler exerted control.

Since communication infrastructure was at a primitive level, the local feudal leader literally lorded it over the tenant farmers, as the ruler or king was a remote person to the average tenant.

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Sonia tells Karunanidhi she shares his concern about SL MONDAY, 04 FEBRUARY 2013 Stating that she shared the concerns of DMK chief M Karunanidhi regarding Sri Lankan Tamils issue, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has told him that she "shall take up the matter" with the External Affairs Minister. "I share your concern regarding the disturbing developments in Sri Lanka vis-a-vis the Tamils. I shall take up the matter with the Minister of External Affairs (Salman Khurshid)," she said in her January 30, 2013 letter to Karunanidhi. The Congress President's response to a January 19, 2013 letter by Karunanidhi was posted on DMK leader's page in micro-blogging site Twitter. In identical letters to Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Karunanidhi, whose DMK is a key constituent of ruling UPA, had claimed Tamils in Sri Lanka were living in an "oppressive environment," and sought the Centre's intervention to "stop this atrocity," as India had a "moral obligation" to do so. Meanwhile, the Karunanidhi-led Tamil Eealam Supporters' Organisation today anounced a 'black outfit' protest here on February 8 opposing the proposed visit by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to India. A TESO meeting presided by Karunanidhi also resolved to hold a national conference in Delhi in March to highlight the 'sufferings and difficulties' faced by Lankan Tamils, proposing to invite all political leaders, a release said. Holding Rajapakse instrumental for the sufferings of the ethnic minority in the island nation, TESO resolved that Tamils in India will never accept his visit to the country. "He considers India's hand of friendship and its sense of hospitality as its weakness. Central government should not encourage his visit to India," it said. The Lankan President is scheduled to arrive in Chennai soon on a visit to Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. Among others, the meeting asked India to support a US-sponsored Sri Lanka specific reoslution in the United Nations Human Rights Council next month.(PTI)