Background

An Introduction Of Our Roots

Karainagar is a great village where our ancestors were born. Our hearts fill with joy when we say the name of our hometown ‘Karainagar’.

Karainagar is an islet off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. It covers an area of 14 square miles. The old name of Karainagar is Karaitheevu. The reason for this name is said to be that karai plants were seen growing in this area in the early days.

Karainagar is located 4 km across a lagoon northwest of the city of Jaffna. A causeway built across the lagoon in 1869 connects the mainland by roadway. People struggled to travel before this causeway was built. It was a great relief for them.

In 1922 Sir Pon. Ramanathan visited Karaitheevu and changed its name for Karainagar. Even though it is an islet it has a number of divisions within. Some notable divisions are Valanthalai, Thangodai, Kalapoomi, Kovalam, Karungali and Palakadu.

There are paddy fields in the middle of the island and the population surrounds these paddy fields. There is a harbour in the south of the island with a large naval base nearby. There is an old quarantine sea fort built by the Dutch near this harbour when they ruled Sri Lanka.

History has it that the Dutch demolished an Iyenar Temple built by the Sri Lankan king Kulakottan and built this sea fort with the materials such as granite pieces obtained from the demolition.

The people of Karainagar preserved their religion Saivam and their language Tamil promoting and nurturing them with their way of life and whatever worthy of their culture.

 There are 43 temples in Karainagar. They are temples of olden days. Of these the notable ones are Eelathu Sithambaram, Varivalavu Pillaiyar Kovil, Palavodai Amman Kovil, Thikkarai Murugan Kovil, Viyavil Iyenar Kovil and Manatkadu Amman Kovil.

 Eelathu Sithambaram has the exceptional practice of having  grand temple festival(Mahotsavam) thrice every year.

There are many Saiva institutions in Karainagar.  Saiva Mahasabai, Manivasagar Sabai, Pillai Madam,Siva Ashramam and Kovalam Murugesu Swamiyar Ashram are noteworthy among them.

Suppaiyar, Murugesu Iyer, Karthikeya Iyer, Panchadchara Kurukkal, Subramaniya Desikar, Nagamuthup Pulavar and Pandithar Arulampalavanar are some of the scholars born in Karainagar and they are authors of books worthy of preserving for posterity.

Karainagar people have been marrying amongst themselves for a very long time and they are all related to each other. Because of this traditional practice they remain more and more inter related and take care of each other and help out each other.

People of Karainagar have great ability to successfully complete any task they undertake.They travelled to many parts of Sri Lanka and ran profitable businesses. In addition, under the British rule they went to countries such as Malaysia and Singapore and joined the administrative service. These activities made them very rich.

Though they became very rich they had the superior quality of not being arrogant with that count and always led a simplistic life. They used their wealth with great pleasure to help the poor and to build or support libraries, schools and temples.

Karainagar has limited water resources. But people are keen farmers and through their hard work they succeed in cultivating paddy, coconut, and other vegetables. They are so industrious that they make the most of Palmyra produce.

The work ethic of Karainagar people led to the building of Ceynor factory with the aid of Norway government to manufacture fishing boats and nets and to produce sea food.

People of Karianagar are very keen on education and there are 17 schools in Karainagar. The teachers in these schools felt teaching was a noble service and due to this belief people in Karainagar become educated. Colleges such as Yarlton College and Dr A.Thiagarajah Madhya Maha Vidyalayam are famous.

People of Karainagar love their soil and culture. There was a teacher known as Arunasala Upathiyayar in Karainagar in the late nineteenth century. He was keen about saving their tradition and culture from western influence. He gathered support to establish schools to maintain native tradition. He started schools such as Thirugnanasambantha Vidyalayam (Hindu College) and Viyavil Saivaparipalana Vidyalayam. He is hailed a pioneer in this service of establishing schools to uphold Saiva Faith.

Thirugnanasambntha Vidyasalai progressed as Sayambu Upathiyayar worked hard with his discipline of English education. In course of time the school became ‘Hindu College’ under the Hindu Board of Education. Until 1945 Hindu College had the original block of building and two temporary sheds to hold classes.

 Mr. A.Thiagarajah, a postgraduate teacher in the school took office as Principal in late forties. Since then the school developed and expanded. The school reached a higher standard by early sixties when it was taken over by the State. It was then upgraded to the level of supra grade Madhya Maha Vidyalayam. The state recognized Dr.A.Thiagarajah's services to the school and named it after him.

The students from these colleges then proceeded to universities and then have held

important positions. Karainagar has produced many educated men and women who include Justices, lawyers, administrative officers, doctors, engineers, college principals, university teachers and professors. Allen Abraham (1865-1922) a mathematician from Karainagar researched about Halley’s Comet in 1910 and became world famous.

There have been parliamentarians from Karainagar. The first one elected was Dr. A.Thiagarajah, a popular principal of a leading college. The second one was Mr.T.Maheswaran, a famous businessman. Both members of Parliament tirelessly worked to develop Karimnagar in many ways.

Casuarina Beach in Karimnagar is quite well known for its white sand and Casuarina trees. Many tourists go to enjoy on this beach.

Thousands of Karainagar people left Sri Lanka due to the communal violence. They went to countries such as Canada, America, England, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Those who left never forgot their homeland. They have been keeping in touch with the people from their hometown and enjoying the relationships. They have organized associations in most of the countries they went to and are maintaining their relationships. In addition they are also helping their relatives who are still living in Karainagar.

Though we live abroad of Karainagar let us be aware of the greatness of Karainagar. Let us strengthen our relationships. Let us help our relatives. Let us live prosperously.

May Karainagar live forever. May our relationships continue forever.

Thambipillai Nanthivarman, CA, ACMA Sydney, Australia.