THE VEDDAH TRIBE GIRL KALUAMMA

Preface

The three ancient tribes of Sri Lanka are the Yakkas, Nagas, and Veddahs;

Raavan was a Yakka king and worshiped the god Shiva. Nagas worshipped serpents. Veddha’s are hunters and considered the descendants of Yakkas queen Kuveni who married Prince Vijayan who arrived in the 6th century BC at the western coast of Sri Lanka with his seven hundred friends when he was deported from Kalinga country. Kevin had two children a boy and a girl. Vijayan chased away Kuveni and the children. They escaped to a forest area in southern Sri Lanka. They lived as hunters. Worshiped god Karthigeya as he loved and married Veddah girl Valli. This story is about a Veddah girl Kaluvamma. She is a black beauty

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Among the ethnic groups currently living in Sri Lanka, the Veddah are considered to be the original inhabitants. Although they are called by the name meaning "Vetta", they refer to themselves as "Wanniyala-Aetto". It means "belonging to the forest" or "dwelling in the forest" or "people of the forest". They are found in the forests of the eastern and southeastern parts of the country. They are The lifestyle of the Vanniyala Ethno people is unique, although they are interwoven with other ethnic peoples of Sri Lanka. Especially some groups of these people who live in Sri Lanka's eastern coastal forest region speak a language like Tamil. Murugan is worshiped as a family deity

"Kalu" means black in the Sinhala language

Maduru Oya Reservoir and forest, are located west of Batticaloa city in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, 290 km east of Colombo. If she was born in Tamil Nadu, she would have been named Karuthamma. Her parents used to give her cow milk within a few days of her birth. because she is black, and she is a girl.

But Kaluvamma was born as the daughter of the leader of a village of about two hundred Veddah families in the Maduru Oya Forest Park area called “Thampanna”. . Veddah women were considered deities in the village. The reason is that the number of men is less. Generally, the Veddahs are less colored. They know that women are necessary to multiply their race and Murugan's second wife is Valli, a Veddah woman. Valli fell in love and got married. Veddah women preferred to marry men of their caste despite the restrictions in the village where those Veddah lived.

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When Kaluvamma is born, her complexion is black, but her face is beautiful. Long nose, big eyes, rosy cheeks.

Her blackness and irises, her pearly teeth look like lightning in the dark when she smiles, her cheekbones are like quills, and no one in that village does not admire her beauty, and no one does not know her. She was very hot. She speaks measuredly. The students would always stand around her. She is calm. She speaks less. Beloved daughter of the father “Disahami Atho”. Disahami plans to unite the two villages by marrying her off to the son of the head of the neighboring Veddah village

Arunanayaka, a trained teacher from Kandy, was transferred to the small school that has classes up to 10 nth class. The school continued to be neglected in the village for political reasons. Aruna is twenty-one years old. He knew the vibrancy and charm of youth. His roots belonged to the Nayak dynasty that once ruled the kingdom of Kandy. He was born in his native house on Malabar Road near the Kandy Budda relic temple. and studied at Trinity College. Buddhist. He was a teacher in a government college in Kandy and was transferred to a village school called "Tampanna" in the jungle due to political reasons.

Kaluvamma was one of the ten students in his class. Her charisma and looks attracted Aruna from day one

Students introduced themselves one by one to the new teacher Aruna/

When it was Kaluvamma's turn, she looked at the teacher without speaking for a few seconds.

"What is it that you are looking at me without letting me introduce you? What is wrong with me?" Aruna asked

"No, teacher, I was admiring the black shirt you wore matched your fair skin mane. So, I forgot to answer”

"Okay, well, please introduce yourself first."

"My name is Kaluvamma. Age sixteen. Village leader Disahami Atho;’s is the only daughter. I am a Veddah girl. . My deities are Valli and Muruga.

“Nice introduction. Is your house in this village”?

"Yes, a hut"

”Which subject do you like:”?

”A History of Our Race. Nature, environment. Politics:

“Good. What other language do you know than Sinhala”

“Knows some Tamil”:

"Then you should know Maths too"

“ No, I hate math.”

Ever since that first meeting, Kaluvamma Aruna has taken a place in his mind. She saw something in him that her village men did not.

After school, both would talk for a while about topics related to the subject. Aruna wears Kaluvamma's favorite black shirt every day. Over time, the student-teacher relationship between them blossomed into a lover's relationship.

One day Kaluvamma brought honey, millet flour, and milk fruit to him from home. He was pleased. Another day she brought venison marinated in honey and cooked in lotus leaf. Aruna refused to eat venison saying that he does not eat meat. He explained to her the reason.”

"I will eat no more meat unless you eat it," said Kaluvamma.

“Is deer hunting the business of your villagers?

“My father and stepfather are good at deer hunting with bow and arrow. It is the native profession of their race and my villagers cannot be changed from that character, the village is surrounded by a single forest. There is a large Madhuru reservoir with elephants, leopards, bears, and foxes. Wild animals like buffalo and many species of birds are the richness of our village. Wild fruits. Many kinds of flowers. Lots of herbs. To cure it, there is a person called Veluhami; He is the Kappurala of the Murugan temple in the hut in our village. Kaluvamma said that his vows will work.

"What did he tell you?"

"He said that I would run away from this village with a resident of another town and that I would become a politician in a few year’s time:"

"Alright Kaluvamma, do your parents know about our love affair"?

Other students will tell them. But I heard that they planned to give me to the son of the Veddah head of the village of Kudaville next door.”

"Would you like to marry within in your race?"?:

"How can it be that two of my friends, one a Muslim and one a Tamil, are getting married in Batticaloa and Eravur? I will marry one of my favorites our deity Valli:”

"Who is your favorite Kaluvamma"?

” Who Else other than You Aruna ”:

Aruna hugged her and kissed her cheek.

" What is that in a box in your hand Aruna "?

:” When I went to Kandy, in memory of our love, white bangles matching your beauty. I have also bought a pearl necklace as my gift, show me your beauty: He gave her t.he gift

"Thank you Aruna, I don't have money to give you an expensive gift, I have brought you lotus buds as my gift," said Kaluvamma.

A quill cook bird was heard in the distance.

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There was a change of government. Aruna was transferred back to Kandy.

It was Aruna’s last day at school. He was bidding goodbye to all students. Kaluvamma was silent with tears on her face.

When Aruna was at the Bus stand to take a bus to Kandy, he saw Kaluvannah coming towed shin with a bag in her hand

“ Aruna, please don’t leave me and go, I am coming with you. Take me

Aruna was shocked to hear words,

“ Kaluvammah, I promise I will come back to the village and meet and get permission from your parents to marry you.”

“ No Aruna, that is not possible.: Kaluvamma sat with tears in her eyes

“ Why?”

“They will not agree with me marrying a man outside the Veddah community. If they know that I am loving you, they may even kill you.”

The Bus to Kandy arrived.

“OK, Kaluvamma please get into the bus,”

 Kaluvamma without hesitating got into the bus followed by Aruna. The Bus driver tooted the horn and moved the bus, A new journey starts for the Veddah girl.

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