Despite being one of the most ancient nations in the world, Eelam does not have a university where people are free to exercise their natural rights. The luminous insights of Eelam’s vast history are unconscionably shrouded by the illegal occupation, restriction of human rights, and enforcement of socialist policies by the Government of Sri Lanka. Out of this great tragedy, Naga Academy was born.
To understand the creation of Naga Academy, one must have a modicum of knowledge of the history of Eelam. The nation of Eelam is currently under occupation by the Government of Sri Lanka after a decades-long civil war which ended in a brutal massacre of over 40,000 Tamil civilians at Mullivaikkal in 2009. The militant group which brought about the de facto state of Eelam, the LTTE, was a socialist group. The Government of Sri Lanka is also a socialist country, and, because of this, there are no private universities in the occupied territories of Eelam. This has resulted in relatively little research being conducted on the history of the nation, the history of the conflict, the international relations of the nation, the economics of the nation, the social sciences of the nation, and the humanities of the nation at collegiate institutions in the country of Sri Lanka, the occupied nation of Eelam, and internationally.
In addition to the lack of research, the lack of centrality which a university provides to people is undermined by the political situation. A university is a centerpiece of culture which provides a gateway into recovering and understanding the wisdom held in the past to create a better future. This centerpiece is currently nonexistent for the nation of Eelam, and it has had- and will continue to have- intense negative consequences for the philosophy, economy, politics, health, and spiritual welfare of the people- if not remedied. Naga Academy, through providing quality research and education in numerous fields, aims to be the centerpiece for the culture and nation of Eelam which is desperately needed.
Another major reason for the creation of Naga Academy is to create an antidote to the plague of ignorance in the fields of universities. The aim is to provide a better educational experience than many of the programs at the highest-ranked, elite universities. The Western Universities have been infected with ideologies disguising as higher education.
Naga Academy is an institution that seeks to revive the essence of higher education and spark a cultural renaissance that has resonated for centuries in Eelam and across the world. The institution seeks to inspire individuals to grow their intellect and their wisdom, giving them the tools to make the possible hassle of independent study into a convenience. The format of the courses and programs make it accessible for anybody with the curiosity and intellectual capacity to follow along with ease. This, in addition to unprecedented research and programs on the nation of Eelam, demonstrates the true unique nature of- and the need for– the organization. By embracing education as a pathway to self and social development, the nation could make significant strides in multiple domains.
Due to the current state of higher education and the current state of Eelam both being disarray, the organization was founded in response. Higher education has never been more costly and the ability to receive a quality education has skyrocketed in price. Because of this, and the toxic ideologies which plague the universities, there needs to be new options to receive an education. This, in conjunction with the current state of the nation, allows for lots of progress to be made. These two major problems are what created the reasoning for why Naga Academy was formed: Naga Academy is aiming to fulfill the ideal of higher education and to propel the nation of Eelam to great heights.
Naga Academy aims to be a premier institution for multidisciplinary research regarding Eelam, Hinduism, and South Asian geopolitics- aiming to become the “Harvard” of South Asia, inspiring the region through academic and research excellence. The prestige of the university will be formed from a world-class and unique curriculum, a commitment to prolific research output, and innovative initiatives.
A wise philosophy is a guiding light to the lost and amiss. Our founding theories which comprise Naga Academy’s vision aim to be that beacon of hope.
The first central theory is the essence of education. The primary thesis of this theory is that education serves as a mechanism to socialize, individualize, and awaken the individuals of a society to be their most competent, wise, and strong selves.
The second central theory is Advaita Vedanta. The primary idea of this is that the universal consciousness, which is the Absolute Self, Brahman, is the ultimate reality, while the phenomenological reality is an illusion. The accompanying idea is that Shiva and Shakti are symbols of consciousness and energy respectively, and that the universe is a dance between these two eternal forces.
The third central theory is the unifying theory of consciousness. The primary idea of this theory is that consciousness is the constant among all phenomenological experiences in human life and that it is constant among all the different frames of reference which are relative and transient.
The fourth central theory is individuation and self-realization. This idea, originating from the Jungian psychoanalytic school of thought, emphasizes the individuality of each person and the uniqueness of their personality. Jung conceptualized each personality as being embedded in a particular story across the totality of their life, in which their destiny was to manifest their greatest potential self through a constant evolution of the psyche.
The fifth central theory is culture and personality. The primary idea of this theory has two components. The first is that culture can be conceptualized as a macro-personality, or a cultural environment, in which one is socialized. The second is that individual personalities, with their wide variance and development, are conscious actors which change the culture that is left for the following generation.
The sixth central theory is the game theoretics of universal morality, political economy, and international law. The primary thesis of this theory is that the game theoretic model can be applied to understand the relationships between universal morality, political economy, and international law and the multitude of diverse actors to create a philosophical structure which could guide the study, policymaking, and debates of the relationship between international relations and world philosophies.
Named in honor of Nagesparan Kandiah, one of the first from the island of Nainativu to earn a Bachelor’s Degree, and in honor of the ancient roots of the Naga people, Naga Academy traces its spiritual origins to the island of Nainativu.
Referred to in historical texts such as the ancient Tamil Sangam literature and the Mahavamsa, the island of Nainativu is a notable island of Eelam. The island has deep connections to both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions and is home to the prominent Nagapooshani Amman Hindu Temple and the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya, a Buddhist shrine. Another name for Nainativu has been Nagadeepa, in reference to the indigenous inhabitants of the island, the Naga tribe. The word Naga, when translated from Sanskrit, means snake or serpent. The Naga people were snake worshippers, which was a custom of Dravidians throughout Eelam and South India. According to several historians, the Naga people began to assimilate into the larger Tamil culture as migrants from South India arrived in the first few centuries BC.
What is the vision for Naga?
Naga Academy aspires to become a premier higher education institution for Eelam, capitalizing on the benefits of private schools, such as the creation of an endowment fund and freedom from government interference. The educational landscape in Eelam is dismal, characterized by a non-existent research apparatus, limited curricula, and inadequate access to materials. Government control further exacerbates the situation, stifling free speech and press.
To address the high demand for education, Naga Academy was established to serve both the homeland and the diaspora. By forming a substantial endowment fund, the Academy aims to eliminate dependency on governmental entities, thereby enhancing the quality of professors, researchers, funding, and curricula.
Currently, Naga operates as a fully online school due to political constraints and cost efficiency. However, the long-term goal is to significantly increase the endowment to expand services and establish a physical campus. Naga Academy’s mission is to harness the exceptional talent within Eelam, providing a platform for it to flourish globally.