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by U.D.J. Jinadasa

Intellectuals and national spirited citizens are concerned about the decadence of traditions and moral values in the Sri Lankan society. The last vestiges of age-old customs, traditions and moral values are mostly found among members of the older generations. As the traditions, customs and the language are essential building blocks that keep the national edifice strong and vibrant, their perpetuation is important particularly to maintain the national identity. Concerted action is, therefore, necessary to rekindle the dormant national consciousness and salvage the nation from further degeneration.

Now that the nation is hopefully awaiting the successful culmination of the peace process it is pertinent to explore ways and means to resurrect the national consciousness of the people. Confrontational party politics disrespect for law and order and the ever growing corruption and administrative delays in public institutions have contributed to the dilution of national spiritedness of the people.

Statesmen, patriotic lawyers, writers and renowned scholars and particularly the national press fostered the growth of national consciousness of the people in the past in no small measure. In fact it was that national consciousness that crated the independence movement which grew as a strong force against western imperialism.

The aim of nationalism is to create a proper loyalty to one's country. It is really a form of virtue in a self reliant nation. Historically, national consciousness was strong within the Sri Lankan society when the country was under the foreign yoke. Objectively, regaining political freedom was the motivative force. National consciousness was also the force behind communal harmony during the colonial era.

After fifty four years of trial and error it is refreshing to hear that the ruling political party is proposing to revert to the political system of the pre-independence era, prevailed during the State Council days. Consensus on national issues will prevent political squabbles; and the Committee system will consolidate communal harmony. That will indeed be a bold step towards a new political culture. However, the success of any new development will depend on the national spiritedness of the political leaders. Old political systems that developed without a problem for several decades in our placid plural society functioned better than those new systems that stem from conscious thinking.

Nationalism and patriotism received a death blow within a few decades after the spread of Sri Lankan style party politics. Social disintegration and communal disharmony spread like wild fire to every region of the country. Purity in public dealings was submerged by corruption while nationalism faded away amidst party loyalty. The dark clouds of communal politics have arisen in the national firmament. The proposal to canvass the conscience vote in national issues in parliament is, therefore, a commendable step. Nothing is more powerful than an individual acting out of his own conscience which helps to bring the collective conscience to life.

Social bonds, customs, traditions as well as the language of the people are of great significance in the development of national consciousness. Family bonds are disintegrating fast as the extended family system cannot withstand the urbanisation process. That apart large scale emigration of professionals and the skilled work force has created a dent in the long established close-knit family system.

Migratory workers particularly those employed in middle-east countries, though helpful to build up the national economy, create a damaging influence to the already fractured economy. Young mothers leave their children with their kith and kin mostly when the children need their mothers' company most. How much a child learns from the mother is succinctly illustrated by the Greek philosopher King Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A.D.) when referring to his mother he writes:

"From my mother I learnt piety and beneficence and abstinence not only from evil deeds but even from evil thoughts, and further simplicity in my way of living far removed from the habits of the rich".

Our setback as a nation and our failure to develop and foster national consciousness was, therefore, a result of many external forces which are diverse and farfetched.

In building the national consciousness and preserving the national identity, language plays an important part. Language is an indispensable element for the development of a nation's culture. In particular, the ethical life and the character of a person are moulded through the native language of the community. As it is language that a child learns at the beginning that shapes his way of thinking, it is important that a child should have a good foundation of the mother tongue. The implication is that those who have no grounding of their mother tongue will often try to adopt foreign ways of thinking unmindful of the fact that belong to their native land.

Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, the great apostle of twentieth century nationalism, in an address to a Sinhala audience at Ananda College in 1904 implored upon the people the value of studying the national history and language to foster the spirit of nationalism. In his words, ".....the best traits and traditions of a race are inseparably bound up with its language. When a people so far forgets itself and its past history as to neglect and spurn the study and use of its own language it may safely be predicted that, that people will not for long preserve its identity".

There had been a system of education in our country in the recent past where children were exposed to the study of either Sinhala or Tamil, as the case may be, for at least five years before they were introduced to the study of English. That provided the children with an opportunity to read and appreciate the rudiments of the historical literature of the country. Children were thereby inspired to develop their national consciousness in their earlier school career.

It is impracticable to go back to the old system now. However, education policies should be directed at producing a national consciousness citizenry. It cannot prosper in a lawless society. Many of those who migrate are compelled to do so mainly for the purpose of educating their children in a better environment.

Nothing is easier than blaming the school administration and the teachers for the behaviourial attitude of a segment of the student population. Moral education should begin at home, and moral upbringing lie squarely in the sturdy hands of parents. But unfortunately many parents do not have adequate time even to supervise the studies of their children. The latest trend is that even certain parents join student demonstrations. When some students performed a satyagraha opposite the Prime Minister's official residence recently, a few parents even tried to breakthrough the police barricades. Parental support is essential in creating a disciplined society and revive the declining social and moral standards.

Many expatriates who enjoy peaceful lives in foreign climes are hesitant to return to their motherland due to the ubiquitous indiscipline in the island. Their love for the motherland has not diminished. Motorists have no road sense. Students clash with the authorities. Efficiency in the public service is marred by rampant bribery and corruption, and dealings with a government department is so difficult that a member of the public cannot get a reply to his letters even after several reminders. Laws to curb this malaise is adequate, but the law enforcing machinery is weak and slow. To revive the decadent society a vigorous effort has to be made by the people themselves. National consciousness thrives only in a decent society.

As example is more important than mere precept political leaders should be in the forefront to mobilize a new national conscious society. But if politicians abuse the trust placed on them, and "yes men" hold key position in State services, people's faith in democratic institutions cannot be sustained. "Democracy and liberty", says Friedman, "may easily be submerged when a State, impoverished by war and misled by incompetent demagogues into extravagances which it cannot afford, slides down the slippery slope into a quagmire of insolvency".

In this multi-cultural society, despite the morality taught in schools and by the great religions, the debate on the issue of cultural upheavals will remain lively but unresolved as long as politicians and other community leaders do not practise what they preach. In a culturally decadent society national consciousness and patriotism remain dormant. People are lazy and dissolute. They will be encouraged by the pervasive television and pornographic books and films. They run away from hard work expecting something for nothing.

In Malaysia nationalism is "workaholism". What is required in our country today is to turn the inchoate mass of uncertainty, puzzlement and anxiety into a constructive force towards peace, security and environmental conditions that would foster national consciousness in the Sri Lankan society.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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