Archives

'Every citizen should rally round peace endeavour'

W.T.J.S. Kaviratne - Ambalangoda special correspondent

This family which once lived in an area identified as a High Security Zone, Jaffna, live in a refugee camp now.

New ways of thinking and a novel political culture should be introduced to Sri Lanka to address the multitude of social, economic, political and ethnic issues which have cropped up in Sri Lanka due to the protracted North - East War.

Fortunately, the 'National Peace Council of Sri Lanka has undertaken the challenge to reform the misguided individuals exposed to the communal minded politicians advocating a military solution to the ethnic conflict.

An awareness programme on the issues related to the ethnic conflict its origin, expansion, peace initiatives, federal solution, and tolerance of diversity was held recently at the auditorium of the District Secretariat, Galle, organised by the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.

A large gathering of Gramaniladaris, Samurdhi animators, Agricultural Officers, school teachers, pupils and community Representatives of the Galle district were among the participants.

Making the keynote address, the Director - Programmes, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Sathivale Balakrishnan said that even though, numerous thorny issues had surfaced and serious ceasefire violations had taken place as expected during peace negotiations, striking transformations could be observed in the LTTE and in its stubborn rigidity of demands.

LTTE which was a very strong militant organisation firmly determined to achieve a separate state, had shown striking flexibility during the course of the peace negotiations up to the recent temporary impasse. This flexibility of the LTTE could be considered as a healthy sign, he said.

The key partners to the conflict, LTTE and the Government, even amid disputes and disagreements, could resolve them at the negotiation table, which was an internationally accepted manner of conflict resolution he said. "When all peace andeavours of previous governments were short-lived and failed miserably, the present government with temporary pauses continued to achieve sustainable peace in the country through negotiations.

Even though the peace negotiations were temporalty held up, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities were smoothly operating benefitting the people living in the war-torn North and East of the country, he said. The success of the peace negotiations upto the temporary impasse could be attributed to the trust and confidence found in each other he said. "In addition, LTTE strongly believed that all other previous political leaders of Sinhala majoritarian governments, one after the other had deceived the Tamil community.

LTTE had kept their confidence in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as a politician genuinely dedicated to achieving lasting peace in the country, he said.

"LTTE had not given up the participation in peace negotiations and their march towards the democratic mainstream and the interest shown in the proposed Interim Administration, rather than in separatism, could be sighted as important developments he said.

Referring to strategies of conflict resolution, he said to suit the nature of the conflict, different frameworks were applied. Even though the majority of international ethnic conflicts remained unresolved, certain violent conflicts could be resolved by peace negotiations. Partners to the conflict during negotiations, should not try to win over the other. If the Sri Lankan situation was taken, for instance, if LTTE felt that the Government was winning against the LTTE, the first party to boycott the negotiation was the LTTE, he said. "Partners to the conflict should not maintain their superiority over each other but should be considered equal, Balakrishnan explained.

Neither the LTTE nor the Government could win this war waged for 20 long years, similarly neither party was defeated he said.

"The Tamil community believed that the LTTE was successful in winning their legitimate rights while Tamil politicians failed, he said. Creating a "No War' atmosphere in the country is completely left to the people of this country. Politicians in post-independent Sri Lanka were responsible for the ethnic conflict and its gradual development into a major ethnic war, because to capture power, both Tamil and Sinhala politicians as usual exploited communalism he said.

The ruins of war

"Throughout political history, 'anti-Sinhala', 'anti-Tamil' were the slogans used to win elections in Tamil areas and Sinhala areas Balakrishnan said. People were the most important stakeholder in the conflict and it was a grave mistake to believe that only the LTTE and Government could bring lasting peace to Sri Lanka, he said. "It was very unfortunate that even at this crucial moment people preferred to remain passive citizens".

"Every citizen of Sri Lanka should rally round the peace endeavour with unity, in diversity and in rebuilding the nation" Balakrishnan said.

Coordinator - Projects, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Sumith Chandana speaking on the origin and expansion of the ethnic conflict said during the past, division or discrimination among politicians belonging to different ethnic groups were found. Referring to the political maturity of the politicians of the past, he said late Ponnambalam Ramanathan was able to defeat the Sinhala contestant in 1912. Mr. Ponnambalam was able to win at the election on merit he said.

Post independence governments were responsible for the implementation of programmes affecting the rights and privileges of the minority communities of the country and these political mistakes had paved the way for the formation of numerous movements in the country campaigning for minority rights, he said.

The Citizenship Act also affected the rights of the minority. "The JVP insurrection which took place in 1971 provided the courage and inspiration for the Tamil youth in the North and East and due to youth unrest found in the country, rebellious movements fighting for their rights emerged gradually, he said.

Galle district coordinator of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Saman Seneviratne said it was very important to conduct awareness programmes of this nature on ethnic harmony in every village of the country as majority of the citizens were completely unaware of the nature of the ethnic conflict and on the solutions discussed to face the future challenges.

Similar awareness programmes for the benefit of provincial politicians were also held during the past few months in the Galle district he said.

#########

Swami Chinmayananda's thoughts as a peace fount

"We can, we must, we will"

A young sannyasin with a daring vision and a messianic fervour appeared on the scene at a time when the young generation of Hindus had lost faith in their religious traditions and were swept of their cultural moorings. He was agitated and disappointed with his people who seemed enmeshed with material comforts and were oblivious to their rich and glorious cultural past.

They aped the west blindly. He was determined to resuscitate the Hindu social structure and bring about a cultural renaissance. He had a vision to realize this dream. "We can, we must, we will," were his watchwords which reverberate through all his actions as he endeavoured to fulfil his dream.

The young Sannyasin was Swami Chinmayananda, revered as Gurudev. His life was a long and continuing saga of endeavour in which he added bit by bit, piece by piece creating mission centres in India and around the world, training acharyas to carry out his mission.

These centers were to be forged in, developed and worked out essentially for the teaching of the scriptures to the little ones, the youth and the elders. He planned his programmes meticulously using the same English language that the young generation of English speaking Hindus were familiar with. To the young monk, spirituality was never a post retirement pass time for he believed that spirituality should help prepare and equip a young mind to face the challenges of life and emerge diligently as the winner. He realized that the youth should be harnessed carefully into the channels of dynamism and progressiveness. These ideas were to become the spring-board for the great Hindu cultural renaissance, to teach the young that, "the present is the richness of the past. To be aware of the glorious past itself inspires man to strive now in the present. The future glories come with the present efforts. To maintain his sacred past will readily give him a splendid spirit of self sacrifice in the present - a spirit which will assure achievements."

His dream blossomed out as the Chinmaya Mission, which included initially the Yuvakendras, the Balavihars and the innumerable yagnasalas from where he inspired a many splendoured tradition of imparting the message of the scriptures. These later blossomed out into service centers helping the needy. This was his tryst with destiny and the mission centers he founded are the Divine Gifts that endure.

Very often, as we struggle through life facing challenges from moment to moment, we tend to act thinking of the results of our actions. The present always moulds the future. Tomorrow's harvest depends on what the farmer has already put in - today's ploughing, sowing and weeding. Instead of carefully ploughing and sowing at the right time, the farmer wastes the present chances and thinks of the worst scenario of the crop failing, then in all probability the harvest will fail. Thus, Swamiji quotes the Bhagavad Gita saying,

"Invest the present moment intelligently and properly so that the future is taken care of. The past is over and the future is yet to come. The present is all important and is the moment of action and decision. Your duty is to work. An action in the present defined in terms of a future moment is its reward."

In this manner, he urges us to bring out the best in us into the present.

Saying, "The world needs the refreshing teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, when materialistic tendencies are over powering humanity, and greed has greatly reduced the divine qualities of sharing and caring," he brought back the Yagna spirit into our mundane lives, homes and work places. The yagna was the sacrificial fire ritual of the Vedic age where the devotees tended offerings of oblations to kindle the fire in a spirit of sharing and surrender.

The study and contemplation of the scriptures taught at the Chinmaya spiritual yagnas, kindle the fire of knowledge in us and into this fire we offer our ego and negative tendencies as oblations. His sharp logic, dramatic expression and humorous parables from daily life drive home effectively the life giving message of the ancient texts. His words of admonishment are,

"Act in a spirit of sacrifice and surrender and work with dedication to a higher and nobler ideal if you wish to be successful in life. Just as Arjuna finally woke up to fight his battle, you too will find success and peace of mind in the midst of life's sufferings as soon as you become selfless and dedicated in all your activities without ego and desires for the results."

The study of the life of Swami Chinmayananda shows that he was great in his goodness and good in his greatness. The mosaic of his thoughts and actions show that his reliance on the ancient scriptures was steadfast. He made his life a laboratory of the Soul in which a re-discovery of the supremacy of the ancient scriptures was made and taught.

As an artist of life and a sculptor of character-perfecting, he brought about a moral re-awakening into the several thousands of devotees emphasising spiritual beauty and how we should bring its laughter and cheer into our world of fears and competitions, conflicts and confusions, joys and sorrows. The trail he blazed is, "Live a chaste life of love and dedication and be yourself a 'Sandeepany', one who lights the 'Lamp of Truth,' in the hearts of all," and this is the guiding principle of life's work of each mission member.

He strode the spiritual stage like a colossus and to us in the Chinmaya family, he was a presence, a light, a glow and a fragrance guiding and inspiring us. When the news of his samadhi reached us, the words of an English poet came to mind -

"Why did nature bring down this mighty oak beneath whose benevolent shade so many found refuge."

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
Sivanandini Duraiswamy
Chinmaya Mission, Colombo.

#########

65th birth anniversary - August 12, 2003 

Remembering Kumar Ponnambalam

by A. Kandappah

The late Senator Adlai Stevenson, who strode the American political scene in the late 60s and 70s, was called "the President who never was". Stevenson had all the attributes that could have made him an excellent and popular US President but he never made it. Kumar Ponnambalam, who did not succeed in being elected to Parliament, had a much higher profile than many Tamil parliamentarians or ministers.

He was constantly in the public eye - relentlessly fighting for many a Tamil cause. Any perceived injustice to the Tamil people would pain him and spring him unto action until the process of justice is properly focused to right that particular wrong. Bringing the perpetrators of the inhuman murder of the innocent teenager Krishanthi Kumarasamy and others was largely an effort of Kumar, who struggled hard against great odds of State power and prejudice to bring this to the public eye..... I recall an occasion when the SLFP Lawyers' Association hosted a meeting (1993) at the SLFP headquarters in a public discussion of the ethnic problem. Among the speakers were current President Chandrika, the late Gamini Dissanayake, and a host of others. The meeting was violently disturbed and I felt there may be a threat to harm Kumar.

Together with the organisers we sought to protect him. The late Gamini Dissanayake accompanied by his security retinue offered to take Kumar out of the building through a by-entrance.

In the face of bodily harm, Kumar politely demurred and preferred to face the day. I was surprised many of those who caused the disturbance - some of them in Parliament today apologised to Kumar and assured him he was not the target of their ire.... "There were two public perceptions of Kumar.

One - the creation of a section of the press that projected him as an anathema to the Sinhalese and all that is dear to them. Much has been said of his rushing overseas to "internationalise" the intractable Tamil question. Yet today, one sees leaders of political parties and former Prime Ministers calling on envoys of other countries making various complaints of serious short-comings from "rigged elections" to "personal danger of political candidates". "Kumar may have provided succour to this unreal image by his unconventional style of approach to matters political. Whereas the normal Tamil politician would choose a low profile "don't rock the boat" approach to sensitive matters, Kumar would go ahead onto the centre of controversy, not because he was looking for trouble or being indiscreet, but his nature and mental chemistry was such that he would unmitigatingly insist on "calling a spade a spade". He had little patience with the round about "hypocritical" and tip-toe approach.

This characteristic in his ebullient nature flowed into his writing as well. To accuse him with total lack of diplomacy would be to make an inaccurate judgement of a man whose true nature was diametrically the opposite of what is usually projected. It would be just as inaccurate to say that his approach to all matters political met with the approval of most Tamils. No there were many Tamils who did not agree with him in many issues and have told him his approach could be counter-productive. Yet they were all with him on the occasions he resolutely raised his voice on their behalf - while those expected to do this chose to wait for another day and another strategy.

To those who have known him for long - in the bar, in politics, in diplomatic and social circles - they saw a different man. Here is an amiable gentleman possessed of courtly manners of the noble characteristics he has been moulded into by generations of excellent upbringing. He leaves those of recent acquaintance impressed with his grace and charm. He would politely refer to them as "Sir" and "Madam". Any Tamil over 40 would be called only as "Annan" and "Akka".

He was a devout Hindu who faithfully followed the customs and rituals of his religion and culture and exceptionally proud of the primordial Hindu ethos. In recent years he undertook regular visits to the great temples of South India. He diligently studied Hindu literature and the wisdom of ancient sages, an exercise now increasingly followed by leading intellectuals in established institution of higher learning in the West in an effort to discover the deeper meanings in the teaching of the Vedas and the Upanishads as instruments to overcome difficult questions of contemporary times. A man given to such intellectual religious and cultural depths is hardly a candidate to even being accused of hurting those of other races.

He was well endowed financially and not in want. Fame and fortune flowed him with consummate ease. He could have ignored the contradictions around him and chosen to enjoy the fruits of his wealth with his family. "But some people are cast differently and chose to place their welfare behind those of others less fortunate. He was restless because he saw injustice and discrimination in its most naked form and he fought against it knowing very well his life was on the block but that did not matter to him.

He realised every minute of the day and night his life was in danger for the cause he championed and so those close to him cautioned him - but that did not matter because there was much more in his ceaseless crusade to fight wrong. He was clearly misunderstood and, therefore hated by many.

Was the cruel, calculated assassination of such a talented man - who had much to give to his country and all of its people - the work of an overzealous and misguided killer or part of a conspiracy? Will we ever know? All we know is once again a deeply sick society has cruellys silenced the life of yet another good man, slurring a once decent people in the eyes of the world.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager