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by Varatha Shanmuganathan

War in Sri Lanka not only brought to a grinding halt the normal life of her citizens but also brought in its wake a stagnation in social and economic development of the country. All because nationalism in our country, a feeling that should have been fostered for positive, tolerant and fruitful purposes, was allowed to emerge with a destructive energy which was used mainly to torch and kill compatriots.

In spite of all this, peace in Sri Lanka has come into our midst like a new-born babe, fresh and kicking. She is still surviving with the warmth from her mother's womb. To keep the baby alive and see its natural growth, the people of Sri Lanka have a sacred parental duty to wrap her with a cozy blanket of sensible and judicious nationalism.

What is meant by the word 'nationalism' in its broadest sense? Several studies have been undertaken on this subject in recent times but when Western nationalism was at its height Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate, poet and philosopher of India spent some time thinking about nationalism of the West, of Japan and that of India, in the forties. His conclusion on the topic of nationalism was,

"Neither the colourless vagueness of cosmopolitanism nor the fierce self-idolatry of nation-worship is the goal of human history".

"In the West the national machinery of commerce and politics turns out neatly compressed bales of humanity which have their use and high market value but they are bound in iron hoops, labelled and separated off with scientific care and precision".

According to him a nation is a political and economic union of a people and a whole population organised for a mechanical purpose whereas a society is the spontaneous self expression of human beings as social beings.

India with multiple languages, religious and divisive history was called a country of 'no nation' by Rabindranath Tagore, although a sense of national pride and the concept of unity amidst diversity became the first and foremost ideal to be put forward by many leaders and poets of India to work towards and gain India's independence and to save the world's largest democracy after the independence up to this time. Similarly, when Ceylon was under the foreign domination, the people and the leaders saw only one goal and that was to see the whole country free and united. All joined hands to oust the foreigners from the native soil. When an external enemy threatens, the internal forces, however varied, gather momentum and align unconditionally to push out the alien elements. Ceylon gained independence in 1948 with a constitution that was foreign in character. Problems started cropping up one by one.

The theory behind one country one nationalism could not work. The different nationalist elements based on ethnicity, language, religion and territoriality emerged in the fifties claiming a fair share of the national cake - social, political and economic.

The Sinhalese nationalism in the from of the Sinhala Only Act and the Sinhala colonisation of the Tamil areas were the knell that sounded the breakdown of communal unity and harmony. This was the beginning of a selfish and warped nationalism in our country. The steps that were taken to placate the sentiments of one and that too the major section of the national community cut and injured the national polity with irreparable damage for quite a long time. And another reason, oft repeated, is the loss of the application of meritocracy in the selection of students for the various faculties in the national universities.

When these happened, there was not enough vision and forethought about the consequences and the outcome that would affect the future of the country or the life of the people. Short-cut methods never yield good fruits. Whipping up people's feelings and sentiments in the wrong direction and putting before them promises that can never be fulfilled will definitely land leaders and politicians into muddy waters from where they cannot pull themselves out. This, not only would cause their downfall but also would reverse the process of national progress and communal harmony.

We have been witnesses to the causes of the pitiable state into which our country was thrown when the sense of nationalism took the wrong path. The disturbances of 1958, 1977,1981,1983 and the emergence of militant nationalism among the Tamil population with the war in its aftermath were the consequences. As educated and enlightened as we are, let us not be caught up in this or any sort of short-sighted nationalism again.

What type of nationalism do we need for Sri Lanka? One that is tolerant, unselfish, peaceful, visionary, longstanding, flexible, full of humanity and kindness.

Today, the national unity in Sri Lanka is in tatters. But a meaningful version of nationalism or nationalisms has to emerge to walk in the path of peace and to give a wake up call to all the sections of our Sri Lankan community to forget and forgive the wrongdoings of one another and live amicably so that the future generations of the country will have a peaceful and meaningful life.

In a world which is fraught with nationalistic views that are being blamed for promoting negative actions like racist tyranny and genocide and negative feelings like intolerance, communal egoism and arrogant patriotism let us tread carefully counting our strengths and weaknesses. Let us move forward towards peace and unity rather than war and division.

Thinking logically, the different societies that form Sri Lankan polity want social, economic and cultural equality and justice. The Tamil nationalism which came to the forefront with a vengeance avowed to find justice and equality on the battlefield has now changed its course to find peace. Nationalism based on ethnicity, language and territorial claims find a strong base when the said community feels threatened or disadvantaged.

For example, the emergence of the Tamil nationalism and the creation of the JVP are two distinct phenomena that mark the evolutionary process of nationalism in Sri Lanka.

The JVP, though a party that longs to the majority Sinhala community has its own brand of nationalism which has its own agenda justifiable to its own members. The Muslims and the other communities in the country too do have every right to put forward their own demands to safeguard the welfare of their own community members. But none of these communities or parties have any right to pull the country away from the path of peace in the name of nationalism or any other social or political ideology.

A true definition of nationalism for Sri Lanka can be found, only if the different stages of the evolutionary processes of ethno-linguistic, ethno-religious and socio-political affiliations are given due recognition.

Different nationalist movements within the country too have to be reckoned with and should not be dismissed off - hand as irrelevant or trivialised.

Today, as everyone knows geo-political divisions based on communal nationalism are the dominant factors that swing across the country.

These sentiments should rise above and transcend the boundaries of tight-capped feelings to widen and enter the realms of determined efforts to create living conditions suitable for the welfare of each and every citizen of the country irrespective of race, religion, caste, linguistic or cultural affinities.

Democracy and peace are the two essential features that are going to bring back the age-gold glory of our past. We, whatever ethnic origin we belong to, were at one time had the energy, drive and ambition to work together to improve the living conditions of one another's community.

It is the bounden duty of every one of us, individuals of Sri Lankan origin whether inside or outside the country to work towards this goal without missing this precious opportunity when the prowess of weapons have given way to the power of peace and harmony.

Even the worst of warmongers will not dare say at this juncture that the LTTE should start the armed resistance again or the JVP should fight a guerrilla war to achieve what they want to achieve. An extreme form of violent outburst even to safeguard communal interests or to express genuine nationalistic sentiments cannot be condoned.

The whole world watches Sri Lanka's peace process moving at a snail's pace. Whatever the pace is, it should be stable and steady. and once all the parties concerned have vouched themselves to walk in the path of peace nothing should stop them. Their gaze should be forward bent, looking steadily towards the amicable settlement of all the differences whether strategic, political, economic or diplomatic.

Nationalism should not be confused with patriotism and turned into a weapon to punish aggressively certain sections of the population branding them as unpatriotic citizens.

Nationalism has produced more problems than it has solved for the humanity as a whole and in our country. So, the leaders in our country should tread warily on this slippery ground called, 'nationalism'.

This great country Sri Lanka, multi - ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and basically bi-lingual but practically tri-lingual in nature has to find a reasonably relevant definition of nationalism that will lead the country as a whole to peace and prosperity. The type of nationalism we need is that of tolerance and of give and take, of respect and understanding, of co-operation and commitment.

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