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| Friday, 14 November 2003 |
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Global Economy - a world trade doctrine "Why should I give a damn for the global economy - A pre and post-september 11 perspective" by Gerard Dilhan Muttukumaru Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2003 Gerard Dilhan Muttukumaru has actually thanked me for "my wise counsel", but I must say, here and now, that I sent his typescript back to him with some pretty cutting remarks. I told him then that it all smacked of an ego-trip and I found it rather a pain. Cut out the "I, I, I" and the "me, me, me" and stop telling the world that it must read you! But Gerard calls it wise counsel, so who am I to demur? Anyway, after some agonizing and some rewriting to be sure (post September 11 and SARS and George Bush Jnr and Afghanistan, Bali and Iraq to name a few, that would make Gerard look again at all the globaloney that is better word for global economy) we have the book and all the raves that have accompanied its berthing. Gerard, like his Monsignor brother Manik who I knew very well indeed, is a salesman of some calibre. He knows how to take the economic headlines, the newspapers of the times, the marketing journals and then do a beautiful bit of pinch hitting to carry home what becomes his point. He also says, quite humbly: "It will be foolhardy for (sic) me to even attempt the repeated headlines in every newspaper on earth on September 12, 2001." But he does make some sweeping claims. "September 11, 2001 united even for a brief moment virtually all of humanity!" One supposes so, but were not there two different unities. Humanity split. Two camps. Two crusades. Yet, Gerard is right when he says that a "new, new world order" was created, but even as he makes an impassioned apologia for the "other USA", we must remember that this global economy he tells to give a damn for is not really global. We still have the protective tariffs, the market-oriented subsidies, the over-rated currencies and the policies of the West as well as the Eurozone. Gerard's book is, I'm afraid, already dated. Not that it is any of his fault, but the quicksilver of today's markets, the "road map" that has flopped miserably; the recession in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands; and all that has now developed like global boils on the backside of the global economy, only serves to remind us that nothing can actually be relied on - neither economically nor environmentally. If nothing else we have the fact that today, Western Europe has cut its agricultural production forecasts by 10% with the onset of the shock heatwave! Also, I repeat, it is both presumptuous and quite preposterous that an author demand that his book be read by every human being on this planet! He tells us of the abject poverty of millions who will never dream of buying a copy. Will there be a mammoth free distribution of the book throughout Rwanda, Liberia, Bosnia, Haiti and the Canary Islands? Testament of Economics and Comemrce? I can't get rid of the idea of a sort of nincom-pope on the balcony of some world trade basilica urging his devotees to read the book - the book that will move the world. Trouble is, any writer can sit, surrounded by telephones, fax machines, and piled-high economic journals and claim to move the world. What he really needs to do is to first move his ass! I must also remind that no country, no economic unit simply apes or adopts another. Everywhere, policies are laid down to suit the limitations, the market environment of the immediate area. Gerard himself tells us that a leading CEO said: "We know nothing about global markets and global marketing. A trade show or mission is the closest we get to it. Most of us just go and have a great time!" That damn-fool CEO should be guillotined! I suppose it is just such an idiotic and market-ignorant CEO (God help his company) that will find Gerard's book most welcome reading. At least he can then quote chunks of the news items Gerard has so liberally supplied. I am not being unkind. Gerard has given us a well-rounded global marketing and economic primer. He has also carried his points well and with some emotion: "As long as there is absolute poverty and despair on one side, and unbelievable wealth and opportunity on the other, no law can stop a desperate human being from crossing the border." "Rising poverty, rising fundamentalism, rising ethnic tensions, financial breakdowns, rising family or social breakdowns, can severally or collectively cause havoc both within a nation and in the global economy." Of course, this is true. And of course, economy is people and, as we are told, 60 percent of these people live in 14 countries in Asia. All in all, he touches on practically every economic topic. But none of these can be simply waded through in gum boots, but carefully examined, dissected even and made to either conform to present situations or wag its tail, bark and announce its own brand of economic chaos. And, as we know, bandwagons roll merrily on and keep doing so tremendously in this country. Gerard calls us an "unaesthetised people - we have become mumb to horror and little moves us. We have become cynical, critical and totally devoid of respect for most of our leaders and venerable institutions." He ignores the corollary: that our leaders are totally devoid of respect for us and our so-called venerable... ######### Less known facts of a lesser known community "Portrait of a Sri Lankan Malay" Have our governments ignored recognising Malays in Sri Lanka as a separate ethnic group? Although they constitute 60,000 in a population of 19 million, a microscopic minority, have we quite conveniently forgotten their contributions made over the years for the development and the well-being of this country. The records indicate that three highly respected individuals in their community had served as appointed members in the legislature somewhere in 1956. But successive governments have grouped them with Muslims, with the notion that they profess the same religion - Islam, thereby making Sri Lankans unknown of their existence. This is the underlying factor author B.D.K. Saldin makes in his slim volume titled "Portrait of a Sri Lankan Malay" (Warisan Melayu Masih hidup di Sri Lanka). He says, it's more appropriate to name the different ethnic groups in the country as Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays and Burghers. Because when the term Muslim is being used quite commonly, it would mean to include the sub-ethnic groups - Malays, Memons and Borahs as well, all following the same religious faith. BDK has been fighting for a cause sometime now, through his numerous writings to newspapers and magazines to popularise the Sri Lankan Malay language as a vehicle for preserving the identity of his community. This factor is quite visible in the present volume too. He has authored two other books "Orang Melayu Sri Lanka dan Bahasanya" - The Sri Lanka Malays and their language and "A Guide to Malay". Despite the contributions made to the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan culture through their language, customs, songs, dance and culinary arts, he does not want this strand being blocked out by the decay of the language, the distinguishing feature of any race. Talking about the origins of Malays he is reminded of his school days ditty, "Aney mage Java, Kelani gangey neva" and confirms the fact that "Ja Minissu", people from Java referred to them by the Sinhalese of a vintage era was the correct nomenclature to be used. Many historical facts have been mentioned as to their origins and among them was the highly controversial statement of Prof. Senerat Paranavitarne which said the Kalinga Dynasty had originated form Kalinga in the Malay Archipelago. The most intriguing revelation to my mind was that the Sinhala names such as Malalasekera, Malalgoda, Malalagama have facial characteristics of a Malay. Malays had come to Sri Lanka in the 13th century as travellers but the ancestors of the present day Malays were forcibly brought here by the Dutch fearing outbursts of rebel groups from Java and other Indonesian Islands when Sri Lanka was under their rule. BDK recalls his early years at Matale and later Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Colombo, his school days at Kingswood and Royal Colleges with full of nostalgic memories. Commenting on the "ragging" in 1948, when he entered the University of Ceylon based in Colombo, he graphically illustrates that he had to wear coat and tie for lectures. "It was not so much the discomfort of wearing a "full suit" in Colombo's humidity that was galling but he ignominy of wearing a rag for a tie and having to bow to the girls at the behest of the seniors. The keenest raggers were those who had failed the first examination." At the end of one week's ragging he says, the seniors were fully satisfied that all the freshers had been thoroughly humiliated to the point of knocking off any airs that they may have thought of putting on. BDK's book "Portrait of a Sri Lankan Malay" written in lucid style gives less known facts of a lesser known community living in harmony with rest of the communities in Sri Lanka. This should be a good compendium for younger generation of Malays to know their roots and ancestral history. Even the non-Malays could read and understand the contributions they have made for the betterment of Sri Lanka. Septuagenarian BDK, Chartered Accountant turned author, depicts from his life story that Malay heritage is still alive in Sri Lanka. |
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