Let us go back to our roots

by Nemsiri Mutukumara

Nidahasa, Svaraj, Uhuru, Freedom - all these words for the oppressed and suppressed people in Asia, Africa and the English speaking countries in the world means independence. Our closest neighbour and greatest friend and collaborator celebrated the 54th Republic Anniversary and the 55th Republic Day on January 26 - throughout the Indian sub-continental land mass in grandeur and jubilation.

On August 15, 1947 India regained freedom once and for all times, after a bitter struggle from the western dominance which the teeming masses of India suffered for over four hundred years.

When the clock chimed midnight, India's first post independence Prime Minister Sri Javaharalal Nehru delivering his famous and historic "Tryst with Destiny" speech said, "When the world sleeps, India reawakens to freedom."

India's leaders of the day - to mention a few - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Sri Vallabha Patel, Sri Nehru, Abdul Kalam Azad, Sri Mukherjee and Chattopadhyaya Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and C. Rajagopalacari looked back where India's forward march for peace, progress and prosperity was stopped by the western invaders.

Since most of the Indian freedom fighters had rallied round the Indian National Congress in their struggle, without debate the tri-colour - safron/crimson, white and green was accepted as Independent India's National Flag.

The Asoka Cakra of India's greatest Emperor was accepted as the national symbol. The Dhammacakka on the Lion Capital adorns the national flag.

From here, India re-started her long March and today the supreme position of being the largest democracy in the world. Since the leaders in the states and the centre as well, speak the langauge of the masses - the farmers and the workers, India is making gigantic progress in almost all fields of industry, technology including computer software and making the self-sufficient with the people's staple diet and beverages.

Regrettably, leaders of Lanka totally forgot the cultural dimension that should have been incorporated in the national plan of progress of independent Lanka.

Most of our leaders spoke in a foreign tongue, discarded the common man's dress, despised the cultural and social ways of life of the people whom some described as 'godayas'.

As a result, the needs and aspirations of the ordinary people never reached the leaders who were unapproachable. Rarely did they visit the village.

On any such extremely rare occasion, if our leaders were to make a village visit, the villagers - men and women and children - flock to gain a glimpse of those worthy men - in top hat and tail coat say to themselves, "ape nayakayo hari puduma sattu vagayak vage."

While this situation was prevailing on one side, on the other, certain activities were taking place without any rhyme or reason. For instance, Duke of Gloucestor, representing his brother, King George VI came to Sri Lanka to formally proclaim Sri Lanka's Independence.

On February 4, the Duke brought down the Union Jack, the flag of Britain thus ending one hundred and thirty-three (133) years of ignominous British rule and raised and unfurled the Lion flag with four Bo-leaves on the four corners declaring Sri Lanka as free, independent and sovereign nation.

The Lion flag was accepted and recognised by all communities as the national flag of Lanka.

In Parliament, Mr. Sinnalebbe Eastern Province member and Sir Razik Fareed expressed in the most eloquent manner recognising the Lion flag as Lanka's national flag. So were the Burghers and Malays who gave their tacit support.

Despite the support from many quarters, a committee was appointed by the D. S. Senanayake Government in Parliament to formulate a new flag for the independent nation.

With that appointment paved the way to end the future of the Lion Flag which was hoisted and unfurled everywhere across the country for well over two thousand three hundred (2,300) years as the pride of the people.

Today, we have a flag desecrated with the addition of two stripes for the two minority communities Tamils as the ethnic community and Muslims as a religious denomination.

Most people feel they are insulted - by reducing them to two stripes. Anyway, that is their feeling. Sad.

All these instances were mentioned here with absolutely no malice towards any politician of the government or the opposition parties. These are historical facts. Causes of the emergence of such thoughts may have better known to the leaders of the day. If I were to give my observation, the political leadership would have "an eye on the next general election and therefore to accommodate the whims and fancies of other politicians."

Today, the country has undergone a tremendous change. Everybody in the Northern Province, in the Eastern Province and in the South people yearn to be together, work together. People are fed up with the recent chaotic incidents which has brought nothing but misery.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga categorically says that the most urgent need of the day is for people to join forces with each other.

"The two major political parties of the country should work harmoniously at all levels at least to solve the major problems of the country despite their political differences." (Daily News page 1 - lead story) January 27, 2004).

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says his United National Party is willing to work with the President.

The Mahanayake Theras of all the Nikayas - the Asgiriya and Malvatta Chapters of the Siyam Mahanikaya, the Sri Lanka Amarapura maha Sangha Sabha and the Sri Lanka Ramanna Mahanikaya have advised the President and the Prime Minister that the future well-being of the nation and the people depend on their working together.

So let us dedicate ourselves on this noble day of our independence to deviate from the narrow path of pettiness to chart out on a new course with dedication and commitment.

If our leaders of the day were mindful of the cultural life of the community in the provinces and districts, we would still retained the 2,300 year Lion flag as the flag of the nation.

People in the provinces and disava would have used their flags along with the national flag.

Today, in many places, even the national flag is hoisted by state officials only.

Let us work hard to educate the people to go back to the roots of our culture.

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