Mother Lanka cries out for an end to braggadocio

Last night history was referenced in a conversation. I was told about ten individuals, namely, Nandimitra, Suranimala, Mahasona, Gotaimbara, Theraputthabhaya, Velusumana, Khanjadeva, Pussadeva, Barana and Labhiyavasabha. We are told that these were the Dasa maha yodayo, men of exceptional strength and skills, who helped King Dutugemunu defeat the usurper Elara.

The observation: history has recorded these names, legend supports the written word; these men lived, they fought and came good on assigned task and yet they were in fact and memory nothing more than adjuncts to the greater historical personality. Yes, King Dutugemunu.

The Dutugemunu-Elara war has been the easy trope on which to foist any and all analysis of the ethnic-conflict (so-called). That’s easy-history in my book and being made of trap and trappings yields the most unbelievable conjecture, analysis and extrapolation. Good for politics. That’s all. We note the parallel, the 21st Century equivalent of say Nandimitra and Dutugemunu; the one among many ‘generals’ and the undisputed king. We move on.

We move on to the stated and the done. The claims and the fantasies. The dreams and the realities. It makes interesting and entertaining reading these heady days of electioneering.

I saw an ad in the newspapers this morning, for example. Entertaining to the max. Here are some choice quotes:

‘I gave my word to you that I would never leave this cruel war to another commander to complete’. Yes, those words were spoken. On the other hand, imagine fighting the LTTE without the Navy and Air Force. Imagine fighting the LTTE without a political leadership that backed the Security Forces to the hilt, fended off all the pressure brought upon the nation by dubious elements in the international arena. Well, truth be told, had that been the case, Sarath Fonseka would have retired as just another Army Commander who couldn’t get the better of Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The point is, it is easy to give one’s word to deliver something that one will not and indeed cannot deliver by oneself. It is even more easy to take all the credit. History will mention Velusumana of course; but the personality credited with the victory remains Dutugemunu.

Political IDPs like Mangala Samaraweera and ideologically confused jokers like Anura Kumara Dissanayake can say whatever they like. The political neophyte has all the right to believe that he/she is saviour, hero, deliverer from evil etc etc. The voter, on the other hand has to be realistic.

Back to the ad. The dude says, ‘Now you have given me the mission of abolishing the Executive Presidency’. The man has addressed the letter to the ‘dear citizens’ of Sri Lanka. Well, I never assigned such a mission to this man. Maybe he thinks the population of Sri Lanka has come down to two, Mangala and Anura.

First of all, no one told him to do this. Second, it is not something that he or anyone else can do. In other words, the man has conferred upon himself a responsibility/task which he cannot achieve. He can however promise to do it. That’s ok. He cannot deliver for reasons that have nothing to do with his intention, integrity, ability etc (assuming he has these things). It only shows that the man has no understanding of the Constitution and has no clue about the conditions in which the Constitution can be amended.

He believes that the political leadership was ‘without a viable solution in the wake of terrorism’ (putrid advertising copy, by the way) had ‘thrust upon (his) shoulders the load’. Nothing can be done about self-image of course, but no one should labour under the illusion that others share their version of things and realities.

‘I stand committed to protect the good name of my country,’ he says. We saw how committed he was to this when he gave that interview to the Sunday Leader, didn’t we? He says that people are slinging mud at him. No, that’s what he’s doing to himself.

The man is a walking suicide-bomber, isn’t he? He will hurt himself. Well, he has. That’s his business. A suicide bomber really doesn’t care about what happens to himself. All he/she cares about is the damage that can be caused.

Mother Lanka cries out for true freedom and democracy, he says. Too, true.

Mother Lanka also cries out for sobriety. Mother Lanka more than all this cries out for an end to braggadocio, an end to the ‘I, me and myself syndrome’ that candidates seem to be suffering from.

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