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.
Statue of King Dutugemunu.
Courtesy: Google |
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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