New direction for a meaningful Independence

Lionel WIJESIRI

On February 4th, 1948, we became an independent nation. It may be true that, unlike most of the other Asian countries, we gained independence without shedding one drop of blood. Yet, it was after a continuous and sustained democratic struggle that we earned our reward and we must never forget that independence was not given to us on a platter.

What is this ‘independence’ we are talking about? We all agree that it does not mean pulling down one flag and putting up another, composing a new anthem, creating a new motto, playing steel band, jumping up and feting, cleaning up and beautifying the streets. Definitely not!

Then what does it mean? The term “Independence” is not a clear cut concept in the modern world that it was at the time of the establishment of decolonisation doctrines. Ask yourself few questions.

Who is truly independent in today’s world? What does independence mean in practice? Why make a holy grail of a concept that has already become distorted by other global political and economic factors and realities even for larger countries?

Do not many independent countries now give up some of their previously cherished independence to collective regional decision making structures? As we venture deep into the subject we realize that the ingredients of the concept of modern day independence have changed.

For example, Spain (like any other EU Member State) remains an ‘independent’ country, even though she has chosen to surrender to the European Union Institutions a very large and ever increasing part of her power and control over her own national affairs.

Meaningful Independence

So the real question we face today is, what is meaningful Independence and by what variety of methods can it be achieved, bearing in mind of course that all methods, to be acceptable, must necessarily involve the free and genuine choice and wishes of the people.

There are few things we should sketch deep inside our minds if we are to achieve this sort of independence. First, we should believe that independence must mean better housing for our people, better clothing, better food, better health, better education, better roads and bus service, more jobs, higher wages, more recreation-in short, a higher standard of living for workers and their children.

The other belief is that we need peace, freedom of expression and democratic governance.

After a 30-year gruelling war against terror, the politically matured men and women in this country have decided what they believe to be meaningful independence.

In the Presidential Elections concluded recently, they have spoken. They believed that the only way out of the present crisis is for a dynamic, imaginative and hard-working political leadership to take power.

These qualities they found in President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They trusted that he will work closely with the people of every village, helping them to organise, improve their skills, and carry out their ideas for a better life.

They also believed under the present leadership will eventually emerge a political system with a truly democratic and grass-roots system in which the people of every village and of the island as a whole, will be able to exercise power on their own behalf, in their own interests in order to build a bright future for themselves.

Political Leaders

The heartbeats of the people also revealed another important signal. They felt that political leaders are not necessarily born but are made. They felt that no small group of persons, regardless of how intelligent, educated, or wealthy they are, have the right to sit down together in a small room and proclaim themselves the new Saviours.

Rather, the political leadership must come from the people and must be accepted by the people not because of the way they look, dress or speak, but because of their proven commitments, dedication and hard work in the interests of the people. Their recent choice of political leadership seems to base on these criteria.

That opinion makes sense. Political leaders must not be required to know everything better than the people, or to be more intelligent than the people. Political leadership must not mean the creation of Masters.

Political leadership instead should regard itself as the servants of the people, and must aim at destroying the relationship of master and slave, employer and employee and of destroying the whole class relationship in our society.

Equality

We celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence at a time when we have reached a decisive moment in our history. Few months ago, we won the war against the militancy of the separatist LTTE.

Yet there is the incessant plea of the moderate segments of the population that victory in battle is not victory in war. The victory in war has to be achieved through a political solution that is acceptable to the larger majority of our people on both sides of the divide.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has often assured us that he treats all of us as citizens of this country and all are equal, all are free to live and pursue their full measure of happiness irrespective of race, religion, caste or political affiliation.

Let us sincerely hope today that the fair-minded President will find a way to reconcile north and south so that all people should feel free and be able to exercise the real freedom that is their birthright.

Let us hope that this process will be initiated immediately because we must be mindful of the large number of people in the North and the East who have been battered in the war and it remains our responsibility to restore their living conditions as early as possible.

As an after-thought, a quote from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar may be relevant here. Dr. Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and the revivalist of Buddhism in India.

He said, “What does independence mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. ……… They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from equality and equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many...”

This was a very correct, laudable and inspiring statement coming from a top leader of India who was in charge of drafting the Indian Constitution which would be the machine to bring these sentiments into effect.

He must have been fully aware that openness, public accountability and answerability of the government were essential requirements for attaining those objectives that he professed. Although not told in same words, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had expressed similar sentiments in a number of occasions and therefore we can safely assume that he is a firm believer of these essential requisites.

History will record that 4th February, 2010 marked the beginning of a new stage in the effort of our people. Most citizens of this country believe that it will set in motion a new process involving the people which will take them along the road to a meaningful independence.