Book Review:

Poetry in politics - ONE AND ONLY ONE

Title: Ek Minisek,
Ekama Eka Minisek
Author: Ananda
Goonatilleke, Attorney-at-Law.
Publisher: Regina
Printers and Publishers, Ja-ela

Ek Minisek, Ekama Eka Minisek’ (One Man, One and the Only Man), is a collection of articles written by the veteran political commentator and political columnist, poet and one time revolutionary political activist and theoretician, Attorney-at-Law, Ananda Goonatilleke.

He has earned a reputation as a political critique contributing political commentaries to now defunct ‘Kamkaruwa’ and later to ‘Janasathiya’, ‘Divaina’, ‘Silumina’, ‘Dinakara’, ‘Siyatha’ and ‘Lakbima’. The present collection contains 40 articles written by him during the period 2005-2010. In addition it includes 10 declarations, all written by him issued on the eve of the 2005 Presidential Elections.

The well-meaning title of the book refers to a person who made history. It also has Marxian undertones. When there is a dire necessity a person rises from among the other men, rises above all other men. He is the one and the only man. The writer poses a question: whether that man who rose above the other men does know well, what he deserves from history. (p.107) This statement can be regarded as a pathfinder to post- war Sri Lankan politics.

The reader must read the Introduction of this book before turning the pages of the text, as it gives insights about the writer’s intention of contributing these articles in a turbulent time of our history. Due to the so-called Peace Accord signed between the then UNP Government and the Tamil Tigers as initiated by the internal and international peace merchants , the writer’s commitment was to safeguard the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, upholding his political ideology. This statement is very important because it is not tainted with partisan politics or any other parochial interests, currying favour with the power centers and seeking high office, when the vanquished become power holders in a coming election. The writer’s contention is, it is the historical task of all political thinkers and activists who uphold scientific socialism and at the same time who display an anti-imperialist and patriotic stance, while remaining as internationalists.

As a person subscribing to scientific socialism the writer argues that in accordance with the present historical epoch, the political activists should be able to distinguish between friends and foes. Chairman Mao has asked in his article written in 1926 titled, ‘Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society’, ‘Who are our enemies? Who are our friends?’ Mao further states that ‘The basic reason why all previous revolutionary struggles in China achieved so little was their failure to unite with real friends in order to attack real enemies.’ (Selected Works of Mao Tsetung, Vol. I) This statement applies to any political situation. Its validity increases immensely while you are dealing with imperial and reactionary forces who try to dismember the country with the aid of local lackeys. Hence the writer acknowledges that his commentaries are not impartial.

In the first article the writer raises an interesting point, why the ancient Ratas (provinces) of Tri Simhale, Ruhunu, Maya and Pihiti were called in that order. Although it looks like trivial, I do not know whether it has been researched by our historians.

The writer’s contention is whenever the country’s independence was threatened by outside forces, the saviors emerged from the Ruhunu Rata, and thus that order. To substantiate his argument one has to research from when the three Ratas were called in that order. (Is it because it rhymes well as in poetry?) But the writer’s intention is not to engage in historical debates. While declaring forcefully, that for more than seven generations no one in his family is not even remotely connected to Ruhuna (p.3), the writer says that his ‘Ekama Eka Minisa’ (One and the Only Man) has emerged from Ruhuna to safeguard our county’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity by defeating tiger terrorists and foreign conspirators. He is none other than Mahinda Rajapaksa. But at the same time there are articles that can be considered as an eye opener to the dubious nature of the so -called ‘Purohithayas’ and ‘Vandibattayas’ (ostensibly claiming to be advisers and eulogists and praise-singers who sing for their supper) and cautions the President not to fall into the trap laid down by praise-singers and fraudsters. (p. 153)

In these articles among the other things the writer discusses about the contributions made by the Senanayakes in Sri Lankan politics and economic revitalization, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s dictatorial tendencies and capitulation to Tiger terrorists and international warlords.

Writing on JR’s tenure the writer reminds the readers what Ranil Wickremasinghe did under JR (Pp. 173, 179) and why he cannot be trusted. He castigates the so –called Peace Process, role played by the peace peddlers and some NGO bigwigs. The writer coins new phrases such as ‘Diplomacy in War’ and ‘Diplomacy in Facing the Enemy’ (p. 33) and advises to adapt them in a period dealing with the most ferocious terrorists in the world. He brings forward some home truths, such as whether it is a party alliance led by either SLFP or UNP, the government policies will be handled by the main actor of the coalition. Writing at the height of the war, Ananda Goonatilleke says that liberating Tamil people trapped in the Vanni is a logical step that should be taken by the security forces, explaining the nature of the war (p. 41), displaying his knowledge of strategies and tactics employed by the Peoples’ Liberation Army in War of Liberation in China.

He rightly calls it a War of Liberation and supports the war efforts to the hilt, vehemently opposing the tiger terrorists. Hence his writings become distinctive when compared with other newspaper articles, as they carry a vision and replete with political maturity.

The writer commends the President as the Commander-in-Chief, for not yielding to the pressures of India and the West (p. 153). He was able to make certain predictions after the exit of the so-called Aid Workers embedded in the Vanni war theatre.

Sena Thoradeniya

To be continued next week