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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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D. A. Rajapakse : Ruhuna's towering 'Rajapakse' by KAMALA WICKRAMASURIYA From U.S.A. Along the annals of the history of 'Ruhuna' one cannot possibly blot out the name 'Rajapakse'. Not because some of the names are embedded in tombstones in the graveyards, but because it is a name stamped in the hearts of the people of Ruhuna. Parliamentary history will no doubt prove the fact, if one cares to read through. The story began as early as 1912, when D. M. Rajapakse, a young lad of sixteen years, proceeded from Richmond College, Galle, to Wesley College, Colombo, to pursue higher studies. A good cricketer, he ably captained the cricket-eleven of both schools, much to the surprise, and envy of the elite, more so because D. M. as he came to be known was a boy from 'Buddiyagama' a remote village in the Hambantota district. D. M. showed much prowess, and was proving his worth, when the fate caught up, snatching his father's life. His education came to an end due to financial difficulties. D. M. braved it all, and opted to go back to the village, and work with his own folk - the peasants of Ruhuna - who were at that time under the 'iron-heel' of the British-Raj'. D. M., the young lad, being a victim of discrimination himself, fought fearlessly, and undaunted not with arms and ammunition, but with an iron-will, to redeem the peasants, his companions in distress, who were caught up in slavery, and exploitation, in those colonial times. Those were days, when it was 'hey-day' for capitalists, who were inching their way in gaining ground - amassing land, by grabbing from the poor. This was the time India was agitating for independent rule, and Ceylon too was agitating for the same cause. D. M. with his erstwhile friend and kinsman from Morawaka, Dr. S. A. Wickremasinghe were educating the peasants on the scheme. Even though the CID was trailing them, the meeting places could not be traced. In 1931 with the Donoughmore Constitution their comrades in the struggle, Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R. De Silva, Phillip and Kusuma Gunawardene, Leslie and Vivienne Gunawardene, all contested. D. M. worked hard in the election campaign for Dr. S.A., and Dr. S. A. was victorious. With more strength in their hands, they marched forward in their struggle for independence - which meant independence from servitude, exploitation, and discrimination. D. M. came forward to the Hambantota seat in 1936 and was returned with an astounding majority. He continued with his vision, and mission to enrich the life of the peasant, with self-reliance, and self-esteem. His work unfinished, he succumbed to a heart-attack, and died an untimely death in the prime of his life at the comparatively young age of 48 years. The widow and family were suddenly left forlorn, with not even a roof over their heads. Some of the children had to forfeit their education due to financial difficulties the poor of Ruhuna were so to say, orphaned. With it came the by-election. D. A. was the brother. Living a simple life, in Medamulana his home. He was a simple man, happy and content, in his own way. But circumstances change the course of life sometimes, for some of us, and so did it for D.A. he was called up to fill the void. The pressure on him by the young nephews - Lakshman, and George, and the masses of Ruhuna could not be avoided. Much against the wishes of D. A. he stepped into his brother's clothes, looking a replica of D. M. he went to hand over his papers seeing the surging crowds. The other candidates pocketed their papers instead of handing them over. Cries of "Ape Deviyo Avith" rent the air. He is held as a deity to this very day. It is not surprising, because D. A. although he physically resembled D. M. was a man of calm and quiet. His approach to any subject was peaceful. He could move mountains with his soft-spoken gentle words, and his bewitching smile, that was ever present. I recall now, while I was travelling along with him in his car along the way, we met the washerman carrying a huge bundle of wet clothes, the man was hunched with the load. On seeing the man, D. A. soon asked his driver to halt, much against the wishes of the driver. He got the man to put the bundle into the rear, but could not. The next command was for the bundle to go on the hood-rack, much to the annoyance of the driver. The washerman, sat beside the driver, and we drove off watching this little acto, I was proud of the man, my uncle. He was the deputy speaker at the time. What simplicity - not feigned to get votes. But that time came from the bottom of the heart, spontaneously. That is the uniqueness of the man. When we nieces used to question him as to why he didn't take up the position of speaker, but opted to remain as Deputy, depriving us in seeing a mansion, he replied, "Oh! my cadjan thatched roof is my mansion. I sleep soundly in it". These words are of a man who is a 'Bodisatva'. He never pretended, but was all along sincere. While living in their home, when I was a teacher at a nearby school; one day I fell ill. I was groaning and moaning, when I felt a cool hand on my forehead, and a glass of eua-de-cologne, in his other hand. It was my uncle D. A. asking me how I feel - he had already got the maid to prepare a cup of Horlicks. I knew it, when it was brought to me. It was in those far-off days that I learnt, that "blood is thicker than water". He gave in thoughts, words, and deeds with no planning. Just spontaneous many deeds adorn his life. He was a good listener. He consoled all who came to him. he never discriminated, even though we were his brother's children. He never voiced his sentiments towards us, but we knew that he had a noble heart. Termed as 'The boast of Ruhuna' he never hurt a fly. His character shows to the word and to all politicians, that political popularity lies in acting fair, with truthfulness, and sincerity. Helping the needy, and not the rich who put up mud-slinging posters. D. A. uncle would have died a thousand deaths, rather than ask a rich man to tile his cadjan - fetched roof, in exchange of a favour done. Such was the man D. A. remembered today. Ruhuna has lost a son of the soil, in whom they had welded their hopes, and dreams. It was this 'spontaneous' decision-making capability with which he was endowed with, that enabled our country to march forward to development and progress, with the re-establishing of the rights of the common man, that were deprived through those dark-ages. His spontaneous decision to cross-over with Bandaranaike, took even Bandaranaike himself by surprise "I thought it was my shadow - another look, it was D. A. that historic decision, of D. A. changed the history of Ruhuna. Ruhunu sons have always been in the forefront, to safeguard their motherland from calamities. It can be stated so, even today. I am glad to see Chamal, the member of Parliament, Tissamaharama and Mahinda, the leader of the opposition treading the path of their fore-fathers who have given of their best, untiringly, and ungrudgingly, to the service of this people of Lanka, to free themselves from the clutches of oppression, and light the way, for the young and the old, to steadfastly March onwards to free mother Lanka from strangulation. In conclusion let me add, that the Bandaranaike-Rajapakse vision, blend together as of the past, enriching each others ideals, to bring about a content of ethics that would overcome exploitative. Creed, and subordinate narrow self-interest to the common good, that would promote social harmony, economic, justice, and a sustainable environment, within a united Lanka, enabling the lives of all classes, creeds, and races, striving together making Sri Lanka the centrepiece of magnificent achievements - globally. This to be achieved, the inescapable challenge facing us is to understand ourselves. |
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