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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Time ripe for us to see things in new light by Nisansala R. Aryachandra History of a nation is a valuable tool to the study of its people, culture, traditions, etc. However, when history is used indiscriminately and without reference to fact, and above all, without keeping in mind the accuracy of the details that had been used to shed light from, it can be a dangerous and lethal weapon that disturbs the harmony and security of a nation. This has created a shift in the thinking of the masses in times of turmoil and disharmony to further cause tension at that time. In most instances, it is the media that is commandeered to exploit this. Sometimes, the reported facts or publications may have sensationalised or aggravated the prevailing situation then. Going back in time, many views and opinions expressed and references made brings a common point into mind that much of what is said is blended to support their point of view, ideology and cause. The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has created offshoots and effects that are irrevocable and irreversible. Natural disasters that were never known to us before, left its lasting mark, leaving behind horrendous memories. Criminal acts and abuses that are committed every day behind each and every one of us... How did a country that was largely governed as a Dharma boomi turn out to be so brutal and unforgiving? Some may be of the view that these traces of cruelty and oppression have always existed, even in little percentages. Then, one day as a bottle filled with a drop of water every day was filled to the brim, and it spilt over and over creating massive waves of anger, bloodshed and divisions. What created and what happened, we have all witnessed at one time or the other, in one situation or the next. However, what we do not have is a clear knowledge of what and how it was before all this. In all that has happened, one that 'spins the wheel' in all directions is the twenty year old ethnic war between the Tamils and the Sinhalese, no doubt. There are two sides to this story as in any other - the Sinhala and the Tamil versions. "...the lights are all out, no one is watching now, people looking for the truth, we must not fail now, be sure, before we close our eyes, walk away from it all... we need to hear both sides of the story.", as put up by Phil Collins. Any story unless it is well researched, balanced and comprehensive is a point of view of someone who, at most instances, is biased. However, the important fact is that it is a view, and a view is based on partly experience and partly knowledge. This can be proportionately put forward by views and statements made by individuals and news reports published at the time when Sri Lanka was on the verge of communal outbreak. In an article published in 1984 (India Today, March 31), the Sri Lankan history is depicted in such easy and simple terms that states: when Prince Vijaya came to Ceylon (then) with his armada, he was astounded by the beauty of the island country, and when he arrived he struck up a friendship with a daughter of a local chieftain, and according to S. P. Ruthramoorthy, Tamil lawyer and rebel ideologue (in the same article), "Vijaya's first act was a genocide of the Tamils. He slaughtered thousands. Then he founded the Sinhala race and kingdom. So deep and old is our distrust of the Sinhalese people." Such references of history coupled with personal views as such can be utterly misleading. This can be noted as an academic malpractice that should be taken seriously as it can be a national threat when a history of one country is distorted in the hands of another. The Economist (1996, February) stated that: "Friction goes back at least to the days when Britain, the colonial power favoured the minority, the mostly Hindu Tamils, or at least let them dominate the professions. After independence in 1948, the Tamils suffered at the hands of the majority, the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese. Later, Sinhalese-nationalist governments stirred anti Tamil feeling." India Today, March 31, 1984 views that "The guerillas are benefiting from the misplaced policy of the Sri Lankan Government policy of the Sri Lankan Government to systematically downgrade the Tamil population by denying them jobs under a blatantly racial, Sinhala Only Act. The law drove thousands of Tamils abroad in search of education or work. A bulk of them have taken asylum in West Germany and, though not very rich, form the hard core of the Eelam support overseas." In the same article: "We expatriates are always aware of the problems back home" said S. Srinivasan, who teaches political science at the Adelaide University in Australia. He adds "sometimes I used to think it is easy for us, far away, to be radical. But each time I came back home, I find people here more determined to achieve what they want." The history of Sri Lanka displays instances where the Tamils and Sinhalese were working hand in hand. As a matter of fact " the story of political conflicts in pre-modern Sri Lanka, is a story of the struggle for power among semi feudal chiefs" and not of any races (History of Sri Lanka by W. I. Siriweera). This fact is elaborated in explaining the war between Elara (of Indian origin) and Duttagamani (Sri Lankan): "Reading between the lines in the Mahavamsa account one gets the impression that both Elara and Duttagamani were participants in a feudal power and not in a racial war thought between the Sihalese and the Tamils". History of Sri Lanka cannot be depicted in such easy and simple manner, as it requires an extensive and comprehensive study to differentiate fact from myth. As Wilhelm Geiger puts it, "not what is said but what is left unsaid is the besetting difficulty of Sinhalese history." The impact of the media is clearly and undoubtedly depicted in the following by Rohan Gunarathne in one of his statements, he says. "LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran conceptualised the suicide bomb after viewing the very famous movie called 'Death Wish Two' , where a beautiful woman goes up to a world leader with a bouquet of flowers hiding a bomb and kills herself and the leader. " The first LTTE suicide bomb victim was Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 in a real life re-run of this movie assassination. The bomb kit was also developed from the same concept." In the same statement, other instances were stated where more nations have followed the same line of attack to kill. |
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