Musings on Independence

by Kalakeerthi EDWIN ARIYADASA

"For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?" - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882). (US philosopher - poet)

In our day, the celebration of "Independence", has assumed the stature of an inescapable human imperative.

In a country's calendar, 'The National Day' occupies almost a holy and sacred niche.

The urge to celebrate Independence, is etched indelibly, in the deep recesses of a nation's psyche, since it is, in many an instance, intimately associated with a collective victory.

Under normal circumstances, Independence is celebrated fairly routinely. The mandatory State Pageant, accompanied by the essential symbols of pomp and glory ceremonially and solemnly highlights this national event. Displaying and waving flags, firing crackers, performing religious rites and rituals are among the social adjuncts of such celebrations.

Certain development in the history of a nation can impart an unprecedented poignance to these routine celebrations.

It was reported, that the days during which, a group of US personnel were held hostage in Iran, marked one of the periods when US national flags recorded extremely high sales.

History, elevated the 62nd Independence Day celebrations of Sri Lanka, held recently to an unparalleled height, due to a whole range of memorable national triumphs.

Popular acclaim

The war on terrorism, that raged devastatingly for over thirty years, was comprehensively won. The masses heaved a sigh of relief, as if the country had achieved Independence, afresh. In the backdrop of newly won Independence, the President was elected by surprisingly high popular acclaim. Eschewing the soul-searing days of bloody, terrorist carnage, an era of wholesome development, was launched, opening vistas of peace, harmony and unthwarted freedom.

The hum and buzz and the hustle and bustle of the celebrations are now hushed, The dust has now settled. This provides an objective vantage point to take a concentrated look at the meaning and significance of Independence and Freedom.

Words of eradition, have proclaimed that "One can appreciate the deep value of freedom only when one loses it just as one can truly savour the luxury of summer only when one is shivering in the winter's cold."

The "mystique" of Independence and Freedom, is solely elusive, that it cannot be captured through logical analysis.We could perhaps, approach towards an understanding of the profound significance of "Independence and Freedom" resorting to a process of focused self-searching.

In our Island citadel, we defiantly upheld and cherished our Independence and our specific style of life, over a long sweep of history, extending over 24 centuries.

Then, on March 2, 1815, a power-crazed coterie, totally blind to the greatness of the Independence, then had inherited through hallowed tradition, presented our freedom on a platter to Imperial Britain.

Prof. Tennakoon Wimalananda, History Don and Antiquarian, once spoke to me about this despicable perfidy. When he was conducting research in the U.K. he came upon two letters. One was written in 1814, by a British officer, in Sri Lanka, and was addressed to the British Colonial Secretary. The letter said: "The Big Fish is in our net. Shall we raise it." (The 'Big Fish' in this enigmatic reference was of course King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe - the last monarch of the Sri Lankan tradition of kings.)

Pat came the answer to this letter, in about two months though due to the state of communications at that time. The response said: "Do not worry. The Sinhala people themselves will raise the net for us." (This is the second of the two letters, referred to by Prof. Tennakoon Wimalananda)

When Imperial official began to impose their rule, putting into operation the age-old dictum "Divide et empera", the masses of Sri Lanka were devastated by the stark realisation that they had lost their cherished Independence. But the realization came a little late in the day. Restoring Independence was not that simple.

Indian conflict

In the neighbouring sub-continent of India, the struggle for Independence was a blood-soaked conflict.

In Sri Lanka, all communities united against the common enemy - The Imperial Ruler. Through a sustained effort, Sri Lanka gained Independence on February 4, 1948, guided by a united Sri Lankan movement, spear-headed by Great D.S. Senanayake - the First Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka.

Once, the Common Enemy was gone, those who were united against him started fighting each other. The final outcome of this process was the sordid internecine war, which claimed the lives of nearly 100,000 citizens of Sri Lanka.And, the tragic and unadorned truth of the matter is, that, we went through nearly a half of our years of Independence, waging an internal war.

We had won Independence. But, the "Mystique" of Independence had pathetically and tragically eluded us.

The "Mystique" of Freedom, is unpalatable - and under most circumstances, beyond the capacity of words to articulate.

Art, has at times been successful in capturing and presenting the spirit of Freedom and Independence.

Long years ago, I viewed a German film titled "Lena Braque". The main character of this cinematic presentation was an old lady, in her eighties. One would have never thought that such an old lady could play the lead-role in a film and command the attention of cinema-goers. But, she did.

When the film opened she lived in a modest little house of her own in the city. She was all alone, but, it was quite evident that she was very happy with her lot. An urban developer acquires her house, against her strong pleas and she had to go to an old people's home. The day she starts her life there, she sits on the bed of an austere room, and breaks a slice of bread. She heaves a heartrending sigh, that sums up her sense of devastation at the loss of her freedom. Eventually she manages to get a home of her own. On the fourth day, at her own new home, she sits on a bed in an austere room. She breaks a slice of bread and she heaves a sigh.

And, this time the sigh is a joyous cry, at the re-discovery of freedom.

The child

The late Mulk Raj Anand, reputed Indian short-story writer, created a short story about a child. The child enters a carnival ground holding his mother's hand. The child is tempted by balloons. But, the mother pulls him along. He wants sweets. Mother, does not hearken. He needs beautiful clothes. Mother takes him along forcibly.

In the crowd, the child loses his grip and is swept away by the rush of people. He starts screaming. The organisers find him and try to comfort him. "Do you want balloons". "No, I want my mother". "Do you like sweets?" "No I want my mother." He refuses all the things he pressed his mother for. He wants only his mother. Those things have no joy for him, without the mother's warm presence.

Even if people may have everything they yearn for, they cannot derive pleasure and joy from these, without the sustaining presence of freedom.

Stories are told about chimpanzees and gorillas who in captivity dash their head against the walls or the bars of their cage and kill themselves, unable to bear the loss of freedom.

A Jathaka tale, narrates the story of an elephant who refused food and water in captivity. The best food has no meaning bereft of freedom.

When we explore the mystique of freedom, we must be equally mindful of the responsibilities of freedom.

The masses enjoying freedom, may not at times be able to achieve the highest benefits of freedom, if they did not utilize freedom with utmost responsibility.

A free nation must become fully aware how they should benefit from their leaders. If, through their freedom, the masses were to burden their leaders, without a sense of freedom, there is the likelihood of freedom fading.

Reviewing his first year in office, President Obama, the Head of the most powerful country said: "My hope had been that healthcare wouldn't take this long and that we would've tied up both energy and financial reform before the end of the first year. If there's one thing.

I have learned.... it always takes longer than you think." (Time - Feb. 1, 2010) Exercising Freedom, without a restraining sense of responsibility, people may burden their leader to inactivity.

President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy said recently: "By prioritising short-term logic, we have paved the way for our entry into a time of scarcity."

A truly free nation should have an enlightened view about utilising their freedom responsibly and to refrain from pressurising leaders irrationally in the name of freedom and precipitate disaster.

Both, those who govern and those who governed, must become fully aware of the delicate balance that should be maintained to become truly free.

Exploring the "Mystique" of Freedom show, be an essential aspect of the role of a responsible citizen in a free society.