|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 15 December 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Of 'Orator', mutual trust and goodwill by FACTOTUM Water gushed out of the mini waterfall and settled to gurgle in the pool as a torrent of words was showered recapitulating the many facets of a varied life of educationist, trade unionist and great humanist whose munificence and foresight had elevated depressed and suppressed families to enviable heights in conservative Jaffna beginning from the tail end colonial rule. As the words tumbled the heavens opened and the pitter patter on the roof could not drown the voices that recalled with deep respect and emotion the great doings of that school Head of Skanda who had earned the sobriquet of 'orator' at an impressionable age. It was a birth centenary that was commemorated at Tamil Sangam last week when students and friends, colleagues and relatives gathered together to remember a great man who had among others remained true to the ideals of the Jaffna Youth Congress throughout his life which spanned over nine decades. No mean feat then when others, lesser mortals succumbed to the temptations of power and privilege, money and position. Any misconceptions the Jaffna Youth Congress (JYC) was a parochial and narrow religious and racial organisation were soon dispelled in the keynote address delivered by that veteran lecturer who after a long stint abroad has returned home to roost and ruminate over the four decade association he had had with the personage remembered on that day. In his able presentation Santasilan Kadirgamar recalled with pride that "The aims of the Congress was that its members should work for the betterment of the motherland, that no distinction be made on religious or racial grounds, that annual sessions consist of representatives from all races and creeds, that no sectarian issues be raised, that members strive to remove the curse of untouchability, to cultivate the study of national literature, art and music and to develop and promote writings and publications in the national languages of fiction, history, biographies and works in the sciences. It was resolved following Gandhian practices to patronise as far as possible locally manufactured goods and eschew foreign products. Though no resolution was made on dress the above resolution implied the wearing of the national dress, preferably khaddar. Several members of the Youth Congress 'Orator' included wore the national dress for the rest of their lives. The public perception of the politician as being one who would subjugate the national interest for advantage at the polls was decried even over seventy years ago by those who banded themselves into the JYC viewing with disdain the scramble for seats in council. As if to rub it in and then nail the issue the speaker went on to say that 'Now seventy two years later we hear these words 'mutual trust and goodwill' repeatedly stressed from Colombo to the Vanni, Thailand and Norway. What may have this country been if only both the Tamils and Sinhalese had listened to such prophetic voices." The unkindest cut of all had been 1956 which had 'brought to the men who once belonged to the Youth Congress more than to anyone else in the country a sense of defeat and disillusionment. Perhaps the lament of idealists, but it does not justify the abandonment of the pursuit of high ideals. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
