|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Review : Remembering S. Thondaman (91st birth anniversary) A leader with foresight
The other was the post-Thondaman era where the reins of party leadership went to his grandson Arumugam Thondaman (Thambi) while alive, the late leader has confided to insiders that he would like to see Thambi wear his mantle in due time. Thondaman (Snr) may have had sufficient reasoning to believe his grandson in the future will bring to bear the family genes to the benefit of not only the CWC but the nearly 2 million people of recent Indian origin (PIO) as well. The Thondaman (Snr) saga is all too well-known to be discussed here except to suggest like the Biblical Moses, as undisputed leader during his time, he lead his people through their trials and tribulation and progressively secured for them social dignity. He also laid the foundations of a more promising economic future than what was the lot of the PIO since their arrival here in the mid-19th century. The destinies of much of the PIO and the CWC both as a trade union and political party are now in the hands of Thambi. How has CWC as a political party and trade union fared under his leadership is a natural question that is often asked. After the late leader, Thambi led the party in three general elections where, in two within a short interval, the party representation in the house was three. The last one in April 2004 saw Thambi signalling his potential as a significant electoral strategist. Before April the party had three MP's in Parliament himself and M. Sivalingam popularly elected and R. Yogarajah through the National List. He had the advantage of going into the last General Elections after being in office as a senior Minister in an important Ministry of the UNF government for over two years. Within this brief time he pushed forward many important programmes that directly benefited the PIO, who as later events were to prove; and, convinced of his capability, made up their mind in the April 2004 general elections their future is assured under Thambi's leadership. Carrying successfully through bitterly-contested legislation that throughout engaged national and acrimonious debate, Thambi in his time, sought and obtained the concurrence of both sides of Parliament, including the recalcitrant JVP, for citizenship to the "residual" PIO population issue assured under various Indo-Lankan Agreements signed since 1964. The numbers involved, arguably, were in excess of two lakhs-sufficient to influence contemporary electoral dynamics and configuration. It may be noted here this matter has been in the political agenda of successive governments since the APC of 1984 in a more pronounced manner through the matter has been under discussion since 1964. That he was able to get this across both sides of Parliament without the much expected division itself is an indication of the important and influential place Thambi has earned for himself in the political landscape of this country. One hopes the younger Thondaman here, with the responsible and sagacious assistance from both sides of the house, has brought down the final curtain on an issue that has divided the country, with all its tragic consequences, for long. I quote the report of the Presidential Truth Commission viz:- "The course of this country's history might have been differently chartered if the legislation depriving the Tamil Plantation workers their voting rights had not been resorted to. That legislation was enacted at a critical moment when unity and not divisiveness should have been uppermost in the minds of the new leaders". He also succeeded in changing the face of housing and sanitation in the plantation areas where, using his ministerial clout, he was able to build and deliver several hundreds of two storied houses with bath / toilet facilities within - a convenience they did not have before. His plans to provide several thousands more of these came to a halt with the dissolution of Parliament last February. Yet another of his achievement that places him in the class of his illustrious grand-father was in ensuring the entry of 8 CWC MP's in the 2004 Parliament - six by popular vote and two via the national list-equalling the feat of the late leader at the height of his own political influence. Thambi, in a way, even surpassed the late leader in shrewdly ensuring for the first time in the long history of the CWC the victory of a muslim candidate in the Kandy district under the UNP-CWC umbrella. Bringing in two MP's, virtually unknown before, in the Badulla district-where the CWC had none in the earlier two houses-certainly is a feather in his cap. In the past few years industrial peace in the Tea Plantation areas is at its best; production reached record levels and world market prices are high. Though the benefits went to the industry, the toiling workers continued to suffer under the weight of the spiralling cost of living and galloping inflation due to low wages that do not ensure even their basic needs. Thambi did not allow discouraging strikes and other industrial action during this period honouring his commitments with the Employers Federation-although his sympathies were with the suffering workers. Recognised political analysts concede, he has in a short time, succeeded in uniting his fractured party by enticing senior leader M. S. Sellasamy-who carried a long and sapping legal tussle with the late leader-into the fold and now into Parliament. Several other topnotchers, who left the party recently on various grouses have rejoined the party. It will not be long before CWC regains her earlier unity and undivided strength. To take for granted as "assured" a vote bank of a million votes for the CWC-which certainly is within its reach-there is much work to be done. There is room for an invigorated membership drive where the CWC can double or even treble the present membership figures. Better Education, health and sanitation, housing, the creation of adequate platforms for employment for the educated and imparting of vocational training within existing facilities to those GCE (OL) students passing out annually-all need to be attended with greater emphasis and a results-oriented approach. With a stronger, united and committed CWC the PIO can look forward to a more meaningful and still improved quality of life. A satisfied citizenry in the plantations will be a useful contribution to a cohesive society at the national level. If the late leader credited with much foresight, whose 91st birthday falls on August 30, envisioned in his own way his grandson will equal or surpass him in the electoral and political arena. True to the older leader's character, he was not wrong. By lining up Thambi to take the leadership of the CWC and the PIO the late Thondaman from beyond continues to serve his people as effectively as when he was alive. There can be no greater tribute than this to the memory of a man whom millions of PIO and many other sections of the Sri Lankan society hold in high esteem and affection. A. Kandappah |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Five years after the late Thondaman's demise students of plantation
politics-trade union interests, politicians, social-scientists-invariably
address their minds to two thresholds. One, the Thondaman (Snr) era
dominated by his presence and personality that ended with his death.
