Sri Lankan creativity at its best during Vesak

by Afreeha Jawad

What better way to judge Sri Lankan creativity other than during Vesak time. In the various intricate decorations and colourful illuminations lie the quiet workings of what stems from within the people.

Come Vesak certainly they are at their best - an undeniable, unquestionable fact. This creative energy of an entire populace is not something to be overlooked. The message is clear. If channelled in the right direction this collective energy no doubt is an asset in terms of national development. But the sad side to the whole story is the accumulated neglect of this force over the years.

The peace that one encounters during Vesak as one drives through highways, lanes or even unsophisticated rural surroundings is inexpressible. In the neatly done up lanterns and electrically adorned buildings, in the heavily illuminated pandals that relate the Buddha's past lives is a message of peace.

The serenity that pervades the air along with, all that tranquillity and calm sufficiently rests even the most disturbed mind. Certainly none would run into tattered nerves while sight seeing on Vesak night.

The vibrancy of positive thoughts impacting the minds of a people during these times if maintained could work wonders in whatever that holds out for national good. Many even believe Vesak sightseeing to be helpful in wiping out feelings of hatred and anger.

If creative makeshift surroundings could influence the mind into a momentary state of peace, one could imagine the achievements if such state was to be of a longer duration. Politicising the socio/econ/political/cultural arenas brings out the evil in man while dumping the wholesomeness of existence in creativity.

Politicians in fact could make excellent role models for social well-being. Emanating from certain political quarters some time back was the clarion call for violence free electioneering and we clearly saw a reduction in violence at poll time. Even the underground miscreants' creative energy was directed into what is moral enforcement.

This by and large sufficiently proves the kind of high degree moral leadership that may have prevailed when saintly kings ruled over this land.

Ethnocentric views and ultra-nationalist tendencies will only continue to put a dead weight on national development. It is such extremist tendencies that annuls the dormant creative potential. Ethnic and class friction, fierce competition, polarised levels of existence are all part of a non-creative social whole.

Talking of creativity, one cannot ignore the stupendous levels of such force in all religious leaders, saints and sages on all sides of the divide. Challenging existing social norms with their high powered creativity, they evolved into being social reformers impacting societal consciousness.

The great literary works, the soul stirring masterpieces in music, the inspiring works of art all relate to man's creative genius. Tagore, Byron, Shakespeare, Milton and Allama Iqbal - a few in that long line of literary genius have ceased to be. Prophet Muhammed himself declared, "I'm the last of the Prophets" .

Here then was a man who foresaw the system undermining man's creativity. "Expose not my people to materialism" he prayed as he saw the dangers of a loss in creativity arising out of worldliness.

Saint Rabia to whom was gifted a newly built house ran back to her shack saying, "I will by this lose sight of my god." She feared the denial of a higher purpose amid luxury. Politicising makes people into what they are not - the tendency being to be emotionally highly charged in a negative sense.

Missing out on their natural sense of reasoning, they speak and act to suit their own purpose. Thinking in terms of what is absolute and to reach out to a universal concept is not possible in a politicized social whole. The systemic hold on man whips up his below bestial state denying him his creative potential.

Though early man did not have the pen, paint and brush to express his thoughts - this he did seeking refuge in the stillness of the woods, inside caves, atop mountains, on river banks not to forget his interests in watching the blue oceanic waves.

Call it by any name God, Allah, Krishna, Nirvana all such would not be attainable devoid of creativity. The intensity of interference by man with the natural world by politicising a once sanguine system no doubt was precursor to mitigating creativity.

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