Worshipping power

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If I may add to renowned Sociologist Erwin Goffman's belief that the history of man has been the battle for power, once in power the many that bend before that exalted chair in two, three and even four over rides even Goffman's view of man's history.

Over rides is to say the least - to annul is still better for the worship of power is no less nauseating than the battle to get installed in there.

Countless instances have I witnessed how roaring lions and lionesses outside the power enclave become so very meek and mild as new born lamb when they meet the 'temple deity' inside - the trayful of flowers being the only missing object.

Power God

In addition to the imposed curve on the spinal chord, the uneasy hands find its way into some facial deposit - eyes, ears, chin whatever not to forget a little headscratching resorted to using the forefinger while the rest are neatly folded, not to miss out on the loud stentorian voice reduced to only mumbling before the power God.

If power speaks, power silences as well. The beggar on horseback that was becomes truly a beggar minus the horse and its back while the power God himself is much impressed by what he sees as 'Ahinsaka, Asarana Manussaya' (a humble, innocent man).

All this then reminds me of that famous Sinhala hit - the opening words being 'us ten deka Hekilenney, miti ten daka Puppanney,' meaning to wriggle like a worm before insolent might and put on boundless airs before the lowly.

To be shameful is not within the purview of the Sri Lankan behavioural code. It's a national trait and an increasingly common one at that to stoop to any level to get one's job done so to say. Yet once out of power I've often heard people - once very very powerful personalities say, 'I say, these guys when I was in office hero worshipped me. Now as I'm no one, they don't even look at me.'

So that's as far as gratitude goes. One thing that these power wielders ought to remember is to be alert on people that sorround them with the kind of butter that even would beat New Zealand's best.

They'd butter the boss till he is jammed one day and once jammed there'll be no strawberries coming his way for all that juicy stuff will be at the behest of the succeeding power deposit.

Now this brings to mind how in one instance a guy responsible for another's appointment faced an embarrassing moment when he was de-feathered. The new recruit quite boldly walked up to the throne's successor and gleefully showed him the confirmation letter which even today brings her bread, butter, jam, sardin and apples as well among other stuff.

The source of appointment around whom she danced and pranced, whining all the while was let alone being dropped like a hot potato dumped like stinking garbage.

As Sri Lankans continue to exhibit high degree sanctity towards power, I begin to wonder what makes them tick in this direction. Historically, we aren't that far away from our feudal past needless to speak of our redemption from the colonial yoke a little over half a century.

Compulsory criteria

Therefore the track record of subjugation is still fresh in the Sri Lankan mind. While under one system caste decided on whom power should rest, in the other it is class that recognizes the power insignia. However, in both instances the exaltation and worship of power is conspicuous.

While in early tribal societies it was charisma that led to power, in later eras within systemic confines charisma ceased to be compulsory criteria for power. So, we've come to terms when anything goes.

Facilitated with ill-gotten monies and a horrendous underworld, power would come in just like that. Even a magic wand's wave would not speed up matters ever so fast.

Yet people in all ignorance are overwhelmingly gullible and worship same. Nevertheless this is not to exclude the bonafide ones up there whose numbers are only very limited.

Also is the emergence of many women being installed in seats where there is a mismatch between them and the seat per se.

Who said qualifications were necessary criteria for position? In the absence of paper manifestations moral deviance is the best bet into power installation.