Last few days
formed a long weekend, special for it was our weekend for celebrating our
independence from the British. Long weekends are different to weekends, for
most of us do different things, think different thoughts and it is time when
most reflect together with friends on issues that matter. Not that the merry
making is not there, but that is only for some. Written and published in February
2012, this column was such reflection of weekend matters and such somewhat deep
thought on a weekend then.
During a weekend, people in the village do
not have to attend to the usual chores of preparing and taking their kids to
school, to rush to the fields to care for the crops or to sieve off the sand
from the ‘sippi’ shells they collect from the surrounds of the Kalametiya sanctuary
to be ground and sold to middle-persons who take it elsewhere to sell as poultry
feed. When it is Sunday or Poya day, it is a day off for the fishermen with
nets and boats staying neatly arranged on the beach.
On Sundays, the village Daham Pasala (Dhamma
School) is active and the kids in white sarongs and lama sari walk the roads
making a pretty sight in the early hours of the morning. On each Poya day, the
evening pahan pooja (offer of light) lights up the temple grounds with busy
children running around with flowers they had picked and bottles of coconut oil;
adding to the excitement.
World at large
On satellite television newscasts I watch,
I learn of the UN’s failed attempt to condemn the Syrian government and the
continued ‘induced’ violence that goes on in that country. I also watched the
Russian foreign minister accusing the UN of taking sides in that civil unrest.
The US has been disappointed that Russia and China vetoed the UN resolution of
condemnation of Syria at the Security Council. In Cairo, Egypt in the aftermath
of the mayhem on the soccer field, a new round of civil unrest has broken out.
Greece is still to adopt controversial austerity measures to avert having to
declare bankruptcy as a nation. In Europe, just like the financial crisis, the
winters are severe and are causing hardship to many causing the deaths of
several. Flooding in Australia’s Queensland is creating havoc with thousands
being evacuated from their homes.
I learnt that a child a few days old had
frozen to death in a refugee camp in Afghanistan and that the Indian police are
about to round up those responsible for shameful trading of little babies for
money. A Sri Lankan mother was seen yearning, advising all young people to be careful
and responsible when driving their vehicles, so valuable lives in the prime of
youth, the likes of her son could be saved. She lost her young son on the first
fatal accident that happened on our expressway. He had been driving recklessly
in the wee hours of the morning, without caring to wear his seat-belt.
What unfolds on that television screen often
shakes me up and it serves as a reality check of what happens in the wider
world around me.
Unity in diversity
When weekends are long the village routine
takes a different form. Most eagerly await their loved ones, who work and live away
from them in the big cities to come back home. Special meals are cooked and
there is a general festive atmosphere in most village homes during long
weekends.
Days become shorter for the likes of me now,
for I spend more time focusing on what happens around me than to me. That I
must confess is a very different experience to what one goes through when one
is in active work. There is no dictum of what must be done, when or to go on
running to keep one’s place in the rat-race.
Last Saturday, the 64th Independence
Day of Sri Lanka, the morning was spent watching the proceedings of the
celebrations held in Anuradhapura on the television screen. The highlights for
me were the scintillating chants of Jayamangala Gatha and the blessings in song
by school kids and the simplicity of the cultural pageant that was an integral
part of the parade. The cultural ministry’s district centres were responsible
for bringing each unit together. For once, it was without the frills of stage-craft
like those we see on television shows and displayed a sense of authenticity in
reflecting the various aspects of Sri Lankan life. They were not well-trained
professional troupes of dancers but true representatives of Sri Lankans from
different regions. As for me, I appreciate the austerity practiced and the
symbolic representations of the unity of our cultural and racial diversity.
Focus and resolve
Our Head of State in his address to the
nation on that occasion emphasized that there is so much more we still have to
achieve together as a nation. Indeed, we need to work in unity towards
achieving lasting peace and there is no doubt that can only happen, if all Sri
Lankans chipped in with a singular focus and resolve to make our motherland a
better place. It is true that there is much that needs correction and
definitive action i.e. unruliness, corruption, unwarranted use of power by some
and the inflexible and uncompromising attitudes and positions taken on the
national question are some among these. Indeed, the bickering that goes on in
the ‘international’ arena driven by those who thrive in living in the past must
also end. The Tamil Diaspora must venture to serve the interests of their
brethren here in Sri Lanka and not their own out their in their lands of
adoption.
Caring ways
A few of my friends and I spent the
afternoon of Independence Day with about 80 special children and their parents
at a two and half days ‘Ape Pattuw Residential Camp for Special Children &
Parents of the District’ organized by a dedicated volunteer group of youth who
for purposes of recognition call themselves, the ‘Southern Youth Development
Foundation.’
At the camp we had the opportunity to meet
a group of twelve third year Speech Therapy students and their teachers from
the Keleniya University's Department of Disability Studies of the Medical
Faculty. They as volunteers had come all the way from Colombo, paying their own
way, to interact with the children and the parents and that calls for a salute
of gratitude to them. Such deep sense of
commitment from our youth and their caring ways goes to prove that we indeed
have hope for our nation’s future.
Measure of greatness
The sad stories we heard at the camp were
many and the needs of the special children, their mentors and their parents
had, were also very many. We learnt that there were more than 4.500 children
with disabilities within the Hambantota district and most needed attention
beyond what is given now. We heard from the parents and the mentors that the
children needed more protection and care, more support for their development
with better schools equipped to serve their needs, specialized services for the
development of their skills to prepare them for leading ‘normal’ lives. More
focused support systems they said were needed for the mentors and parents as
well, so they could be better equipped to provide better care in preparing the
children to be useful and productive within our society.
"A nation’s greatness is measured by
how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members" is a quote
attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. During this long weekend I realized how valid
that thought could be, both in the cases of resolving our national question and
in addressing issues related to our children with special needs.
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