5th Column

Doing a tinkering job on the National Anthem

"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all this fuss about a song?"

"Which song is that?", Bindu's father Percy asked.

"Why, thaaththa, the National Anthem," Bindu said, "the President is complaining that it has been changed without her knowledge..."

"The President complains about everything these days..." Percy observed.

"But thaaththa," Bindu wanted to know, "have they really changed the song?"

"I don't think so," Percy said.

"Why do you say that?"

"After all, Bindu, Amaradeva and Nanda Malini are singing the new song; it is not as if Bhathiya and Santhush have done a rap version of it..."

"But thaaththa," Bindu queried, "why is everyone bothered about such little things when they can worry about more serious issues?"

"In this country we have always been worried about such trivial issues, Bindu..." Percy declared.

"What do you mean by that, Thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, remember what they did with the airport?"

"Ah, yes," Bindu agreed, "they kept changing the name from Colombo Airport to Bandaranaike Airport depending who was in charge..."

"Though," Percy added, "Velu might want to call it the Prabhakaran Airport after the extensive renovations he did there..."

"Wasn't there a similar issue with the National Day, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.

"Yes," Percy recalled, "Again it kept changing from the fourth of February to the twenty-second of May depending on whether the Blues or Greens were in charge..."

"This must be the only country where such things happen." Bindu wondered.

"Of course, Bindu," Percy observed, "the Blues are not the only culprits. Remember, the name of the capital was changed to Jayewardenepura and wasn't that a happy co-incidence?"

"And now," Bindu said, "they are again fighting over the National Anthem..."

"Given half a chance each of them would have their own preference for a National Anthem..." Percy said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Why, they said that the Tigers have already composed a song which has become very popular..."

"But, what about the others?"

"The Reds would want 'Saadukin pelenavun den ithin negitiyavu' as their song..."

"And the Greens?"

"I don't know about the Greens, but I think the Green Man would like a revised version of 'Master Sir' saying 'Mata himi thena denna, aney Madam anukampaaven salakanna'..."

"And what about the Lady herself?" Bindu asked.

"Of course her favourite would be 'Rejina mamai mage rajje'..."

"But, thaaththa, we the public would still prefer our traditional Anthem..."

"I am not sure about that..." Percy said.

"What do you mean?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Given a choice, and considering what is going on, I think half the people would prefer 'Singnore'..." Percy said.

"And the other half?"
"They may prefer the new song, 'Ape rate minissu, indagena kelinne pissu'..." Percy said.

Bindu couldn't disagree.

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