More on my “PHD” thesis for that new national identity
View(s):As I confessed in my column last week, dears, the traditional national holidays in mid-April are a contemplative season for yours truly. As the city goes to the town, and the town goes to the village, and the village goes into celebratory mode, something that is uniquely Sri Lankan can be sensed stirring abroad. There is a sense of true national unity, which does not have to be manufactured by political machinations or cultured by social contract. It is a time of peace, without propaganda. It is a time of unity, without uniformity. It is a time of harmony that doesn’t want to make you heave up the contents of your stomach at the sheer banality or falseness or rottenness of chauvinism.
It is a time when – traditionally – I begin to think that we have what it takes to transcend our historical shackles and start growing together towards a clearer, stronger, national identity. And because our political misadventures in this direction have – typically – taken us towards disaster in this respect, I’d like to reiterate my suggestion that any new, nascent, emerging national identity not be defined or developed along cultural, sociopolitical, ethnic lines. Thus my modest proposal towards a new sense of being or becoming – truly – Sri Lankan (truly, madly, deeply; and uniquely Sri Lankan). These came in the form of three spheres for your tender consideration, which I have elaborated on this weekend; before the rat race again, and we all strive to win it – thereby aspiring to become No. 1 Rat in our very small worlds!
The first proposal/sphere has to do with something of a weakness for us Sri Lankans. The second is in relation to a strength. The third has the ring of opportunity, which, if appropriated and employed meaningfully, could counter that fatal flaw which is the fall – that bad, sad, mad, and dangerous-to-do undoing – of the best of us, at times.
Punctuality/(weakness)
At avurudu time, you must have noticed how just about everybody celebrating it punctiliously observed ‘auspicious’ times. There was no half-hearted approach to it, no circa or about or approximately. Here 1.47 p.m. is, was, and will always be 1.47 p.m. (not 1.48, or 1.47 p.m. the next day, or sometime next week… which is how we mark time at all other times). And at other key times round the year (opening ceremonies, formal launches, certain life events), we islanders have demonstrated that we are more than capable of observing specific and particular times. Now what if we were to apply that mindset to all our appointments? Would deadlines, schedules, timetables, become second nature soon enough? Such that Sri Lankans could well start earning a reputation for punctuality and punctiliousness? Do we have what it takes to show the world we can make it on time, every time, all the time? Could we be the next Singapore of South Asia?
Conventional Wisdom or “out with the old”: UL is Usually Late and Sri Lankans are no different from their national airline in general or their national attitude to time in particular.
Devil’s Advocate A.K.A. “happy new identity”: On time. Every time. All the time. Even when there are no deadlines/schedules/timetables. OCD? Or ‘O, happy day’?
Hospitality/(strength)
Here’s another ‘national character’ so many of our visitors to the island comment on. So much so that we often take their appreciative remarks for granted! After all, travel and tourism are our stock-in-trade, aren’t they? It’s a trick, an affectation, a ploy… But is it only to foreigners or folks with power or money or both that we can reveal the health, wealth, and happiness that is our innate sense of courtesy and goodwill? What if city-slickers too were to start practising it as much as village-yokels? Would that seep into our nascent national identity?
Conventional Wisdom or “out with the old”: Money makes my smile go round the world.
Devil’s Advocate A.K.A. “happy new identity”: Nothing in it for me – I’m still smiling! And you’re welcome… Come again!
Decency/(opportunity to stave a threat)
You don’t have to be religious to be decent. Though God knows it helps to have a people steeped in the more relational aspects of four major world-faiths. You’ve seen what I mean almost every day you experience life… a random act of kindness there, a chance to do charity there – and expect nothing in return; comforting strangers; solidarity among family, friends, and foes alike; enthusiasm for the underdog – which we ourselves often are! Here, here if at all, is the heart of the heartening new national sense of being Sri Lankan! Here is who we are!
Conventional Wisdom or “out with the old”: Typical Sri Lankan, no? Shame! Shame! Only in Sri Lanka, aney/aiyo/apoi…
Devil’s Advocate A.K.A. “happy new identity”: Sri Lankan, no? Typically decent race… no, not racist – island race… eager, enthusiastic do-gooders; noble, nicest people in the world. Charming, courteous, can count on them to chip in at a time when every contribution counts.
Now I know this sounds more than a little naïve, dears. But Rome wasnt built in a day. Our journey of a million miles and smiles to united nationhood solid new national identity that transcends all our erstwhile negatives starts here. Now.
Here ends my “PHD” thesis. For what it’s worth? Trust you’ll mull it over and submit to what makes sense herein. These are among the last, best, chances we’ll get to steer our blessed isle back to the sunshine state it was before the need to change becomes enforced by fiat…
There must be no backsliding. This time, it’s personal.