Singing of national anthem in Tamil

Step towards reconciliation

By Latheef Farook
President Maithripala Sirisenas decision to provide official sanction for the singing of
the National Anthem in Tamil language is cheerful development for the country
battered due to racist politics of the two main political parties-the United National
Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
This is good omen for a better future as the two main political parties, UNP and SLFP,
which were responsible for denying the right to sing national anthem in Tamil
language have supported the move.
In a major reconciliatory move President Maithripala Sirisena who has brought about
a silent political revolution in the country which was sliding towards lawlessness and
emerged as the only hope of all communities, deserves credit for this bold and
farsighted initiative.
Reconciliation among communities remains a long and tedious journey for a country
which was torn apart by the ethnic war caused by racist politics. In fact depriving the
Tamil language equal status contributed a great deal for the ethnic conflict which
divided communities and turned the peaceful island into a killing field .As a result
precious resources which otherwise could be used for the development and raise
peoples living standard were wasted on this unwanted war while politicians and their
sidekicks flourished in weapons deals while the country suffered.
The election of President Maithripala Sirisena had shown that mainstream Sinhalese,
Tamils, Muslims and others wanted to live together. Thus the need of the hour is for
bold initiatives and measures, above petty politics, to avoid past mistakes and bring
the communities together.

This is what President Maithripala

Sirisena is trying to do.
However as the Chinese adage says that one thousand mile journey begins with a
step, this may be that first step towards uniting the divided communities.
At the 17 March 2015 meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), President
Sirisena announced his decision to lift the language bar when the leader of the
Democratic Peoples Front (DPF), Mano Ganeshan, raised the issue. Reacting swiftly
President Sirisena also agreed to issue a circular to all concerned including
government institutions and heads of schools informing them about the official
approval for the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil language too.
Had this wisdom dawned on politicians who flourished on racist politics since the early
days of independence in 1948, Sri Lanka could have averted the unfortunate carnage
which it had to endure during the subsequent years and remain truly a Paradise
Island.
The National Anthem was composed in 1940 when Sri Lanka was still under British
rule by Ananda Samarakone, a product of Rabindranath Tagores Shanti Niketan in
India. His Sinhalese-language song Sri Lanka Matha, Apa Sri Lanka was adopted
by the newly independent Sri Lanka as the national anthem in 1951.

Simultaneously, a Tamil version, Sri Lanka Thaaye Nam Sri Lanka, translated by
Lankan Tamil poet, M. Nallathambi who worked as a teacher at Colombo Zahira
College during T.B.Jayahs period, was also adopted.
For decades, both versions were sung, although only the Sinhalese version had
constitutional sanction.
This situation continued even during the 30 year LTTE war to set up a separate state of
Elam in the North and East of the island.
However, in the aftermath of the defeat of the dreaded LTTE in May Sinhala extremist
parties such as Jathika Hela Urumaya, JHU, and National Freedom Front,NFF,
instead of stretching hands of friendship to Tamils, began demanding imposing a ban
on the Tamil version on the ground that countries sanction use of only one language
for singing the national anthem. This only showed that these extremists did not learn
any lesson from ethnic war which ravaged the country. The Tamils argument that in
several countries, including Canada and South Africa, national anthem is sung in
different languages fell on deaf ears.
It was in this atmosphere then Home Minister W.D.John Seneviratne introduced a
cabinet paper on December 12, 2010 to officially disallow singing the national anthem
in Tamil. Though President Rajapaksa, who headed the cabinet, did not officially
support Seneviratnes proposal, his government did not favor the use of the Tamil
version .In doing so the country lost the golden opportunity to heal the wounds and
unite communities.

Reflecting Rajapakses policy of chauvinism security forces insisted on the use of the
Sinhalese version only even in the predominantly Tamil areas.
As a result an unofficial ban came into being since 2010 on singing National Anthem
in Tamil despite the Constitution of Sri Lanka making special provision for it to be
sung in Tamil.

However even today and, that too despite the changing political climate, handful of
Sinhala chauvinists continue to oppose the singing of national anthem in Tamil. They
even claim that President Maithripala Sirisena could not issue such a circular
permitting the singing of national anthem in Tamil language because it was against the
constitution.
In fact what these chauvinists failed to understand is that it was the 1972 constitution
of late Prime Minister Mrs. Srimavo Bandaraaike and the 1978 constitution of racist
megalomaniac J.R.Jayawardene, depriving Tamils of their legitimate rights, plunged
the country into a killing field.
In fact 37 years later today the island is struggling to free itself from the shackles of
Jayewardenes all powerful executive presidential constitution which paves the way
for democratically elected autocratic dictatorship which remains above all laws and
answerable to none. In fact Jayewardenes constitution remains responsible to a very
great extend for the current chaotic state of affairs in the country.
If the constitution deprives a community of its legitimate rights isnt it time to change
the constitution rather than clinging on to a constitution which divides communities
and destroying the country. After all constitution, though respected and abided by all,
is man made and not divine document.
What is clear is that these chauvinists have not realized or understood even today what
Tamil language is meant for Tamils. It is more precious than their lives. Under such
circumstance giving due place to Tamil language is certainly means to win the hearts of
Tamil community.
However, it appears that they have learnt no lesson from the past though the country
as a whole began waking up to realities and started adopting a live and let live policy
ensuring a better future for all. Ends
Posted by Thavam