Down with Olu Bakkas!

By Gamini Weerakoon

(May 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne has directed all police stations not to allow Olu Bakko mask dancing or amplified sounds of base music and song during Vesak season from May 5 to May 11 — Daily News, May 7, Page 4.

We are not aware whether the IGP amidst his multifarious duties such as arresting criminals, tracking down terrorists and deploying ‘four to five crack teams to track down assassins of editors’ and other journalists, did in fact get down to this business of nabbing Olu Bakko dancers during the Vesak season.

This was one of the many ‘dos and don’ts issued by the Police Chief to the cops for the Vesak season which we saw no reason to complain about save this task of cops going for Olu Bakko dancers. We felt it was a matter of grave concern and deprivation of the fundamental right of expression.

Entertainers

Olu Bakkas are dancers, usually of short stature who put clay pots on their heads and masks and perform comic dancing on the streets during the Vesak season. Since living memory they have provided a highly popular form of entertainment and been of comic relief to those who walk the streets the entire night to see Vesak illuminations.

The pious may admire those gaily decorated pandals depicting the Jataka tales etc. but the light hearted, especially young men and women enjoy getting close to one another (‘putting hetthu’ as they say) to view Olu Bakkas on stage. Why the IGP decided to crack down on these dancers in clay pots and masks defies explanation.

Was it in a fit of piety, aesthetic taste or that the Police Chief wanted to do something on his own rather than always following orders? Or was it for the pet excuse: ‘security reasons,’ clay pots and masks hiding the identity of dancers?

Maybe Pirapaharan and his cohorts would have thought of masquerading as Olu Bakkas on stage on their way out of the country! The greatest concern of ours, however, is that of cops assuming the role of censors of public performances. We leave it to those involved in the fine arts to take on this aspect.

Power of Olu Bakkas

Olu Bakkas, IGP Wickremaratne should realise, are today ubiquitous in our society though not necessarily wearing clay pots. ‘Olu Bakka’ is a term referred to swollen heads — those who assume grandeur and power because of a minor promotion or political appointment. They range from palace guards to security guards barking orders at harmless people or snatching cameras of journalists.

The most obnoxious are the political Olu Bakkas who wield real power. The IGP can’t touch them. If he does attempt to do so he may find himself as OIC of Puthukkudiyiruppu Police Station next week. Can the IGP display cardboard cuts outs taller than the Aukana or Maligawila statues at a day’s notice at entrances to the city?

History

Another Olu Bakka variety that has emerged in recent times are the instant historians. They are creating ‘history’ everyday, even before it happens. In Lake House and other friendly presses, history is being created almost every day by contemporary historians. Even the much beloved Mahavamsa was written about 500 years after the landing of Vijaya but we are living in an age of instant history created by Bakka Pandithayas.

A historian reminds us of an African observation on historians: ‘Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall glorify the hunters.’

However the Rajapakse administration cannot be accused of staying put about this affliction of swollen heads. It was reported that they were moving to remove one of the main causes of this disease of this cerebral enlargement: Stopping the award of bogus honorary titles.

In the bad old colonial days we had such titles coming straight from Buckingham Palace but even in those days the Grand Old Party had to be ‘looked after’ for such awards. Now with Tony Blairs and Gordon Browns around, in Old Blighty itself accusations are being flung about ‘Cash for Royal Honours.’

Deshamanyas and Deshapandus

No such accusations have been made about our indigenous awards — Deshamanyas, Vidya Jothis and Kala Suris. But the disease appears to be catching on. If you had perused the Swindler’s List published in The Leader, a few weeks ago, you would have found some very distinguished names with the highest possible awards.

Deshabandus, Deshamanyas and some ‘Deshapandus’ are being kicked around but we wonder whether there are provisions to remove such distinguished names from the rolls of honour. A professional objection we have to make is that journalists are always placed in the category of Kala Suris.

Now why Kala (arts)? we may ask. Journalists deserve to be on to other categories as well. But when we broached the subject with a notable and quotable type we were promptly informed that we had qualified only for Kala Booruwa (Class 3). Kala Booruwa (for the ignorant we inform) is the joker in the pack.

We are not objecting to the second honorific title but the first — ‘Kala’ — because there are so many ‘pandang karayas’ in that category. In those bad colonial days (and even today) the most common honour bestowed is that of JPUM (Justice of Peace. Unofficial Magistrate). The acronym jokers say this stands for: Japang Pachaya Unge Mahattaya. Jealousy lies eternal in the human breast.

‘Doctors’ galore

If the administration feels finicky about misuse of honorific titles the misuse of honorary ‘doctorates’ too should be considered. There are so many ‘doctors’ of so many disciplines going around today that it is said that there are more ‘doctors’ than those who have passed the GCE-O.

Those who are entitled to call themselves doctors are those qualified in medicine or those with a post graduate degree — a PhD. But there are so many PhDs around that my late beloved colleague, Amita Abeysekera called them Pigang hodena Doctors — dish washing doctors.

Perhaps the government can enforce the law naming institutions that can award post graduate degrees. We believe that the law exists — the final authority being the University Grants Commission. But how are they to stop long-standing ‘doctors’ from continuing to be ‘doctors’ or ‘Aacharyas’ as they say in Sinhala?

Perhaps they should ask IGP Wickremaratne to implement the law on this kind of Olu Bakkas which would soon qualify him to be the Inspector of Police of the Puthukkudiyiruppu Police Station.

-Sri Lanka Guardian