The “Great divider and Destroyer” may prove to be the “Great unifier and Builder”

By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

(February 20, Colombo, Sri Lnaka Guardian)The Rajapakse presidency has been a phenomenon previously unseen in independent Sri Lanka. Luxman Arvind has (Sri Lanka Guardian, 20/02/2010) written a brief note with the title 'The Divider Extra-ordinaire?' with reference to President Mahinda Rajapakse and it was thought provoking. Will the 'Great Divider and Destroyer' ultimately turn out to be the 'Great Unifier and Builder'?

Lord Siva is the 'destroyer' in the Hindu 'Trinity'. He 'destroys' to 'create'. His 'dance' is a 'Cosmic' dance, which has attracted the attention of sub-atomic physicists like Frijof Capra and the father of the atom bomb-Oppenheimer. The 'Dancing Siva' wears a garland of skulls, signifying several cycles of creation and destruction in the universe. In each act of destruction, there is embedded the seed for creation. In each act of creation, is embedded the seed for destruction. In biology, the sperm and ovum unite to set off the cycle of life, with multiple divisions of the fertilized ovum creating the embryo. Continuing divisions of cells lead to growth and renewal. Old cells die and the new cells that replace them come out of a process of division. Life and death, creation and destruction, division and unity are complementary processes in this universe and in life.

Mahinda Rajapakse divided the UNP to expand his parliamentary majority and in the process weakened the opposition. If not, he could not have governed as long as he has. He also divided the JVP, to free his government from its 'join and enfeeble' politics. He used Karuna effectively to destroy the LTTE lock stock and barrel. By destroying the LTTE, he created an opportunity for peace, progress and national unity. He also paved the way for the JHU to become less extremist in its political agenda and less of a nuisance in governance, by threatening repercussions. He made the Buddhist monks representing the JHU poodles in the political scene and undermined their political ambitions.

He stifled the media and stood up to internal and external criticism/ pressure on the manner in which the war was fought, to give the armed forces a free hand to win and excise a national cancer. He also paved the way for the armed forces to be cut- down to size, soon after the LTTE was defeated. Whether, this was a conscious or an unconscious effort to stop the politicization of the armed forces and militarization of Sri Lanka, which had reached alarming proportions, is immaterial. Sri Lanka has stopped sliding towards a Pakistani or Burmese situation as a result. He has also consciously or unconsciously, started the process of de-politicizing the Buddhist clergy. The Ven. Mahanayake Thera's back tracking on the Sarath Fonseka arrest issue is one sign of this process at work.

To achieve these, Mahinda Rajapakse has definitely misused the system, used political muscle and tapped into human frailties, such as greed and hunger for power, as never before. He has also stirred a vigorous national debate on what is right and what is wrong in national life. The public has begun to appreciate the value of the rule of law, justice and ethics in public life. The on-going national debate, though outwardly vituperous and unseemly, will no doubt be an unforgettable lesson in 'democracy' for the people. There is a chance that real democracy will begin to take root in Sri Lanka.

He has also made a very significant change in the majority Sinhalese approach to the so-called Tamil problems- a monumental breakthrough. He has set an example, by making the effort to learn and speak Tamil- no mean task at his age. He has also tried to make the minorities an 'inclusive' component of the Sri Lankan polity. He has without doubt set the country on a path of long- term development. Is he the benevolent dictator, Sri Lanka was in need for a long time? Has he destroyed everything he touched or has he destroyed what had to be destroyed in order to pave the way for a new Sri Lanka? History will be his judge.

The Kurukshetra war (in the Mahabaratha) comes to mind when I see the evolving scenario in Sri Lanka. The Kaurawa's represented by Dhuriyodana preferred to have Krishna's Yadawa army, rather than Krishna himself on their side. The Pandawa's represented by Dharma, preferred to have Krishna himself, fighting on their side. Krishna was as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The role Krishna plays in the war as the charioteer of Arjuna is mind- boggling. He preaches the 'Gita' -a precious gift to humankind. However, he plays many tricks (the Divine Play!) to ensure a Pandawa victory. He uses Kunthi, Karna's and the Pancha Pandawa's mother, to obtain the promise from Karna-who was fighting on the Kaurawa side- that he will not kill Arjuna. He himself , in the garb of a mendicant, makes Karna- the generous soul- to give away his invincible armour. He creates darkness ahead of sunset to confuse the Kaurawa army. If not for these acts of Krishna, the Kaurawa's may have won and the Pandawa's lost. What was right and what was wrong? The 'Right' in the form of Pandawa's had to triumph and Krishna does what was in our judgment 'wrong' to ensure that happens.

Are there incidents relevant to what is unfolding in Sri Lanka, in the Mahabaratha? Would these help us understand what is unfolding in Sri Lanka better?

Is Mahinda Rajapakse, the opportunity Sri Lanka has long awaited? Is he aware of the direction he has set the nation on? Is he aware of the direction he is taking the nation? If he were aware, would it make a difference? Is he a tool of fate, destined to do something he is not fully aware? Is he the Sakuni, Kautilya, Rasputin or Machiavelli of Sri Lanka? The 'Great divider and destroyer' has seven years more to prove he is the ' Great unifier and builder'!