Where the mind is without fear

July 13, 2011
What will I miss most if I leave Sri Lanka? After much deep and soul-searching introspection I realized that it would be the set of family values preached by the first family. Specifically, the way the family has tried to inculcate these values in the rest of the country. Say, by staying united in the control of 94 government ministries and departments ranging from the zoo to the powerful and disciplined military. How, for example, economic development for the whole of Sri Lanka including the Tamil-dominated north and the more demographically equitable east can’t be steered, fortunately I’d say, other then by the family.
Then, I will miss the way the huge and magnanimous cutouts of the dynasty members adorn junctions, instilling a sense of security and stability.
If this could happen to an Indian, I daresay, Lankans would easily be more beholden. Every country needs a hero in times of crisis; not many countries had or probably will have the joyful option of choosing among many during and for years after a crisis.
How will I not miss the LKR 1000 currency note with a smiling president Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side and soldiers with Mongoloid features hoisting the Lankan flag Iwo Jima-style on the other side? I intend to keep one as an heirloom.
Reacting to a recent story I wrote on an allegedly fake, doctored, bilingual documentary on war crimes, an Indian doctor used probably Tagore’s most quoted line: “Where the mind is without fear.” Journalists, for one, operate here without an iota of it. Those who have been harassed, thrashed, jailed or killed must have practiced a brand of journalism that was suspect. 
Most politicians too operate here in an atmosphere free of fear. Some call it operating with a total lack of accountability.
But how, for example, can you tie up an erring official to a tree for taking a day’s leave if a politician has to explain this kind of perfectly sane behaviour?
And for the record, contrary to the title of this column, I have been sleeping very soundly here watching all sorts of soothing dreams about dictators, state terror, ruthless insurgents and hollow, haunting innocent faces caught in crossfire not of their making. Can’t say I’ll miss that too much though.
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Boycott Srilanka Campaign at Chennai

A group of young people assembled at Express avenue on Sunday morning with banners and placards marking a visible campaign to boycott Srilankan products in Chennai
After the release of UN Report on genocide in Srilanka Many youth groups in Tamil Nadu have spontaneously come up and are organising campaigns against the Srilankan Government. Apart from the known political parties such as MDMK, Naam Thamizhar, PMK, VCK etc various human rights organisations have stepped in to register their protest in public.
Many organisation have expressed anger on the calculated silence of the Indian Government about the genocide in Srilanka. However they stage protest only against the Srilankan Government. These youngsters organize peaceful demonstrations for the specific purpose of bringing attention on the Srilankan genocide of Tamils.                         Read More